“Marry me, won’t you?”
“….What?”
Her sudden words left me speechless.
Marriage? She wants me to marry her..?
Did I hear that right…?
No, who suddenly proposes like this?
Did the Demon King even like me from the start?
Could it be that one date led to this…?
I looked at Athena, whose eyes were shaking wildly. She was glaring at the Demon King with burning eyes.
“Hey. Are you serious?”
“Uh…?”
At Athena’s calm words, I looked back at the Demon King. She was looking down at me with a playful smile.
“Sorry. I just wanted to see your reaction. Not a bad one, I suppose.”
The Demon King gently caressed my cheek as she spoke.
“You’re making your cheeks all red.”
“Eh..?”
That’s when it happened.
Crack- A splitting sound echoed, and the Demon King’s hand touching my cheek froze solid.
“Don’t get the wrong idea. Mom just gets red often.”
This time, Mari looked at the Demon King with fiery eyes.
Under their aggressive gazes, the Demon King let out a short sigh, shattering the ice clinging to her hand and looking at me.
“I’ll speak seriously. Allow the Princess to stay by your side from now on.”
That was a much more acceptable request than asking for marriage. Still, it was a surprising demand.
“No.. It’s too sudden…”
“The demon god took away not just your power. She even snatched away the innate desire for slaughter that was bestowed upon the Demon King.”
“Ah…”
…I see.
The desire for slaughter granted to the Demon King. The fundamental urge to tear flesh and crush bones.
No wonder her demeanor was much gentler than before, speaking to me in a softer tone. There was a reason behind it all.
“With that desire gone, all that’s left for the Princess is… when I think about it, it’s only you.”
“Ah… Even so, this is just too sudden…”
“If you only allow it, I will return to the Demon Realm immediately and release all the demons from there. Just as you wish.”
At the Demon King’s words, my heart began to race wildly.
A medium through which the power of the demon god can be transmitted.
Demon King. Demon Sword. Demon Realm.
If I can persuade the Demon King to release all the demons from the Demon Realm, the demon god will no longer be able to spread calamity across this continent.
That’s the ultimate goal I’ve been aiming for.
“Really…?”
“Yes. Just ensure the Princess is a part of your life moving forward.”
“…..”
Was there any reason to hesitate?
She’s promising to help me achieve my long-cherished goal.
The price doesn’t seem overly heavy—she’s simply asking for companionship.
I couldn’t afford to let this opportunity slip away.
I glanced cautiously at Athena and Mari. They were quietly nodding their heads, seemingly supportive of my intentions.
“Hera. Do as you wish. You don’t have to strictly listen to the Demon King.”
“…Mari’s okay too. Just wait a bit longer…”
I didn’t know what they were waiting for, but it was clear they were on my side.
“….Alright.”
After a moment’s deliberation, I ultimately accepted the Demon King’s proposal.
The reward was far too great to refuse.
The Demon King smiled at my words, gently ruffling my hair.
“You made the right choice. I will make sure you don’t regret it.”
“…I hope so.”
That came straight from the heart.
Now that I had the cooperation of the Demon King, everything was really just around the corner.
All preparations were complete. Now I just needed to take action.
But before that…
“First, let’s find Lily.”
I needed to locate my missing sister first.
*
The Emperor of the Empire, Bordin, could hardly believe his ears.
“Is that really true?”
“Yes. The western region has been completely annihilated, and all survivors have been dragged to the Demon Realm.”
One knight, drenched in sweat and displaying an anxious expression.
His comrades dead from the demon attacks, leaving him the sole survivor.
Behind his anxious facade brewed a mix of vengeful anger and overwhelming fear.
“…This isn’t the time to be at ease.”
Upon hearing the soldier’s report, Bordin rose from his throne.
Peace had been maintained for hundreds of years since the tribal war.
There hadn’t been a significant trigger for the demons to invade before.
At least, if the reports he had received were correct, the Demon King was supposed to be waiting in the Demon Realm.
Yet today, an attack by the demons had occurred in external regions.
The forces of the Empire, caught off guard after centuries of peace, were falling helplessly.
The Empire hadn’t even set foot in their territory, and yet one external region under their domain had been completely occupied.
This was a clear declaration of war.
He couldn’t afford to watch any longer.
“Immediately announce the disaster order to all troops and concentrate all forces in Ruiter.”
As Bordin issued his commands in a stern voice, the surrounding nobles began to move hurriedly.
“What about the evacuation of citizens in the frontier regions?”
At the bureaucrat’s comment, Bordin clutched his throbbing head.
The citizens in the frontier regions.
As much as he hated to admit it, with the signs of war evident, he couldn’t afford to save them.
“……If possible, instruct the returning troops to bring them to the Empire, and only sound the alarm to the citizens if the situation becomes dire.”
“As you command.”
It was a clear indication he was willing to abandon them. But Bordin had always held the Empire in high regard and knew he had to make that choice.
And then, out of the blue…
“Your Majesty!!”
