Chapter 2 - Childhood Friend and Hero of Light

The Youth Who’s Summoned By The Demon King, Kuroki. Why is Reiji in this place? And why did he become a hero? And why is my childhood friend Shirone in there, too? I’m completely unable to understand the situation. But I’m glad to know that Shirone is alive. These were my thoughts when I saw that image. The reason is that Reiji's current whereabouts are unknown. Shirone went to play in Reiji villa right after the summer holiday had begun. And then vanished just like that. They even mobilized a search party for them. In addition, I also went to that villa in order to look for Shirone. But I’ve no memories of what happened afterward. What happened to me? 「But, thank god…………….. Shirone is safe and sound………….」 I muttered in a low voice. Shirone and I have been acquaintances for as long as I can remember because our parents were always close with each other. And then, our relationship goes on as we keep growing. There was even the time when we were running around the mountain together when I was a child. And we’re learning swordsmanship together in the swordsmanship dojo of Shirone’s father. Thus, I was worried when Shirone went missing. Shirone and the others were alive in this place. I should be glad about that. And they’re currently fighting inside of that image. It seems this image of battle was taken a while before now. Maybe because they’re already annihilating the whole army, Reiji and those academy beauties are having a friendly conversation. Tears were dripping from my eyes when I saw that scenery. Surrounding Reiji were beauties who were prominent even back in our high school. Those girls are happily talking with Reiji. I’m jealous of him. 「Fumu…………….」 I suddenly heard a voice from my side. Before I know it, Modes, who was on my side, is looking at my face. 「Fumufumu, I see……………….」 There might be something strange on my face. Modes is nodding as if perceiving something. 「Kuroki-dono, let’s continue our story. The hero suddenly appeared half a year ago. 」 Modes begins his explanation. Half a year ago? I’m sure they disappeared around one week ago. I am left wondering. 「Up till the point where they suddenly came and started raiding Nargol territories, the armies of the goddess weren’t even close to defeating the armies of Nargol. Naturally, I wasn’t just sitting and doing nothing. I sent our subordinate demons and magical beasts, but it was completely similar to standing on the edge of sharp blade. Just 5 days ago, they even defeated our strongest elites, The Chivalric Order of Dark Knight. At this rate, they should arrive at this castle by tomorrow. 」 Modes said with a vexed tone. 「When I was investigating them, I was told that they were summoned from the spirit world to defeat me. Thus, this mode came to a thought. It should be okay if we also were to summon an existence from the spirit world who can defeat the hero. 」 Saying so, he’s looking at me. 「That person was you, Kuroki-dono. 」 「EH, wait a minute………………..」 What’s that about…………. I’m screaming like that from the bottom of my heart due to Modes’ words. 「How is it, Kuroki-dono. Please save us from them, from the hero. 」 Modes is bowing to me. 「That’s too absurd…………….」 In short, he’s telling me to fight against Reiji and the girls. That’s an extremely unreasonable story. Midou Reiji, or more known as Reiji is a popular figure in the big combined school of Kayou middle and high to which I’m also attending. He has a well-ordered face along with a slender and well-proportioned body that’s around 180 cm tall. Maybe because his mother came from foreign country, he has bright brown colored hair which can be seen as blonde under the sunlight. To make matters worse, he has good grades and is also good at sports. And his family is very rich. He’s completely just like a character in a manga. He’s extremely popular with girls for this reason. But, even if he is highly rated amongst girls, it’s the extreme opposite for the boys. The reason is simple, because Reiji has a completely different attitude when he’s facing those from the same sex versus those from the opposite sex. He’s nice, only for the girls. That’s what I think about Reiji. And somehow, Reiji has this strange ability to save cute girls who are in danger at that place. The number of women saved by Reiji is high. Maybe for that reason, the girls falling in love with Reiji never stopped. By the way, I’ve never heard of the stories in which Reiji saved men. No matter how troubled they’re, if it’s men, he’ll somehow forsake them for himself. Though Reiji’s extremely kind toward girls, he’s extremely strict toward boys. This is the