I Was Kicked Out of the Hero’s Party Even Though I’m His Girlfriend

“I heard the queen and the girl in the song never met. So she couldn’t have been disrespectful to the queen, right?”

“Ah, is that so? Hmm… then how did our queen know about the girl’s existence?”

“Maybe the prince excitedly told his mother about interesting things that happened each day, like bragging.”

“Oh… that might be true.”

“Yes. And also, the girl didn’t know at all that the prince’s status was that of a prince. No, I heard she didn’t know. The prince didn’t say a word about it. When they met, they just played purely like common children.”

“Being a prince, his appearance and character must have been extraordinary?”

“Maybe he changed into commoner’s clothes when meeting the girl? And messed up his hair a bit too. And pretended not to know things he knew.”

“My, why would he need to do that?”

“Because he was worried the girl would feel burdened if he revealed his status? The prince probably didn’t like the idea of her becoming awkward and distant. He must have wanted to maintain an honest relationship.”

“Ho… indeed. That’s a reasonable point.”

Carlisle nodded while stroking his chin.

The corners of his mouth curled up subtly.

“Mr. Han, do you have a mother at home? You’re being good to her, right?”

Something about his bright-eyed questioning felt unpleasant for some reason.

He seemed somewhat creepy.

Come to think of it, why am I having this conversation with a stranger?

Maru cleared his throat and adjusted his posture.

“I don’t really want to talk about family. I’m going to sleep now. Thanks for the song.”

He looked at the female minstrel sitting at the end near the exit.

Since the song ended, she had been staring at him with expectant eyes.

‘Does she want money or something?’

He immediately smiled and just thanked her for the good song.

Being a beggar, he had no money to reward her.

Afterward, Maru crossed his arms and closed his eyes.

‘What would mother be doing right now.’

The song had made this journey unexpectedly unsettling.

The salty smell carried on the wind.

Finally arriving at Kiburton Port, the carriage passed by farms and dropped people off at the marketplace.

As soon as he got off, Maru smiled brightly while looking into the distance.

Beyond the wooden buildings stretched a vast blue-green sea.

And numerous ships could be seen.

“Fresh and delicious fish that husbands love to death! Just caught this morning, super tasty!”

The market bustling with merchants’ calls and people was filled with salt smell and humidity.

His skin was already feeling sticky despite just arriving.

Maru shouldered his backpack and started walking.

But Carlisle’s group followed behind.

“Where are you planning to go now?”

“Wherever my feet take me.”

“Didn’t you say your companions were waiting?”

Maru stopped in his tracks, startled.

“Why are you following me?”

“Hehe, Mr. Han. If you have time, we’d like to treat you to a meal. A very expensive one.”

“Not needed, let’s each go our own way.”

“M-Mr. Han!”

Maru left without looking back.

Shortly after, the place he visited was the dock.

Dozens of ships were moored.

He went to where sailors were rolling barrels on planks.

“I’d like to see the captain. Do you know where he is?”

“Go up on the ship. He’s wearing a captain’s hat.”

“Thank you.”

He crossed the plank connecting the dock to the ship and went up on deck.

He met the captain and asked to be taken to Leviathan Island.

The captain looked at him like he was a strange person.

“Are you crazy to die?”

“What? Surely not.”

“Baby dragons live there. The island is also swarming with dangerous magical beasts. Are you asking me to go die with you? If you want to die, go alone.”

He was politely rejected.

Leviathan Island was known as an extremely dangerous island in this area.

Going to other ship captains, and then other ship captains after that, he kept getting turned down.

“Are you trying to send someone to their death?”

“I’ll pay double, please take me just once.”

“No! I don’t want to gamble with my life!”

“What’s the matter?”

A voice suddenly came from beside him.

Looking over, it was Carlisle again.

“Captain, what did this Mr. Han say?”

“Well, he’s asking me to take him to Leviathan. Has this person lost his mind? If you know him, tell him to come to his senses. Being young is no excuse for such reckless behavior, really.”

The captain left while muttering about seeing such a strange person.

Carlisle looked at Maru with surprised eyes.

