Story of a Cannon Fodder who Firmly Believed He was the Protagonist, Misunderstood the Actual Protagonist as the Cannon Fodder, and Ended up Victorious
Translator: Tsukii
Editor: Frozen Ink
Read at Watashi wa Sugoi Desu!
Chapter 013 – Arthur under the moon [B]
It was astonishing to her and sounded like salvation. How much had she wanted and endured for somebody to tell that to her? However, even if they said so, it would be meaningless to her.
She thought she had to do it herself. Because she carried that burden, she had to carry on no matter what. The strong obsession that felt no different than a curse plagued her being.
“Because I will be the one who becomes the hero. I will take that spot and stand at the pinnacle. I will defeat you and Tlue and move forward.”
“…Fay is strong… its just…”
Nothing needed to be said about his will. However, there would be no way for this man, whose magic aptitude, swordsmanship, and Art manipulation ability was inferior, to surpass me… was Arthur’s honest thought.
Not even he would be able to surpass her and become a hero. There was no way he, whose mental power was the only thing superior to hers, would be able to erase her burden. The difference was just despairing.
Sadness dominated her and she felt down. However, the existence in front of her snorted and continued to speak.
“I don’t like you after all. However, I’ll defeat you and become the winner. And I’ll carry what was yours, the loser’s, everything with me and move on.”
“—“
“What’s with that expression?”
“Are you really willing to carry it with you?”
“…Although I don’t know why you ask me that… Let’s see. That’s the duty of the winner. They have to carry the loser’s bitterness and regret and carry on their way without giving up. That’s the concept of the winner engraved on my soul.”
“…”
“Just be proud of what you are right now. I will eventually defeat you one day and carry what was yours with me. Then I will…”
He was looking far away. Rather than looking at Arthur, he looked at something far greater somewhere. He looked in that direction like an innocent boy who longed for something.
“It seems I’ve talked too much. I’ll go back to my training.”
“You won’t be sleeping yet?”
“This is the least I need to do to be able to defeat you.”
“…Can I really expect you to defeat me?”
“Aah, I’ll keep my promise. That’s why just expect it all you like.”
Fay said so without looking at her. Perhaps what he did wasn’t a big deal to him. It was because this was his core principle.
That was why he wouldn’t react to each and every one of them. But for Arthur, what he said was…
He once again held onto his sword. He didn’t look at Arthur and had his back facing her.
“Hey.”
“…What? If you’re only here to disturb, just go away al—“
Fay turned around in a sullen mood. Arthur’s words naturally came out at that moment. She was aware that the thing he said might not be something he wished for.
Even so, she said it.
“Thank you.”
At that time, Arthur showed him her smile for the first time. It was a smile that would fascinate everything. It was lovely, beautiful, and ephemeral as of made of glass. If a person of the opposite sex were to see it, they would likely be charmed by it. It was that kind of a smile.
However, he merely waved his hand and returned to swing his sword.
“Hey.”
“What? Just go home already.”
“I will accompany you for a bit longer.”
“What?”
“You said you’ll defeat me, right? Then I want you to see more of my swordsmanship.”
“…You sure are a weird fellow. To think you want to cross swords for the sake of being defeated, but very well.”
Fay once again turned to face Arthur. Both of them wielded their sword. Arthur’s face had already returned to her usual machine-like expression.
Then the pair crossed their blades.
Needless to say, it ended with Arthur’s victory. Fay was overwhelmingly defeated. However, Arthur felt she received a little salvation.
■◆
The night wind blew and regulated my temperature. Sensei returned as it was already late, yet I kept swinging my sword despite that.
Effort, effort, and effort.
According to sensei, I had grown quite a lot. That was obvious. I was the protagonist after all.
As the wind blew, Arthur had come?! (Darwin style)1 …What’s wrong?
Eh? You asked me why I was here. Of course I was training. It was all to defeat you guys!!! I was seriously unable to win against Tlue and Arthur.
Sensei said I would eventually be able to defeat them, but still. I wanted to defeat them as soon as possible. I wouldn’t say it since it was lame, though.
Well, it also related that I was the hardworking-type of protagonist, but I still wouldn’t say it even if I wasn’t.
“Fay… why are you so strong?”
I really didn’t know whether she meant to provoke me, but sometimes she says that kind of heartless thing. It was like a graduate of Tokyo University asking a NEET, “Why are you so smart?” That was how it felt to me.
I fought you 860 times in total, all which ended in my defeat, you know?
Well, she looked somewhat depressed, but I guess she would cheer up if she moved her body, right? I passed her a sword, and I lost. No really, why did she say she was weak despite being this strong?
“…Don’t deny the path you’ve taken. That would be an insult for those who are involved with you.”
