Vol. 1 Chapter 3: Falling Out

“This man saved my life when I was still an adventurer,” Lady Yanari explained to my superiors, still at loss from the revelation. By then, she invited us to sit down and talk. The other elf, Lady Menea, prepared coffee and snacks for us. As they went over my background, I just watched the latter do her thing. But I heard the former said, “If anything, I owe my second life to him.”

I kept silent. Honestly, I have no memories of such event. Part of the party obligations to the Adventurers’ Agency regulations was to help another group if they met each other inside a dungeon. Still, in practice, it depended on the team leader, as well as the demands of the expedition (like supply availability), to follow that rule. In most cases, adventurer parties stayed out of the other’s range to conserve precious supplies they needed.

As for OyasumiSe7en, we gained renown in the early years because our team leader always stopped at nothing to assist other parties. Sometimes, even offering them more than necessary.

Well, if you got the world’s most powerful mages and top adventurers, supplies are the last thing on your mind.

So, Lady Yanari’s claims that I ‘saved her life’ must be one of the many things we did for the adventuring parties we encountered before. She should also recognize the efforts of my teammates…

“Mister Lerin,” she said without looking at me. “It may have been a long time, but time is of no big issue for us elves. When I say you helped me, you helped me. No one else.”

Mister Maranan glared at me. From his expression alone, I knew he wanted me to just ‘stay put and avoid offending’ Lady Yanari.

“No! No! He doesn’t offend me at all, director!” the elf reiterated. “Mister Lerin is the last person in this world that will earn my wrath.”

Hearing that certainly eased my heart. Still, I couldn’t remember when I helped her.

“Mister Lerin…” Lady Yanari called my attention. “I know you are trying to be humble in spite of your accomplishments, but I’d rather want you to accept credit when it is due. Yes, you may not remember it, I was a younger elf then; clueless about her adventures, and leading an adventuring party. Fortunately, you were inside the Nizhny-Novgorod dungeon, and while the boss pursued us, you single-handedly killed it.”

“Mister Lerin, you surely made an impression to the Secretary!” Ma’am Flor clapped her hands. She smiled, but there was a hint of sarcasm in her voice.

“Mrs. Rey, saving my party isn’t the only thing that endeared him to me! Mister Lerin also taught me the basics of a successful party; a lesson I still pass to my proteges to this day.”

Hearing Lady Yanari’s praises made me want to just disappear. Glancing at my watch, I wondered when we would be let go. What was this meeting for, anyway? Like, okay guys, you already know the secret: I’m the legendary Yukie. Now what?

“Uh, his application form says Mister Lerin is an ‘ordinaria,’” Ma’am Flor pointed out. “How can he be Yukie, aside from the fact he’s a man?”

The elf chuckled, “What, do you still believe that wrong information about OyasumiSe7en being an all-girls adventurer group?”

“My apologies, Lady Yanari,” it was Mister Maranan. “Even I believed the same story until your letter correcting the reports. If Mister Lerin is truly the legendary Yukie, then why did the Society of Mages allow such mistake in the records?”

The elf said nothing, and turned to me. The other elf in the room, Lady Menea, spoke, “If you want answers, it is probably best to ask the man himself…”

Everyone’s anticipating eyes on me made me squirm. Can I just go home? I don’t like my past being dug up.

“…or, we can ask OyasumiSe7en’s team leader herself…”

“No!” I blurted out, standing from my seat, ready to leave. But, something on my legs stuck, and I couldn’t move. Tch. I knew it! This is a trap!

“…Lady Henrietta, your Yukie is finally here!”

Shit! You can’t be serious!

Coming out from a portal, the beautiful human lady with golden braided hair, purple eyes, and Victorian dress stepped into the Secretary’s office. Once she saw the other guests (my superiors), she slightly lifted her skirt for a curtsy, then went beside me. Using her magic, she brought out a small brush, dusted my lap, and sat on it, much to the shock of my bosses.

