19 – Choosing Party Members!

A strange atmosphere filled the throne chamber. This was because all adventurers choose me.

I could only smile helplessly.

"Wow! You are so popular, Ren," Motoyasu whistled and remarked as he gazed at the long line of adventurers behind me. "But... Eh... Leave some for us, okay?"

"I respect their decision, but... Um... I wish some would join my party," said Itsuki with an awkward smile while scratching his cheek. Yet, his yellowish-brown eyes glinted with complex feelings, mostly inferiority.

"Hey! Don't hog everyone! Share some with us!" Naofumi complained and shot a glare at me in envy.

"I did not expect this." Aultcray seemed more amused than feeling troubled by the development; the corner of his lips curled up. "Well, then. Perhaps, some of you would not mind joining the other heroes?"

The adventurers plus Malty exchanged glances silently, but they stayed on their spot.

I decided to take control over this matter, so I could get the party members I wanted. I stepped forward and spoke to Aultcray, "Your Majesty, could I pick up three of them? There are twelve adventurers, three for each hero, no? The rest could join the other heroes."

"Hmmm..." Aultcray carefully pondered while combing his beard. After a few moments, he nodded and let no do as I wished. "Very well. You may proceed, Mister Ren."

They were anxious and full of tension when I swept my gaze on them. They were like a bunch of kids in an orphanage in front of an adopter.

By the way, Malty was on the roll, sending me a wide, innocent look full of hope. But alas, I would crush that hope. Besides, I was 101% sure that it was fake. Everything about her was fake! Her excessively beautiful face was wasted on her!

Perhaps, if she wasn't the soul fragment of Pideth Machina, I would not mind taking her despite her rotten personality; I could train her as my pet. But alas, her fate was sealed due to the nature of her soul. I did not dare to mess with a creature that could mess up several worlds.

Maybe, I could do something with her body after feeding her soul to the Soul Eater Series in the future. That was something worth thinking about, but I shelved it for later.

Be that as it may, I had made my decision. I would not take the dudes and Bitch.

There were only four girls left, and I would not accept someone who would throw me under the bus for benefits, so Rachel was out. She might join Mald and Welst in messing with Itsuki, but I would not let it happen to me.

My gaze stopped at the green-haired fighter girl. "All right, the green-haired girl, you look like you have a fighter class! You will do!"

"Thank you for accepting me, Sword Hero! My fist is under your command!" Lynda, the green-haired martial artist exclaimed happily.

Some adventurers sent her envious gazes while the rest became tenser. I swept my gaze on them again.

In truth, I could call the adventurers that I wanted and be done with this farce quickly, but I wanted to keep my appearance. I was aware of my hypocrisy, but I did not want to be labeled as a simp like Motoyasu openly.

"You, the little girl holding a staff and wearing a wide witch hat; you look like a mage, and I do not mind having a rearguard to support the frontline. You're in as well." I chose my second party member.

"Thank you for choosing me! I swear I won't disappoint you, Sword Hero!" Lisa, the brown-haired loli witch, exclaimed while tightening her grip on her staff. "By the way, I am not a little girl; I am already seventeen!"

(I know! [AR] told me so!)

I inwardly retorted.

It was a surprise that she was older than the original Ren despite her childish body. Well, she was to blame for her underdeveloped body.

According to [AR], she was the type that neglected taking care of herself when she was immersed into her hobby, so it became my responsibility to feed her with super tasty and healthy foods until she got more meat in her thin body.

Right now, she is only cute, and I was sure that she would become gorgeous after developing properly.

After that, I swept my gaze on the other adventurers. Their tension reached the peak as this would be their last chance to join my party. But alas, everything was set in stone.

Finally, my gaze settled on the magenta-haired dancer.

"You! The one with the dancer outfit!"

"Me?" She pointed at herself, startled.

Other adventurers turned at her with a startled or complex gaze. They were not blind; they guessed she was the last one.

