Shien wanted to attack Mr. Karen, yet Mr. Karen showed remarkable tolerance and didn't take Shien's words to heart. Was this what true maturity looked like?
But I was truly furious with Shien. He kept insulting Mr. Karen—the very person who had saved everyone. This time, I simply couldn't endure it anymore.
"Enough! Shien, you're truly disappointing! How long are you going to keep being rude to the person who saved our lives?!"
"Lixia…?"
"If it weren't for Mr. Karen, everyone's money would've been stolen, and I would've been kidnapped. Karen and his companions saved us. Don't you feel even the slightest bit of gratitude?"
I didn't care anymore about the many years of friendship between Shien and me. If we had to cut ties, then so be it. I wouldn't regret it!
"Lixia, even if he saved us, he still killed people. He's a murderer."
"That's right, Lixia. He's a bad person."
Hera and Sicilia had come to Shien's defense again, once more slandering Mr. Karen.
Mr. Karen had killed those men to save everyone, not because he enjoyed slaughtering innocent people.
I had been annoyed with Hera and Sicilia for a long time. Just to win Shien's favor, they always sided with him no matter what he did wrong, completely ignoring right and wrong.
"You two, shut up! If Mr. Karen hadn't killed them, anyone here could've ended up as a hostage. Do you really think the people of Black Sun wouldn't kill?"
"But killing them wasn't necessary. You could've just subdued them."
There had been too many members of Black Sun. Trying to subdue them one by one would've taken too long and only created more hostages. People who did nothing during the fight always had the most to say afterward.
"Easy for you to say. Why didn't you step in and subdue them yourself? You just stand there and criticize after everything's over."
"Lixia, watch your words. Don't forget your status is lower than mine."
Hera was the daughter of a duke, while I was only the daughter of a count. Naturally, my status was lower than hers. No matter what I said, I would always be the one in the wrong.
At that moment, a hand suddenly appeared between Hera and me.
It was Mr. Karen's hand.
"Stop. If you're going to argue, then argue. Don't drag social status into it—it only makes you look like you've already lost."
"What did you say…!? Don't walk away! Come back here!"
Karen left immediately after saying that, and Hera flew into a rage from embarrassment. Honestly, it was ridiculous.
At the same time, I had made up my mind.
I was going to leave this team.
My way of thinking was completely different from theirs. Staying any longer would only make things harder for me.
So I turned to Shien.
"Shien, I'm leaving the party. I don't want to stay with you anymore."
"W–Wait…! Why?!"
Shien looked completely unable to accept it, but I no longer cared.
"The only reason I joined your team in the first place was because I was worried no one else would partner with you, and you might fail the course. But now you have Hera and Sicilia. There's no need for me to stay."
"But once a party is formed, it can't be changed."
"You really didn't listen to the teacher. If we report that we've had a conflict, we're allowed to switch teams."
Once teams were decided, they normally couldn't be changed. But serious arguments were dangerous for a team. During dungeon exploration, someone might abandon their teammate in danger—or even disguise deliberate harm as an accident.
That was why the teacher had created an exception for cases like this.
Of course, we would have to explain the reason for the argument to the teacher. It was embarrassing, so I had always avoided applying to leave the team.
But this time, I had reached my limit.
"We're not arguing! When were we arguing?"
Shien still couldn't accept it. He genuinely didn't realize how strained the relationship between Hera, Sicilia, and me had become.
"Enough. Hera and I argue about you every single day. But you're always lost in your own world of magic and never hear a thing."
Since childhood, Shien had never listened to anyone. When we told him the lake was dangerous and he shouldn't go near it, he insisted on going anyway, wearing that stubborn expression.
In the end, he fell into the lake.
And somehow, I was the one who got scolded for not stopping him.
Because Shien could use all four elemental attributes, he had always been treated as a precious national talent. Whenever he got hurt from his own recklessness, it somehow became someone else's fault.
I had been asked by my parents to take care of him.
Before I realized it, it had become a habit.
"Lixia, isn't this just you running away?"
I didn't know what Hera was talking about. I wasn't running away.
I was abandoning them.
"I don't care what you call it. It's better than arguing all the time."
"Shien, Lixia has clearly made up her mind. We shouldn't try to stop her anymore."
Sicilia was the most cunning of the three. She believed I was the most likely person to become Shien's lover in the future. My leaving must have made her very happy, so of course she wouldn't miss this chance.
