Chapter 73
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 73
Chapter Title: Hero Sage, Legion Commander of the Demon King's Army (7)
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Once upon a time, such a voice had echoed through Sage's mind.
"Defend the kingdom against the Demon King. That is your mission, your destiny as the Hero."
And when that single phrase was etched deep into her heart, the power of the Hero was bestowed upon her.
Thus, she became the Hero, the guardian who protected the kingdom.
Sage, the Hero of the Aslan Kingdom.
Everyone predicted that her future held nothing but brilliant glory.
"Protect the kingdom."
That was, until she was captured by the Demon King and lost all memory of it.
In the past, before forgetting everything, Sage had imagined such a scene.
She pictured herself passing through the triumphal arch, holding the horns symbolizing the Demon King she had vanquished, amid the cheers of the crowd.
"Long live Lady Sage!"
"Long live the Hero!"
"The Hero has slain the wicked Demon King!"
"Hooray!"
The people's cheers rang out, and Bergio and King Revel II welcomed her with pleased expressions.
"You've worked hard, Sage. You've grown so much."
"As the lord of the kingdom, I offer you my thanks."
The clergy of the Church bestowed blessings, the kingdom's mages set off fireworks, and the voices of the people grew ever louder.
Having completed all her duties, she imagined dedicating her holy sword to the Church and becoming Sir Bergio's disciple, serving as a member of the kingdom's knight order.
Every time she indulged in such fantasies, Sage's heart fluttered with excitement and joy.
She knew the path would be arduous and grueling, but she also understood how glorious it was to become the Hero and fulfill all her missions.
She was certain she could face any hardship willingly.
Before falling asleep, as she let her imagination run wild, she would drift off with a silly grin on her face.
That was her personal way of relieving the stress from her grueling training.
'It was all lies.'
All of it was lies.
The claim that Sir Bergio was killed by the Demon King.
The assertion that the Demon King had committed evil deeds.
The notion that she was humanity's guardian.
The tale that she, as the Hero, must defend the kingdom against the Demon King.
All lies.
Sir Bergio had died because the king recklessly sent him to march against the Demon King.
What the Demon King had done was simply justified self-defense against intruders.
How could she, who had killed humans, be their guardian?
And the kingdom... she had no need to protect it.
Because she...
was not the kingdom's Hero.
The moment she severed the king's head, Sage felt something that had bound her heart snap loose.
It was her vow to protect the kingdom, the last fragile remnant of her Hero's mission.
As she carried the king's head, she imagined her reunion with the Demon King.
'Demon King.'
It no longer felt unpleasant, as it once had.
There was still some lingering awkwardness, but that was surely due to this holy power she possessed.
A power forced upon her by the shackles of being the Hero.
It was that power blocking her feelings toward the Demon King.
'It doesn't matter.'
Now she had confirmed that the Demon King's words were true.
The lying king was dead, and Sir Bergio had been resurrected.
She had reclaimed everything she had lost.
With Lady Vivian by her side as well, nothing else mattered now.
Not the kingdom, not anything.
She felt foolish for nearly killing the Demon King, deceived by that false mission.
Yet she had no intention of discarding the Hero's power.
Regardless of how she had obtained it, that power had allowed her to meet the Demon King.
Without it, this happiness she now knew wouldn't exist.
'This is my power too, and I'll accept it.'
She drew the holy sword.
Or rather, what had once been the holy sword.
Whoosh!
Holy power and demonic energy ignited simultaneously from her hand.
The opposing forces surged up together, burning in a murky gray light.
A gray neither fully dark nor bright.
Something that was neither holy power nor demonic energy.
That was the power of Hero Sage.
The red eye embedded in the holy sword stared back at her, veined with black bloodlines.
"You... are the Hero."
"Hero..."
"Demon King... Hero..."
"I know."
I know that I'm the Demon King's Hero, at least.
So...
"You don't need to say more."
Sage smiled and sheathed the holy sword.
Riding the horse she had brought from the capital Aslan, she arrived at Mir.
Near Mir lay thousands of corpses strewn about.
Monsters and humans, humans and monsters.
Even as the stench of rotting bodies filled the air, Sage didn't so much as blink.
"We won."
As expected of the Demon King.
Sage had rushed back, anxious about what might happen in her absence, but the result was victory for the Demon King's army.
Her respect for him swelled endlessly.
Clop clop.
As she rode toward Mir...
"Lady Sage is here!"
The guards at the gate shouted and opened it.
Hooray!
The soldiers cheered her return.
Monsters and humans alike welcomed her back.
Because they knew what the box in her hand signified.
"The Hero personally executed the king and returned!"
"This is our victory! The Demon King's grace has reached us."
"Ah, long live the Hero!"
"Long live the Demon King!"
Cheers erupted from all directions.
Ah.
The fantasy she had only imagined had become reality.
The citizens and soldiers welcoming the Hero upon her return from completing her Hero's duties.
The pilgrims praying toward her.
And even the enemies trembling in fear.
"You did well, Sage. You held out admirably."
Lady Vivian, stroking her head.
"You've grown into a fine Hero, Sage."
Sir Bergio praising her.
Though he had become a Death Knight, he still gazed at her with warm eyes.
Now, just one thing remained.
For her imagination to perfectly align with reality, only one puzzle piece was left.
The Demon King's praise.
