The family enjoyed a meal together watching television. Suddenly, my daughter asked, “What does ‘rape’ mean?” The dinner table fell silent, and the parents struggled to answer. I felt the same way…
“What do you mean by that?”
Don’t jump in, Sophia! Silence is the correct response to this conversation, and I hate how you crave to know the answer, digging like this.
“It means exactly what it sounds like. The ultimate reward for merit in battle is Mikael!”
“The reward is the Captain…”
“P-Priscilla…”
“Listen carefully. This battle is crucial for ending the war. If we take the Demon Lord’s head, the war will end. So, who will be credited with ending this war? The one who takes the Demon Lord’s head ends the war. It’s only natural to receive the maximum reward.”
“Th-That’s right!”
“Besides! Even if the war doesn’t end, we mercenaries will be dismissed. We’ll lose our chance to get paid.”
“Why is that?”
“It’s because of the scientific weapon you deployed. The monsters can’t return to Nordland. If they can’t, they’ll set up camp in Lauenstein. Then the Allied Forces can just surround them and wait for them to self-destruct. In that case, mercenaries won’t be needed.”
“Wait a minute! A siege requires a considerable number of troops. I doubt they would dismiss mercenaries.”
“Reinforcements are coming from Ashtal, right? Mercenaries would be a hindrance to them earning merit.”
This person is thinking of something else! But I’m thinking too. The Annihilation Brigade and the New White Lily Corps will be disbanded… The Annihilation Brigade will be disbanded, and the White Lily Corps will remain as my direct subordinate unit.
“I understand that mercenaries are a hindrance to knights earning merit. That’s plausible. However, I am the Supreme Commander of the Allied Forces, the Hero! And I am also a Count of the Ashtal Empire.”
“Even so! Why did you become the Hero? Why did you become a Count?”
“That’s…”
It feels like I was chosen as the Hero in a rather haphazard way… And for the Count title, it feels like it was a temporary measure because a Baron’s rank didn’t suit a Hero… To be precise, I’m a “quasi-Count,” without territory, and only for one generation.
“That’s… because I’m cool…”
I dodged the flying knife. Jokes are forbidden when things are serious. Don’t be scared by a mere knife, Alma! The pressure on my back feels like it might react in my lower body.
“Whether you’re the Hero or a Count, you’ll be dismissed once the siege begins. No country can afford to keep a high-paid individual without territory.”
I’ve already anticipated this. I’ll return to being a Baron and work as a mercenary for Ashtal without opposing them. I’ll go back to how I was before the Demon Army invaded.
“So, this is the last opportunity to make some money?”
“We can make money. It’s just that there are no more places to earn significant merit.”
The White Lilies fell silent, contemplating. Alana played alone, while Sophia clung to my left hand, pressing her chest against it. Alma, on the other hand, started kissing my cheek, not listening at all.
“…There’s only one thing to do. …Having done it, there’s only one thing to receive.”
Oh? Has the “interval” shortened a bit? The White Lily Corps became agitated by Christine’s words. This is a situation with no refusal in sight.
“Wait!”
The hand that had been holding me on my left pulled away. I wanted to enjoy the sensation a little longer, but a helping hand is always welcome. Please tell everyone what Sophia is thinking.
“If the reward is singular, is it first come, first served!?”
The helping hand sank. It must have hit an iceberg. No help is coming. What is the Coast Guard doing?
“Of course. There’s only one Demon Lord, and only one Mikael.”
“In that case…”
“Wait!”
Priscilla stopped Sophia as she tried to stand up. I hope she’ll wait too. I haven’t agreed to being the reward yet.
“No cutting corners. Let’s do this fair and square. How about we start after Orietta activates the scientific weapon tomorrow?”
“That would be somewhat unfair. Considering the distance of the bridge, Priscilla and Alana would have an advantage. The start should be once we reach Lauenstein Castle.”
“Mmm… Well, I suppose so. Is it alright to start after entering Lauenstein?”
“B-But there might be the Demon Army in Lauenstein…”
“So? Are you quitting?”
“Absolutely not. We can just slice through the Demon Lord, the Demon Army, and the castle itself…”
“It’s decided then. Whoever takes the Demon Lord’s head will also take Mikael’s head!”
Tomorrow, I will ascend the gallows.
I left the excited White Lily Corps behind. Behind me, they slept, lulled by comforting words of a sweet future with me, occasionally trembling from bursts of killing intent.
I’m not sleeping. Thoughts come to me like a bargain sale for Aunties, crashing in waves. I ponder, quietly, not letting go of the deals I’ve grabbed.
Have I come this far… The day before defeating the Demon Lord… Born and died in Japan, sent to another world, fighting daily and falling in a mutual kill with the Demon Lord. Displeased with the outcome, God sent me back to the past again to fight once more as the Hero.
With the White Lily Corps, let’s achieve an ending that God will be satisfied with. This is what God desires, and my purpose for living now. This time, I received the cheat ability “Godspeed.”
In my past life, it was my last resort, usable only once, that led to the mutual kill. Now, it can be activated constantly, and I can reach Mode Six speeds.
Godspeed, which I’m accustomed to using. I don’t know how powerful the Demon Lord is, but I’m confident I can win if I catch him off guard. I believe I’ve been through enough life-or-death battles for that.