I’m also dumbfounded by her actions; though, but more like it’s been long since she did this to me.

“I believe you met her this morning, but let me introduce her again; this is Lady Henrietta Temaire Lousie, of House d’Anvilles,” Lady Yanari said to my superiors. “Former team leader of OyasumiSe7en, nicknamed ‘Temari,’ and one of the Society of Mage’s elite members.”

“Monsieur Maranan, Mademoiselle Rey, thank you for taking care of my Yukie,” the French lady wrapped her arms around me. “I really missed him after OyasumiSe7en disbanded. Pardon my ‘un-lady-like’ actions, but I’m just reclaiming my rightful seat.”

-----

Ahem…allow me to explain. Our ‘true’ story would go back to the time when OyasumiSe7en was in the middle of clearing the Antarctic dungeon, the last one in our list of ‘Seven Most Dangerous Dungeons of the World.’ If one asked what really happened, I would automatically avoid the topic. I admit, what led to our separation was an embarrassing event.

Because of its location, the Antarctic dungeon rarely gets adventurer raids. To describe the experience, I’d say it was a ‘nasty adventure.’ Common sense dictated the monsters inside rarely ‘rotated’—meaning, it never got killed and investigated for its abilities. What made conditions worse was that, the previous Antarctic explorations barely scratched the extensive places included in its vicinity. Our party was the first to go beyond ‘known areas,’ thus, we were ‘blind’ at the time.

That wasn’t our issue. As OyasumiSe7en’s porter/quartermaster, I ensured our supplies lasted for two years in case things went awry. We stored it within Rico and Alice’s ‘Dimension Storages,’ a spell under the ‘Dimensional Magic Tree’ that granted its user near-unlimited storage through the power of the Void. Of course, Temaire also had her own supplies within her ‘Dimension Storage.’ Having it is like possessing an ‘almost’ endless warehouse.

“Ah, I can’t get enough of your cooking, Yukie,” Alice declared as she chomped down on the food I cooked for dinner. “Once we cleared this dungeon, I want you to marry me!”

“Haha…surely, you jest,” I replied, looking at others silently eating. A powerful Antarctic blizzard forced us to stop and set up camp at one of the unexplored areas of the dungeon. Remaining there for a couple of days soured the mood of the group—used to ‘fluid movement’ and quick progression, and brought tension to our group’s cohesion. It didn’t help that we were frequently attacked by monsters, trying to get past the magic barriers Temari set up.

Everyone is just tired and at the end of their wits. As quartermaster, I kept up morale by cooking meals for them, or listen to their worries when we have time.

“Alice, stop giving Yukie ideas,” Kikyo rebuked her. “Or you’ll piss Temari off.”

“Eh, who says Yukie is only for Temari? They aren’t even married yet!”

Rico, worried that our team leader heard her, intervened, “Keep your thoughts to yourself, girl! Tenma is already annoyed this morning.”

Alice clicked her tongue, and said nothing. Just when we thought we avoided an explosive situation, however, Temari, Lucille, and Rachelle joined us.

“What is this stupid talk I’m hearing?” Temari asked. “You want my Yukie to marry you, Alice?”

My eyes fell towards Kikyo and Rico; both of them shook their heads.

“Well, you heard me right,” Alice doubled down. “I want Yukie to marry me once we clear this dungeon.”

“Excuse me, Yukie is mine!” our team leader insisted. “I’m his childhood friend, so I get to be his wife!”

“Guys,” I got between them. “Let’s stop this foolish talk. Ask me first before deciding on my marriage yourselves! In the first place, I don’t plan to marry just yet; I want to finish university, before—”

“After university, he’s mine!” Alice declared.

“A good joke, but still a joke, nonetheless,” Temari countered.

“Tenma, Alice, maybe you guys should cool off for now,” Rico suggested. “The blizzard outside is getting worse, which is good to cool heads.”

“You heard that, Tenma? Blizzard’s getting worse, you should get out and freeze to death.”

