episode_0000

A mundane life no different from others.

If I were to summarize my life in just one sentence, it could be expressed like this.

For someone like me who lived a perfectly average life, neither extraordinary nor lacking, the sole joy of my existence was novels. Despite my strong aversion to reading, I found myself completely immersed after reading a novel recommended by a friend.

The novel my friend recommended was your typical run-of-the-mill fantasy tale.

It was about a hero becoming a warrior and defeating the demon lord.

The only twist was that before the protagonist became a true hero, there was a fake hero pretending to be one, and the amusement stemming from the troubles caused by him captured my heart.

Moreover, the unwavering dedication to training to become stronger despite being belittled as a woman, the resolute mindset, and the journey to finally being acknowledged as a hero—these elements led me to immerse myself wholeheartedly in the work.

The feeling when the story reached its conclusion was incredibly poignant.

Tears streamed down my face.

Some might consider me foolish for shedding tears, but the joy and sense of loss upon the completion of a work that had been with me throughout my life were indescribably profound.

My mind was consumed with thoughts of the novel all day long, and even as I drifted off to sleep, my mind remained fixated on it.

And perhaps that’s why.

When I woke up, I found myself in a state of possession, embodying the role of the fake hero from the novel I had been reading.

Initially bewildered and confused, I quickly regained my composure and resolved to faithfully play the part of the fake hero. I had concerns about how this would affect the unfolding events, a desire to see the protagonist with my own eyes at least once, and to support her as in the original work.

However, I refrained from committing the misdeeds of the fake heroes from the original work directly; instead, I pretended to commit them, spreading rumors and building a notorious reputation for myself.

Given that I had lived through modern times, engaging in actions that violated human rights felt uncomfortable.

Though it was unfair to receive criticism for deeds I hadn’t actually done, I persevered, buoyed by the thought that I would eventually meet the protagonist.

Finally, I did meet the protagonist.

Just as I resolved to faithfully fulfill my role…

“Sob…”

I won.

I had only given a slight push to create a more dramatic situation, yet I emerged victorious.

Overwhelmed by confusion, I could only watch as the protagonist collapsed, sobbing.

“Someday… I will uncover your true identity!”

With those words, the protagonist departed.

“Wow! Sir Hero! I believed in you!”

“Of course! There’s no way the hero could be a fake!”

“Wow… Did you see that just now? He finished it in one blow?”

“It was all just a baseless rumor.”

Listening to the voices of the people around me, I thought to myself,

“Well, shit.”

Truly, the situation had gone to shit.