With that one phrase from the Demon King, cherishing her for fulfilling her task, she could bask in unparalleled happiness.
Sage raced to the Demon King's castle.
The Demon King, entangled with unimpressive women, looked bored and annoyed.
If it had been before, that expression alone would have stirred an inexplicable disgust in her.
But now was different.
Seeing the Demon King filled her emotions to the brim.
Her heart burned.
She was desperate for his praise right then and there.
"Demon King! I'm back!"
The moment he saw her, the Demon King's irritated expression brightened.
Demon King, I killed the king.
I completed every mission you gave me.
Even the holy sword said so.
That I've become the perfect Hero for you.
She still lacked the vocabulary to express all this quickly.
She simply...
"Praise me!"
Shouting that one phrase encapsulating her thoughts.
"You did well."
His single word of praise melted her body.
Why had she ever hated something so wonderful?
How foolish of her.
"More praise. More, more."
It had all come true, just as she imagined.
The people cheering her return.
Sir Bergio and Lady Vivian acknowledging her hard work as the Hero.
And the Demon King praising her achievements.
Feeling profound fulfillment from the scene she had always dreamed of since becoming the Hero unfolding before her.
She nestled into the Demon King's embrace, acting spoiled.
Like a daughter coquettishly rubbing against her father, she nuzzled her head and face against him while held in his arms.
The key difference from an ordinary daughter was...
"Haa... haa..."
The coquettish sigh she let out, something no ordinary daughter would ever do.
"Well done. You did very well."
Confirming the king's head, the Demon King embraced her even more fiercely.
Sage unwittingly let out a sweet moan at the feel of his thick forearm gripping her waist tightly.
"Haaang!"
"Does it feel that good?"
"...Yes. It feels good, Demon King."
"Now you're addressing me properly."
"Yes. Did I do well, Sage?"
"Yes. You did well."
"Hehehe."
This time, she rubbed her body against the Demon King.
The scent of another woman wafted faintly from the Hero's body.
The Demon King, catching the smell, pushed her away.
"Sage."
"Yes?"
"You've worked hard, so rest well today."
"R-rest?"
"Yes. You deserve a rest after all that."
"Ah..."
It felt somehow lacking.
It couldn't end like this.
It's not enough.
She needed something a little different.
Her eyes drifted to the Demon King's erection, still standing firm from ravaging the woman moments ago.
Ah.
She realized what she was missing.
With her Hero's lofty mission completely gone, personal happiness had taken root in her.
A woman's happiness.
Sage wanted to experience a sensation she had never felt before.
Now that she had laid down her heavy burdens, it should be fine, right?
Sage recalled it.
The night she had glimpsed Lady Vivian and the Demon King in the act.
The night she had woken midway.
She had pretended not to notice for Lady Vivian's sake, but she knew.
What Lady Vivian had done.
But she couldn't bring herself to ask the Demon King for the same.
Because his command to leave was so firm.
Firm like his rigid cock.
"A-alright."
Sage rose, disappointment weighing on her.
Separating from the Demon King's hot body, a strange chill enveloped her.
It was a sense of deprivation.
I did so well.
I completed everything I was supposed to, killed the king too.
Why do I have to leave?
Why me?
Why? Why? Why? Why?
Even those worthless knights received the Demon King's love, so why not me?
The gem in the holy sword glowed red.
No.
I can't leave.
No matter what the Demon King says.
I can't go.
I...
have the right to stay here.
"No."
"What?"
"I don't want to go. I'm staying here. Until you praise me more, Demon King."
"...Is that so?"
"Yes."
"What's your reason?"
"Because I deserve a reward for my loyalty to you."
"Is that it?"
The Demon King turned and spoke from behind.
And there stood a frail, aged middle-aged man, one arm severed, bound and glaring with bulging eyes.
"I told you, didn't I? The Hero went to kill the king. Now do you believe me?"
"Uaaagh!!"
"I've given you plenty of time to think. Decide for yourself."
The Demon King tossed the box containing the king's head at the old man's feet.
Then he rose from his seat.
"Come."
"Where?"
"Didn't you want praise? But here..."
Fainted knightesses beside the throne, orc guards watching the hall, and the middle-aged man wailing behind the throne.
"Too many eyes."
The Demon King stroked her cheek.
"Don't you need the proper time and place to receive your reward?"
"..."
"To my chambers. I'll give you your commendation there, Sage."
"A-ah, yes."
Sage's face burned.
She stood beside the Demon King and followed him to his bedroom.
"Congratulations, Sage. You're finally becoming an adult."
"Hauu."
Lady Vivian whispered in her ear.
Those words embarrassed her deeply.
She had gone through with it already, but now that the moment had come, she trembled.
Standing beside the Demon King the whole way, she fidgeted with her hands.
Upon arriving at the Demon King's bedroom, she was handed a scrap of the thinnest fabric.
"Wash yourself clean and change into this."
It was so thin it couldn't even cover her body properly.
She was used to wearing armor daily or going without, but this was the first time she had seen something so sheer.
"Th-this... to wear? Is this even clothing?"
"I'll wait here."
The Demon King sat on the bed.
There was no helping it.
Clunk.
After shedding her armor, she entered the bath connected to the Demon King's bedroom and washed herself.
And when Sage emerged again...
"Uuu, so embarrassing."
She wore a slip so thin her nipples showed through.