Prologue
Zect, the party leader and bearer of the Hero job, declared,
“Ceres! Sorry, but you’re out as of today.”
“I see. Well, that’s fine.”
Zect and I had been childhood friends, but I’d always had a vague feeling that it might come to this someday.
The Hero, Zect.
The Swordmaster, Rida.
The Saintess, Maria.
The Sage, Meru.
The Magic Warrior, Ceres.
The five of us together formed the S-rank party known as “The Light of Hope.” It’s a slightly chuunibyou name, but it’s not out of place considering Zect’s a Hero, and we’ve got a Swordmaster, a Saintess, and a Sage in the mix.
However, this party had a major problem.
The issue was that three of them were women.
Zect isn’t a bad guy at heart.
But from my perspective, he has one fatal flaw.
And that’s his “womanizing.”
As an adult, I don’t let that single trait define my entire opinion of him. There’s definitely “friendship” between us… but Zect’s the type who prioritizes “love” over “friendship.”
I’d even considered him my “best friend,” but there’s nothing I can do about his bad habits.
Lately, I’d been falling behind the others.
It’s a fact that, due to the differences in our jobs, my abilities couldn’t keep up with the three who’d grown so much, and there’s no helping that.
So honestly, I didn’t mind being kicked out.
I mean, think about it—there’s no point in sticking around and causing friction, and even if I can’t keep up with a Hero’s party, I’m still an S-rank adventurer myself.
Once I leave here, there’ll be plenty of other opportunities waiting.
Sure, their strength is exceptional, but I’d still hold my own in most other S-rank parties, and if I dropped down to A-rank, I’d probably be in high demand.
I’m not exactly hurting for options here.
“You know you can’t keep up, right, Ceres?”
“Yeah, you’re right. As a Magic Warrior, keeping pace with everyone… it’s tough.”
And that’s fine.
I know what Zect’s after—he wants a harem party.
And for that, I’m in the way.
“To make a big leap as a Hero’s party, we need big achievements. Unfortunately, with you, that’s not possible! Come on, understand me here—even if you leave the party, you’re still my best friend, nothing changes.”
If Zect, the leader, says so, then there’s no arguing it.
The others probably feel the same way.
I glanced at Meru, whom I’d always doted on. Her eyes no longer held the kindness they once did, and I knew she’d completely become Zect’s woman.
“I agree with Zect! You can’t keep up with this party anymore. You’ll probably end up dead or badly injured soon… You should just quit already. I’m saying this for your own good!”
“Meru… Yeah, you’re right… Thanks!”
Yeah, I figured she’d say that! She’s not even meeting my eyes—she’s looking at Zect.
I don’t care if she’s sleeping with him or not, but it is what it is.
My gaze drifted to Meru’s neck.
She was wearing a necklace I didn’t recognize—probably something Zect bought for her.
The necklace I’d given her was gone… That stings a little.
Looking closer, I noticed Rida and Maria were wearing the same necklace.
Resignation is key. I’m not needed in a harem party.
That’s how it is. Still, might as well confirm it, right?
“Meru… Am I really not needed?”
“…”
“I want to hear it straight from you.”
“You’re not needed anymore!”
She said it without a hint of hesitation.
I’d already known that for a while—this was just confirmation.
“Well, Zect’s a good guy. Be happy, okay?”
“Y-You… You knew?”
“It’s obvious just by watching. If it were anyone else, I’d challenge them to a duel, but with Zect, I can let it go.”
“I’m sorry!”
“Don’t worry about it.”
Meru’s making a sad face, but there’s no need for that.
Parting with childhood friends is a little lonely, sure, but that’s all it is.
“Just go back to the village quietly, live a slow country life, and keep being an adventurer—or maybe find some weaker party to join.”
“Yeah, I’ll take it easy for a while and think it over.”
Zect must’ve thought Meru and I were together and “stole” her from me.
I didn’t have any special feelings for her—just felt a bit bad for her, that’s all… Oh well.
But this womanizing habit… Can’t he ever fix it?
Zect’s looking at me with a smug, triumphant expression.
He’s blatantly looking down on me.
This need to one-up people—can’t he do something about that too?
He’s talented at everything, good-looking, strong, and chosen as a Hero.
He doesn’t even need to flaunt it—I already think he’s amazing, and if he just stayed quiet, everyone would sing his praises.
But these two flaws ruin it all… I’m a little worried for him.
Meru wasn’t my lover.
You were always busy getting cozy with Rida and Maria, so naturally, I ended up keeping Meru company.
If she’s all alone looking lonely, don’t you feel bad for her?
If you want a harem, you should love them all equally.
Just be honest, best friend.
If you’d come to me at night, man-to-man, and said, “I want a harem,” I’d have felt a lot better about this.
It would’ve made things cleaner, you know.
“This is goodbye, Ceres. See ya!”
“Goodbye, Ceres.”
“Farewell.”
“Zect’s better than you! Sorry…”
All four of my childhood friends bid me farewell at once… This hits harder than I expected.
I don’t have any romantic feelings, but having spent so much of my life with them, the loneliness wells up anyway.
“See ya!”
“Don’t be too harsh, Meru! Ceres is still my best friend, after all.”
“Don’t sweat it! Next time we meet, let’s laugh and catch up… Thanks for everything. All four of you—live happily, alright?”
“So, you’ll leave the party, then?”
“Yeah, you guys go save the world or whatever. I’ll take it slow and figure things out. See ya.”
Goodbye, everyone…
◆◆◆
Phew… A slight sense of loss hit me.
I “loved” them.
But not in the way they probably thought.
To put it simply, it was more like “paternal love.”
There’s something I never told them.
I’m a “reincarnator.”
It’s not like I’m some grand Hero or anything… In my previous life, I was a 42-year-old dad.
Those memories are still vivid in my mind.
A corporate elite salaryman with a wife and daughter, working at a trading company.
Completely useless in this other world.
“Don’t cling to the past when you’ve already reincarnated and started a new life”—I can almost hear someone saying that. But what can I do when the memories are still there?
Because of that, people my age in this world just feel like kids to me.
It’s not an excuse—it’s just impossible to see them any other way.
The age of adulthood here is fifteen. In my old world, that’s still a middle schooler. They’re just kids in my eyes.
Fine, I’ll admit it… In this world, I’ve got a thing for older women.
But from my perspective, the men here are all “complete lolicon.” Seventeen years old—barely two years past adulthood—and they’re already considered “over the hill”? In Japan, that’s still a high school girl, a minor. And they call that old?
What’s more, once women hit their mid-twenties here, they’re apparently no longer seen as “women.”
What a damn waste.
I died at 42 in my old life, and I’ve lived 14 years in this world. From my point of view, unless they’re in their late twenties or so… I just can’t see them as romantic prospects, no matter what.
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