I’m scared.
My breath was getting rough under the weight of the oppressive energy, as if my body was being crushed.
‘I want to run away.’
The fear surged up, and I thought that without even realizing it.
But I couldn’t do that.
I absolutely wouldn’t back down.
“It’s good to see you again like this.”
She spoke with a deep smile on her face.
“Mom. Get behind me.”
Maybe sensing an instinctive threat, Mari’s blue mana enveloped Hailey and me like a shield.
The Demon King raised one eyebrow as he observed Mari’s mana for a moment.
“…It’s always surprising. Are you keeping a dragon by your side?”
As expected, it must be the Demon King.
He immediately recognized Mari, who had transformed into a human form.
While I was facing the Demon King, Hailey, who was holding my hand tightly, jumped out and pointed her bow at the Demon King.
“Stop attacking right now.”
Her hand shook vigorously, as if she could shoot at any moment.
However, the Demon King merely let out a scoff, finding Hailey amusing.
“I have no interest in insignificant things. Back off.”
As she extended her hand forward, two huge swords formed in the sky, seemingly the size of a house, and rapidly dove down at us.
But fortunately, before they could reach us, Mari roared, and the pitch-black swords were forcefully repelled, embedding themselves in the ground.
Whoosh—
A whirl of black flames erupted from where the swords stuck into the earth.
The Demon King glanced at the spreading flames and then waved his hand, scattering mana into the air.
This time, instead of two, more than ten massive swords appeared.
I looked at Mari and shouted before the swords could strike down.
“Mari! Protect Hailey safely!”
“Mom?!”
She leaped forward, leaving the ground.
I passed Mari, who looked confused at my call, and faced the intimidating Demon King.
As I approached right in front of her, something unknown suddenly gripped me tightly, halting my body right before the Demon King.
Looking around, I saw black tendrils wrapping around me.
The Demon King, with an intrigued expression, swept her hand across my jaw.
“How interesting. Did you really think you could tackle me with such a pathetic attack while trying to jump at my daughter?”
“…….”
“I’m sure I told you I wouldn’t spare you next time we met. Now I’m pondering what I should do…”
The black tendrils began to constrict me even tighter.
I struggled to breathe as the pressure cut off my circulation, and a throbbing pain slowly spread throughout my body.
“Mom!!”
Mari, with trembling eyes, rushed towards me.
I firmly stared at her, shaking my head to signal her to stay back.
Seemingly understanding my intent, Mari bit her lip and halted her steps.
“Tell me, should I just let my daughter burst you to death like this?”
As if to make me focus on her, the Demon King turned my face toward her.
In her crimson eyes, which resembled mine but gleamed ominously, I felt fear creeping back in.
But this was something I expected.
Rather, I was now faced with the very situation I aimed for.
‘Now’s my chance.’
What the Goddess had said—the step towards eternal peace—seducing the Demon King.
I had endured and learned skills to charm others, which I had never wanted to learn, for an entire day.
For the sake of my hard-working teacher, for the Goddess who trusted and bestowed blessings upon me, and for the ones I loved, I absolutely couldn’t fail.
All the skills I had learned from my teacher, I firmly resolved to charm the Demon King.
“It’s no fun without any response, so I should just kill you now—”
“I’ve missed you.”
“…..What?”
The Demon King squinted at me, perplexed.
I forced my immobile body to twist and grasp her hand.
The expression I’d practiced countless times under my teacher’s guidance.
I conjured it in my mind.
My eyes sparkled, expressing affection as brightly as I could.
My cheeks flushed, as if I had fallen in love, turning a soft shade of red.
My voice fluttered, aiming to excite her heart.
Recalling everything I had learned, I spoke to her.
“I really missed you, Demon King..!!”
I looked at her with an earnest expression.
“……”
“……”
A moment of silence hung in the air.
After a long pause, the Demon King regarded me with a cold expression and finally spoke.
“…What kind of scheme is this?”
…Ugh.
Honestly, I wanted to give up and run away from this embarrassment right now, but I gritted my teeth and shook off the shame.
At first glance, this situation seemed only to backfire.
But I was not flustered at all.
Because.
‘…It worked.’
It was a very brief moment, but I clearly saw it.
The Demon King, though surrounded by an aura of hostility, had a flicker of confusion glisten in her eyes.
brrrrrr—
After successfully striking down the last monster, I wiped a drop of sweat from my head.
“Hoo.”
“Thank you so much, Hero.”
An elf bowed her head in gratitude.
With the crown on her head and the exceptional atmosphere she carried, she seemed to be a queen.
Her golden hair shimmering brightly and her light blue eyes matched her perfectly.
Her mature form exuded a rich fragrance that naturally drew my gaze downwards.
‘…..Tch.’
She was not as impressive as my sister, but still, one couldn’t help but look.
Somehow, an odd feeling of deep defeat washed over me.
“…No, Your Majesty, you should hurry and hide.”
“I can’t just stay behind while the Hero fights. Even if it’s insignificant, I must contribute.”
“The elves have been heavily injured, are you sure you’re alright?”
Her eyes widened fleetingly at my words. Despite her vocal response, she probably worried deeply about her people.
“Hurry and go help them first. I’m fine.”
“…I will definitely repay this kindness.”
With a shadow gracing her face, the queen expressed her gratitude and then moved deeper into the forest to lead her soldiers.
After watching the queen for a moment, I swung my sacred sword, shaking off the blood from the monsters I’d slain.
Surveying the area, the once chaotic forest now appeared much more stable.
The fiery rage that had engulfed the woods had significantly diminished, and the menacing beasts that had attacked the elven villagers were all reduced to corpses, returning to nature’s embrace.
As the situation was coming to an end.
Naturally, what came to mind was.
“Sister.”
My beloved sister, whom I truly cherished and missed whenever she wasn’t by my side. She came to mind.
I had only dealt with the hordes of monsters, but I hadn’t even faced the Demon King yet.
If, by chance, the Demon King was near my sister, she might get hurt.
Of course, Mari was right by her side, which eased my concern somewhat, but still, one can never be too sure.
I needed to hurry and reach my sister to be prepared for any lingering uncertainties.
Just as I was about to set off without a moment’s hesitation.
“Kiddo.”
I suddenly stopped in my tracks at the sound of that familiar annoying voice calling me.
I didn’t even need to look to know it was her.
Turning my head, I was met with Athena’s sunlit eyes shimmering as always.
“…What?”
I shot back coldly, not wanting to converse with her, but Athena was undeterred and slowly walked toward me.
As she approached, my brows furrowed tighter, but Athena initiated the conversation first, looking into my eyes.
“There’s something you need to know before going to see your sister.”
“What?”
“I figured I should tell you beforehand; otherwise, you might stir up a fuss.”
I tilted my head, puzzled by her cryptic words, so Athena sighed and continued.
“Do you know what scheme your sister is currently hatching?”
“……Sister?”
My ears perked up at the mention of my sister, even though I had no initial interest in what she was saying.
Although I didn’t want to converse with her, if it was about my sister, I could listen intently.
I nodded for her to continue, and she took a deep breath and spoke on.
“Your sister is trying to seduce the Demon King right now.”
“………What?”
I felt my face twist in disbelief at her absurd statement.
But Athena continued to gaze at me with a serious expression, showing no signs of jest.
“That’s not a misunderstanding. I’ll repeat it once more.”
After a moment of silence, she opened her mouth again.
“Your sister wants to seduce the Demon King as a romantic interest.”
CRUNCH—
I clenched my grip on the sacred sword so tightly that it felt like my bones might shatter.
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