Prologue
I transmigrated into a supporting character in a classic, by-the-book fantasy novel—the kind where the hero and his companions overcome every hardship and trial, slay the Demon King, and restore peace to the world.
In most possession stories, whoever ends up in a supporting role uses their knowledge of the original to wreak havoc. They snatch the protagonist's fated opportunities, steal the heroines, and put on a one-man show all the way to the ending—all while spouting nonsense like I just wanted to live quietly.
But that's a scummy thing to do.
I couldn't bring myself to twist a finished work and drag it through the mud. Besides, having the hero follow the original path was the route that served me best as well.
The greatest weapon I had was my knowledge of the original story's canonical route. Going out of my way to change that would have been suicide.
Becoming the protagonist myself would never compare to living quietly in a world where the original hero properly killed the Demon King and peace had come.
So I helped. I fought alongside the hero and his companions with my life on the line.
"You were right again this time, Dian."
"Lord Dian, are you perhaps a prophet?"
"I don't even want to think about what would have happened if Dian hadn't been there."
The hero and his companions trusted me, and I trusted them in turn. That was how we finally stood before the Demon King.
"Dian. Thank you for everything."
The hero, with the Demon King right in front of us, spoke with a resolute look on his face.
"If I die here, make sure Celine makes it home safely…"
"Don't say weird things. Just do what I told you. Then everyone lives. You trust me, right?"
"I do. If I can't trust you in this world, who else is there?"
"Good. Then let's go."
The battle was fierce, and more than once we came dangerously close to dying, but the Demon King was split in half and vanished, just as in the original. We made it back in one piece, and peace returned to the continent.
There were massive rewards, a title and a fief, a grand welcome ceremony. Toward the end of it all, I packed my things alone and walked out of the Imperial Palace.
"Dian! Dian!"
I was crossing the Imperial Palace drawbridge, the warm night breeze of spring against my face, when a voice called out from behind me. I turned to see the hero sprinting after me, completely out of breath.
"Dian! There you are!"
"What's this? The guest of honor sneaking out of his own banquet midway?"
"I came looking because I couldn't see you. But…"
His eyes fell on the pack slung over my shoulder.
"What's that? Where are you going?"
"I'm leaving. There's nothing left for me to do here."
"Leaving…? What do you mean? And what do you mean there's nothing left for you to do?"
I smiled at the hero, who was tilting his head in genuine confusion, and explained.
"The Demon King is dead. There's nothing left for us to fight. So there's nothing left to do. Of course, you and the others will be incredibly busy from here on out."
"You say that like it doesn't concern you, but the Emperor offered you a position too, Dian. Don't tell me you're turning it down?"
"That's right. Desk work doesn't suit me. Being tied down to one place would drive me crazy. So I'm leaving."
The hero looked at me with earnest eyes.
"Is this another decision you made by looking into the future?"
"Hahaha! Nothing like that. I don't have any prophetic powers, I keep telling you. I just want to live quietly on my own now."
"Live quietly? But you…"
"That's why I returned the title and the fief too. I don't want to be bound by a noble's duties."
"Ah…"
He stared at me for a long while, as if the words had caught in his throat.
"So that's how it is…"
After a moment, he slowly nodded, his voice somewhat subdued.
"If that's what you say, then that's how it is. You've never been wrong, after all."
"I've been wrong plenty of times. Anyway… this is goodbye. Thanks for everything. Be happy."
I clapped him on the shoulder and turned away.
"Dian!"
I hadn't even taken a few steps before he called me back. When I turned, he was wearing that same earnest, innocent expression he always did.
"If… if I ever need your help again…"
He hesitated, then went on.
"Would you help me, the way you always have?"
I looked at him for a moment, then smiled.
"Of course."
Originally I had helped to keep the original story on track. But by now, he was my closest friend.
His face lit up at my answer.
"Thank you, Dian! For everything until now—and for everything still to come!"
I waved to the hero, whose eyes had gone misty, and walked off the drawbridge.
Everything had gone according to the original story. The Demon King was dead, and peace had come to the continent.
I don't know what happens after the ending, so there's nothing more I can do to help. From here on, I'll live quietly on the rewards I received for slaying the Demon King. You could call it the best possible ending for a possessed supporting character.
Ten years later.
"Dian. Could you help me?"
"Ah, this is a bit…"