"So, everyone, as you already know, we don't have any money."
"What do you mean we don't have any money? What about the three coins we had left? I want my payment!"
Donkey filled his belly with beer, and now he wanted money?
"That's right, Kaela. Do you know how many sacks of potatoes I carried on my back? Of course you don't. You're a woman, so you just stood there and watched."
"Dorian, you stopped carrying the potato sacks every three minutes to check whether Mortar was all right."
Why couldn't they understand the situation we were in?
Ah. . .
"I don't care that much about money. Cutting the lettuce and green onions was a lot of fun. I got to practice."
"Seraphine, only ten percent of the lettuce and green onions you cut survived. The other ninety percent was deducted from our payment."
How could she mistake lettuce for hair?
I felt as though I were dealing with animals.
No, even animals were more intelligent.
"Hmm!"
"Kaela, why did you gag Lyra with a rope?"
Everyone stared at Lyra, who lay bound on the floor, struggling to break free.
Out of everyone, Lyra had caused us the greatest loss. . .
I didn't want to hear a single word from her.
"BANG!"
"AH!"
I struck the table so hard that everyone became startled.
"Listen. Ever since we met, we've been living in a way that. . . I can't even explain. I didn't know it was possible to live like this."
All I wanted was to rest in a bed and take a proper bath.
"I know what it is."
Donkey raised a hoof.
"What is it? Tell us, great sage. A man like you, who knows so many women, probably understands what kind of life we've been living."
"Thank you, plebeian. I'll remember you when I claim the crown of this kingdom."
Donkey and Dorian embraced for a long time.
"Haha. . ."
I held back my laughter by biting my lips.
"What is this about usurping my father's crown?"
Prince Edward remained curled up in the corner after his humiliation.
"We're living in a utopia!"
". . ."
"You're so intelligent, Donkey! Remember me when you become King!"
Seraphine knelt and began bowing to Donkey.
"Yes, I'll remember all of you—except Kaela!"
"If a cow ever flies, I might believe that you could become King."
I hoped that would never happen. . .
"Everyone, we survived the ogres and their leader, Zafrom. We went hungry and slept outdoors. I ate worms and bathed in a miserable river."
And I was still trapped in this female body.
At least I hadn't been harassed.
"Oh, Kaela, you complain too much. I used to live among pigs."
Who untied Lyra?
"Thank you, Your Majesty, for untying me."
She knelt before Donkey.
"Is my father here?"
"No. It's just an idiot having delusions."
I tried to calm Edward down. . .
I walked toward the fireplace, where a tiny flame burned along with all my dreams.
That fire wasn't even large enough to kill me.
Leading a group was so difficult, especially when everything went wrong. . .
I held my hands near the flames and felt the heat warming my heart.
Ah, I had drunk too much. . .
If someone asked whether I wanted to return to Japan, I would say no.
On the other hand, I didn't want to remain here either.
Look at those beings from another world.
I wasn't angry with my friends. I didn't blame them for what was happening.
Perhaps those incompetents were the reason I continued moving forward.
Without me, they were nothing.
But what were their goals?
That was it.
How ignorant of me.
"SLAP!"
I slapped myself across the face.
"Donkey, if you want to become King, you need to be recognized, right?"
"I'm already recognized."
"Seraphine, do you want to open a salon and become the greatest hairdresser?"
"Yes, but everyone ends up bald!"
"I promised to help you, and I'll keep that promise!"
"Dorian, do you want to marry Mortar despite the obstacle known as Cement?"
"I want as many women as possible."
"And Lyra!"
". . ."
"I'm sorry."
"Hmm!"
"Then it's settled. We all have goals, and we're going to bring them together."
Until recently, I had been completely focused on finding the Demon King.
I had put myself first and ignored my friends.
Well, their ambitions were absurd.
However, the mere existence of this group proved that nothing was impossible.
"Kaela, you need to stop drinking."
"Please don't interrupt my reasoning!"
"What have you planned?"
"We're going to become writers too!"
"What?"
They all asked at the same time.
I showed them the website.