In both my past and present lives, the same discussion arose the day before facing the Demon Lord. In my past life, it was about marriage; in this life, it’s about my head. The purpose is likely the same. I truly don’t believe they’ll take my head.
At that time, in my past life, I recklessly went ahead and defeated the Demon Lord alone. It wasn’t that I was scared of the marriage proposal, but rather… it wasn’t the ending God desired, so I am here in this world once more.
Is defeating the Demon Lord with the White Lily Corps the ending God desires? If we live, we have tomorrow. And the day after, and a year from now. I believe the ending of life is death.
Even if defeating the Demon Lord ends the major war, a siege awaits afterward, and my position remains uncertain. Even if God calls it an ending, it’s not my end.
If the ending is death, will I die with the White Lily Corps tomorrow? If that’s the ending God desires, I will resist with my life. At the very least, I will not allow even a single White Lily to wither. Such an ending is unwanted.
The ending God desires might be different from the ending I envision. However, I am here to fulfill the ending God desires.
Defeat the Demon Lord, and everyone survives. Isn’t that the correct ending? If that’s not the case… we will become the Demon Lord’s sacrifice, and he will rule the world.
God desires “God’s desired ending.” What does “desired” mean? The Hero wins, and the game ends. Are there any games that end with the protagonist losing?
Such a game wouldn’t sell, would it? You can’t create the games you want to create. If you’re going to make something, it has to be a game that sells, or the company will go bankrupt. However, I have a feeling our president chooses to create games he wants to make over ones that sell.
If that’s the case…
While I was thinking, the White Lily Corps also fell asleep. I should rest too. Tomorrow will be a long day…
Wake up at six. Depart at seven. It’s currently four-thirty. The reason I woke up on schedule is probably because I slept poorly. I’ve decided. Against the White Lily Corps… against God, I will rebel.
I don’t know what the ending will be. If I survive, my game will continue until I die. It might be alone, or it might be with the White Lily Corps.
I want to be with the White Lily Corps until our hair turns white… No, that’s not quite right. The person I want to be with until our final moments…
Defeat the Demon Lord. Alone. It won’t end the same as my previous life. I have Godspeed Mode Six, and Mind’s Eye at my disposal.
“Captain, looks like you’re awake.”
“Hmph. Finish it off and let him sleep!”
“But he seems like he wants to say something.”
From the moment I woke up, my body was numb and immobile. Only my well-functioning brain and eyes could move. Seeing the White Lily Corps change was a feast for my eyes, and Alana was still wearing her sports bra.
“Sophia, just fix his head. The rest of you, hurry with your equipment.”
Sophia cast a healing magic, and only the numbness in my head subsided, allowing my mouth to move.
“Priscilla! What is the meaning of this!”
Priscilla approached stealthily, but I, with my iron-clad reinforced shoes, kicked her. She flew through the air and crashed to the ground, obeying gravity.
Heh. It doesn’t hurt. My body is numb and paralyzed. The spot where my head hit hurts, but I’m okay. I’m worried if my internal organs have ruptured, though.
“You were awake, weren’t you?! Tell me what you were planning!”
“…T-The toilet.”
“Sophia, take off her pants and roll her away.”
“No, no! I’m just kidding, Priscilla! Sophia, stop! I’m kidding!”
Jokes are forbidden at times like these. Priscilla, who doesn’t take jokes lightly, and Sophia, who’s about to take off my pants, believing me. It’s difficult to be in the middle.
“You were planning to go alone, weren’t you? To defeat the Demon Lord by yourself and play the Hero? Don’t mess with the reward!”
Weren’t we supposed to defeat the Demon Lord together? Was I to be left behind from the start? This is unacceptable! Do you intend to defeat the Demon Lord without even knowing his power!? But I can do it. I can finish him before he uses his power.
“P-Priscilla…”
“Mikael stays here. After killing the Demon Lord, you’re mine!”
Priscilla said so and kissed me passionately, as if reluctant to part from the sleeping me.
“Oh, Priscilla, that’s unfair. Captain, after this is over, let’s live together.”
Sophia gave me a gentle kiss.
“I want one too. After killing the Demon Lord, I’ll grow wheat with the Captain.”
Alana gave a kiss with intense fangs.
“Captain~. I’m going to replace all of your body parts~.”
Olietta gave a light kiss while touching her prosthetic left hand.
“My heart dances at the thought of this blood being mine for eternity.”
Rufina bit her lip and licked the blood.
“…”
Christine placed her hand on my chest, causing a slight cardiac arrest, and left without a kiss.
“I’ll stay here.”
“Hmph! If you don’t go, how will we know what the Demon Lord looks like!”
“We’ll find out if we go. Besides, it doesn’t matter who takes the Demon Lord’s head and gets the reward.”
“What are you saying!?”
“I am a believer in polygamy. I already belong to Mikael.”
“Get on a horse if you don’t want to die here! We’ll settle this after we take the Demon Lord’s head! Everyone, mount up! Let’s go! Take the Demon Lord’s head! The reward is Mikael!”
Leaving me behind, the seven White Lilies disappeared into the darkness.
