''- Oh, you don't even know you're being looked down upon. On the contrary, I'm wondering how you can think you're not being looked down upon. Who wouldn't look down on an ugly lackey who doesn't have something everyone takes for granted?　Even if we accepted it without looking down on it, it's not kindness. This is what my parents and my childhood friends think of me. --I'll at least be nice to them because they're so pathetic to look at.

　There was a time when I had the same dream over and over again when I was little.
　It was a dream in a dimly lit room, with my reflection in the mirror laughing at me and talking to me about such things.
　I couldn't stand it anymore and tried to run away, but the air wrapped around me like mud, and I couldn't move even one step.
　It was heartbreakingly hard to have to listen to my taunts incessantly until I woke up.

　The world is kind and everyone likes and is interested in me.
　The recurring dream shattered those childish thoughts without a trace.

　It was when I started dreaming that I began to feel jealous of others.
　I was the only one who lacked something that everyone else took for granted.
　When I realized that I was literally lacking, I wailed many times.

　Because it's something that can't be helped.
　It's a gap that can't be filled by effort, a gulf that can't be changed even if you try hard enough, a commonplace thing for others.
　I couldn't help but envy the commonplace that I couldn't get no matter what I did in the future.

　All the words my family would say to me came from a feeling of 'pity'.
　The people in the village were all looking at me with 'pity' in their eyes.
　All of the scenes I had seen so far seemed to be a lie.

　But it's not my fault.
　What's wrong is my parents who gave birth to me as the missing person.
　They are the heartless villagers who look at me with pity.

　So, someday.
　I will have my revenge on the world that forced me to suffer so much.
　Until then, I'll mask myself as a good, hard-working kid and turn the tables on those who have been deceived.

　That was the first strong feeling Dionis Harberg had.

　And the second--.

◆.

　With the sword borrowed from his parents, he does his daily barefooting.
　In the quiet forest, the only sound is the sound of the blade cutting the wind.
　As I listened to the sound, I thought strongly that I hated swinging the sword.
　The sweat would stain my body, my arms would get tired, and it would be a bad thing.
　The only good thing about it is that I can feel that I am getting more and more comfortable with the sword every day.

　It's been a year since I started holding a sword.
　By this time, I was already the best of all the children in the village when it came to fighting with a sword.

''Haha ...... why is there no way to get stronger quickly like this?''

　After finishing his bare swing, he put down his sword and moved on to training his magic.
　I'll be dealing with the most appropriate water-attribute magic.
　Thanks to the fact that I read all the magic books in the village, I am proud to be the best in the village when it comes to water attribute magic.
　The training of this magic is also hard because of the exhaustion of magic power.

　To conclude, I don't like training.
　And here comes another reason for my dislike.

Good job. You really do work hard every day without fail, don't you?

　A woman scrambled through the trees and tactlessly walked into the secret training grounds.
　Her concentration was broken, and the magical power that had been gathering in her palms was dissipating.

''Hey, Shirley. Training is meaningless if you don't continue to train every day.''

　Frustrated at being interrupted, I smile at the girl my age who came in, hiding her true feelings.
　A brown-skinned girl with light brown hair pulled back at the shoulder - Shirley.
　Two horns sprouting from her forehead come into view, and I feel terribly uncomfortable.

''I see, that's right. Father said that he has to work hard every day too. But Dionis is great. I can't keep working out hard every day, you know.'

　-- you're mocking me for being the lackey anyway, by saying that, aren't you?

　I don't say the words that are in my heart.
　I've decided that my last moment of killing the villagers will be the last time I tell them the truth.

"I'm not great. It's just that I'm not as good as others. Instead, I have to work harder than the others.

　The smile he gave me, his attitude, everything he said was false, but the abominable thing was that he only meant what he said.

'...... I see.'

　Dionis is awesome, Sherley repeats the flattery.

　I don't understand this woman.
　Why does she persistently follow me around like this?
　When I'm working out in the forest, this woman will always call out to me.
　It's uncomfortable and I don't know what her intentions are, and it's weird.

I'm sorry to have interrupted you. Continue?
'Yeah, I will. I'm sorry I haven't been very good to you.

　Charley continues to stare at me as I resume my training.
　Really, I don't understand.

