The Bloody Cycle of Heroes and Demon Kings
The place where the Demon King Ernate, Siola, and Minwoo arrived via teleportation magic was a small room that felt like a cozy reception parlor. Aside from the lack of windows, it was so human-like that no one would guess it was inside the Demon King's Castle. Thanks to that, Minwoo felt a psychological sense of relief compared to the high tower room he'd just left.
Ernate gestured for Minwoo to sit in a plush, comfortable chair before taking a seat herself. Siola stood demurely at her side, attending her like a loyal vassal.
Ernate spoke first.
"First off, I suppose I should thank you for subduing me without killing me. But to drain a Demon King like me of mana in an instant... What sort of trickery did you employ?"
"Uh... well..."
Even as she asked, Minwoo couldn't understand a word Ernate was saying. If anything, he wanted to ask questions. But Ernate misinterpreted his hesitation.
"I see... A secret, then. Well, I have no desire to pry into your affairs recklessly. It was mere curiosity—pay it no mind."
"..."
It was a relief that Ernate had convinced herself without his input, but Minwoo caught her gaze flicking momentarily toward the mini LED glow stick. She's wary of this thing, huh. Even someone as clueless as Minwoo could pick up on that much. He didn't know the principle behind it, but it was clear this glow stick now held some strange power.
Ernate continued.
"Let's cut to the chase. I summoned you to this world for a specific purpose. I didn't know of you in particular beforehand, but we targeted someone from your world who met certain criteria—and you were selected accordingly. That's undeniable."
"Certain criteria...?"
Minwoo echoed her words in a halting voice, and Ernate propped her chin on her hands.
"Before I explain that, I must first tell you about the relationship between us demons... and the heroes—no, between humans and our demonkin."
Ernate took a sip of tea from the cup Siola offered her, then began recounting the history of the continent. The long, bloody history between humans and monsters.
...
In the distant past, various races coexisted on the continent. Humans, still few in number and weak, were busy fighting among themselves, divided into factions. The other races lived idyllic lives in their own territories, never encroaching on one another.
But eventually, that balance shattered.
The trouble started when the human nations unified into one empire. With the wars ended and peace seemingly restored under the imperial banner, their true nature soon resurfaced. They turned their blades on the other races.
The elves, living quietly in the dense eastern jungles, escaped human wrath thanks to their stealth and isolationism. But the others inevitably clashed with humanity.
The orcs, with their prolific breeding and renowned strength, waged full-scale war but suffered crushing defeat. They scattered across the continent, some captured as slaves for labor.
Beastkin, divided into numerous tribes despite their individual prowess, failed to unite and were picked off one by one. Most fled to the frigid northern lands; others had their skins flayed or were sold to depraved nobles with perverse tastes.
But humanity's triumphant march hit a sudden wall. Even as they dominated most of the continent, one place remained untouched: the barren western lands ruled by the Demon King.
Initially, humans ignored the west—it was just endless desert, barren and worthless. That changed when a curious adventurer ventured there and returned laden with treasures. Word spread like wildfire across the empire.
Soon, rumors filled the land: labyrinths brimming with gold and jewels in the west. Bored after years of peace, humans flocked there. Pioneers and dungeon delvers poured in, transforming the wastes into a land of dreams.
But humans soon learned they'd touched the Demon King's reverse scale. The master of the labyrinths and lord of monsters began retaliating.
The inaugural Demon King had little interest in humans at first, but he wouldn't tolerate them trampling his domain. War erupted between humans and monsters.
The empire unleashed elite soldiers, peerless knights, and archmages against the Demon King's forces. Yet the Demon King's power far exceeded human imagination. For the first time in history, humans tasted bitter defeat—and could only breathe relief that the Demon King didn't advance beyond the western frontier.
But they didn't give up. The emperor gathered the realm's greatest mages and scholars to devise a countermeasure. They uncovered the legend of the Hero.
Long ago, when monsters ruled the continent, a hero summoned from another world drove them westward and saved humanity—a myth bordering on legend.
Inspired, the mages delved into ancient rites and succeeded in summoning a hero. The Demon King knelt, sealed himself away, and the barren lands fell. Labyrinths were conquered, treasures claimed.
The hero then returned to his original world—a condition of his aid. The empire, wary of such overwhelming power lingering, agreed.
Later, the Demon King revived in a new incarnation for revenge, only to fall to another summoned hero. The cycle repeated.
Now, the Demon King's domain was nearly gone. Loyal minions and monsters were slain or fled to the demon realm; labyrinths crumbled. Only the Demon King's Castle at the western edge remained, guarded by a portal to the demon realm that deterred humans.
But even that was only a matter of time.
...
As Ernate's tale reached this point, Minwoo tentatively raised his hand.
"Do you have a question?"
"No, it's not exactly a question..."
From the story so far, Minwoo had pieced together the gist. They needed someone to rival the hero—and that someone was him.
"I... I get the story, but why me? I'm just an ordinary guy with no power at all..."
"No need for such humility. Didn't you just subdue me?"
"No, that was... I didn't even..."
He wanted to insist he'd done nothing, but fearing repercussions if he seemed too weak, Minwoo clamped his mouth shut. He'd investigate the glow stick's power later when alone—but until then, caution was wise.
"Besides, the situation now differs from before. We have a real chance of victory."
"A chance?"
Ernate, the Demon King, had been scheduled to revive about a year later. But due to the previous Demon King's scheme, she'd forced an early awakening.
Hero summonings typically preceded a Demon King's revival—giving the hero time to grow. Summoned heroes start weak but possess otherworldly talent and vast mana reservoirs, growing explosively.
Kill them before they mature? Easier said than done. The empire teemed with elite knights and mages. Protecting the hero in their fortified heartland was child's play for them; even a Demon King couldn't breach it easily.
And Ernate's premature revival left her powers incomplete.
A hero needs about a year to mature, surpassing even the empire's finest knights. Then they form parties, conquer western labyrinths for experience.
By the time the Demon King revives, the hero is fully grown—unbeatable. That was the repeated history.
"But by summoning you, we've seized the advantage."
"..."
Forced early revival. Anti-hero summoning timed to the hero ritual. All part of the previous Demon King's plan.
"...Can I ask one thing?"
"Of course."
"What if I refuse to help you?"