Prologue

When was that, I wonder… Has it already been two years?

My name is Wazu. At the time, having just turned fifteen, I was an ordinary guy with black hair, an average height and build, and a completely unremarkable appearance you could find just about anywhere.

I lived in the royal capital of the Kingdom of Iscoa, located in the south of a massive continent. I was a completely unexceptional older brother with no special redeeming qualities, living with my equally ordinary commoner parents and a little sister two years my junior, who was constantly praised by everyone around her as a “cute genius.”

However, even an ordinary guy like me had something to boast about: a childhood friend the exact same age, who was also a commoner.

My childhood friend’s name was Aria.

She had radiant blonde hair like fine silk, gentle blue eyes, and though she still retained a bit of childish innocence due to her age, her facial features left no doubt that she would become a stunning beauty in the future, complemented by a perfectly proportioned figure.

As for her personality… on the surface, she was gentle and always smiling, capable of treating everyone with equal kindness. But when it was just the two of us, she sometimes showed a darker side… No, I should stop speaking ill of her…

When Aria and I were twelve, the two of us secretly made a promise for the future.

We promised that once we turned fifteen and were recognized as adults, we would get married.

For some reason, my little sister seemed to have found out about it, though… I wonder where I slipped up. Moreover, for a while after she found out, my sister was in a terrible mood. I remember having a hard time getting her to cheer up… Oops, right now, this is about Aria.

When Aria was thirteen, she was recognized as a “Saint” by the Church. In order to defeat the Demon King that appeared that same year, she was to depart on a journey alongside the one chosen as the “Hero.” Ultimately, she reluctantly went along with them.

The reason being, Aria herself did not want to go.

However, she was persuaded by her parents and the other adults around her, leaving her with no choice. I think I was probably the only one who truly understood that she was doing it against her will. Outwardly, Aria just kept smiling like she always did.

But at that time, I wondered if it was really okay for me to just let her go without saying a word.

Shouldn’t I take some sort of action too…?

That’s why I shouted at Aria’s back as she was about to follow the people from the Church.

“I’m going with you!”

Hearing my words, Aria turned around, her face breaking into a joyful smile. However, the adults surrounding her directed troubled expressions my way.

Then, pushing his way through those adults, a single boy appeared.

“…An ordinary-looking guy like you thinks he can tag along on the subjugation of the Demon King?”

Shooting me an appraising glare, the boy who spoke had deep blue hair. Unlike my completely average appearance, he had incredibly handsome features. I remember thinking that when he stood next to Aria, they looked like the very picture of a handsome man and a beautiful woman—it was like looking at a painting.

Even so, I knew I couldn’t back down here, and I raised my voice.

“It doesn’t matter if I’m ordinary! I’ve decided I’m coming along!”

“Hmph… Then I’ll put you to the test.”

As a result, I was utterly and brutally defeated by the blue-haired boy.

Aria tried to heal my battered body, but the boy and the adults claimed it would be a waste of time. They tossed a few silver coins at my collapsed form to cover my medical expenses, took Aria, and quickly departed from the scene.

I cried endlessly out of frustration and a sense of sheer powerlessness…

From then on, I devoted every waking moment to self-training while praying every day for the safety of Aria, who had set off on her journey.

I had already realized it when I started training, but that boy who beat me to a pulp was the “Hero.” I was spurred on by the burning desire to never lose to that Hero again.

In the process, I also went to the Adventurer’s Guild, registered, and worked on increasing my strength, relying on my Guild Card which displayed my status…

However, precisely because I was so ordinary to begin with, I didn’t get stronger quickly. I had no talent, and no matter how hard I tried, I only ever managed to become just a tiny bit above average for my age.

Even so, by the time I was able to have at least a little confidence that I had gotten stronger, about two years had passed.

Shortly before my fifteenth birthday, the news swept across the world.

“The Hero’s Party has defeated the Demon King!”

At that news, the world was enveloped in jubilation.

Despite that, I was filled with anxiety until I could confirm Aria’s safety with my own eyes.

A short while after the news broke, the Hero’s Party returned to the royal capital.

It seemed they had come back to report their safe return and the successful subjugation of the Demon King. As the Hero’s Party passed through the royal capital, a grand, flashy victory parade was held. Watching from a distance, I breathed a deep sigh of relief when I finally spotted Aria among the Hero’s Party at the center of it all.

The Hero’s Party proceeded directly into the castle. After a while, accompanied by the King, they appeared on the castle balcony, which offered a sweeping view of the royal capital.

I thought the King’s endless speech, praising the Heroes and recounting how bravely they fought to destroy the Demon King, would go on forever. But it abruptly cut off, and the Hero stepped up to stand next to the King.

“Your subjugation of the Demon King was truly magnificent.”

“Thank you very much.”

“Now then, Hero… what do you desire as your reward?”

“There is only one thing I desire—”

Saying so, the Hero forcefully pulled Aria out from the rest of the party waiting behind him.

“I wish to take Saint Aria as my wife.”

Just as the Hero leaned in to steal Aria’s lips, I shut my eyes, covered my ears, and ran away from that place as fast as I could.

It’s a common enough trope in stories… I told myself, trying to find some comfort…

I don’t remember how I got home after that.

My mind went completely blank. I staggered back home, and my little sister seemed to be saying something to me with a worried expression on her face, but I think I only replied with vague words like “Ah…” or “Yeah…”

I returned to my room, and after a while, I noticed drops of water falling at my feet. That was when I finally realized I was crying my eyes out.

Was Aria standing on the castle balcony looking happy right now…? The moment that thought crossed my mind, I intensely felt that I didn’t want to be here… no, I didn’t want to be in the royal capital anymore.

There were just too many memories of Aria in the royal capital…

I furiously scribbled some words onto a piece of paper I found lying around, grabbed a little bit of money, and bolted out of the house.

On the paper, I had hastily written:

Please do not look for me. Please take care of yourselves. I wish for the happiness of Aria and the Hero.

On that day, my fifteenth birthday, I left the royal capital in tears and disappeared without a trace…