Hazure Skill ‘Mapping’ wo Te ni Shita Ore wa, Saikyou Party to Tomo ni Dungeon ni Idomu Chapter 19

Chapter 19
Chapter 19 – Paladin of the ‘Arrivers’

Translator: Mana

The ‘Arrivers’—said to be the strongest party, closest to clearing the dungeon—was currently facing an extremely serious problem. The opinions of the party members were currently split in two. All because of a single woman.

“There’s no way we could let a troublemaker like this woman in! Absolutely not, nope! No way!”

“N-Neme is against it too…”

Elin and Neme opposed letting Roslia into the party.

“No, we’re definitely letting Roslia in! There’s no way you can’t let a girl this cute in!!”

“Her abilities are reliable, so I think it’s okay…”

Force and I were in favour. The two girls opposing us kept sending cold glares this way.

Hey, at least I didn’t have any ulterior motives, unlike Force… really…

My reason was very simple. It was because I felt that Roslia had suitable ability to be in the ‘Arrivers’. It definitely wasn’t because I was being swayed by the warmth I felt from Roslia, who was currently clinging to me as she hid from the aggressive stares of the girls behind my back. Probably…

“What about you, Jin?!”

“I don’t really mind either way? I’ll leave it to you guys…”

Jin declared a neutral stance against Erin’s hounding.

Saying ‘I don’t mind’ in times like this was unfair…

“Alright! Since I agree to join the party, it’s decided with 3 against 2! A round of applause please!” Roslia clapped cheerfully. Lured along, Force clapped too.

Was Roslia’s opinion even meant to count in a majority vote? She was still an outsider, so wasn’t it a bit of a reach?

Seeing Roslia’s self-a.s.sured giddiness, Erin had nearly reached her boiling point. She was glaring daggers at Roslia.

“Alright everyone, calm down. How about we go dungeon diving with Roslia once and see how it goes first?”

Realising that no progress would be made at the current rate, Jin put forth a suggestion. Erin still had a slightly unconvinced expression on her face, but the verbal attacks were momentarily halted.

It was the moment when I once again felt that the neutral parties were important. Sorry for thinking it was unfair…

“It’s been so long since I’ve been dungeon diving, but this atmosphere really is great!”

Erin shot a sharp glare at Roslia’s carefree remark. However, Roslia was in high spirits, ignoring such looks. Roslia’s spirit was tough…

We had come to the second floor of the dungeon.

It seemed like Roslia had gone as far as the fourth floor with the male adventurers in Puriff, so to match with the highest floor of the lowest member—in other words, me—we decided to match the test her abilities on the second floor.

Like Roslia said, the atmosphere on the second floor was comparatively much better than the first.

Unlike the dark caves of the first floor, this place was a sea of trees. A forest of overgrown giant trees. Damp mulch covered in moss. A warm mist that hung in the air. All of these factors overlapped in a delicate balance to create a magical scenery.

“I didn’t expect Roslia to actually have proper armour…”

Surprised by the sight of Roslia in armour, I expressed my admiration out loud. No matter how you looked at it, her appearance was exactly that of an elegant paladin, beautiful and dignified.

“I had a lot of money to spare! Since the adventurers in the town always gave me tons of presents…”

That was just because you had them financially sup

port you!

Even if it was only for a moment, I regretfully realised how stupid I was to feel impressed.

“Roslia! I gave you a present too, right? Do you remember? That expensive staff! Are you treasuring it?”

“Eh? I sold it… To order to buy this armour…”

At Roslia’s blunt reply to his hopeful question, Force fell to his knees. Not metaphorically, but literally.

“You’re kidding… that was expensive…”

“I wanted to adventure together with Note, so I sold it!”

I couldn’t help but feel sorry for Force about this. Though he partially brought it upon himself… More importantly, Roslia should stop putting all the blame on me. Force’s hatred-filled eyes were scary…

“Stop fooling around, the monsters are here. Around three of them? They’ll probably come flying.”

I reported the information I had gleaned from ‘Enemy Search’ in order to distract Force.

“Roslia, you can handle that much right? We’re not going to help, so do it yourself!” Erin insisted bitterly.

“Of course, we’ll lend a hand if it seems difficult…” Jin followed up, clarifying.

Suddenly. If this is not Binbogami WordPress then it is stolen!

Two pairs of winged spiders appeared, weaving their way between the trees. Three of them pa.s.sed over our heads, dropping the big black orbs they were carrying carefully in their eight legs.

“‘Impregnable Rampart’!”

The spell Roslia activated surrounded the six of us in a wall of light.

Immediately afterwards, we were attacked by a blast of wind—

No, the sight of a blast of wind.

I realised that the black orbs the spiders dropped had exploded, only to be blocked immediately by the spell Roslia had activated. The trees in the area were mowed down, flattening the area around the wall of light.

“‘Light Sword’—”

Three blades of light suddenly appeared next to Roslia—

“‘Fire’!”

Three rays extended towards the spiders. They were the afterimages of the swords that had already pa.s.sed.

“Note! How was my fighting? Was it nice?”

Roslia approached me. I heard the sound of the spider corpses belatedly hitting the ground.

If she had the time to listen to my opinion, she should ask Erin instead. Since I already knew the level of Roslia’s abilities…

No, it may be more accurate to say I hadn’t understood her abilities yet…

Until I saw this battle, I was under the wrong impression that Roslia’s abilities all stemmed from her skills. But she had proved herself. Through this fight. Her strength wasn’t only in the Holy Sword, she was the strongest as a pure paladin too.

