Chapter 2 Our Friendship Will Never Perish!
"――So, Aaron has graduated from <Sword of Glory>!"
Woo-hoo! Cheers!
In a tavern near the Explorer's Guild in the [Holy City of Necronia], Lion raised a cup filled with ale and said so.
The other members of <Sword of Glory>, sitting at the same table, applauded and cheered along.
I slammed my fists on the table, releasing my pent-up frustration.
"You guys were supposed to be my friends! But you're all traitors!!"
This was right after we returned from defeating the Minotaur, the 10th floor guardian of the [Labyrinth of the Gods], and discovered the truth.
The bond we shared in that boss room was just an illusion. As soon as they found out I had reached my "Talent Limit," they immediately turned their backs on me.
When we sold the magic stones and items we obtained in the labyrinth to the Explorer's Guild, they submitted a request to remove me from our party registration.
An Adventurer Party's registration can be revoked if more than half of the party members submit a request, without needing the consent of the person in question.
Since all of them except me agreed to remove me, I was kicked out of the party without being able to do anything about it.
"No, no, Aaron, don't call us traitors..."
Lion waved his hand, saying "come on" or something,
"We did it for your own good, removing you from the party."
The others nodded in agreement, acting as if they were innocent.
Whether they were in the wrong or not... well, I'll let that slide for now. But I have something to say.
"Don't mess with me! Weren't we supposed to be friends?! Was our bond, our friendship, something that could be broken just because I reached my 'Talent Limit' as a 'Beginner Swordsman'?! No way! Our friendship will never perish!"
It's been half a year since I formed a party with Lion and the others.
We've had our fair share of crazy adventures, like getting lost in a labyrinth, having intense fights, stumbling upon treasure chests, and using the loot to throw a wild party at a brōtḥel... It's hard to put into words. They're more than just friends ―― they're like brothers, in every sense of the word.
Yeah, I thought so too...!!
"Of course, our friendship will last forever, unbroken!"
Lion says this with a serious expression, without even flinching at my glare.
"We're brothers in every sense, and that's a fact that will never change. But... that's exactly why. You get it, Aaron?"
"......Dammit..."
I spat out a curse, feeling defeated.
I shouldn't have been surprised.
I knew this would happen.
I've already stopped growing, but Lion and the others still have room to grow.
They'll keep exploring the depths of the labyrinth from now on. But I can't keep up with them ―― that's just the way it is.
If I try to force myself to keep up, I'll only end up dead.
No, that's not the worst part. The worst part is that I'll hold them back and put them in unnecessary danger. I'll get them killed because of my own lack of strength.
That's unacceptable.
If that happens, I'll never be able to forgive myself.
So, this is how it has to be. I'm not just saying that to make myself feel better.
"I get it...... but it was fun, though..."
My voice trembles. Tears fall from my downcast face, and my nose starts running. My face is a mess.
――I had too much fun.
I had too much fun forming a party with these guys, acting like fools, and having a blast.
That's why I didn't want to say goodbye.
The thought of our fun days coming to an end is unbearable, even though I know it's inevitable.
Maybe if I hadn't met these guys, I'd still be...
"Hey, what's with the tears, Aaron you idiot?"
My friends' voices interrupt my thoughts.
When I look up, everyone's trying to hold back tears, their faces twisted in an ugly cry.
"I told you, our friendship will last forever, unbroken!"
"That's right. We fought over one girl, didn't we?"
"It was a fight over who gets to be with Missy Aira, the courtesan."
"Yeah, and I'm the one who gets to marry Missy Aira."
Lion's casual remark didn't completely lose its connection.
At the very least, these guys think of me as a friend now.
So I'll stop crying now.
I wiped away my tears, put on a smile, and said,
"Missy Aira, we're getting married this time!"
For some reason, the loudest scream of the day went up.
What a pain.
* * *
"――So, what's next, Aaron?"
The farewell party to celebrate my new beginning, disguised as a drinking party, was in full swing.
Around that time, Lion asked me,
"Are you going to switch to a general or production Job?"
No, that's not a question, but more like a confirmation.
Jobs are powers given to weak humans by the God.
Those powers are basically for fighting against monsters. However, not all Jobs are suited for combat.
