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Chapter 6

You Can Say That Finding Your True Self is The First Step

 

Right now, I’m in the village’s simple-looking guild.

Even though it’s a simple-looking guild, the information inside is no different from what you can find in the guild in town because they are shared from a database that is stored in the capital using magic.

As I look at the words 『Solo』 which clearly indicates I have left my previous party and now have no affiliation, the profile of a woman from the side of the counter extending her hand caught my eye.

 

Sybilla followed me as a matter of course as if she was sure I wouldn’t refuse her.

Well, it’s true that I have no intention to refuse her at all, but I can’t understand why she’s so insisted on coming with me.

My best guess would be because when I said 『I hate the Goddess』, it piqued my interest, but she said that wasn’t a cult invitation after all, so why would she ask that in the first place? I can’t understand her at all.

 

「Level 5 huh… it’s pretty low, isn’t it? And your job is 【Saint】? Wait, so you’re not a priest, but the Goddess’ Saint?」

 

「…Yeah.」

 

My remarks yesterday and the job displayed here. I don’t even have to explain what can be implied from these two.

For someone who received the highest version of priest-job in the Goddess religion, what I said yesterday might’ve sounded too blasphemous.

If she were a devout believer, she would’ve immediately turned me in for sure, but——.

 

「You’re a pretty interesting fellow. I like it.」

 

——Sybilla, however, just grinned like a cat while looking at my face.

 

Just how did she come to that conclusion, I seriously don’t understand this woman.

Could it be that she’s a non-believer?

 

By the way, the people in the village don’t have a good impression of me who has black hair, as I’ve already mentioned.

Even though I was congratulated for obtaining an excellent high-level job, not everyone is fond of me personally.

On top of that, I have such a beautiful woman accompanying me today. The guy at the reception desk must not like me very much, as I can hear him clicking his tongue in a displeased manner.

 

Goodness, you might not know this, but if you knew that there was someone who has 『the Highest Job, Saint』  but also 『the Saint who said he hates the Goddess』, you would’ve had a completely different reaction.

You probably think she likes me because of the former, but Sybilla is interested in me because of the latter.

 

「I will also party up with Russel, so please take care of that too.」

 

「A-Ah, yes, I understand.」

 

As I looked at the guy at the reception desk, who dropped his jaw after suddenly being approached by a beautiful woman, I peeked at Sybilla’s status.

 

【Mage】, Level 8.

So she’s a magic type, huh. Not bad.

And her level is higher than mine too.

 

「We can decide on the details later, but let’s party up first for now.」

 

「I don’t mind, but you’ll have to take care of your own food and stuff, alright?」

 

「I’m not that broke, mind you.」

 

Then it’s fine, I guess. Then, next one is…

 

「Hey, what about the name of the party?」

 

「I already have one in mind!」

 

She sure is quick for someone who suddenly asked to come along when she just found out that I’m going to go to a dungeon today

 

Then, before I could say anything, Sybilla quickly declared.

 

「Our party name will be 『Twilight Pact』!」

 

She said while puffing out her chest with a smug look on her face and her hands on her hips.

She must’ve thought about it beforehand since she answered so quickly.

 

「Is there any meaning behind that name?」

 

「Nope! It just sounds dark and cool, don’t you think so too?」

 

What an unsurprising declaration from her.

 

She’s full of confidence as she looks at me with a satisfied and triumphant look in her eyes.

It seems she really had decided on that name on a whim, I don’t even have time to be amazed.

I don’t know why she’s so smug and happy about it, but aside from those things——.

 

「——Well, it’s not a bad name.」

 

「Right!?」

 

She said with her arms crossed in front of her chest, nodding her head in satisfaction.

The Twilight Pact, huh?

