The goddess, evading my gaze with a rather suspicious expression, asked,
“Phew… phew… Did I mishear that?”
“No, you definitely heard correctly.”
If it were someone else, maybe. But when it came to my sister, I never missed even the smallest details.
The goddess definitely said my sister was her daughter.
Why is my sister the daughter of the goddess?
Of course, my sister’s looks and charm were beyond human capabilities.
No one, no being, could compare to her.
But still, my sister was undeniably human.
That was proven by the years I spent with her.
With a heart full of confusion, I looked the goddess straight in the eyes and asked,
“Why is my sister the daughter of the goddess?”
“Uh… ahem… That’s not the important thing—”
“No. That’s the most important thing to me.”
The goddess’s transparent eyes started to tremble slightly.
No matter how much of a goddess she was, I couldn’t back down when it came to my sister.
I must not be left in the dark about my sister.
From the goddess’s reaction, it seemed there was something awkward to say.
I had to dig deeper, to somehow get her to speak.
Somehow…
‘Again…’
I felt a sense of disgust at my painfully familiar self.
Even in this situation where my sister was hurt because of my obsession, I was repulsed by my unchanged self.
As I wiped my face with my hands and let out a deep sigh, the goddess, who had been subtly observing me, cautiously spoke up.
“Hero, please don’t blame yourself.”
“…How can I not? My sister was hurt because of me.”
“You were just acting out of love for your sister.”
In this situation, telling me not to blame myself—does that make sense?
My hands still trembled at the horrifying sensation of hurting my sister.
With mixed emotions, I screamed at the goddess.
“It’s not love! Someone like me—!”
“Hero, what’s this?”
The goddess’s sudden words made me stop and stare at her in confusion.
She was holding a sword with a gentle smile.
A sword made of pure white.
It was the Sacred Sword.
“Before I knew it…”
It had clearly been in my possession. When on earth did she take it?
“Do you know what this is?”
The goddess lifted the Sacred Sword with ease.
She continued to look at me, waiting for my answer.
“It’s the Sacred Sword.”
“That’s right. It is the Sacred Sword.”
As she gently touched the sword with one hand, it began to radiate a strong divine power.
The true form of the Sacred Sword, unleashed with a power I couldn’t handle.
Seeing the Sacred Sword returned to its true master, I once again realized I was unworthy of being a hero.
“A great sword that can never be broken, protecting everyone.”
Then the goddess swung the sword once.
A pure white light cut through the air, cleaving the surrounding ground dramatically.
“But at the same time, it’s a terrifying weapon that can cut down anyone.”
As I stared blankly at the power of the Sacred Sword, the goddess approached me and placed the sword back in my hands.
“Depending on how you wield the sword, the outcome can vastly differ. But hero…”
The goddess continued in a solemn tone.
“Even then, the essence of this Sacred Sword doesn’t change.”
“…What?”
“The essence of this Sacred Sword is simply a weapon. That, it will never change.”
“What a ridiculous statement…”
“Your heart is the same.”
At the goddess’s words, I suddenly found myself unable to utter a sound.
I could only stare blankly at her with wide eyes.
“Do you not think that the feelings you have are love?”
“…But I hurt my sister.”
“That’s not love; it is. You simply have an overwhelming amount of love.”
My heart began to stir at her words.
I could no longer call this feeling love.
It was merely a filthy desire held by a grotesque monster.
At least, that’s what I believed.
But the goddess was calling this feeling… love.
“Hero, the power of love is more intense than anything else. Sometimes it becomes the will to protect someone, and at other times, it can be a dreadful poison gnawing at the heart.”
“A dreadful… poison…”
“You just haven’t learned to handle this heart yet. You have more love for her than anyone in this world.”
My breathing became ragged.
I felt that I might not be able to hold back the tears anymore.
“Is this… really love…?”
“Yes.”
As the goddess finished her sentence, a single tear rolled down my cheek.
“I’m so… relieved…”
I felt I could no longer stay by my sister’s side.
This heart of mine seemed like it would only hurt her.
But if this dreadful feeling is love,
If it’s a feeling worthy of the gentle word love…
Then maybe I could stay beside my sister?
