Because of the Hero Summoned from Another World, I Got Replaced and Made the Backup—And My Childhood Friend the Saintess… - Chapter 02: “I see… You’re strong, aren’t you?”

Chapter 02: “I see… You’re strong, aren’t you?”

Arianna, like me, came from a small village out in the countryside.

She was discovered to have the gift of a Saint and brought to the capital’s church.

So, just like me, she didn’t really know many people here.

Most of the people she interacted with were from the church, and outside of that, it was pretty much just me and a couple of others.

Out of that tiny group, I was the only one close to her age.

Maybe that’s why we ended up leaning on each other more than anyone else—

Encouraging each other, helping each other through the hard days.

While I was getting educated and trained as a Hero candidate, Arianna had her own lessons and practice to deal with.

The church folk weren’t as harsh as the knights—no barked orders or brutal drills—but that didn’t mean her life was easy.

She trained in the “Goddess’s magic” until her mana ran dry, studied the church’s teachings, and learned all about the kingdom—just like I did.

Tough in a different way, but still tough.

“Even if they say everything I’m learning will help the kingdom someday… Honestly, I just don’t feel it.”

She murmured those words during one of our quiet moments together in a shadowy corner of the castle.

The sky had already gone dark.

Stars twinkled gently above us.

She didn’t sound especially upset—

It felt more like something honest slipped out without her meaning to say it.

“…Yeah. I get that. Sometimes I catch myself wondering the same thing. All this training and studying for some enemy I’ve never even seen… What’s the point?”

Arianna and I were just regular village kids.

We weren’t meant for any of this.

And yet, somehow… here we were—working our tails off in a place we never imagined we’d end up.

“Have you ever wanted to run away?”

Her voice had this strange tone to it—like she wanted me to say yes, but at the same time really didn’t.

It was one of those questions that could change everything, and it just kind of hung there between us.

I listened to her voice… and chose to be honest.

“More times than I can count. Like, when the teacher totally loses it on me, or when the knights hit me so hard I nearly black out—Yeah. I’ve thought about it.”

“Then… why don’t you run away?”

“Before I came here, His Royal Highness saved me. I was at the edge—no hope, barely hanging on, ready to give up. And he found me. He reached out his hand… with these eyes full of strength and fire. He looked like hope itself. Like he was glowing. And in that moment, I made a choice—I’d use this life he saved… for him.”

“For the Crown Prince?”

“Yeah. Not for glory. Not for some noble cause like defeating the Demon King. But for him. The one who gave me a reason to live. That’s why I won’t run, no matter how hard or painful it gets. Because if I ran away… I wouldn’t be able to live this life for him anymore.”

His Highness saved me when I was on the brink of death.

He’s not even that much older than me, and yet…

He lives every single day carrying the weight of an entire kingdom on his back.

Compared to the pressure he must be under, all my education and training probably doesn’t even register.

He has a dream.

A vision of the kind of country he wants to build.

And for that dream to come true, the Demon King is an obstacle that has to be removed.

That’s why I have to defeat it.

No matter how tough things get, I have to keep pushing forward.

…Honestly, I’ve never told anyone that before.

Arianna was the first.

“I see… You really are strong.”

“I’m not. I talk like I am, sure—but I still think about running away sometimes. I get mad at the teachers and the knights and grumble all kinds of stuff under my breath.”

“But… you haven’t run away.”

“And you’re still here too, Arianna. What about you? Have you ever thought about running away?”

When I asked that, she quietly looked up at the night sky.

I didn’t know exactly what was going through her mind.

But maybe… just maybe…

She was thinking about her hometown.

Unlike mine, her village was still standing.

Still out there.

Waiting for her.

“…I know a boy who’s going through way tougher training than I am. If he doesn’t run away, then someone like me has no excuse to, either.”

“Arianna…”

“Besides, if I’m not around, who’s going to heal that boy when he collapses from pushing himself too hard?”

“…Thanks. Really. For everything.”

Arianna responded with a soft smile.

It was gentle.

Delicate.

So beautiful, so pure—

I couldn’t help but think…

Yeah. She really is a Saint.

“How have things been lately? Is your training going well?”

“Yes. Just the other day, I managed to take down the ruler of the northern mountains.”

“I see… You’ve really grown, haven’t you? Hard to believe you’re the same boy who was on the brink of death back then.”

One day, while the knights were in the middle of their usual training, His Highness, the Crown Prince, stopped by to observe—

And ended up talking to me.

With his gentle eyes and shining golden hair,

He looked just like a prince out of a storybook.

Ever since the day he saved me, His Highness would check in on me from time to time.

He’d talk with me, offer advice… always kind, always warm.

Sure, part of it was probably because I was a Hero candidate—

But I felt like there was more to it than that.

We were the same age.

We were both boys.

And I wasn’t a noble.

That probably meant a lot.

Someone in his position couldn’t just go around making friends like it was nothing.

Everyone around him was nobility.

And nobles? They were always wrapped up in politics, alliances, power games…

There was no way he could fully trust anyone.

He never said it out loud, but…

I think His Highness wanted me to be that kind of friend.

Someone he could talk to—really talk to.

Someone he didn’t need to put on a mask around.

Becoming that kind of friend…

That wasn’t something I could pull off easily.

Even with all the lessons and training I’d had, I knew that much.

But still—

I wanted to be that person for him.

As much as I possibly could.

“It’s all thanks to Arianna. Her magic’s incredibly reliable.”

“I see. Have you told her that directly? I’m sure Arianna would be happy to hear it from you.”

“…You’re right. I’ll tell her later.”

“You should. If something makes you feel grateful—or happy—say it out loud. Especially when it’s something good.”

What His Highness said…

It was probably something he wished he could do himself.

Maybe because he couldn’t say those things,

He wanted me to be someone who could.

Whether he saw me as a Hero candidate,

A friend,

Or just another soldier—

I didn’t really know.

But still…

I wanted to carry myself in a way that would never bring shame to the title of Hero candidate.

For His Highness.

For Arianna.

And so, time moved on.

Until finally—

The day arrived.

The day the Demon King would return—

And I would stand to face him… as a Hero.