Oneshot (1/2)

By Kohigas.h.i.+ Nora

”Are you unharmed!? Holy maiden!?”

Felling the giant dragon, the hero approaches me.

Within the dim cave illuminated only by the light of his torch, the hero breaks the restraints on my arms and legs, affording me freedom.

”H… hero…”

I try to stand, but I can't get any power in. I had been bound for three whole days; my whole body felt numb. My stamina and spirit were at their limit.

I thought it was hopeless. I felt I would die here. I was sure the monster had gifted me a death most cruel.

In the midst of my limit, the hero came to save me.

”You mustn't push yourself, holy maiden. Your life is the support of every life in the country.”

”……”

The hero used his whole body to accept my collapsed form.

I bury my face n his chest. I feel my whole body grow hot as if it's breathing fire.

The man I secretly admired. Such a man had saved my life. When I thought it was hopeless, that I had no tomorrow, he reached out his hand.

It felt like my feelings would explode.

Perhaps to endure it… or to convey those feelings, by the time I noticed it, I had wrapped an arm around the hero's back, strongly, strongly, embracing him.

”… Holy maiden.”

”…”

He reached a hand to my hip once more, holding me tight.

We stayed just like that a while.

A quiet time leisurely flowed by.

Or so was the dream I saw.

”… What an idiotic dream.”

I open my half-asleep eyes.

Unkempt hair, the room a right mess.

No vestiges of the long, silver hair I just saw in a dream, my arbitrary hair that arbitrarily grew was beset by bedhead.

I crudely wash my face, brush my teeth, and scarf down one banana. Changing into my Holy Maiden uniform that wasn't even hung on a hanger, I left the room.

”Ah, Holy Maiden! Good morning!”

”Holy Maiden! Good work out there!”

”… Yo.”

I am the Holy Maiden.

A special woman who wields a divine power recognized by the church and state. In the battles against the dark forces, my existence is a valuable war a.s.set.

Right, I am the holy maiden.

Not every happening of the dream was a complete lie. I am the holy maiden who's offered this body to the battle against darkness. My silver hair sways as I protect this world from the threat of the demons.

The hero really exists. Gallant, st.u.r.dy, the hopes of the world personified.

The people, the countries, the lands, the systems are completely identical.

The difference between my dreams and reality wasn't particularly large.

There was only one… make that two large divergences.

Two differences large enough to turn the world within me on its head.

”Holy maiden! We've received an order from the general! As discussed, your unit is to enact the recapture of the western castle!”

”…… Now look here, I'll say it again and again, but normally, you're not supposed to order a single unit to take down a castle…”

”M-my apologies! If the Holy Maiden deems it too difficult, I'll talk it over with the top bra.s.s!”

”…… I don't really mind. I just have to do it, right?”

Hmm, I leak a sigh from my nose.

It's just the usual. Same old, same old.

”… By the way, where is Bøyg… the hero's unit fighting today?”

”Yes ma'am! The hero's unit is at work conquering the wetlands to the west! The sword saint's unit and the witch's unit are also scheduled to a.s.sist in the a.s.sault on those lands!”

”Hah… sounds fun…”

”When we divide our forces equally, it can't help but come to this!”

”Shut it.”

What a pain, I thought as I jumped onto my horse and plodded my way forward.

Trudging step by step, I slowly set my horse walking towards the enemy castle.

”Fwahahahaha! So you've made it! Holy Maiden! But I knew you were coming here!”

”So you're my opponent. You'd better not call me underhanded just because I use a trap or two.”

”If the Demon King's big four put their powers together…”

”Holy maiden, you'll soon find yourself in a casket.”

As I begrudgingly advanced on the castle, four important-looking blokes made an appearance.

What's with them? This lot?

”D… Demon King's big four!? Why are they in a place like this!?”

”What's more, all four of them together!?”

”It's hopeless… there's no way we have a chance of victory…”

Some began to tremble, some even bursting into tears. The soldiers of my unit seemed crazy scared of these Demon King something somethings, already giving up their hope of surviving this encounter.

”Let's go! These spires shall be your grave marker! Holy Maiden!”

”Holy maiden punch.”

”Gobufwoah…!?”

One of those something four died.

He ate my holy maiden punch and died. My punch had caused one to cease breathe in a single blow. His spout his entrails as he died.

”What!?”

”What foolishness is this!?”

”That man was the strongest among the Demon King's big cour!”

”Holy maiden kick.”

