Chapter 1
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 1
Chapter Title: Expulsion
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The inn downstairs buzzed with revelry as a rowdy crowd threw back drinks and filled the air with laughter.
Upstairs in one of the rooms, the exact opposite was unfolding.
Inside sat three women and one man.
"What?"
The man.
Kalt couldn't believe what he'd just heard. He asked again.
"What did you just say?"
A woman with orange hair tied in a right-side ponytail and striking green eyes turned to him.
The hero Mabel repeated herself to Kalt.
"Are you deaf? I said get out of my party."
Realizing he'd heard her right, Kalt sighed and raked his fingers roughly through his hair.
"Hey, Mabel. What's this about? What didn't you like this time? Was it because I nagged you about not wasting carrots?"
"Who the hell would kick up a fuss over something that stupid? What do you take me for?"
"Then... then what is it? Why kick me out all of a sudden?"
Swallowing his boiling rage as best he could, Kalt pressed her. Mabel crossed her arms.
"Simple. You're not needed in my party anymore, Kalt. Up till now, I kept you around out of childhood friend sentiment... but honestly, it's time to cut that out."
"...What?"
Her words hit him like a iron club to the skull, worse than before.
"What kind of bullshit is that? I'm not needed? After all I've done for you..."
Mid-sentence, Kalt glanced between the other two, who offered no rebuttal.
'Hah, so they agree with her?'
"After all I've done to look after you three, this is what I get?"
"At first."
The mage beside Mabel spoke up.
A woman in robes with long wavy green hair and sky-blue eyes. Ianna opened her mouth.
"We're grateful for your initial advice and handling the little chores. But... everything you do is stuff the party could manage just fine without."
"..."
Kalt was so dumbfounded by her words—and those yet to come—that he was speechless.
Mabel sneered, misreading his silence.
"Hmph, can't even argue back, huh? Must be true."
Then the last one chimed in.
A woman in nun's robes with long golden hair and yellow eyes.
"Kalt, we know you've contributed to the party so far. But we're a hero party. We can't keep bringing you along forever. You're just not cut out for combat anymore. It's regrettable."
"..."
Kalt clutched the back of his neck.
"Kicking me out like this leaves me high and dry, huh? Fine, I'll give you my full cut from today's monsters as severance."
"No need to be so shocked. You have some skills. Why not join a decent regular party?"
"Or maybe find a nice stable job? Your cooking's not bad. Any inn or tavern would snap you up. All that time with us built your stamina, so it'd be easy, right?"
Kalt felt his temples throbbing with hypertensive fury.
Their patronizing tone grated worse than their dismissal of his skills. It made him want to collapse.
All his contributions flashed through his mind.
Cleaning up after the party.
Everything he'd handled as a member.
Was he on the verge of a rage-induced stroke? Memories raced like a montage, fueling his fury. He fought it back desperately.
Yeah, she's just throwing another tantrum over something petty.
Mabel's fits weren't new.
She'd been a tomboyish troublemaker since childhood.
The other two agreeing was insane, but whatever.
Kalt swallowed his anger and spoke.
"Pretend I didn't hear that nonsense. Everyone, drop it and get some sleep."
As he turned to leave, Mabel scoffed.
"Look at you, dodging reality. Still don't get it?"
"Kalt? Clinging to women's skirts is pathetic, you know."
"It might actually be better for you to escape danger and live safely?"
That's when something snapped in Kalt's head.
'I've busted my ass for these bitches all this time?'
He'd sworn to repay his late parents' love and care.
Live kindly.
As kindly as possible.
Watch insults patiently.
Sooth tantrums gently.
Endure abuse.
That's how he'd lived.
Joined Mabel's hero party as her childhood friend, endured recruiting the others.
But now, that thread of patience snapped.
"Fine, you goddamn bitches."
Kalt whirled back at the three.
"You want me gone? I'll go."
"G-Goddamn bitches? Kalt! What did you just say?"
"Even if you're upset, that's too much."
