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~ - 2

Chapter 2: The Villainous Knight Commander Becomes the True Hero’s Bodyguard

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I lit a fire in the forest at night. For several hours, I listened to the sound of moisture trapped in dead branches popping and crackling. Then, the unconscious Ciel finally woke up.

“Mm… Where… Am I…?”

“Looks like you’re awake.”

“Eh? Hyaaa!?”

“…You don’t have to be that surprised, you know.”

Ciel, who had been rubbing her sleepy eyes, sprang upright the moment she saw me.

“H-Huh? Lars-san? I-I’m sorry, I thought you were a Living Mail…”

“…Well, I guess I do look like one.”

A Living Mail. To put it simply, it was a suit of armor that moved on its own—like a “Wandering Armor” from Dragon○Quest. I was in full plate armor with my face hidden by a helmet, so it was understandable that she’d mistake me for one when she first woke up.

“U-Um, what about the others…?”

“They went back to town.”

“So… it wasn’t a dream, then. I really was kicked out…”

“That’s right.”

Ciel visibly sank with gloom. From my perspective, not being in the hero’s party was better for her. But that was only something I could say because I’d regained my memories from my previous life. Ciel sent money back to her hometown, and she must have been overwhelmed with worry for her financial situation.

“…I knew it. It was strange for someone like me to be in the hero’s party after all.”

“…”

That line wasn’t in the story I knew. It must have slipped out because of my presence—something that didn’t exist in the original plot. I shook my head at Ciel’s self-deprecating words.

“I don’t think that’s true.”

“Eh?”

“It’s because you were there that I was able to focus on the fight.”

“That’s… But you always handled everything yourself, Lars-san.”

“That’s true. Thanks to you, my burden was lessened, and I was able to fully play my role as the party’s shield.”

That was the honest truth. While working with the hero’s party, that’s exactly how I’d felt.

“…Huh? Wait, why are you here, Lars-san?”

“I quit the hero’s party.”

“…? I’m sorry, I didn’t quite understand. Could you say that again—”

“I quit the hero’s party.”

“Eh!? W-Why!?”

“The reason I quit, huh? Well…”

I couldn’t tell her that staying with the hero’s party would only lead to disaster. Even if I explained everything I knew from my memories of my previous life, she’d just think I’d lost my mind. So instead of giving her the factual reason, I decided to tell her the honest truth, like before. Everything the so-called villainous knight commander, Lars T. Deulaghil, had been feeling during our journey to defeat the Demon Lord. 

“I’d been fed up for a long time.”

“Eh?”

“My role was to babysit the hero’s party. My job was to instruct them, watch over them, and make sure they didn’t cause problems.”

“H-Huh…?”

“But Prince Allen—no, Allen was all lovey-dovey with Dorothea and Maria, never listened to advice, and dumped all the troublesome tasks on you and me.”

“Th-That’s true…”

“Dorothea’s words and actions always caused trouble, and Maria would just agree with everything Dorothea said without question.”

I know it might sound rude, but Lars had always been the type to look after others. But that only increased his personal burden. Without Ciel, he would have broken down long ago. The reason Ciel ended up handling chores was precisely to lighten Lars’ load, and because she was the only one without combat ability who would otherwise have nothing to do. In that sense, I owed her everything.

Well, to be honest, I had made Lars the “only voice of reason in an irritating hero party” precisely so he’d be able to get along with Ciel—so that explanation was mostly an excuse I’d come up with later…

“I DID ITTTTTT!!!! I finally quit!! Hahaha!!”

“-!?”

Suddenly, I burst out laughing, and Ciel flinched in shock. Originally, Lars would have left Ciel behind and rejoined the hero’s party. At best, he’d vaguely place a protective barrier so monsters wouldn’t attack her while she was unconscious, and leave her with a token weapon and some money before departing. 

No matter how much he was sick of the hero’s party, Lars was the knight commander, and his duty was to protect Allen. Even if Ciel was his only friend, he wouldn’t hesitate to leave her behind.

But now, things were different. Allen’s party would never defeat the Demon Lord, and if I stayed with Ciel, I could watch the characters I’d created talk and act in person. There was no reason to stick with the hero’s party. So I quit. This development wasn’t part of the original story, but who cared? I was the creator(god) here anyway. I could do whatever I wanted.

“But if you leave the hero’s party, what will you do about the knight order or your family?”

“They’ll probably dismiss me from the knight order, and my family will disown me so my younger brother can become the heir. But it doesn’t bother me.”

“It doesn’t!?”