It seemed like Erin, who was against Roslia joining the party, had realised her abilities too. She was biting her lip frustratedly.

In the end, Roslia cleared the second floor without summoning the Holy Sword once.

“So it’s decided that I’ll be joining the ‘Arrivers’!”

At Roslia’s words, everyone other than Force nodded solemnly.

After a 30 minute meeting in the living room of the party house, Roslia officially joined the ‘Arrivers’.

Erin, who opposed the decision until the end, opened her mouth bitterly.

“Just because I gave you the OK to join doesn’t mean I’ll hesitate to kick you out if you cause any problems…”

“What kind of problems…?”

Roslia tilted her head innocently. It was extremely cunning. Erin placed her hand to her head tiredly.

“I mean seducing men and swapping them out like a change of clothes…”

“It’s fine! I only have eyes for Note!”

“There you go joking again…”

Force laughed, reaching for Roslia’s shoulder. Roslia flicked his hand away in rejection.

“Sorry. I don’t see Force as an object of romantic interest, so please refrain from touching me!”

Take that, Force!

I still had no idea what Roslia’s intentions were for approaching me, but there was no way I wasn’t going to use it. To clear all my past humiliations, I looked at him smugly.

A smile naturally appeared on my face at Force’s astonishment.

“Just… do what you want…”

Erin was already over it. She held her head in her hands, as if she had a headache.

“Then I will do exactly that! Note, I’m so tired from the dungeon I’d like a ma.s.sage from you… in my room…”

“I take that back! I won’t accept such indecent things under this roof!”

“What’s so indecent about a ma.s.sage…?”

Roslia tilted her head, gazing at Erin ponderingly. The light smirk at the corner of her lips seemed to prove her guilty.

“Oh, shut your mouth! This b.i.t.c.h! Why are you trying to twist my words like I’m the pervert here?!”

“Eh… I’m a virgin though… I haven’t even kissed a man before… I’m not a b.i.t.c.h…”

“Huh?!”

I unintentially raised my voice. To think she would tell such an obvious lie here… Embarra.s.sed at raising my voice in surprise, I looked around at the others, only to find they had also done the same…

“I’m a devout believer of Cecinaism, you know? There’s no way I would do something like that with a man I didn’t intend on marrying… You understand me, right Neme?”

As a priestess and follower of the same Cecinaism, Neme nodded reluctantly.

“It’s possible… that Roslia is telling the truth…”

“Err… Neme… So in Cecinaism, you’re not allowed to do those kinds of things with anyone other than the person you marry?”

At Erin’s question, Neme firmly replied, “That’s right!”In response to Neme’s answer, Erin looked at her suspisciously.

In response to Neme’s answer, Erin looked at her suspiciously.

“That means all those inconsistent stories in the past where ‘Neme is an adult woman who has had many romantic experiences, like…’ were just made up after all!”

“Uhh…”

Neme glanced around sweating nervously.

This was… awfully embarra.s.sing, Neme… It hurt to just hear it.

“What was all that ‘When Neme was Erin’s age, she was so popular with the boys and had tons of one night stands! Erin should experience those too!’ you said! If you were lying when you gave me advice while acting all superior, I won’t forgive you…”

The eyes of everyone present were directed towards Neme. With tears in her eyes, Neme looked around seeking help, but realised that no one was about to throw a lifeline to her in this atmosphere.

“It was all made up… I’m sorry…”

She resolutely lowered her head at Erin. It was Neme’s own fault, but she looked so pitiful I couldn’t help but feel compa.s.sion at the miserable sight. Roslia, who brought up the topic in the first place, tried to direct the conversation back on track.

“Putting aside Neme’s case, this should prove I’m a virgin now.”

“Well…”

Erin seemed to silently accept it too. I feared taking Roslia’s words at face value too, so I could understand Erin’s feelings very well. If I believed every word Roslia said, I felt like I’d end up like Force…

“But… if it was Note… I wouldn’t mind giving him my first…”

Really?!

No no, wait. Be calm, me.

This was definitely a lie. Don’t be fooled, me.

But… perhaps… If this is not Binbogami WordPress then it is stolen!

No, stop! What am I getting swept along for?!

I could hear my l.u.s.t and self-control battle it out in my brain. My face heated up and started sweating buckets. I glanced around to calm myself—

Erin, Neme, and Jin were looking this way coldly. Force was directing all his feelings hatred towards me.

As if she had completely given up on me, Erin spoke wearily.

“What are you doing almost getting fooled for… Note…”

“I’m serious though…” Roslia said with a sidelong glance, and Erin sighed.

“See, nothing good will come out of letting her in… Let’s just… Ban romantic relations.h.i.+ps within the ‘Arrivers’ from now on… Of course, you’re forbidden from having s.e.x with this woman too, Note…”

Just how little trust did you have in me… Erin…

While I was down from Erin’s cold att.i.tude, Force suddenly exclaimed, “Hey, wait a minute! What do you mean romance is forbidden within the party?! Roslia and I can’t date in that case!”

“Umm, I don’t think there was any chance of me dating Force even if there wasn’t a rule to ban in-party relations.h.i.+ps…”

At Roslia’s merciless words, Force collapsed and pa.s.sed out.

What was happening… in this situation…

I started to regret letting Roslia into the party just a little.