“…”
“The winner has the obligation to carry the burden of the loser and move on. If you have time to look back and sympathize, keep walking proudly forward instead.”
I thought I told her good words, but it didn’t seem to reach her? Hey, that was weird. I really feel like she didn’t take in my words… huh? This really was weird.
You wanted to be a hero? Heeh, well, I guess I was also someone similar to that? I wanted to live my life as a protagonist. Being a hero was more of a result of that since the protagonist would end up as one anyway.
“I don’t want to become one. But, I have to become one no matter what.”
“…You sure are a hard-to-understand fellow.”
So, so, which was it? Did you want to become one or not…? Uh, uhn. But well, since I would become the hero by the end, you don’t have to worry about that, you know?
“— I’ll defeat you and become the winner. And I’ll carry what was yours, the loser’s, everything with me and move on.”
Well, this was something commonly said, right? It was the kind of words that often appear in sports fiction anyway. Rather, this was something rather common after all.
“—“
“What’s with that expression?”
“Are you really willing to carry it with you?”
Hm? What was that response? I thought I said better words before this, though… I really don’t understand Arthur’s thought process.
“…Although I don’t know why you ask me that… Let’s see. That’s the duty of the winner. They have to carry the loser’s bitterness and regret and carry on their way without giving up. That’s the concept of the winner engraved on my soul.”
“…”
Huh? She was somehow listening to me seriously. Let me finish the sentence with some good words!!
“Just be proud of what you are right now. I will eventually defeat you one day and carry what was yours with me. Then I will…”
Eh, err, uh, uh-n, wait, I also become confused of what I was talking about right now. Since it would be awkward, let’s just look somewhere far away and end the conversation.
“It seems I’ve talked too much. I’ll go back to my training.”
Ah-, I just couldn’t think of any good words to continue. Perhaps I should prepare a list of what I should say in what situation. A protagonist with many quotes seemed cool after all. They often say cool sentences fluently somehow.
I mean, I couldn’t continue the words and it would be awkward, so could Arthur just go back home already?
Hey, why were you still here?
“Thank you.”
…Oo-h, that was cute. Perhaps… Arthur was a heroine? She got a good look and good proportion, so that was a possibility. Something like a rival heroine.
“Hey.”
“What? Just go home already.”
“I will accompany you for a bit longer.”
“What?”
“You said you’ll defeat me, right? Then I want you to see more of my swordsmanship.”
“…You sure are a weird fellow. To think you want to cross swords for the sake of being defeated, but very well.”
Well, it was nice of her for willing to help me. Whether she was a heroine or not, I would think of it after we got a bit closer…
……
……
……
Nope, she was definitely not a heroine. She was a giant panda.
Her face was cute and she got a good proportion, but she was way too strong. Her movements got even better compared to the last time, why? Was she in a good mood?
She was seriously strong and fast. There was no way she could be a heroine. As expected, I have to trust my instinct as a protagonist. I picked up such a signal from Maria after all, so I guess she would be the one.
But, I think Arthur wasn’t one. She was like a giant panda which had good looks, but was violent and strong… If I was thinking of using my instinct and considering the protagonist’s correction…
Then she would be a giant panda-type of rival. There was no doubt about it.
It was the rival character who looked good but was actually violent inside.
So it wasn’t like everyone who was beautiful with a cute smile were all heroines… Although that was an obvious thing, I felt that stronger as I saw Arthur.
In other words, Arthur was—
The giant panda-type of rival character. My instinct created a new genre of rival character.
As expected of the protagonist. This was what it meant to find a solution to every problem.
I would give my regards to Arthur who had became the giant panda type of rival.
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Now she need Panda costume
Probably one of my favorite novels I’ve read. I never fail to come and see when a new chapters put out to read in English. Keep up the good work!
we thank you for following our progress. we hope you enjoyed the story.
I love this so much!
I love seeing Fay’s thoughts!
The writing is also really good, the plots that I at first thought weren’t that good in the beginning, actually got resolved really well in recent chapters and what brings this all together are our awesome translator and editors!!
Really, thank you for the chapters!!
This novels really past my expectations.
yea, i agree earlier chapters were boring. it gets better the longer it goes though.
now if only author had stable and more faster release to their chapters
Poor Arthur, being labeled as a panda.
she being awkward with word and attitude play part for it
Thanks for the chapter v!
Hahaha, he just created a new genre of rivals ….
wth with giant panda rival really
It’s nice of Fay to genuinely care for Arthur. 🙂
not blatant care, more of his insistence to be the protagonist
Bruh, her name is Arthur in a game titled “Round Table Heroes.” If that doesn’t scream main heroine…
he didn’t care of such cliche since as he said, Arthur name is already expired as protagonist
It really is
yea, many arthur is just mobs after all