I Became the Hero Who Banished the Protagonist

*** Daphne’s POV ***

“Have a seat.”
         
Contrary to his appearance, his voice was much lower than I thought. However, it was clear he hadn’t heard the rumors about me. I shakily took a seat. I still couldn’t believe I’d entered this interview without running away. Well, I couldn’t have done this sober. I slumped back in the chair, my mind still reeling from last night’s hangover.
        
‘I might as well say sorry now and get out.’
         
But before I could say anything, I heard someone pleading, even though no words were spoken. The turquoise eyes across from me seemed to beg me not to leave. I didn’t know why I felt that way, but I couldn’t look away from the hero staring me straight in the eye.
         
‘It’s okay, even if this is an illusion. Even if I leave dejected like everyone else.’
         
I’ll just go back to living the way I’m used to.
         
My thoughts were not very comforting. The hero was going to reject me anyway. Locking eyes with the giant, who stood behind the hero, arms crossed, staring at me, I bowed my head deeply. It was probably Georg, the hero’s assistant, and the man’s appearance alone was terrifying.
         
“Don’t be so nervous.”
        
The hero’s words were a tug-of-war between coldness and gentleness. It was a very hero-like thing to do. My eyes, which were constantly fluttering, were locked with his. When I regained my composure, he gave me a small smile and snapped his fingers.
         
“Are you ready?”
         
I nodded at his question. ‘Was he waiting for me?’ My eyebrows furrowed in confusion as he began speaking out loud.
         
“Daphne Epifon, from Naia. Fourth circle, Magic Tower graduate. Second year as an adventurer.”
         
The hero muttered and recited my history. My life was so insignificant as I listened to it in someone else’s voice. Two lines on a piece of paper. Those two lines contain everything I have achieved in this world.
         
“You’ve only been in the Kingdom briefly, so you were still living in the Naia until you joined the Magic Tower?”
“Yes….”

The warrior exhaled with interest and unfolded a piece of paper. Georg, the big man with his arms crossed behind the hero, frowned and glared at him. It was as if he didn’t like what he was doing. The hero took the intimidating stare casually and began his questioning.
         
“What made you want to join our party?”
“Oh, it was… it was….”
         
It was a typical question. I stammered out the answer I’d been thinking about.
         
“I have a sense of duty to save, no, protect the world.”
         
The turquoise eyes bore into me. ‘Is that all you really want to say,’ he asked. My eyes wavered. He told me I could speak my mind. I hesitated, but one by one, I slowly began to speak.
         
“… While I have a sense of duty, I also wanted to take this opportunity to change myself.”
         
‘That’s right,’ the hero’s eyes seemed to say.
         
“So, I plucked up the courage to apply.”
        
The corner of the hero’s mouth twitched upward. I couldn’t figure out why he was smiling at my answer. I only hoped he wasn’t sneering at me.
         
“What aspect of yourself did you want to change?”
“I’d like to overcome my fear.”
         
Fear.
         
The hero seemed to be thrilled with the answer I gave. I expected more questions about my ambiguous reply, but he stared at me for a while before moving on.
         
“Very well, then, let me ask you another question. You’re from Naia. You were introduced to magic quite late in life. You didn’t start learning proper magic until you entered Magic Tower, correct?”
         
Magic Tower and Naia. Daphne’s heart sank at the words. A memory flashed through Daphne’s mind.
         
“… Yes, that’s right.”
         
He smirked. It was as if my heart had been shackled, and he was holding the leash. My heart sank, and a cold sweat ran down my back.
         
“Do you have a specialty? Like, magical powers?”
“It hasn’t manifested yet….”
         
But at the same time, it was a strange feeling. I was as terrified as ever, but somehow I answered all his questions. The interview went off without a hitch. My face slowly turned paler with the ongoing tension, and Georg’s expression slowly twisted. In the end, the hero slammed the paper down on the desk.
         
“That concludes the interview.”

I was exhausted from the lengthy interview. But the words of rejection and acceptance still weighed on my head and heart simultaneously. With a rustling sound, he rummaged through a drawer and pulled out a white sheet of paper. Georg’s expression, which had been on the verge of distortion as he watched her from behind, hardened.
    
I only had one thought in my head, the line I’d heard many times. ‘I’m afraid to say this, but–’     

“Here, go into the next room and fill this out.”
         
It wasn’t. In my hands were a piece of paper and a pen. The pen was a luxury item I’d never touched, and the paper was very stiff and high-quality. ‘What is this, a contract?’ I looked at it, feeling like an idiot.
         
“W-what is this?”
“A contract. Please understand that we are in a hurry and are giving the results immediately.”
         
