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

Two days after leaving the city.

He was following a group of people heading to another city.

Though the pace was slow due to children and elderly being present, traveling in a group was safer.

He didn’t have the skills to travel alone either.

Where was he going?

‘Is going back home the right choice?’

He didn’t know.

Maru still hadn’t decided.

Though the current direction was towards his hometown, his steps lacked strength.

He was hesitating.

Was it really right to return home and tell his mother ‘I was kicked out of the party’?

When he set out on his journey years ago, hadn’t he bragged about how he’d take down the Demon Lord?

‘This is so embarrassingly mortifying.’

While grumbling to himself, the merchant group at the front stopped their steps.

“Let’s rest here!”

“Sit by the road and cool off your sweat! Those who need to pee, don’t go too far, do it nearby!”

While the group was taking a break, Maru went into the forest alone.

“Damn it. What’s the point of god and all that when my life is ruined.”

No matter how much he prays, he won’t be heard.

Might as well not need it.

With such determination, he shouldered his backpack and walked deep into the forest.

When he finally reached a very secluded spot, he took out a small bowl from his backpack, filled it with water, and placed it on a rock.

“Lord Belkran, this is my final prayer. From this moment on, I intend to stop serving you.”

Maru sighed before continuing.

“You hate me anyway, don’t you? You’re angry because of my stupid actions. Now that things have gone as you wanted, this foolish believer will step down. I hope you meet a kinder and wiser believer than me. I won’t resent you anymore for forcibly bringing me to this world. Let’s each go our own way. Farewell.”

After offering a reverent prayer with his hands together, he shouldered his backpack again.

“I’m leaving. I’ll leave the bowl here.”

Just as he was about to move his feet.

-Foolish one!

As a small earthquake occurred, a giant face statue slowly rose from the ground, lying sideways.

It was a beautiful face statue whose gender was impossible to determine as male or female from the face alone.

“Lord Belkran…?”

Maru was surprised, but being familiar with this situation, he didn’t fall over.

He had met like this several times when he first came to this world.

-After arbitrarily passing on the hero’s power I bestowed to that wench, this is the result? How foolish.

Maru recalled those times and sighed.

“Back then, I did it because she seemed like she would die from illness. I was desperate because I heard the hero’s power was invincible and could cure any disease… Sigh. No. I’m sorry.”

-Sorry is not enough!

The male god’s voice full of anger echoed thunderously.

Birds in the trees flew away with a flutter.

“That’s why I’m leaving. To take responsibility for my sin…”

-Leave? You’re leaving me?

“Yes.”

-Have you forgotten the promise?

Suddenly the god’s voice changed to a goddess’s voice.

-Don’t you want to return to your original world?

“I do want to. But I don’t have the power to achieve that. You know well. It’s already too late.”

-If you lack power, then gain power.

“How? My power now belongs to Kiera.”

-That wench’s power is not hers. You are still the owner. But because of your foolish act, you can’t use it by your will. It has been corrupted into a power that can only be used by completely controlling the wench. Therefore.

The god said.

-Since you deeply repent your past mistakes, I shall bestow new power upon you.

Maru’s eyes widened.

“New… power?”

One month later.

Territory of Duke Toledo.

In a forest.

A monster standing 3 meters tall rose on two legs and roared.

The horrific sound covered heaven and earth.

It felt like it would burst one’s head as it flowed into the ears.

Kiera, armed in white armor, calmly received that killing intent.

Just then, a messenger who came on horseback urgently jumped off his horse.

“Lady Kiera! A message from the Duke! He says the capture preparations are complete, so please quickly drain the creature’s stamina!”

“Understood.”

Kiera looked back.

Natali, Lucy, Yoris.

Her reliable companions were standing by, having completed all preparations.

“Let’s go.”

“Kuhama!”

Kuhama is what Natali shouts when she’s happy.

“My bladder is so full I’m about to wet myself. My condition is at its peak. Kuhama!”