“Hero, please think about it properly and answer me.”
I nodded firmly at the goddess’s serious gaze.
“Do you wish for her happiness?”
“Yes.”
Without a moment’s hesitation, the answer came out.
It was an easy question that required no contemplation.
“Then do you know what you need to do for that?”
“……”
This question was considerably difficult.
‘For my sister’s happiness, what should I do?’
I slowly closed my eyes and began to ponder.
I thought about various things.
When did my sister last put on a happy smile?
When did she genuinely rejoice?
What is it that she truly desires?
With each thought that came to mind,
The suffocating feeling in my chest seemed to subside.
The sticky something inside me vanished, replaced by a warm energy that enveloped me.
And then, at that moment.
A sound like something bursting rang out, and in front of me, pure white light illuminated.
So bright that if I gazed directly, I might go blind.
Yet, staring directly at the light, it didn’t hurt at all.
Rather, it felt incredibly familiar.
Slowly lowering my head, I confirmed that the Sacred Sword in my hand was emitting boundless light.
“Congratulations, Hero. You can now wield the Sacred Sword perfectly.”
As I looked at the goddess with a gentle smile, I spoke.
“I understand now.”
I realized what I had been doing wrong.
And how I should proceed from here.
“Phew. That’s a relief.”
As I slowly put the Sacred Sword back into its sheath, I spoke to her.
“Thank you, goddess.”
“No, thank you. I will rely on you for the world ahead.”
The goddess extended her hand for a handshake, and I also reached out to take her hand.
Just as the warm atmosphere was drawing to a close,
There was still something I needed to ask her.
“But goddess.”
“Yes?”
The goddess looked down at me with a warm smile.
“You still haven’t told me why Hera is your daughter.”
“…Huh?”
A weak voice slipped from the goddess’s lips.
*
“What… did you say?”
“Just what I said.”
With a flat expression, the Demon King spoke.
It was such a shocking statement that I wondered if I had misheard.
“The power of the Demon God within the main body has completely vanished.”
“W-What? That can’t be true…?”
“I never expected you would make this choice after pestering so much recently.”
What…?
Is it true?
Does this mean the Demon King is no longer the Demon King?
At first, I thought it was a joke, but thinking it over, I realized the Demon King wouldn’t make light of such matters.
“What does this mean…?”
My head throbbed.
The grand plan I had to persuade the Demon King crumbled in an instant.
What on earth would happen now?
The uncharted future filled me with anxiety once again.
“Then… who is the new Demon King?”
I asked the Demon King with a trembling voice.
Is General Commander Tyrus going to become the Demon King?
He was the second most powerful being after Arbes, so he was a strong candidate.
The Second General is very strong too, but his hot-headed personality isn’t fit for the Demon King position.
He’s also not too bright.
Arbes looked at me with a puzzled expression as if she didn’t understand my words.
“What do you mean, a new Demon King?”
“Y-Yeah…? You said you lost the Demon God’s power.”
The Demon King stared at me blankly for a moment, then began to laugh heartily while covering her face with her hand.
“Hahaha! Did you really think the main body would step down from the throne just because I’ve lost that power?”
“Uhh…?”
“That’s a bit disappointing. The main body is not that weak.”
Is it?
If I think about it slowly, I start to realize she wasn’t exaggerating.
The Demon King in novels was an inviolable existence, regardless of the Demon God’s power.
The Demon King’s weapon, feared by all, was the cursed sword.
Yet Arbes had never used it once in battle.
This meant she had confidence in her own power.
Considering that, it might not be an exaggeration for her to say this.
“I’ve heard what you want from the main body.”
While I was drowning in thought, the Demon King had approached and was now looking down at me.
“I will grant your wishes.”
At the unexpected words of Arbes, my eyes widened.
“N-No?! Is that really true?”
“However, can you fulfill one request of the main body?”
“Yes! Yes!! Of course!”
Fearing that the Demon King might change her mind, I grasped her hand tightly and spoke with a loud voice.
The Demon King looked down at me with a flushed face and softly spoke.
“Marry the main body.”
“Yes! I will! I’ll marry the Demon King and…”
“W-What?”
“Marry…?”
Marry?
…Marry?
“…What?”
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