I Tried A Test Slash And Ended Up In Another World (2)

I sat down on the sofa, cradling the cursed blade still sheathed.

It was a soft, plush sofa that felt wonderful.

The realism of that sensation was further proof that this was reality.

“Haa……”

At this point, I decided to accept that this was another world.

Otherwise, I wouldn’t be able to think about what came next.

Next—namely, how I could return to my original world.

The people in the castle had apparently been in the middle of a ritual to summon a Hero.

And somehow, I had appeared instead—but now I could say this with certainty.

I was not a Hero.

After all, I didn’t have a holy sword.

According to what the princess had explained, those chosen as Heroes received a holy sword from the Goddess herself.

I’d never had such an encounter.

I had never even seen or heard of a Goddess.

All I had was a cursed blade I happened to buy online.

“So I was sent to another world by this thing’s power, right?”

And by sheer coincidence, it happened during the Hero Summoning ritual.

In other words, it was an accident.

“Does that even happen?”

It had happened, so there was nothing to be done.

I’d enjoyed the VIP treatment while waiting for a prank reveal, but should I now come clean and say I wasn’t actually a Hero?

No—before that, I should try something.

I stood up and took a stance with the cursed blade.

“This thing sliced space once. If I do the same thing again—!”

I might be able to return to my original world.

I swung the blade with all my strength.

Immediately, a black crack ran through space.

“Yes!”

It worked again!

If I let myself get pulled in, I should be able to go back.

“All right!”

Overjoyed, I leapt into the crack in space.

I felt bad for the people of this world, but they could redo the Hero Summoning.

Then a real Hero would appear and save the world.

Goodbye, other world.

It was short, but it was a good experience.

“Ow!”

I landed on my butt again.

The impact from the fall hurt just as much as before.

“But now I’m back in my original wor—wait, why!?”

I hadn’t returned.

As my vision cleared, what jumped into view was the same lavish interior as before.

The atmosphere was a little different, but it was clearly still inside the castle of the Kingdom of Etoile.

The kingdom’s crest was painted on the wall, after all.

“Damn it! I thought I made it back……”

Had it failed?

I’d try again!

I swung the blade the same way.

Space tore open, and I jumped into the hole.

“Again!?”

It failed.

I had just moved to a different room.

That wasn’t what I wanted.

I didn’t want to move houses—I wanted to go back to my original world.

After that, I tried over and over, repeating the same failure.

“Haa…… haa……”

Maybe it was the tenth time.

All at once, exhaustion hit me, and I couldn’t even swing the blade anymore.

Sweat poured down as I crouched there.

“Why can’t I go back?”

I could slice space and move.

But no matter how many times I tried, I couldn’t escape the royal castle of the Kingdom of Etoile.

On top of that, this power seemed to consume a lot of stamina.

I’d only swung it about ten times, yet I could barely lift my arms now.

“So it really is a cursed blade……”

“Then it is not a holy sword, is it?”

“Of course not. I’m not a Hero.”

“—I see. So you were not a Hero after all.”

“Yeah, that’s what I’ve been say—wait, huh?”

Just who was I talking to?

When I realized it, our eyes had met.

“Y-Your Highness!?”

“Good morning.”

“G-good morning…… no, that’s not it! Why are you here?”

“Why? This is my room, you know?”

“Huh!?”

I hurriedly looked around.

Now that I checked properly, it was completely different from the room I’d been staying in.

How was it different? It felt unmistakably like a girl’s room.

The bed had a stylish canopy, and the curtains had a cute pattern.

Above all, the princess herself was proof that this was her room.

“I-I’m sorry! I didn’t do it on purpose!”

“No, I was surprised as well, but that’s all. Please don’t apologize.”

The princess smiled gently.

Back in my original world, barging into a woman’s room without permission would have been a crime.

I needed to be grateful for her kindness.

“By the way, you said something interesting earlier, didn’t you?”

“Huh, ah……”

“That you are not a Hero. What did you mean by that?”

“T-that is……”

Damn it.

I hadn’t thought anyone was listening, and I’d let the secret slip.

If it came out that I wasn’t a Hero, wouldn’t they get angry……?

But the princess seemed kind. If I was honest, maybe she’d help me……?

I glanced at her.

She smiled back at me.

All right. I’d tell her.

“A-actually……”

I honestly explained everything that had happened.

The princess listened quietly and seriously.

When I finished, she nodded.

“I see. So you crossed between worlds by the power of a mysterious sword.”

“Yes. Probably……”

“I understand. That is…… very good to know.”

“Huh?”

What was that?

Her tone and demeanor suddenly……

“So, in other words, you’re not a Hero—you’re a fake.”

“W-well, I guess so. But since I was never a Hero to begin with, I don’t know if ‘fake’ is the right word?”

“True. But my father and everyone else believe you are the Hero.”

“That’s a misunderstanding, so I thought I should explain properly.”

“Explain? If you do that, you’ll be executed without question.”

“E-executed!?”

I shouted in shock.

The princess covered her ears and frowned.

“You’re loud. What if someone hears you?”

“S-sorry……”

What was going on?

The gentle, refined princess from before had suddenly changed.

She felt sharp… or rather, casual and rough around the edges.