Chapter 1: The Rebirth of the Sword King

“There stands a newly born hero among us. The Hero’s Sword held in this person’s hand is the proof of it!!!!”

In the center of what should have been a flourishing royal capital, I stood before the grand plaza… staring ahead with lifeless eyes.

No—rather than “staring,” it felt like nothing was entering my vision at all. Or maybe it was, but my brain simply refused to process it.

In short, I was in a state best described as complete shock. My thoughts had shut down entirely—I couldn’t accept the reality unfolding before me.

As if oblivious to my condition, the crowd gathered in front of me listened intently to the Saint’s raised voice, their expressions serious, determined not to miss a single word.

“Everyone, long ago, our nation’s first Sword King declared that whoever could draw this sword would be the true king. And now, after 500 years… a new Sword King has appeared.”

I wanted to say she was wrong. I wanted to shout that this couldn’t be happening.

Because I’m not the one who’s supposed to pull out the sword. I’m just Villager A—the innkeeper’s son from some small village. Nothing more. If this were a story, I’d be nothing but a background extra.

“Second Sword King, we have awaited your arrival. Everything in this country—beginning with the Church of the Sword King—exists for your sake.”

That line—I’ve heard it in the anime!!!

Normally, I’d be jumping for joy, tossing flower petals into the air like confetti in celebration.

But hearing it directed at me…

It sounded less like praise—and more like a devil’s proclamation. Tears slipped quietly down my face.

“Sword King!!! I, Alicia Septem, will devote myself to you—more than anything, for your sake and for this nation!!!!”

“Whoa, Toma!!! The Second Sword King, seriously!? As your childhood friend, I’m proud as hell!!!!”

No, no, you’ve got it wrong, Alicia…

The one you’re meant to be with is that energetic girl over there—eyes sparkling, beaming with that overflowing smile.

My childhood friend, Hikari.

Can’t you see my pale face? My dead eyes?

You’re the one who was supposed to draw this sword.
You’re the one who was supposed to end up in a relationship with the Saint.

“Now then, everyone!!! Let us celebrate together the birth of a new hero—our new king!!!!!”

At Saint Alicia’s call, the crowd gathered in the capital’s plaza erupted into thunderous cheers.

They rejoiced as if welcoming a bright future yet to come—uplifted by the Saint’s words.

And yet, in stark contrast to that scene, tears poured endlessly from my eyes. The ground beneath me was already soaked, and I felt like I might collapse from sheer dehydration.

…How did it come to this?

My mind began to drift back into the past.

Do you know the type of person called a “shipping fanatic”?

It’s short for “coupling enthusiast.”

Put simply—people who take pleasure in watching others’ relationships and romantic dynamics from the outside.

Yeah… pretty creepy when you put it like that.

But don’t get the wrong idea—at least in my case. It’s not like I enjoy every relationship I see. And I’m not the type to butt into other people’s preferred pairings either.

Well—except when I’m introducing my favorites.

If you ask me about my favorite ship, I can go on for one or two hours straight. Most shipping fans are probably the same.

In other words, we never slack off when it comes to enjoying our favorite pairings.

If there’s no content, we create it ourselves.
We share it with like-minded comrades, discuss it, build it up—thanks to internet culture, we always find a way.

Though… all that effort can be instantly obliterated by an official “bomb drop” from the source material.

Either that—or it ignites us even more until we burn ourselves out completely.

“You LOST the Blu-ray with my favorite ship’s best scene on it!? I’ll kill you, you idiot!!!!”

“I’m sorry!! I really am!!! I watched it half-asleep and put it away, and now I don’t know where it went!!!”

“Shut up. Don’t say another word. Find it before I get there. If you don’t, I’ll smash every single figure in your room—one by one—right in front of you.”

A scream echoed through the call, followed by the sound of an entire room being turned upside down. Then the line went dead.

Well, of course it did. If he’s my friend, he knows I was completely serious.

Anyway, the point is—

I just want you to understand that I wouldn’t hesitate to slaughter a friend who dares lose a Blu-ray containing my absolute favorite pairing’s union scene.

I mean, losing something you borrowed is basically a capital offense anyway.
Execution confirmed.

“I love you!!! More than anyone—more than anything in this world!!!!”

“I love you too…!! I love you so much I’d even wish to change the world for you!!!!”

“Aaaahhh… even just hearing this scene on the drama CD is perfection~~~!!!”

With a fire that refused to burn out blazing in my heart, I started walking toward my friend’s house.

Earphones in.
On repeat: the confession scene of my favorite pairing, adapted into a drama CD.

Even without visuals, it had something the anime didn’t—each character’s inner thoughts laid bare.

Just listening to it filled my ears with bliss.

And yeah—walking around with a grin that would make strangers recoil… I probably did look suspicious.

Not that I cared.

“B-But!! I don’t want you to get hurt any more than this!!!!”

“You don’t have to say anything. I’ll handle it. I’ll take care of everything!!!!”

I love this scene.

The protagonist, Hikaru, trying to shoulder everything alone—
And Alicia, the main heroine, desperately wanting to share even a fraction of that burden.

