Bullying
"I've Made Up My Mind. I'm Definitely Going to Become a Saintess!"
A cool breeze swept across the field bathed in sunset light. On a hill overlooking the village, we sat side by side, gazing at the sun waving goodbye beyond the western mountains.
"Saintess... you mean?"
I turned my head, and my eyes met her lake-clear gaze. Even as she gently touched the bruise from the orphanage director, she nodded with an innocent smile.
"Yeah, I'm going to become a saintess!"
Crimson sunset hues mingled with her pink hair, making it shine even more beautifully.
"......"
"Weird?"
I stared, mesmerized by her captivating eyes, then finally spoke.
"No, not weird at all. You've got the oracle and the qualifications. Lia, you can absolutely do it."
"Hehe... right? Thanks."
I couldn't tear my eyes away from Seria's satisfied, enchanting smile.
"You know it too, Tanas. We can't keep living under that director's abuse forever."
"...Yeah."
She clenched her fists, her face serious as she looked at me.
"If I had that kind of power, I'd want to use it for the world."
"Yeah... you could do it."
A rare gift, one in a million.
"I want to create a world where kids like us don't suffer anymore."
I knew it. She was chosen.
"Yeah, Lia, you can definitely do it."
She might lead the centuries-long war against the demon race to victory, perhaps even end it.
"Will you stay with me?"
"Huh?"
So when she said that to me, my heart leaped with joy.
"...I mean, stay by my side forever."
She trailed off, shyly turning her head. Hearing words tantamount to a proposal made my heart pound wildly.
"If you'll have me, anytime..."
"For real? Promise? No cheating?"
"Of course!"
Gazing at her, brighter than any flower in the world, I firmly believed that promise would last forever.
...What a foolish thought. I, of all people, should have known how fleeting such words were. Pathetic.
Was it the blood, sweat, and tears I poured into the academy? Or the ceaseless prayers day and night? My desperate efforts were answered—the goddess chose me.
Tanas, hero of the Ersha Kingdom. Back then, I thought everything would work out.
I'd save the suffering people, stand with the other heroes against the demon king.
That's what I believed.
...Until it was revealed I couldn't use my Divine Weapon, that I was only half a hero.
"Tanas, can't you do even this one thing right?"
A sharp, tearing voice snapped my mind back to reality.
"Huh?"
I flinched involuntarily and turned around.
Lurein, the sparkling blonde mage. Our eyes met, and cold sweat trickled down my back.
Damn! What did I mess up this time? I finished the laundry, set up the tents early...
"Didn't I tell you over and over? I won't eat meat unless it's completely free of any gamey smell!!!"
She glared at me, spitting with irritation.
"...Sorry."
"The same damn apology every time! How many times has it been? Throw out that garbage and make it again!!"
Lurein growled and hurled the meat at me. Who knew how far the next village was? Wasting food like this...
I picked up the fallen food and took a bite.
"...It doesn't smell at all...?"
"Eww, disgusting... So you're saying I'm lying?"
"That's not what I meant..."
"You've hurt my feelings. I'm skipping dinner tonight!"
"S-Sorry! Lurein, I'm sorry."
But it didn't end there.
Slap!
A crisp impact echoed, followed by stinging pain.
"......"
"Hmph! That's your punishment. Reflect on it until tomorrow."
She spun away like a queen and vanished into her tent.
...At least she didn't hit me with her staff.
"Aah... Why is Tanas so utterly useless?"
I turned to see Lein, the brown-haired thief, pointing and giggling from her chair.
"...Sorry."
"Save the apologies. Do the dishes."
"L-Lein, you said you'd clean up after yourself..."
"Why? Don't wanna?"
Under her half-forced question, I could only bow my head to the ground.
"No... Got it."
In this party, I was just the errand boy—nothing more, nothing less.
How did it come to this?
Probably from that moment...
"Tanas!!"
I turned to see Arshe, the blue-haired woman, storming over with narrowed eyes.
"Wh-What? What's wrong?"
"What's wrong? Are you sane? Look at this!"
Arshe flung my outer coat at me. It was spotless, perfectly laundered. What was the problem?
"You don't even know what's wrong, do you?"
"...Sorry."
She jabbed my forehead with her finger, glaring.
"Just what—"
"......"
Poke—
"Is in—"
"......"
Pooooke—
"This head—"
"......"
Poooooke—
"Of yours?"
"......Sorry."
"It stinks! I specifically told you to use perfume last time! Do I smell or something?"
There was a faint blood scent, sure. But...
"Perfume attracts scent-sensitive monsters..."
"Shut your mouth!"
"......"
"You're hopeless. Always excuses! Ever thought of doing better? Who do you think is keeping this party together?"
"Arshe's right. Tanas has no shame. Weak as hell."
"Other heroes wield their holy sword or spear just fine, but he can't even handle his Divine Weapon..."
