I Was Reincarnated as the Villainous Knight Commander Who Betrays Everyone at the End, So I Plan to Leave the Fake Hero’s Party with the Exiled Girl Who’s Actually the True Hero! ~While Watching Over the Protagonist Up Close, I Somehow Ended Up Destroying the Whole Scenario~

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Chapter 10: True Hero Side: The True Hero Encounters a Dangerous Person

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Around the spring of my twelfth year. The members of the Hero’s Party came to my hometown, which was in the outskirts of the Azur Kingdom. Apparently, the prophet employed by the kingdom had made some kind of prophecy.

They said that for some reason, someone like me, who had no special talents, was necessary to defeat the Demon Lord. They were saying complicated things, but what really sealed the deal was that if I joined the Hero’s Party, the kingdom would provide my family with financial support.

Since I was raised by my mother alone, I agreed without a second thought because I wanted to make life easier for her. And so, I joined the Hero’s Party.

As an ordinary commoner, I probably stood out the most in the party. That was because everyone else was incredible. There was the Sage who had mastered countless spells, the Saintess who could heal even grievous wounds in an instant, and the Hero who, despite being a prince, sought to save the world.

And then there was a man who had joined the kingdom’s Order of Knights at the youngest age ever and became the Knight Captain faster than anyone else.

The first time I saw him, I thought he was really scary. He was a tall man, almost two meters, clad head-to-toe in armor. He swung a massive spear with an extra-long handle and a huge shield with ease, crushing monsters left and right—like a giant straight out of a story.

But when I talked to him, he wasn’t scary at all. Unlike during battle, he was calm and gentle in everyday life, and spoke with a soft demeanor. Thinking back, even during fights, he was always careful to keep enemies away from me, and whenever I made mistakes, he would cover for me right away.

He also taught me how to read and write, and taught me so many things I didn’t know. I wondered more than once if a kind person like him was what having a father or older brother would be like. But that wasn’t it.

“Hey, Mofumaru. Do you think Lars-san helps me because I’m a child?”

“Woof?”

After selling all my potions on the main street, I had returned to the inn where I was staying and was making more potions for tomorrow. Lars-san had gone into the forest to gather herbs. He said he’d run there, so he’d probably return by evening. Right now, it was just me and Mofumaru.

“If that’s not it, then there’s no reason someone like him would bother with a country bumpkin like me.”

Yesterday, the members of the Hero’s Party had come to us. Their reason was to bring Lars-san back. Since then, I hadn’t been able to get something Dorothea-san had screamed at me out of my head.

『What’s so great about this country bumpkin girl?』

That’s right, I’m a country bumpkin.

Having lived my whole life in my hometown village, I didn’t know anything about city trends. I didn’t even try to dress up. When I saw girls in the city who were stylish, I’d think, “They’re cute,” but never really felt like copying them myself.

To put it bluntly, I have no charm as a girl. So I don’t think Lars-san cares about me because I’m a girl.

“…Then, when I grow up, will Lars-san leave me…?”

If I were to become an adult someday… And if Lars-san were to go somewhere far away…

“…I don’t want that…”

I really didn’t want that. I honestly didn’t know what exactly I hated about it. But just imagining him not being around made me feel sick.

“What is this weird feeling…? My chest hurts. Mofumaru, do you know what this is?”

“Woof!! Awuu!! (Translation: That’s the sickness called love, Ojou!!)”

“…I don’t get it. I mean, I probably do like Lars-san, but…”

“Woof, woof (Translation: So you’re saying you don’t know if it’s ‘like’ or ‘love’?)”

I could understand what Mofumaru meant. It was one of my few talents—since I was little, I’ve been able to understand what someone was “saying” even without words.

Their eyes, their breathing, every little gesture… I just predicted what they were thinking from those tiny clues. When I was a kid, adults other than my mother found this “unspoken voice” of mine creepy.

The closer I was to someone, the more accurate my mind-reading would become. But for some reason, with Lars-san, it didn’t work.

No, even before I was kicked out of the Hero’s Party, he was just hard to read. But lately, I couldn’t read him at all. His thoughts and actions didn’t match up—like the person controlling his mind and the person moving his body were two different people.

Yes, it felt like there were two Lars-sans inside one body. That was why I couldn’t stop worrying about him.

I couldn’t figure out how Lars-san felt about me, and it drove me crazy. I didn’t even know if the time he called me “cute” was just empty flattery. …I’d like to think he really meant it, though.

“Haah, it’s no good!! I can’t let what Dorothea-san said get to me!! Mofumaru, let’s go eat something delicious!”

“Woof!! (Translation: I’m starving!!)”

Mofumaru and I left the inn and walked down the main street. Handel was a big town, and the main street was always crowded with adventurers and merchants. One of the male adventurers, who I’d gotten to know pretty well over the last few days, noticed me and called out.

“Oh, Ciel-chan!! Any potions left?!”

“Ah, I’m sorry. Today’s batch sold out this morning…”

“Guhhh, missed again! Tomorrow, I’ll come to buy it first thing in the morning!!”

“Yes, I’ll be waiting!”

As I chatted, I bought some skewers from a food stand and went with Mofumaru to eat in the park. The sweet and savory sauce on the meat was delicious.

“…This sauce, it’s soy sauce-based… Maybe there’s honey in it too. And the kick must be from chili pepper…”

I mumbled to myself as I analyzed the skewer’s sauce. Cooking was one of my few special skills. I prided myself on being the best cook in the Hero’s Party. Lars-san was good at cooking too, but he was kind of rough—he always made huge portions. He cooked like a man, so I thought I was better at cooking than him.

“Maybe I’ll make something homemade tonight. Eating out all the time gets expensive… I wonder if Lars-san would be happy?”

That was when it happened. A carriage pulled up at the park entrance, and a stunningly beautiful woman stepped out.

“She’s so beautiful…”

She was tall, with curves in all the right places. Unlike my creepy white hair, hers was a gorgeous, long silver. Her eyes were a soft amethyst-like purple.

Even a clueless person like me could tell her clothes were stylish—she knew exactly how to show off her charm. She clicked toward me in heels, each step ringing sharply.

“Is she waiting for someone?”

I muttered to myself. Then the beautiful woman stopped right in front of me, planted her feet, and looked down at me.

“Um, excuse me, can I help you?”

“You there—what is your name?”

“…Ciel.”

Mofumaru looked at the woman. But instead of growling, he just stared straight at her. Even to me, she didn’t seem hostile.

“At last, at long last…”

“Eh?”

“At last, I’ve found you!! My angel!!”

Ah, this person was definitely a dangerous person.

“Hey, you!! How about becoming my daughter? I’ll give you anything you want!!”

“I’ll have to politely refuse. Let’s go, Mofumaru.”