Chapter 3

My childhood friend Rex was a pretentious, cocky bastard.

His swordsmanship was top-tier. A prodigy who knocked on the door of a swordsmanship dojo at the age of five and took down the master in less than six months.

For reference, it took me—who joined at the same time—until I was over ten years old to defeat that same master. The level I reached in five years, he achieved in just half that.

While I kept training at the same dojo, Rex went around challenging and crushing others. After dominating most civilian dojos in the country, he even got a recommendation to train with the national army.

My duel record against Rex was abysmal. Winning even once out of ten matches was a miracle. Not that I lacked confidence in my sword, but he was always a few steps ahead.

The inferiority complex I’d carried since childhood only grew worse with time.

"…I’ve decided. I’m gonna be an adventurer."

"Rex, what the hell are you talking about? You’ve got an offer from the national army."

"Dumbass, if I took some boring-ass job like that, I’d never be free. With skills like mine, I’ll rake in cash as an adventurer. And when I don’t feel like working? I’ll slack off as much as I want."

"You never once thought about using your sword for the sake of others, huh?"

"Why the hell should I care about strangers? Anyway, listen. I’ve always known who I’d invite first if I ever became an adventurer."

That was when he told me he was going to be an adventurer. Typical Rex, I thought.

This guy hated being shackled by rules. Joining the army might’ve been the path to success, but he had zero interest in status or fame.

So him choosing to be an adventurer made perfect, irritating sense.

"Come with me. You’re the only one who can be my partner. No matter how many times I beat you down, you keep coming back—you’re the only one who’s ever taken a match off me."

And just like that, Rex invited me to join him. No regard for my feelings, no hesitation—just pure, selfish confidence.

"I want to conquer the world with you. Follow me."

────And I refused.

Now, as I lay pathetically on the ground, my limbs pinned by demonfolk, the one who appeared before me was Rex.

The living embodiment of my inferiority complex. My childhood friend, the rival I swore to defeat one day. The swordsman Rex was a little more mature than I remembered.

It’d been years since we last met—of course he’d grown. Damn it, he was taller now, his frame even more formidable. Could I even beat him now?

"Hmph. So you’re the intruders from the report? Perfect timing—dispose of them."

"Hey, buddy."

The demon commander barely glanced at Rex before turning away with a bored snort.

Demonfolk were already monstrously strong. Human adventurers needed full parties just to take down a single stray. A one-on-one fight was suicide.

And these guys, who called themselves the Demon King’s Army? They were on another level. Even under the restriction "You can’t harm me," killing two was all I could manage. Not that I was weak—I was stronger than most adventurers.

Yet here I was, completely humiliated. No wonder demonfolk looked down on humans.

Uninterested in the metallic screech of a drawn sword behind him, the commander hoisted my restrained body and started walking back toward the room I’d been imprisoned in.

Humans couldn’t beat demonfolk. That was common sense to him.

"Oh, right—make sure to freeze the corpses. Last time, some idiots left one out, and it rotted. What a waste."

Then, the commander paused. He tossed the order over his shoulder like it was nothing.

Freezing corpses. What a disgusting command.

"…Nah. Why the hell would I freeze a bunch of dead demonfolk?"

The reply was pure defiance.

Of course. That guy hadn’t changed at all. Rex had always been like this.

Calmly pointing his sword at an unbeatable enemy, cutting them down without breaking a sweat.

A man who lived up to every title of genius, every whisper of prodigy.

"More importantly, that person? A buddy of a buddy who did me a solid. Gotta take her back for a thank-you feast."

The commander’s eyes widened as he slowly turned. Only then, still slung over his shoulder, did I see it.

In the middle of the narrow, blood-soaked passage stood a smug swordsman, completely unmarked by gore, grinning as he stepped over a mountain of dismembered demonfolk.

"…Huh? Wh—why are you all… dead?"

"Yep. Wiped out. Weak as hell, too. Real disappointing."

The choking stench of blood. The drip, drip of water echoing in the cavern. It felt surreal—yet undeniably real.

Rex smirked at the stunned commander, hefting his greatsword lazily.

"Alright, hand her over. That’s my buddy’s savior you’ve got there."

What happened next was too fast to follow. One moment, his body blurred—

A sound like a bucket being overturned filled the passage. A brief weightlessness—then suddenly, I was in Rex’s arms.

…Yeah. This guy really hadn’t changed at all.

With a grin, he casually ripped apart the metal chains I’d struggled against uselessly. All I could do was stare at him with dead eyes.

---

"Alright, then. Hmm… First, let’s do introductions, yeah? My savior here—I’m Rex. Maybe you’ve heard the name? Well, I’m just some adventurer with a fancy title like ‘Sword Saint.’ This time, I owe ya for helpin’ out my crew."

