Letting Go and Accepting. (4)
Fighting while protecting something was like consuming several times more stamina than usual.
Moreover, if there were multiple opponents, that amount would only increase.
As much as I wanted to run away, I couldn't dare to choose a direction.
Where should I go?
Where, exactly?
"Run away quickly!"
The demon child shouted.
Her pale skin was covered in dark red bloodstains.
She had been holding up well until now, but what about from now on?
"It would be better for that demon if the Demon King-nim ran away instead."
"..."
I bit my lip at Hallibel's whisper.
Would something have been different if I had power?
I slowly took a step or two back, then turned and started to run.
'All I can do is run away.'
A hollow laugh escaped me at my own patheticness.
My very existence is a hindrance; could there be a more miserable situation than this?
I ran, and ran, and ran again.
My heart pounded at the cry of the demonic beast from behind me.
"Don't blame yourself too much, Demon King-nim."
I felt disgusted with myself for thinking it was fortunate that I hadn't heard her name.
What's fortunate?
What exactly is fortunate?
Pushing that child into a death trap and then thinking it's fortunate I didn't hear her name?
Ha, how disgusting.
"Still, we're almost there."
Hallibel reached out her hand.
My gaze was naturally drawn to the dazzling lights visible in the distance.
It was the first time I had seen the scenery of a massive city since coming to this world.
We've finally arrived.
My heart pounded at the thought that the Hero was there.
"Go quickly. You have to kick the Hero's butt!"
"...Yes. I should."
I caught my breath for a moment, then stepped forward vigorously.
Because I yearned for you so desperately, I came to find you like this.
If I were to see his face, what words would actually spill out?
Fearing that the man from earlier would chase after me, I quickly moved my legs towards the Royal Capital.
***
The atmosphere was chaotic.
Most people were whispering about it, but it was clearly due to rumors about someone who had recently attacked the Royal Palace.
Most knights were injured or dead.
The news that even His Majesty the King might have been assassinated increased the anxiety of those in the Royal Capital.
"It's clearly the work of demons."
"But there's no way demons could invade this far!"
"I heard that those guards let everyone through if you just give them money..."
Anxiety bred suspicion, and suspicion bred anger.
Since there were also those who could be held accountable, people's hatred turned towards the guards protecting the gates of the Royal Capital.
Filthy bastards who open the gates to anyone for money.
Disgusting traitors who let demons into the Royal Capital.
Bastards who deserve to die.
"How can we entrust our safety to such scoundrels!"
It was an era where hatred was already easily accumulated.
A small stone became a sufficient catalyst to create a huge ripple.
Perhaps people had been waiting for this to happen.
Because hatred was the most suitable tool to hide wounds.
"What in the world are those nobles doing?"
"They're the kind of guys who hid to save their own lives even when demons invaded—"
"Bastards more vicious than demons."
Even people who would normally have remained silent rose up.
As if someone were instigating them, a fatal poison permeated people's minds.
"The atmosphere feels ominous."
"...I see."
From a distance, it was clearly just a splendid city, but once inside, it was more chaotic than I could have imagined.
Citizens whispering together in the dark shadows.
Vagrants rummaging through something in the alleyways.
And even the guards constantly patrolling the town.
"Could it be that the Hero caused some trouble?"
"...Perhaps."
I recalled the Hero's eyes I had seen once and smiled bitterly.
Looking back now, there was no way my obsession could suppress the Hero's desire for revenge.
If such deep and dark emotions disappeared easily, wouldn't that be stranger?
"Truly, nothing is getting better."
What meaning would there be in living a life without any goals?
Escaping the Goddess's grasp was already half-given up.
Returning to my original world?
It was better for my mental health not to even think such thoughts from the start.
To think that after being cornered again and again, the only option left was the Hero.
"You need to be even more careful at times like this, Demon King-nim."
"Yes."
It was better not to stand out in many ways right now.
Because if I caught the eye of humans tainted by madness, I didn't know what might happen to me.
***
"So, did you bring the item? The horn to prove the Demon King's death, I told you to bring that."
"..."
"It seems you have no intention of listening to me, Hero."