“Ugh, gross. Can’t you stop that perverted habit of deliberately holding your pee during every fight? Hey mutt, hand me my staff. Oh right, the mutt’s gone now. Where did I put my staff?”

“It’s under my feet. Pick it up.”

“What? I hate getting dirt on my staff! You rowdy priest!”

“Now, now, I shall cast protection on everyone. Please gather around for a moment.”

Led by Kiera, the hero’s party approached the monster with large strides.

As they got closer, foul energy fiercely rushed at them from all directions.

‘I’ll cut. And… cut again!’

Kiera’s blade danced wildly.

Accurately and quickly, like something alive, it tracked down and annihilated the foul energy floating in the air until the end.

“The enemy’s right in front! Begin!”

Following Lucy’s shout, warrior Natali immediately rushed past Kiera to the front while raising her large two-handed sword high.

The two-handed sword was swung mercilessly toward the monster.

“Kuhama!”

Following that, Lucy’s magic bombarded and Yoris cast protection spells on Natali without pause.

It was Kiera’s role to strike the vital points while the monster was distracted.

But for some reason, her condition had been strange for a while.

‘What’s this…? I can’t put strength in.’

The hero’s holy power suddenly disappeared.

“Kiera what are you doing! It’s your turn! You’ve already missed two chances!”

Lucy shouted, but Kiera stood dumbfounded.

‘Why can’t I gather power?!’

At that moment, her companions urgently shouted in unison.

“Kiera!”

“Kiera!”

“Lady Kiera!”

Thud!

Kiera’s body was hit by the monster’s swinging fist and floated up into the air.

Yosland in the Kingdom of Basilite, over 400km away from where the hero’s party was.

A carriage carrying three passengers was running across vast plains.

Bump, bump.

Maru yawned languidly.

Warm sunlight, pastoral scenery, cows grazing in the distance.

He still felt drowsy even after stretching repeatedly.

The two people sitting opposite were a middle-aged woman and her young son.

They were on their way to meet her husband who works at the port.

Perhaps because of that, the two seemed quite excited.

Having talked plenty earlier, they had run out of things to say.

‘Still seems far from arriving, maybe I’ll catch a quick nap.’

Maru hugged his backpack and adjusted his sitting position.

He leaned his back comfortably and looked at the sky while closing his eyes.

‘Let’s see… one sheep… two sheep…’

The scene from meeting the god recently gradually came to mind.

-Take the power possessed by my strongest servant beast that I raised.

“You’re giving me power again?”

Maru pondered.

If he received power…

If only he had power!

Though he was slightly scared at first, he gradually became more positive.

‘I won’t have to return shamefully to mother. I can resume my journey toward the Demon Lord’s castle. This time without joining any party, all by myself…!’

He no longer had grand ambitions like catching the Demon Lord.

Just being present at the scene of the Demon Lord’s death would be enough.

To boast to everyone in his hometown that he was there too.

To avoid embarrassment.

Let’s at least have enough power to dodge well when others are fighting fiercely in battle with the Demon Lord!

“Is it an overwhelmingly strong power that can take down demons instantly even by myself?”

-My servant beast Leviathan was a spirit beast with power beyond imagination.

“Spirit beast…?”

Maru soon made up his mind and put strength in his eyes.

“Give it to me. That power. What do I need to do?”

-Head to Leviathan Island in the east. That island was created from the corpse of Leviathan who died thousands of years ago. In its center, Leviathan’s essence will be floating. Absorb it and make it yours.

The giant sideways face statue’s mouth opened wide and stuck out its tongue.

A round hand mirror was placed on the tongue.

-Take this. Leviathan’s essence can only be seen through this mirror of truth.

The carriage suddenly stopped.

“Whoa, whoa!”

Maru opened his eyes, lifted his head and looked ahead.

A group carrying luggage was standing by the road.

“Merchants?”

Thinking it was nothing special, he pulled his seat in tight.

The drivers seemed to be talking with them, and soon people started climbing aboard.

Five in total.

