"So, you're letting go now?" I asked, a hint of skepticism lacing my words.
"Ho ho, if you say it like that, your words can be misunderstood, you know, sir hero," the Pope replied with a chuckle, his tone carrying a hint of amusent.
"I told you last ti, right? I don't like speaking in riddles, right?"
Guessing the implication of my words, the Pope sighed and shook his head, his expression betraying a mix of resignation and understanding.
Even if he denied confining to this kingdom, he knew for a fact that it wasn't entirely true.
The number of tis I had requested to leave over the past few days had been strictly blocked by him. And even after pledging my alliance and connection to the church with Elena, he still had multiple high-ranking Templars monitoring .
So priests and staff even acted as spies... Just how paranoid was this old man?
"You are truly blunt with your words, sir hero," he remarked, bowing his head slightly in acknowledgnt. "I sincerely apologize if my indirect actions have caused you discomfort, sir hero... This may seem like a lie, but it was all for your sake…"
"Yeah, sure…"
Making a cough at my nonchalant answer, he then stood up, his movents deliberate and purposeful.
"Your journey is about to unfold, sir hero, but that doesn't an you have to do it alone. Just like the tales of old, the hero needs his comrades. The demons alone aren't your only enemies, after all. Having trusted comrades by your side to make decisions and take actions that don't restrict your role as a hero is much needed. As you may be the light of this world, but you're walking in constant darkness," he said with a slight hint of excitent, as if relishing the opportunity to share his wisdom.
I could then hear a flurry of footsteps entering the grand hall from the side as the large door swung open, revealing a group of people.
The first to enter was a man with brownish skin, carrying a gigantic black axe behind him. One glance was all it took to recognize him as being from a barbarian tribe.
The sheer amount of muscle he exposed made it seem as though he were completely naked. His imposing tattoos, combined with his nacing face adorned with scars, exuded an aura of power and strength.
Then, from his side, entered a very short man. Judging from his slightly pointed ears and very big beard, he was probably a dwarf. He was holding a shield and a heavy hamr, his sturdy fra suggesting a formidable warrior.
Next to him stood soone I was quite familiar with—Isabella, the apostle of love. Was she planning to join my party, or was this sothing the higher-ups had decided? I already had Elena in my party, though, so I didn't think any more priestesses or saintesses were needed.
When she looked at , she avoided my gaze, her cheeks flushing slightly. Even though she was blindfolded and couldn't see, the way she acted made it seem like she could fully perceive the world around her, as always.
'Mom you didn't interfere right…?'
For so reason I had a feeling the only reason Isabela was here was because of mom.
As I looked at the other two joining, my eyes slightly widened in surprise.
"Yo!" a voice I was quite familiar with bood, carrying a manly atmosphere. With red hair that seed to blaze like an inferno and crimson eyes, he could easily be mistaken for one of those demons from Japanese gas.
But despite his appearance, he was probably the kindest person here... Alex Darja, one of the few friends I made back in Estelle Academy. It had been truly a long ti since I last saw him.
"Alex?" I exclaid; my voice filled with surprise… 'as always, I was a great actor'
"Surprise? Hahaha! Before you ask any questions about how I got here, please don't, because I don't even know myself. All I heard was that the Emperor ordered our patriarch, and now I'm here. I hope we get along as always, Adria— I an, sir hero! Hahaha!" he said, his enthusiasm contagious.
With a smile spreading across my face, I shook his hand firmly. "With you around, I guess I don't have to worry about pure firepower."
"You bet!"
And then, lastly, I looked to my side, and a very unexpected yet sowhat expected person appeared.
"Hello…" she said quietly, her voice carrying its characteristic sleepy tone. With light blue hair reminiscent of a pure, gentle sky-blue color, and a gigantic witch hat adorned with ornants, she held onto her staff and a pillow beside her.
It was the sleepy witch, Bella Raiseinler, once the top student of the magic departnt back at Estelle Academy.
Our relationship was strange—we weren't exactly close, nor did we hate each other. So, seeing her again just felt awkwardly familiar.
So, these five were my new party mbers. If you added my already existing party of Elena, Aria, and Louise, we would be nine in total. Wasn't that a bit too much for a hero's party?
As I glanced at each of them, I couldn't help but feel a sense of both excitent and apprehension. Each mber brought their own strengths and quirks to the table, but whether we could all work together harmoniously remained to be seen.
I don't know about the first three, but Alex and Bella, along with my fiancé's, are enough to sustain a good party.
So why did they plan to get these other three along? Isabella can be understood, in a sense, that she was probably more versatile when it cos to team fights than Elena considering mom made her, her siantess, but the dwarf and the gigantic man are a problem.
