After being banished by the hero, I decided to join another party – the revival of the legendary hero's team! However, the seductive heroine in her thirties clad in a bikini armor has a mysterious reason why she can't fight! - Episode 1

The party leader and hero, Dolman, made the announcement.

“Sorry, but you’re out as of today.”

“I see…”

Dolman and I are childhood friends.

I thought we got along well…

There’s the Sword Saint, Elza.
The Saintess, Cecilia.
The Sage, Isabel.

Together with Dolman and me, the five of us made up the S-rank party known as “Black Wing.”

Sure, the name might have been a bit too edgy, but with a hero, a Sword Saint, a Saintess, and a Sage, it wasn’t entirely inappropriate.

A party formed with childhood friends and comrades.

I thought we understood one another and worked well together.

It’s true that my abilities as a Warrior hadn’t kept up with the growth of the others.

That’s why I focused on contributing in other ways—handling miscellaneous tasks and supporting everyone.

I would wake up earlier than anyone, work later than anyone, and barely sleep, all for the sake of the party.

It wasn’t a burden because I did it for my friends.

But even so, they’re kicking me out… I see.

I’m still an A-rank adventurer.

Once I leave here, I’ll have no trouble finding another party. I don’t need to cling to this one.

These people might be extraordinary, but I’ll fit in just fine elsewhere. If I drop down to a B-rank party, I’d probably even be in high demand.

I understand my own worth well enough.

But… despite knowing that, I still wanted to stay here.

We’ve been together since our days in the village.

Dolman, is this really the end?

“You know you can’t keep up with us, Fudra.”

“Yeah, you’re right. As a Warrior, it’s hard to match you all in combat.”

I don’t have a remarkable job like Dolman or the others.

That’s why I took care of the cooking, cleaning, laundry, and paperwork to support them.

But I guess that’s not enough anymore.

If that’s how it is… I have no choice.

“To make great strides as a hero, I need significant achievements. Unfortunately, I can’t reach those heights with you, Fudra. Please understand, even if you leave the party, you’ll still be my friend.”

I never hoped for anything beyond friendship with them. I was content with that.

But even that isn’t allowed.

I looked into Isabel’s eyes—my former lover’s eyes. They no longer held the kindness I remembered. I also knew she was now Dolman’s woman.

It’s fine.

“I agree with Dolman,” Isabel said. “You can’t keep up with this party anymore. If you stay, you’ll likely die or suffer serious injury. It’s better for you to leave now. I’m saying this for your own good.”

Translation: “I love Dolman more than I care about you… so let’s just go back to being friends.”

That’s all there is to it.

Sure, I still have feelings for her, but it’s not something I’m attached to anymore.

Traveling as a hero’s party means spending long years journeying from place to place.

Naturally, we look for partners among our comrades.

I noticed the unfamiliar ring on her finger—it was probably a gift from Dolman.

She likes Dolman more than me.

And that’s fine.

The other two also wore matching rings.

It’s a harem party, and I’m the odd one out.

That’s what this is about, isn’t it?

But… who’s going to handle all the chores now?

I had resigned myself to separating love and work, focusing solely on my duties.

Wasn’t that enough?

We grew up in the same village and spent so much time together.

If they reject me this thoroughly, I have no choice but to walk away.

“Isabel, I get it. It’s fine… I’m not needed here anymore, right?”

“That’s not true. I—”

“I don’t need pretty words. From now on, we’re strangers. Let’s leave it at that.”

“…”

That’s how it is.

The friends from my village… Haha, I guess I was the only one who thought of us that way.

We were strangers all along. Thinking of it that way, I don’t even feel angry.

“I know you and Dolman are in love, Isabel. Even so, I thought we were childhood friends. But I guess I was wrong. That’s all there is to it.”

“You knew?”

I saw them together, after all.

“I’m sorry!”

“You don’t need to apologize.”

I don’t care anymore. I don’t even need her apology.

Isabel was my only option back then.

That’s all.

“Go back to the village and become a rural adventurer or find another weak party to join,” Dolman said.

“Dolman, got it. I’ll do just that.”

Isabel was only my lover because she was in Dolman’s party.

My type is mature, older women.

Unfortunately, there was no one like that in this party.

Being in a hero’s party meant long journeys together.

So, my options for a partner were limited to the members. When Dolman declared his interest in Elza and Cecilia, I simply chose Isabel because she was left out.

I didn’t want her to feel lonely.

If Dolman had just admitted from the start that he wanted everyone, he could have treated Isabel better, and I could’ve stayed out of it.

I would have simply visited brothels in the towns we passed through.

I thought I was being considerate, trying to make things easier for Dolman and our childhood friend group.

That’s all it was.

“Goodbye, Fudra.”

“Goodbye.”

“Sorry, but Dolman means more to me than you do.”

The four of them said their goodbyes in unison.

It stung, but that was all.

“Alright. From now on, we’re strangers… Let’s leave it at that.”

I wanted to leave with a smile, but a few tears escaped.

We’d spent so many years together, after all.

But that’s all it was.

Just tears for that.