CHAPTER 4

My heart thumped again.

If it was because I was worried about the future I knew, it was now in anticipation of a new possibility.

Do you think he knows I'm shaking? Meyer stared at me and said to me.

"To defeat the Demon King, you must be present. So please, I hope you will work with me to kill the Demon King."

" … Why me?"

I asked furiously. It was something I had to point out at least once.

I ended up talking like I snapped, and went on and on.

"Because I remember the first round? Because I'm a more capable supporting wizard than you think? But when you decided to come here to save me, it was when you didn't know about those things. Why the hell did you come to save me?"

My dizzy head was cold, as if I poured cold water.

I tried to see the situation as cool and objective as possible.

Although I felt betrayed by Fabian, I could understand Fabian's choice separately.

Well, he chose the best option for the purpose of getting rid of the Demon King.

Fabian could not be blamed for making the criminal choice.

Of course, it wasn't that I wasn't angry.

'What do you mean 'you can't think about a expedition without me'! Don't say that in the first place!'

The main character's unique empty talk was no different from being guaranteed by an acquaintance he trusted.

A feeling of pessimism beyond the loss of humanity. The aftereffects were huge.

Anyway, I was right to accept Meyer's suggestion if I wanted to play as an expedition member…

Meyer's choice was completely incomprehensible.

What use did Meyer see from me, whom even Fabian left out?

"You underestimate your worth."

"…"

"Maybe you're more useful than you think. I assure you."

Meyer said so, but did not give any specific reason.

Now it's not enough to say what's in your heart.

My usefulness… Of course, I'm useful.

More than Fabian knows. More than Meyer can guess.

'If I decide to fully support Meyer, Fabian will never get past Meyer.'

I had confidence that I could make it that way.

The game strategy I know, information on the player's perspective due to the characteristics of the buff, and my ability as a specialist of support magic…

The War of the Demon King will certainly be Meyer's possession.

'But… can I do that?'

I didn't hesitate because I felt guilty about taking the main character Fabian's place.

I was just worried if I could see the true ending with Meyer.

Choosing Meyer required not only an uncertain future but also the opportunity cost of giving up a certain future.

'Well… It's not even certain that Fabian can see the true ending.'

In the first place, the road to the true ending was rough.

Fabian easily opened the first round because I was included in the attack.

'But it's a big deal if you expect the second round to go the same way as the first round.'

Fabian must have abandoned me because he thought I had told him all the information he knew, but that's a mistake.

The only information I've given is about the first round.

Furthermore, I did not release information on dungeons or items unrelated to Fabian expeditions.

Fabian will fail in the second round. It was a conviction that was close to prophecy.

'As expected, leaving the future of the world to Fabians alone is disturbing…'

A sure but uncontrolled future and a controllable but uncertain future.

I feel that no matter which side I choose, my stomach and intestines will not stay.

While I was biting my lips, a shadowy smile spread around Meyer's lips.

"In addition… Where your limits are, what do you know to what extent… I'm curious about that."

Meyer's significant remarks made my heart ache.

It doesn't seem like he's just talking about the first round of information I know…

Is there anything else I can tell you?

'You never noticed that I was trying to assassinate you…'

… Yes.

I tried to kill Meyer in the first round.

How many times.

***

In order to kill the Demon King, he had to proceed to the second round unconditionally.

However, if he could defeat the Demon King in the first round, it couldn't have been better.

The fewer battles, the better.

He had nothing to lose. He couldn't give up his expectations, so he tried to get rid of Meyer Knox, the king's core, first before the War of the Devil.

Of course, it failed.

I bit my lips nervously and noticed Meyer.

'I can't have been caught. If I had been caught trying to kill Meyer, he wouldn't have asked me to join the expedition, but would have killed me as soon as I met him…. No, he wouldn't have come to get it in the first place.'

It was ridiculous to be caught considering the goodwill in Meyer's eyes.

'And I didn't take care of it so promiscuously that it was discovered.'

I just leaked information about a dungeon of difficulty that Meyer could not break among the dungeons I knew of.

Of course, it was full of errors.

But it was useless. Meyer Knox easily broke the dungeon.

After it was repeated several times, I had no choice but to give up trying to get rid of him.

How can I kill an attacker who clears a high-level dungeon as a supporting wizard.

There is no one who can kill him, except for me.

Anyway, what made Meyer want me to join him in the expedition seemed impossible to know right now.

I'll have to find out gradually.

I don't think I'll be able to join Fabian's expedition anyway…

But there were the most important terms to negotiate before joining.

I put my eyes on him and spoke out seriously.

"I have a condition."

"Condition?"

I caught my breath for a moment.

I don't know why, but I'm living under Jun's shell. I stole Jun's life.

I didn't want to be Jun just because I was, but I felt sorry for Jun.

So I've been thinking about what I can do for Jun since I've been in Jun.

No matter how hard I thought, there was only one answer.

"Jun Karentia's name… Let my name stay in history."

I didn't forget that I was a supporting wizard and was like a shadow in the background.

Jun's name, which has been ignored as a supporting wizard, should be engraved on the tower of great achievements in history.

It was the only atonement and the only way to repay me for borrowing Jun's body.

Perhaps my answer was unexpected, one of Meyer's eyebrows curled up.

"Ha, Hahahahaha!"

He soon burst into a big laugh. A low laugh rumbled through the tent.

"That's an unexpected condition. I didn't know you had such a high ambition."

"…"

Meyer's point of view was that I asked for my name to be kept in history, which was why he was so mistaken.

I can't correct the facts, and I don't intend to correct them.

I sat still and waited for his laughing to end.

After a long time, he stopped laughing and replied with a satisfied smile.

"Okay, I'll leave your name in the history book for a long time. You will always be remembered in history as my lieutenant who defeated the Demon King."

Meyer had declared so himself, so I had no reason to refuse anymore.

In one way or another, this was the only chance I had left.

Therefore, I cannot easily lose this opportunity just because I was abandoned by Fabian.

'I will survive to the end and be treated as a hero in a peaceful world, and I will eat well.'

Yes, the dog will change its owner when it comes to the second round.

I've been Fabian's dog, and there's no reason not to be the Black Knight's dog.

I nodded my head in a firm determination.

"… All right, I'll join the Black Knights."

"That's a good idea. I won't make you regret choosing me, not Fabian."

Meyer curled his eyes and smiled. It was the kind of smile I never thought I could see from him.

While I was absent-minded for a moment, Meyer held my hands together and shook them up and down.

It felt as if a big deal had been signed.

His hands were so big, I couldn't hold all of his hands even though I stretched out my hands as hard as I could.

"I would like to express my gratitude for your decision and treat you with no regret. I will not be stingy with your support… If you have any problems, come see me anytime."

You want me to come anytime?

Well, no matter how much we're on the same expedition, Meyer wouldn't be the type of person I'd meet so easily…

"Hahaha… It's almost like I'm vice commander of the expedition."

"I told you I'd give you the best treatment. I didn't lie about that."

Meyer took my hand and stood up. There was a shadow over me.

I was also forced to stand up from my seat.

He looks like an escort. I was shamelessly attracted by his touch. It was so awkward.