Rex’s voice, after years of silence.

Pathetically captured by the enemy, dragged away like baggage—only to be saved by my fated rival. And then, I learned a brutal truth: he’d completely forgotten I existed.

A vein pulsed in my forehead.

Sure, he’d saved my life. I’d been planning to thank him… but this? This was too much. My face froze stiff.

…I thought we were friends.

"Ah, um… Thank you for saving me earlier. I’m Mei. I’m a black mage—well, an apprentice, but…"

"And I’m Karin, a nun! Nice to meet ya! As you can see, I’m the healer!"

Maybe mistaking my stunned silence for a cue, the two girls in Rex’s party cheerfully introduced themselves.

Now that I got a good look at them—damn, they were cute. Especially Mei, the girl I’d tried to protect.

Innocent, kind, delicate yet bright… in short, exactly my type.

…I see. While I’d been grinding solo in dungeons for sword training, Rex had been partying up with adorable girls, living it up.

I see.

"So, what’s your name?"

"…I’ll pass."

"C’mon, man."

I was seething. This fury had no limits.

The man I’d sworn as my lifelong rival, the one I’d struggled to catch up to—he’d gotten stronger while flirting with girls.

He’d grown powerful, as if mocking my sweaty, desperate training.

Unforgivable.

"Uh… Sorry, did I piss you off or somethin’?"

"……"

"Er, well…"

Rex scratched his head, eyeing my twitching eyebrow with awkward concern. Good. This was his punishment for forgetting someone who’d shared half his life.

────But honestly? If he’d forgotten me… that worked out fine. Because I—

"…No point telling you. Why bother learning the name of a dead man walking?"

"Hey. …The hell’re you sayin’?"

I was planning to end things today anyway.

"Earlier, those demons said to ‘freeze the corpses,’ right? Know why?"

"How the hell would I know what demons think?"

"They’re turning human corpses into soldiers. Imagine the chaos when the people they killed start attacking as part of the Demon King’s Army."

"…W-wait, hold on—"

"────This body? It’s already a corpse. A convenient puppet, mass-produced from the dead. That’s what I am now."

And so, I told them everything. How I’d wandered into this cave, been captured, killed.

How I’d surely be brainwashed by their curses, turned into their weapon.

"…See? That’s the deal. Get it now?"

"The hell you mean ‘get it’?! HEY!! You demon bastards!! What kinda sick shit is this?!"

"No way…"

"That’s… even I’m disgusted…"

Rex exploded. He punched the cave wall in rage, leaving a crater.

…He’d always been impulsive.

"…Rex, or whatever. Do me a favor. After you wreck this lab—give me a clean end."

"You—YOU!! You okay with this?! REALLY?!"

"The dead shouldn’t linger. …So, please."

Gently, I closed my eyes and turned away.

"…Hold up. You don’t have to die. We don’t even know if there’s a curse on you yet—"

"……"

"I knew it… From the moment we met, you acted like your life meant nothing. You were planning this all along, weren’t you?"

"……"

"So… yer resolve’s set, huh."

Behind me, Rex and the girls sounded lost. But I wouldn’t turn around. Wouldn’t answer.

────My one consolation? That the one ending me would be Rex, my old friend.

"You’re still young. Your whole life’s ahead of ya. How can you just give up?!"

"……"

"No family? No friends? No lover? You’re just gonna die without sayin’ goodbye?!"

"……"

"SAY SOMETHIN’, DAMMIT!!"

Funny. The man ready to die was calmer than the one holding the sword.

This guy, who seemed to think the world revolved around him—was far more emotional than he let on.

"Such a waste… No need to rush—"

"…I’m scared. I’m resolved now, but what if I waver? What if seeing my family makes me want to live?"

"So what if it does?!"

"I can’t risk it. Not even a one-in-a-million chance of dragging them into this."

"……Ah."

The nun with the thick dialect sighed, falling silent after a brief back-and-forth. Was that pity or exasperation in her eyes?

"But… if I were your family, I’d want to see you."

"……!"

"You could meet them. But if you kill yourself over some selfish ‘I don’t wanna drag them into this’ crap—I’d never forgive you."

"……But—"

"I hate sad endings like that."

And the hardest blow came from the black mage girl. Her voice trembled with quiet anger as she glared at me.

"…Alright, listen up. I’m stupid strong, yeah?"

"I noticed. Saw it firsthand."

While I reeled from the mage’s outburst, Rex scratched his head, then grabbed me by the scruff like a stray cat.

