"Why would you say that, Adam-senpai!" Kazuma shouted with unusual intensity, "This idiot has dumped all her problems on you, and if you're not careful, she'll end up clinging to you! It'll seriously damage your reputation!"
Having suffered from similar misunderstandings that ruined his own reputation, he couldn't bear to watch someone else's name being dragged through the mud.
His words, however, completely infuriated Darkness.
"Don't you dare make me sound like some unwanted woman!" She seized his neck with crushing force, her grip so powerful he nearly lost consciousness.
Her fury was unmistakable.
"Help! I'm sorry, I'm sorry!" Kazuma quickly begged for mercy.
Adam said softly, "Darkness, let him go."
With a light snort, Darkness released him.
"How dare you say that..." She said angrily, "I'm still a noble lady, and I have many young noblemen seeking my hand in marriage."
"Hah, you're just a hopeless masochist noble lady." Kazuma, clearly not having learned his lesson, continued to mock her.
"Hey, I'll beat you up!"
"Then what exactly are your requirements?" Kazuma snapped, "You keep refusing matchmaking, so what type of man do you even like?"
"Someone like Adam... no, what are you making me say!" Darkness caught herself, quickly adding, "I don't want to get married at all — I want to be an adventurer, I want to go on adventures!"
"That's impossible." Kazuma argued, "Being an adventurer isn't a lifelong career. This unstable life of feast or famine isn't suitable for a noble like you, Darkness. You should find a good person and get married properly. Then when you're bored, your husband can accompany you on occasional adventures — nothing dangerous that would worry your father and husband. That's the life you should be living, understand!"
His lengthy speech rejected both Darkness and her desire to continue adventuring with them, though he believed he was acting in her best interest.
In truth, Adam, Aqua, and Kazuma had a more important mission than Megumin and Darkness.
—To defeat the Devil King!
Indeed, defeating the Devil King was their ultimate goal. Even if the party disbanded, even if Megumin and Darkness left, they would press on relentlessly toward that objective.
That's why he wanted to use this opportunity to have Darkness, whom he deemed unsuitable for their mission, leave the party.
But how could Darkness possibly accept such an arrangement?
"I'm not a woman who gives up easily. I haven't had my adventure yet, haven't defeated the Devil King — I absolutely won't get married!" She was determined, her voice filled with unwavering resolve.
But by saying this, she had inadvertently backed herself into a corner.
"Why does Darkness have to get married?"
Kazuma was about to retort, but Aqua cut him off.
She touched her finger to her lips thoughtfully and asked, "If Darkness doesn't want to get married, why force her?"
"What do you mean why? Isn't it better to take this chance to make Darkness leave the party?" Kazuma said, "She's different from us. She received an elite education and should find a noble who matches her status, not hang around with adventurers like us. Having lived a life of luxury since birth and now wanting to freely decide her own life — that kind of thinking is just selfish!"
"That's just your own one-sided view. Even Darkness's father hasn't arbitrarily decided her life, has he?"
"Gah—?!" Hearing Aqua's words, Kazuma was completely dumbfounded.
He never expected this scatter-brained goddess would speak up for Darkness with such a reasonable argument.
And it wasn't just Aqua — even Megumin joined in.
"Exactly. Although it wasn't right for Darkness to use Adam as a shield, we can't force her to get married, right?"
Perhaps seeing Darkness being pushed into matchmaking by her father had stirred Megumin's sympathy.
But weren't they all forgetting something?
Although Ignis was pushing his daughter to marry, he had already compromised for her happiness. What tremendous pain this must cause a father!
"You two..." Kazuma was left speechless.
Though he wanted to argue further, he knew that with two party members Find your next favorite novel on NovelHub today! Besides, Adam had been on her side from the start — no amount of persuasion would work.
Clearly, his plan to rid the party of their masochistic Crusader had failed.
This problem had landed right back in his lap.
"Well, that's decided then."
With Aqua and Megumin's Find your next favorite novel on NovelHub today!
A knock came at the door, and Ignis entered.
Though his expression remained composed, his reddened eyes betrayed his sorrow.
Seeing everyone seated formally, he smiled apologetically, "Sorry, did I disturb you?"
"No, no. We just finished our discussion."
"So, what's the result?"
"Please, let Lalatina continue adventuring with us!" Adam bowed deeply and declared, "I swear I won't let her come to harm. On my honor as a Kingdom Hero, I'll protect her with my life if needed."
Even as he made this pledge, he had to suppress a laugh.
With Darkness's incredible physical defense, few attacks could actually hurt her. And on the rare occasions something could, she'd eagerly throw herself into harm's way, relishing the pain. His protection was hardly necessary.
Yet his words struck a chord with Ignis, who showed clear satisfaction with Adam's promise. Without hesitation, he invited everyone to stay the night.
"W-w-why, why am I sharing a room with Adam? Someone explain this to me!" Darkness's face flushed crimson as she cried out.
"Heh... hehe." Adam's mouth twitched.
He was just as baffled by this turn of events.
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