As a Second Reincarnation Bonus, I Kept Rerolling and Ended Up Reincarnating as the Character Who Should’ve Had the Easiest Life... or So I Thought - Episode 11: I Love You

Episode 11: I Love You

The Demon King felt a slight shock as the girl—who had seemed unconscious just moments before—suddenly regained her senses with startling clarity.

At the same time, he felt an inexplicable thrill. When someone consumed by despair finds hope again, that can only bring fear.

“Wh… Why? Why are you here…”

Her voice trembled.

“K-Kill him! He dared interfere with our king’s ritual! Leave not even a hair of him behind!”

The monkey-faced demon screamed. The king approved of the command and had no intention of stopping it.

The man clad in black armor was swarmed by dozens of monstrous figures.

This was the demonkin’s base. It was a place overflowing with creatures as numerous as stars.

No matter how many he killed, more emerged.

A normal human wouldn’t last five seconds—they’d be torn to pieces instantly.

But this man, who had come alone, was not ordinary.

Each time his red demon sword swung, monsters dropped dead.

He darted about freely—sometimes launching foes away, sometimes cleaving them apart, sometimes kicking them to death.

“My, for a mere human to wield such power…”

The Demon King observed, impressed—like a spectator, detached from the battle.

Still, the man couldn’t reach the magic circle.

The distance was a mere 50 meters. But it might as well have been an ocean.

More and more monsters kept coming—this was a paradise for demons.

The girl knew well how hopeless this place was.

“No…! Run, please, run!”

“Oh? Is that man really so important to you?”

Amid the chaos of roaring and screams, the king questioned her.

Tears, glittering like jewels, fell from her eyes.

“He won’t make it at this rate. In this place, demons are born without end. His body will soon reach its limit.”

“That’s… That’s not fair…”

The king whispered into her ear.

“Do you want him to be saved? Just one word from me and the demons will stop killing. Well, girl? Do you want him saved?”

It was nothing more than a cruel game.

The girl had finally regained her mind and now trembled in horror at the unfolding tragedy.

What would happen if he made her beg for mercy, pretended to listen, and then slaughtered the man anyway?

“Please… I’ll do anything…”

“Oh? So even becoming a sacrifice is acceptable to you?”

“Yes.”

The king was surprised by her instant answer.

She was willing to throw away her life that easily?

The joy he felt earlier faded, and irritation filled his eyes.

“So what you feel… is love? I know not your relationship, nor do I care to. But love—such a thing is nothing but illusion—”

At that moment, a clear shift occurred in the battle.

The red demon sword grew longer, wider, slicing through the swarming monsters in an instant.

Something passed right beside the king.

Bl00d sprayed from his cheek and ear.

In that fleeting moment, the man broke free of the encirclement and stepped toward the magic circle.

The king greeted him with a smile.

“Oh mighty one. To think a single man could display such power…”

“…”

“Are you here to kill me? Or is it for the girl?”

“The girl.”

“I see… But look closely. Is this truly the princess you sought? That hair? Those ears? This is no mere waste—it’s a devastating mistake.”

The man didn’t rush to close the distance.

He walked calmly, slowly.

The monsters approaching from behind were cut down by invisible sword strikes.

The girl couldn’t take her eyes off him.

After biting her lip in grief, she finally whispered:

“I’m sorry… I’m just a fake…”

“You’re wrong.”

The man was soaked in bl00d and clad in black armor. He quickly denied it with strength.

“Ireina. I came here because it was you.”

At that moment, the girl—called Ireina—froze. It was as if time had stopped.

She hadn’t expected those words.

Words she thought could never be spoken.

Her mind couldn’t keep up.

They were now nearly close enough to touch—

But the king stepped between them, placing a knife to her neck.

“Don’t move. Her life is in my hands.”

“You won’t do it. If you kill Ireina, you’ll never become a god.”

“Oh? Even if I’ve been humiliated… I still won’t kill her, you say?”

At some point, the two stood face to face.

The monsters that had attacked like mad were now hesitant. They were afraid to harm the king by mistake—but unable to stand by idly.

While the battlefield wavered in confusion, only the man in black armor had decided what to do.

He knew. The king was hesitating.

The king had never expected to be cornered like this.

Taking a hostage had shaken him to his core.

Now, the armored man controlled the distance.

All he needed was a single moment—

Just one lapse in the king’s focus.

He could practically see his breathing.

Sensing the tiniest opening, the man instantly severed the king’s knife-wielding arm.

◇

From that point on, hell broke loose.

He cut down the king, cleaved the monkey demon in two, and slaughtered many as he fled.

In the end, he defeated the Demon King and took down most of his key officers.

Because of this victory, humanity was able to push back the demonkin—though at great cost.

Had the king not been slain, humanity would have faced extinction.

But the man didn’t witness that ending.

His fate was sealed by choosing to protect others during their escape.

With only one arm, he couldn’t wield a sword while carrying the girl—he could only run.

The relentless pursuit of the demonkin never stopped.

Arrows, spears, and spells rained down like a storm.

The girl trembled in his arms. But she clung tightly to him, never letting go.

How much time had passed?

Before long, they stood on an unfamiliar hill. The monsters were gone.

Morning came, sunlight shone upon them—

But there was no smile on the girl’s face.

The man who had shielded her had taken too many wounds.

He laid her down gently, then collapsed.

He tossed his red demon sword high into the air.

Its crimson gem and golden hilt sparkled before fading away.

“Why…?”

The man was barely conscious. He smiled in her arms.

It was a rare smile. Her eyes widened.

“Why, huh… I just… didn’t want you to die.”

His voice was fading.

He was nearing the end.

He had accepted his death.

But Ireina could not.

She cried like a child.

“My comrades are all gone… Noel, Hermes, Dorcas, Siena… I’m sorry… but at least you…”

“Don’t speak! I’ll call for help, we’ll be fine! I promise!”

She couldn’t accept his life fading away.

“Your… song… you didn’t… sing?”

“…What?”

“I wanted to hear it… your song…”

“I’ll sing! I’ll sing as much as you want, for you!”

“…Be happy…”

Those were his final words.

Ireina screamed in tears. She etched his smile into her heart.

She felt herself falling into a world of darkness.

Everything disappeared. She lost herself.

In the endless night of farewell, one word echoed from the girl:

“I love you.”

It rang through his heart, more beautifully than anything.

◇

“—Wake up! Onii-chan, wake up! It’s morning!”

“Mm… mmm…”

Shaken by small hands, Atlas awoke.

The ceiling was one he knew well.

“If you don’t get up soon, everyone will be mad! It’s an important day!”

“Huh? It is?”

“Today’s the party! Come on, come on!”

Pulled insistently by his little brother, he yawned and sat up.

(That dream again… No—those memories…)

It was undeniably a memory from his past life.

And every time it came back, he couldn’t help but wonder—

Did Ireina find happiness after that?

“I’ll be waiting, so hurry, okay?”

“Got it.”

His brother ran off to tell their parents he was awake.

Though the maids had already prepared everything—he just had to get dressed.

Soon, he was ready. A fine carriage waited in the garden.

(I’ll think about it later. I need to hurry.)

He lived in a different world now.

He would likely never know what became of her.

Climbing into the carriage, Atlas pushed the thoughts away.

He considered the past completely behind him.

But he hadn’t truly severed his former life.

Every time he dreamed, that black power quietly returned to him.

It was a gift… he could have done without.