The Hero Regrets the Past
"Really, you won't regret it?"
Regret? I let out a self-deprecating laugh as I gazed at the goddess who had posed the question to me.
If it was regret, I'd already had more than my fill. So even now, claiming I regretted it wouldn't change a damn thing.
"Of course."
I caught the goddess staring at me with a troubled expression after my curt reply. Naturally, her reaction wasn't incomprehensible. The hero she had chosen was on the verge of reviving the Demon King she'd gone to such lengths to kill.
Hell, even I'd probably find the situation utterly absurd.
"Sigh... Why on earth would you make such a choice?"
The goddess muttered to herself, her face twisted in confusion at my decision. But whether she accepted it or not, she couldn't refuse my request. One wish in exchange for slaying the Demon King—that was the contract between us.
"Allen. Of all the humans I've seen, you were the one I favored most. You were always faithful to your role, pure-hearted, and just."
"......"
"Of course, I get your disappointment with your fallen comrades—no, with humanity itself. But this? This isn't the way."
She looked at me with pity as she spoke. She wasn't wrong—I was disappointed in my comrades and humanity alike. The ones who'd sworn to protect the world alongside me had twisted into something unrecognizable, and the people who'd once exalted the hero started treating me like a nuisance the moment the Demon King vanished.
"...So you're backing out of the deal?"
I eyed the goddess, who was desperately trying to talk me out of it. By the contract's terms, she had to grant whatever wish I made. But a contract was just words on paper. If she reneged, I was powerless to stop her.
"No, I can't do that. I'm just advising you against a wrong choice."
She replied, her face etched with anxiety.
"Ha. Wrong choice? Isn't that everything I've done up till now? One day I wake up as the hero, fight the Demon King more diligently than anyone—just like you wanted—and save the world on your terms. Then you snatch my power right back."
"Th-that was unavoidable! Leaving that power in the human realm would've shattered the balance."
She scrambled to defend herself against my furious outburst.
Balance of power? Like I gave a shit. If I'd kept that hero's strength, I never would've ended up like that.
"Haha. Thanks to you, I was left half-crippled, a plaything for my so-called comrades. And that was my reward for staking my life to save the world?"
"That's why I'm granting your wish now, isn't it?"
"Damn right. Which is why I'm telling you what it is."
She heaved a deep sigh at my words.
"If it's revenge you want, there are other paths. I could restore some of your power—enough to settle things properly. Or if that's no good, I could make them respect you again."
I'd mulled over her suggestions, sure. But reclaiming power just to get even felt like too much hassle now. The long grind of adventuring to kill the Demon King had aged me, worn me down. And after I'd already claimed everything worth having and savored it to the hilt, what relief would punishing those comrades really bring?
Her second offer? Not even worth entertaining. Forcing their "respect" with divine meddling? Might as well play with dolls.
"No. My wish is simple: send me back to the past."
"...So, which point in time?"
Realizing persuasion was futile, she finally asked.
Good—she wasn't planning to break her word, at least.
"Ah, of course. Before I was chosen as the hero."
"...Don't tell me you want a normal life this time?"
She gave me a pained look. Nearly twenty years as her chosen hero had taught me plenty. With or without me, she'd just pick someone else to handle the Demon King.
"No, you've got it wrong."
But I had zero intention of ditching the hero gig. A quiet life sounded nice, but it wouldn't let me settle scores with the crown prince, the saintess, the elf leader, and the rest. More than that, the goddess's near-Immortal Body was too valuable to pass up.
Either way, the continent's gonna drown in blood no matter what.
While my comrades and I battled the Demon King, countless lives were lost across the land. The powerless commoners suffered worst, naturally. And pre-hero me? Just another nobody in the masses. A "normal" life wasn't in the cards.
"I'll become the hero again. And yeah, I'll kill the Demon King like you want."
She tilted her head, utterly baffled.
"...You're saying you'll tread that hellish path again? Why?"
I smirked faintly at her question.
Who knows? Maybe this time around, I can actually enjoy it a little.
That was my answer. I'd beaten the Demon King once already. No need to obsess like before—I could take him down without breaking a sweat. Hell, with immortality in play, it was inevitable anyway.
"I just don't get it."
"You'll figure it out once you watch. How I live this time."
I told her. But she'd observe regardless—picking proxies and spectating was all she could do.
"Fine. Your second life. Let's see how different it gets."
With that, she approached and pressed her soft lips to my forehead. The world faded to black.
And then—
"Allen. What're you mulling over so hard?"
I turned slowly toward the familiar, dearly missed voice. There stood Ghetto, the old man who'd raised an orphan like me, tsking at me disapprovingly.
"...Old man."
"You little shit. Can't you drop that 'old man' crap already?"
He scowled at my reflexive slip.
I stared at him, forcing back tears. In my last life, he'd died because of me. Demon King's minions lopped off his head and mailed it as a gift—because I was the hero. I only learned the truth much later, thanks to my "comrades" burying it to "spare my worries."
"Wh-what the hell, you lunatic? Gone nuts? Get off me!"
I pulled him into a silent hug; he flailed in disgust. But I squeezed tighter.
Gradually, his struggles eased, and he patted my head.
"What? Something bad happen?"
"...Nah."
What I'd endured was history now.
This time, it'll be way different, old man.