The spacious carriage that had been comfortable became packed.

Four men and one innocent-looking young lady.

But the face of the woman sitting on the departing side somehow looked familiar.

‘Ah.’

That person is that person.

The minstrel who was singing in the city plaza about a month ago.

Maru looked at her for a moment before turning his gaze away.

‘How strange to meet again in a place like this. Not that it matters anyway.’

Bump.

The carriage wheels started rolling again.

“Where are you headed to?”

A middle-aged man who appeared to be part of the woman’s group spoke kindly from beside him.

“Kiburton Port.”

“Why are you going there?”

Maru reflexively frowned.

These days Maru was full of distrust towards people.

He was just irritated.

Especially, he hated those who approached kindly the most.

“Why should I tell you that? Before asking others questions, state your own name first.”

“Ah, ah. I apologize if I was rude. My name is Carlisle.”

“I’m Han.”

“Nice to meet you, Mr. Han. You seem to be traveling alone?”

“No, my companions went ahead and are waiting.”

“At Kiburton Port?”

“Yes.”

Perhaps because he had no intention of conversing, lies flowed smoothly.

“Sorry but I’m going to sleep.”

Maru crossed his arms and closed his eyes.

“It would be nice if you could chat with us for a bit…”

Carlisle leaned in with a grin.

“Mr. Han. You look tired, shall I show you something interesting that will make your energy overflow?”

“What?”

“Hey Jamila! Come on, sing a wonderful song to make Mr. Han here happy!”

“No, no. It’s fine.”

“Please don’t reject my sincerity. Look here. As it happens, Jamila wants to sing too! Let’s listen together!”

Maru turned his head to look at the woman.

The woman wearing a bright white dress smiled broadly and said ‘please enjoy’ as people around cheered and clapped.

Soon her companions started playing flutes and plucking lute strings as the woman began to sing.

“In a kingdom lived a valiant queen~”

It was the song he heard recently.

Maru bit his lip and reflexively took his gaze off the woman to look at the floor.

Of all things… all sorts of thoughts started creeping up.

He sank into contemplation with a lonely heart.

The woman’s song eventually reached its middle part.

The mother and son were happy

It was like a heavenly bond

Then suddenly first love came to the prince

It was a beggar girl he met in a market alley

The poor girl had gotten sick at a young age and was living on borrowed time

But when she met the prince, something amazing happened

The girl miraculously regained her health

She even gained the power of a hero and became endlessly arrogant

Queen, please give me your son

The girl, ungrateful, tried to steal the prince from the queen

The queen did not get angry but calmly reasoned

Though your body is yours, the prince’s body belongs to the people

An individual cannot possess the prince

But the prince was curious about the world

What lies outside the royal castle

Could there be more amazing things to see

His endless curiosity made his mother fearful

Lock the prince in his room and banish the girl

Mother, I want to see the bigger world

The world will treat you as a monster, look at your hair color, look at your eye color, look at your skin color

You’ll become a spectacle, evil merchants will catch you and send you to a zoo

The prince did not give up

He wanted to go on adventures with the girl

The queen was determined to protect her beloved son

She increased guards in the castle and stayed with the prince all day until he fell asleep

But was that dedication not enough

The arrogant girl took the prince away

Oh heavens

Why do you give me another trial

After my husband, is my beloved son leaving me too?

The queen’s tears for the prince showed love deeper than blood ties

I cannot lose you too

Go forth my army

Retrieve the prince and tie the girl to a stake with ropes of punishment

The song came to an end.

Carlisle, sitting next to him, took out a handkerchief and wiped his eyes.

“Sniff sniff, such a sad song. No matter how many times I hear it, it never gets old and is so heartbreaking. Oh my poor queen lost her precious prince to that wicked woman… You’re sad too, aren’t you, Mr. Han?”

“Well, I…”

Maru scratched the back of his head and took a deep breath in and out.

“It is sad. Um… but I think the song has been distorted a bit. It’s different from what I know.”

“How so?”