I Am Not the Heroine

Everyone has different personalities and values.

Perhaps that’s why the reactions of the three heroines seemed similar yet entirely different.

In Ariya’s case, it was a fierce denial.

“Ah, no, that’s not true…!”

Where did her gentle nature and soft tone go?

Right now, she was doing her best to refute my words.

“I absolutely do not like the Hero…!”

She was fidgeting, unsure where to direct her gaze, and the water bottle she was holding was trembling.

‘Really not?’

Even though I wanted to believe that, it was hard to ignore.

Her whole body was broadcasting the signal, “I like the Hero!”

‘But I shouldn’t make her spill her heart like an interrogation.’

Of course, even if I did, the event of Ariya quitting the party out of embarrassment would not happen.

Still, considering we would be together for a long time, I thought it would be better if things flowed as smoothly as possible.

‘Let’s lead the questioning.’

“Ah, I see. Then, um…”

“Y-Yes! That’s right! How could I like the Hero…?”

“Then Ariya, you don’t need to help, right?”

“······Huh? Help? What do you mean…?”

“Oh, actually… it seems Rapirie and Serelin both like the Hero.”

“······!!”

I couldn’t tell why she was feigning surprise.

Was she shocked that I knew that?

“So, to facilitate some feelings between you and the Hero—specifically, to help the Hero be aware of the two of you…”

“When did this happen?”

“When I fixed your armor and just before the fortress appeared. So it seems the two of them have made some nice progress.”

“A······.”

Ariya then began to pout.

There was a reason I revealed this painful news to her.

‘If not Ariya, there’s no mediator for the heroines.’

Ariya, Serelin, and Rapirie’s relationships weren’t going to be a major issue. But from now on, any new heroines would unconsciously confront Serelin and Rapirie, so I aimed to assign the role of mediator to her.

In the original story, she was the ‘peace mediator’ who orderly organized the various heroines for the Hero, earning the nickname ‘Favorite.’

What if I told Serelin or Rapirie that I had helped the other two? Even if they accepted it, taking on the role of mediator would be a different story.

Thus, it had to be Ariya.

“Ugh…!”

‘Ugh.’

But seeing Ariya’s pout made my heart ache as well.

However, I had to endure it. Otherwise, the hero harem party full of the strongest characters in the world would fall apart in the future.

“Then… please help the two of them… I’ll be cheering for them from the back… um…”

Gasp.

This is bad.

Ariya was about to announce her withdrawal not from the party but from the harem.

*

“No, um, Ariya! That’s not it.”

“Yeeh…?”

“First, try to calm down. Take a deep breath… in… out…”

“I think it’s you, Louie, who needs to calm down…”

The reason I couldn’t calm down was that Ariya was about to drop a bombshell.

Withdrawing from being a heroine and saying she’d cheer for the two from the back?

This was a bigger variable than an army of fifty fortresses appearing.

‘Why do you think a small party of heroes can defeat the Demon King and his army?’

It was all about overcoming what seemed impossible with the power of love!

If that time came and Ariya’s feelings had cooled… the party could potentially be wiped out.

“Ariya! Come here!”

I distanced myself from the three busy with their plans.

Then, quietly, I explained the current situation within the Hero’s party.

“Actually, while I did help Rapirie and Serelin, things haven’t progressed to the extent Ariya imagines.”

“I-I wasn’t thinking of anything with bad intentions!”

“Oh, okay.”

“I’m serious!!”

No one commented on that.

“Basically, it was just to raise awareness of each other’s presence. We didn’t even hold hands. So you don’t have to feel like you’re falling behind alone.”

It’s true.

I helped, but we were barely on the same starting line after taking just one step forward.

“I see…”

“Yes, so don’t worry and…”

“Then what about Louie?”

“Huh?”

“How far ahead is Louie?”

“······Me?”

Two memories flickered in my mind.

The first time I spoke to Rapirie and then to Serelin.

And now.

“I don’t like the Hero.”

And the answer was identical.

Thump.

‘Is the exhaustion still lingering…’

It had lasted quite a while. Considering the time difference with my previous exhaustion, it didn’t seem too strange.

Anyway.

Ariya’s eyes widened at my answer.

“······Why?”

