episode_0000

000

“Cleon. You’re out.”

The blond man who was the leader and central figure of the party. The hero, Albein, opened his mouth.

The sound of clinking glasses. The sound of boasting about each other’s prowess. The loud sound of calling a waiter and the sound of their reply.

Surrounded by a variety of sounds that changed from moment to moment, this place was inside the Adventurer’s Guild on the continent’s frontier.

Decorations on the walls included the heads of various monsters, And the bulletin board ranged from petty requests that were at the errand level to grand quests that determined the fate of an entire village.

In the restaurant area combined with the information desk area, Victors who had safely completed today’s quests were taking their places at tables and tilting their bottles to relieve their respective hard work.

But Cleon’s party could not.

What they carried out today was a quest for regular dungeon cleaning. It is a routine mission to periodically dispatch adventurers inside to reduce the number of monsters in order to prevent monsters from leaking into the field.

The difficulty varies depending on the time, But it was a quest that the party’s average level could handle without any problems.

It was a quest where the guild’s evaluation of the party was determined depending on whether or not this quest could be properly carried out.

Cleon opened his mouth to protest to Albein, who was blaming him.

“W-wait a minute.”

“Wait a minute, my ass. It’s your fault that we failed the quest again today.”

As if cutting off Cleon’s words, everyone in the party except Cleon nodded at the words of the red-haired mage, Ryla, who was standing next to Albein.

As Ryla just said, Cleon’s party failed to complete the quest today.

The reason was that the monsters in the dungeon were stronger than expected. And the power of the black magic domain that occurred inside the dungeon greatly reduced the power of healing spells.

However, since attack magic spells became stronger by that much, it was rather good news for mages like Ryla. That is, if the vanguard held up well.

“It was Albein’s idea to fight multiple monsters at once because Ryla’s magic got stronger!”

When Cleon protested like that, Albein slammed the table!

“So, are you saying it’s my fault?”

Before Cleon could answer, “Yes!” another party member. The cleric with emerald-colored hair, Quon, opened her mouth.

“Stop it. Cleon. It’s my healing magic that got weaker, it’s not Albein’s fault.”

“Ugh…”

Among the three party members except Cleon, there was no one on his side. He knows the reason. Quon and Ryla are both aiming for Albein’s love.

Albein is a hero. An existence chosen by the holy sword. There is more than one hero in this world, but the number is absolutely small. One of only two classes that can handle all attack, defense, and healing on their own.

Because they are blessed by God, the hero’s party always has a constant stream of applicants. In addition, the country treats heroes as important forces and supports them in various ways, so it is a class that cannot help but be popular.

In addition, Albein was born with the typical appearance of a nobleman, with a tall height, blond hair, and blue eyes. He is probably an illegitimate child of some nobleman, so he was a human being who seemed to have condensed the elements that women like.

──In contrast, Cleon is. He is the opposite of Albein.

Cleon is a magic swordsman. It is a job that can take on various roles along with the hero, but it is different from the hero who uses the holy sword.

The hero moves forward by matching with everyone in a form that supports and strengthens those around them. However, the magic swordsman completes everything within themselves.

It is impossible to heal or strengthen others. In addition, the magic swordsman lags behind the hero in terms of growth curve.

The hero grows based on positive emotions such as a sense of accomplishment, joy, pleasure, and friendship as they succeed in adventures. The stronger the party becomes, the steeper the growth curve becomes.

But the magic swordsman grows with negative emotions such as anger, sadness, hatred, and fear. Ironically, the more enjoyable the adventure, the weaker the magic swordsman becomes.

In addition, the magic sword absorbs the experience points that the magic swordsman obtains at will, so the level also falls behind.

That was the reason why Cleon was being treated as a burden in the party.

He, who was ostracized for his unusual appearance of pale skin, black hair, and black eyes, and was chosen by the magic sword. For the past few years, he had been immersed in the bonds he had made with his companions on his adventures.

