CH prologue 1

Prologue – Expulsion

“Orun Doura, today shall be your last day in the party.”

I couldn’t believe what I was hearing.

As usual, I finished my exploration of the Great Labyrinth and returned to the mansion I had just rented as the party’s base.

As I was checking the magic stones and drops from the magical beasts we had obtained today, I was suddenly informed by Oliver, the party leader, that I was fired.

A bolt from the blue, is exactly what it sounded like…

“What kind of joke is this?”

“It’s not a joke. Until now, I had included you in my party because we were old friends from the same village. However, your abilities are no longer sufficient enough to fight in the ranks from here on out. To put it simply, you are not good enough. So I will have to ask you to leave.”

As of now, this party has reached the 94th layer of the Great Southern Labyrinth, which is a dungeon no one has ever descended to the bottom of.

This is the only party in history that has ever reached the 94th layer.

This very party, which had set an unprecedented record, is called the heroic party and was attracting the attention of many people.

“I know that my strength isn’t enough. But that can be said for all the other party members. If we proceed like this, the future adventures are-”

“Isn’t that because your support magic is worthless?!”

Derrick, the Tank of the party, interrupted the conversation between me and Oliver.

“…Worthless?”

It is true that my support magic is not as effective as the support magic used by other support mages. Which is why I had developed a number of original magic techniques to make up for the shortcomings.

Perhaps because of this, I had been able to survive in the 91st layer and deeper. I don’t deserve to be called worthless.

“Haah? You didn’t realize you were worthless? Hahaha! I never thought you’d be this brazen! The only reason you’ve been able to make it as an adventurer is because we’re superior!”

This was the first time I learned that I could not keep my mouth shut.

Derrick looked at me, dumbfounded and unable to speak, and smiled triumphantly.

Did you think you hit the bulls-eye and I wouldn’t be able to argue?

“We didn’t understand how important the existence of a support mage was. Which is why we took you in our party, even though you were the weakest support mage and not useful at all. But, last month in the group subjugation was when we understood the importance of a support mage.”

Just when I thought Derrick, who had interrupted me, had finished his story, Oliver started talking with a glint in his eye, as if he was remembering those days.

Last month, a dragon suddenly appeared on the ground.

Since it was necessary to defeat them as soon as possible, three S-rank parties joined forces to defeat the dragons.

This must have been at the time of the joint subjugation last month.

One of the parties that participated in the joint defeat had a genius who was called ” The best Support Mage on the Continent.”

It is true that compared to hers, my support magic might be lacking. However,

My original job isn’t a support mage. It’s only natural that I’m not as good as her. That’s why I developed my original magic-”

“Don’t make excuses!”

Derrick interrupted me, again. Listen to what people have to say until the end!

“Didn’t you become a Support mage, because you were inferior to Oliver in the art of the Sword!? And it’s the outcome that matters to the explorer! I don’t care about the process! No matter how you became a support mage, you are a support mage in this party and your skills are inferior. You’re in no position to complain!”

“We’re a party of heroes. We have to go further. We’ve already found a support mage to replace Orun.”

Derrick is right, but there’s a way to say it. This is how you treat your friends who have been through so much together?

Nonetheless, I’m not needed by these guys. If my replacement has already been decided, then I guess this is no longer the place for me.

“…Okay, I’m leaving. Thank you for everything you’ve done for me.”

I turned away to leave the mansion as I said that.

“You’re finally leaving! Haha, that’s refreshing!”

Anelle, the mage who hadn’t said a word until now, only giving me a ridiculous look, let out a satisfied voice.

“Your swordplay and magic are half-baked! You can do a lot of things, but you’re only good enough to be an A rank, and you’re giving me opinions about this and that, and it’s pissing me off! You know what they say about people like you? Jack of all trades! It’s strange that you were in the party of heroes until now! From now on, you’d better behave with some sense of decency, okay?”

So these guys thought of me that way all this time?

Even after I gave it my all for them…

Why was I ever in a party with these people?

I sighed in my mind, opened the door and walked out.

◇

Now, I need to find a place to sleep first.