I Was the Scout for the Hero’s Party

“Hello! I’m Austin, the scout. Pleased to meet you all!”

The first impression was ordinary.
Light brown hair that could be seen anywhere, and sparkling blue eyes.
His somewhat naive demeanor and his fluent way of consistently telling interesting stories served as oil that penetrated between the party members who were still awkward with each other.

“Then! I put my hand on that guy’s shoulder and said, ‘Aren’t you managing your juniors properly?'”

Even when party members were eating in an awkward atmosphere.

“When I was in the Rangers, you know? I swear, a werewolf the size of a house appeared! I know, even I wouldn’t believe it, but really…”

Even when the atmosphere became cold due to conflicts between Gracey and Adrienne.

“Damn it… Isabel! Stay with us! This fu— Adrienne! Potion!! Don’t you have a potion?!”

Even when Isabel was injured during our first encounter with a high-level monster, the Lava Drake.

“Everyone, stay sharp! That thing is incredibly strong! Left! Watch the left!! It’s coming!!!”

Even during the fierce battle with Gigant, the 8th Legion Commander of the Demon King’s subordinates.

He always became the pillar of our party during important moments.

“Well! We’ve worked hard to defeat Gigant or whatever! I, Austin, Maya, Isabel, Adrienne, Gracey, and… Hero Yoo-jung! Good job everyone! To a better tomorrow… than today!!”

Even when we first defeated one of the Demon King’s 8 Legion Commanders, he encouraged everyone with his voice hoarse from constant briefing, disregarding his own condition.

A man who boosted our courage whenever challenging moments came and always took action first.
His bright blue eyes, shining like a clear sky without a cloud, showed not a hint of hesitation.

We gradually became enchanted by this man called Austin.

However, the hundreds and thousands of intense battles against monsters, where we crossed the line between life and death, were too grueling for me and the other party members, including the still-young hero.

Whenever Austin or another party member was injured, dark clouds loomed over the party.

The monsters’ onslaught in every battle.
The thick smell of blood that made our noses sting.
And the battle with Urgan the Line Breaker, the Demon King’s 4th Legion Commander, where we nearly died.

Every moment was critical, and the desire to give up was overwhelming.

“Phew… It’s okay. This kind of injury is nothing compared to when I was in the Rangers.”

But he never knew how to give up.
I thought he was foolish.
He could have said he was in pain when he was hurting. He could have rested when he was tired.

“Come on. I’m all better now, so let’s get going!”

Unlike weak me, he was strong.
He silently listened to the complaints of other party members who became irritable due to continuous battles and occasional failures, with a bitter smile.

“Austin… Don’t go scouting today and come massage my shoulders…”

“No… Adrienne. I’ve repeatedly told you that reconnaissance before battle is more important than anything…”

“Oh, enough! Just massage my shoulders a little! Do you have any idea how hard it is to pull a bowstring non-stop every day?!”

After he accepted our selfish demands once, the party members became uninhibited.

The tasks assigned to Austin began to increase.
Meal preparation, laundry, finding campsites, nursing, equipment maintenance, and so on.
Despite being burdened with all sorts of chores, Austin still tried to maintain a smile.

Austin, aren’t you tired?
If you’re tired, you can just say so.
Why do you force yourself to smile and think of us first?

“At that moment, I really… In my opinion, you know? Maybe from there…”

I hated how he would push himself to the limit yet still force a smile and try to tell entertaining stories like he used to.

And I despised my lukewarm attitude for not more firmly stopping the party members who made him that way.

“Maya, is your bag heavy? Should I carry it for you?”

“…It’s fine.”

“Huh… Isn’t it heavy?”

“Mages who train with mana. Have strong bodies too.”

“…Still though…”

“Austin.”

“Oh, yes?”

“You talk. Too much.”

“…Sorry.”

Austin, who used to lift the party’s spirits, became less talkative after that day.

“There’s a pack of Black Hounds ahead. Let’s hide until they pass.”

“Blue Ogres are more vulnerable to lightning magic than fire magic. Maya, prepare Charge Bolt.”

Before we knew it, his friendly tone gradually disappeared, replaced by a cold, rational manner that only dealt with causes and effects.

It was sad.
I and the other party members all knew well that it was our fault that Austin, who had been such a bright and energetic pillar of our party, had changed like that.

I couldn’t bear how pathetic I was for rashly concluding that it was already irreversible.

But at the same time, I also grew to resent him for changing his attitude so completely, like flipping a card.

I wanted to give up countless times.
I wanted to quit.
I didn’t want to walk any further.

But we are members of the hero’s party.
The continent’s only hope that can defeat the Demon King—a grand and burdensome position.
As those standing in such a position, giving up wasn’t an option, no matter how difficult it became.

“Austin! Today’s food was terrible too! How many times do I have to tell you to add more meat when making stew?!”

As usual, cutting remarks penetrated Austin’s face, stinging his heart.
Was it my imagination that his expression seemed more strained than usual?

