“But still, the king suure p.i.s.ses me off…”
Treating the former Hero who saved the world twice as the 『dregs of society』 or a 『mere woman』 or…
Just remembering it p.i.s.ses me off.
What’s more, during the 『first time』, the Demon King’s forces made it as far as 《Azerleims》’ castle, and the imperial princess was killed.
That time, no matter how much I mourned, it wasn’t enough…
But during the 『second time』, I punctually saved the princess, we fell in love, and got married.
“Ahh~hh… Everything would’ve been great had I not taken the 《gem》…”
It would’ve been great had I just not picked up the gem that fell from the True Demon King’s mouth, and just headed back to the castle after defeating it.
It’s too late now, but I’m regretting it.
“Eline… You probably don’t remember me, do you…?”
It was the same during the 『second time』 around as well.
n.o.body remembered that during the 『first time』 I was the real 『Hero』 who defeated the Demon King and saved the world.
In the end, I started from being a 『Hero Candidate』 again.
But my status and items were the same as when I had cleared the 『first time』, though.
The first event was subjugating a monster living in a cave nearby.
Each 『Hero Candidate』 independently infiltrated the cave, and defeated the boss monster in its depths, or so the event went.
If you defeated him and let people know, you’d then form a party as 『One of the Heroes』 and set out on your adventures, but…
“It was filled with hardships, wasn’t it… my 『first time』…”
With my starting equipment, 『Wooden Stick』, I had to somehow or other beat down weak monsters and save up gold, bit by bit.
I then bought the strong 『Wooden Spear』 to replace it with, and went to a smith to reinforce it to 『Wooden Spear + 4』.
It was annoying because the monsters hardly dropped any…
My equipment I replaced with things that were relatively strong while being frugal with my gold.
I went and challenged the boss monster of the cave.
I got knocked out 3 times, but got a problem with that?
After that, again and again I’d challenged it and get beaten to bits, before getting teleported into my room, barely alive.
I raised my level, improved my equipment, bought recovery potions until it took up a whole item column…
And then finally, I managed to defeat it, but the other 『Hero Candidates』 had already moved onto the next stage long before…
And then, my 『second time』.
『…Blam.』
『GUAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!』
…The end.
…*
With the Criminal Darkness in my right hand, I eaaaasily brought it down with a swing.
One swing.
With just one swing, that first boss monster that I’d had so much trouble with, had now ended up in two.
It was horror in a sense.
…*
Of course, I immediately cleared the cave event.
I returned to the castle to report it.
And the king fell into surprise and deep emotion.
After that, things went smoothly, and I defeated the Demon King in, what, was it 10 turns?
I’ll leave out the rest.
“Now then, up we go…”
Nothing will begin if I just lay here.
I closed the item window, and stood up.
“OKAAAASAAAAAN! I’M GOING OUT FOR A LITTLE, OKAAAAY!?”
I left the house.
That d.a.m.ned king… As if you’d say 『a mere woman』, right? What 『a mere woman』…? …s.h.i.tt…
I explored the town, feeling irritated.
“Ah-”
Beyond a bridge in town was a blacksmith.
In the shop that I frequently used was a face that I recognised.
(Graham…)
One of the spear users of 《Azerleims》, Graham Edreed was talking to the oyaji from the shop.
(Haha… Telling nothing but jokes as usual…?)
In both my 『first time』 and 『second time』, Graham was one of the party members that accompanied me as far as the final fight with the Demon King.
When I had just been reincarnated into this world, and didn’t know left from right, he was the one who showed me around this time.
And he also taught me how to use a spear, and if I had to say it, then I guess he’s like a bit like a teacher to me?
(Sorry, Graham… In both the 『first time』 and 『second time』, I let you die…)
Pa.s.sing by Graham who was happily talking with the shopkeeper oyaji, I headed to the main road.
It’s a bar.
It’s a place that’s always lively.
I sat down on one of the chairs at the counter.
“Oi, oi, little miss. This isn’t a place for kiddies like you, you know?”
“Mu.”
-vein pop-
Am I going to be made fun of even here?
“Oyaji… Gimme the strongest you have…”
“Oi, oi… Like I said, we can’t sell to minors, and what’s more, one that’s a girl…”
“Oh my? You sound like you’re making light of women, but?”
A woman cut into our conversation.
(Lily…)
Sitting right next to me at the counter was the magician, Lily Zealrod.
Like Graham, she was a companion that I’d partied with twice in the past.
“Tsk, an annoying one has come…”
The barkeep headed into the shop.
If I remember correctly, wasn’t the barkeep bad at dealing with Lily…?
“Hi there~ Are you also just coming back from the audience about the 『Spare Candidates』 that’ll be acting as party members for the Hero, I wonder?”
“Well yes, but…”
I just recalled an unpleasant face…
“Huhu, going by that face of yours, it seems that the king chewed you out too, huh~?”
…『too』?
“Ah~hh, that king reaaally is stubborn, huh…? Just because I’m a woman, he’s completely decided that I’m 『weak』 you know~? I’m honestly p.i.s.sed off.”
Lily’s thoughts were the same as mine.
I didn’t know…
To think that Lily received this bad a treatment from the king too, in the beginning.
In the end, Lily became a master of the two high level attributes 《light》 and 《darkness》, so she should have become a Grand Magician strong enough to make the top 5 in this world.
And to think that a person like her started off as a 『Spare Candidate』…
Doesn’t he have no eyes for people? That king…
(…Which reminds me, in the 『second time』, he was my 『esteemed father-in-law』 wasn’t he…? Haha…)
When I saved the princess and married her, he was happy for us, wasn’t he?
A hero who possessed the abnormal strength to protect the castle from the Demon King forces.
I was famous enough that the streets were filled with rumours of me, after all.
“Going to drink something? My shout.”
Lily spoke to me with concern.
“…Give me the best drink, please.”
“Huhu. You kinda come off as a bit of an odd one to me…”
…*
Well yeah. I’m a 『trap』 anyway, you knoww?