I, Eiji Kazama, died. To my utter embarrassment, my death was the picture-perfect depiction of dumbassery brought to life by CGI. Poisoned to death at the Azur castle I had walked right into with all of my guards down. My task of restoring a world screwed up by the knowledge of a hero (after he had saved it by defeating the Demon Lord) came to a halt less than a month in.
My story should have ended then and there, since my contract was for one lifetime. Once I’m dead, I’m done. But I couldn’t accept that. After I found out that my partner, Tiamat, was my fiancée, and that the hero who brought about the slow and steady destruction to the world was her brother, who had killed himself...
Come to think of it, Tiamat not telling me the hero’s name, despite her knowing everything, must have been an attempt to hide those facts from me. Even if I was to find out eventually, she’d wanted that to happen later rather than sooner. My fiancée had her way with words. Per her intentions, I wasn’t very interested in the hero’s name or his bloodline until my last moments. I think Tiamat was conflicted, or troubled, over getting me caught up in her matters. And she was the type to never tell me when she was troubled. I told her over and over again that what troubles her, troubles me; she would always worry about me instead. Some fiancé I was.
But, now that I knew what I did, I couldn’t back down. That’s why I pleaded with the Inspector to be given one more chance. It was the one trick up her sleeve. There was no next time. Die again, and my job would really be finished. No more room for stupid mistakes. To say that I had unyielding resolve might be painting myself in too good of a light.
“Wait for me. I won’t let you carry that weight alone.”
“Hm? Did you say something?”
A voice slid into my ears. It belonged to Tiamat, standing behind me. My vision began to light up. In front of me sat a middle-aged man without an expression. Viscount Zahreed, as I recalled. He was the royal messenger. My mind and memories became clearer. It seemed that this was where I would pick up.
“Nothing, Tia.”
Turning my head back to her, I answered my partner. While there was so much I wanted to talk to her about, there was the matter at hand to deal with first.
“Our King, His Majesty, has a few questions to ask you.”
After clearing his throat, Viscount Zahreed made his declaration. I remembered those words from before.
“So, you want us to come to the castle?” I asked.
In the same way as before, I remember.
“Indeed.”
His response, again, was as I recalled it. Here’s where I agreed, walked right into the castle, and ended up killed. How stupid was I? Giving them the home field advantage this early in the game? As a bureaucrat, or just as an adult, I should have picked up on the common tactic of the powerful.
“That doesn’t sound right, Mister Messenger. If he wants something from us, he should come to us.”
That’s why I chose a different path.
“Wha—?!”
The messenger flapped his jaw like a goldfish out of water. That seemed about right. He must not have expected rejection, or even a little bit of resistance. No one was more powerful than the King in his own kingdom, right? It would take some serious guts to refuse his summons. Of course, I had an excuse ready. I didn’t die for nothing.
“While a king coming to see a commoner may seem strange to you, I am not a citizen of your country. Furthermore, a human summoning Hermits would break etiquette.”
This was also a show of my resolve. Until this point, either from embarrassment or for fear of acting superior, I had rarely called myself a Hermit. Now, I didn’t have that luxury. I’m going to use that title and every privilege that comes with it.
“You do have a point there. Viscount Zahreed. If the king wishes to see us, we are willing to oblige. But only if it’s done right. Otherwise, your country’s reputation may suffer.”
Tiamat gave me a glance and a smile, being the perfect partner again, flawlessly picking up what I put down. But...
That’s my fiancée?
I couldn’t help but wonder if she could turn herself back into human form. I didn’t fall in love with just her looks though. I swear.
“...Very well. I will report to His Majesty the full extent of your resolve.”
With that, the messenger stood up.