Formation of the Party

Tang So-hye screamed.

“My, my neck!”

She carefully touched the bruise on her neck and her hair.

Americano’s.

“What happened to your neck?!”

“My, my neck was just, sli, sli, sliced a bit, that’s all.”

Oh geez.

[Outsider] I shouldn’t have enhanced it.

My tongue keeps getting twisted.

If I enhance it one more time, I might have to carry around a portable whiteboard.

As I stumbled over my words, Tang So-hye looked at me with even more concern.

“You must have gone through something scary? Don’t worry, I’m here now. I’ll protect you.”

“…”

No, that’s not necessary.

Just then, something red appeared at the restaurant entrance.

“Americano…oh?”

Skilla had arrived.

I figured it was about time she showed up.

By the way, this was the restaurant on the first floor of the lodging.

“Huh? Who are you?”

“Who are you to ask that? I’m friend with the Americano who was there…”

When Tang So-hye turned to look at Skilla, their eyes met sharply.

But Skilla, who had been approaching confidently, was shocked when she saw the state of Americano’s neck.

I ended up having to explain the whole situation.

“So.”

Skilla slammed the table.

The table cracked.

Her fist, suspended in mid-air, trembled.

It was anger.

“You met a Demonic Cultist in the hunting grounds, and there was a crazy woman who cut your neck and then reattached it?”

“N-no, that’s not, n-not what…”

“What do you mean no! I’ve heard there are many bastards among the Demonic Cultists who aren’t like normal people, but what? Reattaching a neck they had cut?!”

“That’s, not it…”

“Are human lives toys to them?!”

No, I didn’t die.

Isn’t that a good thing?

If I hadn’t been the Hero, I might have actually died… No, that’s not it! The one who reattached the neck was none other than Americano herself, but I failed to convey that.

Because my words got twisted.

Because my explanation got twisted.

Americano tried to somehow smooth things over, but the more she focused on Skilla, the more her words refused to come out.

[Outsider: Enhancement]..!

It’s not a bad thing..!

But I can’t just remove it because if I use [Wish] to remove [Geass], the additional points will be deducted too.

So removing it is…

“I have a good poison, do you need it?”

…Let’s change the subject.

Tang So-hye had also seriously misunderstood.

Given the generally poor image of Demonic Cultists, it accelerated the misunderstanding.

“Poison, you say?”

“It’s a nasty one that melts your internal organs while you’re still alive if you drink it. The Hero will revive even if killed, right? So we need to make them suffer so they can’t function properly.”

“I like the sound of that. Can you share some? If you need money, just say so.”

For some reason, a transaction began.

Watching this scene, I decided to just let it be.

It’s just a game anyway.

Even if I’m misunderstood, I won’t die, so what’s the big deal.

‘Miss Chun Yura, I’m sorry.’

I sent an apology that wouldn’t be heard.

After a brief exchange, the restaurant auntie came over. She got angry, asking what happened to the table. Both Tang So-hye and Skilla said they would compensate and moved to another table.

While eating.

“Americano.”

“Y-yes?”

As I stumbled over my words, Skilla looked at me as if I were pitiful.

That’s not it.

Americano screamed internally.

I’ll definitely remove [Outsider] later.

“Let’s go climbing together.”

“…”

“I’ve been thinking, and we can’t leave things like this. Even if your Special Ability is strong, it’s useless if you yourself are not strong. In the world of swords, the battle can be decided the moment you enter the gap.”

“Yes…”

“That’s why you were attacked this time too. The reason you were attacked despite having such a strong Special Ability is because you yourself are weak.”

That’s not it.

I defeated the Demonic Cultist.

It’s a misunderstanding.

Americano turned her gaze away while eating.

Words wouldn’t come out of her throat.

She thought that if she at least averted her eyes, she might be able to speak, and if she gave herself a self-suggestion, she might be able to talk, but it was no use.

Things didn’t flow so conveniently.

“Americano, what level are you now?”

“Th-thir…”

“3? What have you been doing without leveling up more? It’s been days since you were summoned, and you’re still at 3? With that Special Ability, you should have leveled up much more aggressively!”

“Ugh…”

You should listen to people until the end!

‘Ah, this is so frustrating!’

Tang So-hye protectively embraced Americano.

