One of the worst stories I've ever read. I totally forgot about this but i read this a long time ago when only chapter 10 was out and apparently its the only manga ive labeled "dropped". Forgot about this until someone reminded me of this and came to see how it ended. Honestly Daru's character ruined the whole story imo. If there wasn't that constant romantic (grooming) hinted undertones towards him and the female members and instead just made him into a more father like figure, it could of have been possible more digestestable. How much he coddled Athena and gassing her up versus his treatment of Est, with romantic undertones feels so fucking creepy, and sexist.
Only possible way author could of potentially salvaged the ending is if they had him fuck off after the fight with the demon. Like using the bracelet drained him of most of his power, and now he's only a hindurance. Him talking to Athena and being like, hey you gotta kick me, now I'm the hindurance would I think show character development potentially. Or at least being like hey, I gotta retire, but I wish you the best of luck on your Journey! Or him not losing his power and as repayment for saving his party, he decides to Mentor Ests party and joins them for a while. I think author would have been better off removing him at the end, and allowing both seperate parties to grow on their own. But author is Daru, so of course that can't happen. Instead we get to see Athena wet herself realizing Daru was the one that saved her and Est when they were kids. And because of that she wanted to grow up to be the greatest adventurer or as she likes to say, gave her purpose in life. Now she is going on a journey with Daru and the party. Meanwhile she gives banished MC a weak ass goodbye stuttering the whole time, despite feeling confident seconds before. Despite their reconciliation, I guess she still feels bad.