Mawang Arbes.
The final boss set in the Indomitable Hero’s story.
Wherever she passed, the roads were only stained with blood, and she was a battle maniac seeking nothing but slaughter.
Her story had never been recounted. The only important fact was that she was a Demon King.
In the Demon Realm, one could undoubtedly describe her as invincible.
Excluding Athena, there was no one who could dare stand alone before her, even outside the Demon Realm.
A tyrant and a bloodthirsty warrior, a being devoid of any mercy.
But…..
Are you telling me to seduce such a Demon King..?
“..Are you out of your mind?”
I asked, startled, and the Goddess’s eyes began to tremble.
“What do you mean by that, my daughter?!”
“I mean… to seduce the Demon King, what on earth…”
It would have made more sense to tell me to kill the Demon God.
Surviving while making eye contact with the Demon King was already a stroke of luck, and yet to seduce her? What kind of nonsense is this?
Seduction is meant to appeal to one’s rational instincts…
How on earth could I seduce someone who delights in murder, war, screams, and cries?
“Daughter. I believe you can do it.”
“No, how could I…”
The Goddess held onto my shoulders, looking at me with serious eyes.
“If you kill the Demon King, a new Demon King will just be born. But if you bring her to our side, the story changes. Maybe we could even sever the link between the Demon God and this world.”
“Sever the link…?”
“Yes. We gods cannot directly intervene in the mortal realm and can only share our power through specific mediums. Without those mediums, we cannot affect anything.”
While I stared vacantly at the Goddess, she continued her explanation.
“In my case, my mediums are the Sacred Sword, the Saintess, and all the temples that exist in this world. On the other hand, the Demon God’s mediums are…”
As the Goddess’s words grew serious, I felt a gulp slide down my throat.
“The Demon Sword. The Demon King. And the entire continent of the Demon Realm. That is the Demon God’s medium.”
“The entire Demon Realm? That sounds essentially impossible.”
The hope that had risen with the Goddess’s statement now hit the floor.
How vast is the Demon Realm? How could we ever sever all of it?
“Think carefully, my daughter.”
“..What about?”
As I asked, puzzled, the Goddess slowly patted my back and replied.
“Who lives in the Demon Realm?”
Her words, which I had no idea how to interpret.
“Well, the Demon Race lives there, right?”
“What would happen if the Demon Race completely left the Demon Realm?”
“That can’t possibly happen—”
Just as I began to respond, a thought struck me like lightning.
As I pondered slowly, I began to understand what the Goddess was trying to say.
‘Could it be that’s why we need to seduce the Demon King…?’
The three influences under the Demon God: the Demon King, the Demon Sword, and the Demon Realm.
The Demon King and the Demon Sword are direct mediums that inherit the Demon God’s powers. The Demon Realm itself is a medium where the Demon God’s power sleeps, making all the Demons stronger.
But what if the absolute ruler known as the Demon King changes sides and leads all the Demons out of the Demon Realm, never to return?
Assuming the Demon Sword is with the Demon King, if that happens, all means for the Demon God to intervene in the mortal realm would disappear.
If one day the Demon King dies, but there are no living beings in the Demon Realm, no new Demon King can be born.
“I see you’re beginning to understand. That’s just like my daughter.”
It was a peaceful happy ending I had always desired. Yet, there was one significant problem to achieving this.
“No, still, how am I supposed to seduce a Demon King…”
The fundamental problem kept circling back around. Even if it’s a seemingly reasonable idea, it was a mission that couldn’t even begin.
But dismissively, the Goddess smiled and patted my shoulder.
“I know you can do it. Just do what you did before.”
“Me…? I’ve never seduced anyone.”
“……”
“Why… why do you look like that?”
For a moment, I felt like the Goddess’s normally warm and gentle gaze had turned cold at me.
“…Just give it a try.”
As if she were holding back so much to say, after thinking for a while, the Goddess sighed and uttered a brief statement.
Once she finished speaking, she placed her hand on my shoulder and closed her eyes.
In that instant, pure white lights illuminated around my body. The light that had been brightly shining slowly faded, and then all entered my body.
In a state of surprise, as I touched my body, the Goddess chuckled softly and spoke.