“Second-rates are better off marching to sub-zero temperatures.”

“For goodness’ sake, stop it you two!” I tried to calm them. “No one’s marching outside. Don’t force me to do that just to find any one of you!”

“Oh…oh, this is why I love you, Yukie…you will sacrifice your life just to see us safe.” The fight between Alice and Temari stopped when another contender entered the talk. Rachelle, who remained silent while the two bickered, made the situation worse. “I don’t care if you marry any of them; I’ll be glad to be your mistress anytime.”

“Rachelle…” Rico was about to say something, but gave up halfway. She just stood up, and took her place beside me, declaring, “Alright, since it has come to this, I’ll also claim Yukie for myself.”

What the heck?

“Alright, now everything’s getting out, I guess I should join in the fun!” Lucille positioned herself on my other side. “Yukie is up for grabs, ladies, and I won’t surrender him to you easily!”

“Really, huh?” Temari’s face was red, but not because of shyness. “I had enough of these second-rates.” At that moment, she pulled up her pistol, at which, others followed suit in what people dubbed as a ‘Mexican standoff.’

“Oh, look at that, it seems we all love Yukie!” Lucille exclaimed, while she had her rifle pointed at our companions.

“I don’t want to do this, but I’m just protecting my precious future husband,” Alice explained.

“We’ve all been here, we’ve all been here,” Rico commented. “I don’t want to be the first to pull the trigger. Don’t make me, guys!”

“Stop this at once!” I demanded. Well, such scene was common in our party, really. A lot of newspapers and TV crews pick up our ‘success,’ spin stories about our ‘masterful cooperation.’ In reality, our party dynamics was like a big brother trying to ‘maintain’ the unity of his bickering sisters. More than worry about them killing each other, I was more puzzled we reached this point—six of the world’s most difficult dungeons cleared—with this kind of ‘camaraderie.’

“I won’t demand you choose, Yukie,” Rachelle told me. “I’m okay with whatever arrangement you want, but you’ll stay with me, and I to you!”

“Goodness, at this rate, we won’t clear this dungeon!” I blurted out. “Are you going to prioritize this stupid argument than our achievements? Guys, we’re just one dungeon away from reaching the impossible!”

“Sometimes, we have to sort our differences first before accomplishing our goals,” Temari answered. “I’d rather complete this dungeon run with few members, than with people like Alice in tow.”

“What a surprise,” said Alice. “The feeling is mutual.”

Kikyo and I exchanged glances. The elf nodded; she knew what I had in mind. Then, without waiting for the Mexican standoff going ‘hot,’ I disarmed my companions…

“!!!”

I trained in martial arts when I studied in college, cut short when Temaire recruited her crew that eventually became OyasumiSe7en. While others learned hand-to-hand combat during our travels, I was already in leagues ahead of them. In a blink of an eye, I wrenched the guns from their hands, and subdued them. Once unconscious, Kikyo helped me put the girls to their bedrolls.

“These ladies are getting their priorities wrong,” I confided to my elf companion. “I thought we shouldn’t get involve with each other’s personal lives?”

“True,” she chuckled. “However, I understand them, really.”

“Ha?”

The elf smiled, and then kissed me. “I guess Temari haven’t told you, huh? Well, she gathered all the girls that likes—no, is madly in-love with you and made us a team.”

-----

Yes, even now, that incident brought embarrassment to me. OyasumiSe7en disbanded not because they died in the Antarctic, but rather, their members fought over the only guy in the group. Good thing Temari, or Henrietta Temaire Louise d’Anvilles in civilian life, was well-connected. She got the higher-ups create a wrong record of our party mysteriously vanishing.

“So, you’re one hell of a lucky playboy, eh, Junie?” Ma’am Flor teased.

“Haha…please don’t say that,” was all I said to her.

“I can’t blame my colleagues,” Temaire proudly asserted, still not moving away from my lap. “If someone as god-like as me fell madly for him, then it is a given the others will be the same!”