Human malice was greater than one could imagine, and at the same time, it manifested without any reason.
The hall where the throne was located.
Even the frames containing grotesque paintings hanging around it.
Things that would normally have been covered by curtains now filled my vision.
"As expected, it was your doing."
"What do you mean?"
At the Hero's words, the King—Baroniseu—burst out laughing, 'Haha'.
"Are you talking about me trying to summon the Demon God? Or summoning demons? Turning humans into demons? Manipulating public opinion about demons? Or perhaps—"
That I'm a Demon Worshipper?
With those words, demons drawing swords emerged from behind the pillars.
Surely they, too, were originally human.
At the fallen appearance of those blinded, the Hero took a stance.
"Honestly, I didn't expect you to arrive this quickly..."
Baroniseu, who had been tapping the armrest of the throne, smirked, pulling up the corners of his mouth.
Could there be another time as pleasant as this?
I don't know where or how he found out, but his opponent made the wrong choice.
To think he would be blinded by revenge and walk right into the tiger's mouth himself.
"I'll give you a chance even now. Do you have the Demon King's Horn?"
The power of demons alone is so appealing, so what about a Demon God?
Perhaps he could achieve the long-cherished wish he had wanted to fulfill.
No, he would definitely be able to achieve it.
"If you give me the Demon King's Horn, I will revive your Childhood Friend."
"...A traitor like you sure talks a lot."
The Holy Sword was swung, cutting down the knight in front.
Baroniseu let out an exclamation of admiration at the sight of the knight who died without even a death rattle.
Indeed, a Hero is a Hero.
But at most, just one.
If the entire Hero's Party had come, it might have been different, but just one Hero was nothing to laugh at.
"You're blinded by revenge. Blinded, and still a long, long way off."
Could it really be just humans who have been demonified?
Baroniseu, who was fiddling with the Maseok in his pocket, nodded his head.
If he turned the Hero into a demon, he could surely make good use of him.
Just imagining it was utterly delightful.
***
They say the Hero-nim has gone mad?
They say the Hero-nim betrayed the continent and sided with the Demon King.
But would the Hero-nim really do such a thing?
By the way, about that demon who invaded the Royal Palace a while ago.
Yes, I heard that story.
There's a rumor that that demon was the Hero-nim.
What? So you're saying the Hero-nim is a demon?
Who knows, he might have been hiding his identity all this time to assassinate His Majesty the King.
"So it was indeed the Hero's doing."
I scanned the outside of the alley and let out a sigh.
He's causing every kind of trouble imaginable.
Perhaps the one fortunate thing is that he escaped without being caught or killed.
"If the Hero attacked the Royal Palace, does that mean the culprit is in the Royal Palace?"
"Probably."
It has nothing to do with me, though.
I wasn't particularly curious about who summoned the demons.
Because what I was most curious about right now was the Hero's whereabouts.
Given the tightened security, he wouldn't have been able to leave the Royal Capital.
In that case, he must be somewhere here...
"Don't you know that the Hero-nim is not someone who would do such a thing!"
"...That's."
"If there was a betrayal, it would have been King Baroniseu! Who do you think is the hero who has been eradicating demons for the world until now?!"
The woman standing before those who doubted the Hero gathered her hands in front of her chest and shouted.
A nun wearing a black veil on her head and an eye patch over her eye.
She stepped forward as if unafraid of others' gazes.
"Indeed, he seems to have done quite a few heroic deeds."
"To me, he's nothing more or less than a demon slaughterer. More than anything, he also put the Demon King-nim in this state."
Hallibel had a displeased expression.
It was as if she was filled with the sentiment that she'd rather the Hero just die.
I saw the nun in the black veil falter as guards approached from a distance.
If she were caught like this, what fate would she suffer?
Since she was standing against public opinion that sought to make the Hero a traitor, she would surely suffer a harsh fate.
"As expected, you're kind, Demon King-nim."
"...It's not particularly like that."
I reached out my hand towards the nun who was about to pass by the alley and pulled her directly inside.
The person, who had been fumbling around for where I was with a bewildered expression, suddenly showed a bright smile.
"Thank you for saving me, Demon King-nim."
...What?