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Chapter 13: Play Monster Against Demon

We were facing my former companions, given their faces, they must also have been surprised to see me, we hadn't had any contact since that day.

"Hm? What a surprise, the useless debuff is here, you came to say goodbye to us? How nice." Erick launched hostilities.

"Erick, stop this, please. Hello, mister Anesidora, we weren't expecting you, are you also leaving?"

"Oh, Liliana was it? Yeah, I'm doing great, very great" I smirked at Elizabeth in her disguise and she sighed in answer. "I heard that you had subdued the rift last time, very good job."

"... Thank you, it wasn't that hard, everyone did a great job, even though I would have liked to count you with us."

"For what? Did we even need to use my poison skill? This only confirms that this thing is worthless, like the user somehow."

These words agitated my family and Hope, Wendy, too young to understand what was going on tugged at our mother's sleeve.

"Mom, who are they?"

Mo didn't answer and only patted Wendy's head, she knew how she had raised me so she was not ready to intervene.

"There's no need for me to join, Marie is already here as a representative, did you carry her well?"

"Idiora will never change, I don't need any protection, I play the tank here."

Marie came forward, clutching one of her stuffed animals to her chest.

"You don't even look sad, I'm disappointed in you."

"I'm sad, in my heart, but I have many hearts... Oh, I forgot that your puppets can play many roles."

"Wasn't it? I was surprised to see her in action, you've really well trained her." Liliana added.

It seemed like they had both developed a good relationship.

"Yeah, I'm not surprised, I'm an expert in correcting Lolis, if only Lilith didn't resist..."

Marie, suddenly flustered, gave me the second harmless punch I've ever received on my arm while Liliana was laughing softly, but on the other hand, Lilith barely flinched as the other members were unresponsive, Leon and Morgiana looked at us bored and Sana looked away.

"Guys, it's almost time, let's get on the bus."

"There's still a few minutes left, Leon, we can afford a proper goodbye this time."

Marie held her head against Leon, I could see that things might have been a little tense between them after my departure, but it wasn't my problem anymore.

"Oh don't worry, we'll have plenty of time to chat, because we're coming too."

Hope couldn't resist. The others looked at him, slightly indifferent and Leon's face showed a look of surprise for a moment, before smiling.

"I see, so the 3 of you have formed a party, I'm very glad for you Dora, I expected you to remain faithful to your principles, but in the end, no one wants to remain frozen, right? You on the other hand, Hope, I thought a true Hero didn't need a party. I wonder what made you give up on your dream."

"Huh! Better keep quiet if you don't know if you want to compliment or insult, and besides we always follow our principles, we don't need any team to impress the best guilds."

I coughed to hold him back, it was kind of him to defend me by insulting them, but there were at most 3 people I didn't hate in that group.

"Yeah yeah, but in the meantime look at the situation, We have already been recruited into the Southern Guild, who really made the right choice?"

"From the South...Oh I see, not a private guild, huh? Yeah, that's what I'm saying, not bad... For starters."

This statement alone must have seriously ticked Leon, given the change in his face.

"I really don't understand people trying to act strong... You are not a team, but you train together, you are not a party, but as soon as we are recruited, you follow us... You know, it's not bad to be a copycat, but it's a shame to lie about it. By the way, Dora, why are you letting him do the talking? Is he your bodyguard now?"

"Who knows, maybe lover?" Erick added with the ugliest smirk I've ever seen, and I've slayed overconfident goblins once.

"Holy shit... Trying my best to be a ray of sunshine but people keep testing me..."

"The old you wouldn't be so weak..." Sana whispered.

Everyone had different reactions in this situation, Morgiana looked away, more and more annoyed, Lilith and Sana often glanced at me, with a face filled with frustration for one and disappointment for the other, and Marie and Liliana tried their best to ignore the 2 last members.

"Mom, I need to leave now."

"I'll contact you later, Have a safe journey, you too Hope."

"Thanks, ma'am... But man, are you going to let them talk to you like this? I said I wouldn't intervene but now I'm involved too."

"You've already intervened... Goodbye, and take care of Mom for me, Wendy."

I hugged my family for the last time, under the mocking gazes of Leon and Erick, and turned to the bus. Hope seemed reluctant and Elizabeth, under her new face, kept silent.

