Chapter 65
The Hero’s Childhood Friend
My feelings toward the Hero are… complicated.
He’s the precious existence who will save this world from the Demon King, but in the original story, he kills my brother.
Of course, that future only happens if my brother falls into darkness and becomes the final boss. But even the slightest chance of that happening makes me want to avoid getting close to the Hero.
When I entered school, he was a new student and I was in the highest grade, so we didn’t have many opportunities to meet. I figured if I just avoided him for one year, things would work out somehow.
But to think this kind of trap was waiting…!
Still, since we’re in different grades, we shouldn’t cross paths that often—
or so I thought, until…
“Maria!”
GYAAAAAAAAAAAAH!
Why is the Hero hereeeee!?
Worried about his childhood friend, the Hero Abel actually came to our class before lessons even started just to check on Maria’s condition.
The Demon King hasn’t revived yet, so he’s treated more like an honorary figure, but the title “Hero” has immense power. My classmates start buzzing with excitement when Abel walks in.
He has chestnut hair and amber eyes tinted with gold.
He looks stronger than when I saw him years ago in the village near the Holy Sword’s cave.
And unlike the illustrations in the novel, there’s no shadow or darkness on him.
Radiating with justice and hope, Abel shines with a divine aura—the very image of a Hero that people imagine.
“Abel!”
Maria stands up happily upon seeing him.
I remain seated, smiling like a proper noble lady, projecting an aura of,
I’m just a harmless classmate, don’t mind me~.
Even if my brother won’t be killed in this timeline, it’s still safer to raise the Hero’s favorability—just in case.
Abel, aware of all eyes on him, scans the classroom.
“I’m Abel, the Hero. This girl is my childhood friend. Please get along with her.”
Oh wow.
He’s telling everyone, Don’t you dare bully Maria just because she’s a commoner.
He’s even adding a bit of intimidation. The air grows tense.
Moko looks up at me anxiously from my lap, but I gently stroke his fluffy body and reassure him.
It’s fine—this much intimidation won’t hurt me.
Fluffiness really is healing.
“Oh, Abel, you’re always such a worrier,”
Maria says, smacking his shoulder lightly.
She doesn’t notice the intimidation at all.
Maybe because they’re childhood friends?
Or maybe she’s just… a big deal.
“Well, I figured you’d feel lonely coming from the countryside.”
“I’m fine! Besides, I already made a friend.”
Wow. Amazing. So this is what social geniuses are like.
Thinking that, Maria suddenly spins around to face—
“Her name is Leticia.”
…Huh? Me?
We only greeted each other and chatted a little, but she’s already calling me her friend?
That’s… actually kind of nice.
I wanted to be her friend too, but I didn’t know how she felt.
Sure, it bothers me a bit that she’s the Hero’s childhood friend—you know, the guy who might kill my brother—but if I think about it another way, this gives me a chance to observe them closely.
And if I start praising my brother right now, she might become a fan too.
Yes.
I’ll make her a fellow admirer of my brother.
I’m so smart.
“Nice to meet you. I am Leticia Rosenberg.”
“Rosenberg…? Are you Lord Serios’s sister?”
Huh?
Does she already know my brother?
The Demon King subjugation party hasn’t even formed yet.
“You know my brother?”
“Yeah. He took care of Abel because he also has a little sister with magic overload. So you’re that sister, huh?”
Ah, right.
I assumed they’d have no contact since they’re in different grades and from different social classes. But of course, my brother wouldn’t ignore Abel—
another rare case of magic overload, and the future Hero on top of that.
My brother would never abandon someone suffering from the same illness as me.
I think the novel had a scene like that too.
Abel had been grateful to him, and together with my brother and Elvin, they formed a trio of deeply bonded comrades in the Demon King subjugation party.
“The medicine made to cure your illness ended up saving me, too. Thank you.”
Abel looks directly at me with sincere, burning eyes.
Ah.
Just like in the novel.
Straightforward, blinding, righteous—
the kind of justice that burns everything in its path.
With that unwavering justice, Abel ends up killing my brother after he becomes the final boss.
But you know… I wish he’d spare a thought for my brother’s suffering.
Losing his fiancée to his best friend,
losing our father,
losing Elvin,
losing me…
All that remained beside him were Princess Fiona and Abel.
And yet those two betrayed him.
Even though it’s fictional, the pain my brother felt still makes my heart ache unbearably.
Feelings of love can’t be stopped—if they fell for each other, that’s fate.
But they didn’t have to sneak around behind his back.
They could’ve faced him honestly, apologized sincerely, and asked for forgiveness.
My brother is kind.
If they’d been sincere, he definitely would’ve forgiven them in the end.
But because their engagement was arranged in a way that deceived him, he fell into darkness.
Of course, in this world, Father is alive, I’m alive, Elvin is alive, the Demon King hasn’t revived, and my brother isn’t engaged to Fiona.
So that tragic future won’t happen.
I absolutely won’t let my brother become the final boss!