“There’s no need to shout. Americano didn’t do anything wrong.”

“Ugh… Anyway!”

Skilla crossed her arms and declared.

“We’re going to raise that insufficient level, you hear? There’s no refusing. Got it? This is an order from me, your senior Hero.”

“I agree too.”

Tang So-hye concurred.

“Level 3, what’s with that, 3? I thought it would be higher. I should have checked when we came out of the Temple last time. My mistake.”

“No…”

“Excuses won’t help. I understand your desire to solo climb, but today we’re climbing as a party. Didn’t you think you were attacked because you’re level 3?”

“…”

“You’re not just ordinarily pretty. Who would leave you alone? You’ll be in big trouble if you think someone will protect you.”

Tang So-hye said as she tidied Americano’s bangs.

“…”

So, I’m level 30… That’s enough.

It seems like anything I say will be useless.

[Outsider] blocked everything.

But thinking it’s a bit unfair for [Outsider] alone to cause this, I suddenly remembered.

‘Come to think of it…’

Wasn’t that the effect of [Ill-Fated Beauty]?

[Ill-Fated Beauty: Enhancement]

A curse that makes one more easily exposed to both good and ill intentions.

It becomes easier to be misunderstood.

“…”

I’m dying to explain myself.

A crazy collaboration with [Outsider].

I can’t even speak.

It’s easy to be misunderstood.

These people don’t listen to others until the end.

‘This is driving me crazy.’

Just in case, I tried to sense if there were any other factors causing internal changes.

There was more.

[Berserk]

It tries to roar and stomp when they didn’t listen, but [Outsider] is stronger right now.

The reason I stuttered so severely was due to the fantastic synergy of these guys.

Even before enhancement, [Outsider] suppressed [Berserk], and [Berserk] suppressed [Outsider]. Even if I hesitated a bit, [Berserk] would grab me by the collar, and even if I tried to go wild, [Outsider] would stop me.

Now they’re both stronger, and my reason can’t maintain the balance between them.

One extremely stops me.

One extremely shakes me.

‘Wow… I chose them, but this is really something else.’

I shook my head internally.

Let’s just give up.

What can I do in this state?

Besides,

‘Party climbing, huh.’

I went along with it for once.

I felt like I would have to do party climbing someday anyway. I guess now is that opportunity. I quietly surrendered myself to their plan.

<Party>

[Skilla] (Party Leader)

[CoffeeAddict]

[Tang So-hye]

The party was formed.

We didn’t go straight to the Tower.

“Where do you think you’re going looking like that?”

I was dragged to a beauty salon.

My cut hair was trimmed.

I was also fitted for a new bra since I had recently gotten smaller.

I was scolded for not wearing a bra.

We got entirely new clothes too, but why did today’s schedule turn into shopping?

Americano was [Outsider].

She couldn’t refuse.

When she tried to refuse their assertions and demands, [Outsider] stiffened her body.

She was dragged along.

Ugh.

By the time all the shopping was done, her inventory was packed with clothes.

Her hair was styled.

Equipment was fitted.

We also stopped by the Magic Shop and met Mew, who responded tactfully.

And then party climbing.

There was a disagreement about Americano’s position.

After finishing shopping, we returned to the lodging’s first-floor restaurant for a meeting to finalize opinions.

The opinions were as follows:

Tang So-hye:

“Party climbing is enough. Whether solo or party, levels increase the same as long as you climb the Tower, right? You said she’s good at rear support? Then let’s not put her on the front lines.”

At first, she argued for putting Americano on the front lines, saying she had talent in swordsmanship, but her opinion changed after hearing Skilla’s story.

And Skilla:

“Are you ignoring solo climbing? Solo climbing is the real deal in Tower climbing. I absolutely cannot accept a method that ignores that and only raises levels. Besides, you said Americano has talent in swordsmanship! Why are you changing your words!”

At first, she tried to assign Americano’s role in party climbing, saying she was good at rear support, but her opinion changed after hearing Tang So-hye’s story.

Both had completely reversed their initial opinions.

“Americano has a Special Ability. We should utilize this. No matter how well she learns swordsmanship, it will ultimately only be an aid to her Special Ability.”

Tang So-hye’s argument.

“That Special Ability is useless once her Magical Power runs out. In the end, what remains is the combat technique engraved and honed in the body. Americano needs to learn swordsmanship so she can fight well on her own.”