reason for the hate that’s coming from the men’s side. In the first place, Reiji himself might not have worried about such matters. The number of boys whose crush has been taken by Reiji is too many. Moreover, there’s another reason for his low popularity. But, since Reiji’s never forcing something against a girl’s wish, the girls came to like him, and I’ve never heard any complaints from the boys. They’ve no choice but to wait in silence. The grumbling of the boys because of the girls to whom they’re taking fancy to surrounding only Reiji is coming all out. They can’t beat the handsome guy. And then, my childhood friend, Shirone, Akamine Shirone, is also one amongst them. Could it be that Reiji greeted her because Shirone is cute? Or it might be because he was greeted by Shirone; I don’t know which one. As for me, I don’t want them to be together. It was then turned into a quarrel when I told Shirone about that. That was what happened before the summer vacation. My first love is crushed. I, who have nothing but common skills. [TL: Your average guy] I am at a disadvantage when facing Reiji. I didn’t have any choice but to abandon my first love. This monster who calls himself the Demon King is telling me to fight that Reiji. That’s unreasonable. Reiji is all-powerful in a brawl. I’ll be ended being beaten black and blue. Once upon a time, the captain of karate club is taking his revenge on Reiji and then brawling against him since the girl he have a crush on is taken by Reiji. The result, the captain of the karate club had his jaw broken, and he needed a full 3 months to recover. By the way, Reiji is unharmed. Maybe because Reiji parent are moving behind scene, or maybe because the captain of karate club is fearing the retribution, I don’t know which one it is. But, it was somehow didn’t goes on public. But, it was an open secret amongst the students in the school. In addition, there’s this guy who loves martial arts and goes to challenge Reiji. There were even adults with bodies bigger than Reiji amongst them. But, no one ever come victorious. Naturally, myself included. Reiji might not have remembered that I was among the opponents whom he defeated in the past. I don’t even want to remember such a miserable defeat. Moreover, the fight scenes are bad. I am a pacifist. It was only by chance at that time. The matter about that fight is just too forced. 「Please wait a minute, your majesty!!! 」 Someone is forcing his way through the crowds of the monster. Thus, I saw the figure of a lone man who wore jet black armor standing in that place. He has darkish skin with a well-ordered face and pale blond hair. If it’s only that, he’ll end as a Yankee lad who loves to cosplay, but there was a pair of horns growing from the head of that man. 「Ooh, isn’t it lord Runfeld!! Is the wound inflicted by that hero already cured? 」 The man called Runfeld is bowing respectfully. 「Thank you for your concern, your majesty. But you do not need to borrow the power of someone with an unknown nature like him. Though we suffered such an embarrassing defeat once, our chivalric order of dark knight is still in full power. Please just give a dispatch order to us. 」 The man called Runfeld is appealing to Modes. 「Moreover…………..」 He’s glaring in my direction. 「I don’t think that this man can win against that hero. 」 It’s as he says. I’m unintentionally nodding at his words. 「Let me see your power!! 」 After saying so, he drew the sword on his hip and then slashed it at me. 「WAIT A MINUTE!! 」 I’m twisting my body to avoid that slash. Somehow, I feel that my body feels lighter than usual. 「HA!! 」 Runfeld keeps coming at me. Naturally, I’m dodging his next attack, too. My knees are weak, and I’m shuffling my feet to dodge the attack that keeps coming from Runfeld. I’m dodging the attack of my opponent with the least movement without destroying my stance. I unintentionally caught his arms after he sent who knows how many attacks to me and flung him just like that. 「KUHAA!! 」 Runfeld, who’s toseed to the ground, is raising a groan. 「Ah, sorry!! 」 I unintentionally apologize for tossing him to the ground. But that wasn’t the end of it. 「DAAAAMNN!! 」 Runfeld is propping his body as he pushes out his left hand in my direction. He pushed the black flame that was flickering on his left hand. 「Wait a minute, lord Runfeld! That magic is! 」 Without even paying heed to Mode's warning, Runfeld is throwing the black flame on his left hand toward me. 「EAT THIS BLACK FLAME OF MINE! 