"...No, I have no intention of taking Ade... Mile-san away from Crimson Vow. What do you think would happen if the people on the other continent found out that we had done something like that?" (Marcella)
"Ah……" (All CV)
"That's right! We have torn apart the four heroes who saved the country, Angel-sama, the Holy Knight, the Great Saint, and the Great Mage, and stolen Angel-sama. We will become the greatest villains of the century! ...Well, if I bring Mile-san back to Kingdom of Brandell, I'll be praised domestically, but if I step outside the country, I'll be treated as an enemy of God and Mile-san fanatics might try to kill me... no, I'll definitely be a target!!" (Marcella)
"…………" (All CV)
……could be. Thinking this, the four members of Crimson Vow fell silent.
"Besides, everyone, even if you leave Mile-san, you don't intend to go back to your home countries and quietly manage your territories, do you? You intend to live 'the fun, ideal life of a hunter that I have imagined' on this continent, where no one knows you, right? ...Well, I don't think you have any intention of breaking up with Mile-san..." (Marcella)
"…………" (All CV)
The four members of Crimson Vow were unable to refute what Marcella said and were unable to say anything.
"...Then why did Marcella-san and your party come to this continent..." (Mile)
Mile asked a perfectly reasonable question, but...
"Of course it's because I'm worried about Mile-san!" (Marcella)
Then Monica and Aureana nodded vigorously.
"Eh……" (Mile)
Hearing Marcella's words, tears begin to well up in the corners of Mile's eyes, but...
"Well, it's obvious that you people have run away because you got tired of the lord's work and the flood of engagements!" (Reina)
"Ugh..." (All WT)
Marcella and her group looked around in surprise at Reina's comment. Apparently, that was a bullseye.
"There aren't many women at that age who wouldn't mind being swamped with paperwork and falling victim to arranged marriages, especially one who knows the joys of a free life and has the ability to live on her own." (Reina)
"Ah~……" (x3)
Mile and the others gasped in agreement as they listened to Reina's explanation. After all, that's who they were. It's only natural that they would understand. As an added bonus, Marcella and her group are the same age as Mile—In other words, not only was she younger than Mavis, but she was also younger than Reina and Pauline.
"So, what are you all going to do now?" (Mile)
Marcella answered Mile's question proudly.
"I'm going to have a fun trip around this continent with Mile-san!" (Marcella)
"What you're saying is different from what you said earlier!!" (Reina, Mavis, Pauline)
And naturally, Reina, Mavis, and Pauline yelled at her...
"Shhh! The innkeepers or other guests will yell at you!" (Mile)
"Ah……" (x3)
Mile scolded them for this, but this time it was a huge mistake for Mile as she thought they would just be talking normally and didn't set up a soundproof barrier. She quickly put up a barrier, so it wouldn't matter how much they screamed from now on.
"No, I have no intention of taking Mile-san away from you. However, we just want to be with Mile-san as well." (Marcella)
"…………" (x3)
Reina and the other two were silent as Marcella explained. Mile looked happy, but...
"Seven people is too many for a party!" (Reina)
"Five mages, one swordsman, and one magic swordsman... The balance is way too bad..." (Mavis)
"Two merchants, and all the nobles and baronets..." (Pauline)
Pauline said that, but although Monica was the daughter of a merchant, that didn't mean she was a merchant herself. And Monica and Aureana were baronets, a hereditary title but not nobles, remaining commoners in status. Well, it was "the commoner status closest to nobility" though—Anyway, everything that Reina and the other two had said was true.
And, unable to refute this, Wonder Trio remained silent... or so it seemed...
"It's a clan." (Marcella)
"Eh?" (All CV)
Clan. It is derived from a word 氏族 meaning "clan". Among hunters, it meant a gathering of several parties. Usually, each party worked individually, but when there was a big request, multiple parties would join forces, and in an emergency—such as when a monster stampede was about to occur, or when an unreasonable demand was made by someone in authority—all parties belonging to the clan would join forces and fight with all their might.
Also, in peacetime, there were various benefits such as the exchange of information, friendship between parties, mock battles between parties, and financial and human support—Of course, there were also disadvantages, such as the party that lent funds going bankrupt and being unable to recover the loan, or the entire clan losing its credibility if a member party becomes a criminal, or there being parties that deceive other parties, the poaching of good talent, and entanglements in relationships between men and women between parties. However, since many of the disadvantages were things that occurred normally within a party or between other parties even if you were not part of a clan, many people did not worry too much about it.
"Crimson Vow and we, Wonder Trio, are thinking about working together as a clan. We aren't always together, but rather get along as sister parties and usually act as their own separate parties, but when there are big requests, we take on joint orders and sometimes pool our forces..." (Marcella)
"Ah……" (All CV)
The four members of Crimson Vow opened their eyes wide to the proposal from Marcella, or rather, from Wonder Trio.
"And as I mentioned earlier, if you team up with us you will be able to use the ‘Princess Teleportation System’ and the ‘Wonder Trio Teleportation System’. Once one of us has been teleported to the old continent using the 'Princess Teleportation System', you will be able to travel between the two continents whenever you like, without the two princesses knowing. Once we all gather on one of the continents, we will again need to go through the princesses, but I have explained to them that this is the way the system is originally set up...or rather, I taught the princesses the shared storage magic for that purpose, so they won't say anything about it. There would be no problem if people didn't know that you are all great heroes who saved the nation. And you can all visit your families relatively easily." (Marcella)
"..." (All CV)
Reina and Mile had no family. But still, there were people who had helped them and people they wanted to see, and there was also the matter of their territory. This was especially true for Mavis and Pauline, who had families. They could ask Kragon to help them go home, but they would feel bad asking him to do it so often, and traveling takes time—However, if they used the "Storage Magic Transfer" technique developed by Marcella and her friends...
"…………" (All CV)
The four members of Crimson Vow were speechless at the overwhelmingly attractive proposal, and the incredible ability of Wonder Trio to apply the abilities they had acquired...