Letting Go and Accepting. (6)
Now, when the bonds between people were at their weakest, was the perfect time for internal strife to erupt.
Everyone suspected everyone else, hiding blades behind their backs.
Those who defended the Hero, and those who cursed the Hero as a traitor.
Even the Royal Family trying to apprehend the Hero, and the citizens trying to stop them.
After many intertwined relationships, the very end became a fuse, finally igniting.
"You crazy bastards, do you think you'll be safe after doing this?!"
"It's all His Majesty the King's will!"
Knights began to suppress those gathered in front of the Royal Castle to protest.
People fell, bleeding from their heads, and those trampled to death by horse hooves increased.
Distrust of the nobility and the Royal Family reached its peak, and the peace that had been regained after so long vanished in an instant.
Humans were always like that.
They acted as if they couldn't live without conflict.
"Reveal the truth! Such rumors couldn't just spread for no reason!"
"Bring back our families who were sacrificed to the demons, you damn bastards!"
They mixed deadly poison between truth and lies.
Why was the kingdom the only one that remained seemingly intact?
It was because summoning the demons was the doing of the nobles and the Royal Family.
Rumors spread among humans that they had committed such acts, driven by their greed to dominate other nations.
"See! This is proof that the Royal Family has fallen!"
A man standing in the highest place lifted something.
Looking closely at what it was, it was a human head.
That head, which once belonged to a baron, was so badly beaten that it was horribly swollen, and dark blue bruises covered its entire skin.
"Look at the skin color! And this hideous appearance! What else could it be if not a demon?!"
If they had even a shred of reason left, they would have realized that man's words were a lie.
But for the people here, no more reason existed.
Those who saw the noble's head screamed.
Fear of demons paralyzed the brains of the people present.
"You foolish bastards... Did you think you'd be safe after killing a noble?!"
If there was hell in this world, it would be right here.
Humans spewed hatred at each other, pouring out curses wishing death upon one another.
All the emotions they had suppressed until now coalesced into a kind of dagger.
"...Truly, it's astonishing."
"Right? I told you it was suspicious, Demon King-nim!"
Hallibel exclaimed.
It seemed she was worried Niyalli might betray me.
But having played this damned game for a long time, I knew.
That Niyalli was someone to be trusted.
"If the Royal Capital is this chaotic, the Hero will move too."
There was a possibility they had already escaped, but if there was no news after all that commotion, it was highly likely they were still here.
Finding out through the people Niyalli commanded was one way, but I wanted to find the Hero with my own hands.
"Meeting the Hero won't change anything, Demon King-nim."
"...I might at least find some peace of mind."
I knew best that finding peace of mind through the Hero was a ridiculous notion.
But in other words, it also meant I was that cornered.
What was truly ridiculous was that even after realizing my feelings for the Hero weren't love, I hadn't given up on finding them.
"It seems I'm not enough for you."
"...I'm sorry."
I bit my lip tightly.
It was good that Hallibel remained by my side, but I still wasn't sure.
Whether she was an illusion, or truly existed.
Whether I was sane, or insane.
"Demon King-nim, I have good news."
This time, it wasn't Hallibel, but Niyalli.
With a smile that still gave no hint of her thoughts, she spoke to me.
Good news, you say.
Surely...
"I found the Hero."
***
It was the moment I was about to cut down the demonified knights and finally strike down King Baronis.
Yes, I clearly thought I could finish my revenge.
The moment King Baronis took out a Maseok from his pocket and shattered it, a powerful energy I had never experienced before filled the hall.
"To think that even King Baronis had undergone demonification..."
I pulled down my robe so my face wouldn't be seen.
As long as King Baronis was alive, he would surely target Ariel.
No, to be precise, he would be targeting her horns.
"For now, I need to go back..."
"Where to?"
"...!!"
At the sudden voice, I hastily turned around.
Thinking there was a skilled person who had bypassed my senses, my hand instinctively went to the hilt of my sword.
