Chapter 56: The Fearsome Demon's Crushing Lesson
From underground, out of the mansion, and racing through the streets to the rooftop of a nearby building. Hecate repeated her lightning-fast dashes across the city with a speed that no one carrying a full-grown man on her back should have been capable of. Everything visible to my eyes, clinging to her, blurred into afterimages. Unable to adapt to the velocity, I froze stiff, and before I knew it, Hecate came to a halt and gently set me down, asking cautiously.
"Are you alright?"
"……Not exactly a great feeling."
It was like I'd just ridden a rollercoaster—nausea hit me hard. Hecate looked apologetic and soothed me calmly.
"I'm sorry. Leaving you at the scene might have led them to think you were colluding with me, putting you in a tough spot…… I figured making it look like I'd forcibly taken you was the best option."
Sure enough, the soldiers had swarmed in suspecting Hecate was an infiltrating rebel. Naturally, I—who'd been with her—might end up on their suspect list too, so if she wanted to protect me, making them think I'd been kidnapped against my will was a smart call. Of course, depending on my choice, I could've joined her revolutionary group right then……
"……Look, sorry to say this after we've already gone all the way, but."
Unable to muster the courage for that path, I ended up giving her the answer she didn't want, guilt gnawing at me.
"I don't think I can stick with you."
"……."
Hecate stared at me silently. Her gaze made me shrink back for no reason, but words once spoken couldn't be taken back.
"I, uh, you see. Truth is, I'm not from this city—or anywhere around here."
Before I could ponder what to say next, my mouth opened on reflex, spilling my story up to now.
"It's like I ended up in some strange place out of nowhere…… So I stumbled into this city by accident, got treated like an illegal intruder, caught the lord's eye, and ended up working as a fighter."
Was it just an excuse, or did I hope she'd understand my situation?
"Sure, it started off forced…… But it wasn't all bad. If I did what they told me to, even someone like me with nothing got a lot in return."
No, more than that, I wanted to correct her misunderstanding. If she pitied me as an innocent victim, all her future actions would stem from a flawed foundation. If what she was doing was truly justice, it was better not to leave any regrets staining that choice.
And above all……
"The knights I got involved with…… It wasn't like they tormented me or anything. Honestly, getting with them was partly my own wish too."
I couldn't stand seeing the women I'd been with painted in a negative light. Just as they'd given me their hearts, I'd given them mine. I wanted to keep good relations with them going forward, and right now, that felt most important to me.
"So, you know……."
For someone content with that kind of life, overthrowing a nation was a hurdle far too high. As I reluctantly voiced that thought, Hecate placed a finger to my lips, her voice tinged with bitterness.
"I see. You're a fragile, thoughtful man, after all."
"……Hecate."
"I understand. No matter how much that lord oppressed you, changing the world is a burden too heavy for a man like you. As a woman meant to protect men like you, I can fully grasp that sentiment."
She accepted my words—which might have annoyed her—and showed consideration toward me instead.
"Still, if I could, I'd want to take you by force……."
Her hand caressing my face tightened briefly, but even that faded into resignation as she pulled away.
"Now that my infiltration's blown, I can't exactly promise your protection anymore."
Yeah, she didn't blame me. She just despaired at her own shortcomings and the harsh reality forcing this choice, quietly giving up.
"Wait, hold on."
I grabbed her hand as she started to rise, speaking in a tense voice.
"I'll cooperate until you get out of the city. Once the soldiers realize I'm a man, they'll hesitate to attack. Use me as a hostage—you can block their assaults that way."
"That's……."
"Let me take responsibility somehow. For taking your first time……."
A woman's most precious thing—she'd lost it to me. Just sending her off with 'I can't join you' pricked my conscience, so at least I wanted to help her a little.
"That's an odd thing to say."
Surprised by my sentiment, Hecate's eyes widened, then a wry smile tugged at her lips.
"A man like you taking responsibility for taking a woman's first time…… Usually, women don't place much value on that."
Damn, by this world's standards, my words must sound weird. As irony hit me, she took my hand and guided it to her chest.
"Ah, wait……."
"It's strange."
My hand rested on her breast. Right in the cleft of those swelling mounds, I felt the clear throb of her heartbeat.
"Not even on the battlefield or when forming the revolutionary group did my heart pound like this…… But even faking it, calling you 'Master' as a man brought back nostalgia from my days serving the Demon King."
Indirectly conveying her feelings, she began whispering her true heart through those lips.
"And when we joined bodies…… Even if it was just formality calling you 'Master,' my heart felt like it would burst."
Thump, thump. A heartbeat echoed. I couldn't tell if it was mine or hers.
"Maybe it's my demonic instinct. Like with the Demon King, perhaps I've instinctively craved a man to lead me……."
Time seemed to freeze as we faced each other squarely. Meeting my eyes, she whispered her wish in a low voice.
"If I could spend just a little more time with you, I think I could truly understand the shape of this feeling."
She didn't want it to end like this. If possible, she wanted more time with me.
-KABOOM!!
