Because of the Hero Summoned from Another World, I Got Replaced and Made the Backup—And My Childhood Friend the Saintess… - Chapter 10: “Are You Really Okay With This?”

Chapter 10: “Are You Really Okay With This?”

Lush green leaves rustled gently overhead, with sunlight streaming through the gaps in the trees.

The forest floor was soft with damp leaves, and every so often, I could hear the chirp of birds or the quiet rustle of small animals.

The noise of the capital didn’t reach this far.

Out here—alone in the woods just beyond the city—I was taking time to sort out my thoughts.

Getting here had been easy.

Of course it had.

The capital was still busy celebrating the return of the Demon King Subjugation Squad.

Nobody had the time—or reason—to notice someone like me slipping away.

No one stopped me.

No one questioned me.

And honestly… I was grateful for that.

The Demon King was gone.

Which meant—officially—everything I’d worked toward had become meaningless.

…Well, not everything, I guess.

I knew that.

Logically, at least.

All the studying, all the training I’d done—those skills hadn’t just vanished.

No one was forcing me into anything anymore. My future was mine to choose.

The Knight Commander had said he wanted me.

If I wanted to, I could join the knights and live as one of them.

You didn’t need to be a noble to do that.

Or I could head out into the world and become a mercenary.

I’d had a proper education—reading, writing, math, etiquette.

I could probably knock on the door of a merchant guild and build something there.

…Though, if I left the city, I wouldn’t be able to support His Highness anymore.

Whatever path I chose, one thing was clear—

My future was wide open.

…But knowing I had options for the future didn’t change the emptiness I felt inside.

Even if my head understood, my heart still hurt.

It felt like everything I’d worked for had been brushed aside.

Like the world was telling me, “All your effort meant nothing.”

I never had a role in the Demon King’s defeat.

From beginning to end, it was Kanda, Arianna, and the rest of the subjugation squad who got it done.

In the face of that massive crisis… I just wasn’t needed.

That promise I made to myself when I was a kid—

“I’ll defeat the Demon King and be useful to His Highness”—

I didn’t even get the chance to try.

Sulking about it forever would be pathetic.

The facts are what they are. Nothing’s going to change that.

I should be thinking about what comes next.

I know that.

No one has to say it—I already know it better than anyone.

I should be happy for Kanda.

I should be happy Arianna came back safe.

I should be happy the kingdom is free from the Demon King’s threat.

And when the time comes, I should smile and celebrate their wedding too.

That’s about all someone like me—someone who’s not a Hero or anything special—can do.

“Are you really okay with that?”

Of course I am.

What is there to complain about?

“If Kanda hadn’t shown up… wouldn’t that have been you?”

No one knows that for sure.

Kanda was stronger than me.

Maybe I wouldn’t have made it that far at all.

“How can you be expected to smile after everything you’ve worked for was tossed aside?”

Sure, the Demon King being defeated is a good thing.

The people are safer.

The subjugation squad made it back alive.

But—

“You keep saying what sounds nice. But who are you trying to protect with that? They took your role, mocked you behind your back… and you never once complained. You’re really just going to accept it all?”

…What else can I do?

It’s not like I have any other choice.

So yeah, I have to accept it.

“So you’re just giving up? On everything you lived for? Your meaning? Your pride? Your dreams?”

—None of that even—

“—Even the girl you love?”

“Who’s there?!”

The shout tore out of my throat.

Who was this?

Who was speaking like they knew everything about me—

Digging deep into my heart, tearing my thoughts apart?

“Does it matter who I am? Why should that be important?”

“Of course it matters!”

I whipped my head around, eyes scanning the area.

I’d been alone in this forest the entire time.

No one had followed me here.

I was certain of that.

So where was the voice coming from?

And whose voice was it?

“What really matters isn’t who I am. It’s you. Your past. Your future. The road you’re going to walk from here on out—that’s what’s important.”

“There!”

I spun around and drew my sword in one smooth motion, reacting on instinct to the voice that had whispered right beside my ear.

But when I turned—

There was no one there.

“Who ever really understood your pain? Who cared about the feelings of someone who couldn’t even become a stand-in for the Hero? Who ever truly stood by your side?”

“Shut up…!”

The voice kept whispering in my ear—

Soft and close, like it was breathing right beside me.

Probing into my heart.

Stirring everything up from the inside.

“The Hero’s got it good, huh? Just showed up out of nowhere, stole your role, and now he’s being treated like a living legend.”

“Shut up…!”

So what?

What does that have to do with me?

“Praised by everyone. Welcomed back with smiles. And now he gets to marry the beautiful Saintess he traveled with? Must be nice to have a life that perfect.”

“What are you trying to say…?”

The voice sounded like a man… or maybe a woman.

Sweet. Gentle. Seductive.

And little by little, it crept deeper into my heart.

“—I’m the only one. The only one who understands your pain. The only one who truly sees you. I can give you what you really want.”

“…”

The grip on my sword loosened—

My fingers slipping slightly from the hilt.

“You want to kill the ones who looked down on you… just because you’re a commoner.”

“That’s not… true…”

“You want to kill the Hero—the one who stole your role. Stole your reason to live.”

“I… I don’t…”

“And the Saintess—you want to make her yours. Yours, and yours alone.”

“…”

Without realizing it, a black mist had begun curling around my body.

But it didn’t feel wrong.

It was smooth, like silk.

Soft… soothing… almost comforting.

Like it was gently washing away the very last bit of resistance I had left.

“I can make it all come true. I’ll accept every part of you. Stay by your side. Grant your every wish. I’ll help you kill the nobles who mocked you. Kill the Hero. And make the Saintess yours—and yours alone.”

“My… every wish…”

I was human too. Of course I had things I wanted.

Things I used to want.

I wanted to be a Hero.

To take everything I’d poured myself into—

All those years of training and effort—and prove I was worthy of the title.

To carry out my mission with pride.

I wanted to rise above the ones who looked down on me.

The ones who whispered behind my back.

Becoming a Hero… was supposed to be how I proved them wrong.

And I wanted to be with the girl I loved.

Arianna—

The one I’d grown up with.

I wanted us to share our feelings.

Get married.

Have everyone around us smile and cheer for our happiness.

I wanted all of it.

There were so many things I longed for.

And the people who took all that away from me…

I hated them.

The ones who made me give it all up—I hated them.

Saying I didn’t… would be a lie.

“Now… come with me. Be mine. Let yourself go—accept it. Take everything you’ve ever wanted. Now, come—”

That voice—sweet enough to melt my thoughts—

Wrapped around me like silk—

And I—