I Decided to Abandon the Traitors Who Planned to Use and Dispose of Me, the Hero, at the Last Moment. - Chapter 09: The Former Friend Finally Breaks, Falling into Regret and Despair

Afterward: The Former Friend Finally Breaks, Falling into Regret and Despair

Fifty years have passed since “Hero” Elliot and his companions triumphed over the Demon Lord and took down the kingdom’s prince, Netrik, who had been manipulating humanity.

Elliot defeated the Demon Lord but chose not to kill him. Through the battle, they came to understand each other, and Elliot realized that the true villain was Netrik, the prince who had stirred humanity into war. Alongside his companions—his childhood friend and fiancée, Marle; the knight, Hilde; and the saintess, Cecilia—Elliot exposed the kingdom’s evil deeds to the world. Leading a combined force of humanity and the Demon Lord’s army, they invaded the kingdom, ultimately defeating Netrik.

Afterward, humanity and the demon race made peace and established lasting friendships, leading to a long era of tranquility. It is truly a wonderful achievement. Elliot, the hero who played a crucial role in this peace, declined any high position and instead returned to his hometown with Marle. After receiving blessings from around the world, they spent the following decades living peacefully, surrounded by their children and grandchildren, happily ever after.

―After reading that newspaper article, I couldn’t help but smile.

Fifty years have already passed, huh? Every year around this time, these articles come out to commemorate the end of the war, mentioning Elliot and all of us. I’ve heard that Hilde and Cecilia are doing well, but I do wish I could see them again.

This wooden house, where I’ve lived with Elliot for so many decades, has grown old, but that just shows the years we’ve spent here. Every mark, every bit of wear, has become something precious to me.

I placed the newspaper on my lap and, from my favorite chair by the window, gazed outside. There was my beloved husband, Elliot, teaching one of our grandchildren how to wield a sword, with our son and his spouse watching over them.

Why is it that I find these simple, everyday moments so precious? The warmth of it all brought tears to my eyes without me realizing it.

“Grandma, are you okay? Does something hurt?”

One of my grandchildren, Moon, approached me with a worried look. Her bright orange hair, sticking up in all directions, made her stand out among the others, but she was such a kind child. I gently patted her head, not wanting to worry her. She wriggled with a ticklish grin, clearly happy.

“I’m fine, sweetie. It’s nothing… I was just thinking about how lucky I am. Everyone’s here, including you, Moon, and every day feels so happy, so full of joy.”

A wonderful husband, a beloved family, peace, and quiet moments. I kept smiling as I patted Moon’s head, but then she lowered her gaze. Just as I started to worry, Moon began to giggle.

“…Pfft. Kahahaha! Just kidding! Oh man, this is hilarious! You really think I’m your grandchild… Haha, oh man, I can’t take it!”

Moon suddenly looked up at me, her face contorted into a grotesque grin. Her eyes narrowed, her mouth stretched unnaturally wide, and her pupils shrank into tiny dots. The sight was so startling that it made my body tremble, as if a sudden, menacing sound effect had just played.

“W-What’s wrong, Moon!?”

Shocked by her unnatural behavior, I stumbled backward, raising my voice in panic.

“―This’s funny, huh? Well, let me show you something even more entertaining!”

With that voice, Moon’s body began to contort and grow, transforming into the size of an adult man. Her skin turned gray, and her face became a monstrous visage with no mouth, only sharp, piercing eyes—this was a demon’s true form!

“Moon? Who’s that? I’m the torturer! You still don’t get it? These fifty years you’ve experienced—everything you’ve seen—it’s all been a carefully crafted illusion! I used powerful magic, gazing into the threads of fate and endless possibilities, to create it just for you! Ta-da! And now, the shocking truth is revealed!”

An illusion…? What is this demon saying? My whole body trembled uncontrollably, cold sweat dripping down my face. I wanted to scream for Elliot, to beg him to save me, but the fear rooted me in place, making even that impossible.

“Ahh, it was tough, you know? Creating this perfect, ultimate illusion space and playing the role of your adorable grandchild. I had to get help from all over… But you’re such a fool, Marle. What you were seeing was a world that could have been—one where you hadn’t given yourself to Netrik and had continued your journey. That wonderful future? You threw it all away! Hahaha! It was fun, playing house with you, Grandma! Good job, old lady! Hahaha!”

“W-Whaaaat!? What are you saying!?”

“Now then, it’s time for the main event, Marle! Here’s reality for you!”

The cozy cabin where I had spent all those years with Elliot, and the peaceful scenery outside, suddenly vanished, consumed by flames. Everything disappeared, and I found myself back in a dim, shadowy void. My hands—once wrinkled with age—were now the smooth, youthful hands of my teenage self.

And there, through a small window-like opening in this dark space, I could see it—the real world. A grand wedding procession was taking place, blessed by countless people, both human and demon. Elliot and the demon princess were walking together in the light, smiling and waving to the crowds gathered along the streets.

“NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!”

“Hey, don’t look away from reality! That is your reality! You—yes, you! You threw away the future you had in your hands! You betrayed everything, tossed aside your peaceful life like garbage, and helped spread misery to countless people! You chose to trample on others for your own benefit and happiness. What you just saw—that peaceful scene—that was the everyday life that existed beside all the lives lost in the war between humans and demons. Those were the lives that the prince and you took away. Do you finally understand what you threw away?!”

“S-Sob… sob… AAAAAAHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!”

I reached out toward the radiant scene, but it was out of reach. Tears streamed down my face, and incoherent screams escaped my mouth, but I couldn’t even think straight anymore.

“No, no, I didn’t throw it away! I didn’t throw it away! Stop, don’t go, Elliot! Give it back! That’s my place, give it back! My future! My happiness! It was here! It was right there! Why, why, why did I…!? AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!”

I screamed with my eyes wide open, but the only voice that responded was not Elliot’s—it was the gleeful voice of the torturer, echoing with cruel delight.

“It’s all because of you, Marle! You brought this on yourself and caused trouble for the entire world!! You probably thought you were doing the right thing for your own happiness, huh!? AHAHA! WAHAHA! KUHAHAHAHAHA!! FOOHAHAHA!!”

“Ah… ah… AAAAAAHHHHHH!?!?”

A pitiful sound escaped my lips, along with drool, as though my head was being split open and my brain played with during torture. But I couldn’t stop it. Desperately clinging to the small window of light, I looked outside and saw Elliot and the demon king’s daughter, exchanging vows of eternal love and sealing it with a kiss.

“Noooooooo! Stop it, Elliot!!”

And there they were, sharing a happy kiss. After a moment of silence, the loud cheers erupted, showing how much everyone wanted and blessed their marriage. I could feel my mind, my brain, breaking apart. A memory from childhood surfaced—playing pretend wedding with Elliot, using flower crowns and rings we made from grass. It was a time when I still held pure feelings for him, before I handed my heart and body to the prince, before I knew the temptations of luxury. That beautiful memory slipped away from my grasp.

…I heard the sound of something precious, something that had once held me together, snapping inside me.

“―Elliot ♡ I wuv youuuuu ♡ When I grow up, I wanna be your bride ♡”

“Ah, great. Looks like she finally snapped and broke from reality. Raising someone up just to crush them down is the essence of ‘expert torture,’ but maybe I pushed her a bit too far this time. Oh well, no worries. I’ll have the healers cast a mental recovery spell on her right away and restore her mind. You’re not done paying for what you’ve done yet!”

With those distant words ringing in my ears, I continued to mutter Elliot’s name over and over again, as if in a feverish dream.