◆

　Several years have passed since then.
　After I had passed fifteen, I was allowed to participate in a tournament held every few years.
　It's a contest to compare the skills of magic, swordsmanship and body arts.
　I participated in the tournament and naturally won.

　My parents are in tears of joy, and my sister is waving at me, her face red with excitement.

　There is no one in this village who can beat me anymore.
　This is the result of all the training I've been doing.
　I've been looked down upon for a long time, and I've overtaken those who were standing idly by.
　They have proven themselves to be inferior to me, the lackey.

　So.
　Why aren't I happy?
　The cheers, the accolades, the fact that we won, it all doesn't matter.

''- Oh, you don't even know you're being disrespected.

　I hear voices.
　Repeatedly, repetitively, the sweet poison that eats away at my thoughts seeps into my brain.

　Unable to bear it, I disappeared from the hall.
　I headed for the usual forest.
　He sat down on a rock and stared at the ground without a care in the world.
　The reverberations behind my ears made me want to throw up.

'-- I knew you were here.

　As if to drown out the reverberations, I heard a voice.
　I looked up and saw Shirley standing there.

'I've been in the heat of battle, a little winded, you know. See, it's quiet and cool here, right?

You're not really happy about it, are you?

　Shirley hesitantly uttered those words as if to cover the words she had mended.
　For a moment, I stopped to think.

'...... Maybe I worried about you. If so, I'm sorry. But it's really nothing, you know.

Then why do you look like you're in such pain?

　I put my hand to my face with a huff, but what's there is my usual expression.
　It's the same fake expression as always, supposedly mended.
　And yet Charley's eyes seemed to be looking beneath such a mended mask.

'What,'

'I was too scared to ask for a long time. ...... but when I saw Dionis win the tournament, I knew if I didn't say it now, there was nothing I could do about it.

So what?

Dionysus, don't you always lie to me?　To me and to my family.

　Jesus.
　What the f*ck is wrong with you?

"I knew it. I've noticed that Dionysus is always making overtures to people. It's because you're in pain.

...... You know what, Shirley? I'm not quite sure what you're getting at.

Dionysus always seemed to have a hard time saying the things he didn't want to say and putting on a smile he didn't want to put on.

I don't understand. Would you stop that?

'I'm anxious ....... What people think of me.

----

　I was speechless at the sight of those eyes staring at me.

'So no matter what people tell me, I can't take it. I'm afraid that they're lying to me too. So, Dionis also lies to everyone and tries not to tell the truth.

...... Stop it.

And the reason is... --Horns, right?

I told you to stop!

　When I heard those words, I was screaming.
　I couldn't control what was building up inside my chest so I could blurt it all out.

'Anxiety?　Anxiety?　Who do you think you're talking to?　Why do I have to feel that way about every single thing you guys are thinking!　Enough of your bullshit!　I don't have one corner, for sure!　But I'm still stronger than you guys!　While you guys were sitting on your two horns, you were overtaken by me, who was looking down on you!　How could I be so insecure about these people who are weaker than me!

...... Yeah. That's the real Dionysus, isn't it?

'Ha!　Oh, yeah. This is the real me. I'm fooling all of you who pity me and look down on me, and I'm looking down on the opposite!　What do you think, Sherley? Everything you've seen of me is a lie!　You're in shock, eh?

　I rolled it up and asked for Shirley's reaction.
　If it was all a lie, how did this woman feel about it?
　That's what I wanted to know.

'Sure, I was a bit surprised. But I like Dionysus now too.

　--Suki?

　Do you like to have a spare moment?

What the hell?　That's not a nice thing to say.

　Don't be silly, my gut churned.
　How far do I have to go to mock you to make you feel better, my vision turns red with rage.

'Don't you dare look down on me, Shirley!

　I can't stop myself now.
　I can blurt out all the true nature that I've been hiding.

'You're always like that!　You think you can mock me and pity me and disrespect me because I'm a lackey!　You think you love me so much that you were born with this body?　I wanted to have two horns!　I wish I could have had that, which you guys take for granted!　But I can't help it!　I'm not going to get another horn, no matter what I do!　So I'm going to be stronger than anyone else. And I'm going to confront you guys with the fact that I'm inferior to even those who are lacking horns!

