Mental Rebirth: The World's Savior Was Not Me, but My Childhood Friend and Stalker

Rewinding to earlier, in the half-destroyed guild hall, the Demon Lord’s hand rested on Yuusha’s shoulder.

“It’s the Demon Lord! I’ve seen her before in a magical projection speech! That’s the same appearance! It’s the real one!”

The guild members began to stir with panic and excitement. It was only natural, given that humanity’s enemy was right before them.

“We need to alert the knights!”

“Stop, fool! If you do that, she’ll kill us all! Besides, our knights can’t stand against the Demon Lord!”

“Then what do we do? Wait, remember the Demon Lord called him the Savior!”

The guild members’ mood shifted, turning into excitement.

“So that’s why he can stand so calmly in front of the Demon Lord – he’s the Savior!”

“If he’s the Savior, he can defeat the Demon Lord! He’s been unable to reach her because of her cunning traps, but this time it’s different!”

“Savior, please save us!”

It was over. All eyes were on me. Touko was absent. Everyone knew now that I was the “Savior,” but I was just an ordinary human, no match for this Demon Lord.

“Oh, impressive, Savior. Such high regard from the people. They believe you can defeat me. Isn’t that right, Savior? I’m curious to see the strength that instantly killed my officers. Show me.”

The guild members’ excitement peaked at the Demon Lord’s words. The Savior who instantly killed her officers – there was no room for doubt now. The hero of humanity had arrived.

The Demon Lord stepped back, ready to confront me.

“Yuusha… You’ll be okay, right? You’re the Savior!”

Rubure stepped back from me, joining the guild members in their cheering. It was a natural reaction; Rubure didn’t know I was a fake Savior. She stepped aside not to interfere and watched.

“Wait. Demon Lord, do you remember the envoy from Rudon? The one you killed?”

Mei stepped between me and the Demon Lord. Her brother’s nemesis… Mei had said the Demon Lord killed her brother, who had been sent as a special envoy and returned only as a severed head.

“An envoy from Rudon I killed…? I don’t remember. I don’t bother remembering those I kill. Do you care about such trivial matters?”

“You!!!”

Mei’s fury erupted as she launched hidden weapons at the Demon Lord, but they didn’t reach her. Mei was slammed to the ground.

“Don’t interfere, girl… I have business with the Savior. I have no use for the likes of you… Now, Savior, let’s have our match. Oh… just fighting is boring.”

The Demon Lord casually approached me, taking my hand.

“Since we’re here, I want to see your full strength. Why not strike me with all your might? Look, I’m defenseless. Perhaps… you might even kill me with one blow?”

Her “defenselessness” stirred up murmurs in the crowd, followed by shouts of anger and hope.

“She’s completely underestimating us!”

“Go, Savior! Show her the power of humanity!”

“Now’s your chance to take her down!”

The Demon Lord’s attitude-filled everyone with anger and hope. The long-standing battle might finally end. I, however, was trembling inside. I couldn’t do it. I’m just an ordinary person. What can I do? I can’t meet their expectations.

“What’s the matter? Oh, do you need a weapon? You’re such a troublesome fellow…”

“I should just grab a weapon and run away.” Like a devil’s whisper, this thought echoed in my mind, but it was swiftly crushed.

“Here, your weapon. One of my magical abilities is ‘duplication.’ I interfered with your memory to recreate all your weapons… but what’s this? Need more to choose from? Oh, isn’t this need more swords than one of my generals used? Nostalgic. A dangerous thing, you know? Even a small cut can erode the target with poison, destroying both living and inanimate objects.”

He casually touched and swung the deadly blade. When he scratched a plate with the demonic sword, it instantly decayed.

“Nevertheless, such a thing cannot kill me. Therefore, I’m eager to see which weapon you will choose to try and defeat me.”

A variety of weapons appeared with a clatter, seemingly out of nowhere. I recognized them all, but none were of any use to me.

“All these weapons are unremarkable and nameless. So, it’s either hand-to-hand combat or magic. My expectations are rising… Go on, don’t hold back. I want to see your full strength.”

The Demon Lord’s eyes sparkled as he looked at me.

“Um… I’m not the Savior… just an ordinary person mistakenly celebrated as one…”

I had no choice but to confess. It was clear that lying was not an option here.

“Haha, is that a joke, Savior? Or is it your pride that prevents you from injuring an unarmed me? Don’t hold back.”

My words had no effect in this situation. It was hopeless. If words couldn’t convey my reality, I had to show it with my body – my lack of power.

I swung with all my might, striking the Demon Lord. It felt like hitting human flesh. I looked at him apprehensively. As expected, he just stared at me in stunned silence.

“…What was that? Did you… try to punch me?”

His eyes were confused. Don’t look at me like that. I didn’t want to do this. I was just a regular person, falsely hailed as a Savior.

“Hit me more as often as you like until I’m satisfied. It’s an order.”

I punched the Demon Lord repeatedly, but no matter how hard I hit, he didn’t flinch. His expression gradually shifted to one of sympathy.

The onlookers began to notice the absurdity. My amateur punches, lacking real force, struck the Demon Lord repeatedly, causing no harm whatsoever.

Everyone was puzzled. Was the Demon Lord too overwhelming, or…

“Could he be a fake…?”

Murmurs spread rapidly. Everyone began to denounce me as a fake Savior.

“It’s over… He was a fake Savior…!”

“Hand him over to the knights! He deserves death!” “It’s our fault, too! If it weren’t for this fake, the Demon Lord wouldn’t have come!”

“How dare you deceive us, you fraud! How will you take responsibility?”

The fear of the Demon Lord quickly turned into anger and hatred towards me.

“Silence. You are in my presence.”

The Demon Lord’s words instantly quieted everyone. We mustn’t forget that the Demon Lord in our midst was the enemy of humanity, capable of annihilating this city.

“Elf… Ah, Treson, was it? Evacuate from this city for now. When that woman returns, she will kill you with your current power.”

Treson replied, “Understood!” and activated a return stone, a device that allows teleportation to a pre-set location, one of the ancient tools. In an instant, Treson vanished.

As the Demon Lord watched Treson leave, he grabbed my head. I collapsed as if unconscious.

“I came to meet the Savior today, but I’ll change my plan. I’ll take him with me. Any objections?”

He surveyed the crowd, who obviously couldn’t voice any opposition. Everyone shook their heads, all except one girl – Rubure.

“No, stop! Y-Yuusha is the Savior! He’s my precious friend! You’re taking him to the castle!? That’s wrong! You’ll kill him, won’t you!?”

Rubure desperately protested, but the Demon Lord simply approached her.

“You’re an Elder Elf, huh? I thought to kill anyone who objected, but a neutral elf… Fine then, Elf. Try to stop me from taking this Savior. I’ll allow you that much discretion.”

Rubure clung to the Demon Lord, begging him not to go. But her efforts were in vain. A teleportation spell was activated, and the Demon Lord and I vanished, leaving Rubure’s resistance futile.