Chapter Two:
The Hero and the Demon King
1
AFTER I OPENED THE DOOR TO MY ROOM, I walked in and immediately dove straight into bed. I buried my face in the pillow and relaxed completely, letting out a deep sigh that took with it all of the exhaustion of my day.
“…I’m tired.”
Somehow, it felt like it would help to say the words out loud—just to let them escape my mouth.
Yeah. I’m tired. Really, really tired.
I rolled over onto my back to look at the ceiling and lost myself in absent-minded thought.
Why do things keep happening that are so beyond my imagination? Thinking back, it all started when I asked Alfred-san to teach me how to fight with the sword. I still don’t know much about the original book, but from what I remember of the characters, Alfred-san was never meant to come out with lines like “Even if you do turn to evil, I want to see what you’ll do, Master Luke!” was he…? Didn’t he quit being a butler to train Abel in the original?
Next there’s Alice. She starts panting and blushing at the drop of a hat, but I don’t think she was meant to be this way. I think she was more of the sophisticated, villainous, aristocratic heroine type. I think it was that fight the two of us had after we first met at that party that drove Alice insane. And who’s this Yolande character, anyway? Was he even in the book? I don’t remember if he was, but how could I forget someone so intense?
I sighed.
The common thread here…it’s me. I’m the reason all of this is happening. I really couldn’t deny that any longer. All of these people strayed so far from their original characters because of the way my interactions with them changed.
I haven’t really spoken with Freya at all, so it does concern me that she’s acting so weird, but that’s the least of my problems, really. No reason to think about that right now. After all, there are exceptions to every rule. Come to think of it, Freya is Amelia-san’s little sister, right? So, that’s the explanation right there.
I sighed again as my thoughts continued to race around and around in my mind. The ripple effect of that one change that I made to my own life—my decision to make an effort—changed the course of everything for everyone else as well. I mean, it’s the only thing that sets my story apart from the original. I accepted Luke’s innate arrogance pretty quickly, so I never tried to be a particularly good person. I never knew any spoilers for the original story either, so it’s not like I was laying plans for what’s coming.
I guess that’s really it then, huh? All I did was try, and it’s brought all these weirdos and oddballs flocking to my side. Or maybe they only became weird by interacting with me…?
Still, I don’t think I did anything wrong. Everything I did, I did to avoid the absolute worst possible ending…defeat. I don’t think I’d recover from the frustration of even a single loss, honestly. It’d plunge me into depression for the rest of my life. That’s why I’ve devoted myself so uncompromisingly to my studies ever since the day I woke up with these memories.
Yeah, no regrets, but I should be aware of the facts. My choices have had an unexpectedly huge effect on this world. Luke might’ve been incredibly talented in the original story, but I’m pretty sure he only appeared in the academy arc of the story… That’s all he was, as a character. I think I underestimated the impact I’m having on this story.
Acknowledging that didn’t change anything about my plans moving forward, though. And I knew that as long as I kept trying, these irritating things would keep on happening.
“Focus,” I told myself. “I have to keep my priorities straight. What’s the most important thing here?”
The answer is obvious: I need to keep on winning. I can’t ever compromise on that. No matter what other troubles I face or what complications arise, I can’t let up in my pursuit of strength…no matter what happens.
Suddenly Mia floated into the back of my mind.
…But I don’t ever want to go through anything like that again. I suppose it did only come about because I made a mistake, though. That was the result of me prioritizing my own selfish goals over everything else. The human heart really is a mystery, even my own sometimes…that’s what all of this has taught me.
Just remembering what happened gives me a faint pang in my stomach. It’s not like I’m suffering…it’s more an unpleasant, uncomfortable sort of pain. An uneasiness that just plain feels bad to sit with. Maybe I’ve been too tense lately. Ever since I came to this academy, I’ve been on high alert all the time, and I hadn’t realized how stressed out I am until now. Seriously, so much has happened…too much. I can really feel the stress of it all in my stomach now, especially after that awkward stuff with Mia. I should stop thinking it over and get a bit of sleep. I’m sure I’ll be able to keep going once I’ve gotten some rest.
2
“C’MON! LET’S GO, ABEL!”
“Yes, sir! Thank you!”
At Instructor Brad’s signal, I directed the mana inside me to cloak the sword that was in my hands.
I’ve been doing nothing but training and sleeping of late, and I’m still struggling… This is so difficult. I haven’t managed t—
“How many times do I have’ta tell you?! You’re focusin’ too much attention on your damn mana!”
I looked up to find an arrow of fire hurtling toward me, closing in fast. With a yelp, I dodged it at the last second, letting the shot pass by my side.
Th-that was close… One second later, and that would’ve been a direct hit.
“The battle’s started, y’hear me?! Keep your eyes on me!”
“Yes, sir!”
“C’mon! We’re goin’ harder, keep your mind sharp!”
Watch, observe, think, and predict.
“Anti-magic!”
That was the first technique that Instructor Brad had taught me—how to cut through magic. It was a vital technique for any swordsman who wanted to fight against magic users, particularly if they were unable to use magic themselves.
You can use mana manipulation or magic tools to coat your sword in mana…but when I do it…I feel like it’s not just mana. It’s like I’m using some different power too…
“Urk!”
Another fireball whizzed by my head as I dodged at the very last moment, a strike that had been intended to land just as my focus slipped.
I’m being an idiot! We’re in the middle of battle right now!
Instructor Brad continued his merciless barrage of spells.
Dodge. Dodge. Cut. Slowly close in on him, step by step. Don’t panic. Stay sharp. Are my movements getting predictable? What is Instructor Brad going to do next? Watch the enemy. Keep thinking.
“Fortify Strength!”
Start with one stack. Don’t rush.
In the fight against Luke, I activated all of my magic at once, immediately pushing my body as far as it could go, but now I know that’s not the right way to fight. It made me too slow. For some reason, Luke chose to wait for me to finish my spells, but I can’t count on my next opponent being that patient. I left him an opening to strike; it’s just that he didn’t take it.
“Fortify Strength.”
That’s why I’m going one step at a time. All right, now I’m at two stacks! It’s gotten a lot easier to dodge! This is about the extent of what I can fully control, but it’s enough. Keep predicting his movements. Keep dodging. Cut through his spells with Anti-magic. That’s all I’m focused on now.
I continued to close in on Instructor Brad. I could tell from his stance, the way he held himself, that he was about to cast another spell at me.
“Graah! Wall of Fire!”
I knew that was coming…!
Fortify Strength is the only magic I’ve got, but it pairs up well with this Anti-magic technique. The stronger my sword strikes are, the greater the magic I can cut through.
“Anti-magic!” I said. “Wait…huh?”
“Still pretty damn gullible, Abel.”
I cut through Instructor Brad’s Wall of Fire spell, only to find his fist waiting right there on the other side.