”Buhooeah!?”

”Holy maiden elbow.”

”Gobfwaaah!?”

”Holy maiden beam.”

”Agyarantte!?”

I won.

By each of my blows, one of the Demon King's big four perished. Their bodies dispersing from my attacks, they died all too easily.

Their blood stained the high-cla.s.s demon-made carpet.

It's not like I had no feelings of pity.

But as I stared fixatedly at the demon blood stuck to my hands, I often think.

'Are you unharmed!? Holy Maiden!?'

The hero from my dream's words echo through my ears.

That me had her life saved by the hero. While she frailly quivered, captured by the dark forces, the hero saved her from the hands of evil, as if leaping straight out of a child's fairy tale.

The me from my dreams was held in the hero's arms, as if it was all a dream. While that was a strange expression to use, the reality within my dream was filled with a nicely dreamy and vibrant love.

”Hah… how idiotic……”

There were two large points where this world differed from the world in my dreams.

They were small differences.

But they had brought with them changes large enough to shake the world. No one knows what results those changes might bring.

But all I can say for certain, is that to me, they were differences big enough to turn my world on its head.

They were differences big enough to alter every single thing about me.

Meaning, more than the me of my dreams,

… I was exceptionally stronger.

Also, an unwoman… meaning I'm an unpopular woman…

[Dream]

”Bøyg! Bøyg…! Please don't die…!”

The Holy Maiden raised a bitter cry as she wept.

In her arms was the body of the hero, and that body had become tattered after being subject to dark magic. Panting out her thin breath, the holy maiden barely managed to secure his life in place with the healing magic she used out of desperation.

”Fwaha, fwahahahaha! The hero is already done for! I never thought he would be able to defeat me, but if I use my last breath to take his, I'll save some face in the other world!”

There was yet another soul collapsed on the floor, whose flame of life was on the brink of going out.

One corner of the Demon King's big four.

Bearing a wound from the hero's blade too deep for salvation, he stained the carpet spread over the floor in his own blood. His final laugh echoed through the vast hall.

The party of the hero and holy maiden, on that day, had set out to recover the western castle taken by the demons. Cutting down the enemies within the castle, they had favorably battled their way through, but in the final room, that man awaited.

One of the Demon King's big four, Bohnd the Nightmare.

Despair lay waiting around the corner.

At first, Bohnd of the big four's overwhelming power didn't even permit the hero's approach. His magic and martial arts were first-cla.s.s, clearly showing off the difference between the Demon King's legion and humanity.

The Demon King was intently searching out and finding powers the likes of which the human realm had no means of opposing.

But the hero was no ordinary human.

The hero grew through battle, his powers matured and refined with each clash of blades.

Even as wounds were carved into his body, the sword he swung out of desperation grew sharper with each and every swipe. Every time the Demon King's big four shaved their life away, the hero, no all his companions would grow.

And once that long, long battle was finally reaching its end, when the hero's sword finally found its place deep in the demon's chest, with the resolve to trade one life for another, the demon burned the hero's body in black flames.

”Bøyg…! Hero…! I… don't want… I don't want this…!”

The Holy Maiden clung tight as she wept into the hero's chest.

The loss of the hero was something that should never come to pa.s.s; to the country and to the world, it would be a grave loss indeed.

But to the Holy Maiden, the fate of the world was of trivial insignificance.

She was about to lose the one she thought of so dearly. That reality brought tears to her eyes, as a purified sorrow untainted by self-interest leaked from her breath.

The black flames sublimated into miasma, coiling about his body. Even now when he was on the brink of death, it was easy to imagine the dark forces were still eating into his body.

There was no way to tear away the darkness. No means to save the hero.

But even so, she could only pray for a miracle.

”…… If only I had more power…”

The Holy Maiden spat a gloomy voice.

”If I was stronger, perhaps it wouldn't have come to this…”

What crossed her heart was a meaningless regret.

When the Holy Maiden had never neglected her daily training, she could only be disillusioned by her own lack of strength. Thoughts that had no meaning in thinking spun round and round her chest.

Her heart had sunk.

”… It'll… be al… right, Lady Ina…?”

At that moment, a faint voice entered her ears.

The hero held in her chest weakly called out her name.

”…!? Bøyg! Bøyg!? Have you regained consciousness!? Get a grip! You must keep ahold of yourself! Please don't die…!”

Hearing the hero's faint voice, the Holy Maiden put power into her arms wrapped around him.