Before I could answer, a nearby rooftop exploded, debris flying everywhere and spiking the tension. From the smoke, large and small fireballs hurtled toward us……
"Danger!"
Hecate snapped to attention, pulling me into her arms and leaping away. By a hair's breadth, the spot we'd just vacated crumbled with a roar, and shouts rose from the soldiers massing on the street below.
"The rebel's over there!"
"Lord's orders! Restrain on sight! Lethal force authorized if they resist!!!"
-Fwoosh, whoosh. Flames erupted from their crossbows, taking shape. Activating the mechanisms sent blazing bolts streaking like lightning into buildings everywhere. Hecate fled swiftly, but the escape route dead-ended at the massive city walls on the outskirts.
No way out, soldiers closing in. I urgently clung to Hecate, signaling her.
"Put me out front as much as possible. They'll hesitate to attack……."
-BOOM BOOM BOOM!!!
A chain of explosions rocked the wall. Realizing how close it was, some armored knights scolded the one who'd fired.
"Are you insane!? That demon's got a hostage!"
Yeah, men were weaklings meant to be protected here. So a hostage should stop them—or so I'd thought.
"Doesn't matter. Fire."
The knight's cold verdict cut like ice.
"Wh-what?"
"Lord's command. Rebels threatening the kingdom must be eliminated at any cost. Even if it means sacrificing obstacles—man or not!"
The knight strode forward with a hard voice. The hesitating one yielded under pressure, and the leader raised his hand, signaling the soldiers.
"All units, ready to fire!!"
Fwoosh, fwoosh. Mana-infused crossbows ignited. Aimed straight at me, their faces showed shock and reluctance, but no sign of backing down.
Damn that fucking lord. She hyped me up not long ago, now she's ready to torch me too?
"Looks like that's their choice."
As fury boiled in me, Hecate brushed past. Ignoring the weapons on her, she advanced boldly. I tried to stop her in panic, but first, a thick aura surged from her body.
-RUMBLE RUMBLE!!!
Mana swirled violently. Centered on her, cracks spiderwebbed across the street and buildings.
"Wh-what the hell is that!?"
"Ignore it. Fire now!!"
-BOOM BOOM BOOM!!
Firebolts surged like waves through the dark night streets. But none touched Hecate—instead, her swinging hand whipped up a storm, sweeping away her attackers.
"Gaaah! That demon……!"
Soldiers screamed. A knight stepped up, drawing his sword—aura proving his skill, charging without hesitation, confident he could slice her.
-CRACK!!
But it was all delusion. Her razor-sharp hand cleaved his sword in two on the swing, then her arm crushed his thick armor, hurling him away brutally.
"Captain Heres is down!"
"Shit, that demon's too strong!!!"
Strong. Overwhelming power that defied description dominated the scene. Each step sank the mood deeper; her gaze alone crushed morale, guarding me.
"You……."
And that rage soon turned to enmity toward every soldier there.
"You've touched someone you shouldn't have."
-Crunch, grind. Her arm muscles bulged grotesquely, uprooting a building by the roots and hoisting it into the air. Jaw-dropping, absurd strength. Watching from behind, it hit me late.
Fuck, what the hell did I just fuck?
A woman with that terrifying power had been moaning under me moments ago?
-KABOOM!!!
Whatever. She'd lost all reason. The hurled building crashed onto the troops, chaos erupting as someone burst forth, sword drawn. Crack! The structure split, crashing beside the soldiers. In the bloodbath street, they cried out the name of the knight who'd secured their safety.
"Ma-Martina!"
"It's Three Knights' Martina!!"
Martina? She'd left on expedition just yesterday—back already?
"Y-you damn demon bitch……."
No time for happy reunions. Crucial now: she was a knight defending the city. And this scene perfectly screamed I was under threat from Hecate.
"Y-you filthy demon bitch, invading this city wasn't enough—now you steal my man!?"
-WHOOSH!!!
Sword beam shot from her swing, surging forward. Hecate whipped both hands up, deflecting it sideways into the wall. Rumble! A section collapsed massively. As smoke hid her, Martina's roar echoed.
"Where are you, you dog demon bitch! Release A now!!!"
Ah, um…… Martina? Nice you're fighting for me, but maybe hold off on the sword beams?
Scary as hell—I might get hit too.
"……Seems you and the knights aren't on bad terms after all."
Then Hecate's voice from the smoke. As I whipped around, her lips met mine. Just lips touching—pure, far from lewd entanglement, shyly simple, conveying true feeling.
"……Master."
Hecate whispered those feelings to me.
"Someday, when chance allows, I'll come find you. So please, stay safe until then."
Whoosh! She vanished into the smoke. When visibility cleared, her trail led beyond the ruined wall, and silence finally settled over the chaotic scene.
Only then did Martina approach, sword sheathed.
"A! You okay!?"
"……Yeah, I'm fine."
Thankfully, with the target gone, soldiers no longer aimed at me. But even with safety assured, my gaze lingered where Hecate had vanished.
……Someday, we'll meet again.
What had she felt in our bond to leave such earnest words?