Chapter 1: The End of the Journey

“It’s been a long journey, huh…”

From the open-top carriage, I waved down at the people lining the streets below.

The Holy Kingdom of Eltina.

And at its heart, the royal capital—Eltina.

“Yeah… it really has been.”

Beside me, a young man with black hair and black eyes followed suit, waving, though stiffly.

The cheers from the crowd—especially from the young women—grew even louder.

He looked visibly uncomfortable.

“You’re quite popular, huh…? Right, Hero?”

“Huh? Oh… haha.”

The one forcing a bitter smile was Suzuki Yusuke—the Hero, summoned from another world three years ago.

His name, written in kanji, is apparently 鈴木裕介. A pretty common name back in Japan.

“Hmm? You don’t seem too happy about it…”

“Well, it’s just… isn’t it kind of scary to have people you don’t even know cheering for you?”

"...Ah. Yeah, I get what you mean."

I continued waving, and suddenly, the men in the crowd started shouting excitedly.

…Right. I should probably introduce myself.

My name is Millarena Eltina.

Yes, I’m a woman.

Oh, and by the way—I’m a reincarnator.

In my past life, I was a man born and raised in Japan, just like Yusuke.

Then, for various reasons, I died. And when I opened my eyes again, I was the ninth princess of this kingdom.

A half-sister to the first princess. The daughter of a servant maid.

Still, I was raised as a proper princess, trained in etiquette, refinement, and all that royal nonsense.

And during my education, I made a discovery.

I was a genius at magic.

At first, I was thrilled—cheat skills in another world! But… this world was peaceful.

Sure, there were magical beasts, creatures a bit tougher than wild bears… but humans were just as tough.

A princess like me had no business running off into the countryside to fight monsters, so I rarely got to use my magic.

That peace, however, didn’t last.

Four years ago, everything changed.

"But… yeah, I think it’s good that everyone’s happy."

"...You think so? You were practically kidnapped, and yet you say that."

The Evil Dragon Ivris.

A monstrous creature that spews endless miasma, corrupting the land and turning magical beasts into frenzied monsters.

Calling it just a "magical beast" doesn’t do it justice. It’s something far worse. A true calamity.

With the dragon’s arrival, peace was shattered.

The kingdom’s knights fought bravely to cull the surging hordes of magical beasts, but their efforts weren’t enough.

The world was on the brink of destruction.

And so, three years ago, this guy was summoned.

The Hero, Suzuki Yusuke.

He was only fifteen.

Dozens of the royal capital’s finest teleportation mages poured all their strength into summoning him.

It was basically kidnapping.

And my scumbag father—the king—looked him in the eyes and declared,

"Slay the Evil Dragon, and we shall grant you vast treasures and a way back to your world."

Yusuke had no choice.

A kidnapped teenager, handed a sword and forced into the role of a savior.

Every time I think about it, it makes my stomach churn.

Yet, despite everything, Yusuke was a real Hero.

At first, he was weak—just an ordinary high schooler. But after six months of training under the captain of the knights, he had already surpassed him.

A cheat-level isekai protagonist in the making.

And so, the Hero Yusuke—

Was sent off alone.

Not a single knight accompanied him. No advisors, no comrades, no one to watch his back.

From my perspective, it made no sense.

Then again, the king probably never intended to help him.

He likely thought Yusuke would either grow strong enough to slay the dragon on his own… or die trying.

Either way, the kingdom lost nothing.

If Yusuke failed, they’d just summon another Hero.

Like he was disposable.

It’s utterly ridiculous.

"No matter how strong he is, you’re going to send him off alone to slay the Evil Dragon by himself?"

Are you kidding me?

He was just a fifteen-year-old kid.

I couldn’t stand it—the sheer unfairness of it all.

So, I made a choice.

I wouldn’t let him face this alone.

At the time, I was also fifteen—his age, his peer. And while I might not have been able to change his fate, I thought… maybe, just maybe, my presence could offer him some peace of mind.

A familiar soul in a foreign world.

That’s why I revealed the truth to him—that I was from Japan, too.

That I used to be a man.

I told him about a year into our journey.