”I'm not… going to die… Lady Ina… today morning… I made a promise…… that I would eat… the dinner… you made…”

”Dinner…”

”So it's alright… I'm not going to die… before your eyes…”

Even as he said that, his breath was weakening bit by bit, the dark miasma still circulating through his body shrinking the flame of his life.

He was already beyond the point of salvation. That was something the Holy Maiden, the hero's comrades, and even the hero putting up a strong front himself understood. The bead of the pulse of life was going out.

The Holy Maiden grieved, it felt as if her chest would burst; she knew there was nothing she could do,

… So she gently locked lips with the hero.

Shedding some tears all the way.

”Eh…?”

”Eh?”

At that moment, light welled from his body. The dark miasma surrounding him swallowed and overwritten by a strong and gentle light. Perhaps because of the kiss, the Holy Maiden's power of purification entered the hero, cleansing away the vile force.

”Eh? Eh…? What? What just happened…?”

The one more fl.u.s.tered than any was the Holy Maiden herself.

Regardless of the fact she was the one who created the present situation, she had no clue as to what had gone on. Meaning, she had not the slightest idea why such a thing was occurring.

”… Is this a hidden power of the Holy Maiden…”

”An untainted power to wash away all evil…”

Everyone around gradually grasped the situation.

By her kiss, the Holy Maiden had let her own power flow into the hero, directly tending to his wounds and driving off the evil power.

The Holy Maiden alone failed to comprehend, her eyes spinning as her confusion continued.

The hero looked at the Holy Maiden.

His thin breath that even still sounded as if it might go out was beginning to calm. His turbulent conscience was gradually becoming distinct.

Raising his body, this time the Hero gave the Holy Maiden a kiss.

”Thank you.”

With a gentle smile unthinkable a man who had just been on the brink of death, he called over.

The Holy Maiden's chaos, embarra.s.sment, delight, and heat she couldn't do anything about mixed in her heart like a muddy stream, and raising a small voice she swooned and relinquished her consciousness.

In the battle for that castle, the curtain closed on a grand finale.

[Reality]

”Are you an idiooooooot!?”

It was a refres.h.i.+ng morning, the weather so fair it raised one's spirits just basking in it… and yet I was a.s.saulted by an awakening so gloomy none of that meant the slightest to me.

I saw another stupid dream.

I, the holy maiden, kissed the hero and saved him?

Are you stupid? Stupid, stupid, stupid, stupid, stupid.

It was such a trite, hackneyed, worn out, overdone, messed up scenario, just what do you think you're doing in this day and age?

”Hah… this dream again…”

I felt deplored at myself as I covered my face in my small hands.

The h.e.l.l is this? Am I s.e.xually frustrated?

I often see similar dreams.

Dreams of falling in love with the hero, overcoming a battle to save the world at his side.

Troublingly, these dreams overlapped with reality in too many points: the people that appeared, the countries, the culture, the setting were almost all identical.

But there were some large differences.

… The me in reality is much stronger than the dream me, and I'm an unwoman.

Right, I'm too strong.

In the dreams the hero and I put our powers together like a married couple, but the real me is different. To start with, I've never teamed up with the hero in my life.

The reason being I'm too strong.

With efficiency in mind, my unit is never sent on joint missions with any other teams.

In the first place, it's because I was too strong that I lost any opportunity to be with him.

A year ago, there was a time where I was abducted by a dragon of the demon tribe. The dream me half-gave up on life, her way darkening with sadness until the hero finally saved her.

That was the main event that deepened her bond with the hero.

Then what about the real me?

I was definitely abducted, for what it's worth.

But I undid the restraints with my own strength, punching the demon dragon to death with my own fists.

Righto.

I escaped with my own power!

Without the leisure to be coddled by anyone, I put all my strength into those magic chains and pulled at them until they shattered, believing in my own strength as I fought!

I went on a rampage, challenged the dragon to one on one, got through with my fists, and kicked all the mobs that came at me like a tidal wave into the distance!

There was no reason to hold back! In a battle of life or death, I came out on top! There was no resignation or rescue! I used my own strength to overcome my own battle!

And pa.s.sing through death and carnage, I loudly declared my superiority.

By the time the hero came to save me, it was already too late. The dragon's base was already under my rule.

There was no s.p.a.ce for any heart-tugging happenings with the hero.

When I desperately worked so hard…

Tried so hard…

And yet…

Why is the dream girl making even better memories!?