'I'm not looking down on you!'

Yeah?

They don't look down on Dionysus.

　What are you talking about, man?
　Doesn't anyone look down on me?
　I don't think so.

What the hell do you know, huh?　I know things!　You come here all the time to look down on me as I work out in my sweat, don't you?　You think it's hilarious that I'm the lackey and that I'm trying to be something I'm not?

"No!

It's not the same!　Then why do you always come to this place to see me?

That's because I--

　I hear a voice.

'- Oh, you don't even know you're being disrespected, do you?

　Everyone looks down on me.　
　Everyone thinks you're stupid.
　Even Charley has looked down on me.

　I can hear the voices.
　I hear voices. I hear voices. I hear voices. I hear voices ----


''--Because I like Dionysus, you know!


　A roar, which drowned out the resounding voice.
　Just after I saw the leaves fall from the trees at the volume of his voice.
　I felt a soft touch on my lips.

'----'

　Right in front of me was Shirley's face.

'!　!　!!!???????

　I don't know why we are so close to each other, I don't know what I want, I don't know what I want, I don't understand.

　I'm sure you'll be able to find a way to make your life easier.
　There's a pause of a few seconds, and then I finally understand what he's done to me.　
　And faster than I can say anything else.

I like Dionysus.

　Charley repeated the words.

'I've always admired Dionysus for working out. My parents often make me work out a lot, too. I know I have to do it, but it's hard, it's painful, and I wanted to stop ...... so I ran away from home and ran away to this forest. That's where I found you to keep working out.

----

'If you haven't noticed, Dionysus looks very uncomfortable when he's working out. That's why I couldn't understand why he was working out in such a disgusting way. You've been working out so hard, and no one is watching, but you've been working out so hard. It's not like anyone could blame you for quitting, but Dionis didn't stop working out, even when the weather was bad and the wind was strong. I thought that was really cool. It's hard to keep up with something you don't want to do, because it's hard to keep up with something you don't want to do. ...... And then I started wanting to watch Dionis all the time, and then I realized ...... that I liked him.

I don't have enough horns, so I'm an idiot.

'I was watching you from a distance at first, and I didn't realize you didn't have horns. Sure, I didn't know about the horns when I first fell in love with you. But you see, even after I found out ...... that you were missing horns, my feelings for you didn't change at all.

It's a lie. Even if it were true, you don't know what I'd feel if I didn't have horns.

　As I was about to say that, Shirley reached for her corner.
　And then, with a snap.
　Without any hesitation, he snapped one of the horns.

"-Now we're all together.

　Looking at me, Shirley laughed.
　Large tears were floating in the corners of her eyes, probably due to the intense pain.
　My skin is covered in sweat and my body is trembling with pain.
　And yet, Shirley is laughing.

''You ...... you, what are you doing?''

I did this because I wanted to understand what Dionysus was going through.

Come on, baby.

　I still hear the voice.

'-- even if we accepted it without looking down on it, it wouldn't be kindness.

　It wasn't my voice anymore.
　I don't know who it belonged to.
　The voice echoes in my head like a curse.

　I don't know.
　Why would this woman throw away her horns?

Why would she go to such lengths?

I told you. I told you I loved you.

'I only slipped up on you because you won the tournament anyway. Deep down, you must be looking down on me. Can I really trust you?''

　I hear a voice.

'Can't you believe it: ......?'

　Shirley nodded at me.

'----'

　With his body, he hugged her.

'-- I like you, 'Dionys Harberg'. That's why I want to be with you. That's why I want to help you.

　I want to help.
　Those are words that come out of your disrespect for me.

　-- and I didn't think it was.

　The warmth that comes through the skin, the words, the moist eyes, the broken horns.
I'm not sure why I believed it was the real thing, but it was.

Why do I like ......?

Yeah. I like it.

　The voice that had been echoing grew distant.

'You don't have horns, do you?　Besides, that's just who I am, you know?

'I'm with you on the lack of horns. Besides, I liked the way Dionysus kept trying. It was nice to know why he kept trying.

'What's that. You're not an idiot ...... for folding to the corner. You've got bad taste ......?

I've fallen in love with ......, I can't help it.

Oh, come on, don't be so cocky. Besides, you're not--

　A soft object touches my lips.
　Words are interrupted.

