Alternate Tale – If You Say There Was a Choice, Then Show Me the “If”

The night after I was summoned to this world as a “Hero” and given a grand welcome parade.

I threw off my sleepwear, changed into the travel clothes that had been prepared beforehand, and slipped out of my room.

The castle was already almost entirely asleep—no sign of people… or rather, elves—anywhere.

It was probably around two in the morning.

Unlike our world, there’s no TV or internet here.

So, the idea of staying up late probably isn’t common.

And in the middle of such a night… why was I here?

…The answer’s simple.

—to run away.

Because I don’t want to die.

Whether by a god’s whim or some cruel twist of fate, my body has a built-in time bomb.

Simply put, it grants me immense power for a short time… at the cost of my body’s collapse.

…No one knows about this but me.

Which is why the people of this country—Elgrand—so easily place their hopes on me and Raiga. Far too easily.

"Please, Lord Yuto. Save this country!"

They praise us as saviors.

But to me, it only sounds like:

—Die for a country you’ve never even seen before.

I didn’t want to realize it.

If I could’ve charged into the “Demon Dragon” ignorant of the truth, only realizing it at the very last moment, how much easier that would’ve been.

But once I knew… there was no going back.

Even when I tried to keep a calm face, my lips trembled.

Why should I have to be the one sacrificed?

I have dreams too.

Dreams I don’t want trampled on—

That’s why I’m running.

I do feel bad for Raiga.

But telling him… I couldn’t bring myself to do it. He’s the kind of guy who, for all his rough edges, always looks out for people.

He didn’t seem to dislike being called a “Hero,” and I knew he’d try to stop me.

So, I’d leave without telling anyone my reasons.

That was the plan.

But then—

"Yuto… where are you going at this hour?"

…The one who appeared in front of me was Raiga.

Once it had come to this, there was no avoiding an explanation. I told him everything honestly.

Briefly, but clearly—if I kept fighting, I would definitely die.

That one point I stated with absolute certainty.

"I see…"

He looked deeply troubled.

Of course he did.

Who could believe such a claim?

Most people would think I was just making excuses because I’d lost my nerve.

But—

"Then I’ll go with you."
"Wha—…?"

While I was still caught off guard, Raiga simply nodded.

"Like I said, I’ve got no obligation to fight for this country either. I’m more worried about you. How do you plan to survive on your own?"
"…That’s…"

I was at a loss for words.

This isn’t Japan.

A woman with no connections—and, unwilling as I am to admit it, I’m a woman now, though I used to be a man—has no hope of surviving alone.

If I had special abilities like Raiga, it’d be different. But the only thing I’m good at is magic.

And even that, due to my natural mana limits, is only small-scale.

—Even knowing that, I still wanted to get out of here.

"Well, I’ll take care of you, then."

Raiga rolled up his sleeves and looked straight at me.

"What are you thinking?"

I muttered in exasperation.

"I told you, I like you. I wasn’t joking."

He scratched his cheek, looking a little embarrassed as he smiled.

—And so, the two of us left the castle without the elven sentries noticing.

In the darkness of night, we ran to escape the country.

Since Raiga’s speed far outstripped mine, I inevitably ended up being carried on his back.

Rocked by his stride, I simply let myself rest against him…

Three years had passed since then.

We were now living in Regionia, the neighboring country.

Fortunately for us, back then Elgrand had been thrown into turmoil thanks to the “Demon Dragon,” leaving the border patrols thinly manned.

I’m working as a cook at a tavern now.

At first, they were only hiring servers, but with my knack for household skills, getting hired was easy. Apparently, the dishes from my old world come across as fresh and unique here, and—though it feels strange to say it myself—I’ve ended up being treated like some kind of genius chef.

At last, the lunchtime rush was over, and I could finally take a breather.
Since it’s a tavern, nighttime is supposed to be the main draw, but the novelty has kept the lunchtime crowd swarming like a battlefield.

“Hey, you can take a break. I’ll handle the rest.”
“Yes, Owner.”
“Can you quit calling me that? The formal tone makes my ass itch…”

The Owner gave me a troubled look in response.
According to him, he’s just the “old guy running a tavern,” not someone you address with a fancy title.

“Still, it’s already been three years since you came here, Yuri. Time flies, huh? That kid—Taigon, was it?”

—We had changed our names when we fled.
I was no longer Yuto, but Yuri. That’s who I am now.
Raiga, too, started calling himself Taigon.

“Yes.”
“Man, only three years and he’s already an A-rank? That’s some rapid rise. Not that he’s got much ambition, though.”

Raiga now works as an adventurer.

…Calling it “adventurer” makes it sound nice, but in truth it’s basically a glorified handyman job.
He avoids long-distance requests, sticking to ones he can finish within the day.

With his skills, he could aim far higher…

But it seems he doesn’t want to leave this town—
or me.

“Yuri, you sure snagged yourself a man like that.”
“…Could you not make it sound so sleazy?”

…Raiga and I had become lovers.

I had spent more than a decade in my old world living as a man.
I’d be lying if I said I felt no resistance to accepting him.
But burdened with the guilt of abandoning the elves, we clung to each other, drowning in that need.
And so, little by little, we ended up in the relationship we have now.

“Well then, I’ll take a walk around town for a bit.”
“Yeah. Take your time, no rush.”

I gave the Owner a small nod and stepped out of the tavern, heading toward the shopping district.

The street was as crowded as a barrel of potatoes being washed, and I sighed at the bustle while scanning my surroundings.
…Humans, dwarves, dragonkin. Yeah, no problem.

Relieved, I started walking again.

The town wasn’t large, but it was full of life.
…After all, Regionia was the only surviving nation on this continent.

“Um…”
“Eh?”

A sudden voice made me turn around.

“I’d like to ask for directions…”
“—Hh!”

One look at the person’s face, and I froze.

“…Are you alright?”
“…No, not really.”

She was a slender woman.

Vivid golden hair, a graceful face—and pointed ears.

—An elf.

“Um, your face looks pale?”
“It’s nothing.”

The instant I recognized her, my whole body went rigid.
My heart pounded violently in my chest, my hands began to tremble.
Ever since that day, this happens whenever I see an elf.

“But…”
“Sorry. Please ask someone else for directions.”

I’m scared.

Cutting the conversation short in a rush, I walked away at a brisk pace.

I know it’s an overreaction.
There’s no way she could know who I am.

After all, everyone from Elgrand is already dead.

—We heard the news about a year after we fled.

The “Demon Dragon” had finally begun to act, utterly destroying the royal castle of Elgrand.

Even the royal family fought bravely… and fell.
It seems there wasn’t even enough time to evacuate the citizens.

The spread of the miasma was just that swift.

That’s why elves are now so few on this continent.
The vast majority shared Elgrand’s fate.

Still, perhaps a few survived.
And if they did, they would surely hate me.
I never know when they might seek revenge.

…That’s the real reason we changed our names.

For a year after that, various countries sent out “Demon Dragon” subjugation forces—
but most of them were wiped out.

The difference in power was overwhelming.
By the time the “Demon Dragon” was finally brought down, every nation except Regionia had been destroyed.

Because I ran away, tens… no, hundreds of thousands—maybe millions—lost their lives.

Even now, I keep wondering.

Was my single life worth that much?

It was without a doubt my actions that snuffed out theirs.

Fearing an invisible avenger, I broke into a run.
I pushed my way through the crowd, earning irritated glares from those I passed.

“Raiga-sama, Yuto-sama, please—you have to defeat the Demon Dragon!”

The plea of that young elf still echoes in my ears, even now—