What is the meaning of this!? Why is that one getting a good man in her hands, and making some hot 'n flirty memories with him!?

When I'm the one who endeavored on my own and triumphed over the predicament, why is it the dream that didn't overcome anything who gets a lover and spends her days in fulfillment!?

Precisely because of my strength, the real me keeps being sent off to harsh battlefields, the enemy demons have their eye on me, I don't have a boyfriend, there isn't a single good thing about having high combat abilities.

Just beat them!

Slay those Demon King big four in one blow!

Mercilessly scatter them for the crows!

Ah! Seriously, what is this! This difference!?

That girl isn't particularly strong, yet she gets all the good memories; meanwhile, I've contributed so much to the battle against the dark forces, yet I'm the same unwoman as ever!

By the way, unwoman refers to an unpopular woman.

It doesn't just mean not having a boyfriend, it often points to a lady at fault with more than enough of a reason to be unpopular.

Like being unrefined, or not being able to do housework, or not dressing up, or having a twisted personality, it points to that sort of woman.

Meaning me.

And not the dream me.

The dream me is popular. She's got a great personality, her appearance is in order, and she's good at cooking. Her capacity of a woman is perfect, and in that regard, if me and me fought, I wouldn't have the slightest chance of victory.

Right, she's even good at cooking.

Before the battle of the western castle, the dream me promised to cook for the hero.

She really is a competent woman, gives a real popular feel.

How idiotic!

I want to eat your hand-cooked meal? To h.e.l.l with that! Are you an idiot? Try telling me the difference between a beef bowl takeout and a hand-cooked meal!

Idiot.

Yeah, yeah, I know. I'm biased. I don't know the first thing when it comes to cooking.

No way I could make anything, idiot. Cooking, you see, it's practically pointless if you don't have anyone who'll eat it for you.

Eat it myself? It's fun at first, but you get sick of it in no time, you know?

Too much labor for something you have to do three times per day, and once you get accustomed to cooking your own meals, the loneliness and awkwardness start coming back. Of course you'd lose your motivations, idiot.

Awkwardness? Why would you feel awkward when you're alone?

To anyone who says that, go see a shrink. Being able to sense an awkward and terrible air when no one's around is the mark of a full-fledged unwoman.

Stupid, stupid.

……… Hah.

What's with this difference.

For me to feel this depressed, the untidiness of my room must be to blame.

But cleaning it up is a pain.

Can't I get a boyfriend to clean up for me…

No, is it because I'm this crude I don't have one to begin with?

Hah.

I want a boyfriend who'll spoil me.

I'm not asking for much.

Just has to be good looking and clever with a promising future and good looking and rich and tall and good looking with a good personality and good looking. Then I'll have no complaints.

… d.a.m.n, I feel empty.

For now, today's plan is to go tease one of the executives under the Demon King's direct command.

Of course, largely on my own.

My subordinates' job is to clean up the surrounding small fries. I'm always alone against the boss cla.s.s fighters. Even when the hero works with his comrades to fight.

I let out a sigh as I pa.s.s my arms through the sleeves of the unhung uniform discarded on the floor before leaving the room.

Of course, the dream me wears a carefully maintained, pretty Holy Maiden outfit without a single crease.

Dammit.

I keep getting reminded of every difference between us.

I left for work and murdered the demon army executive with one blow.

[Dream]

”It's a beautiful night.”

”Yeah, the moon is beautiful.”

An extravagant castle where a n.o.ble lived, in a corner of a room, the Holy Maiden and hero shared a bottle of wine. Going out to the room balcony, they lowered themselves into chairs set with intricate detail as they sipped at that high-grade product.

But the reason the stars looked so pretty wasn't because of the money put into the furnis.h.i.+ngs or drink. Simply to have a loved one by their side. With that alone, the stars looked several times more beautiful than when looked up at alone.

”These smoked meats are tasty. They go well with the beautiful stars and good wine.”

”Ah, no… they're nothing too special…”

”Oh…? Could it be you're the one who made them, Lady Ina?”

”Yes. Though they can't help but fall short of such high-grade wine…”

”No… I wouldn't say that…”

The hero said as he let a mouth of wine down his throat and stuffed his cheeks with the snacks his girlfriend had made. Forget falling short of the wine, he could only think they drew out its depth.

”… It's almost the final battle.”

”That's right, the fight against the Demon King approaches…”

Their two bodies were stiff.

