Chapter 88: The Unwelcome Comrades

That sudden grating voice made everyone wrinkle their brows in response.

Especially Shien. When he heard that voice, he raised his brow, turned about and looked toward where the voice originated from.

Everyone else did the same. They all looked over. Even Diere, Lumia, and Melika looked over as well.

However, when they looked over, a lot of people's expressions changed.

The gentle smile on Vivian's face vanished.

Alrith wrinkled his brow even further.

Diere's expressions turned even colder.

For Melika though, she breathing froze for a moment and her expression shifted into one of fear. She even unconsciously grabbed onto Lumia next to her.

However, Lumia's own expressions weren't any better. It was like she saw something that she wanted to keep away from at all costs. She shuddered in fear and was on the edge of fleeing.

Three figures approached in that situation.

Those were three very distinctive adventurers.

The one in the front was a very handsome looking man around twenty years old or so. He held a warm and welcoming expression like he was a movie star. He was a classic bishounen who could end up with a hoard of screaming fan girls chasing after him just walking down the street.

Next to that handsome man was a man and a woman.

The man looked to be a bit younger in comparison. However, he was fully equipped with shining and expensive looking high leveled equipment. He held his head up proudly with a high-spirited expression.

The woman was a bit older. Her looks were quite above average too, but it wasn't in the pure and gentle way that Vivian and group had, nor was it in an intellectual and capable style like Leili. Instead, she's more the seductive and alluring type.

The feelings that those three adventurers gave off were all different. One gives others an approachable and handsome impression, but another gives the impression of some rich boy without any real abilities. There was also one that attracted the gazes of all the men around and excited them.

And yet, when she saw the three of them, the expressions on Vivian and company were not good at all.

"Leon? Why are you here?"

Alrith was more looking at the man at the head in shock.

However, before the other even managed to respond, the rich boy looking man spoke up first.

"We're obviously here to undertake this secret quest." The person gave a cold smile and spoke pridefully, "With how important this quest is, of course it's going to require the most capable adventuring parties. Given that, how could our party not be chosen?"

That explanation really was just boasting to the extreme.

At the very least, Shien could tell without even trying that given the attitude as fitting a minor villain, that previous insult from before definitely came out of that guy's mouth.

"Captain Vivian, long time no-"

That statement filled with emotion wasn't even fully out of his mouth before he was interrupted.

"I am no longer your captain, young master Markray." Vivian interrupted his words as she lowered her head, "However, it has been some time. Please forgive any lacking in my welcome."

Those words sounded quite polite and proper, but in reality, the fact that it was intended to ward the recipient off couldn't be more clear.

The man addressed as Markray could obviously realize that as well, so he was a bit embarrassed while having no real way to respond. However, in the end, he still impatiently spoke out.

"Since Ms. Vivian of Vivian's party is here, then what about Melika? Is Melika here as well?"

As he said that, Markray looked about wildly. Finally, he saw the pale looking Melika who was still holding onto Lumia.

"Melika!"

Markay suddenly turned even more emotional and tried to head over right away.

However, in that instant, a black gale blasted forward in front of Markray, stopping him.

"Uwah!" Markray was quite startled and unconsciously took a few steps back. Only then did he manage to clearly see just who it was. When he did though, the excitement on his face started being replaced by confusion and anger, making him yell out, "Diere!?"

That was indeed Diere.

Diere looked at Markray coldly with a blade appearing in her hand out of nowhere.

"Continue forward, and your foot will be severed once more."

Those cold and emotionless words provoked shock and anger from Markray, but comparatively, what won out more in his eyes was fear.

"D-Diere!"

Lumia hurried over to Diere's side.

Melika quite wanted to follow, but the moment she saw Markray, she had a terrible expression on her face, as if some kind of trauma was awoken in her. In the end, she couldn't take a step.

Seeing how Melika was, Vivian moved forward and took Melika into her embrace as she muttered calming words to Melika, which finally allowed Melika to calm down some.

In that circumstance, everyone else also came over.

"What are you doing? Young master Markray?" Altrith spoke without much politeness, "Don't go scaring them, alright?"

"None of your business, Alrith." Markray seemed as if he found away out of his predicament and instead spoke angrily toward Alrith, "Watch your attitude!"

That despotic statement made quite a few people rather unhappy.

"Indeed, I was impolite." Alrith rather admitted to that point, but not only did his words not become more polite, he instead spoke toward the handsome man, "However, as the young master's party leader, shouldn't you properly control your party member? Leon?"

In response to that, the handsome man that Alrith called Leon showed a beautiful smile.

The smile was very elegant and clear, beautiful as a work of art. The seductive looking woman next to him even blushed, enraptured by the sight of it.

Then, he said the following.

"Sorry about that, Markray has always been quite excitable. I've already lectured him several times in the past, but he is quite a young man after all, so I'll have to ask everyone to be forgiving." Leon said so and then turned to speak gently to Markray, "Markray, you should control yourself a bit. Even if you're overjoyed at seeing Melika, acting so impulsively will only harm the reputation of the Foleti family name you know?"

"Ugh." Markray had nothing he could say to that. He seemed to at least somewhat respect Leon's words.

However, even so, Markray still constantly glanced over toward Melika. His eyes were filled with obvious want, excitement, possessiveness, and joy.

Facing such a person, Melika not only didn't feel happy, but instead bit her lips and practically buried her head in Vivian's chest.

Seeing that scene, Shien who had been looking quietly ended up muttering quite a bit in his mind.

(Given this atmosphere, there are probably quite a great deal of private histories with them huh.)

Shien started appraising those three unwelcome guests.

After Vivian finally calmed Melika down and brought Melika behind Diere and Lumia, she then moved forward.

"So you're the third adventuring party who will be undertaking this secret quest then?"

As she spoke, Vivian's tone had within it a certain undertone of worry and resignation.

"Indeed." It wasn't certain if Leon managed to sense that. He just looked right as Vivian as if she was the only thing in his eyes and smiled happily, "I knew that guildmaster Leili would definitely choose you, Vivian, so I truly hope that our coming cooperation will leave both sides with a happy experience."

Vivian wasn't even a little happy at Leon's declarations though. Instead, she fell silent, and even Alrith over at the side showed a bitter smile.

Shien rather didn't expect Vivian and Alrith would react like that.