Prologue

A world different from Earth.

Here, the wars that have continued unbroken since the dawn of history.

One end is merely the beginning of another.

No, as people continue without question, they even grow accustomed to ending wars.

Madness or sanity.

Well, either way, it’s no longer my concern.

I wasn’t the one who made the choice. It’s as if I never had a choice to begin with.

That’s what it means to be called a Hero.

Many races are probably still fighting, divided between allies and enemies, outside the Demon King’s castle. …I can’t witness it, though.

Because… my comrades and I are fighting in a closed-off space created by the Demon King!

Four against one—we should have the advantage in numbers, yet we’re barely defending ourselves against the Demon King’s overwhelming power!!

“Hero-sama!!”

I heard Princess Preacher’s voice as she tried to assist. But in the current close combat, support is impossible.

Even though I’m gasping for breath, the Demon King is still attacking without even breaking a sweat. There’s no chance to exploit any openings.

“Hey, don’t you regret it?”

Without stopping the assault, the Demon King spoke to me in a voice that sounded like a whispered declaration of love. This guy is always like this.

Like he’s trying to confuse me, and at the same time, like he’s teaching me the truths of the world. He’s never once directed hatred or hostility toward me.

“I’m full of regrets!”

I’m not very good at things. All I have are regrets. There are so many times now when I wish I had believed the Demon King’s words.

“Hey, why do you think we’re fighting?”

“I’m the one who wants to know!”

The Demon King never wanted this battle. Neither did I, really.

An unavoidable fight. Why? For some stupid reason.

There’s no turning back now. The Demon King’s expression seemed somewhat lonely, as if he had come to this realization.

At that moment, the Demon King stopped and began chanting a spell. It was something I had never heard before.

I instinctively stopped in my tracks, preparing myself to face the magic.

“Noooo!!”

“Now, a defensive spell!!”

What’s going on? Even Filia, who’s an elf and excels at magic, was screaming in shock for the first time, while Sanctina, the saint, tried to cast the highest-level defensive magic.

“Demon King, what are you…?”

“The primordial magic said to have been used by the gods. Sorry in advance if I fail.”

The Demon King smiled gently, leaving me speechless.

“Stop! Are you planning to defy even the gods of the demon race?!”

Even the faint battle intent that the Demon King originally had was now gone. As the Demon King finished chanting, I was confused, but Filia seemed determined to stop him at any cost.

But… her attacks couldn’t reach the Demon King.

He had been waiting for this moment all along. For some reason, I was certain of that.

“Goodbye, my Hero.”

With a farewell, I instinctively reached out toward the Demon King.

To the beautiful, noble Demon King.

“…Demon King, prepare yourself!”

“Wait! Preacher. We need to figure out where we are first, or we won’t be able to return.”

“Hero-sama! Hero-sama!”

I can hear everyone’s voices. Preacher, Filia, Sanctina—they all seem safe. The Demon King? Now that I think about it…

Wait? What were we doing???

My mind raced as I woke up from a haze… and what I saw was neither the Demon King’s castle nor the closed space.

“This isn’t an unfamiliar ceiling…”

Where am I…?

“Hero-sama!”

“Oh, you’re awake. Hero.”

Among the voices of my companions, I heard the Demon King’s voice. As I sat up, I saw everyone nearby. Princess Preacher was glaring at the Demon King as if they were about to face off, but the Demon King was seated in a chair by a desk with a computer in the room.

It was about the size of an eight-mat room. There we were, my comrades and I in full battle gear, and the Demon King in a dress.

The room wasn’t large, but maybe it felt cramped because there were still unopened cardboard boxes.

“Hero-sama, are you okay!?”

“Yeah, I’m fine…”

Sanctina was checking me for any abnormalities, but I was more shocked by the sight in front of me.

Since being summoned to another world years ago, I’ve dreamed countless times of this place—my own room in my own home.

“Is this some kind of illusion?”

“No, it seems like the spell failed. It looks like we were transported here along with the closed space.”

I thought it was the Demon King’s doing, but apparently not. Though my comrades seemed skeptical, unwilling to believe it.

“Return us to where we were! Demon King!”

“I can’t. There’s not enough magical energy here. Magic that crosses dimensions can’t be used. Not that I knew such magic to begin with.”

“Then I’ll just take your head!!”

“Preacher, wait. The Demon King is telling the truth.”

Though Princess Preacher hadn’t lost her fighting spirit, Filia and Sanctina, sensing the strangeness of the situation, stopped her from attacking the Demon King.

“Hey, Hero. Is this your homeland?”

The Demon King gazed at me, as if voicing the answer already within.

“Yeah. This is my home.”

“A home? This… slave’s quarters or storage room?”

I was a little offended by Princess Preacher’s rude comment, but it seemed like my other companions and the Demon King shared the same impression, judging by their expressions.

It’s a different world, in more ways than one. I was born in a different world, a commoner, while my companions and the Demon King come from the upper class.

“This is about what a commoner’s room would look like, even in that world, Princess.”

I wish she wouldn’t look at me with pity.

The Demon King, however, seemed relieved by my answer and smiled, almost serene.

“This wasn’t part of the plan, but I’m finally free from being the Demon King. Hero, I’ll be in your care for a while.”

“What the hell do you mean!?”

“We can’t go back, so we’ll have to live here. I’m done being the Demon King. I’m finally free.”

Princess Preacher seemed confused and flustered by the Demon King’s easygoing attitude. The Demon King had hated the role of Demon King all along. Princess Preacher had probably sensed that too, but she couldn’t accept it, suspecting some hidden motive.

She was proud of her birth and position and willingly threw herself into battle, risking her life more than anyone else. Her strength and nobility came from her seriousness.

The Demon King was probably the type she had the hardest time dealing with. No matter what happened, the Demon King never lost their pace.

“Please don’t fight in this room. It’ll destroy my house.”

The other world and this one. Which one is better? I think they’re both a mixed bag.

But this world isn’t easy to live in either.

I never expected to return home, let alone with my companions and the Demon King. Is this the will of the god from the other world who summoned me here?