Chapter 8: Preparing for the First regret route, Part 3

I’m experiencing the biggest shock of my isekai life.

No, scratch that. I’m experiencing a shock so profound that I doubt anything will ever top it.

Earth.

The name of my world, spoken by the king standing before me.

I could maybe understand Yerin knowing about Earth, but the king? And he even knows I’m possessing Allen’s body.

“…Who are you?”

“Haha, don’t be so surprised. It was obvious you weren’t Allen. We’re in the same boat, you see.”

…Huh? What is he talking about?

“Wow, I never thought things would turn out like this…”

“W-Wait a minute! I’m lost. You know about me, and we’re in the same boat? What are you talking about?”

“Ah, I guess I should explain. I’m a reincarnator from Earth.”

“…What?!”

WHAT?!?!

The king of this country… was once a man named Tom Marvin from Earth.

He died after encountering that most classic of isekai clichés: the truck-kun.

I thought he looked rather exotic for this world.

Turns out he was of Western descent, although he lived in a more Eastern-influenced part of Earth.

And judging by his speech, he’s familiar with internet culture, like me.

He arrived in this world about twenty years ago.

But that doesn’t mean he’s old. Time flows differently here.

He said he arrived only two weeks before I did, according to Earth’s calendar.

So, he was reincarnated, became the hero, defeated the Demon King, and was then crowned king… a classic isekai cliché…

“…Wait. You defeated the Demon King alone? No party members? And you suddenly became king? There’s no rule about heroes becoming kings in this world. What happened to the previous king?”

“Ahaha… Calm down. I’ll explain everything. I had a party, of course. They’re just… elsewhere now. I became king because the previous king passed away. He had a chronic illness, and the plague that spread after the Demon King’s death worsened his condition.”

“Oh…”

“See the markings around my eyes? They’re scars from the plague.”

He did have unusual markings around his eyes.

I always wondered about them. Makes sense if they’re from the plague.

“Hmm… you’re probably thinking, ‘Why not the princess?’”

“Uh… no, I wasn’t. Because…”

The king died twenty years ago.

The princess would have been a child.

“You’re right. He only had a young daughter, the current princess. So, as an adult and the hero, I was chosen by the people. Does that make sense?”

It’s a common cliché: the hero saves the world and becomes king.

So, the king isn’t a cliché subversion after all. He’s a walking, talking cliché: a reincarnator.

“So, Your Majesty defeated the Demon King twenty years ago, then the Demon King revived, Yerin was summoned from Earth, and she defeated him again?”

“That’s right.”

“Then why am I here?”

“Huh?”

According to the king, he and Yerin were brought here to deal with the Demon King.

But I don’t fit that pattern.

I possessed Allen’s body after he died fighting the Demon King.

I wasn’t summoned or reincarnated directly.

I’m like… an anomaly. Why am I here? Does the king, a fellow reincarnator, know?

“I don’t know.”

He doesn’t know.

“Honestly, I have a lot of questions myself. Why did the Demon King revive so quickly? What’s the deal with Allen? And you… there are so many things I don’t understand.”

“…You don’t know why the Demon King revived, or what’s up with Allen?”

“So, like I said, don’t ask me. I don’t have the answers.”

Is there something more to this world than just clichés? Some larger plot at play?

“Hmm… that’s my story, although the ending is a bit… unsatisfying. Now, can I hear yours? Mr. Whoever-You-Are-Inside-Allen’s-Body? I’m quite curious about you.”

“Oh, right. Well…”

I tell him everything.

About reading the novel written by “Allen” about this world.

About leaving a comment and then possessing Allen’s body.

About wanting to control the story if it continued, and therefore leaving the hero’s party.

He nods in understanding.

“Thank you. That clears up a few things. Why Allen suddenly left the hero’s party. Roughly what the current date is on Earth. And… I think I understand Allen a little better now.”

“Really? Can you share that information with—”

“…Wait.”

He interrupts me.

“…Sorry, I have to go. The advisors will get suspicious if I’m gone too long.”

“Oh…”

Damn it! I almost got some answers…！

“We’ll talk again later. You came to the palace during the festival, so I’m guessing you don’t want to be seen by the hero’s party. I’ll contact you soon, and we’ll set up a meeting. You came here for a reason, right? Not just to see me.”

Right. I need to hurry. The hero’s party will be returning to the palace during the festival’s intermission. I need to drop off their luggage before they get back.

“You know your way around, right?”

“Yes. I’ll be going, then.”

“Alright! Let’s stick together, fellow Earthlings!”

He extends his hand for a handshake.

“Yes, Your Maj— I mean, Marvin!”

Shake!

“Hmm! I like that better! Haha! Take care!”

He shakes my hand enthusiastically. I quickly leave.

The palace layout isn’t complicated, and Allen described the hero’s party’s private rooms in the novel, so I know where to go.

I arrive without any trouble, but…

“This is the hero’s party’s private quarters. What is your business?”

Palace maids, who aren’t particularly fond of Allen, are guarding the rooms. Most people in the palace dislike Allen, aside from the king. This maid clearly doesn’t know he was part of the hero’s party.

But…

“I’m Allen, the former pack mule for the hero’s party. I’m here to return their belongings.”

I mimic Allen’s cheerful tone and humble demeanor.

“…Allen? The Allen, of the hero’s party? You’re not planning anything suspicious, are you?”

Another obstacle. She must have heard about me from the advisors.

I’m running out of time, and her condescending tone is annoying, but I have to stay calm.

“How could someone like me harm the heroes? I swear on the honor of my former position in the hero’s party that I have no ill intentions.”

That should shut her up.

Although being part of the hero’s party is anything but an honor…

“Very well. You may enter. But if you try anything suspicious, we will apprehend you.”

She reluctantly lets me in. I resist the urge to punch her and quickly drop off the luggage in each room.

I’m just dropping off the luggage, nothing more.

It’s important that they know I returned their belongings.

And the way I organized their luggage, Allen’s unique style… it might trigger some memories. That’s enough.

Well, there is one minor thing I did, but I only promised not to harm them. And it’s harmless, so it doesn’t matter.

I leave the hero’s party’s quarters and head for the exit. I need to hurry…

“Allen?”

Huh? Who’s calling me— Oh.

I freeze.

That voice… the one person I didn’t want to run into.

“You’re Allen, right? The commoner who was with the heroes.”

“…Yes, Your Highness.”

The young princess from when Marvin became king… Princess Luna, four years older than Allen.