Maybe that’s why we’ve always kept a comfortable distance—like old friends, like two guys just hanging out.

Even now, as the carriage rolls through the cheering capital, his voice breaks through my thoughts.

"Even so… if things have become peaceful like this, then I’m satisfied."

“…Hmm.”

I glance at him—this genuinely good person who endured so much, yet still smiles so easily.

And feeling a pang of guilt, I look away.

I can’t be like him.

Looking at these people—celebrating so freely—I…

"Hmph."

I can’t help but feel contempt for them.

"How convenient."

But no matter what, I’d never say it out loud.

---

Somehow, I feel uneasy.

Three years have passed since I was summoned to this world.

The school uniform I once wore no longer fits. Now, I dress like the people of this world. My body has changed—I’ve grown about twenty centimeters taller, and muscle has replaced the softness of my old self.

I’ve adapted.

To the vast grasslands. To the endless blue skies.

And yet, this place feels foreign.

The royal castle. A grand room draped in a deep red carpet, its ceiling adorned with extravagant decorations.

I think this is supposed to be a waiting room.

The sofa beneath me is too soft, almost uncomfortably so. Unable to settle in, I gaze out the window instead.

The royal capital is teeming with people.

During my travels, I stayed in towns and villages, most of them quiet, never truly bustling. Seeing this many people together in one place—it reminds me of Japan.

Yes… my homeland—

A knock breaks my thoughts.

“Ah, come in?”

The door swings open.

A girl steps inside. Pale blonde hair, a pure white dress. Ethereal, breathtaking—more beautiful than any actress I ever saw in my past life. She looks almost fragile, like something out of a dream.

And then—

“Ugh, this corset… I haven’t worn one in ages, but it’s so tight… I’m dying…”

Millarena Eltina.

The ninth princess of this kingdom—
And the one person who traveled with me from my homeland.

By the way, her nickname is Millia.

…Though, I might be the only one who calls her that.

“…………”

She used to be a man.

Unlike me, who was summoned here, she was reincarnated into this world… and born as a woman.

I know that much. And yet—

“…Huh? What, you spacing out?”

“Ah, no…”

It’s hard to admit I was captivated.

Her gender identity is male. If I were to say something thoughtless, something careless… it might hurt her.

That elegant dress—she was probably forced to wear it. It’s not something she’d choose.

“Tch, if it doesn’t suit me, just laugh and say so, Yusuke.”

But that’s not it.

No matter what she believes about herself, the truth is clear to anyone who sees her—
She carries herself with a beauty fitting of royalty.

“It… suits you. Yeah.”

I say it because I mean it. Because even if I tried to lie, she’d see right through me.

“You think so~? Well, I am ridiculously beautiful, after all.”

“Hahaha…”

…I’m relieved. She looks happy.

As Millia grins, I feel the tension in my chest ease just a little.

She’s helped me so much.

When I was first summoned, lost, and surrounded by people who only pretended to be kind—just waiting to use me—
I felt uneasy. Paranoid. I wanted to go home, but I had no way back.

My heart was slowly withering.

And then, I met her.

Even though she had nothing to gain—she stayed by my side.

She helped me.

She treated me as an equal.

That’s why we became friends so quickly.

And then, I…

As we traveled together, she revealed her secret to me.

That she, too, was from Earth. From Japan.
And more than that… she used to be a man.

Her gender identity remains male.

She once told me she likes cute girls.

That’s why… I can’t confess.

This love of mine was over before it even began.

“Still… well, the time has finally come, huh? It’s kind of profound.”

“Huh?”

“You’re going back, right? Yusuke.”

“Ah… yeah.”

That’s right.

The Evil Dragon has been defeated.

And now… I’m returning to Japan.

Three years have passed, and going back will probably be a hassle.
But even so, that’s my home.

There might still be people waiting for me.

“…You don’t seem too happy about it.”

“Huh? No, it’s not that. It’s just… I think things are going to get complicated.”

My family was never particularly close.

I had a talented older brother, so no one ever really expected much from me.

As for school… I had friends, but none I could truly call a best friend.

I was always too afraid to get close to people.

That’s why I think… there’s probably no one waiting for me anymore.