“I am of the same opinion,” Lady Yanari added.

Tch. Don’t make the situation worse for me! Any case, my real problem here was this French girl. Seizing the opportunity to escape Temaire’s clutches, I went back to my country and assumed the identity of a low-salary government employee within the Adventurers’ Agency. This was so I could observe our former team leader’s efforts to trace my whereabouts.

I hid myself near people I was running away from…

Looking back, I should probably hide someplace, somewhere else. After all, Temaire—like the other members of OyasumiSe7en—was a wolf hiding among the sheep.

“Yuuki Lerin Jr., huh?” Temaire had a smug look on her face. “You really tried to hide from me with that lame name change?”

“People want to live normal lives, Temaire. Imagine if everyone knows I’m that ‘Yukie.’ Besides, the others also did it; I don’t see the names of ‘Kikyo,’ ‘Alice,’ ‘Lucille,’ ‘Rachelle,’ and ‘Rico’ appearing on TV shows aside from yours.”

“I don’t care much about those second-rates; I only want you, so I’ll always come looking for my husband. And of course, why would a goddess hide from her adoring fans? This is what separates me, the first-class, from those wanna-be’s!”

Yep, if my childhood friend would just shut her mouth, she could be mistaken for some beautiful French girl. But no, she preferred to let everyone see her unhinged side. Not that I hate her for it, but I like to live ‘normally.’ Temaire can think of the weirdest ideas, if only to ‘build’ my image and reputation, and protect her position (as the wife) from ‘her rivals.’

“So that isn’t his true name, Lady Henrietta?” Mister Maranan asked, never looking away from me.

“Yes…the ‘Yuuki’ part is true, though,” she admitted. “Others? Not really.”

“So, what is your true name, then?”

My childhood friend answered for me, still smiling. “I don’t think my husband would like to answer that, so please refrain from doing so in the future.”

“I’m not yet married to you,” I told her.

“Aww, my cute Yuuki is trying to defy me!” Temaire chuckled as she pinched my cheeks. “You’ll soon be wedded to me, so what’s the difference?”

“Miss,” Ma’am Flor interrupted. “With all due respect, I am Mister Lerin’s—Yuuki’s—superior. It will help us in work to know his true identity—”

“Didn’t you hear what I just said?” she snapped at the old lady. The entire change of behavior shocked both of my superiors. “Yuuki is Yuuki Lerin Jr. right now, so you have to take it, or leave him be! Otherwise…”

A smirk formed on her lips as she stared daggers at Ma’am Flor. Unnerved, the latter remained in her seat and held her breath.

“…heads will roll.”

Yeah, this is why I tried to escape from her…

-----

The meeting dragged on till 9 p.m. With all the hype and chatter, the only purpose of it was…

“Please fire my husband from his boring desk job.”

“At once, Miss Henrietta,” Lady Yanari reached for the intercom, about to summon an official to ‘process’ my documents.

“Wait, no!” I protested. “What are you scheming, Temaire? I’m living peacefully here!”

“I’m forming a new adventuring party, or re-form the old one to continue where we left off,” she reminded me. “I won’t get anyone else but you.”

“Stop! I retired already.”

“No problem!” she persisted. “Just remain at my side!”

“Also, give me a bit of freedom, will you? Look, you’re beautiful. You’re a talented celebrity. And you’re a member of one of the most prestigious noble houses of magic dating back to the Ancien Regime of France. With credentials like that, what keeps you from finding a better man than me? What do you guys even see in me that made you like that?”

“I have to admit, I get lots of marriage proposals,” Temaire puffed her chest. “Everyone bows before the goddess; but I only want you.”

Ma’am Flor silently called my attention. She whispered, “Is she really like that? She thinks she’s a goddess?”

“Trust me, Ma’am, she’s even more unhinged than the claim she’s a goddess.”

“They do say that geniuses or talented people have quirks.”

