Me, the Weakest Member of the Hero’s Party? I’m the Villain Though?

A New Journey

“Please stand up, Your Highness.”

Kyle looked at the hand extended toward him. The thick, callused hand was covered with blisters and rough patches. Kyle silently reached out and took it. Then Heilum gave a firm pull.

Heilum was both the commander of the knights and Kyle’s swordsmanship instructor.

Even though he must have been busy with his duties as commander, he still took the time to teach swordsmanship to Kyle, the only one born with royal blood.

“Your skills have gotten worse. Have you even been practicing?”

“……”

Despite Heilum’s scolding, young Kyle didn’t say a word. He just pouted his lips and kicked at the dirt.

“Do you not want to learn swordsmanship?”

“…That’s not it.”

“Then, do you not want to get better?”

“That’s not it either.”

Heilum relaxed his stern expression and placed a hand on Kyle’s shoulder. Though Kyle looked disgruntled, he didn’t push the hand away.

“…The better I get at swordsmanship, the more my brothers hate me.”

“So, are you saying you’ll become a fool for your brothers’ sake, Your Highness? Do you think then your brothers will like you?”

Everything Heilum said was true. Kyle knew that, but couldn’t easily bring himself to say no.

Kyle was only ten years old. He understood why his brothers hated him, but he didn’t know what he could do to keep them from hating him.

“No matter how you act, Your Highness, you can’t change the hearts of those who hate you.”

“…Then, are you saying I have to live my whole life being hated?”

At last, tears welled up in young Kyle’s eyes.

“I never wanted to have royal blood, or to become a swordsman. I just wanted to make Father happy…”

Finally, Kyle, who had been about to cry, broke down in sorrowful sobs. Heilum slowly knelt down as he watched Kyle, whose tears were falling like raindrops.

“Your strength is not something you nurture for the sake of others. It’s something you cultivate for yourself. There will be countless things you want to protect in the future. But if you’re weak, you won’t be able to protect any of them.”

Heilum knew, too, that the young prince couldn’t fully understand his words.

But it made him sad. Kyle’s talent was dazzling. It wasn’t simply because he had royal blood.

Kyle was like someone born for the sword. He was only ten, but Heilum couldn’t even imagine how great a swordsman he might become in the future.

“But I still don’t want to do it…”

If only his heart could grow a little stronger.

Whether Kyle understood how he felt or not, he just swallowed his tears in sorrow.

***

With a loud crash, Kyle’s eyes flew open. The walls of the building shook, and he felt the ground tremble violently.

The noisy sound of bells echoed, mingling with people’s shouts and screams.

“W-What’s that sound?!”

Kyle shouted, clutching his blanket. Just as he wondered if it was an earthquake, someone burst into the bedroom.

“Are you all right, Your Highness?”

“Heilum!”

Heilum, fully armored, and several knights rushed into the room. Had a war broken out? Startled, Kyle scrambled up in confusion.

“What’s going on?”

“It’s the Black Flame Dragon’s attack! For now, please get to safety!”

The knights hurried over, wrapping a coat around Kyle and shouting urgently.

At this, Kyle’s eyes widened as if they might pop out. He’d never imagined the Black Flame Dragon would attack the imperial castle itself!

“My father—is he safe?”

“Yes, His Majesty and the other Imperial Princes have already begun evacuating.”

Relieved, Kyle sighed and moved to follow the knights out of the room. But he stopped when he saw Heilum heading for the opposite door.

“Heilum, aren’t you coming with us?”

“I am the commander of the knights, Your Highness. I must defend the imperial castle. Leave this to me and hurry, escape now.”

Kyle knew, too. No matter how great the commander of the imperial knights was, he couldn’t possibly face the Black Flame Dragon. It would be certain death.

“I’ll be fine, so don’t worry.”

“No! Don’t go, Heilum!”

Kyle screamed, running after Heilum toward the door, but another knight grabbed hold of him.