"Kalt, such vulgarity. I'm disappointed."
'Disappointed? I'm the one disappointed, you fucking bitches!'
"If I'm leaving, time to take back what I gave you."
"You want us to puke up your cooking?"
"Besides food, we didn't get much from you."
"Kalt? What exactly are you asking for?"
'These fucking whores...'
After everything I've done.
They couldn't think beyond meals. It enraged him further.
Kalt spread his hands toward them.
"The hypnosis I cast on you."
Hypnosis
All prior hypnosis effects removed. Forget the last 10 seconds upon awakening.
Before they could react, an eerie energy surged from Kalt's hands.
Their eyes glazed over, standing blankly.
To them, Kalt commanded.
"All hypnosis I placed on you is now gone. Wake up and forget the last 10 seconds."
With that, Kalt left the room, leaving the three behind.
Moments later, they snapped to.
"Huh? Where'd he go? When did he leave?"
"Must've taken the advice without clinging."
"Must've been a shock. Still, it's for the best for Kalt and us. He might not see it now, but time will show our decision was spot on."
They hadn't noticed the change, still convinced they were right.
Meanwhile.
Kalt entered his own room at the inn and flopped onto the bed, staring blankly at the ceiling.
"Haa..."
Just a sigh escaped.
Despite his best efforts to do right.
The women he'd helped so selflessly discarded him without gratitude.
If he'd been useless, he might not be so mad.
'I made those worthless bitches pull their weight.'
Ungrateful wretches who saw his efforts as mere meals.
All his hardships felt futile.
His vow to live kindly for his parents rang hollow.
No, had he foolishly clung to it so rigidly?
"Fuck, yeah. Why've I been such a moron all this time?"
Living kindly was fine.
No need to make enemies pointlessly.
But.
"Can't I live a little for myself?"
Saying it aloud lightened his chest.
"Yeah, that's it. Hah, fuck. Why didn't I think of that sooner?"
He still wanted to honor his parents' vow.
But he'd been too inflexible.
"They wouldn't want me miserable like this."
They say a child's happiness is the greatest filial piety.
Had he been unfilial till now?
To atone, he should show happiness.
So he decided.
His mindset shifted; the world brightened a bit.
But lingering rage and stress left his eyes hot, head pounding, body weary.
'Sleep first.'
Things would look better after rest. He closed his eyes.
Kalt awoke the next evening.
Exhaustion from stress had knocked him out for a full day.
After splashing water on his face to clear the fog, his stomach growled.
He left the inn and ordered food and drink at a nearby eatery.
Filling his empty gut and downing booze...
"Kuh~."
The haze vanished.
As he settled in to enjoy his meal...
"P-Please stop, Dread."
"You like it too, so why fight? Huh?"
An irritating voice grated his ears.
'That asshole's at it again.'
The vanguard from another hero party causing a stir lately.
No sign of his hero or members—solo harassing women as usual.
Kalt had seen Dread flirt and grope staff before.
Annoying, but not crossing lines—till now.
This time, he gripped her wrist relentlessly.
Jena, the eatery's poster girl, struggled in vain against his muscled grip.
"Pl-Please let go, Dread."
"Quit playing hard to get. Time to be honest—you're into it, right?"
"What are you even... Kyaa!"
Dread groped her ass.
"Shaking this around. I know you're tempting me."
"S-Stop! Someone, help!"
No one stepped up to Jena's plea.
Dread's bulk intimidated them, plus rumors of his party's monster kills meant they stood no chance.
Jena despaired at the inaction, terror rising—what would his hands do next?
'Haa, ruining my meal.'
Right then.
Kalt stood and approached Jena and Dread.
"Hey, cut the crap and let her go."
"What the! Who're you interru—huh? Oh, it's you."
Poised to snap, Dread smirked at Kalt's face.
"The guy who got dumped by Mabel's party, right?"
"...What?"
Dread's words plunged Kalt's improved mood straight into the trash.