“It’s my blessing. I was just worried…”
“The… Goddess’s blessing? Y-you gave that to me?”
The Goddess’s blessing.
A special power that had only been granted to Iris, the Saintess.
It maintains body and mind in optimal condition and heals all minor wounds and injuries—a cheat buff.
But are you telling me you just cast that on me…?
“I’m just sorry I couldn’t give you more for my lovely daughter.”
“Ah… no, this is more than enough…”
The Goddess’s blessing.
I felt a tremendous power that was unimaginable, but at the same time, I had a question for the Goddess.
“…Wouldn’t it be better to give this ability to Lily or Athena instead?”
If the Warrior Lily or Athena had the Goddess’s blessing, it could be used much more efficiently. I felt it was a waste for me to receive such a great ability.
But the Goddess gently shook her head, eyes closed.
“As I said, we gods cannot intervene directly in the mortal realm. While I can transfer my powers to a Saintess and a Sacred Sword, I cannot do so to other beings.”
“….That’s unfortunate.”
“No, for me, giving it to my daughter is the most reassuring thing.”
The Goddess’s kind words warmed my heart.
Is this what it means to have a mother?
My aversion to her infinite love felt like it was slowly melting away.
“….I’ll try.”
I tightly shut my eyes and replied to the Goddess.
Yes. I couldn’t just ignore such a significant gift.
Honestly, I still had no idea how to persuade the Demon King, but I didn’t think the Goddess’s plan was reckless.
And there was one more thing. Deep down, I held onto a belief.
The Goddess’s plan involved seducing the Demon King. That is, to allure a being into falling for me.
Coincidentally, wasn’t there someone beside me who had reached the pinnacle of mastery in such an endeavor?
‘……Maybe she can do it.’
It seemed it was time to seek my Teacher’s help.
—
– I entrust this world to you, my daughter. If you ever need help, come find me anytime.
Everything in front of me shone bright white, forcing me to shut my eyes tight.
When I slowly opened them again, I found myself once more in a completely transformed landscape.
An ornate chandelier adorned the ceiling, a splendid cross before my eyes, and a statue depicting a beautiful woman.
The temple where I had previously met the Goddess.
“Hera! You’ve come to your senses!”
Her voice surprised me, causing my body to shudder.
I took a deep breath to steady myself and turned my head. There she was—someone I had longed to see.
Her crisp white hair that complemented her bright blue eyes.
Not the hollow, desolate gaze from before, but beautiful eyes shining vibrantly.
Iris. She was here before me, unharmed.
“Iris!!”
“Eek?! Hera?!”
Burying her in a tight embrace, Iris seemed shocked at first. However, as time passed, her face flushed slightly, and she began to smile within my embrace.
“Iris… you’ve been through so much… I’m so glad you made it…”
“Um…? My hardships…?”
As I spoke, my eyes brimming with tears from pent-up emotions, Iris looked at me with a perplexed expression.
Right, she wouldn’t understand.
How could she know what she had been through before?
A precious comrade who lost her purpose to live after everyone died.
Yet, with her incredibly kind and warm heart, she never recklessly threw her life away, sacrificing herself until her divine powers waned.
Such an unfortunate person who, in the end, could find peace only in death after struggling with despair…
Seeing her now, smiling sweetly, brought immense relief to my heart.
“H-Hera…?”
I wiped the tears from my eyes and looked at Iris, who seemed at a loss in my embrace.
“Iris. I swear I’ll make you happy from now on.”
“R-really?!”
Iris’s face turned beet red at my words.
Leaving her flustered, I spoke earnestly.
“If you have any wishes, just tell me anytime. I’ll make sure to grant them.”
“Um… really?”
“Yes.”
I held tightly onto Iris’s hand, who was at a loss and hesitating.
Though the Iris before me was technically different from the Iris of the previous timeline, I wanted to ensure she received the rewards she deserved for her hardships.
Otherwise, the Iris who died so bitterly would be too pitiful.
Selfishly, I hoped that Iris, who had suffered before, would be happy now.
No.
I would make her happy.
“Th-then… can I touch your chest now?”
In a way that made me forget the unfortunate times of the past.
I absolutely… must make Iris happy…
Happy…
“…..Huh?”
“I want to touch Hera’s chest.”
…
…Oh?
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