Chapter 1

☆New Work☆

【Pianist Adventurer】 - I, who was called the 'self-proclaimed strongest support' and expelled for being 'too noisy during battles,' will make the stoic female swordsman who was expelled with me into a hero.

I have also started posting this work, so I hope you enjoy it alongside this one.

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Noah's Giant Labyrinth, 46th Floor

"Luke, are you going to die once?"

Kai Alerndro, my childhood friend and the leader of this party, muttered as if it were nothing.

"…Huh?"

"I asked if you're going to die here."

Kai's smirking face looked very amused, as if he was watching my every move.

"…Kai?"

Kai narrowed his brown eyes at my voice and just grinned without saying anything.

"Finally, huh? Kai!! Haha!"

Alan, the tank, spoke up from the side. I became even more confused and could only panic.

"Alan… What are you talking about…?"

"Hahaha. So, this is where we part ways. Use your head a little! You should know, right?"

Alan laughed once but quickly returned to a blank expression, then continued with a serious look.

"I've been holding back because Kai said, 'Wait a little longer!' There's no way someone as incompetent as you can stay in this party. Think about your place a little!"

"Wha… What…?"

"Kai and Alan are right. Why is a 'laundry' porter in this 'dual-wield' party? You're really an eyesore."

Alan raised his voice, and the healer, Ann, spoke up to me, who was becoming increasingly panicked.

"Kai, you don't have to put on a good face for Luke anymore, right?"

The party's mage, Jack, asked Kai with a delighted look.

"Yeah. We're leaving this guy here. Hehehe."

"Hey… everyone, what are you talking about…?"

I couldn't understand what was being said.

Today, after three years, we finally conquered the 45th floor of the dungeon, and this party met the conditions for S-rank promotion.

We overcame hardships together, worked hard, and finally made it this far. I, who had a skill unsuitable for combat, had worked hard to do whatever I could to not hold the party back.

(What are they talking about…? Saying goodbye here? Leaving me behind…?)

"Hey, how do you feel now?"

Kai, still with that unpleasant smirk, asked me, but I couldn't find the words.

Grrrrr.

The distant cry of a monster could be heard, but Kai and the others ignored it, all staring at me.

"Kai, why are you smiling? Tell us why you've been holding back this incompetent guy?"

Jack asked Kai irritably.

"Hehe. Do you guys know Luke's dream?"

"What? Suddenly…"

"We wouldn't know."

"I'm not interested in that."

The three sighed and answered, and Kai began to tremble and burst out laughing.

"Hahaha! This guy's dream is to become an 'S-rank adventurer' like his parents, who were killed by the 50th floor boss, and to obtain the 'End of Dreams' at the bottom of this dungeon!"

"Ha, hahaha!!!"

"That's a masterpiece!"

"Haha! What a delusion!"

"Hehe. A 'laundry' porter… 'End of Dreams'…? This is hilarious!"

Listening to their laughter, I recalled Kai's words in the border village.

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"Luke, I'll help you achieve your dream!"

Those were the words Kai said when I was about to give up after my parents' 'death' in that small village.

In this world, on your 7th birthday, you receive a blessing from the gods. I was given the clearly combat-unsuitable skill, 'Laundry.'

My childhood dream… To become an 'S-rank adventurer' like my parents, who died in the dungeon when I was 10, and to obtain the treasure at the bottom of the dungeon, the 'End of Dreams.'

Kai's words saved me from despair.

Kai, who was called a prodigy with the 'dual-wield' skill, was growing stronger, and I believed his words and followed him.

At 15, we left the border village and came to the adventurer's city 'Noah,' where the 'Noah's Giant Labyrinth' is located, and formed a party with Kai as the leader.

I did everything I could to not hold Kai back. I really did everything…

Of course, I did the 'laundry' for clothes and equipment, carried the luggage, made the dungeon maps, learned simple magic that anyone could do with mana, and even practiced combat techniques that might not be useful… I did everything I could.

Eventually, the current members joined, and I endured being pushed around and treated like a slave, gritting my teeth.

All for the sake of achieving my dream. To become an 'S-rank adventurer'… To obtain the 'End of Dreams'…

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I've never been given a 'good face' by Jack. If that was his way of caring, he's just a criminal…

The laughter of the four didn't stop, and I stared at them in shock.

