Me, the Weakest Member of the Hero’s Party? I’m the Villain Though?

Gerard flipped through the book, then opened a page and showed it to us. The moment I saw that page, my shoulders involuntarily flinched.

That was because the pattern on my chest was drawn there in large detail.

Without realizing it, I reflexively looked down at my own body. Thankfully, my shirt was still buttoned. Surely, no one would have bothered to undress me and look.

“So, was that lich the one who was spreading the magic stones, as Archbishop Fremlyn mentioned?”

In truth, it wasn’t the lich, but rather that so-called Dark God. But I didn’t know how to explain that, so I only mouthed words silently.

If I told them the truth, they’d definitely ask, “How do you know that?” and then I’d have to come up with yet another excuse, which already made my head hurt.

So I just firmly kept my mouth shut and pretended not to know.

“Well, seems like it?”

As expected, Gerard, who didn’t know the answer either, responded vaguely.

“Wow, so that means we’ve taken care of Archbishop Fremlyn’s request? Now all that’s left is to find the Black Flame Dragon. Solving two problems at once, what luck.”

Nothing was actually solved, and luck had nothing to do with it. I swallowed a sigh, trying to calm my growing frustration.

“In that case, Lysian, let’s set out as soon as you’re feeling better. We’ve already wasted two whole days in this village.”

Not knowing how I really felt, Kyle said cheerfully, clearly happy that things seemed to be going smoothly.

“Anyway, what were you thinking, going alone into such a dangerous dungeon while being so weak? And sneaking out at night without telling anyone, at that.”

Gerard’s sharp questioning hit me, and I couldn’t say a word, so I just clamped my mouth shut.

“Lysian says he doesn’t remember going there. Do you think it’s related to his lost memories?”

“Does that make any sense?”

Sure enough, Gerard didn’t believe my excuse.

“Could it be some kind of spell was cast on Lysian? Is there any way to check?”

At Elonen’s question, Gerard narrowed his eyes and looked me up and down.

“I’ll look into it.”

He can’t look into it…

I’d almost gotten exposed to the hero’s party for acting alone. From now on, I would really have to be careful if I didn’t want them to get even more suspicious.

* * *

That morning, Tallin, deeply grateful to the hero’s party for taking care of the terrifying ‘that person’ he could barely even mention, gave us a mountain of food.

But even with all that food, I felt no joy. That’s because I was the one who had to carry it. Gerard could have just put it in his subspace, but he insisted on piling the load onto my shoulder.

“We have to find out where the Black Flame Dragon is within a month. Let’s not waste any more time and focus only on searching for the Black Flame Dragon from now on!”

As we left the lord’s castle, Kyle announced this to the party.

To be honest, all the time wasted here was really Kyle’s fault. Everyone probably wanted to say so, but no one did.

And so, half a day passed since we set off once again in search of the Black Flame Dragon. As always, Kakaros, who walked silently at the very front, suddenly stopped.

“Kakaros needs the map.”

“Then let’s take a short break while Kakaros looks at the map.”

At that, everyone halted, and I dug through the luggage to take out the map. While Kakaros spread it out and checked it, I naturally took out a water bottle and handed it to Kyle.

I’d grown so used to playing the role of servant to the hero’s party, even though no one ever told me to.

“This is where we are, and there are three mining villages nearby.”

Kakaros kindly explained, pointing to each village on the map with his finger.

“This is the closest village.”

“Why here? Isn’t this one closer?” Elonen pointed to a village much closer on the map, looking puzzled. On the map, the one Elonen indicated was certainly nearer.

“There’s a huge canyon on the way to that village, and the terrain is rough. It’s much easier to just take a boat from here.”

“Ohh, I see.”

Kakaros said he was just as new to this route as we were, but it was almost miraculous how much he seemed to know.

“So, we’ll need to take a boat from the village just over that hill up ahead.”

Kakaros pointed behind us. The party, trusting his guidance completely, followed his lead toward the village with a harbor.