'Ahhhh~!　I said something outrageous in the heat of the moment: ～～～～!　What are we going to do now that we're going to see each other so many times!
　When I came back to my room, I was propped up on my bed, screaming at what I had done .

'Oh no! ...... What do I have to look like next time I see Elaine?'
　This is definitely going to be awkward!
　No, that's Elaine telling me that a guy she doesn't like suddenly told her how much he meant to her.
　Yeah, I'm really sorry about that.

'But what can you do when someone says they like a stinky woman like that?
　And when he saw that sad look on Hélène's face, he couldn't help but tell her how he felt and what a wonderful woman she was.

Yeah. I didn't do anything wrong. . no, it's Hélène's fault too, right?

What's wrong with me?

Wow!
　Suddenly Elaine's voice flew in and I hurriedly jumped off the bed, and I saw Elaine, her face bright red, coming very close to the bed .

...... How long have you been here?

Just now . Specifically, he was there when you were talking about that stinky woman.

Yeah, yeah, .......
　He said he was asked about most of it: .......

""......"
　Look, it's still awkward.

"...... Well, ...... I've got a lot to say, but I'll just say this first. You're making a mistake, aren't you?

'What?　Wrong?

Yeah. When did I tell you I had a crush on you?

'So, but you asked me how to make a man fall in love with you.　Didn't you hear that because someone wants to make you fall in love with them?
　That's what you're asking, isn't it?

'Oh ...... that's what it was all about . Huh, I hate to say this because I'm actually embarrassed, but ...... I can't help it.

'That was, you know, ...... a question designed to make you fall in love with me.

'What?　To make you fall in love with me?
　Elaine's words didn't make me think at all .

'Yes . So when you told me that you'd fall in love with me if you were nice to me, I talked to Aaron and we came up with a plan to use holy magic to heal your wounds!　Bad?

Wow, it's not that bad.

Okay, then.
　No, it's not bad, but it's not ...... bad, is it?

"Ma, seriously, ...... why do you want to make me fall in love with you?　You were talking about all that incompetence and incompetence.

It's .......

Isn't there an explanation for this?

No. Why would I?　I like you so much.

Hmm.
　From Elaine's hasty reaction, I don't think she genuinely likes me.
　Maybe Elaine has some other reason to make me fall in love with her.

What?　Are you doubting me?

No, no.
　Well, I wouldn't mind being fooled by Elaine.
　It's nice to hear that you like her, even if it's a lie.

Okay. Well, I guess I'll just go back to my room.

Oh, wait a minute, he went to .......
　We could have talked some more if we wanted to.
　Well, I'm tired and I'm going to bed.


　Boom!
Are you the brave one?

Yes, but ...... what about you?
　I'll lie in bed, and then we'll go to bed!　Just as I was saying that, a couple of guys walked into my room.
　One of them is about two years younger than me, a stocky, fat boy who looks very much like a 'bonbon' and a knight-like man about the same age who serves him.

'Me?　I am the next king, Matthias.

"Matthius. ....... How many incoming kings do we have in this country?
　Hélène said herself that she was the next queen or something?

No way!　There is only one king. I deserve better than Elaine and Leeds.　So I should be the king.
　To hear you say that, it means that right now Elaine or Leeds has a better chance of being king than you do .

Really. So what do you want from me?



You!　If you didn't tell me earlier, I'd be flippant ...... disrespectful to your highness!
　Maybe he didn't like the fact that I was acting so high and mighty, but the knight-like man put his hand on his sword and got angry.
　Well, even though he looks like this, he's still a prince, so I should be respectful.

　I thought so, but Mattius showed me that this was not necessary.
"Horst, take it easy. "Horst, calm down. You'll be the one profaning yourself.
　Oh? I hadn't heard that. Well, as far as the word "in law" is concerned, it's just enough that the prince won't be offended if you don't call him a respectful term.

Yeah, it was: ......

So let me get straight to the point. Will you turn down a brave man?

What?
　No, it's so monotonous, I have no idea what you're talking about?

Now I'll save you the pain. Or I'll give you a job if you want it. Isn't all the food good in other worlds?　I'll give you my own personal chef. What do you think?

Yeah, I don't like it.
　And I can't cook. And besides, who would work for a fat guy like you when you're away from Hélène?

Instead of a brave man, you have Horst. Didn't you defeat the Witch King without the famous sage?　Then, even if you don't have any brave men, with the next Sword Saint Horst, you can at least defeat the Empire.

