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~ - 25

Chapter 25: True Hero Side: The True Hero Prays

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I had always been powerless. Even now, all I could do was watch over Lars-san fighting the orc army from afar atop the watchtower. So, at the very least, I would cheer him on.

“Lars-san, do your best.”

I knew I was being cowardly. There was nothing crueler than wishing for someone’s safety from a place of safety yourself. If you truly worried about them from the bottom of your heart, you should stand with them on the battlefield.

But I had come to understand that I was a weak person. It was something I realized only a few days ago. When Lars-san returned from his raid on the orc settlement, he carried Sakuna-san in his arms. He was holding her princess-style.

For just a moment—truly just a moment—I felt jealous of Sakuna-san. I knew even then that it wasn’t right. Especially since Sakuna-san’s arm had been shattered, and her mouth was covered in blood.

I snapped back to myself and ran over to them. I still didn’t really understand why I felt jealous of Sakuna-san that day. Ah, no. I did know. I had a guess as to why.

“…Maybe I really do like Lars-san.”

I didn’t even know what Lars-san’s real face looked like. It felt so strange to have fallen for someone without ever seeing their face. Lately, I’d been imagining things. If he turned out to be handsome under that helmet, it’d make me a little happy as a girl.

But what if Lars-san’s real face wasn’t even remotely attractive? Maybe that would actually be better… If he had a face no one would look at twice, then I’d be the only one in the world who’d see him for who he truly was. Rather than a handsome face, that might be better because it’d make me feel like I could have him all to myself.

“No, no!! I need to focus on cheering for Lars-san right now!!”

I forced away the dark feelings bubbling up inside me and turned my eyes back to the battlefield. Lars-san and Sakuna-san were working together, cutting down the orcs one after another. When Lars-san swung his spear with full force, a tremendous gust of wind swept up the orcs, throwing them into the air.

Sakuna-san showed no mercy, severing the necks of the orcs who were left helpless in midair.

Watching them from afar, even though they’d only met recently, they looked like a pair who had fought side by side for years. I couldn’t help but think they looked perfect together.

“…Does Lars-san like Sakuna-san?”

Sakuna-san had a slender figure. On our way to Cottolk Village, I happened to catch a glimpse of her naked body while she was bathing in the river. Sakuna-san’s chest wasn’t that big compared to Lars-san’s supposed preferences, but it was beautifully shaped. In that sense, I thought my chest might have the advantage. 

But people’s tastes don’t always matter once they fall in love. 

I was proof of that myself. Because to me, it wouldn’t matter whether Lars-san was handsome or ugly. But if Lars-san were to end up with Sakuna-san…

『Ciel, the truth is, I’ve fallen in love with Sakuna-dono…』

『Miss Ciel, I’m sorry. I know how you feel about Lars-dono, but I too have fallen for him!!』

『Sakuna-dono…』

『Lars-dono…』

In my imagination, the two of them would then share a passionate kiss right in front of me. As if flaunting their love, they’d head straight to the bed together—

“No, no, no!! That’s not what I should be thinking!!”

I shook my head wildly, snapping myself out of the dangerous fantasy. In the first place, even if Lars-san did have feelings for Sakuna-san, I had no right to interfere with his love life. To Lars-san, I wasn’t a “woman,” but more like a “child” he needed to protect.

“…Ah, so I guess I do want Lars-san to see me as a woman.”

At the very least, I realized I wanted him to look at me with those same eyes he used when he looked at Rei-san or Tiana-san. Yes. With those eyes that were just a little bit lewd.

“I really do like him… I like Lars-san.”

I had known it for some time, in a vague sort of way. Maybe since the day I was kicked out of the hero’s party, or maybe even from the moment we first met. I wasn’t sure when it started, but at some point, I’d fallen in love with Lars-san.

“…Do your best, Lars-san!!”

It was then that I saw it. Lars-san’s spear pierced through the throat of the orc that looked like the King. And then, the Orc King began to shine brilliantly.

“Eh!? I-is it evolving!?”

This was my second time seeing it happen. A while after I joined the hero’s party, we’d once encountered a slime on the highway that evolved before our eyes. The Orc King’s body grew even larger. It now stood at least five times taller than Lars-san—a massive orc.

Lars-san raised his large shield in a hurried stance. The evolved Orc King—or rather, the Orc Emperor—raised its fist to strike Lars-san.

“Lars-san!?”

Lars-san caught the earth-shaking blow head-on. The ground at his feet cracked open. He must have used the spring-like power of his muscles to skillfully disperse the impact into the ground.

“A-amazing…”

But the Orc Emperor’s attacks didn’t stop at one or two strikes. It unleashed dozens of consecutive blows. Yet Lars-san took them all, deflected them, and deadened their force.

I didn’t know whether Lars-san wasn’t counterattacking because he was waiting for an opening or because the Orc Emperor’s assault was too overwhelming. Either way, it was obvious he was in danger. Sakuna-san was busy fighting a General and hadn’t noticed it while the other members of the private soldiers were tied up with the orcs, unable to help.

“W-what should I do…?”

If Mofumaru were here, I would have asked him to help Lars-san. But there was nothing I could do. I could prepare potions and help with pre-battle preparations. But once the fighting started, all I could do was watch.

“…What should I do… I have to… I have to help him…”

It was then that I felt a presence behind me. I quickly turned around, but there wasn’t a soul there. Of course there wasn’t. Everyone else was busy fighting the orcs.

“It was just my imagination… Right?”

“No, it wasn’t.”

“Eh?”

This time, I heard a voice right next to me. When I looked over, a beautiful woman was sitting beside me, hugging her knees. She had an unusual hair color that shimmered in rainbow hues depending on how the light hit it.  Her eyes changed colors too, just like her hair.

To my shock, she was completely naked, with only her long hair barely covering her intimate parts. Even as another woman, I couldn’t help but be entranced by her beauty. I gasped at the ethereal, almost otherworldly air that surrounded her.

“Um, who are you?”

“Do you really want to know who I am?”

“Uh, y-yes…”

“Then it’s a secret.”

She said it with a playful smile that didn’t match the enchanting aura she radiated.

“More importantly, aren’t you going to help that human?”

“That human…?”

She must have meant Lars-san.

“B-but, I can’t do anything…”

“Really? Do you truly think you have no power?”

“Eh?”

“You can be someone’s strength. Unlike me. So even if you don’t know how right now, that’s okay. Just try praying.”

Pray…? Me, praying for Lars-san?

“But what good would that—huh?”

I had only looked away for a split second. Yet in that brief instant, the rainbow-haired woman had vanished without a trace. It felt like I’d just seen an illusion, but she had been far too beautiful to be a mere illusion. In my entire life, I had never seen anything more beautiful than that woman.

“…Pray… Pray…”

I brought my hands together and knelt down on one knee right there.

Please let him win. Please don’t let him lose to that Orc Emperor. Lars-san!!

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