The Demon King's Paladin

Chapter 24.5 Cheerleader's Thoughts

                                                                       Lucy Smith's Point of View

My name is Lucy. I was a high school graduate. But while at a graduation party at my parent's cabin, I was teleported along with my friends Luara, Ashley and Jaime. As well as my brother Luke to another world. When we arrived, the King welcomed us, along with his family. Afterwards we were rushed to an old woman who appraised us. I had the job of a Thief. Laura was a Cleric, Ashley a Monk and Jaime a Wizard. But the biggest shock to me was my brother Luke, he was given the Job of Hero. While Luke was excited about his job as a hero, the rest of us were quite different. Still reeling from hearing John's true thoughts for the first time.

In that daze. It was explained to us that we were summoned, as the secret weapon for the human country Promethia, which we were currently in. They were currently in a stalemate with the evil demon country Diablos. It seemed fishy to me. The King continued to bring up how evil the Demons were. Tales of atrocities came one after the other. But still, 3 of us were still wearing questioning gazes. Laura however, looked as if the world had already ended. No doubt her heart was crushed at the moment. Due to her relationship with John being in the worst state ever.

Ah yes John. As the King babbles on about the Demon King to Luke, I start to remember that day during freshman year. I was practicing a cheering routine in the cold, when a man grabbed me from behind, he stunk of alcohol I started to panic and tried fighting him off. While I was resisting a Hero appeared behind us. It was John. He started choking the man to force him to let me go. Once I was free, I thought fast and got a group of teachers to come help. Thankfully we made it back in time as John was able to hold the drunk off until we got there.

Once the teachers were able to capture the drunk, they took him away and I was left with John. I had heard about him, from Luara who was a new cheerleader like me at the time. we became friends pretty fast. One thing I had noticed about her, was when she spoke about John, I knew I was staring at a girl in love. So, I was excited to finally talk to him. And I understood why Laura looked the way she did. while speaking to him, I saw a familiar smile reflected in his eyes. Can you blame me though? He rescued me from a bad person! It's only natural to fall for him!

That's what made the next 4 years so aggravating. My core friend group, more or less being made up of 4 women who were after the same man. Only, I had the biggest handicap of them all. My brother Luke. Quite simply, my brother has an inferiority complex around John whether academics, sports or even Luara's attention John always was above him. My brother was confident in himself before high school but now he's become a shadow of his former self. I miss my brother from before high school. For John's part he always seemed annoyed at Luke, it seems that annoyance had grown to full blown resentment. Laura told me at the party, if she had mentioned that the party was at our cabin, John would have turned her down. After reflecting on the past, I started focusing on the King's speech and at that moment he mentioned a game changer for my friends and me.             

 What changed the dynamic in the room and got all 4 of our attentions was when Luke asked if there was a way to get back to our world. The King answered Luke.

" Only by defeating the Demon King, can a Hero and his party return to their original world."

And like that the Despondent Laura's face shifted to a determined look.. No all of our eyes lit up with determination. We all saw the same goal and the same man's back that we would be chasing. All of us knowing we couldn't leave the argument we had before coming here as the end of our interactions with John, we eagerly listened to the King. He then assigned us living quarters and teachers, so we could gain strength.

On the 2nd day I met my teacher. An S-Class adventurer named Bridgett. She was a Shadow thief. An evolution of my job and she taught me the ropes of how to use my job, from harnessing my speed, to my newfound dexterity and perceptions. She was stern and honest, but I could tell she was doing her best for me. We grew close as Master and student quickly. After training on the 2nd day, I noticed something that I pretended was just me overthinking. But on the 3rd day after my class with Bridgett, I realized it was going to be my new reality going forward.

Simply put Laura Hates my brother Luke, for good reason mind you. If it wasn't for him, I'm sure Laura wouldn't have had such a huge fight with John, Hell I bet they would've most likely gotten together freshman year had it not been for Luke and the incident in the classroom, when our end of term test results came in. because of this Laura's attitude has shifted. Before she would at least include Luke in conversation as a favor to me, her friend. Now though she completely blocks him out. Unless specifically asked a question. I can't blame her as I am also starting to resent him. It seems that he has allowed his new status to get to his head. When Luke interrupted me as I was trying to speak to Laura, bringing up how his wife would live in luxury because a Hero had a high-level noble's title in Promethia, Luara looked as if she wanted nothing more than to slit Luke's throat in that moment. Ashley Jaime and I saw it. Luke was apparently too oblivious to notice as he was looking at, the sunset in front of our table, his cheeks were a little red as he said it. 

After a moment Luara regained her calm demeanor and continued talking to me as if nothing was said. At that moment I realized that not only was she beyond angry at Luke, but she looked at me as well with a different look than before. She seemed so far away from me in that moment. A far cry from how we used to share everything together. And it's in this situation, we need to defeat a powerful Demon King. Only the distant memories of a certain black-haired man brought me any relief from the stress I've begun to feel.