Prologue
What do you do to become stronger in a world without the Great Demon King? That was my excuse for being unable to scale that wall.
Even though people around me claim that I am “talented,” I was never called a "genius", a "monster", or a "Hero".
There were times when I showed the result of my efforts.
However, the words said at such times were already decided.
"- As expected, the son of a Hero"
It doesn"t feel like I"m being praised.
And then, the words usually said during my off days, when results were lower than usual.
"- After all, he"s still immature compared to his father the Hero"
I felt it"s annoying!
Is it because I"m so spoiled that my heart feels rotten?
My father, one of the heroes who saved the world, married my mother and I was born.
I was raised without any inconvenience in a peaceful era without war.
The country I reside in is the Depaltia Empire, which is considered to be the leading country of the world. Its level of civilization and economy may be the best in the world.
Pampered, wealthy families usually got whatever they desired.
Even attending the university isn"t an issue.
That is how I was raised, thoroughly pampered yet receiving the best education possible.
And I was better than average. Intellectually and athletically.
So, until I hit that wall, and I never had to worry about the future.
"He will succeed his father and become a warrior of the Imperial Army." Without a doubt that was the path I was going down.
But having b.u.mped into the wall as progressed, I was suddenly concerned with how I"m being evaluated by the adults and people around me.
No matter what the result, no matter what you do, the t.i.tle of “Son of the Hero” follows you.
My power is compared by all means, and is always inferior to parents who are too great.
Believing that one day the blessed genes from my parents would awaken within me, I consumed with polishing myself through b.l.o.o.d.y efforts.
However, I was still unable to obtain the evaluation which exceeded parents.
On the contrary…
The children of the Hero are full of wonderful talents. They will mature splendidly from now on, and lead the human race.
– But ‘he" is not enough.
His genes should have the most talent, but…… You"re a talented man.
– Not as talented as children with real genius.
– I had expectations, but my son is a mess.
Compared with the children of the companions in the same hero party as father and mother, and I should have similar expectations as most of them from surroundings, but n.o.body has high hopes to me any longer, and I was treated as inferior.
Actually, he"s not a failure. He"s obviously more capable than usual.
Since then, the privileged position of being the son of a hero has come to feel more like a curse.
I"m me.
Notice me.
I want to be free. I want to go to a world where I won"t get caught up in that t.i.tle.
At the age of fifteen, I was in my rebellious phase.
And during that phase, my road will be twisted contrary to the expectations surrounding me, brought upon by the fateful encounter which occurred.
『-Child… Can you hear my voice? Do you recognize my presence?』
In the first place, I had no idea why such a thing was possible.
『-Ten years alone with naught but boredom. You are descendant of my arch enemy but if I can kill time by possessing you there is no other choice.』[S1]
The great Demon King, the nemesis of all mankind who in the past the races of the world came together as one and overthrew.
However, his soul was unable to pa.s.s on, and it remained in this world.
I don"t know why I was the only one who could perceive the ghost of the Great Demon King. No one could, not even my father.
But we still met.
『- Oh?… feeling rebellious are we? You want to get back at your father? Do you want to get back at the world?』
And it was there a strange codependent life begins.
『I have a grudge against your father. Therefore…… Do I grant you more power than your father?』
He"s a ghost, and he can"t talk to anyone but me. He can"t do anything just by being around me.
The Demon King who can communicate only with me and see only what I see offers whispers of the devil as a means to kill time.
『- I"ll guide you. I"ll teach you anything, whether it"s magic, martial skills, summons, or wisdom. All I have is free time.』
What would have happened if I hadn"t met him then?
There was a time when I thought such a thing.
I could have given up on the evaluations of those around me and lived a happy and peaceful life.
But I"ll always say I"m glad to have met him.
Even though the day met him, was still the worst day of my life.
The worst day of my life.
To talk about it, I"d have to go back to the day I first met him.
[S1] This was a though one. Ends up it was an idiom so doesn"t translate well. 背に腹は代えられない literally translates as "can"t change my belly on my back". Seems to want to describe a situation in which you"d have to give up what you want for what you really need. Thanks to GoldStrength over on reddit for the help.