I Was in Charge of Scouting for the Hero’s Party

5. The Cat and the Cornered Mouse

“Hello! My name is Austin, the scout! Thank you!”

My first impression was ordinary.

You can see it everywhere, with light brown hair and sparkling blue eyes.

His a little brusque demeanor and his eloquent eloquence of talking about interesting stories from beginning to end permeated the party members who were still awkward and became oil.

“Then! I put my hands on the shoulder! While saying…”

When party members are eating in an awkward atmosphere.

“You mean when I was in the Ranger? I’m not going to lie, did a house-sized war wolf come out? No, I don’t believe it even when I hear it, but really…”

Even when the atmosphere at the party turned sour due to the disagreement between Gracie and Adrienne.

“Damn… Isabel! Wake up! Damn you… Adrien! Potion!! No potion?!”

Even when Isabel was injured while dealing with Lava Drake, a high-level monster for the first time.

“Everyone stay alert! That guy is f*cking strong! Left! Watch out for the left!! Coming!!!”

Even when he fought a fierce battle with Gigant, the 8th corps commander, one of the Demon King’s subordinates.

He always became the pillar of our party at every important moment.

“Okay! I worked hard trying to figure out what Gigant was! I, Austin, Maya, Isabel, Adrien, Gracie, and… Warrior Lee Yu-jeong! Good job everyone! For a better tomorrow… For a better day than today!! “

Even when he first caught one of the Demon King’s 8 corps commanders, he encouraged everyone with a hoarse voice from constant briefing, regardless of his condition.

A man who always takes action first, giving us courage whenever the moment is out of our power.

There was no hesitation in the blue eyes shining like the clear sky on a sunny day without a single cloud.

We gradually became assimilated to a man named Austin.

However, the hundreds and thousands of battles that were so intense that they crossed the line of fire against the demons were too hard for me and the other party members, including the young warrior.

On days when Austin or another party member was injured, the party was overcast.

The offensive of monsters rushing in every battle.

The smell of blood was thick enough to make my nose go numb.

And the battle with Urgan, the frontline destroyer, the commander of the Demon King’s 4th corps, who almost died.

Every moment was a turning point, and the desire to sit down was like a chimney.

“Whoa… It’s okay. A wound like this is nothing compared to when I was in the Ranger.”

But he didn’t know how to give up.

I thought it was foolish.

If you are sick, just say you are sick. If you are tired, you can take a little rest.

“Come on. Now that I’m better, let’s go again!”

Unlike me, who was weak, he was strong.

With a bitter smile on his face, he silently listened to the pampering of the other party members, who became sensitive due to continuous battles and several failures.

“Austin… Don’t scout today, come and rub my shoulder…”

“No… Adrienne. I know that reconnaissance is more important than anything else before a battle…”

“Oh, that’s it! Just a little bit of a shoulder massage! Do you know how hard it is to pull the bowstring nonstop every day?!”

Ever since he accepted our pampering once, the party members had no hesitation.

Austin’s duties began to increase.

Prepare meals, do laundry, find a campsite, nurse, check equipment, and more.

Austin, who was given all sorts of chores as if he were being entrusted with them, nevertheless struggled to keep a smile on his face.

Austin, aren’t you struggling?

If it’s difficult, you can just say it’s difficult.

Why do you think of us first even while forcing yourself to smile?

“At that moment, really… I think? Maybe there…”

I hated him for pushing himself to the limit, forcing himself to smile and telling a funny story like the first time.

And I hated my lukewarm attitude, which certainly didn’t dissuade the party members who made him that way.

“Maya, if the bag is heavy, would you like to carry it?”

“…It’s okay.”

“Uh… Isn’t it heavy?”

“Mages who have trained mana. Their bodies are also strong.”

“…No, but…”

“Austin.”

“Uh, huh?”

“Words. Too many.”

“…..Sorry.”

Austin, who used to liven up the party, has lost his voice since that day.

“There’s a group of black hounds ahead. Let’s hide until they pass.”

“Lightning magic works better against the blue ogre than fire magic. Maya, prepare the charge bolt.”

Suddenly, the friendly tone gradually disappeared, and a cool and cold tone that only reasoned about cause and effect settled in him.

It was sad.

All other party members, including myself, knew very well that it was our fault that Austin, who was in charge of the big axis of our party, had changed like that.

I couldn’t stand it because I was so pitiful that I hastily concluded that there was no turning back.

But on the other hand, I hated him for changing his attitude like flipping a card.

I wanted to sit down several times.

I wanted to give up.

I didn’t want to walk anymore.

But we are members of the warrior party.

A grandiose and burdensome position that is the continent’s only hope to defeat the demon king.

As we stand in such a position, the option of giving up was not acceptable no matter how hard it was.

