Chapter 5
Chapter 5
Derek, Bernard, and Hans, having heard the screams, quickly got ready and ran toward the women’s tent.
“What…? There’s no one here?”
After confirming it was empty, they looked panicked and dashed toward my tent.
“You two stay outside.”
Bernard and Hans stayed on guard outside while Derek went in.
“What is this?”
I heard his voice filled with disbelief.
Derek emerged shortly after, carrying Scarlett, whose clothes were torn and hair disheveled, cheeks swollen from crying.
[Chaos clenches his fists: I’ve never seen such a vile woman.]
“Arlen, you son of a—!”
Seeing Scarlett’s state and hearing the story she had concocted, Derek’s face twisted like a fearsome demon, and he swung a punch.
I had no words seeing Scarlett deliberately injure herself as part of her “sure-win” strategy.
So I stayed still, letting the punch hit, planning to leave once it was over, even though the world seemed to slow down.
Of course, if swords or arrows followed, I’d have to resist, but for now, I remained passive.
Then it happened.
“Shield them with the holy light.”
[Divine Shield]
A glow appeared in the slowed world, forming into a shield that bounced Derek back.
“Yeriel—! What are you doing?! Can’t you see Scarlett’s appearance?!”
…Yeriel. What are you thinking? You’ve realized the truth and want to help me?
If Yeriel helps, maybe I can turn the tables on Scarlett. I was spinning my thoughts when…
Yeriel, eyes closed, opened them fiercely against her delicate appearance and spoke in a strong voice.
“Scarlett’s story and appearance are lies, and only Arlen’s innocence is the true fact. I, Priest Yeriel of the Order of Light, swear this to the Light God.”
[Chaos is horrified!]
Everyone was stunned at Yeriel swearing to God.
Even that insane Scarlett looked defeated.
Derek relaxed his expression and asked,
“Yeriel, are you serious? If you deceive God with a false oath, you could die… or worse.”
Ever since Arlen temporarily joined the party, things had been getting strange.
Aside from being occasionally absent-minded due to amnesia, he was perfect in every other way.
Hans had been on edge from the very first meeting.
Since Scarlett was saved by Arlen, she had been clinging to him for days, seemingly ignoring Derek entirely.
Derek tried to lead the party without showing his displeasure, but his unhidden annoyance was obvious.
Watching this, Bernard shook his head gloomily, and I couldn’t help but be cautious.
‘Who’s really the problem here?’
Hans, constantly picking fights with Arlen?
Scarlett, blatantly flirting despite having a partner?
Or Derek, trying to lead the party without controlling Hans and Scarlett, with Bernard and I just standing by?
I didn’t know. But I did know who I hated the most.
Hans. From the moment he joined the guild, he kept casting unpleasant glances.
At first, it was just occasional staring as we climbed to the third floor… but once Arlen joined, he began glaring at him, muttering in combat when Arlen excelled, and trying to get close to me to make a point. I dodged, but it was increasingly intolerable.
‘Who does he think he is, treating me like this?’
Three days after Arlen joined, after a battle, while I was resting a bit away from the group, Hans approached and began his antics again.
‘Ugh… here we go again. I should have just listened quietly. If we go outside, I’m quitting this party immediately.’
I should have refused Derek’s invitation when he introduced himself as the guild’s top record holder of six floors.
How could someone like Hans be placed in the last support slot? Even if he was an acquaintance, why put such a low-level person in?
The other party members were high-level, so we made it past the second floor to the third, but I felt no joy. I just wanted to return to the city quickly.
“Yeriel, want to grab a meal outside? I know a nice place with a good atmosphere.”
No. Gross. Smelly. Ugly. Go away.
“I already said I don’t want to last time. Stop asking me repeatedly.”
‘Why, why! Why do I always stammer in front of people? What’s the point of cursing silently if I can’t say it out loud?’
“Oh, come on. We’re just trying to have a meal as party members. It’s not like I’m going to do anything to you, right?”
Hans whispered and tried to drape his arm over my shoulder.
‘Damn it! This is exactly why I’m thinking of leaving the party. Why would I have a meal with trash like you?’
I couldn’t take it anymore and shouted,
“Stop─!”
Thwack!
“Argh!”
Arlen grabbed Hans’ arm, twisted it, and threw him down.
“I didn’t want to cause trouble or ruin the image of the party, but I couldn’t just stand by. Yeriel, are you okay?”
I was about to say thanks when Bernard and Scarlett looked shocked, and Derek ran over, asking,
“Arlen, what are you doing?! You just knocked out a party member! Explain yourself properly!”
Thinking Derek was angry at the disruption of party order, I quickly said,
“Ah, Arlen did it to protect me!”
“Enough. I’m asking Arlen now. Yeriel, stay quiet for a moment.”
Why?! I’m the one suffering from Hans, why should I have to step aside?
‘Does Derek think I’m weak?’
I bit my lip, holding back tears.
Then Arlen stepped forward, shielding me with his body, and said,
“I apologize for acting without going through the leader. I couldn’t hold back in the situation. Hitting Hans was my fault.”
Arlen’s calm words made Derek ease up slightly and tell him to continue.
“For three days, Hans kept picking fights and complaining about my actions, so I observed him closely.”
Right. That’s exactly what happened.
“Even after noticing Yeriel’s refusal, he ignored it, tried touching my shoulder or hair, repeatedly invited me to meals, and pried into personal matters.”
Derek slapped his forehead and closed his eyes.
“When giving me equipment, Scarlett was Derek’s partner, and he was trying to flirt with me.”
‘What?’
“He warned Hans not to mess with me, using his face and… other parts. He had a plan from the start.”