」[TL : GUAAAAAAA–>The translator received 9999 mental damage] The black flame on his left hand kept expanding in size. I can’t avoid this one. If I’m going to run away from that flame, I’ve no choice but to run toward the flocks of monsters who surrounded me. Moving toward that place with such a close distance between me and the flame is quite a difficult thing to do. The black flame keeps approaching. So, I unintentionally stretched my hand to the front to catch that flame. My eyes were opened to such an astonishing scene. Flame is an immaterial object, it should be a matter that couldn’t be caught by hand. Was what should have happened in a normal situation. But I’m currently catching that black flame with both of my hands. When I’m trying to crush the flame, it’s dispersed easily. 「No way, the black flame of mine is……….」 [TL: GUAAAAAH, that’s the sound of your beloved translator receiving mental damage] Runfeld is hanging his head down while muttering such words. Could it be that it was his greatest technique? It felt strange. Though I’m taking a look at my hand to confirm it, there’s no burn scar on it. I recall the sensation from a while ago, the black flame suddenly erupting from my hand. 「! ! ? 」 What a surprise. I crushed the black flame in my hand in panic. And then I can hear the crackling sound of someone clapping his hands. 「As expected of you, Kuroki-dono. Runfeld-dono is the strongest knight of Nargol, and yet, even that Runfeld can’t even touch you. Moreover, you even learn the black flame. 」 Modes is laughing. Even the hero might be defeated if I’m using this. What the hell is this black flame? Come to think of it, they’re also making flames or light come out of their hands in the image shown to me a while ago. Could it be that I can use an unusual power after I come to this world? My brain is already unable to catch up with the situation. Moreover, what the hell did he say about fighting against them for real? In the first place, I’ve no reason to fight them. The reason is because I shouldn’t fight them. What will become of me if I fight against them? Will I be unable to return to my original world if I don’t fight them? Maybe they’re in the same situation as me in the fact that they won’t be able to return to their original world unless they beat the demon lord. If that was the case, it should be better situation for me to cooperating with them to defeat the demon lord? And then, I’ll ask the goddess who summoned them to return us to our original world. But is Reiji willing to cooperate with me? Reiji’s cold towards men. He might kick me out after saying that he doesn’t want to see troublesome guys. Though he might’ve saved me if I’m a cute girl, unfortunately, I’m a man, something is dangling on my crotch. After beating the demon lord without my help, they might be returning to our original world while leaving me behind. Should I wear female clothes? And then, getting closer to them, hiding the fact that I’m Kuroki. ……….. Am I just turning into an idiot? I’m shaking my head, thinking about such a foolish action. That’s too prideless an action. Though there’s a reason for Reiji, I don’t even want to meet Shirone in that situation. In the first place, I’m currently in the middle of quarreling with Shirone. That’s why cooperation is impossible. In that case, I just have to do it right. In the first place, I might not be able to be back if I leave the person who summoned me. I’m sending a sidelong glance at Modes. 「Uhm………….. Am I won’t be able to return to my original world if I’m not defeating them? 」 I’ll try to ask for some time being. 「Eh……?」 But, Modes’s letting out exaperated voice as if he wasn’t expecting that question. 「………. The way to return Kuroki-dono, is it?」 Modes started pondering deeply. And then, he too took something like paper from his pocket. I’ve a bad feeling about this. It seems Modes was reading the letter written on that paper. 「Could it be………….. You don’t know the method to send me back?」 Modes keep his silent to that question. The unpleasant silence is dominating our surroundings. 「………… It seems there’s no method to send you back in this summoning art. 」 It was the worst result. 「W-WAIT A MINUTE―――!! ! 」 I unintentionally shouted. 「WHAT THE HELL IS THAT!!! 」 And unintentionally shouting at the top of my lung capacity. That’s irresponsible, right? 「Yeah, my apologies. 」 Modes is apologizing. It seems he’s quite a timid person in contrast to his build. 「Please wait a minute, Kuroki-sama. 」 Mona, who is on the side, is standing in front of Modes. And then looking at my direction with the face as if she’s going to cry. I can’t say anything when I’m looking at that kind of eyes. Those kinds of eyes are a lethal weapon to me, who isn’t used to women. 「Please, Kuroki-sama. Please hear Modes-sama’s story. 」