Skilla’s argument.

“Do you think swordsmanship is child’s play? There’s no way she can hone it to the level you want in just a day or two. Do you think swordsmanship is cheap? Even after learning, it’s a problem. Don’t you know it takes days and days to internalize it for practical use? Her situation is different from ours who were taught from childhood.”

Tang So-hye’s argument.

“That’s why she needs to gain practical experience from now on. Let’s say she raises her level using her Special Ability as you say. The Special Ability is powerful. I know that too. I know it better than you, having indirectly felt that power. But you don’t know because you haven’t. The Special Ability is already mature. What’s needed now is everything except the Special Ability.”

Skilla’s argument.

Argument after argument.

Arguments were exchanged.

It was noisy.

The restaurant auntie brought Americano juice as a service. She always gives something as a service in return for being saved before.

The restaurant auntie patted Americano’s shoulder and left,

Americano sipped the juice while listening carefully to both sides’ arguments.

Hmm.

‘Special Ability, huh.’

Come to think of it, I haven’t properly utilized my Special Ability except for that moment when I faced Pacheon-gun together with Skilla and Nabi.

Other than that, it was all just using Awakened Ability at maximum output for crisis aversion.

If I had mastered my Awakened Ability,

If I had used my Awakened Ability,

‘Chun Yura.’

Could I have beaten that woman?

The moment my neck was cut off, I had already acknowledged my defeat.

Having my neck reattached after it was cut off is cheating.

It’s a fluke.

Something that can only be used once.

Such things can’t be considered normal skill.

That match was clearly my defeat.

Aside from that surprise attack, we didn’t even properly face each other, did we?

It was partly due to the performance of the Black Sword, but from the moment we clashed fist to fist, I felt an insurmountable mountain no matter how much I struggled.

Maybe later, but at least for now, an absolutely uncrossable mountain.

When I realized such a gap, if it weren’t for [Berserk], I would have run away. I was the type to not fight battles I couldn’t win.

‘Well, I ended up killing her in the end.’

Still, I couldn’t shake off the unsatisfying feeling that the fight was left unfinished.

If I had used my Awakened Ability then, how would the fight have progressed?

I couldn’t help but imagine.

“This is why Summoned Heroes…”

Skilla shook her head.

Then she stood up abruptly.

“Do you think Tower climbing is child’s play?!”

It is child’s play though.

It’s a Tower climbing ‘game’ after all.

She’d get angry if I said that.

Tang So-hye, who was good at that, chewed on those words in her mouth before swallowing them.

“We’re just worried about Americano’s well-being. Why don’t you sit down and calm down?”

“…Americano is a Hero too.”

Fortunately, she sat down quietly.

“She needs to develop the strength to face and overcome powerful enemies alone. We can’t protect her forever. What if she experiences the same thing again when she goes to the hunting grounds alone like this time? The only thing she can rely on then is her own strength.”

“That’s a fair point. But the same goes for her Special Ability. What’s needed now is immediate power.”

Their opinions weren’t aligning well at all.

Seemingly frustrated, Tang So-hye sighed.

“Haa… This conversation won’t end if we keep going like this. Skilla.”

She tried to calm the atmosphere of the place.

“What’s the point of just us talking? Let’s hear the opinion of the person in question.”

“…”

Skilla pouts her lips and looks at Americano, as if agreeing with that opinion.

Tang So-hye, sitting next to her, also turns to look.

“I…”

An opinion, huh.

It’s already been decided.

“I’ll go with, So-hye’s, opinion. Right now, I want to, master my, Special Ability.”

“See?”

“…If that’s your opinion, then there’s nothing we can do.”

Tang So-hye was happy that her opinion was agreed with, and Skilla, though unenthusiastic, quietly said “Can’t be helped” and conceded her argument.

After offering some minor opinions based on Americano’s decision.

Night fell.

Skilla stood up from her seat.

“Let’s stop here for today. I’ll come at the same time tomorrow, so be prepared by then.”

She said and left.

“What about, So-hye?”

“I’m staying here. I’ve booked the room next to yours.”

“…What?”

Wasn’t someone living there?

Tang So-hye thumped her chest.

“Just trust me. I’ll kill all the bad bugs that try to cling to you.”