We all planned to have a good rest today. It's been 5 days since the incident. I for one only kill a bunch of monsters but I noticed I barely gain any exp now. So I decided to give someone a call.

(Call Maki Weiss)

-call accepted.-

-connection confirmed-

-call now on line-

"Heya Eris. You called earlier. What's up?"

"Ummm you are expecting me already?"

"Actually yep. Or to be precise I already 'heard' your call. Anyways what's up?"

"Sorry to bother you. It's about my party mem- ... Ahem. My friends."

"Hmmm... What about them?"

"I think you already know though"

"And I know but it's better to hear it from you"

(I don't know why but I can vividly imagine her grinning face right now)

"Anyways I just got worried. They decided to ask me for a rest and it's been three days now... Although we all sleep ina single room and talk at night..."

"So you feel like they are avoiding you? Or maybe you feel left behind?"

"So you do know already! Geez..." I left out a sigh.

"Hahaha like I said though Eris. It's better to hear it in person that anything else. That said I believe you don't have to worry so much."

"Why?"

"Since you are friends right? Have faith in them."

Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

"I do believe them Maki!"

"Yes I know you do. You changed yourself earlier right? That made me smile a bit honestly. You didn't call them party members but friends instead."

"Maki..." My cheeks turn red upon hearing her reply.

"Anyways, if you are really worried then just ask them. You guys are close enough to sleep in the same room. You even sleep around with Emy so many times now so just go at it and ask!" Maki replied followed by a laugh on her side.

"Okay got it.... Wait... You know about me and Emy?" I asked.

"Of course! I already heard it from you. In the future I mean"

"Aaaaaaaaaaa damn you future me!"

She then laughed so much that I hurriedly say goodbye and close the call.

"Stupid Maki... But thanks." I murmured to myself.

And so I head out as usual to farm a bit then check my status before going back to dorm at night to confront them.

-night at dinner lobby-

"So uh... How's the day?" I ask the three as we all sit around the table to eat.

"Tired" Emy grumbles as she stuff herself with meat.

"Same..." Velvet also stretch her arms up and down before eating.

"What did you two even do?" I ask while looking at the two.

The two look at each other before replying "Nothing much"

I got worried after receiving such reply. I decided to ask Elly

"What about you El-" then I saw elly almost nodding off with a spoon on her mouth.

I look down at my plate and think for a while before asking something once more.

"Do you all plan to leave me behind?" I asked the three worried.

The Emy and Velvet eyes open wide and Elly even woke up and look at me with my head lowered almost hitting the plate as tears slowly drop on my food.

"If you all plan to do so atleast please tell me... I am worried you guys will just leave me behind without a word." I look at them now crying.

"No Eris! We are not planning to do that!" Emy hurriedly wipe the tears on my face with a clean cloth.

"That's right. What made you think that?" Velvet moves her chair closer to me since we are sitting next to each other while Elly across me and Emy beside her.

"Well... *Sniff* all of you requested to stop joining me for a while *hicc* and you won't tell me why..." I look down my plate.

"Eris..." Velvet gently rubs my hair.

"Sis... Velvet let's just tell Eris. It hurts seeing her like this. And beside we are not doing bad anyways." Elly looks at the two.

*Sigh* "alright. Eris." Emy leaves out a sigh before facing me. I look at her in the eyes.

"Listen. We are not planning to leave you okay? How can I leave you alone? You saved us remember?" Emy said while the other two nods.

"But..." I look at her.

"You see, we realized how weak we are. So we decided to train a bit ourselves. We take classes in the academy." Emy explained.

"Is that true? You are not leaving the party?" I asked.

"Yes we won't." They all replied.

"I see... That's good." I smiled widely at them which made the three sighed in relief.

"But you should have just told me. Why the need to hide it?" I asked them.

"Well..." Emy scratches her head while Velvet looks at her side avoiding my gaze.

"Ha... You see Eris." Elly sighed after realizing she is the one to explain. "We realized that we always have to rely on you specifically on the slime event. So we feel ashamed for not being able to help you fight. So we three decided to train so one day we can stand with you side by side." She explained.

"Then you should have told me!" I said to the three.

"Well... It's embarrassing to make you see us... Weak." Emy said.

"And we want to atleast be able to repay you." Velvet added.

"But we just made you more worried instead." Elly looks at me worried.

"Sorry!" The three bow their head and apologized.

"I understand so please raise your heads. Please next time tell me. I don't want to lose you guys since we are a party right? Your problems are my problems too!" I told them.

"Eris..." Emmy looks at me.

"Ahem. That... We will do Eris. We won't make you worried again. So don't think about it anymore and eat! You are ruining your beautiful face." Velvet wipes my face with a clean towel.

"Thank you." I smiled to Velvet and continue eating unbeknownst to me that the three are looking at each other. Velvet with a grin while the two looks jealous at her.