Chapter 1

"Are you really going to leave?"

In front of me was a faintly glowing gate of light.

"Azami, at least come back to the kingdom once..."

With her long golden hair reaching her waist, and her eyes of the same color slightly trembling, the half-elf holy maiden Ilyis pressed her hand to her chest and spoke in a trembling voice.

This is Teral Hill in the Holy Capital Anthem.

Beside me, the red-haired girl Lindou, with her hair cut in a messy bob, stood with her fists clenched, looking as if she wanted to say something. The dark elf grand sage Robelia, with her long silver hair, twirled it with her fingers and glanced at me repeatedly.

It has been three years since I, Yanagi Azami, was summoned to this world. After a long journey, our party of heroes finally defeated the Demon King.

By eliminating the Demon King from this world, the gate to return to our original world can be reopened.

I don't know how it works, but with that condition met, I am now about to return to my original world.

"I'm tired of dealing with nobles and royalty, so I'll just go back."

"That's... so..."

I replied brusquely to Ilyis's words.

"I'm not originally from this world. They'll be happy to have one less person to reward on the other side."

Besides... since coming to this world, I've encountered too much human malice.

Even with the common goal of defeating the Demon King, there were countless troublesome incidents on our journey, such as interference from other races.

"Listen, Ilyis, and Lindou and Robelia too. I'll say this upfront: I like you all. But I'm tired of this world."

"Azami..."

Lindou took a step forward, her sad eyes looking at me.

"We did defeat the Demon King. There will probably be a grand celebration when we return to the kingdom. Peace will come for a while. But I don't think it will end there. What do you think will happen next?"

"Reconstruction of the devastated regions..."

"...War."

Interrupting Ilyis's casual answer, Robelia pushed back her long silver hair that had fallen forward and said.

"The Demon King has been defeated. Next, conflicts between the races will begin."

Her response made me smile sardonically.

"If the Grand Sage Robelia thinks so, then my pessimistic imagination isn't just a delusion."

"What's with the 'sama'?"

Robelia huffed and crossed her arms.

"If war starts, our power will be highly sought after. The strength we used to defeat evil will now be used to slaughter our own kind."

"I won't lend a hand to such a thing!"

"Neither will I!"

"Lindou, Ilyis. Even if you think that, things won't be that simple. What will happen if you refuse?"

"The hero refusing to lend power to the kingdom for war. But from the kingdom's perspective, there's no guarantee that you won't lend your power to the empire or other countries."

"That's right. To the kingdom and other countries, we will become a presence that can't be ignored for various reasons."

"..."

"Well, this might just be a bad imagination, and there's a possibility that it will end in a simple happy ending. But please be careful, everyone. Robelia, take care of them."

Seeing the two of them fall silent, I smiled wryly and entrusted them to Robelia, who is the smartest among the three.

"It seems like you're not worried about me at all?"

"That's not true. To me, you're all like kids."

I made a joke and looked at the gate to the other world.

I've spent three years here, but time flows differently, so almost no time has passed in my original world.

"Azami... I never once beat you in sword skills. Without you, we definitely couldn't have defeated the Demon King."

"If I lost in sword skills, I wouldn't have any standing. Cut me some slack. The Demon King might have been easier to deal with than expected."

"That's not true... Besides, you always covered for my weaknesses. Thank you so much."

"Being sweet isn't always a bad thing, but don't let your guard down in life-or-death situations."

"Understood!"

Lindou, a human hero who received elite education in the kingdom and has the blood of a hero.

"Is this really goodbye?"

"If we live, we might meet again someday. If we die, we'll meet in the afterlife."

"Ugh... But yes, if we meet again, I'll be happy. I wish you would stay here, but..."

"Stop it, you'll make it harder for me to leave. Ilyis, you're still as kind to this old man as ever."

"Not an old man!"

"Being kind is a good thing. Stay that way, but don't fall for bad men."

"I won't! Because... ugh."

Ilyis, a half-elf holy maiden with innate powerful healing abilities, serving as the high priestess of the kingdom's largest religious sect.

"You'll be fine, but stay strong in your world too."

"Stay strong, Robelia. I've been taken care of by you in many ways."

"Likewise. But I knew you were treating me like a kid. How many times older do you think I am than you?"

"That's how much I care about you."

"Ba... You! If you think that... well, never mind."

Robelia, a dark elf grand sage who lived alone deep in the great forest and studied magic.

Everyone is important to me.

But, even thinking that, is it too selfish of me to return to my original world?

"...Lindou"

To suppress the guilt-like feeling, I threw the sword hanging from my waist to Lindou.

"Azami, what's this?"

"You might need it someday. Take it as a parting gift. Unfortunately, my world is a peaceful place where such things aren't used."

"Thank you, I'll take good care of it."

If I take it back to Japan and the police find it, it could be a serious problem.

Next to Lindou, who gripped the sword as if to suppress her emotions, Ilyis looked at me with hopeful eyes.

"Ilyis wants something too. How about giving me something as well? Oh, something from your world would be nice."

"I don't know what to give..."

Understanding Ilyis's request, Roberia suggested, and in the end, I gave Ilyis a cheap watch and Robelia a tie and tie pin.

"Is this enough?"

"Yes! I'm so happy! I'll treasure it forever!"

"Yes, it's enough."

"If that's the case... Well, I'm off then."

I took a step towards the gate.

Passing through here means leaving this world and these three people behind.

"Azami..."

"Hmm... sniff..."

"Let's meet again if we can."

To the three different voices, I raised my hand without turning around.

"Everyone, take care."

I didn't want to look back and feel nostalgic.

I continued walking and was enveloped in the faint light.