Pa.s.sing through the boundaries of life and death time and again, they had shouldered despair as they achieved victory in their battles against the Demon King's big four, taking down numerous other formidable foes. Everyone's body and heart was already in tatters.

No matter how ragged they ran, they could only fight on. For the world, for the people of the country.

That was the mission of the hero and his men.

But even so, his body stiffened.

At the end of the end, the battle with the Demon King approached.

”There are times I find myself thinking…”

”Pardon?”

”Am I really a hero…”

”…?”

The hero looked down as he folded his hands, letting out a heavy voice.

”… What do you mean?”

”A hero os someone who grants salvation to all. When mankind is tormented by evils it has no means to go against, the hero becomes their salvation and cuts down the darkness. No matter what fairytale, what legend you look at, that's what they should be…”

The hero laughed as he raised his head. A self-depreciating smile spread out.

”But I… I find myself asking for salvation myself.”

”We've just barely made it through our battles up to now. There hasn't been a single battle that wasn't painful. Can I really win against the King of Demons? If I lose, what will become of the world? Am I really strong enough to shoulder this t.i.tle of hero?

I'm scared, so scared I don't know what to do with myself.”

Covered by the clouds, the stars fell out of sight.

”If there was someone else… some extremely strong person besides me, if that person could easily take down the Demon King… a part of my heart continues to seek out such nonsensical salvation.”

The hero's body shook.

This form was one he would definitely never show before the troops. He would only share his troubles and pains with the comrades right by his side, what's more, this was the first time he ever showed such a weakened state.

The Holy Maiden stood from her seat, tightly embracing the hero.

”I'm sure… I'm sure if such a strong person existed, then they would surely be alone.”

The Holy Maiden gently whispered to him.

”That person would surely resolve everything on their own, without relying on any, without knowing any comrades, they'd become a lonely human who could only look forward.”

”If you were the strongest hero who could solve everything alone, I'm sure you wouldn't need me; I'm sure you'd be alone.”

The Holy Maiden kissed the Hero.

”That's why I'm happy. That the hero is someone who can rely on me.”

”We're all only human, we can only put our utmost effort, give it our best to move forward.”

”… Yeah, you're… right. It's just as you say, Lady Ina.”

Before he finished his own words, he strongly pulled her close, and slightly forcefully stole her lips.

”Mn…!”

The hero lifted up the Holy Maiden.

Reeling from the sensual shock to her mouth, the hazy Holy Maiden was led atop the bed. The hero used his tool of the trade, his strong power to push the Holy Maiden's body onto the bed without any room for refusal.

The girl had no s.p.a.ce to resist, nor did she attempt to.

Her eyes simply melted at the intense kiss, her face dyed in red.

”You don't want to?”

”……… No.”

”I swear. I'll be gentle.”

The beast a.s.sailing her was stiff.

It wasn't as if he was simply leaving his body to his own desire. Mixing in rationality, mixing in courage and resolve with his instincts, he was exceptionally nervous as he tried to exchange vows with his lovers.

The one whose body was truly trembling was the hero.

”No…”

The Holy Maiden shook her head, voicing the words of rejection.

The hero's heart skilled a beat. Could he have been refused? His nervousness reached its peak.

The Holy Maiden's face turned red as she gave the sort of bashful smile that would enchant any man.

”You don't have to be gentle… please make a mess of me…”

Before the Holy Maiden's sensual voice, the Hero lost his reigns.

The light of the moon spilling in from the window projected two overlapping figures on the wall of the room.

[Reality]

”U W A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A AA A A A A A AA  A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A  A  A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a  a a a a a  a a a a a a aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!?”

A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A a a a a a a a a a a aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!?

A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a aa a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a  a a a a aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!?

A N GYA A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A Aa a a a a aa a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!?

I leap to my feet

The h.e.l.l you doin'!?

What the h.e.l.l are you people doing!?

The h.e.l.l is she doing!?

”U WA A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A a a a a a  a a  a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!?”

I hold my head.

I can only hold my head.

Hot! My face his hot! My face can only be hot!

A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A  A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A  A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A It was so vivid!

Vivid!

V I V I D!

R I D I C U L O U S L Y V I V I D!

I groan as I make a bridge over the bed.

Gnnngngngngngngn…!

There's no meaning to it! There's no meaning, but I can't maintain my composure! Even I understand the strange one here is me! But for some reason, I just can't sit still!

Dammit!

D A M M I T!