"Yes! You! Is your class Dancer?"

"Yes, sir!" She nodded.

"Do you have dancer's skills that boost allies' stats and do some crowd control?"

In truth, I knew that she had those skills. But, I was keeping the appearance and lying it thick here.

"Yes! I do!" She eagerly responded.

"Good! You're the last member of my party! With this, I have a rather balanced party for PVE," I mused loudly before sweeping my gaze at the unwilling and disappointed adventurers.

With my bullshit, it seemed like I did not choose my party members because they were girls. It seemed like I was carefully thinking of my party's structure and balance.

Of course, people could say whatever they wanted. Haters always existed. However, they were just like air to me; they were not worthy of my energy.

"Excuse me, Sword Hero!" The red-headed swine—I meant Malty—raised her hand and called me to get my attention.

"What?" I showed a disinterested expression.

Malty said, "My name is Myne Sophia. I am good with a sword and can use magic; I think I can be useful for you!"

I was not moved. I shook my head and said, "Sorry, but my decision is final! I won't add another adventurer right now. Perhaps, in the future, but I will keep only the three of them for now."

Malty showed an understanding smile. "It is a shame, but it can't be helped."

Despite her wonderful acting that was worthy of Oscar, my [Intent Detection - Level 10] picked up her negative emotions. She was displeased and holding a deep grudge. Yet, I did not bother spending my energy on her.

Be that as it may, I turned my attention to other adventurers and told them to disperse and choose other heroes.

As expected, no one chose Naofumi. Motoyasu got Malty, Welt, Bakta, Tersia, and Farrie, while Itsuki got Mald, Welst, Drey, and Rachel.

After that, everything developed like in my first timeline—Naofumi protested; we heard the rumor about his ignorance about this world; he asked Motoyasu and Itsuki to share some of their adventurers, though he did not ask me surprisingly enough; Malty became his only companion, and the king gave us our fund.

Afterward, Motoyasu, Itsuki, Naofumi, and their respective companions left the throne chamber. However, I stayed behind.

"Why are you still here, Mister Ren? Do you need something?" asked Aultcray.

"Your Majesty, I requested a servant to join my party," I demanded.

"Why?" He asked, bewildered.

"I need a servant to take care of my party's logistics. I hope that Your Majesty does not mind supplying me with a maid," I spewed bullshit with a straight face.

"A maidservant does not have the power to protect herself when monsters attack them. They are not like adventurers who fought monsters to earn their livings. I cannot endanger my innocent and powerless subject in my good conscience," stated Aultcray.

(Do you even have a conscience?)

I inwardly retorted.

Well, Aultcray had his moments as a respectable king. Even though the real boss of this land was Mirelia, he was still respected and considered a national hero in Melromarc. It was a shame that someone amazing as him fell so low due to Malty's manipulation.

I said, "Please be at ease, Your Majesty! I never intended this maid to fight in the front line. She will purely be logistic support, so my companions and I can focus our attention on fighting without wasting our time and energy for something like finding good inns to rest, selling monster drops, buying supplies, and other menial things."

"Hmmm," Aultcray hummed thoughtfully while stroking his beard. A few moments later, he nodded and said, "Very well, then. I will give you one maid in this castle to assist you with your party's logistics. But, her safety will be your responsibility."

He stopped caressing his beard and gestured at the maid in the room. She stepped forward, lowered her head before straightening herself a moment later, and waited for her king's command professionally.

By the way, she was a bespectacled maid with a mature air around her. Her black hair was tied up in a bun. Her characteristics reminded me of Yuri Alpha from Overlord, albeit she did not have the spiked gauntlets and armor.

"Find a maid that will agree to join the party of the Sword Hero as a logistic support," he commanded.

The maid bowed and respectfully responded, "This one hears and obeys Your Majesty!"

"Excuse me, Your Majesty!" I called him again.

Aultcray sighed in exasperation, looking fed up. "What is now?"