'Tristan would've been a better choice honestly.'
Now that I think about it, why wasn't he the one who was recomnded here? Did Siena prevent it?
Shaking my head, I dismissed such useless thoughts for now. I could just ask Alex about Tristan later.
He seems to also be wanting to ask sothing, I just hope it isn't anything about Aria….
"Sir hero, these are all your party mbers who will be joining you on your journey. Ladies and gentlen, would you be so kind as to introduce yourselves?" one of the priests who accompanied them shouted with a loud voice, surprising everyone.
As the priest's words echoed through the hall, a sense of anticipation filled the air. It was ti for each mber to step forward and reveal their strengths, their backgrounds, and perhaps even their reasons for joining this perilous quest.
Though from what I knew from the information Elena gave during their etings, it seed the world leaders had simply decided who was the most skilled and strongest in their regions.
I thought they would bombard with each and every one of their citizens, but I guess only the truly strong countries managed to implent one of their people into my party.
The gigantic man then walked forward. "My na is Buka, son of the chieftain of the Black Wolves, Kavin. As a warrior, it is the greatest honor to accompany and help you on your journey, sir hero," he said with reverence, kneeling and punctuating his words with a firm fist against the floor.
This man was more honorable than I thought. Honestly, I had expected him to act more like a savage, but I guess judging a book by its cover truly was wrong.
Next, the dwarf ca forward towards . "Hey kid, so you're the hero?" he asked rather openly. "Tsk, tsk, for the hero to be this thin, you should eat more at, kid," he said quite brazenly. Was he insulting or not? Judging from his actions and words, he was probably just being honest, albeit bluntly so.
"Please do forgive Sir Darius for his words, Sir Hero... Dwarves as a whole just have a very unique way of speaking," the priest clarified, adjusting his glasses nervously.
"Hahahaha, I guess I forgot to introduce myself. My na's Darius Erald. I'm one of the few dwarven warriors left in our country. Nice to et you, kid. Oh, and did my words offend you, kid? No worries, my intentions an no harm. I'm just trying to state the truth. As soone born from the great Kuru, the god of the earth, we dwarves can never lie," he said, laughing heartily.
"I see…" I replied, sowhat taken aback. If this is just how he naturally is, I guess I don't mind... I don't even mind if he dies as we go along...
"Isabell—" Isabella began to introduce herself, but I cut her off.
"You three don't need to introduce yourselves," I stated firmly, as I looked at Alex, Bella and Isabella.
"Ok"
"Sure"
"As you wish"
All three of them spoke simultaneously
"I hope you don't mind the excessive amount of people joining, sir hero," he said, his words carrying weight. "As the kings and queens of each country discussed which individuals would be permitted to join your party, we ended up selecting the best of the best, those whom we were sure could aid you on your journey."
The pope's voice then chid in, its resonance cutting through the air. Instantly, the five individuals standing behind shifted, their deference to his imposing presence palpable. I couldn't help but reflect on my own initial encounter with the pope, rembering how I too had felt a need to compose myself in the face of his undeniable aura.
"Well, I can see that," I responded, my gaze sweeping over the five figures behind . My eyes lingered on Alex and Bella, both already renowned for their exceptional skills in their respective fields. Bella, in particular, seed to emanate a newfound strength, her presence exuding confidence and power. It was evident that the decision to include Buka and Darius in the party was t with pressure, likely from various countries vying to invest in my success.
With the inclusion of the five new mbers, it beca apparent that our departure would be delayed. Training as a cohesive unit in group combat would be essential, adding another layer to our preparations.
Now, with them among us, our party composition consisted of two vanguards in Darius and Buka, two mages in Aria and Bella, a summoner Louise, and two main damage dealers in myself and Alex. Isabella and Elena filled the roles of support, rounding out our lineup.
While our party boasted formidable strength, its balance was questionable. I couldn't shake the feeling that we lacked effective ranged attacks, especially considering our reliance solely on spells.
Despite my reservations, I decided to put them to the test. Since they were all gathered here anyway, why not assess everyone's abilities firsthand?
Gathering at the training grounds, I observed as the five individuals readied themselves, each assuming unique stances and activating their abilities.
They awaited the signal to begin our practice skirmish.
It would be just Elena and versus the five newcors for now. As I looked over the assembled group, I couldn't help but feel a twinge of uncertainty.
Would they live up to my expectations?
[Authority: Sword of light (Activated)]
'I may not look like it but I certainly am strong… especially with the progress I had with my swords skills, I'm confident I wouldn't lose'
Not long after that I lost miserably…
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