Chapter 1: I’ll banish you again and again

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Translator: Soafp

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“Nonoa, sorry, but I'm have to say… You're expelled.”

When I told her that in the inn's dining hall where we were staying today, Nonoa wore a stunned expression.

That was only natural. To her, it must have felt like a bolt from the blue—a completely sudden declaration.

…Though, to be precise, no one here, myself included, actually knows what a “clear sky” looks like.

We only know the words.

In any case, caught off guard by the suddenness of it, she was unable to hide her agitation—as usual.

With an expression that seemed to mix a strained smile and confusion, her black eyes wavering with anxiety, she still fixed her gaze straight on me.

Perhaps she was hoping this was some kind of bad joke, that I would retract it at any moment.

But she seemed to quickly sense the truth of my words from my expression.

She has the observational ability to do that.

“W-wait, Erius, this is so sudden… Did I do something? Expelled, that's just…”

Calling my name in a shaken, trembling voice, Nonoa tried to continue speaking.

The one who cut her off was Rena, one of the party members.

“Nonoa. Are you aware that you're holding us back?”

At Rena's accusation, Nonoa bristled and shot back.

“I admit I'm not useful in combat… But because of that, I more than make up for it in ‘accounting,' which is essential to running the party! Do you know how much trouble I went through to scrape together the donations to the church that are for your sake?”

Apparently displeased by Nonoa's pointed, factual remark, Rena flushed red and shouted.

“Giving alms to the poor is the duty of those who have! I don't recall asking for such condescension! And the donations are something Erius and I agreed upon—there's no reason for you to criticize me!”

On this point, Rena was right.

The promise of regular donations to the church she had once taken refuge in was one of the conditions for her joining the party.

That said, it was Nonoa, the accountant, who was actually securing those funds.

So in truth, Rena ought to be grateful to her.

But she would never acknowledge that.

“Other parties manage just fine without hiring a specialized accountant! And unlike you, I am a ‘Saint'—the Saint skill, you know!? One of a kind!”

“Ugh…”

Feeling the tide turn against her once skills were brought up, Nonoa fell silent.

Rena's skill, “Saint,” was indeed, as she boasted, unique.

Among the so-called “Heaven-bestowed” skills that appear in countless tales and legends, it was considered the highest class.

“B-but…”

Even so, as Nonoa tried desperately to continue, the party's lancer, Faran—who possessed the skill “Mighty Spear”—cut in with an exasperated look.

“Hey, you seriously think you can keep hanging around this S-rank party, ‘Dragonfang's Bite,' with some useless-in-combat skill like ‘Accounting'? What, did your precious abacus tell you that was a good idea?”

“Y-you don't have to put it that way… I admit I'm dragging you down in combat, I've said that myself, but…!”

Faran's words weren't exactly wrong.

In an adventuring party, everyone has their assigned role.

But in the adventuring trade, one thing that can never be omitted is combat.

The year I was born, a being calling itself the “Demon King” appeared in this country.

By covering the land in black clouds, the Demon King weakened the nation, then expanded its domain by commanding demons and monsters.

I've heard that before the Demon King's appearance, it wasn't uncommon for adventuring parties to include people with non-combat skills like “Merchant” or “Blacksmith.”

But these days, “combat skill plus alpha” is the norm, and being cast aside for lacking a combat-oriented skill is hardly rare.

Such skills are broadly classified into three types.

“Heaven-bestowed,” granted by the gods during the coming-of-age ritual based on one's lineage and conduct up to that point; “Acquired,” learned through one's own training; and “Awakened,” which are strengthened through synergy between Heaven-bestowed and Acquired skills.

“I'm not trying to blame you or anything. But maybe the reason the gods gave you a skill like ‘Accounting' wasn't so you could fight, y'know? I'm being kind here—try to understand that, okay?”

Faran's tone suddenly shifted to one of condescension.

Meanwhile, I listened to the exchange in silence.

Because anything I said here would not be an important ‘causal flag.'

“It's true I'm holding the party back in combat right now. I've admitted that over and over. But I'm putting all my shares into it, I go to the training grounds on my days off, and above all… I'm so close. Just a little more, and I feel like I can grasp something!”

Yes.

In many ways, Nonoa is at the point of ‘one last step.'

No… I brought her to that point.