"Ditchin’ your family without a word’s still shitty. If you get brainwashed and turn evil, I’ll lop your head off myself. So come with me."

"Excuse me?"

Was this Rex’s idea of kindness? This lunatic just invited a potential time bomb into his party.

Was it for the mage’s sake? Or just pity?

"No offense, but brainwashed you wouldn’t even be a warm-up. So relax and tag along."

"……Hah?"

And he kept going.

…He wasn’t wrong. I hadn’t even seen Rex’s sword strikes earlier. I’d trained hard, but the gap between us had clearly widened.

The demons that crushed me? He slaughtered them in seconds.

────But.

"No need to rush! You’ve got a second chance, so just—"

"Wanna test that?"

"—stick with me and… huh?"

But I’ll be damned if I let him look down on me without a fight! Sure, I lost to the demons—but I was ambushed and restrained! Not exactly peak condition!

And swordsmen have matchups. Maybe I was weak against those demons. Maybe Rex countered them perfectly. That’s all it was!

I’ve got my pride too. I won’t let him dismiss me like some chump!

"…H-hey. Why’re you drawing your sword?!"

"Draw yours, Rex. Let’s settle this properly. I’ll show you who’s ‘not a warm-up.’"

"Whoa. This kinda person, huh? Hell yeah! Straightforward—I like it!!!"

My voice shook with rage, and Rex—grinning like an idiot—casually raised his greatsword.

"Fine! If I win, you join my party!!"

"Shut up!! Just fight me, Rex! I’ll make you eat those words!!"

And so, my worst traits surfaced. Competitive, hot-headed, easy to provoke—especially against him.

Forgetting my battered state, I lunged at my "fated rival."

---

"…Sniff… sniff…"

"GAHAHAHA!! Not bad—but I win!!"

After a brief clash, I was sent flying into a wall, his blade at my throat.

This sucks. This really sucks.

"So… did that somehow fix everything?"

"I-I guess? She seems kinda simple…"

The mage’s exasperated voice echoed from afar. No—I’m not usually this dumb! It’s just Rex!

"Deal’s a deal! You’re mine now! No more ‘I’ll die’ crap!!"

"……Grrrrrr…!"

Rex clapped my shoulder, beaming. Less "honoring a worthy opponent," more "glad he won."

But a fair fight’s a fair fight. As a swordsman, I had to accept it.

This sucks…

"Now let’s wreck that lab and get the hell outta this cave."

"…Yeah."

"Quit moping. You were good. Oh—what’s your name, anyway?"

Rex cheerfully thumped my back. Right. Gotta introduce myself.

…Will he remember me if I say it? If not, I’m stabbing him in his sleep.

……God. Reunited with my "best friend and rival," lost fair and square, and got forgotten. Just how much of a side character am I?!

The tears won’t stop…

"H-hey, quit cryin’! Seriously, you should be proud! You’re plenty strong—I’m just that good."

"Shut up. I don’t need your empty comfort."

"I'm not just trying to comfort you, dammit..."

To calm myself down, I snatched the cloth Rex was holding and wiped my face with it. A guy crying this easily... it’s pathetic, no two ways about it.

I took a deep breath and forced down the hiccupping sobs. Then, steeling myself, I turned to Rex and opened my mouth to tell him my name—

"You know, I’ve never seen a girl as strong as you. Seriously. You’ve got such a cute face, and crying just ruins it."

Rex hit me with a line so completely out of left field that my brain couldn’t even process it.

"...Huh? Girl?"

"What, you were trying to pass as a guy or something? I thought your speech was kinda weird, but come on, it’s obvious."

"Eh... wha...?"

What the hell is he saying? I look like a girl? Are his eyes broken? It’s not like I’ve got an androgynous face or anything. In all my fifteen years of life, not once—not once—have I ever been mistaken for a girl.

Wait a sec. Maybe Rex hit his head during our duel just now—

"Also, sorry, but... I’ve kinda been seeing your chest for a while now. Your clothes are a mess, y’know? Not my fault."

"...My chest?"

I followed Rex’s gaze.

I shouldn’t have.

And there—

"Eeeek!! Rex-sama, what are you looking at?! Swordswoman-san, cover up, cover up!!"

"Huh? Wait, don’t tell me you were showing that off on purpose?"

"Of course not!! I-I’ll lend you a spare robe, so please, Rex-sama, stop looking!!"

...Soft, round hills, plush and perky, were clinging to where my pectorals should’ve been.

"...Ughhh..."

"Wait—huh? Swordswoman-san?!"

I’m a girl. That damn Demon Lord’s army. That bastard Jaliba.

They screwed up my gender...!!

The world spun and spun.

Overwhelmed by the shock, I passed out cold.