“Y-you’re trying to go to Leviathan Island?”

“Why? Is there a problem?”

Maru walked past him.

Not many ships left to ask.

While clicking his tongue, Carlisle annoyingly followed behind.

“You must cherish the life your parents gave you! Why are you trying to go to such a place?”

“Why do you keep following me since earlier? Do you know me?”

“Ah, no. We don’t have a deep acquaintance but… Ahem!”

“Then stop following me.”

Maru passed by Carlisle and left with quick steps.

Behind him, Carlisle kept shouting not to go because it was dangerous.

Why was he acting like this with someone he just met.

Maru couldn’t understand.

“Hey, I heard you want to go to Leviathan Island?”

It seems rumors had already spread while he was wandering around the dock for a while.

A young man about his age approached and spoke to him.

He was a guy with tattoos all over his arms and darkly tanned skin.

“I’ll take you on my ship. How much will you pay?”

“How much would it take?”

“You just need me to take you there?”

“I’d like you to come pick me up too.”

“When?”

“Before sunset?”

“Hmm, pay ten times the normal fare.”

“Three times.”

“Ten times. Going to Leviathan Island is forbidden by territorial law. I’m taking you secretly. Plus, it’s not just me but several people will help and I need to take care of their share too. I’m not the only one getting paid.”

The energetic-looking young man held out his palm.

Maru thought for a moment before taking out his wallet and handing over two silver coins.

“This is advance payment. Instead of haggling, I’ll split the remaining amount into three payments – on the way there, upon arrival, and when you come to pick me up.”

The young man patted his shoulder and smiled.

“Welcome friend. That’s my ship over there. Come back in 30 minutes since we need to prepare for departure. If anyone asks where you’re going, say you’re helping us go fishing. Our ship is a fishing vessel that catches fish for the lord’s table.”

The ship the young man pointed to was a fishing boat smaller than the galleys other captains had.

Five young men about the same age were aboard the square-sailed vessel.

All five were shirtless and busy carrying wooden boxes of fish to the dock.

“A long, flat ship.”

Like looking at a Viking ship.

Maru watched the young man return to his ship for a moment before turning away.

He should go to the market and buy some food.

“Wonder what I should buy.”

Should prepare for possible isolation on the island too, right?

While looking around the bustling market with such thoughts.

As he was passing by a shabby inn, someone suddenly appeared from behind, covered Maru’s mouth and dragged him into the building.

Their strength was too tremendous to resist against.

“Mmph! Mmph!”

“Quick, close the door!”

Bang!

Click!

The inn lobby was somewhat dark with curtains drawn.

“Tie him to the chair!”

Three men rushed over and quickly tied Maru with rope.

Tied firmly to the chair, Maru looked around the room.

He saw five familiar faces.

They must have rented the entire building as there was no one else around.

He looked up at the middle-aged man who seemed to be the leader.

“What are you doing? Carlisle?”

“Please forgive us.”

Carlisle knelt on one knee and bowed his head.

Then the three men and woman standing behind him also knelt and lowered their heads in unison.

The woman was the minstrel from earlier.

“We are actually a unit operating under orders to watch over the prince’s movements. During our mission, the situation became so urgent that we ended up committing discourtesy to the prince. Please forgive us.”

“Please forgive us!”

Ah. Mother’s people?

Maru bit his lower lip.

After looking at them back and forth, he opened his lips quietly.

“Faces I haven’t seen at the palace. Anyway, untie me.”

“We received strict orders to immediately bring you back to the palace if you were to part ways with the hero party during our mission. After assessing the situation so far, since the prince has separated from the hero party and is even trying to enter a dangerous island alone, we had to make quick judgment and decisions. Please understand.”

“So what are you going to do? Take me to mother like this?”

“We merely do our best for the prince’s safety. We will work hard to ensure your return to the country as soon as possible. Queen Her Majesty misses you very much. Please come with us.”

“……”

Maru maintained silence while deep in thought before speaking.

“Alright. Let’s go back.”

“Oh, you’ll come with us?”

“Yes, I’m tired of living away from home and want to go back now. First, untie these ropes.”