Alicia, in tears, trying to stop him.
Hikaru, pushing her away—even the girl he loves—so he can free her from the burden of being the Saint.

That painful misunderstanding… born from how deeply they care about each other.

And later—

That very moment becomes the trigger for everything that goes wrong.

But that’s exactly why this exchange between the two of them is so good…

And that’s precisely why this work, Legenda Septima Rex, has so many fans—and why so many shipping fanatics like me are captivated by their relationship.

A Saint who had never known love, who had only ever lived in accordance with her duty, comes to understand something utterly ordinary: what it means to fall for someone like a normal girl.

A Sword King who knew nothing but wielding a blade, who strove to be strong through talent and effort alone, comes to feel something equally ordinary: the desire to protect the girl he loves like a normal boy.

You could call it cliché—but when it’s delivered through an exceptional story, it hits with the impact of a full-course meal at a high-end restaurant.

“Yeah… HikaAri really is the best. Though, the other pairings are great too…”

I muttered to myself—though perhaps louder than I intended. People around me glanced my way, but I didn’t care. Instead, I found myself reflecting on the very work that dragged me down the path of a shipping fanatic.

Legenda Septima Rex started as a game, then expanded into drama CDs, and eventually made its way into an anime. It was even adapted into a live-action film—I went to see it at least five times.

It’s not like everyone in the world knows it, but the live-action adaptation did make the news for a while, so its general recognition is probably higher than you’d expect. On a certain illustration-sharing site, countless fanworks were uploaded, and my heart was thoroughly nourished.

As a story, you could call it classic—or, less generously, predictable. The setting and world felt familiar, offering little novelty to seasoned otaku.

But the sheer passion and love for its characters crushed those criticisms entirely.

“I’m the strongest there is!!!!”

“I only fight for myself!!! Like hell I’d ever be some king!!!!”

“I’m not standing here for the country. I’m here for me—for who I am!!!!!”

That was the protagonist in the earliest stages. Some people love him as he was, and I won’t deny that—but back then, he was a self-centered boy through and through.

But after enduring countless battles, after encountering people bound by their own burdens, he began to reshape his heart.

“I don’t have to be the strongest. I don’t have to be invincible. But I can’t afford to lose—so I’ll win.”

“If getting back up again and again is pathetic, then fine—I’ll be pathetic.”

“I’ll win my way, just like always—and I’ll make it back to everyone!!!!”

He grew—without discarding his pride—into something greater. And the way the heroines stood beside him, supporting that growth, captured the hearts of countless shipping fans, dazzling them with the sheer preciousness of those relationships.

There were many heroines, and with fan discs released after launch, even more were added. Naturally, the number of pairings involving the protagonist, Hikaru, kept increasing.

But it wasn’t just the main character pairings that spread. The rival characters were just as compelling—captivating audiences in their own right.

As a result, debates raged online day after day over which pairing was the ultimate and supreme one. Of course, I joined in too—leading the “they’re all different, and they’re all great” faction.

Getting absolutely demolished in arguments while still passionately defending my stance—and even converting a few people to my side… those are fond memories.

Let’s just ignore the fact that my enthusiasm made some people visibly uncomfortable.

And yet, despite all that, a friend had the nerve to say he lost the anime Blu-ray of Legenda Septima Rex that I lent him. I can confidently say punching him would be fully justified.

Sure, I have copies for actual use and storage—but that’s beside the point. There are still plenty of friends I want to drag into this fandom swamp by lending out that Blu-ray.

“Hey, you there!! Watch out!!!!”

Maybe it’s just a shipping fanatic’s instinct—when I’m deep in thoughts about precious pairings, everything else fades away.

That’s probably why my reaction to the voice from above came too late.

A small flowerpot fell from overhead—and collided directly with my skull, shattering both it and me in the process.

Before my brain could even register the shock and pain, it shut down completely.

…Perhaps that was a blessing.

My vision turned white—

No… it didn’t turn white.

It disappeared.

Everything faded beyond recognition.

And at the moment of my final blink—

“Toma!! Toma!!! Wake up, or your mom’s gonna yell at you again!!!!”

“Wha—!?”

A spirited girl’s voice rang out above me, and my consciousness snapped back.

When I opened my eyes, the person standing before me was a sharp-eyed, beautiful girl with long silver hair tied near her neck.

“H-Hikari…?”

“Yeah, that’s right. What’s with calling my name like that?”

I tried saying the name that came to mind—and apparently, I got it right. The girl didn’t even try to hide her suspicious expression.

Ah… I understood immediately. That’s just the kind of person she is.

At the same time, two sets of memories flooded my mind.

The me who lived in Japan as a shipping fanatic—and the me who was born and raised in this world.

The two merged, blending into one—

And in that moment, I realized a single truth.

“This world… it’s Legenda Septima Rex…!!!”

I rejoiced at the fact that I now existed in a world filled with my favorite pairings.

…Looking back on it now, it’s fitting—how the word for “dream” is written as something fleeting.