It's Just a Trivial Matter
"Wh-what did you say?"
Lurein stared at the woman before her with a dazed expression, as if she couldn't believe her ears. She was so shocked that anger didn't rise immediately—instead, she was too flustered to find words.
"Why are you so surprised? I figured you'd already know."
"I need to see Dario... no, the Spear Hero! Get out of my way!"
"He's not someone you can just meet because you want to."
"I can plainly hear women giggling with him inside—what kind of nonsense is this!"
As she lunged toward the mansion in a fit of rage, a rough-looking middle-aged warrior blocked the door.
"Didn't you hear our mage? Scram."
"You wanna go right now?"
"It'd be best if you left while we're asking nicely. Lurein Argent, you're technically still in the same party for now... and we don't want trouble with a great noble house."
He sneered mockingly as he spoke.
"In that case...!"
"If you really want, I could spar with you?"
The woman thumped her staff against the ground threateningly.
Each of them was already a rank above her in skill. Before parting with Tanas, she might have considered it, but in her current state, it was hopeless.
Lurein glared at them for a moment before lowering her staff.
"......"
It wasn't fear that made her back down.
It's two against one from the start? That's cheating.
No point dealing with cowards like them.
Yeah, obviously.
"Looks like you get it. Coming here to cause a scene at the Swordmaster's place... and then shamelessly showing up at our door? Have you lost your mind?"
"Th-that was due to unavoidable circumstances..."
"Not our problem. ...And you, you seem even weaker than last time, don't you?"
"What? You picking a fight?"
"Hmm, you're right. That crackling aura of yours has definitely gotten weaker."
The middle-aged warrior nodded in agreement with the woman's words.
"Something's off, right? Now even I can read your mana flow...."
The mage woman fixed her with a sharp gaze, her expression serious.
"Well, not completely sure yet."
"...Ugh! N-no, it's not? What makes you say that?"
"Ha—"
At her obvious evasion, the mage scoffed and handed over a fist-sized box.
"This is..."
"A Hexa Mana Cube. Give it a try."
A square metal box emitting a faint blue glow. A magic tool from the Magic Tower that read mana flows; disassembling it could instantly heal party members' wounds and restore mana. Most used expensive artifacts to solve it, but the "genius" Lurein was different.
She had solved it in seconds, as if she already knew the answer.
Until now, that is.
"......"
Lurein clutched the hexa cube but just stared at it blankly, making no move.
"You wouldn't say you can't, right? Mana flow control was supposed to be your 'specialty'?"
"......"
"While looking down on me, no less?"
"D-did I?"
She had no choice. The flow control she'd stolen from Tanas had long since been returned.
But if they found out...
She still had a faint remnant of power, but it was fading day by day. Even setting aside the traitor's stigma, her hero Tanas was missing, and after barging into Swordmaster Ronain's place with Seria, her family had harshly scolded her.
Seria, because of you, I...!
Honestly, she was in a tight spot. Funding might even get cut off.
"Wh-why should I listen to you? I'm the second daughter of House Argent. Do I need to prove myself to someone treating me so rudely?"
"Is that so?"
She puffed up with ridiculous pride—
"Then let me rephrase."
"Rephrase what?"
"If you solve the mana cube like you used to..."
"If I do?"
"We'll both kneel and apologize for our rudeness on the spot. And I'll make sure it never happens again by telling Dario directly."
"Hey! Wait, hold on! What are you saying? I never agreed! If that happens..."
—Futile.
"......"
"As expected, you can't, huh?"
As doubt flickered in the warrior's eyes, Lurein finally spoke.
"I-I'm just... not in good condition today..."
An excuse that wouldn't fly. The mage smirked and issued a curt dismissal.
"Suit yourself. Fine. I'm not interested anyway."
"......"
"Go home. Word is that useless hero's been cleared of charges anyway... You must've known."
"Tanas is innocent? I-I'm hearing this for the f-first time?"
"Really? That's weird... Even I heard about it... Whatever. Doesn't matter. You're leaving again anyway, Lurein."
"......"
"I felt a bit bad knowing what happens to deserters from a hero party... but at least you have somewhere to go. Well then—"
"W-wait...!"
With that, the mage and warrior turned back into the mansion. Ordinary soldiers then guarded the entrance again.
"......"
They'd only recruited her for her skills after Tanas was framed; no one else in the other hero parties treated her as a comrade. And while the church and royals hadn't officially acknowledged it, Tanas's innocence was already common knowledge.
The warrior and mage sent her packing without a shred of guilt.
But they didn't know.
What do I do... nowhere to go...
The party was disbanded, her power greatly diminished. She'd hoped to cling to the Spear Hero's party if things went south, but even that failed.
"Haa..."
She stared blankly at the mansion door before trudging toward the Royal Capital.
The best option was reuniting with Tanas, but Seria's searches everywhere had turned up nothing substantial. She'd sent people out too, but only reports of namesakes—no trace of Hero Tanas anywhere.
...Where the hell is he?
She already missed that handsome face. The satisfying smack when slapping him...
"Tanas...."
Party disbanded? Impossible by any logic. The church wouldn't allow it—how did he manage?
But surely some misunderstanding. Tanas had his airheaded side; maybe he'd been scammed.
Yeah... definitely.
Not baseless confidence. After all those years together, he'd never abandon a comrade without a word.
Think about it—he'd always protected her fragile body in crises, hadn't he? Same this time.
"Here! Right here!"
Neigh—
At Lurein's gesture, a carriage stopped promptly.
Not far from the mansion to the palace, but walking like a commoner offended her noble pride. She might get kicked out of the capital soon in her state... but she'd surely reunite with Tanas first. No doubt.
"Miss, that's 1 gold."
Reaching for her back pocket—
"...Huh?"
She'd forgotten her pouch.
Freezing in panic, the coachman squinted suspiciously.
"Miss, sorry, but if you don't have money, you need to get off now."
"......"
How dare this commoner... Who do you think I am?
Infuriating. After being dissed by Dario's party, being looked down on by a peasant would shatter her noble pride!
I can't let this stain my honor!
"Miss... please get off now..."
Rummaging through her things, she remembered.
Right! That!
The magic shield amulet she'd taken when Tanas was imprisoned. A bit much, but his dismissive glare pissed her off.
"For the fare—here."
She tossed it casually to the ground.
"Th-this is a magic item? I can't give change for something this valuable..."
"No need for change. Junk like that means nothing to me."
Staring him down assertively—
"S-sorry! I didn't realize I was dealing with nobility..."
Seeing the coachman bow profusely, her pent-up stress melted away.
Yes, this was right. This was the treatment she deserved.
"Hah! Whatever—just head to the palace quick."
"Of course!"
The coachman, grinning ear to ear like he'd struck gold, snatched up the amulet hastily.
For a moment, Tanas's face flashed in her mind...
"......"
Lurein shook her head side to side.
It's a trivial matter.
So what?
"......"
"Sir Knight? Is something wrong~?"
Frisia, diligently practicing, tilted her head curiously.
This chilling sensation... a weird feeling.
"No, don't mind it."
"Okaay~."
"Focus more than that, Frisia."
"Got it~!"
Now was the time to focus on growth.