Carlisle clasped his hands together in joy.

The others’ expressions also brightened.

“Quickly untie him.”

“Yes!”

The ropes binding Maru’s body were loosened.

Maru got up from his seat while hitting his stiff body with his fists.

“Do you have any clothes prepared? I can’t wear these anymore, they smell.”

Carlisle approached with a smile.

“Of course we do. Since your clothes look shabby, please follow Jamila and change first. She will take good care of you.”

Maru looked at the female minstrel called Jamila.

She was wearing a kind and gentle smile as if she were his maid.

The two went into a nearby room together carrying new clothes.

After a while.

Jamila shouted.

“The prince has disappeared!”

Carlisle jumped in surprise and ran into the room.

The curtains were fluttering in the wind and the window was wide open.

“What were you doing with your eyes open!”

“He said he’d be uncomfortable changing where I was, so he’d change behind the curtain and told me to turn around, so…”

“You fool!”

Carlisle immediately ran out of the inn with his subordinates.

They could see Maru running away in the distance.

“Stop right there!”

There was one thing Maru had learned while traveling with the hero’s party.

Cooking skills?

Fire-making skills?

Keeping companions happy?

All wrong.

It was the skill of running away from monsters.

He was so quick and fast that even Carlisle and his subordinates with their well-trained bodies had trouble catching up.

“Hey~! Over here~ Over here!”

When Maru arrived at the dock out of breath, the tattooed young man was waving cheerfully, seemingly having finished preparations.

He hurriedly got on the ship.

“Leave right away! Huff! Huff!”

“Are you being chased? What’s the rush?”

“Prince! Stop! Stop right there!”

The tattooed young man spotted Carlisle’s group running frantically and smiled broadly.

“Going to a dangerous island and being chased by people, you live an interesting life.”

He and his young companions quickly raised anchor and sat down to start rowing.

The ship gradually moved away from the dock.

By the time Carlisle arrived, it was already too late.

There was no way to catch the ship that had gone out to sea.

He stood at the dock railing and shouted at the top of his lungs.

“Prince! Priiiince! That island is dangerous! Priiiiiince!”

“Carlisle! Tell mother this! I don’t know how long it will take, but I’ll definitely return when my journey ends! Tell her I miss her a lot too!”

Maru waved with a bright smile before turning to look at the bow.

The ship with six young men rowing in perfect unison was advancing powerfully through the waves.

The sea breeze was refreshing.

He stretched his arms toward the sky and spread his palms.

The sunlight shining through his fingers was dazzling.

“Wh-what did I just hear?”

“I’m leaving the kingdom.”

“Don’t speak such horrible words! What was lacking? What’s missing? I’ll give you anything you want, just tell me quickly.”

“Nothing was lacking. Mother, you’ve given me more than enough love all this time. Everything is satisfactory. It’s just that, I’ve found a goal in life. I’ll travel with that child for a while.”

“No! The outside world is dangerous!”

“I know. But wouldn’t it be good to achieve something while I’m young for the future?”

“You’re meant to be king! What if you get hurt?”

“It would be a great medal for me. I want to build achievements rivaling mother’s great reputation. The people will find a capable prince who built splendid achievements on the battlefield more impressive than a prince who stayed locked up in the castle under mother’s protection every day.”

“I don’t need such a capable son! I just need you as you are now! I don’t want to lose you too!”

“I disagree. I want to defeat the Demon Lord with that child. A prince defeating the Demon Lord? It would be an achievement I won’t be ashamed of until death.”

“This won’t do. You need achievements? Then let’s wage war with neighboring countries right now. They’ve had deep emotional conflicts with us anyway, so this works out. We’ll widely announce that you commanded and achieved victory. Leave the battles to me. I was once called the Goddess of War.”

“If you do that, I’ll really run away. I won’t come back for life. Never do that.”

Maru, who had been briefly lost in old memories, lowered his hand that had been wandering in the air.

The wide open blue-green sea.

In the distance, Leviathan Island, his destination, was faintly visible.

“It won’t take long, mother. Don’t worry.”