episode_0197

“Marry this woman.”

“….Huh?”

Her sudden words left me with a dumbfounded voice.

Marriage? Marry me..?

Did I hear that wrong..?

Why would someone suddenly propose like this?

Did the Demon King like me in the first place?

Could it be that we’re going on a date like this?

Let’s look at Athena with her eyes shaking violently. She was looking at the Demon King with blazing eyes.

“Hey. Can’t you speak properly?”

“Huh…?”

I looked back at the Demon King at Athena’s calm words. She was looking down at me with a mischievous smile.

“I’m sorry. I said that because I wanted to see your reaction. It wasn’t a bad reaction.”

The Demon King spoke while gently caressing my cheek.

“That’s how you make my cheeks turn red.”

“Eh..?”

That was when.

There was a cracking sound as something split open. The Demon King’s hand that had been touching my cheek froze solid.

“Don’t get me wrong. Mom blushes a lot.”

This time, Marie looked at the Demon King with burning eyes.

The Demon King let out a short sigh at their aggressive gaze, then broke the ice stuck to his hand and looked at me.

“Seriously, let me stay by your side from now on.”

It was much better than asking to get married, but it was still an embarrassing request.

“No..It’s too sudden..”

“It wasn’t just power that the Demon King took away. He even took away the innate desire to kill that was given to the Demon King.”

“Ah…”

….I see.

The urge to kill given to the Demon King. A fundamental desire to tear flesh and break bones.

Somehow, his eyes became much more generous than before, and he spoke to me in a more friendly tone. There was a reason for it all.

“No matter how much I think about it, the only thing left for the woman who lost that desire is you.”

“Ah..No matter what, this is too sudden..”

“If you give me permission, I will return to the Demon Realm right now and expel all the demons from there. Just as you wish.”

My heart began to beat greatly at the Demon King’s words.

A medium that can transmit the power of the demon.

Demon King. Demon Sword. Demon World

If you persuade the Demon King to expel all the demons from the Demon World, the Demon God will no longer be able to spread disaster on this continent.

That’s my ultimate goal.

“Really..?”

“Yes. If you just let me be a part of your life from now on.”

“…..”

Is there any reason to hesitate?

He said he would help me achieve the goal I had been dreaming of.

The price isn’t heavy; it’s simply a request to be by your side.

I felt like I couldn’t miss this great opportunity.

I looked at Athena and Mari cautiously. They just nodded silently as if they would support my wishes.

“Hera. Do whatever you want. You don’t have to listen to the Demon King.”

“…Marie is okay too. Just wait a little longer..”

I don’t know what you’re waiting for.

It was clear that he intended to listen to me.

“….Okay.”

After a moment of deliberation, I finally accepted the Demon King’s will.

Because the reward was too great to refuse.

The Demon King smiled at my words and patted my head.

“You made a good choice. I will make sure you don’t regret it.”

“..I really hope so.”

It was a sincere thought that came from the heart.

Now that I have even obtained the Demon King’s cooperation, it was really right in front of me.

All preparations were complete. Now it was time to take action.

But before that.

“Let’s find Lily first.”

I felt like I had to start by finding my missing brother.

*

Emperor of the Empire. Varus couldn’t help but doubt his ears.

“Is that true?”

“Yes. The entire western region was destroyed. All survivors were dragged to the Demon World. ”

A knight with an anxious expression and sweat dripping all over his body.

All of his comrades died in the attack by the demons, and he was the only one who barely survived.

His heart was consumed with vengeful anger and unbearable fear.

“…This is not a time for peace.”

At the soldier’s report, Varus rose from his throne.

Hundreds of years of peace since the great war between races.

There was no reason for the demons to start invading in such a full-scale manner.

At least if the report he received was not wrong, the Demon King should have been waiting in the Demon World.

But today, there was an attack by the demons from outside the area.

The troops, who had been complacent for hundreds of years due to peace, were left helpless.

Although the Empire has not yet set foot on the continent, an entire outer region belonging to the Empire has been occupied.

This is a clear declaration of war on their part.

I couldn’t just sit back and watch any longer.

“Inform all troops of the disaster immediately and concentrate all forces on Ruiter.”

As Varus gave the order in a stern voice, the surrounding nobles began to move around nervously.

“What about the evacuation of citizens in the outskirts?”

At the official’s words, Barus grabbed his pounding head.

Citizens of the empire in the frontier.

It’s a truth I hate to admit, to the point where my teeth grind.

There was no room to defend them once signs of war appeared.

“……If possible, tell them to bring them into the empire with the troops coming down. Just warn the citizens who are in a bad situation.”

“I will follow your orders.”

It was a clear statement that he would abandon them. But he was the Emperor who valued the Empire more than anything else, so he had to make a choice.

And then.

“Your Majesty!!”

Suddenly, a soldier started running urgently into the palace.

The sight of someone running towards the emperor without stopping, with an appearance that didn’t look good.

The Emperor’s knights quickly stepped forward and blocked his path.

“You can’t go any further than this. If you have any business, tell me here.”

