"Wh-what do you mean, 'confiscated'!? Rogue, did you take away Alfred's abilities and stats? Then what about Alfred now?"
"Exactly. Right now, Alfred is just an incompetent fool who can't use any skills, Gaizen."
"That's terrible... Poor Alfred!"
"Poor? Pearl, that's not quite right. Alfred has been enjoying the benefits thanks to me. Besides, I only got back the enhancement buff I lent him. What's wrong with that?"
"As Gaizen said earlier, it's unfair! The [Hero's Sacred Sword] was a party that you and Alfred created together, wasn't it!? Alfred also reflected on his actions and had been treating you better over the past year!"
"Shannon... I didn't want to do this either. I was fine with just supporting the party from behind the scenes and being praised as 'Wow, Rogue is amazing'... But Alfred, of all people, started making moves on my precious childhood friend! It's all his fault!"
"I've told you repeatedly that this is not true! In fact, Alfred was kind to me! Even when I accidentally pushed him down, he gently advised me like a true gentleman."
"...What? Shannon, you pushed Alfred down? I thought you were a priestess... a saint."
"Even if it's someone I love dearly, that's crossing a line."
Huh? Huh? Huh!?
Why are Gaizen and Pearl, who should be allies, so taken aback?
It was an accident (purely innocent)!
"See? Alfred was clearly being cuckolded... Well, I'm a grown man now. I'm not a virgin forever, so let's move on from the details... So, you former executives are demoted to the second string. Shannon, if you become my woman, I'll welcome you back as an executive."
Rogue's proposal. Behind him, former second-string members Daniel, Forgas, and Larisa smirked, now completely sycophantic.
"No way! I'd rather leave than serve under you! Rogue, if I have to follow you, I'll pursue Alfred instead! I'm leaving [Hero's Sacred Sword]!"
"Gaizen... Indeed, your unique skill, Iron Wall, will still be usable even if I cancel my Ability Grant. However, your other stats and abilities will significantly decrease. You'll end up as a stationary, useless skill. Are you sure about this?"
"I don't care! I won't sell my soul to the devil!"
"I'm leaving too! I'll follow Gaizen and pursue Alfred! I hate Rogue, you idiot!"
Pearl hid behind the shield bearer Gaizen and stuck out her tongue, making a rude gesture.
Rogue scoffed at the sight.
"Good grief, this is why children are so predictable... Well, Pearl, you've always been infatuated with Alfred, so this was expected. And Shannon, what about you?"
"I'll stay... Rogue, as a childhood friend, I must awaken you."
"I see, that's very much like you. Fine, I'll accept your decision to stay."
"Thank you. However, I will no longer receive any enhancement buffs from you. Please cancel the ability grant right now!"
"What? Are you sure? Without it, you won't be able to use your unique skill, Saint's Breath. You'll be treated as a low-ranking newbie, alongside Kanade."
"I'm fine with that. My goal is to reform my foolish childhood friend who has succumbed to power.
"Do as you please."
Thus, we divided into those who stayed and those who left.
Ideally, I would have liked to join Gaizen and Pearl.
I want to see Alfred.
But Rogue is also a precious childhood friend with whom I spent time in the orphanage.
Though he was unreliable, I looked up to him like a brother.
There is still some affection, and it's not easy for me to cut ties...
Soon after, as requested, the Ability Grant that had been given to me was canceled.
As expected, my stats and abilities had decreased, and I was unable to use my skills.
But it didn't matter. It was just a false power given to me.
I'm sure Gaizen and Pearl felt the same way.
However, a year ago, Alfred had advised me to increase my magical power, so I had always been training diligently.
Thanks to that, I could use a full range of healing magic and serve as a healer.
Alfred is truly amazing. I can only be grateful.
"Lady Shannon, even someone like you doesn't need to do such things."
-----
(In the kitchen)
While preparing vegetables together, Kanade, the swordmaster, spoke to me.
She, like me, had been burdened with miscellaneous tasks by the new leader, Rogue, and had started working alongside me frequently.
"It's fine. This is a trial given by the gods. Besides, I am not a saint."
"No, a woman as beautiful in both body and spirit as you is something I have never seen in my homeland. If only Alfred was here.
Kanade also admired Alfred, and thus, she faced strong opposition within the party.
Despite her capabilities, she was relegated to tasks like cooking, cleaning, and shopping instead of participating in quests.
"Kanade, you don't have to stay here if you don't want to. Didn't you come all the way from the Far East for something more than this?"
I had heard that Gaizen and Pearl had also invited Kanade to leave before they left.
"Yes, but... [Hero's Sacred Sword] is the group that Captain Alfred left behind. I want to try a little longer. I also want to awaken everyone's eyes."
"I see... then let's work hard together!"
Somehow, Kanade and I grew closer as we got to know each other.
That was one good thing that came from this situation.
A month passed.
With Rogue's skill effects, [Hero's Sacred Sword] continued to achieve major quests and advance.
The members were intoxicated by their temporary power and worshipped him like a god.
Rogue continued to provide enhancement buffs with the Ability Grant, repeating his recently favored phrase, "Good grief. I didn't intend to do this, but here we are.'
His womanizing became more extravagant, with frequent visits from unknown women.
He seemed especially enamored with Larisa, and her sultry voice could be heard from the leader's office even during the day.
Despite this, I still struggled to maintain contact with Rogue as his childhood friend.
"Rogue, I need to talk."
"What is it, Shannon? You're persistent. I'm about to have some adult fun with Larisa, so please go away."
His response was harsh. He now dismissed me whenever I tried to talk to him.
It seemed my words no longer reached him.
"...Perhaps it's time."
As I began to think this way, a blue, plump, round object appeared from the corner of the room.
It was a slime. I recognized it as...
"Is that Saku-Kichi, the slime Rogue keeps?"
When I mentioned the name, Saku-Kichi happily bounced and snuggled up to me.
It seemed Rogue had neglected it, and it had gathered quite a bit of dust.
Despite being a monster, it was surprisingly affectionate and cute.
"Would you like to come with me? To Alfred and the others-"
When I spoke, Saku-Kichi nodded eagerly, swaying its body up and down.