But right now, Sicilia's words were actually helping me.
"That's right. Just let me leave the party, Shien."
"Lixia…"
Shien still seemed unwilling to accept it. I didn't know what he was thinking, but I had already said everything I needed to say.
I didn't want to stay there any longer.
"Don't worry about me. Goodbye."
I left those final words behind and walked away without looking back.
What shocked me the most was that I felt no regret at all. No sadness. Not even a single tear.
I couldn't even recall any happy childhood memories with Shien.
We were supposed to be childhood friends, yet I couldn't remember a single joyful moment we had shared.
Instead, I felt… relieved.
As if a heavy burden I had carried for years had finally been lifted.
It felt wonderful.
Soon, I went to look for an empty seat. That was when I noticed the swordswoman—the beautiful one whose long hair had been cut short earlier—sitting alone.
So I sat down beside her and spoke.
"Miss, what's wrong? You look troubled."
Her expression was gloomy, and she kept sighing.
Then she turned to look at me.
"Oh, Miss Ethe… It's you. My sword broke, so I'll have to buy a new one."
"Can't it be repaired?"
"Mr. Karen said my sword isn't suitable for real combat. He told me to buy a new one."
"Then are you worried about the quality of the sword? I can recommend a great weapon shop."
"Thank you, but I didn't expect this situation. I didn't bring much money with me."
"I see… but you're a noble, right?"
"Yes. Was it that obvious?"
"I could tell from the way you sit and carry yourself. What's your title?"
"Duke."
So the swordswoman was actually a duke's daughter!
Even though she was a noble from another country, her status was still higher than mine. I had been terribly rude. I quickly lowered my head in apology.
"I'm so sorry! I spoke too casually! Please forgive me!"
"It's fine. You can just talk normally."
She smiled kindly and forgave me, even allowing me to speak with her as an equal.
Just as expected from Mr. Karen's companion.
And as a fellow duke's daughter, she was nothing like Hera. The difference between them was enormous.
Was this what a truly mature adult was like?
"Then I won't hold back. What's your name, Miss?"
I wanted to get closer to her, but I still didn't know her name.
"Oh, I haven't introduced myself yet. My name is Grace Somart."
She answered a little shyly while introducing herself. I could tell she had simply forgotten earlier because she had been too upset about her broken sword.
Among nobles, the very first thing you do when meeting someone is introduce yourself.
Earlier, I had been so excited to see Mr. Karen that I had forgotten to introduce myself as well.
How embarrassing.
But I also didn't want to address her too formally—I wanted us to become closer.
Wait… Somart?
Wasn't that the surname of the world's strongest swordsmanship style? The same name as the Sword Saint who had remained undefeated for twenty years?
Could it be…?
"Somart…? Are you the daughter of Sword Saint Anthony?!"
"That's right."
"I can't believe I actually met the Sword Saint's daughter…! Miss Somart, can I keep calling you big sister? And you can call me Lixia—no, please call me Lixia!"
"Of course, Miss Lixia."
Great! She agreed!
But I was still curious why she hadn't discussed this with her companions. As a duke's daughter, she should easily be able to repay borrowed money.
"Still, shouldn't you talk to your companions about it?"
"I'm a bit embarrassed to ask others for money… Actually, I don't even know how to bring it up."
I realized I had been thinking too simply. Asking to borrow money was embarrassing—it could easily become something others laughed about.
I had never borrowed money either, so I had no advice to offer.
"S–Sorry… I don't know either."
"It's fine. Thank you for trying to help."
She really was a kind person. Even though I hadn't helped at all, she still thanked me politely.
Mr. Karen's companions really were all good people.
Earlier, that lady who seemed to worship the Goddess of Fate looked like she wanted to argue back against Hera and Sicilia for my sake, but the merchant gentleman stopped her.
But was that really a magic that made people hungry?
Why would such a magic even exist?
Did he invent it himself?
That was amazing.
And the one who helped Mr. Karen rescue people earlier… she looked like a little girl, probably younger than me. Even though I hadn't spoken with her, I could clearly sense that she was very strong.
She hadn't been afraid of Black Sun at all.
Someday… would I face a situation where I had to kill someone too?
Would I be able to do it?
What did Mr. Karen and the others feel when they killed someone?