Of course, he knew that the two women in the same party had feelings for Albein, But he didn’t care.

The promising star chosen by the holy sword, Albein The genius mage from the academy, Ryla The hero’s partner and saintess candidate, Quon

Just being able to adventure with them was something Cleon could be proud of.

“Cleon. What level are you now?”

“…9.”

Cleon hesitated and answered Albein’s question. And Albein let out a big sigh and snorted.

“We’re at 14 now. Do you understand the difference?”

I know. Considering the effort required to raise one level, a level 5 difference is like the difference between an adult and a child.

Because he knows that, he keeps it a secret from everyone and hunts monsters alone to try to catch up with the level, making sure not to skip out on the effort.

But that kind of thing. It meant nothing to them. No, they probably don’t even want to know in the first place.

For Albein, For Ryla and Quon.

Cleon was a `burden`.

“It’s already been 3 years since we formed a party with you. I’ve been lenient considering our friendship during that time… but it’s impossible now.”

Albein…

“Sorry. Cleon. We want to move forward a little more.”

Quon…

“In the first place, the job of magic swordsman is the problem itself.”

Ryla…

“You, you guys….”

“This is the end. Cleon.”

With those words, Albein got up from his seat.

Cleon couldn’t hold back and grabbed Albein’s shoulder.

“The reason you guys survived today is thanks to me!”

When Cleon shouted loudly, the surrounding gazes focused on the party. Albein, of course, as well as Quon and Ryla, frowned.

“Even after you all fainted, I barely managed to defeat the monsters that Albein had brought in! Of course, I used all of your supplies, but! I was the one who dragged the three of you back to the village!”

“Who knows. You may have been hiding and dragged us back after the monsters disappeared. The monsters in the dungeon basically leave the fainted adventurers for later.”

Cleon, who was dumbfounded by Albein’s words, clenched his teeth, and the face of Ryla next to him turned pale.

“Wait, you used our supplies? Then, you searched our bodies?”

“What?”

When Cleon reacted, flustered by Ryla’s words, she glared at Cleon with an even more venomous expression.

“That’s right! You put things like potions in the belt on your thigh!”

“…Come to think of it. My chest was also torn…”

“Q-Quon…?”

Quon, who seemed to be shocked, clung to Albein with tears in her eyes.

Seeing Quon, who had not directly blamed him until now, like that, Cleon was momentarily frozen. He couldn’t take the next action.

“Y-you piece of trash!”

So, he gets punched by Albein and falls backward.

If there is a level difference of 5, there are few people who can maintain their sanity after being hit by the hero’s punch. Cleon was shocked to the point of losing consciousness for a moment as mental fatigue, physical fatigue, and damage were added.

But he could stare straight at their faces. The look in their eyes, as if looking at something contemptible and hideous,

Was similar to that of the past that had been buried.

001

3 years ago. Cleon, who was a rookie adventurer, was one of the guild’s promising stars who could handle quests alone with the power of the magic sword.

At first, the guild’s staff, who were wary of him because of his rare appearance, gradually treated Cleon kindly as he continued to achieve results.

A dark horse from the frontier. There was a time when he was called that, albeit briefly.

“Mr. Cleon…?”

It was a boy swordsman and a girl cleric who had just registered with the guild and approached him who spoke to Cleon. They, who were about the same age as Cleon, came from a more rural area than the frontier city.

They heard rumors of Cleon and asked him to form a party with them.

Cleon, who always traveled alone, wondered if he could get along with them. Eventually, he accepted the proposal of the two people who seemed to be nice and started adventuring with them.

The adventures of the three continued to be a failure-free high-speed run. Cleon learned the joy of living while interacting with people.

1 year later. The boy was chosen by the holy sword and became a hero from a swordsman. He had grown taller and caught up with Cleon. The girl prayed all night to support the boy and consulted Cleon about those feelings.

Another year later.