“Austin! The food was terrible today! How many times do I have to tell you to add more meat when I’m making a stew?”

As usual, a heart-wrenching venom crept across Austin’s face.

Is it my imagination that his expression looked harder than usual?

“…Austin. If you feel sleepy…You can wake me up. I’ll stand next.”

Would it be because the conscience that remained in my heart stabbed my heart?

I showed little pity and disappeared into the tent.

The next morning, I left my watch on my own and went into the tent.

Austin left us after all.

* * *

“…..Maya.”

What the f*ck, why is he here?

Could it be that you were followed when you were heading from the market to your inn?

Just as I was seriously thinking about where I was being followed, Maya, who was still staring at me, opened her mouth.

“Austin. I know you’re shameless. Can I come in for a minute?”

“…Maya. I don’t want to be with you anymore. I don’t want to be involved any more.”

“No. Right now… I’m alone.”

“…What?”

Contrary to my expectations that she would have brought the hero and other party members, when she said that she had come alone, I poked my head out the door and looked around the hallway.

There is no hero…

“…So? I came alone, what should I do?”

Well, my position has not changed since I came alone and came in droves.

As I still clung to my cold demeanor, Maya lowered her head and said in a trembling voice.

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

“…….”

Maya’s eyes were wet with her tears as she raised her head and looked at me.

“Austin… I’m sorry… I’m sorry… Uh… Uhhh…”

A drop of pure, clear tear ran down Maya’s cheek, and she began to sob without realizing it. Maya continued to sob, saying she was sorry.

“Huh… Hhh… Mi… I’m sorry… I’m sorry for neglecting you… Heh… I’m so sorry… Heh… I knew Austin would hate it… But I followed him. I’m here… I’m sorry…”

…What kind of answer do you have?

The current situation where he suddenly came alone, knocked on the door, and apologized while shedding tears saying he was sorry was completely unexpected even for me.

I sighed and narrowed my brows.

“After……”

“I’m sorry… Whimper… My… I’ll do anything… Uh… Again… Come back to the party… Uh… Me… If Austin isn’t here. .. No…”

“…Maya.”

“Oh… Without Austin… I… Whimper… heheheh…”

“Maya.”

“Ah… Ugh… Yes! Sniff… Sorry… hehehe!… Keep talking…”

What can I say?

The answer has already been decided.

“I don’t want to be with you guys anymore. Have you ever thought about how those barbed words you spat out at me might have reached me?”

When I spoke in a firm tone, Maya, who had been weeping, looked up at me pitifully for a moment, pursed her lips, then dropped her ears and lowered her gaze to the floor.

“My role at the party was skirmisher. It wasn’t cooking, washing, massaging, or doing leg work. Damn it, I wondered what kind of housekeeper I was dragged into.”

“…….”

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

“…Don’t tell me.”

“Then I… What?”

“Lies.”

“No, I’m not lying. I want to cut ties with you from now on? What kind of lies…”

“Lies lies lies lies lies lies lies lies lies lies lies lies lies.”

Wait a minute. I don’t feel good.

“…Maya?”

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

– Clap.

“Maya…? Why is the door locked…”

“…You said earlier, Princess Alexis…”

“Huh? Did I? hahahaha…”

Step by step, avoiding Maya who was approaching me, I followed her backwards, then I was cornered and leaned my back against the wall.

“Alexis… Princess Alexis… Did that b*tch seduce you?”

“…What?”

“Right…? I mean. Right? Right.”

Saying that, Maya lifted her head and looked at me, and the expression on her face was as cold as if she would kill at least one person without even blinking.

The serious thing is that I am the one standing in front of Maya.

While staring into my eyes like that, Maya suddenly grabbed my arm and threw me to the floor.

– Thrash!

“Damn… The f*ck… Maya! Calm down first!”

“Stay still. And then. Die.”

“…Sir. Let’s talk.”

Maya, who was looking down at me as I fell, suddenly leaned over and landed on top of me.

While I froze in panic at the sudden situation, Maya laid herself on top of me, buried her face in the nape of my neck, and took a deep breath.

“Sup… Haa… The smell of Austin. I can smell it in 8 days…”

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

“Princess Alexis… That b*tch. He seduced you, right? I know.”

“No, what do you know! It’s not like that! f*cker, do you really want to keep doing this?”

“…No. I can’t believe it.”

After removing her face from the nape of my neck, Maya put her face close enough to my ear to hear her breathing and whispered.

“Haa… Leave us… Leave me. Where are you going…? I’m not sending you anywhere. I won’t.”

When I was fully positioned in the mount, I was caught in Maya’s hand, who had strengthened her body using mana, and I couldn’t even lift a finger from her.

“Austin. I will never let you go. I will not…”

At some point, Maya’s pupils, which split vertically like a cat, were approaching my face.