'I only do this to people I like.

----

　I'm not sure.
　I'm not sure, but I can't look directly at Shirley's face.
　I feel like my head is going to explode.
　I don't know what I'm thinking, like, kissing me out of the blue, or breaking a corner or something.

"It's not really ...... stupid, it's not really .......

　Things I don't understand flood my eyes and I can't stop.
　My vision becomes distorted and I can't see anything.
　It's a distraction.
　But for some reason, I didn't feel bad about it.


　--I'm not going to be able to get a good deal more than a few of these.

　
　After that, a lot of things happened.
　The broken horn of Charley and the true feelings I had been hiding from everyone.
　All of this I told my parents.

"Dionysus. "Dionysus, you're my son in good standing, even with one horn.
I'm just happy that you're healthy.

　After my parents said that.

But I'm sorry I didn't see it coming.

　Then he broke his own corner.
　Without any hesitation, as did Charley.
　Even my sister, who had seen this, tried to break her own corner.

　Then it finally dawned on me.

　It wasn't that everyone was being nice to me and being nice to me because they were feeling sorry for me.
　It's such an obvious thing that I finally realized that it's not just because they were pitying me.


◆


　--I was remembering that in the midst of the battle.

　Right in front of me is my companion.

　Amatsu, who is sweet and stubborn, but has good roots.
　He is stubborn and strong-minded, but he's also a caring person.
　Lucifina, who is stupid and kind, and who is quick to sacrifice herself.

　Although I wouldn't say this to their faces.
　They are very, very important to me.

　Fighting against my friends is a silver-haired demon.
　Ortegia Van Zalefeld.
　He's the king of demons, and he's determined to destroy all other races except demons.

　Humans and demons have joined forces to fight against the Demon King's army.
　I'm riding into the Demon King's castle with the best human forces to fight the Demon King.

　Ortegia was overwhelming.
　Even if it took four of us to fight with him, we couldn't defeat him.
　On the contrary, I had lost my sword and was lying on the ground.

　Amatsu and the others continued to fight Ortegia with wounds all over their bodies.

It's impossible for two species to coexist. Do you really think you can make such a sweet dream come true?

　Ortegia said, overwhelming Amatsu and the others.
Oh, I nodded inwardly.
　It's too sweet, it's a repulsive dream, really.

'But that guy really thinks he can make it happen,'

　Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Amatsu rolling on the ground.
　In front of him, Ortegia is about to release a thrust with her great sword.

　Amatsu can't move.
　Lucifina and Liuzas can't get there in time either.
　I'm the only one who can do it.

　The sword is broken and gone.
　There's not much magic left.
　But I do have the body I was born with as a demon!

You can go to ......

　The big sword stabbed into my stomach as I interrupted it.
　My consciousness turns white with the heat running through my body.

"Ol' Teggia.
......!

　Ortegia tries to pull the blade out, but he grabs it with both hands to stop it.

'The coexistence of all races. This ...... and it's a stupid dream. I ...... think so too.
"If you're ......, why are you helping Amatsu?
That's what I'm trying to create.

　No, no.

It's because I have someone who wants you to live in such a nice world.

----

And we won. Ortegia.

　Amatsu isn't the kind of man to waste my time.
　Right behind me, I see that Amatsu has activated the Demon Heavenly Fall (Eclipse).

You ......!

　Ortegia throws down her sword and tries to escape from the scene.
　But he doesn't let it go.
　With the last of his strength, he activates his water-attribute magic.

''-- "Great Water Ball".

　Myself, I trapped Ortegia in a giant ball of water.
　Against Ortegia, there was only a moment of time to be earned.
　But it was enough.

　I can feel the jet-black light coming towards us.

''--I like Dionysus.

　I remembered Charley's words.

　If we can defeat Ortegia, the long-lasting war will be over for now.
　I believe that after that, Amatsu and others will create a peaceful world.
　Even if I'm not there - as long as Shirley and the others are happy, that's fine.

　Will they be sad when I die?

　My cheeks loosened at the obvious answer, and I said at last.
　In the end, I was too embarrassed to say it to him because I was too embarrassed to say it in person.


'I--I love you, Charley,'


　With a feeling of contentment, I was surrounded by light.