I Was Kicked Out of the Hero’s Party Even Though I’m His Girlfriend

“This is very far from here. It’ll be 1 silver.”

“Here you go. Please make sure it reaches my hometown safely.”

“Don’t worry. Our missionaries will deliver it safely.”

After mailing his letter at the post office run by the temple, Maru looked around the nearby bustling streets.

While looking at various things, he suddenly thought of Luciella.

“I wonder if she managed to escape the wyvern safely…?”

Since he was already at the market, he thought he should get something to thank her for saving him from drowning.

“She might show up soon, might as well buy a gift.”

Soon after, he was holding a small but hefty pouch in his hand.

Dozens of healing potions, dozens of mana replenishment potions, and an expensive black dress.

“Will she like it?”

Maru scratched the back of his head.

He considered buying more but decided to keep it moderate, thinking too many gifts might be misinterpreted as romantic interest.

“Let’s just give her these.”

His stomach growled.

After walking around for about 3 hours straight, he was running on empty.

“Ugh, I’m hungry.”

Maru rubbed his stomach while looking around.

Just then he spotted a delicious-looking restaurant.

The building wasn’t neat and had a properly aged feel to it.

Though unremarkable, usually the best restaurants are hidden gems in shabby-looking shops tucked away in corners.

Maru headed there without hesitation.

“Welcome!”

“What’s good here?”

“We have…”

After ordering the menu recommended by the server, he sat down.

Looking around, there was only one other group of customers besides Maru.

Four women in travelers’ attire were gathered at a table eating.

Among them, one woman particularly caught his eye.

Though her body was hidden by a brown robe, her face was remarkably beautiful even as she sweated while eating.

‘Wow, she’s incredibly pretty.’

How could she look so beautiful even with her hair sticking to her face from sweat?

Maru had seen countless beautiful women before, but he’d never met a woman who made him look for more than 3 seconds.

But this woman made him look for more than 3 seconds.

In his head, he was already enjoying a sweet newlywed life with her.

The unknown woman’s white skin was completely free of small blemishes like age spots or freckles, and her face was only the size of a fist.

Her golden hair, braided in circles and pinned up, looked so neat and elegant.

She seemed to glow from within.

“Sir, your meal is ready.”

Maru, who had been lost in imagination, completely cut off his interest in her from the moment he started eating.

What’s the use of being distracted by someone who won’t intersect with his life?

Besides, his interest in romance had cooled lately.

After getting badly hurt by love, he became afraid of romantic relationships.

Being alone was comfortable.

“Ah, that was good.”

With a full stomach, he started sounding like an old man.

While heading to the counter, the group of women were also getting up from their seats.

Maru casually paid for his meal and left the restaurant right away.

“Nice weather…”

While standing absent-mindedly in front of the restaurant looking at the scenery and letting his food settle, that beautiful woman walked out.

She pulled up her hood, looked around, and approached a child who was passing by carrying dozens of boiled potatoes.

“Child, isn’t that heavy?”

“No.”

“Shouldn’t you carry them in a bag or something?”

“I’m holding them tight so they won’t fall.”

“Where are you going with those potatoes?”

Maru watched from behind and smiled slightly.

The woman’s voice was so clear and beautiful.

Just listening made him smile involuntarily.

“To my friends.”

“Ah, you’re taking them to share with your friends? That’s kind of you.”

“They’re bullying me.”

The woman gently stroked the child’s head.

“Be careful not to drop them.”

“Yes.”

“Take care.”

She moved away from the child.

Maru smirked.

“As always, the popular ones have no idea about the struggles of outcasts.”

After watching the woman leave with her companions, Maru followed the child.

“Hey kid.”

“Yes?”

“Give those to me and go home. Where are those brats? Those friends of yours?”

“But I need to take these…”

“Forget it. Hand them over. I’ll go teach them a lesson.”

“Oh, what should I do…”

“Come on, give them here.”

“Hey! What are you doing with that child?”

“Huh?”

He turned around at the sudden voice and saw that woman standing there.

‘How did she know to come?’

The way she was glaring at him seemed rather ominous.

It seemed he’d been misunderstood.

“Why is a grown adult trying to take a child’s potatoes?”

Maru couldn’t help but laugh at how absurd the situation was.

“I’m not taking them, I’m helping.”

“Don’t lie. I saw you leering at us in the restaurant earlier.”

“About that.”

Maru said confidently with a smile.

“That’s because you’re beautiful.”

“…What?”

The woman seemed slightly taken aback by the unexpected comment, but soon shot him a sharp look.

“Stop saying weird things and leave. Otherwise, I’ll call the guards.”

Even her glaring eyes were beautiful.

Maru kept smiling.

“I’m not doing anything bad.”

“I saw what you were doing.”

“I was trying to help him.”

“How is taking them helping?”

“Can’t you tell? He’s being bullied right now.”

“This is ridiculous. Are you making up lies to get out of trouble?”

“Does it look like a lie?”

Maru slowly approached the woman.

He stopped right in front of her stern face and smiled confidently.

“Then let’s make a bet. Let’s both follow this child, and if he really is being bullied, you grant my wish. If I’m wrong, I’ll grant your wish. Want to?”

“……”

The woman stared at him intently before brushing past him.

“My wish is for you to go to jail. Remember that.”

The woman headed toward where the child’s friends were with the child.

“What a prickly personality, wonder whose daughter she is.”

Maru followed behind them with a smirk.

Soon after, the two arrived with the child at an empty lot littered with trash.

They saw six children playing hopscotch with flat stones.

“You fucking bastard, why are you so late!”

One child ran up and kicked the potato-carrying child’s behind.

