---

“Oh, hello, senior…”

Today is the day we’re heading out for a light expedition to the plains near the capital, taking the weekend alongside Zion.

But how…

“What a surprise to see Hanamana?”

So Hanamana is here?

At the wagon station, which is both the starting point and the meeting point, Hanamana was waiting, having arrived earlier than Zion.

“I called out just in case~”

And as if he wanted to clarify that, Zion appeared right on cue.

Zion was dressed in his comfortable leather combat attire, radiating his usual vibrant energy.

Today, he looked like an adventurer out of a novel.

“It’s been ages since my last return match, so I’m planning to play it as safely as possible. Hanamana is the world’s best healer, guaranteed by me, the hero! Isn’t that reassuring?”

“Well, I don’t think Hanamana is quite the top healer in the world, but I still think it’s better than having none…”

Hanamana still looked unsure of herself, but as Zion said, having her, the Cleric of the Hero Party, along would mean we’d definitely avoid any injuries.

“There’s no one else coming, right?”

“Nope. Today it’s just the three of us with Hanamana.”

“Sorry to intrude on your date without a hint of suspicion!”

“I wouldn’t say you intruded since Zion invited you…”

Hanamana still looked quite apologetic.

Anyway, as the time came, we hopped onto the wagon and started heading toward our destination.

The destination is a plain near the capital known for having weak monsters.

In fantastical worlds, the designation of a capital often hinges on the strength of the monsters that arise naturally.

The safer a location is, the more people gather there, making it easy to develop agriculture.

“By the way, what’s your role, Hop-senpai? The positions in the party Zion’s in are quite unusual.”

“Me? Well, of course…”

Huh? Why am I answering so quickly?

“Last-Line Support Mage.”

“?”

“?”

Before I realized it, I had blurted out my role, as if I had known it all along.

And the expressions of the two upon hearing my answer were rather perplexed.

“What a… unique position, huh?”

Hanamana tilted her head in confusion.

Even I had to admit that being in the last row was indeed quite a unique role, as Hanamana pointed out.

For a Cleric like her in the rear-line position, saying I was in the last-line meant my role was more protected than even the healer in the party.

“Oh! I get it!”

Then Zion clapped his hands as if having a revelation.

“You’re saying you need protection because you’re weak, right? Are you planning to get stronger?”

“Haha…”

The truth is, I said I was in the last line because I didn’t really know myself, so I could only laugh at Zion’s witty joke.

‘Is that so? I mean, I won’t be fighting anyway, so did I just blurt that out?’

Anyway, since the monsters were a bit further from the capital, we had some time to kill.

Hanamana, who mentioned the unique role of the Hero Party, decided to give us a briefing on combat during this time.

“Our party is just like a Hero Party—the warrior Zion takes almost all the damage and aggro as the ‘Spotlight’, the stealthy former thief Iris supports from the back while dealing the final blows as the ‘Libero’, and the rear-line dealer Now handles area attacks or creates pathways for Zion to maneuver, while I heal and apply buffs to protect our formation.”

This was indeed the formation I had learned about from stories.

It was a position that only works because of the overwhelming presence and strength of the hero.

“Right now, it’ll mostly be Zion fighting solo, so it might not be the most useful info… Oh, did I just say something unnecessary again?”

“No, Hanamana. That was actually a good story.”

Zion reassured Hanamana, who again sounded unsure of herself, while gripping the hilt of the Holy Sword at his waist as if bracing himself.

“Now it’s just me. Wishing for someone to be there to fight beside me is a thing of the past.”

“….”

Zion asked me to come fight alongside him and grow stronger together, but even if I trained for ten months alongside him, I’ve never battled before and I doubt I’d ever face the Demon King.

Zion knew that well enough to prepare himself.

Conversely, I thought there wouldn’t be any need to worry about the Demon King, so I was able to follow Zion with such a light heart.

Right now, the gap isn’t too wide but…

No, let’s not think about that.

