Ch.16Cherished Bonds (2)

Everyone has at least one embarrassing memory. In my case, it’s things like being forced to wear a princess dress, or suddenly losing my mind and saying something inappropriate.

Among them, the most embarrassing memory is when I confessed to a senior club member in my second year of high school.

It’s a memory I don’t even want to think about, so I won’t dwell on it.

But Agath keeps bringing that memory back up.

“If our Lite was willing to be that senior’s dog for life, how pretty must that senior have been?”

“…”

“That senior was really cold-hearted though. How could she ask to be introduced to him right after rejecting your confession?”

Agath pointed at Ju-an as she spoke.

The first thing she does after seeing me in a long time is to expose all my embarrassing memories—is this what a friend does? But thinking about that embarrassing incident makes me feel more and more wronged.

I’m ashamed of saying those cringeworthy lines, but the reason I got rejected is even more infuriating.

I was rejected because she already had someone she liked. Of course, that someone was that damn guy.

If it had ended there, I could have accepted it, but suddenly the senior asked me to introduce her to Ju-an since we were close friends.

Do I look like a pushover who would agree to something like that? We were already strangers after I got rejected.

“But you’re such a romantic. How could you still introduce them even after being rejected, saying things like ‘If senior is happy, then I’m happy too’? I wish I were that senior~”

“…Could you please stop talking about this now?”

I pleaded desperately to Agath with an almost tearful face.

For the record, the senior was later rejected by Ju-an, so in the end, both the senior and I just ended up getting hurt.

Anyway, this conversation shouldn’t continue. Let me quickly change the subject.

“Oh right, Ju-an. How have you been?”

“Me? I’ve just been training to stop the Demon King, like the Goddess said.”

“What kind of training did you do?”

“I practiced swordsmanship, trained my supernatural powers, and worked on my physical strength.”

Making a living while consistently working on self-improvement—it’s clear he’s had a much harder time than me.

“What kind of requests did you mainly take on?”

“Requests? I’ve never done any.”

“Then how did you make money?”

“The Guild Master just gave me whatever I needed. Oh, and the Guild Master covered all my training expenses too.”

“Why would they do that?”

I worked hard completing requests to earn money. But for some reason, Ju-an says he received full financial support.

Could he have charmed the Guild Master with that face? If the Guild Master is a woman, it’s entirely possible…

While I was thinking this, the orange-haired woman who came with Ju-an suddenly joined the conversation.

“Why? Because Ju-an is the hero who will defeat the Demon King, so of course he gets all the support!”

“…The hero who will defeat the Demon King?”

“Yes! The Goddess herself said she would send one hero and three people to stop the Demon King! And Ju-an is that hero!”

Let me integrate all the information I’ve heard so far.

That deceiver who came with a woman by his side seems to have been reincarnated as a hero and has been living comfortably all this time.

I’m suffering from a gender transformation, so why does he get to live so comfortably? What an unfairly cruel world…

While I was lamenting my situation, Leo joined the conversation.

“So the new hero has finally appeared?”

“You could say that. Do you have any advice as a senior?”

“Don’t become a hero.”

“Why not?”

“Because it’s so hard you’ll think suicide is a better option.”

The atmosphere in the office suddenly darkened. During the ensuing silence, Leo continued.

“Anyway, it’s better to just quit being a hero.”

“But I have to defeat the Demon King.”

“Then are you prepared to spend over 10 years on the battlefield, endure the pressure of having to defeat the Demon King, and survive countless assassination attempts?”

Being a hero isn’t all good, I see. But considering the financial support, maybe it’s worth enduring?

Anyway, Ju-an spoke to Leo with a serious expression.

“I’m prepared for that much.”

“That’s unexpected. What drives that determination?”

“I need to save the world. That’s it.”

“I see. Then good luck, I’m sure you can do it.”

This is a familiar scene. So familiar it’s like I saw it just 5 days ago.

“Weren’t you going to help me?”

“I never said I would help.”

“But you just said as a senior…”

“I’m a mage.”

Leo answered halfheartedly and started making coffee. Ju-an clearly didn’t understand the situation.

“It’s okay, they may seem like that on the outside, but… they’re actually weird on the inside too.”

“…What?”

“Don’t expect common sense from these people. Just accept it.”

“…What exactly have you been through?”

“Well, want me to tell you?”

Ju-an nodded in response.

Then I should tell him about my miserable and pitiful chronicle.

***

I told him everything I experienced after reincarnating. Ju-an looked at me with pity and said:

“You must have had a really tough time. How are you doing now?”

“Still terrible.”

“Then do you want to join our guild? If I talk to the Guild Master, I think we could create a position for you…”

“I’ll join right now.”

I answered without a moment’s hesitation. The woman next to Ju-an is glaring at me, but what’s she going to do about it? If she’s jealous, she should have made friends like this in her previous life too.

Anyway, if I join the guild, I’ll finally escape from this crazy office. It’s been such a difficult time.

But my hopes were completely shattered thanks to Leo.

“You can’t terminate the contract until you complete a year of service.”

“…So I have to stay here for another year?”

“That’s why I said it’s no different from a slave contract.”

I have to stay with these terrible people for at least another year.

But thinking about it, it’s not that bad. It might even be good.

