We toasted n drank our ale.

Well, okay, its drinkable cause I cooled it down, I spose. A tad sour, but lets just take it for what it is, yep.

Oh, how nice! Cooling it down makes it easy to drink! Karen cheered in delight.

After a short time, a waitress served Karens recommended dishes. I took a bite, and stopped.

Yep, my tastes become daintily. I see. Thats me havin become successful.

No, thats wrong. Its all because of Indra.

Still, I must say, you havent changed at all. I immediately recognized you out on the street, said Karen while scrutinizin me with a serious look.

Eh? Did I age so much?

I was slightly shocked. Indra has been tellin me that I lack youthfulness, but bein told so even by an acquaintance from my youth is really a bummer.

No, you got it wrong. Its the opposite! You havent aged at all!

Im not that youthful n spunky, kay?

Indra said that my skin recovered a lot and I think so as well, but if your next to a genuine 13-years-old, bein told you havent changed from back when you were thirteen years old is Ah, Ive been exposed to the sun for god knows how long, so my skins bein damaged for just as long, I guess.

Eh? Why do you look so depressed?

No, Ive just been thinkin that I had dry skin since back in the ole days.

Karen burst into laughter, Youre a guy, and yet you care about dry skin? As I thought, youve changed, Sword.

It aint like Ive been carin bout it all the time or nythin. Its just, my partner started talkin bout me being forty, so I got incredibly worried bout it.

Karen became bewildered again.

You formed a party?

Yeah, I finally found someone.

Indeed, finally. It took me twelve years for that finally to come true.

What kind of person are they? Umm, its the kid who was with you the other day, right? He looked awfully young, though

Shes actually young. That girl turned thirteen just recently.

Karen was lost for words.

Well, her inner self is that of an old man, though. Moreover, shes a total sadist. At the undead dungeon she started blatherin bout it goin to be borin without a scaredy-cat. When some completely useless priestess called out to us in a high-handedly way, she let her come along, gettin a kick out of watchin the priestess gettin scared to death and bawlin. Seriously, shes the worst.

Honestly, that was an incident which completely flipped over my views. Takin along a useless, domineerin priestess whose sole aim was to mooch off me, Indra actively used her as shield instead of coverin for her, deliberately killed enemies in front of her eyes to scare her, kicked the woman whenever she told Indra to rescue her all while threatenin her to be exploited as human meat shield. It was truly incredible. I realized that Id been wrong until then as Indras handlin was a good way to deal with such people.

Why that girl? Youd be able to form a party with anyone, wouldnt you? Why did you join a party with such a kid despite being able to choose anyone you like?

Karens tone was sullen and full of blame, but thinkin back on it now, I did call her somethin like that girl. Its my bad.

No, sorry. She aint someone youd describe as that girl. She cherishes whats precious to her. Shes a softhearted, loyal meddler. Sure, shes an extreme sadist, but she simply outclasses everyone, you see? Whenever folks lunge at her or talk shit bout her, she readily wields her instigation skill, simply droppin her opponents into the deepest recess of self-loathin. Shes a nice girl who can be kind to those who are kind to her.

Once I explained things, Karen fell silent, and then hung her head.

Isee. Sorry, Ive been rude, havent I?

No, its me whos at fault here. Shes my comrade, so I inadvertently started to nitpick a bit bout her, but you see, at some parts, shes really a great person.

Its because Ive been only talkin with the maids and servants so far Since those fanatics do nothing but sing her praises, Ive started to unconsciously refute em, but if I talk like that to someone who doesn know her, theyll naturally consider her to be a bad person.

Shes a nice girl. Always worryin bout me. Bein with her is relaxin. She made me realize that its fine to consider things like this. Shes the first one who made me feel that I made a partner.

When I looked at Karen while praisin Indra like that, her face became gloomy.

Ah, I see.

I think Ive wronged you guys.

Huh?

Back then I was still a brat who was happy over havin found friends for the first time in his life. Thats why I didnt consider your feelings, believin that all would be fine as long as I handled things somehow. But, Ive finally comprehended how wrong I had been. No, I was a lost case. No matter how you look at it, I was a total failure, wasnt I? In the end I couldnt even support you guys, could I?

When I grasped what was going on around me as a child, I was already isolated. Most of the village ignored my existence.

But, some folks called out to a loner like me, tellin me to become an adventurer together with em. I was really happy. Thats why I thought all would be fine if I did my best and protected em. And they, except for Karen, also thought that itd be fine since I was doin my best for em.

Karen followed me around, but followin me was all she could handle. And that reality hurt and tormented Karen.

I cant follow you anymore. I dont even see any meaning in me being with you, she told me at last.

I decided to leave our party. My friends had been unable to keep up with me for a very long time now, only living from the money I earned by killin monsters. The one whod turned them into useless bums was me.

Well, I guess things got back in order once I was gone, right? How are the others doin? Itd have been fine to bring them along today for a reunion, I said cheerfully, but her face became even gloomier.

Well, the party immediately dissolved after you left, Sword. Iwasnt confident about getting along with the other guys, so I left the party as well, and so the party naturally broke apart. Samwent back home, I think. Then again, it seems like he only became an adventurer because everyone dragged him along. Jack and Tomtried to continue as adventurers, but it didnt go well for them, and they became debt slaves, eventually dying from that. Den became a bandit, is the rumor I heard out on the streets. Who knows whether hes still alive?

I see.

Yep.

Now that she mentions it, a number of my acquaintances have died. So it was weird to think that everyone else would be fine just because Karen was still alive and workin as adventurer.