I was Reincarnated as an Incompetent Leader with Zero Popularity who met his downfall early on. Instead of banishing the hidden cheat Protagonist, I decided to embrace him, and somehow, I ended up being treated like a Hero instead. - Chapter 25

The skill transfer I used during the battle with the Flame Bird—at that moment, I called out to the Goddess Elena and pleaded for her help.

It seemed Mian had remembered that, and after a long silence, she finally decided to believe my story.

“You weren’t just shouting nonsense. After all, Chrono did awaken to the ability to seal magic, and that’s a fact.”

“Yes, it surprised me!”

“Still, it’s hard to believe she could instantly use such an advanced technique just by meeting the conditions.”

“Then give me one of those skill transfers too.” The blonde witch demanded with no hesitation.

When I told her I couldn’t do it anymore, she clicked her tongue in annoyance.

“Ugh, I wish the goddess would take pity on me too. But maybe that’s impossible since I’m a woman?”

“It’s not like I received her favor just because I’m a man.”

“Then what’s the reason?”

“I… don’t really know.”

I avoided giving Mian a straight answer.

If I told her the truth, both she and Chrono would learn that this world was something created.

Not only that, but they’d realize they were modeled after characters from a novel I had written.

Even worse, they’d also know that Elena, despite her current remorse, had once considered destroying this world along with all its inhabitants.

It wasn’t something that would bring happiness to anyone living here.

I also doubted they’d even believe me. They’d probably dismiss it as the delusional ramblings of a madman.

For the same reason, I decided to keep quiet about the fact that I was originally Takashi Haimura, a person from another world.

All of it was unnecessary information—poisonous truths with no value in being shared.

“But to think I actually managed to defeat Mian… It’s unbelievable!”

Chrono, dressed in her male disguise, spoke excitedly, her eyes sparkling with wonder.

“Don’t compare me to some kind of monster!”

“Well, you were about as wild as one.”

“Wait, are you still holding a grudge about me calling you a monster?”

Mian’s voice faltered slightly, perhaps realizing that she had been a bit too heated earlier.

She sounded as though she was trying to show some remorse, but I silently thought, Just “a bit”?

If I voiced that thought, it would lead to yet another argument that would completely derail the conversation.

Still, Mian’s earlier fury had been truly extreme.

If she were the type to frequently lose control to the point of killing her comrades, incidents like this would’ve happened repeatedly by now.

“I’m not holding a grudge, but don’t lose control and attack us again.”

“…I won’t. I don’t want that either. No—I promise I won’t.”

The blonde witch nodded more earnestly than I expected, though her expression remained uneasy.

“…Now that Chrono has awakened her ability to seal magic, she can stop me if something happens, can’t she?”

Mian’s voice was quiet and desperate, her expression pained.

I had thought her outburst was entirely due to misplaced jealousy after wrongly assuming I had some sort of physical relationship with Chrono.

But looking at her distant gaze now, I began to feel that wasn’t the whole story.

Perhaps this selfish, fiery witch also carried deep wounds in her heart.

“But I’m leaving the party anyway, so I guess I can’t rely on anyone anymore.”

“Mian…”

“I’ll just have to handle things myself.”

She smiled weakly, but her words carried a sense of resignation.

Chrono called out to her in concern, her voice trembling.

The black-haired girl then turned her pleading eyes to me, as if fearing she herself might be cast out of the party.

There was no anger on her face, only worry for Mian.

Even though Chrono’s gender was different now, her essence remained the same.

I let out a deep sigh.

In the novel, the boy Chrono never resented Alva for expelling him.

Even when he later learned of the former leader’s miserable end, he didn’t mock him—he grieved and pitied him.

Chrono had even wished that, someday, they might reconcile and speak to each other as equals.

The Alva of that world was gone, but the Mian of this world was still alive.

I let out a sigh and opened my mouth to speak.

“Mian, you don’t have to hand over all your money. Just compensate for the table you burned.”

“…What?”

“And clean up the room you’ve been using as your personal closet. I’m giving it to Chrono as her room.”

“Wait, Alva—”

“Also, find a decent shop and pick out some clothes for Chrono. If you do that, we’ll call it even this time.”

If you don’t like it, leave the party.

At my words, the blonde witch flinched, her shoulders trembling as she violently shook her head.

Apparently, the calm and composed demeanor she showed when she first mentioned leaving the party had just been an act.

When she brightened her large violet eyes, she almost looked young enough to pass as Chrono’s age.

“N-no, I don’t hate it. I don’t hate it, but…”

“But?”

“When you told me to leave if I didn’t like it, you sounded like such a villain.”

“You little—”

“Your face is great, but your vibe is totally thug-like,” she said, laughing carelessly.

“That’s it. Two weeks on cooking duty for you.”

“What? If anything, you should treat us to two weeks of meals for searching for you!”

“Fine, then I’ll make it three weeks of bathroom cleaning.”

“Absolutely not!”

As we bickered like children, Chrono smiled at us, her face glowing with satisfaction.

“It feels more like a family than just comrades! I like it!”

With a bright, innocent smile, the girl burdened with a special destiny made her heartfelt wish.

“I want to keep adventuring with everyone this time, for good.”