I don't wanna say it! I don't want to say it, but that was cold! I don't want to say what part of it, but it was wet and cold!

Dammit! G.o.ddammit!

What are you forcing down an unwoman's throat, you b.a.s.t.a.r.d!?

”Stop it… stop. It…?”

The chorus repeats in my head.

Round and round, round and round, the same thoughts spin around, and it felt like my head would burst from the centrifugal force of my brain.

Meaning… it's going to go baaang! My head!

A aaah… the heat…! The heat…!

My body…! It's not cooling down.

I'm flushed! You f.o.o.kin' flushed me! You've flushed the body of someone who's lived ten-odd years as an unwoman, dammit! Made me dream a spectacle a Super Elite Perfect Ultimate Unwoman will never be able to experience in her entire life, turning me redder than a monkey in a bath!

Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!

Gooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooood!

It's all, all, all, all the dream's fault!

I felt just the worst.

Because I felt the worst, I rampaged like crazy.

Smas.h.i.+ng down the walls of the final fort on the way to the Demon King's castle, 'The Tower of Darkness' as I paraded in, putting all my spirit and animalistic pa.s.sions with no outlet into fist after fist as I hammered my blows into the demon army's final general. I put in twenty, thirty hits clad in my loser aura.

Taking on my outburst of anger, the demon army's final general exploded and dispersed, the 'Tower of Darkness' climbing into the air from the force o’ my fists.

One of my subordinates reported it to the higherups, but the top bra.s.s got angry saying they had no idea what was supposed to mean. The report was deemed incoherent, and that subordinate was sent off to counseling.

My bad.

Leaving that subordinate to the side, I brought my feet to the army dining hall.

It was a plain food station made from simple modifications to a stolen enemy base, and a shoddy place consisting of short-term repairs carried out after the battle. Plywood was fastened over the broken portions, with tattered tables and chairs as if made from sc.r.a.p wood arbitrarily lining the place.

The food they put out wasn't anything special. They just set out some grilled potatoes and a thin soup where they didn't have much to work with.

At first there were talks of, ”Feeding the Holy Maiden a proper meal,” but I declined.

Being treated specially and having only me eating good meals was terrible on my psyche. I got the feeling those around me were directing envious looks my way, and I could no longer tell whether the food tasted good or not.

Meaning I'm an unwoman!

I'm crazy conscious of everyone elses's eyes! Am I alright!? An I being hated!? Do they perhaps think I'm impertinent!?

Aaah! To be quite honest, I want to eat my meals where no one's watching.

Holing up in a bathroom stall, I want to eat alone in silence!

I don't want people to think the holy maiden is eating alone without any friends! I don't want them to know the holy maiden is a loner!

Though they all already know!

I noticed a long, long time ago how the surroundings were looking over me with warm eyes!

With this thought and that turning around my head, I noticed a shadow being cast on my own body. Someone was standing on the opposite side of the table.

I raised my head to look at that person. The dining hall was close to full, and yet the seat across from me just happened to be empty.

”Huh? Ina? It's been a while.”

”……… Yoyo!?”

The one in front of me was Bøyg… the hero.

The person who nurtured love with me in a dream.

”I hope this seat's not taken.”

”Yoyoyoh… yoyoyoh…!?”

Regardless of my fl.u.s.ter, the b.a.s.t.a.r.d before me sat across all carefree.

I ended up leaking a strange voice. Naturally so. Before all the surprise even factored in, I was an unwoman.

If I didn't get nervous in front of a man, I wouldn't be me.

”So how have you been lately, Ina?”

”M…… meh……!?”

”Yeah, what've you been up to?”

How have I been?

How have I been… terrible! Idiot!

No way I could be fine! It's your d.a.m.n fault! It's because you and the strange me come out in my dreams!

”…… You've kinda been averting your eyes from me for a while now?”

”……… You're imagining it.”

Like h.e.l.l I can look you in the eye!

Do you know what dreams I dreamt today!?

I saw a dream where you did some crazy things to me, you hear!

What are you going to do about this!?

When I had no intent to climb the stairway to adulthood to begin with, you G.o.dd.a.m.n realers chained me and dragged me up, my back banging against the corner of every step, so how do you think I feel!? Stupid!

Ah, G.o.d! Just go away already! Just because there's no other seat, that doesn't mean you have to sit across from me!

It's not like the two of us are even close enough to have a conversation, a.s.shole!

We've only ever spoken a few times at best!