Because of the Hero Summoned from Another World, I Got Replaced and Made the Backup—And My Childhood Friend the Saintess… - Chapter 03: The Replacement Hero

Chapter 03: The Replacement Hero

“A Hero… summoned from another world?”

It was right around the time when the day foretold by the Divine Revelation—the Demon King’s revival—was drawing near.

And then, out of nowhere, I heard those words.

“Yes. His Majesty led the summoning, assisted by the court magicians and prophets. They brought someone over from another world. Apparently, this person possesses incredible magical power… and some kind of unique ability.”

We were in the Crown Prince’s private chambers inside the castle.

The room wasn’t grand or extravagant—surprisingly modest, considering who it belonged to.

A quiet space filled with soft light and simple, tasteful décor.

The only ones present were me, His Highness, and his personal maid.

He sat at the far end of the room, near the window, in the most distinguished seat.

I sat across from him—but only after being invited to.

The maid stood silently by his side.

“Someone from… another world?”

I’d never even heard of such a thing.

Did that mean a person who wasn’t from this world?

Is that even possible? Do other worlds exist?

No—wait. More importantly…

A Hero?

Not a candidate… but the real thing?

“A Hero… I see. Then what does that make me—?”

The one who told me… was His Highness himself.

And the moment I heard it, a terrible feeling settled in my chest.

A summoning led by the King.

Not just a candidate, but someone officially declared the Hero.

And the news delivered directly—by him.

It wasn’t hard to figure out what was coming next.

Even if I didn’t want to believe it.

“The one summoned from another world will be recognized as the official Hero. That’s His Majesty’s decision. …You understand what that means, don’t you?”

“…Yeah.”

Recognized as the official Hero.

In other words—

I wasn’t going to be the Hero after all.

It was the King’s call. There was nothing I could do.

I was just a Hero candidate.

A commoner. Not even a noble.

I had no right—no power—to oppose the royal family.

“You’ll stay here in the castle… as a backup. In case something happens to the Hero.”

“…I see.”

I swallowed the rest of my words.

I was no longer someone training to become the Hero.

Now I was just the spare.

A contingency plan—

Insurance in case the real Hero failed.

They wanted me to stay in the castle.

So in terms of daily life… not much would change.

Actually, no.

It might change a lot.

They probably wouldn’t even let me go on monster hunts anymore.

“What about monster subjugations?”

“Those are off the table too. If something happens to you, we lose our backup. Also, until the Hero leaves the castle, you’ll be helping guide him.”

Yeah… that made sense.

If the spare got injured before the main piece could even be used, that’d be a problem.

The logical part of me understood that.

But emotionally… it stung.

Even so, I couldn’t throw my frustration at the Crown Prince.

And deep down, I knew it wouldn’t be right if I did.

“…I’m sorry. There was nothing I could do. In the end, I’m still just the Crown Prince—not the King.”

“No… Just having Your Highness care about me is more than enough.”

All I could do in response… was lower my head.

I was a Hero candidate—but never the Hero himself.

Sure, I was one of the rare few who could fight the Demon King.

But I wasn’t the only one.

This newly summoned Hero from another world—

He must be someone who can defeat the Demon King too.

And more than that…

He’s probably stronger than me.

Why summon someone from another world all of a sudden?

I had no idea.

Maybe the King had his reasons.

Maybe he just didn’t think I was enough.

Whatever the case—

The role I’d spent my whole life preparing for…

The title of Hero… was now being handed off to someone I’d never even met.

And that also meant something else.

It meant that all the time I’d spent getting ready…

Now felt meaningless.

His Highness had saved me.

He gave me a reason to live.

So I trained. I studied. I poured everything into this.

Even when my teachers scolded me until I cried, I stuck with it.

When I first arrived, I could barely even read or write—

Getting a noble’s education wasn’t easy for someone like me.

I pushed through the knights’ grueling training too.

Drills that would’ve broken most kids my age.

But I kept going.

No matter how many times I collapsed,

I got back up.

Again.

And again.

And again.

I thought that was my purpose in life—

To train, become the Hero, and one day defeat the Demon King.

That was how I could serve the Crown Prince.

And it was the same with Arianna.

I didn’t fall for her just because she was the Saintess.

We’d grown up together, spent so much time side by side—she was practically family.

But more than that…

I loved her gentle heart.

Her soft, quiet smile.

I truly believed that if I could defeat the Demon King and bring peace, it would make her life better too.

But now… that role wasn’t mine anymore.

The things I wanted to do for His Highness.

The future I wanted to build with Arianna.

All of it—

Taken away the moment they summoned a Hero from another world.

“If I can’t be the Hero… then what am I supposed to do?”

I muttered to myself, sitting alone in a quiet corner of the castle—

The same spot Arianna and I had always returned to since we were little.

The path I’d followed for so long was suddenly gone.

And now, I had no idea what came next.

Sure, they gave me a role.

But it was something anyone could fill.

Just a backup?

That’s not even a real role.

If the summoned Hero defeats the Demon King without issue, then what happens to me?

What purpose do I even serve?

All I’d ever thought about was becoming the Hero.

Beating the Demon King.

That was everything.

And without that…

There was just nothing left.

Maybe it would’ve felt different… if I’d at least been able to see it through.

If I’d completed the role I worked so hard for.

But now, I didn’t even have that anymore.

Everything I’d built up until now…

Just gone.

Like it never mattered.

Arianna wasn’t here with me, either.

In this kingdom, Heroes and Saintesses have always come as a pair.

That’s how the history books tell it—over and over again.

So right now, she’s probably off meeting the new Hero for the first time.

The thought left an emptiness in my chest I couldn’t shake.

Hero and Saintess. They always end up together.

But now, the Hero isn’t me.

It’s someone else.

Will Arianna end up with him?

…Who knows.

But countries cling to tradition.

Once a precedent is set, people tend to follow it.

“What was the point of everything I’ve done…?”

Once again, I let out a quiet whisper—

One that no one would ever hear.