 

「And you should be the leader, Russell. I’ll leave the commanding to you.」

 

「I mean, it’s true that I’m the one who wanted to explore the dungeon in the first place but… are you really okay with me as the leader?」

 

「No matter how big our level gap is, I’m not so bold to place myself higher than someone who holds the job of a 【Saint】. Besides…」

 

「Besides?」

 

「….I forgot what I wanted to say.」

 

This girl is just so moody that it makes me tired just listening to each word that she says.

I thought I would get all nervous because this beautiful girl was coming with me, but that’s not the case at all. Just like the easy-to-move getup she wore, her inner self is just as breezy and active.

Her equipment is not bound to the concept of a【Mage】.

 

But still…… a level 8 mage wearing trousers and carrying a sword on her waist, huh? Even though she’s a mage.

I honestly think that’s an excellent choice.

 

「….I’ve decided our next destination.」

 

「Hm? Aren’t we going to the dungeon?」

 

「No, the next place we should go to is——」

 

We have arrived near the north gate of the village.

Here, there’s a weapon shop for the gatekeepers, for the escorts hired to fight bandits on the way, for the people who come to this village, and so on.

 

「Hello, welco— Oh, if it isn’t you, Russell-kun. So the rumors that you returned to the village yesterday were true.」

 

「Yes, long time no see.」

 

I gave a light greeting to the shop owner Aunty, who’s one of the few who didn’t try to avoid me like the other villagers, and went inside the weapon shop.

While I was silently searching for what I was looking to buy, the shop owner came over to talk to me.

 

「Still, I thought you’d come here to buy a weapon together along with Vince and Emmy when you all grew up but to think you would become a 【Saint】.」

 

「……」

 

「Those two did come to buy weapons, just as I thought, but it’s a shame that one child isn’t with them at that time.」

 

「…..Is that so? Then…」

 

I place the light sword I found in front of the shop owner.

 

「…I’ll buy this one for the sake of that time.」

 

「Even though you’re a 【Saint】?」

 

This person was also there when there was a celebration for our selection ceremony, so of course she also knows my class.

And also the reason why I no longer hold a sword.

 

「Yes, even though I’m a 【Saint】. This girl here next to me, Sybilla, is a 【Mage】, but she’s dressed like this and she’s even carrying a sword with her.」

 

「Hoh… what a beautiful girl you brought here.」

 

「You have good eyes aren’t you, Onee-san. Please do praise me more.」

 

Please don’t praise her like that, this girl is quick to get carried away.

After exchanging a couple of words, the shop owner looks at me.

 

「I see, a 【Saint】 with a sword, huh…… isn’t that nice. As the owner of a weapon shop, I couldn’t be more happy.」

 

「Yeah. I don’t have to be reserved around anyone anymore now after all.」

 

From now on, I don’t have to restrain myself by only using a staff out of consideration for the swordsman in the vanguard.

Like Sybilla, I want to be free to choose the weapon that is best for me, without being bound by any rules.

 

That’s right, I said it myself, didn’t I?

The ability that is granted to everyone is all high-level and has no disadvantage.

It’s merely something that could increase our options.

 

It’s ironic, though, that it was the hero party out of everything who narrowed down those options.

 

「From now on, I will fight as a swordsman who uses recovery magic.」

 

「Un, that’s a good idea. After all, Russell-kun has spent more time as a 【Swordsman】 than as a 【Saint】, so you should use that to your advantage.」

 

After nodding at the shop owner, I bought the steel sword using the rest of the money I had left from when I was expelled from the party

 

As if I can live out the rest of my days in peace doing nothing, as Vince and the others expected me to.

Using this money we earned as a party together as a stepping stone, I’ll continue to be an adventurer.

 

…But still, I wonder what they’re up to right now.

 

「Is there something on your mind, Russell?」

 

「No, it’s nothing. This time, let’s head to the dungeon next.」

 

「Great! Finally!」

 

Let’s not think about those guys now.

I also have Sybilla with me who can use long-range attacks to help me.

 

Today will be my first step as a new…… No, my first step as my real self.

Now then, let’s see what kind of place this mysterious dungeon that suddenly appeared near the village.