I Got Reincarnated as the Villain and Saved the World, but After the Ending I Was Betrayed and Exiled. I Just Wanted a Peaceful Life in the Frontier, but for Some Reason My Former Companions Started Chasing Me with Yandere Eyes… - 50

Chapter 50: To the Royal Castle

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When I opened my eyes, I realized I was being carried on Amon’s back. The wings that had only just begun regenerating rubbed against me painfully, though maybe that was just part of his charm.

“Ugh… I’m alive, huh?”

“Oh, you woke up. Good thing too. Tia would’ve been crushed if you’d died.”

“What happened to Glasya-Labolas?”

“Ah, that guy? He went down from your strike. But don’t let your guard down. Right now, he’s pouring all his magic into recovering. Give it a day and he’ll be back on his feet.”

“Wait, but I thought I pierced his heart…”

From the feel of my blade, I had been certain I’d finished him off, but Amon only shrugged. His expression seemed to carry exasperation and maybe even a touch of envy.

“That’s what’s so insane about him. And even if you try to finish him off, he’ll counterattack unconsciously. Anyway, if we kill Ose, his supply of magic will be cut off. That should force him to retreat back to the Demon Realm.”

“That guy is too much of a cheat character…”

Come to think of it, in the game, the secret boss will always get revived no matter how many times you beat him. So that’s why, huh?

“But… At least we managed to win somehow.”

“Yeah, Phantom, you’re incredible. You’d survive just fine even in the Demon Realm.”

My whole body still ached, but I was alive, somehow. That wasn’t thanks only to the rosary Ceres had given me. Its power was already fading, and I could see cracks forming in it. Someone must have healed me after the battle.

“Hey, wasn’t there someone else there at the end? Like… A silver knight, maybe?”

“Huh? I dunno. Only Elena and her friend came to help. One of them healed your wounds.”

“I see…”

I chuckled at Amon, whose voice trembled as if he were clearly unsettled. That final barrier must have been Henrietta’s doing. Why was she working together with Elena…?

The question gnawed at me, but now wasn’t the time to speak with her. If it had been only Henrietta, I’d be worried about her being around Solomon, but with Elena nearby, it should be fine. I had my own duty to fulfill… Now was the time to launch a surprise attack and defeat the demons inside the royal castle.

“Oh, right. The one who healed you left a message. She said you should watch out for Cain’s sword and for Josef.”

“…I see. Those two, huh…”

“Wait? You figured out which one Ose is disguised as?”

“Yeah… I have a hunch who…”

Thinking calmly, the ones who had first called for my expulsion were Josef and Cain. As for Henrietta… I wasn’t sure anymore, but if she was moving with Elena, then she wasn’t the enemy.

There were plenty of things I wanted to ask her, but that could wait until everything was over.

And Cain. He seemed to have suddenly changed personalities out of the blue. Could it be that Ose had replaced him at some point?

“Oh, looks like we made it to the meeting spot.”

“Thanks. I’ll be fine from here.”

I climbed down from Amon’s back. We were by the river running along the edge of the castle wall. This place actually connected to a secret passage leading into the royal castle.

How did I know that? Because in the game, there had been an event where, after the Demon Lord’s army launched a surprise attack from the sky, you could escape through here. Well, since I had led the way and prevented that event from happening in this world, no one else should know about it… Unless there was another reincarnator like me…

“Master…?”

“Ah, Tia. Sorry to keep you waiting so long—whoa!?”

“Thank goodness… I was so worried about you.”

She suddenly threw her arms around me. I staggered but managed to catch her.

“Hey, don’t you think your reaction is a bit over the top?”

“What are you saying? You’re in such terrible shape… Don’t tell me you pushed yourself recklessly just because you swore you’d protect us, right? I know you did.”

“Ahahaha…”

There was no way I could say that one wrong move would have killed me. She stared at me suspiciously with narrowed eyes, so I patted her head to dodge the issue. I didn’t want to worry her too much.

In response, she hugged me tightly again and looked straight at me. I could tell just how deeply she had worried for me, and it made my chest burn warmly. But then I noticed someone else staring at us.

“Oh? No kiss? Don’t hold back on my account, you know.”

“…Aren’t you supposed to like me?”

“Funny, isn’t it…? When Tia and Phantom get all lovey-dovey, it’s like… Beneath the suffering, I get hit with this incredible wave of pleasure.”

When I pulled away from Tia, Amon was grinning and speaking nonsense. Tia glared at him like he was a literal garbage. Shaking it off, we stepped into the sewers. Inside, it was pitch black, but compared to a dungeon, it wasn’t so bad.

After about ten minutes of tense walking, we finally spotted a light ahead.

If I remember right, there should be a treasure chest here…

Just as I thought that, I noticed a man sitting on a chest, smirking.

“Henrietta’s been unusually down lately, so I figured you had something to do with it. Looks like I was right, Phantom.”

“You’re… Cain? How do you know about this place?”

At my words, Cain sneered down at me. But his aura was clearly human. He wasn’t a demon. Then why had his personality changed so suddenly? 

Don’t tell me…

“You still don’t get it? I’m a reincarnator too!! And everything that should have been mine—glory!! The harem!!—you stole it all!!”

“What? A reincarnator!? Hold on, I didn’t steal anything from you!”

“What are you talking about!? Henrietta-tan’s feelings!! Ceres’s respect!! Elena’s trust!! You stole them all from me!! That’s why I’ll set everything right here and now!! Because I am the true protagonist!!”

Enraged, Cain drew his sword. Just looking at its blade sent stabbing pain into my eyes. My Evil Eyes, worn out from overuse earlier, couldn’t withstand its immense magical power.

“Master, who is this creep with the gross grin?”

“That sword he’s holding… That’s the Demon Lord’s Soul Eating Cursed Sword. Humans aren’t supposed to be able to use it.”

“This guy is Cain… The hero who slew the Demon Lord… Be careful, Tia, Amon!! He’s a powerful enemy!!”

Cain—no, the reincarnator—radiated oppressive killing intent. When I warned the other two, he grew even more furious.

Is there really no way to reason with him?

“Tia? Amon? Ha! So you weren’t satisfied with just Henrietta and the others! You wanted to steal them too!?”

“What are you even talking about!?”

Cain raged even more wildly, as if the conversation had ended before it even started.

Seriously, why is he this mad at me?

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