Yes, sir. If you had my power, the Empire would be a cakewalk.
　So he's the next great swordsman. Does that mean that he is Aaron's grandson?
　But still, don't tell me what to do.
　If you can win on your own, you wouldn't have invited me to this world in the first place.
　Well, now that I've met Elaine, I'm not that angry about being brought into this world.

"Well said, Horst. Well said, Horst." "I have high hopes for you. Ookura, the easternmost point of the Nissi ...... empire. All that good food over there will be mine.
　Wow ...... This guy is the very villain who is going to get beaten up early on by the words he's saying.
　You definitely don't want to be on this guy's side .

The only thing I can think of is that I'm not going to resign my position as a brave man or play your cook, so why don't you just leave?
　I'm tired from the training. I'm tired.

Haha ...... I'm asking so nicely.
　This is polite?　You need to learn the word "polite" before you come back to me!　No, I don't want you to come back.

Are you concerned about your sister Elaine?　Then why bother?

Hmm?　What does that mean?

She doesn't like you at all. All she cares about is jewelry. Some would say she's a jewel-crazed princess. I have to marry you to become the next queen, so I'm forced to flirt with you. And I don't want Leeds to take you away from me.
　Say Rees, do you guys only have a gem of an image for Elaine?
　The Hélène I know isn't that much of a jewelry idiot, you know?

　Well, that's a good thing: ......
What do you mean I can't be queen if I don't marry you?
　That's the first I've heard of it?

It's easy. You're a brave man, I don't know if you're really strong, but you're a symbol of strength to the kingdom. The kingdom needs you to stay. But the Empire took it from us last time. So now he wants to tie you to the kingdom by marrying you to Hélène. You can't escape to another country once you're king, can you?

Heh. ......
　Okay. So Hélène is trying to get me to fall in love with her.

So. If the king hates her, she fails to live up to his expectations. And if Leeds got married to you, she'd be useless to you for sure.
　Ah, so that's why Leeds was so hot on my trail, so she could use me to get to be queen.
　I knew it was right to distrust that guy.

That's right. So, how do you plan on being king?

I told you that in the beginning. All you have to do is tell the king that you're a useless hero. If you tell the king that you're a useless hero, then your father will know that your sister's summoning spell was a mistake. Then you'll lose all your sister's trust and thwart Leeds' plan to use you to become king.

Yeah. Yeah.


　I'm so grateful to hear you spill your guts to me.
　It's good to know a lot of things about your soon-to-be opponent.

Oh, now you understand.

No. I'm not going to quit being a hero.
　Really, thank you for the information. I'll put it to good use.

What?　You don't know how terrible your sister's character is, so you can say that!　If I'm going to marry someone like that, I'll find a better woman for you.

No. And if you say anything bad about Hélène, I'll hit you, okay?
　I got mad at Elaine for making fun of me, and I glared at the fat guy in front of me .

"d*mn it ...... no. She's already brainwashed by your sister.
　You can't brainwash me. I was in love with Hélène long before I ever had a conversation with her!

"Your Highness. Isn't that what we expected? We'll switch to a backup plan.

'Oh!　That's right. That's right.　Good job, Horst!
　A backup plan?

What now?
　From the grin on Horst's face, he looks like he's thinking about a lot of trouble: .......

'You, duel with Horst in front of your father.

What?　It doesn't matter.

Whoa. You don't have a veto. This is a test to see if you really have the power to be a hero.

d*mn it ...... that's what it is.
　If I lose, then Hélène's reputation will suffer. But if I say no, it will cast doubt on my strength.
　Well thought out: .......

What do you think?　It's not too late, okay?　Will you turn down the brave?

I would never do that.
　I just don't want to walk away from Hélène and join you, even if it kills me.

So you're okay with a duel?

One year. ...... One year later.

A year later?

Yeah, I need a year to get used to this. You guys don't want me to make excuses for you if you win, do you?
　It was the only condition I could squeeze out of it.
　Originally, Elaine had been waiting for me for a year, and that's the limit.

''That's true, too: ...... Horst, are you okay?''

"Yes, sir. I'm always good. Besides, if the brave ones weren't so great, they wouldn't be able to surpass me in a year or so.
　Horst replied to Debbie, smirking at me .
　'These guys are really disgusting.

Oh, well. Well, see you in a year. I'll see you one year later. Next year, you better be prepared not to cry if you lose big!

Enjoy it while it lasts. Next year, you'll cry.
　As I watched the two of them leave, I fired up my will to fight.
　I won't let them win, not for Hélène.
　It's going to be better than ever.