Episode 4
The seven heroes were chosen by prophecy, and a saint — the god’s representative — found them.
The saint acted as a guide, or a leader of sorts, for the heroes. She accompanied them and made things easier for them until they were able to defeat the Demon King.
Silence filled the audience chamber.
I cast my gaze over those sitting tensely on the throne — some looked human, but some had horns sprouting from their heads, some had wings.
Are all these people my subordinates?
“So how many are there?”
“A fair number. I don’t know how they found out Lehel was away, but they came well prepared.”
Terio, who had been acting bewildered a moment ago, had gone quiet; his expression hardened as he showed me the screen.
On it, more than thirty humans could be seen moving cautiously into the castle.
“Have the people who can’t fight been evacuated?”
“Yes. Some insisted on staying to fight, but… we moved everyone to a safe place.”
“There’s no reason to give those humans our lives.”
No matter how much I used to be human, I am now the ruler of monsters. I want to avoid unnecessary bloodshed.
I saw a familiar face among the crowd and couldn’t help but lift the corner of my mouth.
Ah—how could someone be that handsome.
“I don’t intend to make you fight. I’ll handle this myself, so don’t step forward.”
A few of my subordinates, waiting only for my orders, dropped to their knees and shouted.
“We can kill those humans! There’s no need for the Demon King to come out — we can take care of them cleanly!”
“No! Do you know how much we’ve suffered at the hands of humans? If we band together, we could easily kill those humans…!”
“Who gave you permission to open your mouths?”
“…….”
Silence returned to the hall. They shut their mouths and bowed their heads.
It seems the rift between humans and monsters is deeper than I thought.
Especially here — the monsters in this place were all those who’d lost their homes because of humans. I knew that Lehel had taken them in when they had nowhere else to go.
“I don’t not understand how you feel.”
“The Demon King…!”
They must want to kill humans.
Surrounded by high, impassable mountains with no travel routes, they would have been sharpening the blade of revenge in this barren castle.
Lehel had kept to herself in the castle with her followers, paying no mind to either humans or monsters. Had she cared even a little, perhaps she would have started a massacre together with her subordinates.
“Like you said, those humans could be easily disposed of. But I have a thought.”
It meant: don’t bother me any further.
“You will step back. That is an order.”
An order from the Demon King’s command that those under her could never disobey. Those who refused would feel agony worse than death.
Soon only Terio and I remained in the audience chamber. He looked at me with concern and asked, “Lady Lehel. What are you thinking? If you intend to kill them yourself, there’s no need — I will do it instead.”
“When did I say I would kill them?”
“Then what do you plan to do?”
Hmm. I hadn’t thought that far ahead.
I hadn’t expected Rian to come see me so soon. Could this be the perfect reward for clearing the first main quest?
On the screen I noticed one blonde woman stuck closely to Rian.
Seeing her practically throwing every buff she could on him made my stomach twist in a way I didn’t like.
“Should I propose?” I said.
“…….”
Terio’s face immediately soured.
❖ ❖ ❖
Chosen by the gods, the heroes — together with those who follow them — devote themselves to fighting the Demon King until they die. Still, the reason they haven’t been able to kill the Demon King up until now is that their power levels are actually similar.
“But why would they come now…?”
The timing was far too early.
As I watched the screen, one of the humans spoke.
“Even though the Demon King is away, the castle is too quiet for that. It’s almost like we’re being welcomed.”
Half true, half false. I wasn’t welcoming them — I was welcoming Rian.
“So they must have known I was away.”
Who told them? I had my guesses.
Maybe one of the other Demon Kings who’d never liked me.
Someone who’d been avoiding attending meetings finally showed up and spoiled the mood with threats — it’s understandable they might be upset.
How cute.
As I watched, thirty people each fell into different traps and scattered.
Terio had followed my instructions perfectly.
— Bring only the hero. Treat the rest to hospitality in the castle. Give them the best possible treatment humans can receive.
I had blurted out “I’ll propose” without thinking — but Terio is thorough with his work, so I was glad he handled it properly.
“Everyone, remain calm! They want to confuse us, so act rationally!”
The woman who’d been attached to Rian stepped to the center of the confused crowd.
She had pale blonde hair and the same golden eyes as Rian. She was Eshia, the saint.
A saint is chosen by a god and guides the hero with divine prophecy.