I stood in a daze, opened the door to the office, and started to walk out when the hero’s voice called after me. I stopped and turned around, and the hero was pointing behind a bookcase.
         
“You can exit through this door.”
         
I nodded and then walked to the door like a broken doll. Creak. The hinges creaked as they moved, and I walked into the break room next to the office. I looked down at the paper in my hand as the hinges creaked again.
         
“…Did I get the job?”
         
Thud.
         
As if to answer my monologue, the door to the break room slammed shut behind her. I stood there staring at the contract for a long time.
         
*** Elroy POV ***
“…I don’t want to say anything anymore.”
         
I shrugged at Georg’s words. I felt more relaxed, knowing I had gotten one thing out of the way. The rest of the interviewees were sent home after a cursory interview. Ultimately, Daphne was the only candidate to enter the break room with a contract. After all the interviews, I discussed the agreement with Daphne and told her to start working tomorrow. Perfect.
         
…No, come to think of it, I don’t know why I made such a big deal out of this when I could have just asked around and found her. I’d just set up an open job interview to convince that hunk of muscle she was a good fit, but Georg didn’t look convinced.
         
“I don’t know what’s in your head.”
“Did you ever try to find out?”
         
I replied roughly, organizing the applicants’ papers. Thankfully, Georg didn’t interrupt the interview. He did give me a few puzzled looks.
         
“Okay, let me reiterate what you just did. How in the world do you go through all those applicants and choose a four-circle female mage with a bad reputation among adventurers?”
“I didn’t know the king cared so much about gossip.”
         
Georg’s veins bulged up on his face. I’d gotten used to this guy’s responses by now. He’d always stayed with me no matter how much I tried to be a jerk. It felt like someone was holding a knife to his throat, threatening him not to leave.
        
“There are going to be rumors that you have never seen a 4th circle wizard before will start floating around. Aside from that, she seems to be involved with a scandal in her previous party.”
         
I sighed deeply.
         
“It seems even stranger to me that someone who spent her entire life in a backwoods village without knowing anything about magic, and then after her eyes were opened to it, was able to reach the Fourth Circle within four years, wouldn’t be selected. At least, I’ve never seen or heard of such a talent.”
“I suppose that’s why I gave her the benefit of the doubt. You may have forgotten that we have another wizard in the party. It is simply inefficient.”
       
Another wizard in the party. I felt like throwing up on him. I would have kicked her out if I could have in the first place, but now she was probably enjoying a vacation on the western beaches of the kingdom. ‘Just try to bring her back; I wish you luck.’
         
“It’s also inefficient not to take a talent of Daphne’s caliber with us, Georg.”
         
The look on Georg’s face when he heard my answer was like, ‘What kind of an asshole knows that and banishes two key party members?’
         
“Yes, let’s say she’s incredibly talented, but that doesn’t mean she’s any good until we see her skills.”
         
Why is he acting childish, just wanting to disagree with everything I say. Elroy was unreliable, but I realized that Georg could be the biggest obstacle to my survival if we kept going this way.
         
“You don’t care to ask why Daphne isn’t at her best?”
“Does knowing that do anything to fix it?”
“That’s what someone who hasn’t tried say.”
         
Georg’s voice rose in pitch. My voice, on the other hand, only lowered with exhaustion.

“I’m against it, anyway. I don’t care how good a wizard you are in theory; I’m going to only party with them once I see they will be useful in practice. If you insist, I’ll risk everything and report you to the higher-ups.”
         
I drummed my fingers on the desk. There was something oddly comforting about this desk. It helped me stay calm in front of Georg, who spoke as if he were on edge.

“So you’re complaining about Daphne’s unreliability?”

“There is more than that, but that is the main reason.”

“Then I’ll comply, and we’ll put her on hold.” Is what he wished I said

“If I can solve her problem and she can deliver results, will that convince you?” 
         
Georg snorted and glanced at me.
         
“If that happens, I’ll not only include Daphne Epiphone in the party, but I’ll never disobey your orders or oppose any of your decisions. I will become your loyal follower. I’ll also ignore the fact you got rid of Arjen and Iris.”
         
Ohhhh, well said, Georg.
       
This might be my chance to solve two of my biggest anxieties simultaneously. The corner of my mouth twitched upward. The hero’s grin reflected off the creaky wooden desk and looked mean and wicked. Oh no, I shouldn’t be smiling like that. I twitched the corners of my mouth, changing my smile to something less mean, and looked back at Georg.
         
“You must honor your word.”
         
Georg nodded vigorously, not noticing anything.
         
“Of course. You’d better brace yourself. You need to feel the weight of that title you’re carrying.”
         
‘Brace myself? You should.’
       
I let the words hang in the air and began to reread the contract with Daphne.