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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: selkie
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Swearing loyalty while being held in her embrace.
Watching his actions as he was captured all at once by his “clumsy seduction,” which she honestly didn’t expect would work…
The Demon King began to recall a significant fact she had momentarily forgotten.
“That’s right… Hero… In your heart… there is already nothing left…”
The hero returned after achieving magnificent military feats.
However,
behind this hero’s splendid achievements,
There was only a heart of a man who had been abandoned by his comrades and country, torn to pieces.
Enduring the humiliation of bowing his head for revenge,
He killed the kin he once tried to protect without any hesitation.
And then… seeing his comrade, who had abandoned him, turned into a beastly form, he forced a hollow smile.
His heart, which was tragically butchered and intertwined with such misfortune,
Could be said to be in a state of being so full of gaps that it was even hard to stand, as if borrowing the expression of Belzebuth.
And for a hero who was already in tatters like this, even the Demon King’s poorly aimed strike would have acted lethally on its own.
‘A human wandering in the desert would have to regard even the rotten water in a skull cup as holy water… I forgot… such an important fact…’
The Demon King came to a reasonable conclusion about why her dry “seduction” had worked.
At the same time she recognized that fact…
She began to be overwhelmed by a feeling that her heart was stinging.
Although, for national interests, the current situation could be viewed positively,
However,
In the Demon King’s personal feelings…
The guilt she had originally felt towards the hero began to deepen.
‘I should have known… that this man… was suffering so much… I momentarily forgot that while only focusing on national interests…’
As the Demon King began to feel a stinging sensation in her heart, Within her heart, related to this sense of conscience…
At the same time, nevertheless, in relation to the ‘national interests’ she could never give up,
A clear determination began to blossom.
‘Yes… In the end… the most important thing is that I do well.’
Moving the hero for the sake of the country, Giving due treatment to such a hero,
In the end, the Demon King concluded that all of this depended on her hands.
‘Utilizing the hero in the right places for this country, and comforting the hero with my utmost effort like now… is all I need to do.’
Ultimately, the reason the hero was wounded in heart was that he had been betrayed by those he had devoted himself to.
In other words…
What could heal that wound was to repay and comfort such devotion. Through this, the existence of the hero…
Could be allowed to trust someone again and wield his sword with all his might.
Thus, reaching what she considered her best conclusion,
The Demon King made a vow as she looked at the hero, who was trembling lightly in her embrace at this moment.
‘Hero… you who are stronger than anyone yet infinitely fragile… From now on, I will take care of you. Eternal happiness befitting your immortal loyalty… with my hands…’
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“It has come to this. In the end, the hero swore eternal loyalty to me, and I accepted it.”
“Truly, you have worked hard, Your Majesty. I am deeply grateful that you have completed God’s insufficient plan so splendidly.”
The Demon King spoke with a majestic voice while sitting on her throne.
In response,
Belzebuth, kneeling in front of her, shouted with deep relief and gratitude.
Although she couldn’t completely let her guard down with just this, if it was the eternal vow of loyalty guaranteed by the Demon King, Belzebuth could trust it to some extent.
‘Of course, I can’t be sure of a person’s true intentions… but at least this has mostly blocked the justification for the hero to openly act foolishly.’
The deep-rooted distrust of that hero in Belzebuth’s heart had not disappeared. However, for now, they needed to unite their strengths for the sake of the nation…
And if the situation allowed, as an “alliance,” they had to aim for even higher goals, so excessive suspicion could actually become a poison.
‘Well… even if I have to cut it off with my own hands later, for now, let’s end it here. What’s important right now isn’t that.’
In a situation where there was a crucial task that needed immediate action, it wouldn’t do to cling to possibilities forever.
Thus, deciding to wrap up matters concerning the hero, the Demon King spoke in a calm voice.
“Let’s leave this matter here. Now, I would like to hear the reason why you, Belzebuth, came to me. Go ahead and tell me.”
“Yes, Your Majesty. I will do so.”
Since Belzebuth had hurriedly requested an audience from early morning, the Demon King knew that she hadn’t come simply to ask about the hero.
And in response to the Demon King’s request,
Belzebuth, with a serious expression as the country’s prime minister, took out a letter she had brought before her ruler.
After receiving the letter through a waiting servant and beginning to check its contents,
A moment later…
A momentarily unusual expression appeared on the Demon King’s face…
To which Belzebuth opened her mouth with a serious voice.
“This is information that just arrived this morning. There’s been a report that something has happened in the Falcon Empire, the nation of humans, which is the leader of the Allied Races.”
The Demon King, with a cold face, scrutinized the contents while listening to Belzebuth’s further explanation.
Then, after a short while,
After putting down the letter once she had grasped its contents, She spoke with a voice that remained cold but was firm.
“If this information is true, then we have no reason to hesitate any longer, do we?”
“Yes, Your Majesty. Thanks to the hero’s efforts, they are already in a difficult situation due to supply shortages. Given that another problem has arisen at this time, I see no better opportunity than this.”
Belzebuth replied to the Demon King’s words with a voice filled with conviction.
Thus, after confirming everything through her most trusted minister, the Demon King stood up from her throne and commanded Belzebuth.
“Immediately issue a gathering order to all the guards, commanders, and the hero. We must see this war’s end with certainty during this opportunity.”
“Yes, Your Majesty! I will carry out the command!”
After bowing her head toward the Demon King, Belzebuth moved immediately to relay the orders.
As she watched Belzebuth’s retreating figure, a cold smile began to form on the Demon King’s lips.
“The time has finally come… the time to collect the price for the blood and tears my people have shed over the years.”
With this, the Demon King fueled her burning hatred and rage, reviewing once more the contents of the letter that had reached her.
The information in the letter played a decisive role in removing the hesitation that had lingered in her heart.
At this moment,
It contained news of a large-scale bloodshed that had occurred within the Allied Races.
The long-dormant “seeds of conflict” within the Alliance had finally begun to bloom brilliantly, triggered by certain events.
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All of this began several weeks ago,
around the time when the hero Elron and Elisia were preparing to attack Rob.
After selling off Terra to pay off half of their debts, the former hero’s party returned to their homeland.
However, just because they had managed to stave off the urgent debt collectors didn’t mean their problems were over.
The debt was only related to the excessively overspent expenses.
Before Torare and his women, there still remained the punishment for the ‘original sin’ of failing their mission and fleeing disgracefully.
“To… Torare?”
“Everyone, stay calm. Just stick to the story we agreed on.”
As the soldiers arrived to arrest them, Torare spoke in a cold voice. Aileen, Amelda, and Shude exchanged nervous glances, beads of sweat forming on their foreheads.
‘We’ve matched our stories up until now. There’s nothing to worry about.’
‘I’m not sure… Can we really get away with this?’
‘It’ll be fine. As long as we don’t make any mistakes.’
They struggled to calm their tense nerves and, without any resistance, allowed themselves to be led quietly to the royal palace.
In their minds, they were calculating how to sell the corpse of the hero, Elron, for the highest possible price.