…Disgusting, makes me want to vomit.
“Even though I feel sorry for him, just standing in front of Hans makes me want to throw up. Plus, Hans would stick to me, bothering me whenever possible. How hard must that have been?”
Unable to bear it, Derek shouted,
“Hans! This isn’t a playground!”
Then he sighed, looking at me, and continued,
“I was so focused on battles and dungeon progress that I just assumed you were getting along with him. My first dungeon run as a leader was inexperienced. Sorry, Yeriel.”
“….”
“I brought him into the party but was too careless. I’m disqualified as a leader. I’ll take responsibility and prevent him from approaching you again.”
Listening quietly to Derek’s apology, Arlen spoke,
“It may be presumptuous, but a timid person being passive isn’t enough. People like him need to be scolded and physically confronted to learn their lesson.”
He pointed at me.
“How much frustration has Yeriel accumulated over these days? Earlier, he barely held back, and when he couldn’t, he shouted.”
Arlen’s words struck a chord in me.
Right. Even if Hans stops bothering me after Derek’s apology, what about all the built-up anger?
With Arlen guarding me now, I felt I could vent that anger.
“I know Derek was struggling as the leader. But saying, ‘It won’t happen again’ isn’t enough. Too much has accumulated.”
Derek nodded and asked how to handle it, so I requested Hans be made to stand before me, unable to speak.
“Stand straight. You were forced in out of obligation, and now you repay kindness with malice? Speak, and you’ll be hit immediately.”
Hans stood, looking at me.
‘What do I do? I can’t look him in the eye… No, Arlen is beside me. I can do this!’
“Arlen, hold my hand.”
Gripping Arlen’s hand, my trembling stopped.
Now!
“You disgusting excuse for a person! Thinking just because you’re ‘pretty’ you could grope me? Who would fall for your pathetic lines? Ugly goblin-like creature! Like a squashed pumpkin on a cartwheel!”
Fueled by anger, I continued,
“You said, ‘I’m not trying to do anything’? You’re the one who set off fireballs in my heart! Your brain is empty except for crap! Never touch me again, offspring of failed contraception— Argh! Ugh—!”
I unknowingly unleashed my emotions until Arlen covered my mouth to stop me.
“Yeriel. That’s enough. He’s already crying.”
Looking at Hans, he was sitting down, sobbing.
“I… I do have eyes, damn it…”
After venting, I finally calmed down.
Looking around, everyone was frozen, shocked. I was embarrassed.
Covering my red face, Arlen said,
“You’re not entirely passive, are you? Good. You need to vent sometimes. Well done!”
Hehe. All thanks to Arlen. My sister would praise and pet me often.
“Can you not just say it, but actually pet me?”
Arlen looked briefly surprised but then patted me.
Pat pat.
“Well done, well done.”
Hehe.
Everything ended well, and with Derek’s signal, we moved forward.
By afternoon, we reached the goblin village near the escape portal.
“Finally, the goblin village with the escape portal is right ahead. Let’s camp here for the night.”
Derek’s words were followed by setting up tents, sleeping bags, and distributing food. Tents were split by gender, and the small spare one was given to Arlen.
After eating, resting in the tent, Scarlett, having installed alarm magic around, spoke.
“Yeriel, I need to tell you something.”
Having had private conversations before, I told her to just say it.
“I plan to break up with Derek soon and date Arlen. I fell for him the moment he saved me. After thinking for several days, I realized I can’t live without him.”
W-what?
“So, please stop teasing me for holding hands or petting me like before.”
I expected a casual party or sleeping-related talk, but this was shocking.
‘Ignoring Derek for five days while chasing Arlen? She’s insane. Why can’t she live without him?’
“I… I can’t do that.”
Scarlett’s eyes glistened.
“Really? Then we’ll have to change plans… Sorry for saying weird stuff. Let’s sleep!”
She lay down, speaking mysteriously.
I wasn’t sleepy, but I lay down, recalling today.
The touch of holding hands… the hand covering my lips… the feeling of being petted… I couldn’t sleep.
Then Scarlett got up, waved to see if I was awake, and went somewhere.
Something felt very suspicious, so I quietly left to check.
‘…? That’s Arlen’s tent?’
The men’s tents were silent. I could hear voices from Arlen’s tent.
‘Scarlett went into Arlen’s tent?’
I approached quietly, listening carefully.
‘This is to check if Arlen is in danger…’
First impressions. “If you’re leaving, take the virgin. Make it a lifelong fruit of love. Huh?!”
What the hell… I kept listening and heard even more shocking things:
Derek. Virgin. I’m pure. Etc.
Gasp!
─If you keep rejecting me, I’ll scream, gather everyone, claim you assaulted me, and get you kicked from the party! You couldn’t escape alone without this party!
‘Crazy woman. Why is she doing this to Arlen? Has she completely lost her mind?’
─Yes. Go ahead.
─Really? You think I can’t do it?!
─Do it. Should I scream for you?
‘What is this story? Pretending assault to frame Arlen as a rapist and get him expelled?’
Then I heard clothes being ripped, Scarlett screaming.
“Crazy woman.”
I muttered as Arlen, fully equipped, opened the tent and came out.
“Crazy woman. Psycho, insane woman.”
Our eyes met. Not defensive, but determined.
‘She’s leaving? Accepting the stigma of being called a rapist? Why must she suffer for something she didn’t do?’
No. I cannot let her leave foolishly.
If Arlen solved my pain, now I will resolve Arlen’s unjust suffering.
If necessary, I swear to God.
Yeriel spoke firmly.
“My oath remains. I will stake my life to prove Arlen’s innocence.”
At that moment, light surrounded Yeriel.