{A/N: I know the previous two chapters felt rushed, well... because it was. But no worries, I'll release bonus chapters for these stuff in the near future. Enjoy}
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"Hagime! Are you okay?" shouts Koari with the all she could muster and runs over to Hagime.
"Don't tell me you expect them to hurt me?"
"Hmph, so I can't worry. You're so unromantic... ...Blurp~"
"So you really aren't used to it..."
Hagime smiles apologetically as he looks at the nauseous Koari.
"Haaa... I don't think anyone is supposed to "get used to it". It looks l will be seeing this alot"
"But it's getting okay... remember the thugs that tried to touch you?"
"Don't remind me of such... ...do you know I still think their souls will be deformed in the afterlife after such horror"
The two entered their own hyperspace with their bunter that left rest speechless and unable to interfere... except for the Hero that is.
"... ...Ko--Koari? What's going on?"
"Oh right! Ummm--"
"I don't think this is the place for long talks and Meld probably needs proper attention than whatever Kiyama gave him"
"Y-you are right "
Koari comes out of her comfort zone to join Tsuji Ayako, a healer of a different attribute, and they use various high rank spells to heal the injured party and they move to the surface with Hagime as their guardian.
On the surface, things were in clamor and chaos as it always is with the Hero and his party. Immediately the Hero party greeted the hot afternoon sun with an exhausted and defeated appearance, the people knew they've met their adversary after passing the known 70th floor into uncharted territory.
The Hero party in question were dealing with alot to care about rumors or their reputation. Meld-san and some students were sent to the Horaud guild's personnels for methodical medical attention while the others wait for news.
The medical ward in the guild was a medium sized room with a lot of mattresses packed and arranged with little space for maximum efficiency. With the influence of mana in self-regeneration and potions, this place became more of a resting lounge than an actual ward.
Without the concept of surgery in Tortus, if any injury or illness is unresolved by Advance healing spells and potions, the person is proclaimed already dead and thus is either killed to relief them of their pain or sent home.
Hagime and Koari however stood elsewhere as they continue their bunter which oddly enough was what spiced their current relationship. Koari learnt from Hagime's memories the potency of the liquid Meld was treated with and thus was the least worried for the man. It might even make him stronger by fixing unseen wounds and other mana stuff.
Kouki and Hiyama stood up in an attempt to reprimand the duo for their insensitivity, in addition to certain feelings swelling inside especially in the case of Kouki who hasn't experience what jealousy is. But the door opens for the lead healer who could use [Body Health Analysis] walks out with a fully recovered Meld gaining their attention.
"Firstly your comrades will be fine, they just need some rest. The Knights Captain however is shockingly beyond recovered if what you reported were true. The ruptured vessels from using [Reverse Mana Flow] and the hole that was supposed to be in his guts have all healed and he just needs to rest. What manner of miracle potion did you use for--"
"Thank you for the help, Alchemist Dann. You can go now". "B-but this...*sighs*"
With a stern look from Meld the overly excited chemist/healer referred to as Dann left as he was forced to reign it in and seek answers another day.
The Hero and his party show their over exaggerated signs of relief and happiness to the recovered Knight Captain. After all that drama, Meld steps forward from the group and bows in a 90° angle Infront of Hagime to express his eternal gratitude for saving the party.
"I wasn't the one who saved you, you don't have to--"
"But I must. Without your intervention at the right time, We all be dead and Kiyama's group wouldn't have been able to save me. I--"
"Meld-san don't! He and Koari haven't given their explanation. You were there the whole time but you didn't help out until Koari was in danger. You even killed the demons after figuring out their motive which is murder.
Meld-san, he doesn't deserve your bow. He's the reason our friends almost died "
"Yeah! Trying to look like a savior to Koari and leaving us for died" (Hiyama)
"Oi! Kouki, Hiyama--" (Meld)
"Hmph! I don't answer to you or anyone for that matter. My presence in the labyrinth was to ensure the safety of my girlfriend.
It was your failure as a warrior and Hero, that your party was in such a bind. Or do you want me to point out your stupid traits you're avoiding to see?
As for you, Hiyama and your accomplice, your time is not yet up. You have a purpose to fulfill for Ken that's why you're a free man now, live well"
What Hagime just said was received with much contemplation by the heroes. Inwardly they knew if Kouki used that opportunity to strike down those demons it would have ended but there was also this thought of killing a being you know is intelligent which by Earth standards is murder. At this congestion, the teacher is a failure.
Ultimately the guilty party who knew of his wrongdoings, turned to face the Hero party to give another bow even deeper than the last and confessed his reluctance to engage the hero party in the art of killing and warfare and soil their youth and innocence.
This one action shocked Kouki and some of the heroes as this meant he agreed to Hagime's way. 'So if Meld wasn't their trainer, they would've been force to carry out murder ' was the thoughts of those with clear conscience. As for Hiyama, he crawled and squeezed himself behind the party after Hagime's address to him and 'that person'.
"So how did the thing between you and Hagime start, Koari" said Shizuku who was clearly not bothered by such 'shocking' reveal that plagued the minds of her fellow mates.
Koari starts with an apology to Shizuku; her best friend, Kouki; her childhood friend and other friends. She then starts from how Hagime first met her, skips the backstory illusion part and straight to how all her disappearances were dates with Hagime.
She finishes by publicly declaring her love for him and has decided to leave the party for him. There was an immediate silence that prevailed for a few seconds before it was broken by Shizuku. Kouki however was dumbfounded through the entire talk as he froze and like a defensive mechanism, his brain started to replay moments in his life that Koari was with him and shockingly they were inseparable– in a different way but he saw it as everlasting–... at least until today.
"That's great! You finally told him how you felt... don't worry about the small stuff. I will always have your back"
"What bout you? That all you talked about after your defeat. Won't you--" (Koari)
"Nope. With you gone and this incident over, I have to keep things from falling apart unlike someone "
"K-Koari... W-wait, you can't go... This isn't--"
"Hagime! You done yet? The Horaud branch guild master is expecting us for more important stuff "
Unknowingly Ken has interrupted Kouki's attempt to convince his childhood friend and "sweetheart " to stay by his side like it's always been but alas she was gone.
"Got it! Let's go Koari"
"See you later guys..."