If they even brought the saint, they must really have wanted to kill me… well, maybe.
In terms of in-game role, she’s like a support: giving buffs to help the hero in battle and healing when they’re hurt.
“It would be best to join up with the hero first.”
At the saint’s words the humans nodded.
“Do you think we can join? They won’t get out of traps that easily.”
I didn’t care about the other humans. Let them sleep in the castle or damage things if they like.
As long as they don’t interfere with my time with him, I don’t plan to touch them.
While I watched the screen indifferently, I felt movement outside the audience chamber.
I became excited and cleared the screen.
Soon the only person I wanted would open the door and enter.
What would it feel like to see a game character in real life? Would I be helplessly drawn to him at first sight like I was before?
The great doors moved without a sound, and he entered, fixing his red eyes on me and parting his lips.
“Demon King, Lehel.”
At the familiar low voice, I instinctively covered my mouth with my hand.
I thought I couldn’t control my expression.
But the hand over my mouth made my eyes crinkle again.
Why is it so hard to suppress this smile?
As the question crossed my mind, I realized something.
The desire that had been curled up inside me had finally begun to unfurl.
❖ ❖ ❖
“Weren’t you the one who wanted to see me? If you’d at least show some joy when you see my face.”
“…….”
“So cold.”
Straightforward, upright, and unmistakably chosen by the gods — that was Rian Serius.
His eyes, filled solely with me, were notably cold.
My favorite wants to kill me, yet why does it make me feel good? I’m not a pervert.
“Did you deliberately separate me from the others? Since you came intending to fight alone, don’t touch them and let them go.”
“I have no interest in anyone else. I’m here to be with you. For now, the castle will treat them politely, so you’d better concern yourself with that.”
He clenched his hand on the sword.
“People say they came because they knew you were away. It’s contradictory to bring that many people when you intended to fight alone.”
At my question, Rian furrowed his brow a little.
“Isn’t it because someone spread false information to get them to kill me?”
“It can’t be.”
“…….”
“My being uninterested in humans is something everyone already knows. What benefit would I have in making the trouble to try to kill ordinary humans?”
He seemed to realize my words were true; his expression softened slightly. He still mistrusted me, but at least our sincerity connected.
I didn’t even bother asking about the odd information he’d heard — it was obvious. People who hated the Demon King would have spread lies saying my power had weakened and to take the chance while I was away.
“Did you really believe I’d weakened? And besides, I don’t leave the castle for long; isn’t that obvious even to a child?”
“I came not to kill you, but because I had no choice but to follow you and protect them.”
“So you were just swayed by rumors and asking for mercy?”
“…….”
“All right, I’ll show mercy. I can be that magnanimous.”
I had never intended to kill them in the first place. As long as I could see only you, that would be enough.
“But there’s a condition.”
He, who had been breathing a relieved sigh, snapped his head up at the word “condition.” His eyes filled with wary suspicion, unsure what I would demand.
“Can I kill that woman beside you?”
The saint who had been by his side and annoyed me.
At the question, Rian’s expression turned cold and his eyes reddened. Perhaps I had provoked him — a red aura grew on his blade and he swung his sword.
The red aura moved quickly and threateningly, but it didn’t wound me. Ice crystals blocked his attack and his strike vanished into the air.
He reacted so strongly to the single word “kill”… I understood, yet felt a little disappointed.
This skill looks familiar somehow.
As I wondered, a system window popped into view before me.
SYSTEM: Loading information on Rian Serius.
Hero — Rian Serius.
Lv. 60 (Max) / Can break through after fulfilling certain conditions.
Race: Human
Primary attribute: None
Main skill: Generates a red aura on his sword to attack; those who are struck cannot recover for a certain time. However, after a duration, the wielder suffers massive HP depletion and becomes unable to act.
So far, it wasn’t much different from my own profile. More than that, it only listed things I already knew.
I even knew Rian’s height, weight, and birthday.
This wasn’t the time to be looking at such details, so I was about to close it when a pink line of text under his info caught my eye.
The affection system has been opened. When certain conditions are met, affection increases and affection quests can be undertaken.
Below that was a new entry.
Affection: 0/100
A number that looked unlikely to budge: zero.
I stared at the affection stat, then closed the window. I smoothed the corner of my mouth and spoke.
“If you beat me, I’ll let that woman live.”
