The three idiots who couldn't become heroes are preparing a man's meal today as well. - Chapter 106

Extra Chapter
Episode 106. Princess

“Ten years from now, on the day the first snow falls, a ‘calamity’ will descend upon this kingdom and bring about its downfall. Those who will stand against it are the brave ones summoned from another world.”

That prophecy was the last thing my beloved mother left behind before she quietly passed away.

It was after that when this country began to fall apart.

“Again…?”

“Yeah. We don’t have much time left.”

My kind father became obsessed with the “Hero Summoning,” and my older brother—who had always loved stories of battle—started saying things like “to prepare for the calamity,” and spent all his time in combat training.

My father, even with a tired look on his face, continued to coldly “use” people like it was nothing.

My brother grew more violent than before, now so consumed by the idea of fighting that he’s practically a battle maniac.

All of it, they say, is “for the sake of the kingdom.”

The prophecy my mother left behind—no, her “heroic tale.”

If not for that, maybe things wouldn’t have turned out like this.

Sometimes I wonder if it would’ve been better to have stayed ignorant, living in peace until the end came suddenly.

I’ve even found myself resenting my mother for it, again and again.

But in the end, it was just a “trigger.” They chose this path themselves.

My title is “Shadow.”

Because of that, my presence naturally becomes thin.

Unless I do something from my side, people act like I’m not even there.

Even when they notice me once, their attention soon slips away.

Since childhood, I’ve endured that pain countless times. I’ve always been alone.

Even now, I don’t have the influence to change my father or brother.

It’s only natural—I can’t form deep connections with anyone.

And there’s one more thing.

“Unseen Narrator of a Future Heroic Tale.”

Because of this title, the same one Mother had, my very existence has been hidden.

That only made my solitude worse.

From those around me, and from the world at large.

I became someone who “wasn’t supposed to exist.”

It hurts. Every day hurts.

I’m alive, yet so few people acknowledge that I’m alive.

Even within the castle, though they know of me, they still don’t truly see me.

At first, I tried to talk to many people, hoping they’d come to know me.

But nothing changed. Eventually, I gave up.

Whatever happens, happens.

With that thought, I buried my face into my bed again today.

“Ahh… if only everything would just disappear. And if that won’t happen… then someone, please save me…”

I just exist.

Each day, doing nothing, watching my father and brother sink deeper into their foolishness.

I’m tired.

If no one’s going to save me, then maybe it’s better if I just—

That’s as far as my thoughts went before I slipped into a dream.

I had a dream.

Enemies were closing in on this country.

Even the shadow of a massive, unfamiliar magical beast loomed over us.

They ran wild, destroying everything in sight.

People fled in panic, soldiers fought desperately.

And then, as if mocking them, “something” continued its rampage.

While I trembled and watched it all from a castle window, someone clad in jet-black entered the room.

“You dare!”

Many shouted, but they stormed up to Father, yelling angrily.

And then, they punched him square in the face.

Even though the world outside was in chaos, things were falling apart inside the castle too… I trembled at the thought.

And then, one of the black-clad intruders looked straight at me.

“——!? ——!”

They were shouting something.

But I couldn’t hear their voices.

Even though they were looking at me, speaking to me—

I couldn’t hear what they were saying.

It was frustrating.

I wanted to hear that person’s words. I wanted to answer them.

It had been so long since I’d felt such strong emotions.

As if trying to spit out the lump stuck in my throat, I struggled to raise my voice.

It hurt. It was painful.

But I wanted to speak to those “black-clad” people.

And then—

“We’ll save you!”

The moment I heard those words, I felt all the strength drain from my body.

I didn’t even realize how tense I’d been until that moment—relief bloomed in my chest.

And then, without thinking, I spoke.

“Please… save me.”

The one who nodded at my voice turned their gaze out the window.

What they saw was a true scene of hell.

A country that had been peaceful until yesterday, now facing total despair.

They glared at that scene and shouted.

Sure! Here’s the literal translation in a casual webnovel tone, keeping honorifics and nuances intact:

“Hya!”

It was the piggy bank I’d been using since I was little to save the allowance I got whenever I achieved something.
It was modeled after a royal boar—fierce yet adorably shaped.

Without hesitation, I slammed a sheathed dagger into it.

With a crack, the piggy bank shattered, and I almost cried a little.
But this wasn’t the time for that.

I scooped up the scattered gold coins and threw them into the magic bag, then dashed out of the room.

Hurry, hurry—I kept telling myself as I rushed to the next place, the soldiers’ Armory.

In one section, there was a pile of old, worn-out armor and weapons.

“This should be… fine to take, right? I won’t get scolded for this, will I?”

Panting heavily, I grabbed everything I could and shoved it into the magic bag.
I had no idea how much was going in anymore, but as long as I had a bunch, they could definitely be useful somehow.

They could be thrown away after one use, or even sold.

So I stuffed them all in.

“Am I going to be late? They haven’t been chased off already, right?”

As I moved frantically, my eyes landed on one sword that had been put on display.

It didn’t look any different from the rest.

But it had one key difference.

Enchanted with the magic of “Fortune.”

I’d heard it only worked for one battle and would break once the effect wore off.

That’s why no one knew the right time to use it, and it just ended up gathering dust like this.

“But still… No, I mean… Argh, didn’t I already decide to give them everything? I’ll just let them yell at me later!”

The sword on the wall—enchanted and all.
Since it looked the same as the others, I pretended I made a mistake and stuffed that into the magic bag too.

Once that was done, I ran again.

It might’ve been the first time in my life I’d run around this much.

The first time my heart pounded so hard, and I moved my arms and legs without a care for the exhaustion.

Praying desperately that I’d make it in time, I raced through the halls.

And finally—

“Haaaah…”

“So… what are we supposed to do now?”

“We’ve got no home, no money, no jobs… And we finally made it to another world, too…”

I found them.

No doubt about it—that voice.

The same people I saw in the dream.

Peeking quietly from the end of the corridor, I spotted three men surrounded by soldiers, walking toward me with gloomy expressions.

“Fuuu… haaaah…”

No matter how many deep breaths I took, my pounding heart wouldn’t calm down.

Well, I didn’t want it to stop, obviously.

But still, it was beating way too fast.
I didn’t think I’d be able to talk properly like this.

“Calm down… calm down. Be cool… Speak politely… Don’t let them think I’m just some little girl…”

Even as I kept taking deep breaths, their footsteps drew closer.

No more time left to prepare.

Resigning myself, I jumped out in front of them.

“…!?”

I’ll say it again—because of my “Shadow” title, my presence is faint.

If I use that effect, even standing right in front of someone, they wouldn’t notice me.

And yet.

The moment I appeared, he looked right at me.

As if it were the most natural thing in the world.
As if it were obvious to notice me.

Just like in the dream I saw earlier.

No mistake.

It’s them.

These people will become the “Heroes.”

Then I can’t just keep hiding forever, can I?

“I’ll take over the send-off. You all may leave.”

Probably for the first time in my life, I gave a commanding order to the soldiers.

My heart was racing like crazy, and I was definitely not used to standing in front of people.

But just for this moment—

I wanted to be seen as a proper princess.

“Did you not hear me? Stand down. I’ll take over from here.”

I was so nervous. It honestly felt like I was being selfish.

But I believed—this choice wasn’t wrong.
So I pushed forward.

Looking back now, I truly believe I did the right thing.
That I’m really glad I acted at that moment.

To the black-clad Heroes—welcome back.
Please, when the time comes, let me be the one to say it.

“Welcome home.”