Prologue

My sister has recently became independent and stopped sleeping with me, but, unexpectedly, she squeezed herself under my blanket today.

"—But that youth said, 'If I have a cheat, there is no need for companions. I will just be a solo player and get all the loot. Solo play, hurray!' and in fact, he was powerful enough to do this…"

Komekko's goal was probably to get me to read a picture book to her.

She hugged my family's emergency ration, Chomusuke, and lay down beside me.

"Onee-chan, what's a cheat?"

Komekko asked as she opened her tired eyes.

"A 'cheat' could mean 'foul play' or 'exploiting the rules'. This is a term used frequently by those people with strange names. Basically, it's a power so strong that it should be against the rules."

"Oh."

Komekko started listening attentively again. I continued reading.

"The youth was very powerful, repeatedly defeating the Demon King's lackeys by himself."

This was a very famous—

"The desperate Demon King realized that he would lose to the youth in a direct confrontation. How can he defeat this youth then? The Demon King then noticed that the youth never joined a party."

—legend from ancient times.

"The Demon King's general said to the youth, 'A lonely, loveless hero is a joke! Heroes usually cooperate with their companions to overcome obstacles and defeat the Demon King! You don't even have companions, so for what are you fighting for? You might as well join us. We have a lot of benefits.' The general asked him to return after he made his decision. The youth went back obediently."

The sleepy Komekko rested her head against my shoulders as I read the book.

"In the end, the youth attacked the demon king's castle again and confronted the Demon King's general. 'I'm not lonely, but a proud solo player. It isn't that I can't make friends, but rather I don't need them. I know companions can become a liability… And what was that about benefits? You think I will be tricked? It never ends well when one makes a deal with the Demon King! I fight for humanity and peace!! There's no need for further discussion. My goal is the Demon King's head! I'll let you go, so get lost!' The youth pointed to the general and said. The general replied, 'If you had said this back then, it would've been quite cool.' —In the end, the general was vanquished as well."

Komekko started using my shoulder as a pillow, breathing softly.

I carefully avoided waking Komekko, reading the familiar picture book to myself.

"The brave youth made his way deep into the Demon King's castle. Nothing could stop him. Eventually, he came before the Demon King—"