“…Austin. If you get sleepy while watching… you can wake me up. I’ll take over.”

Was it because what little conscience remained in my heart pricked me?

I showed empty sympathy and disappeared into the tent.

The next morning, after forcing the night watch on him and going into the tent…
Austin finally left us.

“….Maya.”

Damn it, why is she here?
Could it be that I was followed when I was heading to the inn from the market earlier?

As I was seriously pondering where I might have been followed from, Maya, who was still staring intently at me, spoke.

“Austin. I know it’s shameless, but. Can I come in for a moment?”

“…Maya. I have no intention of being with you all anymore. I don’t want to get involved any further.”

“No. I’ve come… alone right now.”

“…What?”

Contrary to my expectation that she would have brought the hero and other party members, her statement that she came alone made me stick my head out the door to check the corridor.

The hero… isn’t here.

“…So? You came alone, so what?”

Well, whether she came alone or in a group, my position remains unchanged.

As I maintained my cold attitude, Maya lowered her head deeply and spoke with a trembling voice.

“…I have something… I want to say privately… I didn’t tell the hero or the other party members…”

“……..”

Maya’s eyes, as she raised her head to look at me, were moistening with tears.

“Austin… sorry… I’m sorry… sob… hic…”

A crystal-clear teardrop rolled down Maya’s cheek, and before I knew it, she began to sob and repeatedly apologized while weeping.

“Sob… hic… S-Sorry… for treating you badly, sorry… hic… I felt so sorry… sob… even though I knew you’d hate it… I followed you… hic…”

…What am I supposed to say?

The current situation—where she suddenly appeared alone, knocked on my door, and is now apologizing with tears—was completely unexpected even for me.

I narrowed my brow and sighed deeply enough to make the ground sink, feeling troubled.

“Phew…….”

“I’m sorry… sniff… I’ll… I’ll do anything… sob… please… please come back to the party… hic… I… I can’t without Austin… “

“…Maya.”

“W-Without Austin… I… sniff… waaah…”

“Maya.”

“Ah… u… yes! Sniff… sorry… hic!… keep talking…”

What am I supposed to say?
The answer is already decided.

“I don’t want to be with you all anymore. Have you ever thought about how those barbed words you casually threw at me affected me?”

As I spoke firmly, Maya, who had been crying, looked up at me pitifully, chewing her lips for a moment, then drooped her ears and lowered her gaze to the floor.

“My role in the party was a scout. Not cooking, doing laundry, giving massages, or rubbing legs. Damn it, I wondered if I had been brought in as some kind of housekeeper.”

“……..”

“…I don’t want to drag this out. I’m not going back to the party. So go back. Don’t come looking for me again.”

“…You’re lying.”

“What… did you say?”

“You’re lying.”

“No, I’m not lying. I’m saying I want to cut ties with you all from now on. What do you mean I’m lying…”

“Liar liar liar liar liar liar liar liar liar liar liar liar liar liar liar.”

Wait a minute. This doesn’t feel right.

“……Maya?”

Maya, who had been keeping her head bowed toward the floor, strode into the room and slammed the door shut using the staff she was holding in her right hand.

-Click.

“Maya…? Why are you locking the door…”

“…Earlier, you said Lady Alexis… right?”

“Huh? Did I say that? Haha…”

Taking one step, then another toward me, as I backed away from the approaching Maya, I soon found myself cornered with my back against the wall.

“Alexis… Lady Alexis… Did that woman. Seduce you?”

“…What?”

“Isn’t that right…? Am I. right? I am, aren’t I.”

As she said this and raised her head to look at me, Maya’s expression was cold enough to kill someone without batting an eye.

The serious part is that I’m the person standing in front of such a Maya.

After staring into my eyes continuously, Maya suddenly grabbed my arm tightly and threw my body to the floor.

-Crash!

“Ugh… damn it… Maya! Calm down first!”

“Stay still. Or. Die.”

“…Ma’am, let’s use our words.”

Maya, who had been looking down at me lying on the floor, suddenly bent down and fell on top of me.

While I was frozen in confusion at the sudden situation, Maya, who had overlapped her body on top of mine, buried her face in my neck and took a deep breath.

“Sniff… haaa…… Austin’s smell. I’m smelling it after 8 days…”

“…Maya. Let’s not do this. You’re not in your right mind right now.”

“Lady Alexis… that woman. She seduced you, right? I know.”

“No, what do you know! It’s not like that! Damn it, are you going to keep doing this?”

“….No. I don’t believe you.”

Maya, who had removed her face from my neck, then brought her face close to my ear, so close I could hear her breathing, and whispered.

“Haaa… Where are you trying to go… abandoning us… abandoning me…? I won’t. Let you go anywhere.”

Completely caught in a mount position, I was held by Maya, who had strengthened her body using mana, unable to move even a finger.

“Austin. I won’t. Let you leave…”

Maya’s pupils, which had somehow split vertically like a cat’s, were getting closer and closer to my face.