I Got Reincarnated Into a Game I Was a Top-Ranker in and I Became the Leader of a Villain Group That Will Destroy This Shitty Country - 69

Chapter 69: The Future That Was Devoured

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When he opened his eyes again, he was met with a thick reddish-black smoke. Standing there were a girl with black wings and three other people that were facing her. When he saw the faces of those three people, his eyes widened in disbelief. 

“Wha-…?! That’s…!”

He recognized their faces. There was no way he wouldn’t. After all, the one standing before the black-winged girl were himself, Alwyn and Brien.

“So the future that I couldn’t walk means… A version of myself from a different world?”

The three of them fought against the black-winged girl and after an intense battle, all three of them were left in a rough shape. Brien was bleeding from her forehead. Alwyn had already collapsed on the ground. Yet, the other version of himself was still gripping to his sword tightly. His face was filled with determination, the embodiment of a hero he had always aspired to be. 

And of course, the black-winged girl was…

“…Demon!!”

He remembered that face. He caught a glimpse of this girl when he was defeated by Kai in the underground laboratory near the slum. For some reason, the girl was shedding tears of blood and the girl was trembling violently. 

“…Why?”

The girl asked the other version of himself.

“Shut up, demon!”

“I…. I’m….”

The girl was in tatters. She couldn’t even stand up anymore.

“Because of you, tens of thousands of people have died. You’re not human. You’re a walking disaster. You’re better off dead!”

“….No. I’m…. I just… Just…”

The other version of himself raised the holy sword high. The girl gazed at the holy sword that was about to strike her and then, she uttered her final words.

“I only wished for ordinary happiness….”

That was the end of Nia, the Witch of Tears. The other version of himself defeated the demon and saved the world.

“Kaltz-sama!”

“Kaltz!”

And in this world, Kaltz wasn’t alone. The other version of himself was a proper hero. He turned to his comrades with a refreshing smile on his face. 

“It’s done. Finally, it’s over.”

“Yes…!! It’s really, really over now, right?”

“Haaah…. I can’t. I can’t do this anymore. I just want to go back home and live peacefully.”

“Hahaha! Going back alone… That’s not fair, Brien! You promised you will show us around your hometown one day, remember?!”

“….” 

An unbelievably peaceful scene. Kaltz gazed at the sight shown before him and he couldn’t close his mouth. It was so different from the life he had experienced himself. He had never bonded with his comrades like this. He had never heard anything about Brien’s hometown and it had been ages since Alwyn stared at him with eyes full of trust like that.

How envious… I also want to be like him. 

He reached his hand out, even though he knew there was an invisible barrier between them. Yet, he couldn’t stop himself from longing for this future. However, just before his hand could reach it, the scenery suddenly changed. 

“…Huh?”

The next scene that unfolded before him was the sight of a smiling black-haired boy with mismatched eyes. It was Kai, the demon.

The boy was surrounded by girls. There was the silver-haired, red-eyed demon they had just defeated earlier. There was a frail-looking girl he had never seen before. This frail-looking girl was staring at the boy lovingly. Then… The moment he saw the face of the black-haired girl… He was agape.

“Wha-…?!”

A face that he would recognize over a mile away. Someone whose face he could never mistake. After all… This was the girl that had killed him. Her black hair was cascading down to her shoulders and her distinctive golden eyes… There was no mistaking it. It was Chloe, the assassin. 

The person who had killed him was laughing, blushing at the demon he hated the most. And… That wasn’t it all. 

“Why are you all here?!”

Even Alwyn and Brien were there. Although the two of them were keeping their distance from him compared to those three girls earlier, both Alwyn and Brien looked undoubtedly happy to be there. 

Even though that boy was a demon… Even though those people were the enemies who had killed him! Why? How? How could they laugh in front of Chloe and Kai?!

“Damn it….! The future I couldn’t walk?! The heck?! Are you trying to insult me by showing me this rubbish hallucinations-“

However, before he could finish speaking, the scene changed again. This time, it showed the sight of him kneeling before Adolf, the second prince. They were in the courtyard of the palace. The sun was dazzling. The sky was clear and there were soldiers lined up in rows. Adolf, with a crown on his face, spoke to Kaltz.

“Kaltz, you are the hero who has defeated the demon and brings prosperity back to the empire! From this moment forth, I declare you to be the commander of this country’s knights!”

Just by hearing those words, Kaltz knew what was happening. Adolf had ascended to the throne and he was appointing him as the commander of the knights. The other version of himself nodded resolutely and was smiling faintly. In this world, everything turned out well. How enviable… If only I could be like that too…

“UWOHHHHHHHH!! Kai-sama is our king!! Kai-sama, who has defeated those worthless hero and prince, is now our king!!!”

