Chapter 27
Chapter 27
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 27
Chapter Title: The Protagonist is a Villain
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"Guhk..."
There was no need to show mercy to this bastard. He was nothing more than a pathetic wretch who'd summoned the Demon King out of his own greed to become king. He'd called forth the Demon King of his own volition and supplied the materials for its revival using his own territory's people—a total piece of trash. Just to be safe, I smashed every one of his limbs before turning to the Hero.
The Hero stood there, watching the Demon King's state after severing both its arms.
💥 CRITICAL HIT! 💥 -Kwaaaaaaagh!
Revival... failed...!
"Sleep well, Demon King!"
-This can't be...! I must create a paradise where demons can live and laugh! Evangeline... I made a promise with her...!
The Demon King spat out its maudlin backstory, only for the Hero's sword to mercilessly pierce its egg-like membrane. Black blood sprayed into the sky like it was executing a corrupt noble, staining the ceiling before dripping back down to form a dark puddle on the floor. It felt kinda gross, so I yanked the Hero back to keep him out of the blood.
-Gurgh... So unjust...! I won't... die alone...! Hero! Is that the one you love...?
"What the fuck?"
I dropped the Lucius cosplay and cursed outright. Was it because this asshole was a demon? No prejudices there. Black energy began to coalesce from the Demon King's body as it cried out.
-Die! You won't escape this place!
A jet-black arrow of death energy shot straight at me. The moment I moved to block it, the Hero shoved me aside and shouted.
"Danger!"
Danger my ass. It was just a level 30 Destruction Ray at best. Those were my thoughts even as I got flung back, and in the same motion, I cast Protect on the Hero.
⚡ SKILL ACTIVATED ⚡ [Protect] Defense and magic resistance increased.
Bzzt-crackle!
"Gaaaaah!"
The Hero let out an agonized scream and collapsed to the floor. The black energy pierced right through him. Something was off. Was this really a level 30 Destruction Ray?
-Kehhehehe... Wriggle in pain... and die... Hero... I go... to Evangeline...
I rushed to the fallen Hero. There was a gaping black hole punched through his stomach. The Demon King was dead, and the evil aura around us was fading bit by bit, but on the Hero's body, the malevolent energy was surging stronger than ever.
"Heal."
⚡ SKILL ACTIVATED ⚡ [Heal] I tried to save him with Heal first. The wound seemed to mend for a moment before ripping open again, his insides rotting black. It was some seriously nasty magic.
"Guhk... Cough... Urk..."
Fuck. I'd been hoping for some NTR vibes, but if the Hero died like this, it'd leave a bad taste. Looked like this was the bastard's final desperate instant-death pattern. The Hero writhed in agony, unable to speak, as the blood spilling from him turned pitch black and his face drained pale white.
Leaving him here would let the NTR angle play out naturally. But I couldn't. He'd saved me, for one, but more importantly, Demon King remnants were crawling up the corridors.
Killing the Demon King wouldn't make the territory's monsters vanish overnight. Given the path we'd carved through them so far, I needed to save the Hero somehow so we could make it back together. Alone, I'd struggle against ambushes.
Heal wasn't working. Escaping this territory solo would be tough too. That left one option. I pulled the forbidden potion from my bag. No idea if it was for drinking or applying, but probably both.
I sprinkled half on the wound and shoved the other half down his throat as he kept vomiting up black blood.
"Mmgh! Mmph! Ngh!"
The Hero thrashed his head like he was rejecting it at first, then managed to swallow. I drew my mace and glared at the approaching remnants. Now I just had to buy time.
Sizzle!
Smoke rose from behind me with a sound like meat searing on a grill.
"Grgh...! Guh! Gaaaaah!"
The Hero rolled on the floor, screaming like he was being burned alive. I had no time to look back. The Hero could one-shot these, but each one took me at least two hits. I smashed an elite goblin's ribs with a side swing and caved in an orc zombie's skull with a downward strike.
How many heads had I crushed like that?
"Gaaaaaaaah!!"
The Hero let out a death-rattle scream and went silent. I glanced back, fearing he'd died. He lay spread-eagled, gasping for breath. I sighed in relief and turned the last remnant into ground meat.
I slumped down amid the monster corpses, catching my breath. After a short rest, I walked over to the Hero and offered my hand. He stared at it, panting.
"You okay?"
"Ah... Yes... I'm fine..."
The spot where the Destruction Ray had hit was now perfectly healed. Definitely lived up to the name forbidden potion—enough to mend rotting flesh.
"Thank you for saving me."
"It's thanks to the potion from Princess Erina."
The Hero stood and bowed. I waved it off. Then I noticed something weird. Why the hell was he suddenly talking in a girl's voice?
"Hero?"
"Yes?"
I forced his face up and inspected it closely. Something was off. He was definitely prettier now. His handsome features had turned strangely beautiful. Even his host-like hairstyle had shortened into a bob.
"Status Window."
⚔ STATUS ⚔ ⚡ Strength: 162 💨 Agility: 139 ✨ Intelligence: 98 🍀 Luck: 120 Traits:
Hero's Will
>Incapacitated state: 80% chance to nullify effect.
Indomitable Will
>Even with depleted stamina, rise once more.
Strike Evil Immediately
>Counter attacks deal 3x damage.
Gender Swap
>Gender changed due to side effect.
"Fuck?"
"Priest?"
The Hero gave me a puzzled look. I scowled back at him.
What the hell is this?
"Hero, do you feel anything... off?"
"Pardon? What... Huh? Wha...? Uh, what?"
Hero Aei looked confused at first, then seemed to notice something strange about herself. She touched her face, muttering "Huh? Huh?" while groping her body all over.
"M-my muscles..."
Aei felt her arms and murmured that. She sighed again seeing her once-firm abs and pecs gone soft, then glanced at her crotch and cautiously lifted her pants to peek inside.
"Ah..."
Of course there'd be nothing there. I'd confirmed it via status window—she was a woman now. Hero Aei let out a despairing sigh and plopped down right there. But I didn't have time to commiserate. Monsters were still popping up all over the mansion, and we needed proof of defeating the Demon King to escape.
I extended a hand to Hero Aei.
"Let's get out first, Hero. We can worry about the rest later."
"...Yeah. You're right. I jumped to conclusions. Out first, then think."
The Hero seemed to forget her predicament, perking up as she grabbed my hand. The soft texture wrapping around my hand felt different from her usual grip. And so, the Hero and I slowly escaped the mansion turning into a monster den.
Once outside, the monsters that had gathered sensing the Demon King's aura began to retreat. The Hero dropped her combat stance and sighed seeing them flee. Looked like we could take it easy from here.
The return trip was far more leisurely than the way there. Going to hunt the Demon King had been a daily grind of life-or-death battles, but now it was like a safari tour gawking at monsters on the side.
"Oh, Hero. Look over there—a goblin."
"Yeah."