The boy had already grown bigger than Cleon. He was also overtaken in level. The girl no longer consulted him like before. An academy’s top mage girl who heard rumors of the hero joined the party. It bothered him a little that she hadn’t properly memorized Cleon’s name for six months, but it wasn’t anything significant.

And 1 year later. Cleon was alone again.

When he opened his eyes in the back alley of the Adventurer’s Guild in the rain, his face hurt. The place where he was hit by the boy-Albein was swollen and stung whenever it rained.

“Ugh, eugh….”

Staggering, he grabbed the wall and stood up, and the magic sword hanging from his waist fell. Magic Sword – Galatea.

This guy didn’t say anything to Cleon, but For him, who was hated by everyone in his childhood, she was his only partner.

And again, karma comes full circle. Only Galatea remained for Cleon.

It was just a return to the past, but various emotions swirled within him now.

“Woo….euuh…woooooaaaaaah!”

To spit out all of that. Cleon howled. It was rain that was running down his cheeks. But it didn’t fall from the sky.

Even if he shouted at the gloomy gray sky, the dark clouds in his heart did not disappear. He didn’t want this kind of thing. He didn’t get involved with people because he wanted this kind of thing.

If this was going to happen, he should have been alone from the beginning. It’s all my fault──.

“No, no. Why is it your fault? You stupid Cleon.”

As if denying Cleon’s thoughts. A woman’s voice was heard. It was a captivating voice that he had never heard before, but had heard somewhere.

When he turned around, “it” was standing there.

Light brown skin. Turquoise hair that came down to her waist. A woman with an impression that looked overbearing with the corners of her eyes raised.

The color of her eyes was violet, giving off a somewhat dangerous feeling. Inside the pupils was a black inverted pentagram that seemed to prove that she was not human.

Naturally, Cleon’s gaze followed the direction of the rain down below her neck. The water droplets that flowed down her face burst once as they hit her chest.

The highly revealing clothes that covered her chest, waist, and private parts were made of a black material that he didn’t know whether it was leather or rubber.

“──You’re…”

The moment Cleon was about to ask, “Who are you?” The woman came closer and put her index finger to Cleon’s mouth.

“You know, don’t you?”

“Galatea….”

It was a strange yet natural thing to realize that the woman in front of him was his magic sword. Because they are connected at the fundamental part of the soul.

“Galatea… why…?”

“Because your despair has reached its peak… shall we say?”

Galatea wiped Cleon’s face with her palm, making a seemingly sad expression. The coldness he felt told him that she was not a human being.

But Galatea’s mouth was smiling. Like a femme fatale who seemed to enjoy her master’s weakness.

“It’s not your fault that you became like this. It’s the fault of those humans who don’t know gratitude and are obsessed with carnal desires.”

Galatea whispered in Cleon’s ear while hugging him.

“Don’t be sad, Cleon. Be angry. Use despair as your driving force. You have the right to do so.”

Like a devil’s whisper. For Cleon, who had lived his life without harming others, it was like releasing the lid of what he had suppressed until now.

“That will make you stronger. It will make me stronger… and eventually. It will give you the power to get what you want.”

Little by little.

“If you want, Quon, Ryla too. No, much more attractive and stronger than those girls──”

Little by little.

“Maybe. Everything in this world.”

By the time Galatea said that far, Cleon was already at his limit. A little. Just a little. If someone definitely pushed him on the back. Cleon will be reborn here.

Galatea, who was convinced of that, moved away from Cleon.

“Before that.”

Galatea smiled and snapped her fingers. Then, the back alley where it was raining was transformed into an isolated space filled with black magic due to her barrier. It is an inviolable small area where no outside interference is possible from the inside. Cleon took a deep breath in and out, looking for an outlet for the emotions bubbling inside him.

“Shall we take the first step? Master. In order to conquer and subjugate this arrogant woman.”

Galatea fell backward and writhed on a large water bed made of magic. Her body and hair, which had been wet from the rain, were already dry, and as a result, the color of her flushed skin was a little more visible.

“Unleash your desires.”

Cleon fell into depravity here.