In fact, combat Jobs are a minority.
For example, if all humans became Swordsmen or magicians, could they defeat monsters? Not necessarily. If all humans took combat Jobs, humanity would soon be destroyed.
To support human society and civilization—and the warriors who fight—we need more production power than combat power.
We need people who produce food, clothes, buildings, weapons, manage organizations, and engage in trade to distribute various goods—those people's powers are indispensable in fighting monsters.
That's why the God give us Jobs, including non-combat "general" and "production" Jobs.
If I go to the church, even I, a Basic Swordsman, can give up my current Job's power and acquire one of those Jobs.
I can't really choose between being a "merchant", "carpenter", "blacksmith", or "farmer", but it's definitely possible to bloom as a Talent in a different job after changing careers.
Lion was listening to me on the assumption that I would quit being an explorer.
"No way, I'm not changing jobs."
But I had no intention of quitting as an explorer.
"You're gonna die, aren't you?"
Lion's eyes widened in surprise at my response, and after hesitating for a moment, he said that.
The friends around us who were chatting also stopped talking and focused their attention on us.
It seemed my response was unexpected.
"Yeah, that's possible."
I nodded casually.
As a "Beginner Swordsman", I've reached my Talent limit, and on top of that, I can only use the [Slash] skill. There's no way an explorer would take me into their party.
So, I'll probably never be able to join a party again from now on. I'll have to keep going solo. At the very least, I need to be prepared for that.
And solo explorers like me have an extremely high death rate, even among explorers who already have a high death rate.
――I'll definitely die.
It's better to think that way.
But I still have no intention of quitting as an explorer.
"Are you still holding a grudge?"
Lion's question was tinged with concern.
There are things that nobody wants to touch. He's being cautious because he's trying to tread on the soft parts of my heart.
But I forced a smile and replied.
"I'm not holding a grudge or anything. There's just no one left to hold a grudge against. It's not that serious. Just..."
It's not like I'm continuing to be an explorer for revenge or hatred.
That was true. But the words I said next were half a lie.
"Just... explorers can earn more money, right? I love money, so..."
Being an explorer is a job that risks your life. The danger level is far higher than any other job.
In the shadow of the brilliant achievements of high-ranking explorers, 60% of explorers die unknown. If you can quit being an explorer with your body intact, that's a pretty good deal.
But many people still become explorers.
That's because they can earn money.
Talent and ability are all you need to succeed, even without connections or family ties, even if you're an orphan. That's why being an explorer is almost the only job where you can make it big.
"Anyway, don't worry. I'm not going to risk my life for money by going deep into the dungeon. For now, let's just earn some cash in the safer areas around 2-3 floors."
I said this with a smile, but Lion still had a worried look on his face.
Even in the shallow parts of the labyrinth, I can still earn a living. But there's no guarantee of safety, and whether I live or die depends on luck. And if I keep rolling the dice, eventually, I'll hit a bad streak.
"Money... money..."
"Yeah, it's all about the money."
"I guess that's just how it is..."
Lion and the others nodded in agreement.
That's because we all know the truth.
For explorers like us, money is always a matter of life and death. Sometimes, it's a gamble that's worth risking our lives for.
Besides, even if I change jobs now, will I be able to earn a decent amount of money?
If I want to become craftsmen, I need to find a master to apprentice under, but who knows if I can find a workshop that'll take me in? And even if I get a job as a farmer, I don't even have any land to farm.
The only jobs I can get right away are probably manual labor or construction work, and those don't pay enough to live on.
So, even if I'm stuck in the lowest rungs of society, continuing to be explorers is still a viable option.
"Well, I'll just have to live in poverty for a while, and then I can splurge when I earn some money."
I said this in a bright tone, trying to lift the gloomy atmosphere.
Lion also played along, laughing and raising his cup.
"Alright, alright. We'll pity the poor guy and treat you to a feast. But only when we're not poor ourselves."
"That's something to look forward to, I suppose."
That day, we spent our time laughing and joking until the shop closed, but it felt somehow artificial and forced.
That's because, deep down, we all knew that my death was looming in the near future.
But, to conclude, that prediction ended up being wrong.
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