Ren: I'm a loner you're right. Whoever cannot cut it gets left in the dust.
Despite his words, Ren's party members all nodded and shuffled closer to him. You didn't get the appeal, but it seemed to be working for the guy, so good for him, you guess. Still, though, this entire situation was weird and left you feeling like you missed a big part of the conversation. You didn't get long to think on it, though, as Naofumi turned to you pleading for help.
 
Naofumi: Y/n, help me out. Don't you think this is unfair?
 
Having been put on the spot, you felt your eyes dart between Naofumi and your harem to be before answering.
Y/n: Uh... feminism party?
 
The boys all stared at you for a moment before nodding, finding no reason to complain with your logic. Was it sexist? Maybe, but you weren't going to call them out on it. Not if it meant you might have to split your party. As far as you were concerned, this was your isekai power fantasy, and these guys were lucky to be your side characters.
 
Itsuki: It might seem to be the most fair if we split them up three a piece, but if we try to force the issue, it could destroy everybody's morale.
 
Y/n: Exactly, they're our party members, not slaves. Bossing them around like that would be wrong.
 
Unnoticed by you or the other heroes, the Melromarc natives all side-eyed each other in uncomfortable silence. Naofumi, meanwhile, wasn't having any of it as he threw his shield arm up and shouted.
 
Naofumi: So what, you're telling me I have to just go at it alone? You guys know I'm a shielder, the class you said was for losers. Without a party, how am I supposed to grow any stronger?
 
Y/n: Hey, you watch your mouth. Eggplant Kouhai is best girl!
 
Your words got a strange look from the boys and several of the locals, but you refused to be embarrassed. You weren't about to sit here and let Naofumi shit-talk one of your top gacha girls like that. Seriously, it's like this guy's never heard of a tank before. Either way it didn't matter, because in the next instant something happened that left you feeling utterly devastated and harboring a newfound distaste for your newly dubbed worst shielder.
Malty: Lady Hero, would you kindly allow me to switch parties and join the shield hero?
 
Immediately the hall fell silent as everyone turned to see what your reaction would be. However, amongst that sea of watching eyes and swirling thoughts, the only response you could muster was a simple...
 
Y/n: Huh?!
 
 
 Later that Day
 
It was with wide eyes that you found yourself walking the crowded streets of Meltomarc's capital, magic and fantasy surrounding you from every angle. Be it shopkeepers using spells to advertise their stores or people with animal ears, there was something new everywhere you looked. It was like one of your games had come to life before your very eyes, and yet despite knowing you should be feeling excited, a morose cloud hung over your head. You couldn't help it. Here you are, on your very own isekai adventure and having found the perfect girl who was willing to indulge in your harem fantasies, and some stupid shield jerk came swooping in to steal her away.
The party selection ceremony had been an utter travesty. Not only did Naofumi steal your waifu, the king gave him a reward for doing so. Two hundred silver. You had to give the shield jerk credit for that. He got a better deal than Judas did, and all it took was him committing the cardinal sin of ntr. As if insulting Mashu hadn't been bad enough, he had to go and try to give the whole class a bad name.
Really the only saving grace in all of this was that none of the rest of your party had left to join Malty with Naofumi. Lesty, Rino, and Elena, as you had learned their names were, were all very much still onboard with keeping with your party. Their loyalty was a much-needed relief after the heartbreak that was Malty leaving you for that ntr shield bastard.
 
Naofumi: Hey Myne, wait up!
 
Speak of the devil, there he was. Just up ahead of you, on the road towards the city market, Naofumi was running after Malty with a smile on his face and a sack of coin in his hand. The scene made you feel sick, and you wanted nothing more than to go over there and give that prick a piece of your mind. But then they were gone, having slipped out of sight among the throngs of people as you were left there to sulk.
 
It was then that you decided you really didn't like that Naofumi guy, and one way or another you were going to teach him a lesson. But first you needed to secure the rest of your harem and make their feelings for you impregnable before you ever thought about facing Naofumi again. However, to do that you would need to find your future harem first... 
 
The city was really big, and the streets were really crowded, okay. Anyone could have gotten lost. The only thing that mattered now was that you find the girls before something happened. Unfortunately, you still had no clue where you were in the city, and as such, there was really only one method of locating them available to you.
 
Y/n: Lesty. Rino. Elena. Girls, are you there?