In the afternoon, Kazuma and the other two returned to the mansion amid their usual noisy chatter. Upon seeing Darkness sitting in the dining room eating, they rushed over to check on her condition.
Darkness explained simply that she was feeling tired today, which was why she hadn't joined them for adventuring, and apologized to the group. It wasn't really a big deal.
However, everyone was surprised that the usually energetic and perverted woman wanted to take a day off — something the other team members found quite peculiar.
Not knowing the truth, no one dwelled on it or held it against her, forgiving her as they always did.
Darkness had returned to normal, and the other team members remained unaware of the delicate incident shared between her and Adam.
However! After sharing this unspoken secret, the relationship between the two had grown even closer!
The party went to the Adventurers' Guild as usual to accept quests.
Aqua wasn't with them, having gone off on her own to buy some limited-edition premium rare bubble wine.
Yesterday she had pestered Adam until he gave her some pocket money, which, combined with her accumulated quest rewards, finally gave her enough to buy the expensive wine.
Since she needed to return to the villa first to hide her purchase, they decided to split up temporarily and meet later at the Adventurers' Guild.
However, on the way there, Adam and the others encountered a peculiar adventurer.
"Hey! Wait up!" The man shouted, rudely rushing forward to block their path.
He wore a headband set with an unknown red gem, was clad in black-patterned knight armor, and wielded an intimidating longsword.
Though he hadn't introduced himself yet, just from his distinctive attire and magnificent sword, Adam already knew who he was.
He must be Kyōya Mitsurugi!
Of course, there was another reason he was so certain.
Behind him stood two people dressed like Amazon warriors — the spear user and thief who had previously come to the mansion to slander Kazuma.
"Uh... who are you?" Though he knew the man's identity, it was better to feign ignorance. It would be less troublesome that way.
"I am Kyōya Mitsurugi!" The man declared his name with great pride and satisfaction, as if certain Adam would recognize it.
No way. Weren't you super shy and insecure about your name back in Japan? How is it that after coming to another world, you actually think this quintessentially chūnibyō name suits you better?
Good grief, have you evolved too?
"An introduction? Well... I'm Adam Carter, nice to meet you." Adam matched his tone with subtle opposition, refusing to appear submissive.
After all, his own reputation in the starter town was quite famous too — no less than the title of 『 Cursed Sword Hero 』 — and as he represented the public image of the 『 Hero 』 Party, he couldn't appear inferior.
"Eh? You don't know who I am?" He seemed quite surprised.
Adam wanted to reply "Who are you?!" but, being on a public street, he maintained his composure. He needed to stay cordial and polite to avoid bringing negativity to the party.
An upright young man shouldn't look down on others!
"Ahem! If I'm not mistaken, you must be this country's third-ranked advanced adventurer, Kyōya Mitsurugi! ...Right?" Adam flattered his 'glorious deeds' while warmly grasping his hands, "It's an honor! An honor!"
"No no, the honor is ours! For your Hero Party to defeat a Demon King Army general, that was truly astonishing! Please, let us learn from each other... Wait—!!!"
Though momentarily swayed by Adam's friendly conversation, he suddenly caught himself.
"Tch." Adam clicked his tongue, knowing trouble was now unavoidable.
"Hey! You just clicked your tongue at me!" Kyōya bristled at such treatment.
Yet he failed to consider that his own initial rudeness had prompted this response.
"Well then, may I ask what business the Kingdom's Number Three has with me?" Adam's words were formal, with an unmistakable tone of polite distance.
"I'm here looking for that perverted guy in your party!" Kyōya declared accusingly.
"Hey, wait! I won't stand for you calling me 'perverted guy'! Are you trying to deliberately smear our party and me?"
Before Adam could intervene, Kazuma jumped forward.
He shouted angrily, "I haven't done anything, so why am I being labeled as perverted, vulgar, scum, and despicable?!"
Well, before anyone could even question him, he had already incriminated himself.
What a self-destructive move!
Then, Kazuma continued in a low, irritated voice: "Listen here, don't act like you're standing up for some victims! Do you know what? I'm the real victim here!"
He vented his frustrations, unleashing all the unfair treatment he'd endured right in Kyōya's face.
"Uh..." The man was taken aback by Kazuma's outburst.
"This is about those two girls behind you, isn't it?" He pointed at them and asked Kyōya, "Do you even know how this conflict started?"
"How did the conflict start...?"
"Look, you know our party defeated the Dullahan, right?"
"Yes, though unfortunately I was away in the capital at the time. Otherwise, I would have defeated it myself!"
"That's exactly where this started!"
"Eh?" Kyōya looked confused.
"Your party members believe only you could have defeated the Dullahan fairly. They think we only managed it through underhanded tricks and luck, so they keep coming to insult and slander our party." Kazuma explained the situation succinctly, then asked, "Did you know about this?"
Kyōya was stunned — this was different from what he'd been told!
His party members had claimed that 'the perverted guy from the Hero party that defeated the Dullahan was abusing the party's fame to act tyrannically, and even got physically aggressive with them.'
This explanation completely contradicted his party members' version!
While he stood there confused, Kazuma declared, "Listen, I'm a true believer in gender equality — I treat everyone the same regardless of gender. I'm the kind of man who'll even use flying kicks on girls!"
His shocking declaration drew gasps from all the passersby on the street.
"Oh dear, this idiot. You were doing so well..." Adam held his head in one hand, troubled.
He understood that Kazuma was trying to explain how the conflict started — that he hadn't shown special treatment to Kyōya's party members, which led to misunderstandings between both sides.
However! Such reasoning would never work with this justice-obsessed, chūnibyō guy!
He simply wouldn't understand!
Sure enough, after a brief silence, Kyōya drew his knight's sword and addressed Kazuma.
"I'm sorry, but I trust my party members more than you."
"Huh? What?" Kazuma was completely dumbfounded.
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