When one thinks back on it, Simon had never really formed a party. When he had first registered as an adventurer to earn his tution fees, he naturally tried forming one but in the end it didnât work out. Nobody really wanted a helpless alchemist who couldnât even use a sword or magic.
And naturally, he went solo. He wasnât really aiming to rank up either and so he just went on doing the rank 1 quest of collecting medicinal plants over and over. But to Simon, this wasnât unfavourable.
If my memory serves me right, he probably also met Kurono from the Alsace villageâs adventurer guild when returning from the plant collecting quest. After that, started the hellish Alsace battle. And then the recent ,nightmarish battle of Iskia. In both of these battles, there were allies in the surrounding lands but they didnât really form parties. They only moved in a group temporarily.
And then, after the fight had ended, he was supposed to go back to his casual solo quests butâbefore he knew it, he had made a partner.
âYaa, the weather is good. Ideal for questing.â
In the deep green forest, bright sunlight filtered through the trees and among all that, a cheerful, light voice reached Simonâs elf ears.
âR-rightâŚâ
Replying with difficulty, he looked at the owner of that voice.
Even though the bottom half of her face was covered by a veil, just seeing her eyes makes you think she has a beautiful face.
This Dark Elf, who only introduced herself as Sofie, is Simonâs partner for now.
(âŚ.How did it come to thisâŚ.)
He thought back to exactly a month ago. It was when he had finally returned to his usual worn-out hostel from his elder sisterâs mansion.
âWelcome back, Simon. This person will be your partner from today. Her name is Sofie.â\nAnd this was how the mysterious dark elf Sofie was forced onto him by Lily, when she greeted him with a bright smile.
âSimon, you will be trying out the guns you develop in real battles yourself from now on, wonât you? But itâs kinda worrying to let you go alone into a jungle and we will be busy with our quests so we canât look after you. And so, I decided on having someone I can trust be your bodyguard.â
I understand the logic behind it. But this is way too sudden.
As if it was already assumed that this person will be appointed on me and the guarding and so on are just an excuse for it.
âAnd thatâs how it is, so, I look forward to it, Simon.â\n