The child fell to the ground, dropping the potatoes.

The other children burst out laughing at the sight.

“S-sorry!”

As the child hurriedly tried to pick up the potatoes while lying down, another child came up and struck his head with their palm.

“The potatoes got dirty! Pick them up quickly, you dog!”

“Go wash them again!”

Maru, who had been quietly watching from a distance, looked to the side with a confident expression.

The beautiful woman had her hand covering her mouth, looking deeply shocked.

“See? I was right, wasn’t I?”

“……”

The woman let out a small sigh with a deflated expression.

“Yes. I lost.”

“Well then, goodbye. I’ll save my wish for later. Though I don’t know when we’ll meet again.”

He had no intention of claiming anything even if he won the bet.

They were strangers, and he couldn’t think of what to ask for anyway.

Saying he’d save it was just empty words.

Maru strode straight to where the children were.

“All of you come here, you brats! Bow your heads, all of you! Kid, don’t pick up the potatoes, quickly go get a big stick.”

Coming on strong from the start, the children collectively panicked and didn’t know what to do.

Maru lined them all up in a row and made them kneel with their hands on their heads.

He scolded them thoroughly in that position.

Later, the children apologized while crying, and also apologized to the bullied child.

“I’ll come check often to see if you’re still bullying or not.”

“We won’t do it again sob.”

After making them shake hands and hug, he sent the children away.

“Should have been friends from the start.”

Maru dusted off his hands and turned to leave.

The woman was still there.

She was watching him with her arms crossed, still wearing her robe’s hood.

“You didn’t leave? Your companions must be waiting.”

“How did you know the child was being bullied?”

“So that’s what you were curious about.”

When Maru looked at her with a smile, she couldn’t meet his eyes and pulled her hood down tight.

“Didn’t you see the bruises on his arms and legs? I saw them.”

“Ah…”

“I’ve experienced being bullied myself, so I can spot people who are being bullied like a ghost. I guess bullied people can sense each other.”

The hooded woman’s gaze briefly swept over Maru’s entire body.

“You don’t look like someone who would be bullied.”

“It has nothing to do with size. Humans are selfish creatures. Even lovers who’ve been together for years can be coldly discarded in the face of immediate benefit.”

“Sounds like you’ve experienced being abandoned by a lover?”

At her casually thrown words, Maru momentarily felt hot-headed and thousands of rebuttals flashed through his mind.

But he suppressed those emotions and tried to move past it amicably.

However, his words didn’t come out nicely.

“I’m saying this because I probably have more experience than you. Just know that’s how it is.”

“Geezer.”

“Excuse me? Did you just call me a geezer?”

“Acting like you know everything – you are a geezer.”

“Oh come on.”

An incredulous laugh escaped Maru’s lips.

This woman has a talent for making people angry.

“Listen. I’m in my 20s.”

“Young geezers exist too.”

“Hah…”

He could tolerate everything else, but for some reason he couldn’t stand being called a geezer.

Maru started getting worked up trying to argue that he wasn’t a geezer.

“This is actually supposed to be secret, but I’ve actually traveled with a Hero. I’ve hunted demons several times and have much more experience than someone who looks as young as you. So I can act like I know a thing or two about the world, right?”

He shrugged his shoulders as if bragging about how great he was.

“What’s the name of the Hero you traveled with?”

At her question, Maru realized his mistake.

He fumbled for a moment in panic.

“Any-anyway, I traveled with them.”

“Won’t you tell me?”

“I won’t tell you. It wouldn’t do you any good to know anyway.”

“Must have been a lie? A geezer and a liar. Combined, you’re a geeziar.”

“Oh, this is driving me crazy.”

The woman seemed delighted seeing Maru’s frustrated expression.

Even with her hood half off showing her pretty face, she kept teasing Maru while giggling.

“Ah, that was a good laugh. I’d like to stay longer but my companions are waiting, so I’ll go now. You take care too.”

“Yes, please hurry and go.”

“Sorry for misunderstanding earlier.”

“It’s fine.”

An annoyed Maru waved his hand as if telling her to leave quickly.

She waved back.

“Have a good day, Mr. Geeziar.”

“I told you that’s not it!”

The next morning.

Maru stretched and got up from bed.

“Ahh, slept well.”

After walking away from the bed and drinking a glass of water, he was stretching his stiff body when:

“That woman yesterday was insanely pretty and insanely irritating…”

Bang bang bang!

Suddenly there was an excited knocking sound.

“Hey Maru! Open the door!”

It was Edward’s voice.

“He usually sleeps more than me, why is he here so early?”

He opened the door with a puzzled expression.

Edward was standing in the corridor wearing silk pajamas with an excited look.

“Maru! I can finally keep my promise! My sister arrived yesterday evening!”

“The princess?”

Maru’s sleepy expression suddenly brightened with life.

“When can I meet her?”

“Knowing you’d want to see her quickly, I invited you to breakfast. Dress nicely and come out!”

“Isn’t this too sudden? Ah alright. See you at breakfast.”

After sending Edward away, Maru stripped completely and got into the wooden tub to wash thoroughly.

Some might think he’s making too much fuss about meeting a foreign princess, but this would be Maru’s first time having a conversation with a princess.

When living with his mother, the retainers prevented him from spending time alone with princesses from minor countries beyond formal greetings, saying the difference in status was too great, and when with Kiera, the princesses’ attention was focused solely on Kiera.

They didn’t even look at mere porters.

“I wonder what kind of person she is? I’m curious.”

Will she have a mean personality?

Will she have a kind personality?

Will she have a blunt personality?

He really hoped they would get along well enough to have good conversations.