[I Will Never Go Back]
A novel in which the protagonist’s anger is palpable from the title. A story in which a stupid hero, jealous of the competent protagonist, expels him. The Saintess, who had a crush on the protagonist, also leaves the party. The party then suffered without their ace and healer.
‘I feel so sorry for the hero.’
I posted a short comment, but who says a frog isn’t killed by a stone thrown in jest? Apparently, my comment wasn’t perceived as a joke. The day after that, I found myself sitting at the Hero’s desk, banging my head against it.
“Where did it all go wrong?”
I muttered, and the big guy in the corner sighed. It was a sigh that made it clear I looked pathetic.
“Sigh~. I don’t even know where to begin.”
His name was Georg. A heavy armor knight. From the sound of his job, you would imagine a muscle-brained fighter. However, despite his outward appearance, he was the most responsible and thoughtful of the party. As the other members left one after the other, he stayed to help the Hero until the end.
“You chose to do this, so you’re responsible for that choice. But still, you have your position for a reason. I doubt you did this without thinking.”
I didn’t choose this. Is this a responsibility without rewards? I couldn’t help but open my mouth as Georg urged me to say something. If I let him leave this party, I had no hope.
“…Iris leaving was unexpected.”
“Didn’t you expect there to be a backlash? You knew they had a special relationship.”
I know. Of course, I knew. She’ll eventually find Arjen, whom I’ve banished from the party, and they’ll team up. The original Hero had a crush on Iris. Her leaving the party made him lose his mind, and he eventually led the party to its demise.
“I can only call this a foolish decision, and you should have talked to me first. Not that you’ve ever listened to me before.”
Georg’s bitter voice reached my ears. I leaned back in my chair and cracked my neck. ‘Close your eyes, open them, and I’m back home. Close your eyes, open them, and I’m back home.’ I closed my eyes and tried self-hypnosis.
“It’s going to be tough. Remember, you got fortunate when you defeated the ‘Third Disaster.'”
‘Damn. This isn’t home.’ Georg turned his eyes towards me. I look to the other side, trying to avoid his prying gaze. He stared at me for a moment, then shook his head. ‘Please don’t do that. I actually might cry.’
“I hope you don’t stay absent-minded like this, Elroy. For now, I’ll take the day off. It’s a long-awaited vacation, but try not to be too self-indulgent.”
With those words in his cavernous voice, Georg strode out of the room, his footsteps disappearing with a thud, unlike Iris’ shuffling footsteps. The entire building seemed to tremble. I stared at the door, dumbfounded, long after Georg had left. My thoughts settled like tea leaves that have sunk to the bottom of a cup. It felt like a storm had swept me away.
Elroy.
It was only at Georg’s last words that I remembered the name of this body. He was always called Hero, so only a few readers recognized him. Even I, an avid reader, could not recall it off the top of my head.
“Is this the name of a Hero?”
‘Isn’t this name… underwhelming?’ Thinking about this ridiculous notion, my teeth clenched, and I pounded my fist on the desk.
“Damn it, almighty author, why didn’t you let me possess him three days ago?”
At least then, I wouldn’t have thrown the main character out, and I could have pretended to be diligently slaying the Disasters while watching from the back!
I threw a tantrum like that for a while, and eventually, I became tired and stretched myself like a jellyfish on my desk.
“If I’d known you would do this earlier. I’d cursed you out.”
I said and slapped my face with my palms. A weak voice comes out of my mouth. I stood up and paced around the room. I looked like a puppy that needed to poop if anyone was watching. Or maybe just a madman.
My eyes eventually wandered to a full-length mirror in the corner of the room, which I hadn’t even realized was there because Georg was blocking it. I dragged my feet and walked over to it. I would die soon, but at least I could see what face I would have when I did.
“…Asshole.”