Death March to the Parallel World Rhapsody

※Typo corrections made on 8/13.

This is Satou. When I was a child, the word "fiancé" was everywhere in various stories. I stopped seeing it as it became cliché, but when it happened to me, I realized it wasn’t all that fun after all.

◇

“Are you my sister’s master?”

“This is the first time we’ve met. I am Satou, a merchant.”

A young knight with three scars on his cheek spoke to me. He was the captain of the seventeenth knight squad of the duke who came with Liza. The captain didn’t bother to hide his identity and introduced himself as the duke’s knight, also introducing his lieutenant.

Both of them are commoners. Maybe that’s why they felt more like mercenaries than knights. Normally, I’d expect knights to have noble ranks, but apparently, that’s not always the case.

The lieutenant beside him wore a helmet that hid his face but was said to be from the Leopard-Head Tribe, a rare race. Of course, I didn’t press the matter.

“Oh, so you’re not a noble but a merchant’s escort. Still, it’s impressive you managed to hire someone skilled enough to wield a demon blade. You must be the heir to a major shop or something.”

“No, I’m a traveling merchant without even a store. This time, I happened to have a connection and came to see the baron.”

“Sorry, my captain tends to speak without thinking.”

The captain’s last comment was meant for his lieutenant but was clearly audible. The lieutenant tried to cover for him, but it hardly helped.

We chatted briefly as the maid from earlier guided us toward the fortress.

◇

“Ah! You really pulled a fast one on me earlier!”

A shrill voice rang out as we dismounted inside the fortress. It was the baron’s second daughter, Karina.

“Here comes the boob young lady.”

“That one’s the enemy.”

Arisa and Mia muttered curses quietly. Please keep it down; there are penalties for disrespect.

With a whoosh cutting through the air, the young lady’s fist suddenly punched through the space where my face had been moments before.

Huh? A fight out of nowhere? Did I do anything to provoke this?

Dodging, I tried to ask why.

“Why?”

I dodged a jab.

“You attacked me.”

I parried a hook with my hand.

“You did, didn’t you?”

She kept attacking with rapid moves like a fighting game character. I dodged them as best I could.

I couldn’t help but notice her ample chest bouncing with each attack, but I tried to make it look like I was struggling.

I caught sight of Liza and Pochi about to rush out from the corner of my vision. Before the others could jump in, they held them back. I waved at them since we made eye contact.

“What’s with that composure?”

I evaded a delayed leg sweep with a low jump.

Oh no, I’m in a fight, aren’t I?

“You’re so annoying.”

“I’m good at dodging.”

Now that I looked properly, I realized she wasn’t wearing a dress but riding pants, and her hair was braided. From just that, she looked like a young lady spending a refined holiday at a riding club.

“Stop dodging around like that! If you’re the hero, fight properly!”

“The hero is over there. Next to Solna, actually.”

Talking while dodging was almost making me bite my tongue.

Her sister, Solna, was coming this way with the false hero. I wish she’d stop this wild brat before she causes trouble.

“No! You were the one who defeated that demon race!”

That was close. If I didn’t have my poker face skill, my expression would have given me away.

Even if someone witnessed me defeating demons, the distance was several kilometers. No way a magical creature with insight skill could see that.

However, judging by Arisa’s attitude when I met her earlier, she might be able to judge truth from falsehood. I’d better be careful not to give them any solid proof.

“I recall ordinary humans can’t defeat high-ranking demons?”

“That’s why you are the hero. If you disagree, then prove it.”

I checked my status titles. Yep, the hero title was removed. Of course, the title tab in the menu was also clean. I’m not the hero now.