3. Marge, the Skill Lender (3)
As I ignored them laughing at me and continued following behind them, the four in front of me came to a stop. It seems that we have reached a crossroads. Altora clicked his tongue and turned back to me.
「Hey, Marge, which one is it? Don’t you have a skill that can help!」
「I’ve lent you my [Scout’s Intuition] skill. You should be able to tell which path has the trap.」
「Huh? What’s that?」
「There was a possibility of automatic generation in the dungeon before the last, so at that time–」
「It’s not enough to just give it to me! You have to give the explanations too! Don’t you realize how much trouble you’re causing because of this!!」
Of course I explained. But I also had a feeling that he was ignoring it.
Altora has no intention of understanding anything, but he’s the type of leader who can’t bear to be left out of the loop. That’s why he has most of the skills needed to conquer dungeons, yet he doesn’t understand their contents or effects.
Since he is insisting he didn’t hear it, there’s no point in refuting him.
「My bad. I’ll reflect on it.」
「HUUUUH!? Just how many times have you said that!? Even a parrot can simply say I’ll reflect on it and not do anything! I’m tellin’ you to improve!!」
If I were to explain it for the hundredth time, these guys would still ignore it for the hundredth time. Even if I say that to him while he is yelling at me, I’ll only be wasting my time.
「…I’m really sorry. I will.」
I bowed my head obediently. Nothing will come of arguing here, and nothing will change until I do this.
「Shit! This delay is your fault. I’ll deduct it from the distribution.」
「…」
If the distribution rate, which was originally less than 10%, was to be subtracted even more, it would be nothing more than a drop in the bucket. I can’t accept this, but even if I argue here and now, the outcome is obvious. All I can do is hope that Altora’s mood improves by the time we return to the ground.
Without even asking me to raise my head, Altora focused on the branching road.
「[Scout’s Intuition] activate. Hmm? This is…」
「I seek an explanation. What do you see?」
「There’s a door to the right. It’s huge.」
As I kept up with Altora who moved forward without any more explanation, we came upon a huge stone door, just as he had said. The door, which was made of a heavy stone similar to marble, had a snake… no, a dragon – the bas-relief of a dragon.
Judging from the majestic appearance and the distance we had already traveled, there was no doubt that this was the dungeon’s master’s room. By making the most of the wisdom of our predecessors, we were able to get to this point without anyone dying. Having achieved that alone proves that the deaths of those who fell in the past were not in vain.
「If my intuition is correct, this is the boss room.」
「Already? That was surprisingly quick.」
「Indeed.」
Although there was no one here who understood that fact.
「Okay, I’ll explain the strategy. Marge!」
I was slow to react to the unexpected call. Usually, the only instruction I get is, “Get down on the floor in the corner.”
「Now Marge, where are we right now?」
「In the deepest part of the “Abyss Where Evil Comes From”.」
I answered without being able to understand the intent of the question.
「Even someone like you understands that much, I see. Then I would like to give you the honor of being the first spear.」
「First spear.」
First spear.
…First spear?
「You want me to rush into the boss’s room?」
「Does it have any other meaning?」
「I don’t understand. What’s the point of doing something like that?」
Altora let out a deep sigh.
「You are really slow.」
「You’re not trying to escape from Article 17 of the guild rules, are you?」I asked.
「What, you already figured it out?」
Feeling dizzy as Altora declared this as a matter of course, I recalled the guild rules.
There are rules even in the adventurer’s world. Among them, the rules established by the Guild Federation are very authoritative, and even S-class parties cannot easily ignore them.
Its final Article 17:
『If a party member leaves the party, a retirement allowance should be paid according to the number of years.』
「Marge, how many years have you been with us?」
「I just started my seventh year.」
「The retirement allowance will go up dramatically from the seventh year onwards.」
Since being an adventurer is a dangerous profession, adventurers should be compensated accordingly. That is the intention.
Even so. Should something like this be allowed?
「Gordon, Eria, Tina. Do you all agree with this as well?」
I asked the remaining three, but their responses were too lackluster.
「It’s the leader’s decision.」
「Same for me.」
「I was against it, you know? But it was a majority vote…」
Can you really discard a person you’ve spent six years with by a majority vote?
Are you all saying that everything I have done was so worthless that I can be so easily discarded?
「Are you serious? If I’m gone, then all your skills will be…」
「Listen, Marge. Keeping someone incompetent is a liability.」
「Liability?」
「Just by having you here, we’re losing more and more. As the years go by, the losses get bigger. You are truly a liability to the party. We want to take the opportunity of clearing “Abyss Where Evil Comes From” to be reborn as a true S-class party.」
「Me… a liability?」
「That’s right.」
I’ve endured for so long. Even though it may be unreasonable, I tried to think that I was happy enough to be in an S-class party. I was supporting this party’s success for the sake of society as well.
And they say it was a liability. My presence was a liability.
「That’s why, just die. Starting the week after next, a first-rate alchemist will be joining in your place. She should be able to get us the results for the salary we pay!」
「……Okay.」
「Good.」
「But before that.」
I’m done with this.
I decided to do my first and last favor for this party.
「Give me back the skills I lent you.」
RELEASE RATE
Skill Lender Get Back His Pride
Speed up schedule by 10 hours
Current schedule: Every 90 hours
Thanks for the chapter!
That’s right. If he’s a liability, then you don’t need the skills he provide! Suffer!
At least one was against it openly (vs just following). Probably couldn’t do much even if they fought for Marge. Maybe a better experience in the future if they survive and see Marge again.