Cutting Ties
Now, get lost.
To be honest, I never really liked you. After all, in this novel, you were always just indecisive and wavering.
Of course, I knew that was part of how the story was supposed to progress, but that didn't make the discomfort any less.
The female lead managing the harem. The rationalizations in the narrative. And the male leads trapped in that harem, unable to escape.
Still.
The reason I kept an eye on you was pretty simple. You were my childhood friend in this world, and more importantly, the heroine destined to save the world.
Helping you not fall apart and instilling proper values was all for that reason.
But you're still the same.
I looked at her with a smile, surrounded by men whose gazes were lowered.
Each face was a guarantee, each name worth the empire's support.
Just from their eyes, I could tell they were all smitten with her.
So, to be clear, I never liked her. Not even once as a man, so this isn't jealousy.
It's just the instinctive disgust I feel when I see an irredeemable human.
Letting out a long sigh, I ran my hand through my hair and turned away without a second thought.
It was as if our eyes had met for a moment, but that didn't matter.
'Of course.'
People don't change, they say.
I've been telling her for over ten years not to do that, but she still doesn't listen.
'She's hopeless.'
Whether she builds a harem or falls for one guy, I didn't care.
In fact, the more I could hook those men, the better for me.
What does it matter when the world is ending?
I wasn't going to date or marry her anyway.
If those guys went crazy and poured all their resources into her, I'd be grateful.
No, the more it went that way, the better.
The problem was...
Because it's a harem.
No one chooses, no one rejects. In the end, they can't escape that big harem.
As someone who knows how this novel ends, I hated it even more.
They band together to fight, but instead of focusing on the front, they fight each other.
If the front breaks and the defense line collapses, they bet their lives on one woman, and the world ends.
'Please, at least be realistic in that part.'
Please.
No, even if it's not realistic, it might fit the romance fantasy genre.
For the extra, that ending is just shitty.
Well.
Begging like that won't change the predetermined end.
Since I don't have a second life, I should give up on plan one and go with plan two.
Letting out a deep sigh, I adjusted the sword at my waist.
If I could, I'd kill them all and start over.
But that's impossible.
At the very least, the men entangled with that woman are the roots supporting the empire.
I should warn them not to fight later.
But whether they listen to me or not is doubtful.
Right now, all they're doing is trying to stop me because I'm her childhood friend and next to her.
'Fuck.'
Plan one, which I put the most effort into, is gone.
But plan two is in progress, so maybe it won't fail.
To stop the world from ending, I have to twist my whole body.
With that thought, as I left the banquet hall, I stopped when I heard footsteps behind me.
It was familiar footsteps.
I didn't need to turn to know who it was.
“Allen...!! Where are you going...?”
She must have run hurriedly, because her dazzling blonde hair was disheveled.
Her cheeks were flushed red, as if she'd had a few drinks.
With her high heels, she came running, and I faced her with the thought that this might be my last chance.
The protagonist of this world.
Elina Leonhardt.
As the protagonist and center of the reverse harem, her beauty was stunning.
Having put in hours of effort into makeup and attire for the banquet, she was even more beautiful.
But that was it.
With the world's destruction looming right in front of me, romance was a luxury.
Even if I were to fall in love with someone, I probably wouldn't end up with her.
Because I hated her so much, I didn't even like her when reading the novel.
“Time to go. No time to fool around here.”
Looking down at her indifferently, I answered, and she grabbed my sleeve and continued.
“Let's go together. I'll pack my bags quickly.”
“No.”
What I wanted from Elina wasn't love or affection.
Just friendship and trust. More than that, camaraderie.
I just wanted a good ally to leave my back to.
No matter how many times I said it, she went her own way, as she wished.
It was her choice, and I didn't blame her.
Just.
“Go play with your men.”
That choice was one I couldn't join.
Look at her now, surprised and startled by my words, but her lips twitching with joy.
Do you think I don't know?
It's been over ten years since I started watching you from the side.
Swallowing the rising sigh, I looked down at her.
“You don't mean that with those people, right? You know...?”
The issue is that attitude.
You still don't get it.
“I can't go with you anymore.”
Actually.
If it were up to me, I might have left a little opening.
After all, I thought it was necessary to stop the end.
But the anger that the efforts so far had gone to waste rose up.
“Hah? Hah? What...?”
“Even if I say it, it won't change. You're hopeless.”
Elina stared at me blankly, as if she didn't understand my words.
With that face that knew nothing, irritation surged, and I ran my hand through my hair again and continued.
“Now, get lost. It pisses me off.”
Destruction?
Fuck, when it comes to the end, you'll all jump in.
If the world ends, do I die alone? We'll all die together.
In the end, the only thing you're doing is fooling around now.
Soon, their invasion will start, and marriage, romance, everything will be pushed to the back.
Letting out a sigh that rose to the tip of my head with the anger, I turned away without a second thought.
“Ah, Allen...? Allen...?”
Shaking off her hand grabbing my clothes, I left the banquet hall.
What a fucking day.
It was a day where all the efforts of decades had gone to waste, but I couldn't stop because of despair.
It wasn't for some grand cause.
If you don't want to die, move.
[World Destruction Quest]
Prevent World Destruction!
Death upon failure!
As if it was natural, I let out a dry laugh while looking at the message that popped up in the corner of my vision.
If the world ends, isn't it obvious that we'll all die?
@
Allen Dehvert.
He was Elina Leonhardt's childhood friend.
The eldest son of the Dehvert Count family.
The eldest son of the Dehvert Count family and a scoundrel.
Originally, according to the novel's content, he was a disposable villain character who would be used in the story and then disappear.
I twisted that future, and I've been able to live until now.
All the actions I've taken by surviving like that were just to prevent the world's destruction.
To stop the end, I had to change Elina's attitude and raise her potential.
“Sigh.”
Now, what good is that?
That crazy man-crazy woman goes crazy for men.
Letting out a breath, I loosened the tie around my neck and undid the top two buttons, feeling my breathing ease.
“Really.”
Annoying.
No matter how I rationalized it, the irritation kept rising.
The situation where I had to clash with the biggest asset, the heroine.
It wasn't pleasant to have to take the hard way when the easy path was there.
On top of that.
'I'm going to have to fight my father too.'
No matter what, the image of my father doting on Elina like a daughter-in-law entered my mind.
I didn't even want to imagine what would happen if this got out.
Still...
'It's refreshing.'
By reading the novel and living in this world, I was able to relieve some of the old emotions.
It felt like a weight had been lifted from my chest.
Well, then.
I guess I have to take responsibility for the aftermath myself.