"My life's biggest mistake was following Tanas. Incompetent."
"Sigh... At this rate, we won't even get near the demon king's territory. ...Maybe the other heroes will come for us?"
"I hope it's the supreme Sword Hero."
Their mocking laughter stabbed like daggers into my chest.
"......"
Now, "incompetent" made me reflexively turn away. But I could still endure it.
Because I had...
"Girls, ease up. Tanas didn't mean to."
"Tch... Seria always defends him."
"Boring. I'm heading in."
...My childhood friend Seria.
"Tanas, you okay? Oh no! Handprint... I'll heal it right now."
"Yeah."
A brilliant light enveloped me, her saintess-candidate holy power surging through my body.
"Better? They're too much..."
"Th-Thanks... Seria."
"But they talk big, yet they still follow you. They'll help in a pinch."
"Y-Yeah... probably..."
That's what I thought. Pitifully.
"Criminal Tanas. You are under emergency arrest as a suspect in the imperial princess rape-murder case."
"What? No way!"
Something was wrong. Had to be.
"Suspect's fleeing! Catch him!"
I barely escaped and sought help from my comrades, but...
"Arshe, I-I'm innocent! Help me!"
"This is your karma."
"What?"
"Knew you were trash, but this level..."
Why say that...? Before I could respond, she cut me off firmly.
"Nothing more to say, then. ...Farewell. Hope we never meet again."
She turned her back, cold as her blue hair. Miserable.
"Yeah, I heard. Suspect in that gruesome murder?"
"Lurein, this isn't easy to explain..."
"So? You did it. ...We're done now."
Her response shattered my hopes.
"What did you...?"
I'd come to beg her mediation, but this felt like...
"Get lost before they think I'm an accomplice."
"L-Lurein, you..."
"Want me to turn you in? In.com.pe.tent. He.ro.?"
She tossed her glossy blonde hair, sneering mockingly. This couldn't be... All for nothing.
I stared blankly at her indifferent retreating figure. Utterly miserable.
"L-Lein, wait, talk to me...!"
"Who're you? Don't know you."
I couldn't catch her nimble form. No hesitation in her back, as if everything was over.
"......"
Truly miserable.
But the most heartbreaking was...
"Wh-What? You're serious?"
She slammed down her teacup and spoke.
"This can't be helped, right?"
The shocking words I'd just heard.
"You're abandoning me too...?"
From the one I trusted most, the one I'd promised my future with.
Impossible to believe—my mind rejected it.
"Yeah, perfect timing for a spot. ...I thought it over a lot?"
She paused, clearing her throat.
"Wondered if I should stay with you."
"What... do you mean?"
Because of this unproven accusation? If she helped, surely...
"Seria. For real? We said forever. You'd stay by my side always...?"
I steadied my chaotic heart and cried out desperately.
"Pft—!"
"Huh?"
Her reaction tore my heart to shreds.
"Ahahaha! A promise from when we were kids?"
"What...?"
Lia, what are you saying? My jaw hung open from the shock.
"Yeah, true. I really liked you back then. But..."
I could guess the rest without hearing.
"Think about it—no one my age around but you. Natural to get interested. Would've been the same with anyone."
"......Huh?"
I meant nothing to her?
"I'm bummed too. If only you could use your Divine Weapon... or were a bit stronger... Anyway, next is by an imperial hero?"
Confusion swirled. It didn't make sense.
"Wh-What...!"
"Don't be too down. It's an honorable death, right?"
"Lia, how could you... All I did for you..."
She smiled brightly, twisting her lips mockingly.
"Loved that clueless side too~ Take care."
The sarcasm crushed my last hopes.
"......"
"Don't catch a cold!"
She clapped, and soldiers swarmed from everywhere, surrounding me.
"L-Lia, how could you...?"
"Thank you, Saintess Candidate Seria, for aiding in capturing this vicious criminal. We'll report to the church immediately."
"Seria!!"
"No biggie. Just my duty as a kingdom citizen."
With that, she turned without a shred of regret.
"Seria, Seria!!!"
"Filthy scum!"
"Disgrace to the kingdom!"
Insults and food flew from the courtroom. Splat! The stench was nose-wrenching, but he didn't flinch. He'd lost his sense of smell.
"......"
Escorted by soldiers to the center, his thoughts continued.
Last night in prison, his comrades demanded confession.
'Tanas, admit guilt now and avoid execution.'
'You're still a hero, sorta.'
'We'll defend you best we can. Easier to confess.'
'Then we travel again!'
'Yeah... sure.'
But he wasn't idiot enough to believe. Once abandoned was enough. After they left, he'd given everything to that god.
"......"
This was the end. Strength drained from his body.
"Wh-What's with him?"
"No faking—stand straight!"
At life's end, his final thought: I hope they regret this like I do.
*
He rose again from the floor.
"For real...?"