Suddenly, a soldier dashed into the Imperial Palace, looking frazzled and in distress.
His disheveled state told Bordin that something was wrong.
The Emperor’s knights quickly stepped in to block the soldier’s path.
“You can’t go any closer. If you have business, speak it here.”
“I have something to tell the Emperor…”
Sensing something was off, one knight immediately drew his sword and aimed it at the soldier’s neck.
“State your identity. Otherwise, I will strike you down immediately.”
“Ugh… ughhh…”
The soldier’s voice echoed hauntingly, making the knight flinch.
As the knight swung his sword, the soldier’s head fell to the ground like tofu.
Left with its head severed, the soldier’s body remained standing, gazing directly at the Emperor.
[Greetings… Human King…]
Despite having lost his head and being unable to speak, a voice emanated from around the soldier, a horrific sound that twisted the listener’s face.
“…..Who are you?”
Feeling the ominous energy, Bordin narrowed his eyes and asked.
In response, the headless soldier turned his body as if he could see the Emperor.
[My name is Melrum. I command the Second Legion of the Great Demon King’s army.]
Bordin’s brow furrowed at the disgustingly familiar name that he had heard too often.
“How did you get into the Imperial Palace?”
[Hehe… Did you think it was just the Imperial Palace?]
Bordin immediately grasped the vague meaning behind Melrum’s words.
“…I see. So the barrier of the Academi was breached by you.”
[Oh? It seems the Emperor is quite perceptive.]
Despite having the enemy’s main captain casually speaking in front of him, Bordin felt helpless.
The Second Legion Commander, the Undying King Melrum.
This soldier was merely one of his thoughts; killing him wouldn’t affect him at all.
“..What is your business here?”
A being of his rank wouldn’t just come to say hello. There must be something at play.
[I’ve come to propose a deal.]
“A deal?”
Bordin raised an eyebrow at the unthinkable proposal.
A deal between demons and humans, which could never coexist. But precisely because it was absurd, he couldn’t help but be intrigued.
“Speak.”
At the Emperor’s words, a sinister laugh escaped the headless soldier.
[The great demons’ followers are already scattered throughout the Empire. If I set my mind to it, I can incinerate this place at any moment.]
“…….If that were the case, wouldn’t you have done it by now?”
[Yes. I had hoped for that as well. But our Demon King, overflowing with competitiveness, deemed it cowardly, so I had to stand by.]
“…….”
I wanted to believe it was just boasting, but…
The intrusion of the Academi and the demons reaching the most secure Imperial Palace painted a picture that supported his claim.
[But your luck ends here. A new Demon King has emerged.]
“What…?”
Bordin’s face flushed with confusion.
The Demon King has changed?
When did that happen?
And why?
“Who is the new Demon King?”
[Hehe… I can only tell you that he’s far more violent than the previous one.]
Bordin squeezed his eyes shut and cursed inwardly.
No wonder the demon army’s actions were different from before. This had to be the reason.
They could invade the Empire at any moment.
And the new Demon King was violent.
When combined, those two components clearly articulated a threat.
“So what about this deal?”
Things weren’t looking good.
The Empire’s forces were dispersed, and he hadn’t even managed to send a proper request for aid to the allied Suin-jok and Elves.
The newly emerged Hero was still a mere student. His growth likely far from completion.
In this dim future, Bordin felt a deep sense of despair.
[By the name of the Demon God, I swear I will give you half a year to prepare for war.]
“What? Is that really true?”
Bordin was taken aback.
To grant half a year? That could change everything.
Half a year could allow for gathering all allied nations and combining their powers.
But along with the hope, a fearful thought nagged him.
What could be the cost of such generous terms?
“…What do you wish for?”
[It’s nothing much. I just want to hand over one woman to the Demon Realm.]
One woman.
Could it be… the Hero they were talking about?
Indeed, her life was worth demanding such a stunning condition.
The Hero and the Sacred Sword were a lethal threat to the demon race.
[She is an ordinary human with black hair and red eyes. Her name is Hera.]
“What? You’re not talking about the Hero?”
[Hehe… I wish she were the Hero, but the Demon King merely desires that girl enough.]
As a king, Bordin couldn’t wrap his head around the new Demon King’s reasoning.
For a single woman to be the key to victory or defeat in war?
“Why do you want her so much?”
With heavy suspicion laced in his voice, Bordin pressed.
An annoyed voice came from around the headless soldier.
[They say she’s quite beautiful. He fell for her at first sight, or so they say… Tch. What a pathetic reason.]
At Melrum’s surprising words, Bordin smiled to himself.
‘So he’s simply been consumed by lust.’
Though he had worried immensely about the purpose, it seemed it was merely lust driving him mad. This made things a whole lot easier.
Bordin hid his sinister intentions and smiled.
“I accept. I will hand her over to you. But ensure the promise is kept.”
[Hehe… Very well. Let’s discuss it further.]
For just one woman, to win a war at such a low price?
It was too sweet a deal to refuse.
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