“I don’t care. Being a knight doesn’t pay well, and you can’t eat pride or honor. My family was needlessly strict, and I hated that.”

That was the unvarnished truth.

“…Hehe.”

“Hm? Did I say something funny?”

“N-No, I’m sorry! It’s nothing!”

“I’m not angry, you know.”

“…It’s just, seeing the always-serious Lars-san cutting loose like this was kind of funny.”

“Is that so?”

Hmm. It was true that I seemed different from the original Lars. Of course. After regaining my memories, I essentially had two lifetimes’ worth of experience. This candid way of speaking probably came from my former self. Anyway, enough small talk—it was time to get to the important part.

“…Ciel. Let’s talk about what happens next.”

“Y-Yes!”

Hearing my serious tone, Ciel straightened her posture right there.

“What do you want to do? I’ve been honest with you, so tell me what you really want.”

“…I…”

Ciel groaned, deep in thought. I knew what answer she would give—at least, what she gave when she was left alone in the forest after being abandoned. But with me here now, things could change. I had to make sure she didn’t stray from the path I knew.

Or so I thought, but…

“I don’t want to work anymore.”

A line unthinkable from a typical protagonist—but exactly what I’d once made her say.

“I’m tired of being used by others. I just want to do what I like, earn some money, and keep sending it back to my family.”

“…That’s a fine wish.”

“But I don’t have any skills, and it might be risky, but… I was thinking of becoming an adventurer.”

“You don’t have no skills—you can make potions, can’t you?”

“Eh? E-Eh!? H-How do you know!?”

At my remark, Ciel blushed furiously in embarrassment. I finally realized where the delicious potion I drank after Allen defeated the Red Dragon had come from.

 It hadn’t been bought at some shop; it was a special brew Ciel herself had crafted from scratch. Why it was so delicious, even I wasn’t exactly sure. Oh, right. Later in the story, I vaguely explained it as Ciel unconsciously imbuing the potion with enhancement magic, making it more potent and flavorful.

What? Why the original author couldn’t remember the details? Hahaha. Proudly speaking, this world was mocked online as a “crappy light novel” and called a “waste of animators’ efforts.” Yet some people found it entertaining enough to watch with their brain turned off or praised it as “just cute girls enjoying a slow life with fluffy creatures.” 

To be honest, I didn’t prepare the groundwork of this novel in great detail…. I mean, don’t expect consistency in a light novel that started as a web serial! That kind of thorough planning is only reserved for a handful of geniuses, okay?! Me? I’m the type that writes whatever I want until the story spirals out of control.

Okay…I better stop before I anger someone.

“Lars-san? You just zoned out—are you okay?”

“A-Ah, sorry. …You can make potions, right?”

“Um, well, yes… Potions are expensive, and I couldn’t afford them, so I started making my own. I ended up enjoying it, but I was afraid Dorothea-san would get mad if she found out I was using homemade potions, so I kept it a secret.”

Dorothea tended to spend money in abandon on luxury treatments every time we stopped in town—no wonder Ciel had been struggling with money.

“If you sold them to adventurers, you could live your own slow life. …So, I have a proposal—if you’re willing.”

“What is it?”

“Would you hire me? As your bodyguard.”

“Eh!?”

Ciel would eventually open a potion shop after selling her potions in town. If I could work for her as a bodyguard, I could stay by her side and watch over her future. Yes, it was a perfect plan if I may say so myself.

“I’ll also help gather potion ingredients, and if you need startup funds, I can sell my armor.”

“T-That’s very generous of you, but… Hiring a noble like you… And I don’t even know if the potions will sell. I can’t ask you to give me money…”

“I’m not a noble anymore, so don’t worry. As for the money, you can repay me once the business takes off. …Or do you think I’m not up to the job?”

With that last line, there was no way the protagonist could refuse. Right after being kicked out of the party, she was wary of others, but judging by her current demeanor, that fear had passed. If I pitched it like this, she’d definitely agree. I had to admit, I was quite sly.

“O-Of course not!! …Okay. I’ll open a potion shop!! Lars-san, I look forward to working with you!!”

“Yeah, I’m counting on you. …Or should I say, I look forward to serving you, Shopkeeper-dono.”

“Ge-Geez!! Don’t tease me like that!!”

“Hahaha.”

So the protagonist, Ciel, resolved to open a potion shop. As night deepened, I suddenly sensed something moving in the bushes nearby. I quickly stood up.

“W-What is it!? A monster!?”

“…Yeah, it’s a monster. But more importantly… It’s coming.”

“Eh? What do you mean by ‘it’…?”

The fluff is coming!!

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