Estroja Perrawell and Boryan Bayist.
An unimaginable matchup was taking place right now at the Adventurer Guild.
It was none other than due to Sion.
“…Sion, can we talk for a moment?”
“Uh? All of a sudden?”
Thud!
Patrick immediately took Sion and headed to a corner of the Adventurer Guild.
“What’s wrong, suddenly?”
“Sion… what is going on?”
“What do you mean?”
“Why is Estroja coming here? Wasn’t Boryan going to take the empty spot?”
“I thought so too.”
“But why…! Ah, could it be that you saw her in the talking room?”
“…That seems likely.”
Sion glanced sideways at Estroja.
She was wearing a luxurious robe and carrying a small bag that looked useful somewhere.
It was clear to anyone that she was a trainee magician who was 100% interested in going to the dungeon.
‘I didn’t expect her to really come.’
Sion also didn’t have high expectations that she would appear at the Adventurer Guild. Just a few days ago, she had been suffering from a cold.
…Since she had previously rejected him, he thought she would completely withdraw from the group project.
Today, even if he gave her a high probability, the chance that she would show up at the meeting place was less than 20%.
So why…
“Sion, this isn’t something we can just ignore. It’s true that Estroja was originally in the same group, but what about Boryan?”
“…….”
Sion was lost for words at Patrick’s pointed observation.
There was someone missing from the group project, and they had found an alternative to substitute for him.
And now, that person was asking to join in on the group project again.
In other words, it was like a ‘double booking’ had occurred.
“Sion, I’m not blaming you for this. But Boryan is your friend, right?”
“…That’s true?”
“Then I think it’s a problem you need to solve.”
“You’re right.”
The double booking was entirely Sion’s responsibility.
It was Sion who brought Boryan and who brought Estroja.
Sion closed his eyes for a moment to sort his thoughts.
And when he opened them again.
Step, step.
Without hesitation, Sion approached Estroja and Boryan.
“Hello.”
“Ah, Sion… who is this?”
“Sion, who is this woman?”
As soon as Sion arrived, Boryan and Estroja pointed at each other with their fingers.
Sion put on a bright smile.
“Let’s introduce ourselves. We will be teammates entering the dungeon together today.”
At Sion’s declaration, both of them frowned simultaneously.
“…What? What do you mean? Our group consists of four members. Besides, this person doesn’t seem to be a student from the Magic Department.”
“Sion, could it be that this person is the one who went missing during the group project?”
“Wait, missing? Do you know me?”
“First, calm down. We need to enter the dungeon today…”
While Sion was fumbling around.
Someone burst into the Adventurer Guild with great vigor.
It was Geivolg, the prince of the Rodenburg Kingdom.
“Oh! Everyone’s gathered. The protagonist always appears last!”
“…Geivolg, you’ve come.”
“Estroja is here too? Is Boryan going along?”
“Looks like it.”
“Oh! Is that so?”
Geivolg, who was talking to Sion, raised his index finger with a grin, just like always.
“There’s an old saying in the Rodenburg Kingdom: two heads are better than one! So, Boryan and Estroja… I think it’d be good for all five of us to conquer the dungeon together!”
With his bright smile, Geivolg spoke.
Neither Estroja nor Boryan could raise any further objections.
It was due to his status as a prince of a nation and his innocent demeanor.
Sion stepped closer to Geivolg and mumbled quietly.
“Geivolg, thanks. I’ll treat you to a meal later.”
“Hmm? Whatever it is, you’re welcome! Hahaha! Then shall we set off?”
Geivolg kicked open the door of the Adventurer Guild and went out.
As the others looked at him blankly as he exited.
Sion took the first step.
“Let’s move. We have an E-rank quest… to conquer the Skeleton Dungeon.”
“Oh, good idea! Sion, let’s go together!”
Patrick eagerly put his arm around Sion’s shoulder as they opened the door of the Adventurer Guild.
As Sion followed him out, he glanced back briefly.
Estroja and Boryan were reluctantly following behind through the doorway.
‘Phew… have we at least avoided a crisis for now?’
Thanks to Geivolg’s timely help, he had successfully brought both Estroja and Boryan without any issues.
If it was an E-rank dungeon, Sion could conquer it on his own.
There shouldn’t be any problems with the dungeon conquest itself.
…Sion’s thoughts didn’t last long.
*
“Hmph, I heard you went missing but you show your face so brazenly.”
“Don’t be a hindrance.”
Crackle!
Boryan and Estroja exchanged sharp words with each other.
They had continued in that state since they left the Adventurer Guild.
Even Geivolg, who was usually bright and cheerful, lost his smile due to their constant standoff.
“Sion, do something…!”
“…Alright. Just wait a moment.”
At Patrick’s urging, Sion stepped in between the two who were walking side by side.