“To the Emperor…I have something to say…”

The knight, sensing something strange, immediately stretched out his sword and aimed it at his neck.

“Reveal your identity or I will cut you down immediately.”

“Ku…Kuhehehe..”

The knight’s body trembled at the eerie voice that was completely out of place in the situation.

Immediately after, the knight swung his sword, and the soldier’s head was cut off like a piece of tofu and fell to the ground.

The soldier who lost his head like that, but his body still stood firm and looked at the emperor.

[Nice to meet you… King of Humans…]

Even though his head was gone and he couldn’t speak, voices were leaking out around him.

That horrible voice that makes you frown.

“…..Who are you?”

Barus frowned at his ominous aura and asked.

Then the headless soldier turned towards the emperor as if he could see ahead.

[My name is Melum. I command the 2nd Legion of the Great Demon King’s Army.]

Barus’s brow furrowed at the sound of his infamous name, which he had heard so many times.

“How did you get into the palace?”

[Kuhaha.. Do you really think it’s only the Imperial Palace?]

Barus immediately grasped the ambiguous meaning of Melum’s words.

“…I see. It was your fault that the Academy’s barrier was breached.”

[Wow. Is this really the emperor? You’re quite quick-witted.]

Barus bit his teeth at the fact that he could do nothing despite the enemy’s main force speaking calmly to him right before his eyes.

Second Corps Commander. Immortal King Melum.

That soldier is just one of his ideological entities, and killing him won’t do any harm to him.

“..What’s your business?”

A person of the rank of a general wouldn’t have come here just to say hello. He must have some hidden agenda.

[I came to request a deal.]

“Deal?”

The emperor raised an eyebrow at his unimaginable words.

It was a deal between the demons and the humans that were absolutely incompatible, but that was precisely why the emperor couldn’t help but be interested in his story.

“Say it.”

At the emperor’s words, an evil laugh came out from the headless soldier.

[The followers of the Great Demon Race are already scattered throughout the empire. If they want, they can sweep this place away with fire at any time.]

“…….If that was the case, wouldn’t you have done it a long time ago?”

[Yes. I wanted that too. However, our competitive Demon King said it was a cowardly act, so I had no choice but to let it go.]

“…….”

I wanted to think he was just bluffing, but…

The Academy was invaded. And seeing the demons reach the palace, which was supposed to be the safest place, it was a story that was credible enough.

[However, your luck has run out. A new Demon King has appeared.]

“What…?”

A look of bewilderment appeared on the emperor’s face.

The Demon King has been replaced?

whenever?

And why?

“Who is the new Demon King?”

[Kuuu… Let me just tell you that he’s quite violent, unlike the previous Demon King.]

Barus shut his eyes tightly and cursed inwardly.

I somehow thought that the Demon Lord’s behavior was quite different from before. Was this the reason?

That means they can invade the empire at any time.

And the new demon king is said to be violent.

When you combine the two meanings, it clearly indicates a threat.

“So. What’s the deal?”

Things weren’t going well.

The Empire’s forces were still scattered throughout the country, and they had not even properly requested cooperation from their allies, including the water people and the elves.

The newly appeared warrior is still just a student. He may not have fully grown yet.

In this bleak reality where even an inch ahead of him was bleak, Barus felt despair.

[I swear on the name of the Demon God. I will give you half a year to prepare for war.]

“What? Is…is that true?”

Barus couldn’t help but be astonished.

You said you’d give me half a year. Don’t you know what that means?

Half a year is enough time to gather all the allies and join forces. It would be possible to turn this situation around, which is infinitely advantageous to the Demon Army.

On the one hand, I found hope, but on the other hand, I also felt fear.

What is the price for offering such generous terms?

“…What do you want from them?”

[It’s nothing. I just need to send one woman to the demon world.]

One woman.

Are you talking about the warrior?

Certainly, if it was the life of a warrior, it would be worth making such drastic demands.

The warrior and the holy sword were deadly to the demons.

[She is an ordinary human with black hair and red eyes. Her name is Hera.]

“What? Weren’t you talking about the warrior?”

[Kuhaha.. I wish I was a warrior too.. but all the Demon King wants is that woman.]

As a king, Barus could not possibly read the new demon lord’s thoughts.

Are you going to hand over the key to winning or losing the war just for one woman?

“Why on earth do you want that woman?”

As Barus spoke with a voice full of suspicion, slightly irritated voices could be heard from around the soldier whose head had disappeared.

[They say her face is really beautiful. They say it was love at first sight or something.. Tsk. I’m just obsessed with women..]

Barus smiled inwardly at Melum’s voice that was full of doubt.

‘I guess I was just consumed by sexual desire.’

I was worried because I didn’t know what on earth he was up to. Fortunately, he was just obsessed with women. If this were to happen, things would be resolved very easily.

Barus smiled, trying his best to hide his sinister intentions.

“I will accept it. I will hand the woman over to you. But give me a guarantee that you will keep your promise.”

[Kuuu.. Okay. Let’s talk slowly.]

The price for victory in war is only one woman.

It was too sweet a deal to refuse.