But the moment I met their eyes, I couldn't help but realize.
That it wasn't someone who had bypassed my senses, but someone my senses had allowed.
"Ariel, is it really you?"
"Then, do I seem like an illusion?"
When I took a step forward, Ariel also took a step forward.
As we each took three steps forward, finally getting close enough for our breaths to touch, we both, without hesitation, opened our arms and embraced each other.
This cold warmth that only he could feel.
Burying his face in her embrace, he took a deep breath.
"What brings you here?"
"I came because I missed you too much."
His gaze met her golden eyes.
Her eyes held not an ounce of falsehood, but the darkness within them couldn't be hidden, no matter how she tried.
"...Did something happen?"
There was one thing he could guess.
The demon who always guarded Ariel's side.
The Hero knew well enough that Hallibel had lost consciousness.
Ariel coming to find him because she missed him also clearly meant something had happened to her.
"Hallibel is dead."
Even as she said that, Ariel was smiling.
At her smile, as if she was laughing because she couldn't cry, the Hero frowned.
His heart ached unbearably.
"If I said I came because I needed comfort, would you believe me?"
Ariel rose on her tiptoes and kissed him.
At the soft sensation on his lips, the Hero's eyes widened.
"Arthur."
"..."
"Is obsession also a type of love?"
A slender hand reached out to the Hero.
As if seducing him, it stroked his cheek and traced his neck.
Even though it was just a brush of fingers, that part of him burned hot as if scorched by fire.
Could they be this affectionate, even though they had only been separated for barely a month?
"Still, getting out of here is the priority for now."
The Royal Capital right now was literally no different from a scene of hell.
If the Royal Family, who had massacred people, started looking for the Hero, there was no telling what they would do.
Who knows, they might even burn down every alleyway in the Royal Capital.
"...Alright, for now."
The Hero also agreed on that point.
Now that he knew Ariel was here, he couldn't act carelessly alone.
If he had been alone, he might have been able to shake off the demonified knights, but with Ariel, the story was different.
Of course, he wasn't trying to blame her.
Only she herself could say anything about Ariel's choices.
"Alright, then let's go. I wasn't just sightseeing while I was here, you know."
Ariel pulled the Hero by the arm.
Each time they passed through the intricately winding alleyways, screams and shouts of people could be heard from outside.
He couldn't completely ignore it and turned back several times, but right now, there was something more urgent.
"You found the Hero, Demon King-nim."
"Yes. Where's the exit?"
"If you keep going this way, you'll find it. I hope you return safely."
Even though she clearly wore an eye patch, he had the illusion that their eyes had met.
She was an utterly suspicious woman, but now was not the time to worry about that.
The screams and shouts were getting closer and closer.
"Then, I wish for both of you to meet again."
Even as she walked towards the scene of madness, there was no tremor or waver in her body.
She walked without rest, as if that was where she was meant to be.
As the Hero, who had been watching her retreating back, turned his gaze to Ariel, her lowered eyes were staring into the distance.
"Let's go."
Ariel, turning without hesitation, opened the door to the passage.
She opened the door, but then.
"...Ah."
A long, extended blade pierced straight through Ariel's body.
After a brief moment of watching her fall weakly, the Hero, with bloodshot eyes, drew his Holy Sword and immediately cut off the opponent's neck.
The severed head flew through the air.
Its two eyes were filled with fear and despair, but the Hero paid no heed.
"Ariel!!!"
"...I'm fine, I'm fine."
Fortunately, it wasn't a vital spot.
With the blade piercing her shoulder, Ariel's breathing grew increasingly ragged.
Yes, it certainly wasn't a vital spot, but for her, weakened as she was, it was no different from a fatal wound.
"Just a little, just bear with it a little longer..."
If he pulled out the sword right now, there was a risk of dangerous blood loss.
Considering the pursuit, it would be right to quickly escape from here first and then take action.
"...That's right."
The Hero, who had barely managed to make a rational judgment, immediately picked up Ariel in his arms.