The Jack-of-all-trades Kicked Out of the Hero’s Party ~ The Swordsman Who Became a Support Mage Due

My name is Haruto Tendo. Twenty five.

　Born and raised in a small country called “Kyokuto”, located far to the east of Tutril,  somehow ended up in this city, where I am now an explorer.

　After becoming an explorer, after one thing and another, I found myself as the leader of a Clan called “Lacquered Evening Mist”.

　The concept of “Lacquered Evening Mist” is to have a small number of elite members, so the Clan consists of four explorers and seven non-explorers, for a total of eleven members.

　Oh, don’t make fun of us just cause we’re small in number, okay?

　After all, we’re an S-rank party!

　That being said, our labyrinth exploration is mostly in the lower layers, and we’ve rarely been to the deep layers.

　We’re trying to become specialists in exploring the lower layers!

　Who would like to go to a dangerous place like the deep layers?

　Now, you’re probably wondering why I’m suddenly talking about myself.

　Let me tell you why!

　It’s because — I’m about to die!

　I want to carve my wonderful accomplishments on my brain before I die!

　But looking back on my life like this, I haven’t lived a decent life…….

　Well, who can say that they’ve lived a decent life!

“Captain! Don’t mess around in this kind of situation!”

　As I’m talking in my mind to someone who wasn’t even there, my party member, Huey snaps at me. 

　What?

“Huh? Haven’t I been putting on my serious face all this while?”

“Even if you have a serious face, if you suddenly start talking about something weird, that’s called messing around!”

“Eh, don’t tell me, I was saying it all out lod? Urgh, that’s embarrassing.”

“So stop messing around and do something about this situation!”

“Nah, it’s impossible, thinking about it. This is beyond the category of things I can deal with.”

　There are more than forty Fire Dragons, Earth Dragons, Flying Dragons, and various other species of Dragons surrounding the four of us.

　Even just one or two of them would be a tough fight for an advanced explorer, but forty of them? You’d definitely die.

“And besides, don’t take your anger out on me, will you? Even though the person who created this situation is right in front of you.”

　Before me stands a girl with ink black hair and wearing a kimono from our hometown, altered to make it easier to move.

　Her name is Fuuka Shinonome. She’s seventeen.

　She’s the Ace of this party. And the one who caused this situation.

　We get pushed around by this one person quite often.

　I’m going to die here, and this is the last time I’ll be pushed around by her……. Huh? I don’t feel despair at all.

“Well, whenever I talk to Fuuka, she ignores me…….!

　Don’t sound so pathetic.

“Don’t worry. Fuuka isn’t ignoring you. She’s just untalkative, so she doesn’t speak to you.”

“Isn’t that the same as ignoring me!?”

“…………True.”

“Please don’t just agree like that!”

“Hey, why are you two performing an act in this situation!”

　Even Katina – nickname Katie – who had been jittery behind our backs, gets annoyed.

　It’s getting chaotic!

“I’m not trying to act!”

“Then why are you so loud! In this situation, people are usually too scared to speak up!”

“……Katie, you’re also speaking loudly, aren’t you?”

“……Ah, you’re right.”

　Well, it’s about time I get into serious mode.

“Oi, Fuuka. You thinking about what you’re going to do now?”

　I leave Huey and Katie to their arguing and go talk to Fuuka.

“……?”

　Fuuka tilts her head.

“No, hang on, I’m asking if you’ve got a plan to defeat these guys.”

“Just cut. We need dragon scales, right?”

　……Yes. I knew that.

　This person hasn’t thought of anything and pulled all these Dragons over.

　No, I think Fuuka will be fine!? The attacks won’t hit her.

　But we’re ordinary people…….

　You should know how hard it is for ordinary people, Ms. Genius.

　A nearby Fire Dragon roars.

“Shut up! Right now, I’m trying to figure out how to deal with you guys! Quiet, idiot!”

　Instinctively, I slam my first into the Fire Dragon’s face.

“Ah, shit…….”

“Hey! We’re not ready yet, please don’t start fighting on your own.”

　The balance that’d been maintained up until now has been shattered by me punching the Fire Dragon. 

“…….Magic incoming, two and nine o’clock. Deal with it.”

　Fuuka stands near Huey and Katie as though to cover them.

　She then directs them like she’s speaking a prophecy.

　The Dragons will attack us all at once.

“As usual, I’m fighting alone……. How lonely, you know!”

　I whine as I dive towards the Dragon’s chest and punch it in the stomach with all my might.

　The Dragon gets hit and spurts blood from all over before turning into a black mist.

　This is a technique handed down in my family.

　My attack, mixed with this technique, delivered an impact to the Dragon internally, destroying it from the inside out.

　The three people behind me are swarmed by quite a few Dragons.

　Claws, tails, fangs, and other vicious parts strike those three.

　–However, they never get any closer than a certain distance to the three of them.

　The sword Fuuka holds in her right hand slashes away at all of them.

　In front of Fuuka, any attack becomes no attack.

　To an ignorant observer watching this, it would look as if the Dragons are offering themselves up to be cut.

　Well, they’re moving too fast. so I think few people will be able to follow them with their eyes.

　A Fire Dragon shoots out a flame bullet, but the two who know about it in advance effortlessly intercept it with their magic.

　I am at the front, and Fuuka protects the two Rearguards. This is our ironclad formation when we are surrounded by enemies!

　　◇

“Fuuka, help meeeee!”

　Ten minutes into the battle, I’m begging Fuuka for help.

　No, I really can’t! I’m really going to die!

　Who’s stupid enough to fight this many Dragons!

“Busy, protecting these two.”

　Fuuka mutters with a look that’s hard to understand what she’s thinking about.

“Don’t lie to me! There’s no one around you anymore! You’re acting like the battle is already over!

　Fuuka has already cut down the more than thirty Dragons closing in around them, and is collecting the magic stones and drops. 

　I’ve only defeated six…….

“Dangerous, if anything comes flying.”

“I’m sure you can detect something like that beforehand, right? And it’s not you but the other two who need to block!”

“…………”

“Don’t ignore me!”

“Captain, even though you’re surrounded by Dragons, you still can spare time, huh?”

“I can’t spare anything! That’s why I’m asking for help, right!”

　Even though that’s all I’m asking for, in the end, I’m still fighting the remaining Dragons on my own….. Why isn’t anyone helping me!?

　I dodge the attacks of an Earth Dragon and beat it up.

“Alright! Two left!”

(Finally, the end’s in sight. Two more, I’ll put some spirit into it and smash them!)

　–And just as I’m getting fired up, the heads of the two Dragons fall off and land with a thud.

　…………Huh?

　Standing next to those two, Fuuka, who had moved there before I realised, was shaking off the blood on her blade.

“Subjugation complete.”

“That wasn’t the time to step in! Read the rooooom!”