“So yeah, take those two with you.”
That was what Waine had said. I had stomped on his foot hard enough to make him yelp in pain right after he’d said it, but I still couldn’t refuse in the end. I owed him for the goblin hunt, and that meant I was stuck. So, even though I didn’t really want to, I had agreed to team up with Liluetta and Yune for the day.
Now, we were preparing for our little “adventure.” Having a debt to repay was rough. And the worst part? This wasn’t nearly enough to settle it, so Waine could probably rope me into more of his nonsense later. I didn’t even feel like I could actually meet his expectations. I was still a rookie with almost no experience. And my rank? Still stuck at F, without a single promotion.
Well, even if listening to Waine turned out to be a bad idea, that wasn’t my responsibility. I decided to just do what I could and stick to my usual herb-gathering routine.
“Liluetta Magnan and Yune Izus, right? Uh, is it okay if I just call you by your first names?” I asked.
Liluetta gave a curt nod. “I don’t mind.”
“Of course! Please call me Yune, Master Kiri!” Yune clasped her hands together and smiled sweetly.
They had completely opposite personalities. At least now I knew how to address them. Being called “master” did feel a little weird, though, because I was probably the youngest one here.
And they said they were a mage and a healer... That was surprising. Liluetta had said she was a trained mage back at the guild, but I hadn’t realized Yune was a cleric until I noticed the pendant around her neck—the sacred emblem of the Earth Mother. Both of them could use real magic, then. I had heard that spellcasters were rare and valuable, so why were two of them coming along on a simple herb-gathering trip with me?
“All right, Liluetta, Yune. We’re about to head out,” I announced. “But before we do, there’s something important I need to tell you.”
Waine had dumped them on me. But since we were in the same party now, I needed to be responsible and do things right—even if it was just a temporary party, and even if I wasn’t all that motivated. I can’t handle everything, but at the very least I should do what I can and share what I know.
Except I wasn’t thrilled about what I had to say next. It was going to make me sound arrogant, and I really didn’t want to deal with the reaction it might cause. Honestly, I was dreading it.
I glanced at Liluetta. She seemed calm now, but the way she had snapped at Waine earlier still lingered in my mind. That kind of intensity was intimidating. It made me hesitate, but I took a breath and spoke.
“Uh, for today, the three of us will be acting as a temporary party. And as the party leader, I need you both to follow my decisions.”
Liluetta’s voice instantly sharpened. “So you’re saying we have to obey your orders?”
Great. I sighed to myself. I’d made sure I phrased things politely, and this was still the response I got. From the moment I first saw her, I’d known that she would be like this. I really didn’t like dealing with people like her.
But I nodded. “Yeah. That’s what I’m saying.”
Liluetta wrinkled her nose. She was clearly unimpressed. I was a little scared, but if I was going to lead this party, this was something I couldn’t back down on.
“If you don’t like it, you’re free to leave now,” I told her. “Even after we get going, you can leave at any time if you’re unhappy with my decisions. But what I won’t allow is you ignoring my instructions and acting on your own.”
I had heard those words before. At the time, I’d just figured that was how party leaders worked. But I understood it a little better now.
“I’m not saying this to be difficult. I’m saying it because if something goes wrong, I’m not strong enough to protect you. I can’t take responsibility for you. That’s why I need you to promise to listen. If you can’t, then I can’t take you with me.”
Yune called me “master,” and yeah, I guess I really am more experienced. I’m the leader of this party too. So if something happens to them, it’s my responsibility. And that terrifies me. It really does.
I just needed them to promise they wouldn’t do anything reckless. That was less of an order and more of a desperate plea.
“Got it!” said Yune. “I’ll follow your lead, Kiri-o.”
“Yune! You can’t be serious!” Liluetta protested.
“Now, now. He’s kind enough to take us with him. Let’s just treat today as a learning experience, my lady.” Yune, all soft smiles and gentle energy, calmed Liluetta down just like that.
Just a moment ago, Yune had called me “Master Kiri,” and now it was “Kiri-o,” but I really didn’t mind. She was easygoing and not terrifying, which I really appreciated. More importantly, the two of them seemed close, so Liluetta actually listened to her.
“Fine. But if I don’t like it, I really will leave,” said Liluetta.
“Yeah, I don’t have a problem with that,” I replied.
Liluetta relented, and I let out a breath I didn’t know I was holding. If she left partway through, I wouldn’t mind at all. And if I didn’t meet their expectations, that was their problem. I wasn’t some skilled adventurer who could impress them anyway.
“All right, let’s head out. Follow me,” I said.
They had completed their adventurer registrations and bought their gathering baskets. I had learned their names and told them everything they needed to know. We were finally ready. Sure, we were starting way later than I’d planned, but we could set out at last.
An adventuring field trip.
That phrase left a strange feeling in my chest, like a fog rolling in. But I ignored it. I just wanted to start gathering.
Do what I can and share what I know.
That was what I’d decided. But the only thing I knew how to do was imitate the only party leader I’d ever followed. I was still new to this, and that was all I had to work with. Even then, I had a feeling I wouldn’t be able to pull it off nearly as well as he had.
And I was about to learn just how right I was.