“Because I just don’t like him…”

“Hm, I see. That’s a relief…”

Why did she find that reassuring?

“Um… to be honest, yes, I like the Hero…”

The Saint, who had said that, was now covering her face as if to say, “I don’t know, I don’t know!”

Perhaps because she grew up in the relatively conservative church compared to the other heroines, she seemed embarrassed even about love topics.

“But I was thinking of giving up…”

“Why?”

“Well… because Louie and Serelin and Rapirie are all attractive, I thought the Hero wouldn’t even notice someone like me…”

“······.”

Let’s just ignore the fact I’m included in that category for now.

But it was crossing the line for her to evaluate herself as someone ‘not even in view.’

In front of me was Ariya, whose large something had been shaking non-stop since earlier.

‘You really think the Hero wouldn’t even look at that?’

That’s nonsense.

Serelin and Rapirie were certainly impressive, but Ariya was particularly striking.

Typically, the ‘vessel’ that holds holy power is termed “vessel,” whereas one that holds mana is called a “circle.”

Ariya’s vessel could hold more than a generous village grandmother’s hospitality.

If the god served by the church was not a goddess, they would have definitively called her a saint just by looking at that chest.

And given that I had memories from my past life, to me, the more ample a man’s view, the better.

Of course, it’s not like too much is good, but that’s definitely not something to be taken lightly.

“Ariya.”

“Yeeh…?”

“I’ll ask you one more thing, and please answer it clearly.”

“Yes, yes.”

“Do you want to connect with the Hero?”

“Yikes!!”

I couldn’t understand at all what made her hesitate like that.

‘The church allows marriage, right?’

In fact, it encourages it to some extent, as the goddess served by the church oversees love and marriage.

And since the Hero isn’t an ordinary person, the church would surely be welcoming it.

‘It must just be her nature.’

In the original story, she subtly displayed a shy side.

So, I needed to help with that aspect.

“Um… yes.”

After quite a struggle, Ariya finally gave a positive answer.

Yeah, her earlier declaration of withdrawal was merely a fleeting emotion.

“Then I’ll help you.”

Since it’s the last to start among the two already moving, we can aim for higher goals.

Like holding hands, or something.

“·········.”

Suddenly, I recalled the time on Tempest when I clasped my hands with the Hero to prove my mana.

‘That’s null and void.’

Since it was for a demonstration, it couldn’t be counted as a negative start.

No, after all, I wasn’t a heroine, so it wasn’t even a negative start.

“Really…?”

“Yes, Ariya. You’ve helped me a lot.”

“Then I’ll do my best!”

She must have meant that she would do her best to charm the Hero.

I wanted to applaud her determination.

“So, Ariya, do you want to achieve that goal quickly, or would you like to take your time and achieve it more securely?”

“What’s the difference?”

“Of course.”

Depending on the choice, she would decide to do it before the Witch heroine arrives or after.

In the former case, she’d quickly raise her charm but might overshadow her charm with the future Witch heroine.

In the latter case, while she might lag behind Serelin or Rapirie, she could ensure a solid dominance after the Witch heroine made her appearance.

“I like taking it slow.”

“Then let’s do that. For the time being… just continue as you normally would.”

It was the same when dealing with Rapirie and Serelin; if she acted overly eager, it could breed resentment.

Moreover, considering she was someone who embodied the keywords ‘natural’ and ‘pure,’ it was essential for her to appear as natural as possible.

“······Thank you, Louie.”

“Don’t mention it.”

“If there’s anything I can help with, please let me know anytime!!”

Even if I didn’t help her, she would still want to assist.

But the significance of her explicitly stating that was of utmost importance, and I was thoroughly satisfied with that.

“Louie, Ariya!”

The Hero called out to us.

“Yes, Hero! Ah!”

“······? What’s wrong?”

“Oh, nothing! What’s the matter?!”

Perhaps aware of what we discussed moments ago, Ariya couldn’t meet the Hero’s gaze.

I chuckled lightly at her as I locked eyes with the Hero.

Underneath the black hair were those deep sea-blue eyes.

Thump.

“······.”

“What’s with you guys? Why is everyone avoiding my gaze…? Did I do something wrong…?”

I just had something in my eye, okay?

Yeah, that’s right.

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