That’s out of my hands now.

For now, I just need to try to be a little more important to Zion.

Let’s focus on just that.

“We can’t go any further.”

We finally arrived at the demon territory… though really, it was just a place where monsters occasionally appeared, dangerous enough for civilians to traverse.

Given the right circumstances, adventurers could pass through safely.

The goal of this expedition was also not about the path but crossing through these plains to reach the next city.

It felt like the first step of rehabilitation aimed at a light expedition, a precursor to returning to the battlefield.

“Thanks for the hard work, coach!”

“May good fortune be with you, brave hero.”

After disembarking, Zion exchanged light greetings with the wagon driver and stretched out, presumably to shake off any stiffness.

Then, Hanamana and I got down to gather our things, and after sending off the wagon, the three of us were left alone on the vast plains.

“Shall we get started?”

“Yes.”

“H-Hanamana will stay back until there’s an emergency…”

Hanamana wasn’t meant to fight, as she was brought along just in case Zion needed her.

Thus, our exciting expedition began.

As expected, Zion led the charge while Hanamana kept to the maximum distance possible within her reaction range. I positioned myself a little behind her.

“Haha! With you here, Hop-sensei, you really look like a baggage handler!”

“Ugh. Even if you say that, I don’t have much to say in response…”

“Z-Zion! Up ahead…!”

Zion, who was jokingly looking back at me, suddenly raised his sword and took a stance when Hanamana warned him.

Two wolves appeared in front of us. They looked like beasts at first glance, but they were definitely monsters.

“Of all things for the first encounter to be wolves?!”

Zion complained upon spotting the foes.

Is this a bad situation?

“Hanamana, are wolves strong monsters?”

“Not really, but we have to take down both, or we won’t be able to sleep.”

Not being able to sleep…? It’s true that wolves are known for their pack behavior. Beast-like monsters often retain the traits of their original animal.

If we let them live, it would likely mean a pack of wolves would swarm us at night.

Zion seemed to know that too, hence his complaints.

“Hah!”

Zion boldly swung down his sword, but the wolves nimbly dodged and circled around him, looking for an opportunity.

“Looks like he won’t use his abilities.”

Hanamana remarked while watching Zion fight, as if she expected that.

“It’s because that ability ruined Zion’s body.”

“Hanamana should have noticed sooner…”

Hanamana lowered her head glumly.

Is she feeling responsible for what happened to Zion’s body?

“There’s no need for that, Hanamana. It’s all in the past.”

“Senpai…”

“And anyway, Zion’s completely healed and looking good, right? So cheer up, Hanamana, and forget it.”

Seeing Hanamana’s cute, small stature only reaching my chest yet radiating fragility, I unconsciously placed my hand on her head.

Initially surprised, Hanamana eventually smiled shyly at the gesture.

“Thank you, senpai. For healing Zion and comforting me.”

It was a voluntary act, but I was relieved to see that Hanamana didn’t take it negatively.

“Hah?! And now you’re touching Hanamana too?!”

While still sword fighting with the wolves, Zion successfully took one down, but upon noticing us, he was suddenly furious.

“Zion! The other wolf is escaping!”

“Ah?!”

Hanamana warned again, but while Zion was distracted, the other wolf made a break for it.

Hanamana aimed her staff at its back, but seeing it sprint away, she ultimately put her weapon down and shook her head disapprovingly.

“It’s too far and fast. Even I can’t catch something so distant from Zion…”

Since I had kept my distance from Zion from the start, even Hanamana found it difficult to target a wolf that had pulled away from him.

Anyway, Zion won his first battle since returning, but he didn’t look very pleased about it.

“Hop… Harvey…!”

With a face full of anger, Zion approached, calling my full name.

W-Wait, is this a dangerous situation…?

“S-Senpai, hang in there~”

Feeling the ominous vibe, Hanamana was stealthily backing away.

Starting off like this, is this expedition really going to be okay?

 

---