Chapter 1

I tried my hand at writing a new romantic comedy. I would be very happy if you could support me.

The Classmate Who's a Popular Idol and the Me Who Never Wants to Work Again

https://ncode.syosetu.com/n2496gr/

"You are what I desire."

She said this from the other side of the campfire. Standing up from the log where she had been sitting, she circled the campfire and stood next to me. Then, she extended her hand.

To be needed by someone.

I, who had hardly ever experienced such a thing, took her hand while holding back tears.

♦

"Hey! Theo! Don't dawdle!"

"S-Sorry..."

"Your voice is too weak!"

"...Sorry!"

I raised my voice and apologized to my pig-faced superior, who was just watching me carry water. My colleagues, who were enjoying their break nearby, also looked at me with amusement, which made me feel even more miserable.

"Just carrying water to the kitchen and it takes you this long... I'm not idle either, you know!"

"Ah!"

I was kicked from the side, lost my balance, and fell over. The well water in the bucket spilled all over the ground, and my body, which fell into it, naturally became dirty.

"Oh well, you'll have to do it again. Get going!"

"..."

"Hey, how about saying, 'I'm sorry, Captain Bram. I'll go fetch water again.'? A proper apology to your superior is necessary, you know?"

"...I'm sorry, Captain Bram. I'll go fetch water again."

"Get moving. We have to prepare dinner after this."

I stood up and picked up the bucket I had dropped. With the small, mocking laughter of my colleagues at my back, I headed back to the well within the knight's compound.

My name is Theo.

I am a low-ranking member of the Royal Lestria Knights. As you can see, I am disliked by my superior, Captain Bram. Being sent to fetch water is all part of his harassment. First of all, if you need water for cooking, you can just ask a magician to produce it. But Bram orders the magicians not to help me when it's my turn to prepare the meals. This has been going on for four years, ever since my first year, when things were different. My daily tasks include cleaning the men's dormitory toilets and corridors after rigorous training, maintaining the armor and swords of all the members of Bram's squad, fetching water, and cooking.

To be honest, this is my daily routine. Other squads seem to have a rotation system, but for me, it's always the same. I haven't had a day off in four years, and it's a wonder how I'm still alive.

I know why I'm treated this way. When I was a true rookie in my first year, I stopped Bram from trying to assault a female knight while she was sleeping. He framed me for the crime and escaped punishment. Of course, I told the truth, but the difference in credibility between a new recruit and a captain was too great. I was quickly branded a criminal, and it was even said that I tried to pin the crime on my superior, nearly leading to a death sentence. I was saved by none other than Bram. He declared to the upper management that he would keep me in his squad and retrain me so that I wouldn't misbehave again. The upper management, who wanted to hide the fact that a criminal had emerged from the knights, accepted this and allowed him to treat me like a slave. Furthermore, I would only be free from criminal charges as long as I stayed in the knight's compound. If I left, I would be treated as a criminal. Thus, I couldn't run away, and this is the result of my life. Unfortunately, his plan to make me a compliant slave has succeeded. I am both physically and mentally broken.

"Ha... ha..."

I tied two buckets to a pole and filled them with well water. I somehow managed to lift them onto my shoulders and carried them to the kitchen. It seemed that everyone had returned to the knight's quarters as the sun had set. If even one person had stayed, I might have felt that I wasn't completely abandoned. But the fact that no one was around proved that no one was interested in me. I was just a convenient errand boy and a stress-relieving scarecrow.

I entered the kitchen and started preparing the meal. My body was exhausted, and I wanted to slack off, but if the food was bad or had something strange in it, I would be punished. The reason that the team's evaluation would drop if the food was bad is beyond me.

"The spices are running low... I'll have to go buy more."

The last time I tried to reduce the work by making a large pot of curry, the spice inventory ran low. Making a large batch would allow me to take a few days off from cooking, but today I'll have to make do. The additional task of going shopping tomorrow is a bit daunting, but I'll leave that to tomorrow's me.

(There's still some meat left... I'll just fry it with some onions.)

Even if I made a fancy meal, they wouldn't appreciate it. They are all men who prefer strong flavors, so a bold seasoning is fine. I took a piece of straw soaked in oil and lit it with a flint. I threw in more oil, the cut meat, and onions, and added a sauce made from fermented garlic and beans. In the eastern countries, this is called "soy sauce." It's quite salty and very useful for adding flavor to the whole dish. After confirming that the meat and onions had changed color, I served them on a plate. I would have to take this to the dining hall, but my day's work wouldn't be over until I washed the dishes. Feeling gloomy, I carried the large plate to the dining hall. Inside, the knights were already drinking and chatting.

"Hey? You bastard! You're late!"

Bram stood up with such force that he almost knocked over his chair and punched me in the face. A dull pain shot through me, and I fell to the floor as my brain rattled.

"Hurry up and make the food. Maybe I'll double your training from tomorrow?"

"...Sorry..."

"Hmph! You should be grateful that I'm even keeping a dirty criminal around."

Bram returned to his seat, snorting like a pig. The dining hall erupted in laughter at my expense. The subordinates of Bram in the room know that I am not a criminal. They just look down on me because they see the pain I endure by not opposing their superior. Idiots, fools.

I hate myself for feeling so miserable. I regret not having waved my misguided sense of justice around.

I shakily stood up and returned to the dining hall. I couldn't rest until the cleanup was done.

I couldn't even believe that I would be freed from this hell someday.

...But the next day, an unexpected turn of events awaited me.