That's precisely why—

“Nonoa.”

When I called her name, anxiety seeped into her well-shaped features, and she looked at me with a pleading expression.

…No matter how many times I see it, I can't get used to it.

No, I don't want to get used to it. I mustn't get used to it.

But this… is an unavoidable ‘causality.'

“No matter what you say, as the party leader, my decision will not change.”

When I repeated it in a stern tone, Nonoa lowered her head as if resigned.

“It's a sudden expulsion, but… I'll at least give you the bare minimum of money and supplies.”

When I said that, Rena raised her voice again in dissatisfaction.

“What? If you're going to give her a parting gift, wouldn't it be better to donate that to the church…”

I raised my hand to stop Rena, who looked like she was about to keep going, and spoke.

“We're an S-rank party. Even if she was useless, throwing out someone who was once a companion with nothing but the clothes on her back wouldn't look good… though, well, maybe we don't need to worry about appearances… You might be right, Rena…”

“E-eh? W-wait a moment… Yes, you're right. Even if only briefly, she was our companion. To give her no charity at all would go against God's will.”

Good.

Rena is extremely conscious of how she is seen from the outside as a ‘Saint.'

I poked at that point, and it worked.

Now I can give Nonoa a parting gift.

Though how useful it will be… I don't know.

“It's not much money, and the potion is low-grade, but take it.”

Saying that, I poured a low-grade healing potion from a large bottle into a small vial I had prepared and handed it to her.

Seeing this, Rena covered her mouth, stifling a laugh as she spoke.

“That's a low-grade healing potion, isn't it? Erius, you can be so mean. But Nonoa, it suits you, don't you think?”

Mockery unbefitting of a Saint.

Normally, Rena isn't like this.

This attitude isn't something she shows to everyone.

She is only ever harsh toward Nonoa.

In the end, skills are just abilities.

They don't change a person's character.

Ignoring Rena's words, Nonoa silently accepted the money and the potion, and left the building.

With Nonoa's expulsion over, I returned to my room.

After confirming I was alone—though I'd experienced enough times to know no one would come at this timing anyway.

I activated my skill.

“Guide.”

As I muttered the word, a book appeared in my right hand.

The book had one hundred and fifteen pages.

The number of times I've repeated this.

“One hundred and fifteen.”

When I specified it, the pages began flipping automatically.

The final page opened, and I checked the newly added text.

‘Nonoa's expulsion (parting gift given)'

Her name and the expulsion were written in red letters, while “parting gift given” was written in blue.

This “parting gift given” part was a new discovery.

“Oh. Looks like that was a reasonably significant causal flag… good grief.”

Normally, a Heaven-bestowed skill given by the gods at the coming-of-age ritual is limited to one per person.

But though it's a secret from everyone else, I have two skills.

One is “Swordmaster,” and the other is this “Guide.”

The Swordmaster skill represents one's overall aptitude and mastery in sword combat.

Sword-related skills are divided into four categories: “Warrior,” “Swordsman,” “Swordmaster,” and “Sword Saint.”

Warrior appears in about one in a thousand people, Swordsman in one in ten thousand, Swordmaster in one in a hundred thousand, and Sword Saint—only one or two may exist in the entire world at the same time, if any at all.

There are even rumors that a “Sword God” existed in the distant past, but no confirmed records remain.

In effect, that makes Sword Saint the pinnacle of sword-related skills.

At present, no Sword Saint has been confirmed to exist.

But I have met one in the past.

…The Sword Saint was my father, who was killed by the Demon King.

Though not on the level of a Sword Saint, my own Swordmaster skill is still extremely powerful.

Balanced in both offense and defense, it has been wielded by many warriors whose names are etched into history.

But… it's not enough.

It's not enough.

That's because of my other skill, “Guide.”

“One page.”

I specified the page again and looked at the words written there.

“This book guides its user toward the ending known as ‘the Demon King's death.'”

A sentence I've seen over and over again.

At first, I was thrilled.

Then, gradually, I began to think I'd been deceived.

Even so, every time I read those words, I steel my resolve anew.

That together with the Demon King's death—

I will absolutely bring this pointless repetition to an end.

Yes. This goddamn book binds me to an eternal cycle until the Demon King dies—

A curse in all but name, placed upon “that man.”