"Got it! You were waiting for this moment!"

"This is hilarious! Look at that face!!"

"An incompetent person like you has talent? Hehehe."

To me, who was devastated by my parents' death,

"I'll help you achieve your dream"

Kai's words were a hope to live.

"Kai, what do you mean…?"

My confused voice made Kai laugh again and speak.

"Why should I help you achieve your dream!? I just wanted to see you look even more miserable! I've always hated you, the one who was always pampered, thanks to your parents!!"

"What…?"

"These past three years… I've been enduring, enduring, enduring, waiting for this moment because you, with that crap skill, were still being pampered! Hehe. But seeing this face makes it all worth it!! It's great, Luke!! Hahaha!"

"Kai, that's going too far, right? Hahaha!"

"Since you're going to die anyway, it's the same, right? Haha!"

"Realizing this only now, you're really the most incompetent!! Hehehe."

My childhood dream was finally about to come true today. I endured everything, and all I had to do was return to the guild and report to achieve my dream…

(Why is this happening…? This must be a bad dream…)

The shock was so great that I thought, "Is this a bad dream?" But Kai's creepy smile and the pain of my nails digging into my palm told me this was reality.

I glared at Kai, who grinned and spoke again.

"Do you know they all hate you too?"

"Kai said 'no matter what,' so I had to pretend to be friendly!"

"I hate someone as incompetent as you, who keeps saying 'I'm trying my best!!'"

"Me too. I don't hate your face, but I hate a man who struggles in vain. I think you should die."

In the dimly lit dungeon, I was speechless. This is the 46th floor. Only a few parties can reach here. The distant sounds of monsters are clearly those of powerful beings.

"Hey, Luke… How do you feel now?"

"Shut up!!"

I lunged at Kai, but Alan knocked me away with his shield, and Jack immediately bound me with a restraint spell.

Losing my composure, my combat techniques were meaningless…

Kai drew two swords from his back and slowly approached me. Unable to move, I couldn't stop my body from trembling in anger at the four's creepy grins.

"Look! He's shaking! You're entertaining us!"

Kai, who had come close, said and stabbed his sword into my leg.

Squish!!

The sound of flesh tearing echoed in the dungeon.

"Ugh…"

"Luke, are you scared…?"

"…Not scared…"

When I whispered, Kai stabbed his sword into my leg again.

"Ugh…"

I clenched my teeth to stop myself from crying out.

"…Scared?"

"…Not… scared…"

Kai's smile made my back shiver. No matter how much I told myself not to give in, my body was honest.

Kai raised his right arm and swung his sword at my neck.

(I'm going to die!!)

I gave up on 'life' in my heart, but the sword stopped just before it hit.

"……"

"Hehehe"

Kai, seeing my silence, laughed and tapped my face with the flat of his sword, leaning in close and whispering in my ear.

"You can't escape from here… Don't ever show your face again…? Your parents, who were so popular in that village, took 15 years to reach S-rank… I did it in three years."

Kai's words were all about 'me'… There was no 'we.' I had noticed this long ago, but now it finally sank in…

The smell of my own blood on my face and Kai's delighted expression made me feel sick.

"I will conquer the 'Noah's Giant Labyrinth,' which no one has ever achieved… The 'End of Dreams' is mine!! Don't you dare mention it lightly, you scum!! I see a different world from you and your scum parents!!"

Kai shouted loudly,

"We can make it!!"

"Of course!! The 'End of Dreams' is ours!"

"We will become SSS-rank adventurers!!"

The three followed, and the four, laughing, stripped me of all my belongings,

"Hehe. See you, Luke…"

"Haha! My condolences!!"

"Bye-bye!!"

"Hehe. Goodbye."

and left.

(Where did I go wrong…? What should I do now…?)

I whispered in my heart, feeling my spirit breaking. My pride in always being positive and working hard was shattered, and my respected parents were mocked.

I was frustrated even by the tears of regret streaming down my face, cursing my own powerlessness as I watched the four leave, their footsteps echoing in the dungeon.

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Next chapter: "Encounter"

☆New Work☆

【Pianist Adventurer】 - I, who was called the 'self-proclaimed strongest support' and expelled for being 'too noisy during battles,' will make the stoic female swordsman who was expelled with me into a hero.

Please give it a read if you have the time!! Thank you very much!