Chapter 1
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 1
Chapter Title: I Was Kicked Out of the Hero Party
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I got kicked out of the Hero Party.
The countless treasures pulled from dungeons, the magic stones and byproducts harvested from slain monsters.
Adventurers—the profession that ventures into unknown lands, unearthing endless possibilities and value.
Everyone envies adventurers.
Fewer people know the names of renowned kings or emperors across the continent than know the names of famous adventurers—even passing children recognize them.
No wonder even third or fourth sons of high nobles without inheritance rights, or members of imperial families, dream of becoming adventurers for honor or wealth.
I, Edin, was one of those countless kids who idolized adventurers.
"Edin! I'm going to be an adventurer. And I'll earn the title of 'Hero,' the mark of the greatest adventurers!"
My closest childhood friend, Claude, felt the same.
We were both orphans abandoned in the village, so we grew especially close.
He had big dreams.
The Hero title, granted only to the finest adventurers.
Out of tens or hundreds of thousands of active adventurers, only 10 to 20 receive it in any given era.
Those who earn the Hero title are treated like royalty wherever they go, and even in retirement, their names echo through history alongside immense wealth and fame.
"You wanna be an adventurer too? I'll take you along special-like! I'm Hero material, after all! Hahaha!"
"Yeah! I'll study hard and help out."
"Nah, you just know books—you can't do squat. Just cook for me! I'll protect you."
Claude sometimes talked down to me like that, but he still kept me around.
When he trained enough to leave the village.
When we first registered as adventurers.
When his natural talent propelled him to victory after victory.
Even when his potential earned him the Hero title.
So I worked even harder.
To be a companion worthy of a friend talented enough for the Hero title.
I honed my knack for alchemy, crafting Recovery Potions, Attack Potions, and various consumables to support him.
Deeming that not enough, I drew on the vast knowledge I'd built since childhood for monster countermeasures, securing supplies, and more.
I poured everything into being the perfect Hero supporter.
But it seems this is the end of the line.
"Edin. You're out as of today."
"...What?"
Stunned by Claude's sudden declaration, I stared at him.
To his right stood a red-haired female mage in a wide-brimmed hat and a tight robe that hugged her curves, looking at me with utter disdain.
To his left was a blonde bob-cut priestess in white robes, her expression tinged with faint guilt but offering no real protest.
Blazing Mary and Platinum Angel Sophia.
Both A-Rank Adventurers with prestigious epithets.
They'd recently joined our party, ones Claude had taken a liking to and recruited.
After that, my roles dwindled to almost nothing.
Back when it was just Claude and me, beyond cooking, I'd lob Attack Potions or heal him with Recovery Potions.
Of course, Claude had skyrocketed to A-Rank Adventurer in just three years after registering—an unheard-of pace.
A genius among geniuses, recognized with the Hero title, he fought with such overwhelming dominance that he barely needed my help.
I was already superfluous, but once we added Mary and Sophia for proper A-Rank commissions and dungeon delves, it got worse.
Attack Potions inferior to Mary's flame magic.
Recovery Potions weaker than Sophia's healing spells, buffs outshone by her enchantments.
The party's sheer power rendered dungeon support consumables obsolete.
In the end, I became little more than a cook and porter.
Still, I was okay with it.
A-Rank quests and dungeons ramp up in difficulty, so I'd ramp up my support then, I figured.
That's why I'd studied my ass off all this time.
But... it ended like this anyway.
"Honestly, we don't need you. You know that, right?"
"......"
Claude, who once boasted he'd protect me and take me along, now said I was useless.
"Exactly. We're the Hero Party. Dragging around some unranked scrub tanks our image."
Mary, from nobility, had always looked down on a commoner orphan like me.
Unlike Claude, she despised my lowly C-Rank adventurer status.
"...I-it's for your sake too, Edin. A-Rank dungeons and quests are really dangerous."
Sophia, from the church and eager to seem saintly, pretended concern even now.
I knew better.
She didn't believe it; she just hated seeming like the bad guy.
"Kuhaha! Yeah, Edin! This is for your own good. Come on, what could you even do against a wyvern or ogre? A-Rank dungeons swarm with red orcs. What're you gonna do then?"
"......"
Wyverns, ogres, red orcs.
Monsters way beyond what I could solo.
But that didn't mean I was helpless.
Their habits, weaknesses, pitfalls—I had it all memorized.
I knew exactly what potions to craft with my alchemy and when to deploy them for support.
But.
You wouldn't listen anyway.
"Alchemy? What's the point? Just smash 'em."
Yeah, you'd always say that.
"......"
Honestly, I was tired too.
Claude... if you're the Hero, my dream was to be the supporter who backs a Hero.
To become an adventurer I admired and etch my name into history that way.
Haa.
Yeah, this is enough.
I'm past the age of dreaming anyway.
I'll be 27 soon.
Old enough that most guys my age are married with toddlers.
"Alright, got it. Take care."
I didn't resent Claude.
He could be a cocky asshole who did whatever he wanted.
But he'd let me chase my dreams this long.
Even if he was a dick for kicking me out, I didn't want revenge or anything.
I just thought he'd get cocky, drop his guard, and get seriously hurt someday.
Not that I cared much... Hearing the boot to my face actually felt refreshing, like he was some stranger.
A man beyond worry, resentment—anything.
Probably because I'd given my all until now.
No room left for regrets.
"He's leaving pretty cleanly."
"Hmph, a conscience would do that."
"Ah, um... that's too bad."
I turned and walked across the city square.
The Hero Party muttered behind me.
I tuned them out, wandering blankly into the plaza and taking in the sights.
Preta, capital of the Myos Empire, where our party was based.
True to a superpower's heart, it was incredibly advanced.
Roads were all paved smooth, over half the buildings towering four stories or more.
Throngs bustled along tidy streets.
Everyone looked busy.
...So what do I do now?
I left the Hero Party without a backward glance, but no clue where to start.
I had money.
Claude took most of the quest rewards, magic stones, and byproduct sales for himself, but I'd squirreled away a bit.
Over three-plus years of adventuring, it added up decently.
Maybe open a general store?
I'd thought about retiring as an adventurer and selling alchemical consumables.
...Nah, not enough cash for startup.
Especially not in a bustling imperial capital.
Just job hunt at a decent general store or potion shop?
Lost in those thoughts, someone called out from behind.
"Hey! Isn't that Edin?"
"...?"
A familiar voice I hadn't heard in ages—I turned to see a face from way back.
"Lady Lunarin Brettis."
Platinum hair cascading like sunlight down to her hips.
Blue eyes deep as a lake.
Her gentle smile was goddess-like in its benevolence and beauty, straight out of a fairy tale.
And below that... an outfit that left nowhere safe to look.
Flawless white skin like fresh milk, impossibly voluptuous swells barely contained, exposing the rest.
A deep blue dress clung below, accentuating her figure.
Unlike Blazing Mary's tacky vulgarity, hers blended allure with elegance.
A peculiar woman.
Lunarin Brettis.
From the Brettis Count Family, a top mage lineage in the Myos Empire, third daughter of the current head.
Her prodigious talent led her to leave home young for the adventurer path, hitting A-Rank at just 24.
A genius mage floated as a Hero title candidate alongside Claude.
She'd seen my potions and consumables, liked my work enough to suggest partying up.
We were fairly friendly.