“Thank you…!! Thank you so much!! Kai-sama!! We will follow you for the rest of our lives!!”

“I-I told you already!! I’m not interested in becoming a king! Why is everyone gathering here… UWAHHH?!”

“…”

What is this?

Once again, his vision but he quickly recognized this scene. They were in Odell, the capital. The city was bustling with people. 

But why…? Why is the demon being thanked by all the citizens? Why does everyone seem to respect him? This is not right. That guy… He’s our enemy! He’s a demon! He could kill you guys at whims-

He felt something bubbling up inside him. That something was growing and growing and when he felt like he was about to explode, someone new appeared before the demon. 

It was Alwyn. 

“Seems like you’re going to be the king at this rate. So? What will you do, Kai-sama?”

“…?! Alwyn! Don’t say such strange things! Besides, you’re a Pope now! Why is the Pope even here?!”

“Well, the Pope must always stay with the people. So? What are you really going to do? All the people of the empire are saying they wish you to become their king.”

“Like I said before, I don’t have any intention of becoming a king! I’m not going to become one!”

“….”

The vision changed again. This time, he was staring at a small wooden house in an elven village. 

“Haha~ The elf’s town is really peaceful, huh?”

“I know, right?~ Everyone is so boring here. Sometimes I miss adventuring in the empire.”

“Oooh~ It’s been a while since we’re all gathered together like this. Alwyn, you will become even busier once you become the Pope so how about the three of us go dungeon diving for a bit?”

“Ah, sorry~ Actually, there are a lot of things I need to do in this town.”

“….I see. It can’t be helped then.”

His vision spun again but the place remained the same. He was still staring at Brien’s house.

“Buuu…. Kai hasn’t paid any attention to us lately~”

“That’s true. Hey, Brien, what would elves do when their husbands cheat?”

“No, but, you two aren’t married yet, right? Why would you ask that, Chloe?”

“But still! But stilllll!! He already confessed to us, didn’t he? He said he loves us! He proposed so wonderfully to me, Nia and Rielle! The least he could do is take responsibility for us! And yet… Kai was talking with another woman yesterday!”

“Another woman?! But he was talking with Alwyn! You two are best friends, right?! Right?!”

“….Kai doesn’t understand anything. He doesn’t even notice that Alwyn has been acting a bit suspicious lately.”

“Huh? What’s that? No, no. Rielle, you’re wrong~ It’s just a misunderstanding. There’s no way-“

“It’s definitely not a misunderstanding. Besides, Brien has been acting a bit strange too lately.”

“…”

“…Brien? Hey, Brien? Say something? Brien?!?!”

…..Wha-What the heck is that… 

Chloe’s angry tone was the last thing he heard before his vision plummeted into darkness again. The darkness engulfed him, making it hard for him to breathe.

“….Why?”

His chest was burning. He couldn’t breathe, causing him to fall down to his knees. 

Wha-What is this… What kind of future is this? Why are the demons smiling so happily? Why are their futures shining even more brilliantly than me? This is impossible. No, it can’t be true. Alwyn and Brien… They’re in love with that demon? No, it can’t be. It’s not true. It must never come true!!

“Tha-That’s right… Everything… Everything is a lie! All of it! Just a bunch of nonsense! I mean, there’s no way this could happen! Those filthy demons!! They dare to deceive me!”

“No, you’re wrong.”

At that moment, a familiar voice came up from behind him. 

“You’ve also started to realize it too, haven’t you?”

Thump! Thump! Thump!

Footsteps echoing loudly.

“You’re no longer the protagonist of this story. You’re not part of this story anymore.”

“…YOU BASTARD!!”

Feeling like his heart was being crushed from within, Kaltz turned his body around. He couldn’t be satisfied, not until he punched the guy who was mocking him like this…!

However, the moment he saw the face of the speaker, he could do nothing but freeze in place. 

“What you just saw earlier is their destiny. The destiny of the demon who killed you.  They’re rejoicing in victory in that future. Your destiny, your light, your honor… Everything belongs to him. Even the hearts of your comrades that you couldn’t get.”

“….You!! You bastard!!”

“Fufu~ Tell me, Kaltz.”

The person in front of him, the other version of Kaltz, whispered into his ear. 

“Do you want to change your destiny, Hero?”

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T/N: Oooooh, so Kaltz is still in limbo or darkness or whatever this is.