After all, if I want to survive, I need to convince these people…

…But do I really need to convince them?

“Ju-an? What did the Goddess tell you when she sent you to this world?”

“She just told me to defeat the Demon King and save the world.”

“Nothing else? Like having to convince someone or something?”

“Nothing. The Goddess just said my top priority should be getting stronger.”

Hearing Ju-an’s words, a hypothesis came to mind. Maybe I really don’t need to do anything?

Since Ju-an is the hero who will defeat the Demon King, he’ll take care of the Demon King. I can just relax and pass the time.

You think that’s too selfish? Then give me a powerful ability, or don’t just pile on penalties and expect something from me.

By the way, I wonder what ability Ju-an received. If he got something like a status window, I’d be really annoyed.

“What supernatural power did you receive?”

“I got the ability to slow down time.”

“…Isn’t that totally overpowered?”

“Yeah. It’s really great.”

God is fair? That’s all nonsense. Right in front of me is someone who was reincarnated with an incredible appearance, amazing abilities, and in a perfect environment.

What about me? I got an incredible appearance… but I turned into a woman so that doesn’t count, and I have a decent but not overpowered ability in a terrible environment… well, the environment isn’t that bad actually…

I don’t know. Anyway, it’s true that my situation is worse than his, so God is definitely unfair.

“So why did you come here?”

“I need to awaken my second ability… but I can’t do it, so I came for help.”

“Second ability? Can you have multiple supernatural powers?”

“I think so.”

A second supernatural power. This is too tempting to ignore. If I could get a good ability here, my life could turn around instantly.

So I tried to extract as much information as possible from Ju-an, but he shook his head and replied:

“But it doesn’t seem like we’ll get much help here.”

“Leo, what’s the second ability?”

I immediately asked Leo for help. Leo answered willingly.

“People can gain up to three abilities. But usually, they manifest as abilities related to your supernatural power, so don’t expect too much.”

“Then how do you awaken these abilities?”

“For the first one, you need to master your supernatural power to the extreme. The second one awakens when you’re on the verge of death. The third one manifests when you lose what’s most precious to you.”

All of these conditions are difficult. Well, it makes sense that new abilities wouldn’t manifest easily.

…But didn’t Ju-an just mention a second ability?

“Do you have any other awakened abilities?”

“Yes. I succeeded in mastering my supernatural power to the extreme, so I gained one ability.”

“What ability is that?”

“Time stop.”

If you slow down time enough, it’s essentially the same as stopping it. So that’s what it means for abilities to manifest related to your supernatural power.

But it’s only been 4 days, and he’s already succeeded in mastering his supernatural power to the extreme…

Yeah. Let’s leave the world to Ju-an. I’m sure he’ll somehow take care of the Demon King too.

Thinking that way made me feel much better.

“Do you have plans for tomorrow?”

“I need to train.”

“Don’t you get tired of training all the time? You need to rest sometimes to have the energy to live. In that spirit, want to go out and have fun tomorrow?”

I’ve finally met someone I can truly trust after a long time. Moreover, this person knows me well.

Not the current me who has turned into a woman, but the me who lived as a man for 19 years.

That’s why I feel so reassured when I’m with Ju-an. It’s like that feeling of being isolated in this world completely disappears.

So I suggested we hang out after a long time, but suddenly the woman next to Ju-an glared at me and said:

“Ju-an is busy training to defeat the Demon King…”

“Sounds good. Let’s go out tomorrow.”

The woman was saying something, but Ju-an answered before she could finish. The woman looked indignant.

How foolish—what does she think of a brotherhood that has lasted over 12 years?

While I was excited about hanging out tomorrow, Ju-an spoke up.

“Where should we meet tomorrow?”

“I don’t know the geography here.”

“Then tell me your home address. I’ll come to you.”

“I don’t know my home address either.”

Ju-an put his hand to his head as if dizzy. But I really don’t know, what can I do?

“Do you know how to get to this office?”

“Yes, I know that.”

“Then let’s meet here at 12 tomorrow.”

“Okay, see you!”

With that, Ju-an and the woman left the office.

//

After reincarnating into this world, I’ve finally met someone I can trust.

That person is my lifelong friend, Min-jun.

Although his gender has changed, inside he’s still Min-jun. It shows in his speech and behavior.

Anyway, we made plans to hang out tomorrow and I left the office.

Although I couldn’t awaken my second ability, I was able to meet a dear old friend, so it’s a win.

On the way back to the guild, the orange-haired woman, Philax, spoke to me with dissatisfaction.

“Ju-an? What do you think of that person?”

“That person? You mean Min-jun?”

“Yes. So what do you think of him?”

“Well… a precious friend, I guess?”

Since childhood, he’s always helped me when I was in trouble and counseled me whenever I was mentally struggling.

That’s why Min-jun is a more precious friend to me than anyone else.

“You don’t have feelings for him, do you?”

“It’s just friendship. No romantic feelings.”

No matter how grateful I am, I don’t feel romantic affection. And homosexuality is physiologically impossible.

After I briefly explained my thoughts, Philax spoke with a pleased expression.

“I was worried for nothing. But maybe it’s too early to feel relieved?”

“What were you worried about?”

“Nothing. Let’s hurry back.”

And so we returned to the guild.