“To be fair, she’s a combination of talented and genius. If we don’t know better, she can really claim to be a deity. And if she will just keep silent, I will fall for her.”

“A-Ahem…Y-Yu-Yu-Yuuki…” Temaire’s face was as red as beet. “Ha-Have you f-forgotten I’m originally a wind mage?”

Oh right…and shit. She heard our ‘little’ talk. Well, I was not lying when I said that.

“Be-Be-Because y-y-you said that about your childhood friend…uhm, yeah, I’ll just keep quiet.”

“Oi, it’s only a ‘what-if.’”

My childhood friend said nothing. Lady Yanari entered our conversation. “Personally, I think your talents will be wasted if you remain an employee, Mister Lerin.”

“What talents? I’m an ‘ordinaria;’ I can’t use magic.”

“Having united a party with members who are…uhm, ‘unique’ for years isn’t a normal thing to do,” the elf pointed out. “I’m still new in my position as the secretary of the Adventuring Agency in this country, yet I’ve already seen countless of parties break up because members can’t keep their egos to themselves.”

“Unique, you say, Lady Yanari?”

“Ask Lady Henrietta.”

“Mhmmm…” Temaire shook her head and kept her mouth shut. Yeah, she really took my words seriously.

“O-Okay then, allow me to explain…” the elf continued. “Kikyo is the daughter of our clan chief and his wind spirit wife, so not only is she a member of the rare wind elves, she is also a half-immortal. Alice is a human that possessed supernatural strength, boosted by her mastery of earth magic. If she mastered the five houses of magic, she could’ve been one of the ‘Sage’-ranked mages. Lucille is also a wind mage, a member of the subordinate branch of the House of d’Anvilles sworn to serve them. She is to head that line once the current head, her mother, dies. Rachelle is a fire mage and the recent top student of the ‘Ryuu no Hi’ Fire Magic school of the Ryukyu Islands. And Rico came from a long line of assassins that mastered Void magic. So, you can say, while Lady Henrietta is a powerful mage, these ladies are no pushovers as well.”

There are lots of new information I have to process here. I mean, I spent years traveling with those girls, and yet…come to think of it, I don’t know those sides of their personalities. Even Mister Maranan and Ma’am Flor had no idea about these. It was common for the Adventurers’ Agency to hide the backgrounds of their adventurers, save for the few higher-ups. This was so everyone could work without prejudice. After all, if one knew that a certain adventurer got money and connections, the poor guy would surely be swamped with party applications.

And we’re not talking of sponsorships and underhanded tactics by rival companies to sabotage competition yet.

Mister Maranan glanced at his watch and tapped Ma’am Flor on the shoulder. I saw them nod at one another, as if they got a pre-arranged code. Moments later, the director said, “Now that we already sorted out this issue, I’m afraid we’ll have to excuse ourselves from here, ladies.”

“Ah, yes,” Lady Yanari looked at the clock brought over by her assistance, Lady Menea. “We’re sorry for taking up too much of your time. Perhaps you can allow us to make up for it by teleporting you back to your office?”

“It’s fine, Lady Yanari,” Ma’am Flor reassured her. “It’s part of the government service.”

“I can teleport as well,” Mister Maranan said. “I am well-rested anyway.”

We all stood up, as the director began chanting the teleportation spell. However, he stopped when he saw me holding to my superior.

“What?” I asked.

“We’ll pass you to Lady Yanari,” he told me. “As of now, your employment in our branch is already terminated. We’ll just send your separation pay to your bank account in a few days.”

“Mister Lerin,” it was Lady Yanari. “Please, have a seat. Let them go; you’ll stay with us.”

“With all due respect Ma’am, I want to go home. Please fire me as you wish.”

“No can do.” Finally, Temaire broke her silence. She grabbed unto my arm, and gently pulled me away from my co-workers. “I’m not stupid to let you go now that I found you.”

At that moment, just as Mister Maranan finished completing the teleportation spell, my only ‘ticket’ to get out of there vanished. Well, there goes my way back…