They’ve likely moved on, assuming I disappeared and died.

“…Well, I’ll miss you a little too. Take care over there, okay?”

“…Yeah. Thank you, Millia.”

I turn my gaze to Millia.

Her fair skin, her cheeks tinged with rouge, her glossy lips—she’s more beautiful than ever.

When I first came to this world, all I wanted was to go back.

Part of it was homesickness… but mostly, I just wanted to escape my situation.

Now, though… I wonder.

Do I really want to go back?

I think I should go back, but… is that just a sense of obligation?

…No matter which path I choose, I think I’ll regret it.

A knock echoes through the room.

It’s time to meet with the king.

---

My scumbag father was acting all high and mighty.

Well, I mean, he is high and mighty… being the king and all.

He rattled off some condescending words of praise, and I just kept bowing my head like a good little servant.

That’s what you call noble etiquette.

Even though it’s been three years since I left the castle, it seems some habits never die.

So, we gave our report on the defeat of the Evil Dragon… and then the conversation shifted to Yusuke’s future.

That’s when we found out—Yusuke can’t go back.

Apparently, the royal court mages, who specialize in summoning magic, can bring someone here… but they can’t send them back.

Well, technically, they can send him back to his world—but they have no way of controlling where he’ll end up.

With summoning magic, they can specify the coordinates of the summoning location… but they can’t determine the coordinates of another world.

I’m no expert in summoning magic, but even I can see why that’d be a problem.

Calling someone is easy. Sending them back is hard. That’s just how magic works.

But wait. Didn’t my scumbag father say, “Once you defeat the Evil Dragon, we’ll send you back to your world”?

Was he lying?

Or did the royal mages lie to him?

Either way, Yusuke can’t go back.

Instead, the king offered him vast wealth and status, asking him to accept it.

If it were me, I’d be furious.

I’d lose it right there, cause a scene, maybe even throw a punch.

But Yusuke?

He just forced a smile and accepted it.

…He’s just that kind of guy.

Always going out of his way to help people in need, hunting magical beasts wherever we went.

Even in remote villages where no knights were dispatched, he fought without expecting a single thing in return.

So, he just accepted it.

…What a pushover.

◇◆◇◇◆◇

I let out a sigh.

In a formal setting, that would’ve earned me a scolding… but here, it’s just me and my attendant maid.

No one’s going to say anything about my rough manners.

“Princess, we’ve prepared a welcome party for your return…”

“…I know.”

Tea parties, dance parties…

Political gatherings like these are never fun.

Hunting down giant boar-like magical beasts during our travels and celebrating with the villagers at their hunting festivals? Now that was a hundred times more enjoyable.

My attendants helped me out of my cumbersome dress and into an evening gown.

But—

“Isn’t this a little too revealing?”

The neckline had some mysterious lace decorations… and below that, just bare skin.

My collarbone was completely exposed, and the corset pushed up my bust, making my cleavage… well, very noticeable.

This is straight-up erotic. An erotic dress.

If someone else were wearing it, it’d be eye candy… but wearing it myself? Yeah, no thanks.

The embarrassment is killing me.

“No, no, dresses like this are very popular these days.”

“Huh? Really?”

“Yes, they’re quite popular among unmarried women. They attract more attention from men.”

“…Ah. That kind of thing.”

I’m eighteen now.

In this world, that’s prime marriage age.

As the ninth princess, I have more freedom in choosing a partner… but I’m sure my scumbag father is getting impatient with me still being single.

Here, a woman’s status holds political value.

He probably wants to marry me off to some noble to strengthen ties between the kingdom and its powerful figures.

Ugh. So tedious.

Wait… so that’s it.

Marriage. To a man.

…Well. I do owe the kingdom for raising me this far.

Logically speaking, if I were to run away, it’d cause problems for a lot of people.

I may think of my father as a scumbag, but as a king, I respect him.

And I could never bring myself to hate my strict tutors. My attendants are good people, too.

…Thinking about it that way, I guess I have to face what’s ahead.

“…Sigh.”

In the mirror, a peerlessly beautiful girl stood in an elegant dress.

But her expression was anything but cheerful.