“Both of you, simmer down. We are about to enter the dungeon soon.”
Sion said that while pointing to the surroundings.
They had already been walking for more than thirty minutes since leaving the Adventurer Guild.
The area was entirely covered with trees.
‘Is it because we’re getting close to the Skeleton Dungeon? There are no animals, and the energy feels ominous.’
With every gust of wind, there was a quiet rustling sound.
The usual chirping of birds had long since disappeared.
This meant they were getting closer to the dungeon.
So it wouldn’t be surprising if monsters suddenly attacked, but…
Swoosh!
“…Boryan?”
Boryan caught Sion’s arm with an expression of irritation.
A soft body part could be felt through his arm.
Before Sion could say anything in surprise, Boryan glared at Estroja.
“Sion, that woman is strange! It’s better not to get too close. She’ll definitely be a hindrance in the dungeon!”
“Boryan, that’s a bit too close…”
“You do this much usually anyway!”
“…?”
Boryan’s neck was unusually red when seen up close.
Of course, they had never been this close together before.
Both Sion and Boryan felt embarrassed.
Whizz—!
However, this was a significant blow to Estroja.
Her eyebrows quivered as if gold had been applied to her mask.
She took a deep breath to calm her mind.
She wasn’t one to just take it lying down.
“Sion, how did you end up bringing someone like that? Even if you brought her as a shield, it would have been better to pick someone more suitable.”
“What, a gorilla?! Shield?!”
“Oh my, I’m sorry if that offended you. I’m just not good at lying.”
With a grin—
Estroja showed a noble smile.
But her eyes weren’t smiling at all.
Boryan, appearing angry, shouted without letting go of Sion’s arm.
“If I’m a gorilla, then what are you? A skinny skeleton!”
“…S-skeleton?”
“Exactly! Men prefer healthy women like me over someone like you who’s far from physical activity!!”
“Ugh…”
Estroja bit her lip.
Boryan also glared at Estroja with all her might.
Sion, caught between them, only had a headache.
‘…What on earth are they fighting about?’
Sion was stuck between the two who were seemingly at an impasse.
Estroja tugged at the arm Sion was holding opposite to Boryan’s.
Since Boryan’s grip on his arm weakened, Sion’s body was drawn towards…
Yank!
“…Huh?”
Sion found himself halfway in Estroja’s arms.
She was looking down at Boryan with an enchanting smile.
“Sion, come to think of it, I haven’t introduced myself yet. I’m fully recovered from the cold now.”
“Uh? Uh… congratulations. But you’re too close…”
“Thanks to you visiting me and even feeding me, I recovered quickly.”
“What do you mean…?! Y-you fed her!”
Boryan’s twin tails violently swayed up and down.
Feeding someone was something that was usually done between ‘lovers’.
Boryan had never had such… affectionate interactions with Sion.
It was no surprise that her shoulders drooped.
“W-wah…”
“Hehe, why do you look like you’re about to cry? I see you’re feeling the gap between us.”
Estroja’s smile grew more intense.
Covering her mouth with her hand like a noblewoman, Estroja.
It seemed the winner was being decided.
“Estroja.”
“Yes, Sion. I’m listening—”
Whoosh!!
Sion grabbed Estroja’s garment.
His face closed the distance in an instant.
At a distance where even the number of eyelashes could be counted…
“…S-Sion?!”
“I told you we’re about to enter the dungeon. So stop quarrelling.”
“Y-you dare give orders to the daughter of Marquis Parawell….”
“Answer me.”
“Uh, y-yes….”
Sion released Estroja’s garment.
Without a support, Estroja leaned against the nearby tree.
Sion walked straight towards Boryan without hesitation.
“Boryan.”
“Uh, yeah? S-Sion?”
“You too, stop it. Got it?”
“W-wait, that woman started it first…!”
Clap.
Sion grabbed Boryan’s cheeks with one hand.
Boryan’s eyes were wandering.
Sion looked at her with an unamused expression.
“The dungeon is right ahead. You should stop now.”
“U-un…”
“You need to answer, alright?”
“Ugh…”
Boryan mumbled a response as Sion held her cheeks.
Sion heard the response and released her cheeks.
Boryan stared blankly at his back.
…While rubbing the cheeks that Sion had just held.
“D-did he just touch my face… S-skinship… hehehe…”
“I-I, how can I… as a noble… be treated like this… uuuh…”
Like two female students who seemed to have fallen under mind magic.
Sion walked ahead, leaving them behind.
Behind them were two male students, who were watching the entire spectacle like bystanders without making their presence felt.
“…Geivolg.”
“Yeah?”
“Do you think we can conquer the dungeon safely?”
“Ha ha ha! Of course!”
“Hah…”
To Patrick’s question, Geivolg laughed heartily.