(Sigma Body)

A pale light sparkled in my eyes. I got off the bus, followed by Hope and Elizabeth, the Shining Sword followed and a few minutes later, the bus started. Mom and Wendy greeted us and seemed to shrink as the bus advanced, soon, we crossed the last walls of the villages and so I left this earth, witness to my heroic or criminal acts.

A few minutes had passed since we left the village, and the reigning tension due to the presence of my former comrades dissuaded Hope and Elizabeth from speaking, the first did not hide his discontent.

"Well, seems like the first step of my legend won't be memorable, you really need to learn how to respond to certain idiots, Dora."

"Talk to me more often, I will practice, I have my own way."

"By not responding? Pfff... That's what we teach those who don't know how to defend themselves.''

"It's very noble not to respond to provocations, I'm with Dora on this one, you're too impulsive Hope."

They continued this childish debate, while I manipulated my phone, all under the bored eyes of my exes. Erick, perhaps wanting to be noticed, sighed heavily.

"Maybe you should listen to your lady?" Don't pick a fight you cannot win."

"... What did you say?"

Hope stood up from his seat and glared at Erick, the latter looked at him one moment before turning to me.

"At least now we know who's the man in this house, Good call Sana."

"*sigh*"

"Erick!" Liliana shouted.

It was an interesting party, and it filled me with such a good feeling, the feeling of letting a bug grow wings before cutting them. Anyway, Hope had a whole different opinion about it.

"Dora, if you don't want to take care of your own mess, I won't let them make a fool of myself."

"You're not funny... Could you just wait until we reach the bridge?"

"What bridge? What are you talking about? And what's funny about being insulted? Keep your advice to yourself, man, I'm doing this my way! Eric, what did you say about me?"

Hope left his seat and stood in front of Erick, the latter, very annoyed, turned to Leon, seemed like the toughest bully wasn't up for a fight against a real warrior.

"Tch, get your face out of me, moron, I don't have time to deal with a couple of idiots."

"Call me an idiot again, I'll make you eat the ground, go ahead!"

Hope was ready to throw hands, but realizing the situation, Leon finally decided to act as a leader and stood up.

"Alright, everyone calms down, this is hardly the place for this. Hope, I'm sorry if you felt attacked but Erick wasn't really targeting you, could you let it go?"

"You have a terrible hearing then, and I would rather hear that from the tail of the horse, not the head."

I couldn't help but let out a little chuckle, wish wasn't on the taste of Leon.

"As a Hero I understand why you would fight for the weak, but as an emissary, I wouldn't defend a coward."

"That's it!"

Hope, grabbed Leon by the collar, releasing a wave of energy under the frightened eyes of his comrades, Elizabeth stood up in turn, quickly followed by Morgiana and Erick who had suddenly found courage.

"HOPE!"

A single yell froze the atmosphere. It is said that in a circus, the clown is the most popular victim, specially designed to be a joke, and everyone makes fun of him... Until his toy gun shoots a real bullet.

"This is not your scene, all this setting is for MY first performance."

"... But... You're not even doing anything."

"What don't you understand in 'wait until we get to the bridge'?"

As said, the bus arrived over a large bridge, about 100 meters long, and underneath was a little river covered with rocks. I stood up and walked toward Leon, in this scene, no one talked, for many, it was the first time that they saw me display a bit of anger.

"... Oi, what do you think you're doing? Go back to your seat."

"You said that I'd be a coward if I didn't answer, but don't worry, the wings I'm gonna tear apart are not yours."

Erick stood on guard, one hand on his dagger, looking more and more anxious, It was rather abnormal to imagine a powerful DPS frightened by a low-class debuff, even a so-called Avatar, but in the world of emissaries, evolution gave us another remarkable talent: our instinct, sometimes, without a sign, our body would be on alert in front of a dangerous force, like bloodlust. In comparison, the situation for Erick was like a wolf swimming in black water, infested with all types of reptiles.

"I'm done with this bullshit, if you make another step, I take one of your hands, I warned you."

"...You would damage a precious asset of the kingdom? In front of witnesses?

"To whom is it valuable? You're worthless, and Sana will heal you anyway... But maybe after you pass out, idiot, go ahead, try me! Take one more step ."

"Okay, you win, I'm not moving, I won't need to move anyway... For what I'm about to do."