After a while, the Demon Queen stopped crying and regained her composure.
“…Come to think of it, we’ve been traveling together for four days now, and we barely know anything about each other.
Like what you just told us, Demon Queen… and we don’t even know each other’s ages.
We don’t even know your name.”
Christopher looked around at the group.
“Why don’t we do a quick introduction?
Especially since Ligan just joined us.”
The Demon Queen frowned slightly, but before she could respond—
“Yeah, sounds good,” Zeke said casually.
“Alright, I’ll start,” Christopher said.
“My name is Christopher Ostrein. I’m 17 years old.
You can call me Chris—Zeke already does.
I was the commander of the Ice Knights in the Twaizaran Royal Army.
I became the youngest knight commander in history… though compared to Zeke and the Demon Queen, I’m nowhere near their level.”
Next, Ligan stepped forward.
“I’m Ligan! I’m from the Baby Licant tribe here on Mount Nishino. I’m 16!”
“…Wait, what?”
Zeke and the Demon Queen burst out laughing.
“This kid is only one year younger than me!?” Christopher thought in disbelief.
“Hey! Stop laughing!!!”
Still surrounded by laughter, Ligan’s introduction came to an end.
“Alright, my turn,” Zeke said.
“I’m Zeke Astrey. I’m 19.
I hate anything that’s a hassle.
If possible, I’d rather do absolutely nothing.
My ideal day is just lazing around from morning to night.”
…That did not sound like something a hero should say.
But after traveling with him for four days, Christopher knew—
That statement was completely accurate.
Zeke was lazy. Sloppy. Unmotivated.
Back in Twaizaran, he had only acted properly because he didn’t want to cause trouble in an unfamiliar place.
Even during this journey, whenever monsters attacked,
nine times out of ten, it was either Christopher or the Demon Queen who fought.
Zeke would eat and leave food all over his face.
He’d change clothes and somehow put them on backwards.
And the Demon Queen would scold him every single time.
Even now—he hadn’t helped prepare the fire or the meal at all.
Other than his overwhelming combat ability,
there was nothing about him that resembled a “hero.”
Which made Christopher wonder.
“…Zeke,” he said,
“if you hate effort and just want to laze around… why did you set out on a journey to defeat the Demon Queen in the first place?”
Zeke fell silent for a moment.
“…My sister,” he said quietly.
“She died in a demon attack.”
Christopher’s expression stiffened.
“We lost our parents when we were young.
She was my only family.”
“She was engaged to a guy named Craig—the commander of the knights in our country.”
“They were just about to start a happy life together…”
His voice dropped.
“Then demons attacked.
She got caught in it… and died.”
Silence fell over the group.
“Craig lost it.
He swore he’d avenge her and went after the Demon King immediately.”
Zeke looked down.
“He was a great guy.
He truly loved my sister.”
“I loved her too. More than anything.”
“And I liked Craig just as much.
So I didn’t want him to die.”
“…That’s why I went with him.”
Zeke let out a small breath.
“Craig was insanely strong.
Way stronger than some other knight commanders I know.”
Christopher chose to ignore that comment.
“At first, he taught me swordsmanship and magic while we traveled.”
“But even he couldn’t handle the demons alone.
So I had to step in more and more.”
“And somewhere along the way…
I surpassed him.”
“I kept defeating demons and monsters… and before I knew it—
people started calling me a hero.”
For once, Zeke’s expression carried a hint of sadness.
“…Zeke,” Christopher said softly,
“you really loved your sister, didn’t you?”
“…Yeah.”
Zeke smiled faintly.
“She was always looking out for me.”
“Even when I turned 18 and didn’t get a job—just lazing around all day—
she never complained once.”
“She cooked, cleaned, did everything for me.”
“The food was amazing. It was the perfect life.”
He raised his head, suddenly energized.
“That perfect life existed because of my sister!!!”
…
Christopher stared at him.
“…This guy really is the worst kind of hero.”
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