A Stable Method to Capture the Hero's Heart
The Demon King posed the question with a serious expression: a stable way to capture the hero’s heart. Watching her, Belzebeuty—though she possessed zero practical experience—adopted a genuinely earnest attitude in order to fulfill her master’s wishes.
“By ‘date,’ what exactly do you have in mind, Your Majesty? Something like sharing a meal alone with the hero, as before? Or perhaps a stroll together…? Or do you mean… that sort of thing? Where a man and a woman… retire to the bedroom and entwine their bodies…”
Belzebeuty drew upon every scrap of knowledge she possessed, offering examples one after another. As she spoke, she felt her face growing hot, yet she suppressed the sensation as best she could, determined to grasp the full context of her master’s words.
However, the Demon King’s reaction was unexpectedly calm. She slowly shook her head.
“Well… in a sense, one could say it is similar to those things. But strictly speaking, it differs somewhat.”
“Pardon…? Then…”
Belzebeuty was slightly taken aback by how composed her liege remained.
With those words, the Demon King turned her gaze toward the window. Beyond the glass, she could see her citizens and soldiers celebrating their victory. They were the beings she treasured most, the ones to whom she bore the solemn duty of protection. Yet at this moment, they had become the root cause of her current dilemma.
“What We are presently contemplating is this: no matter how We consider it, it seems exceedingly difficult for Us to conduct an open romantic relationship with the hero. Given Our station… would it not inevitably invite controversy at this juncture?”
“Ah…”
Hearing the unease woven through the Demon King’s words, Belzebeuty immediately understood what her master feared. The Demon King stood as the sovereign of the Demon Kingdom and the mightiest of all demonkind. Yet no matter how equal—or even superior—the hero’s power might be, he was undeniably human. Though he had rendered enormous service to both demonkind and the kingdom, everything had happened so swiftly that the wider world remained largely unaware.
In such circumstances, if the Demon King and the hero were to publicly declare their relationship and begin courting openly, it risked sparking debate and discord among the citizens and high-ranking demons. Especially now, in the immediate aftermath of war, when hatred toward humans had reached its peak.
“From that perspective, it may be wise to maintain some distance from the hero for the time being…”
“That is precisely why We are troubled. In the current climate, if We were to push the hero away, would he not naturally feel betrayed?”
Starting with the victory banquet to be held soon, the Demon King was scheduled to attend numerous official events. Should she deliberately avoid or distance herself from the hero during them, the man who had earned the greatest merits in the war would likely feel more than mere disappointment—he might experience the same sting of betrayal as before.
Of course, an explanation beforehand might mitigate some of the damage. Yet she knew well that the human heart was not so simple. And if the person in question was a hero already carrying deep emotional scars, the problem would only deepen.
“From the hero’s viewpoint, now that the war has been won, he may suspect We intend to discard him. Were We in his position, We would surely think the same.”
“Sigh… Indeed, that does seem likely…”
Belzebeuty let out a small sigh and nodded in agreement at the Demon King’s resolute tone. She began to ponder the matter with greater seriousness.
‘Certainly… at this moment, it would be difficult for Her Majesty to either neglect the hero or draw too close. Meeting only within the palace would come with its own restrictions. And rumors have a way of spreading no matter what…’
After thinking for a time, Belzebeuty devoted her full intellect to finding a solution—one that would neither agitate the citizens nor wound the hero. A method that would allow the Demon King to steadily claim the hero’s heart without needing to worry about prying eyes. Before long, her superior mind arrived at an idea that seemed rather promising.
“Your Majesty… if that is the case, then perhaps—”
“!”
Inside the grand banquet hall of the Demon King’s castle, a formal victory celebration was underway—not the simple, makeshift affair from before, but a true feast honoring the end of the war.
The vast hall overflowed with splendid decorations. Musicians played elegant tunes. Tables groaned under the weight of abundant, luxurious dishes, while the chamber brimmed with the kingdom’s highest dignitaries.
Among them, I stood dressed in a specially prepared formal uniform, surrounded by the kingdom’s generals. Together we raised our glasses.
“To the glory of the Demon Kingdom!”
“To the glory!”
As the Demon King rose from her throne and made the declaration, the demons toasted in unison. I followed suit, draining the contents of my glass.
The sweet, rich aroma of fine wine bloomed across my tongue. Since it came from the royal cellars, its flavor surpassed any drink I had ever tasted. The meal that followed was likewise on another level, offering tastes and aromas beyond anything I had experienced in my previous life.
‘As expected of a royal banquet… especially a victory feast. Everything really is on a different scale.’
When one considered that such events displayed a nation’s power and dignity, it was only natural they would spare no expense. Historically, many leaders had hosted lavish banquets not merely for pleasure, but for political purposes as well.
In any case, thanks to this, I was enjoying luxuries I could never have imagined in my previous existence. My gaze drifted toward the throne, where the Demon King sat receiving her subjects.
Because this was an official function, she wore a veil that concealed her face. Around her, countless individuals of clearly noble status approached one after another to offer greetings.
“We congratulate you on your victory, Your Majesty. All of this is thanks to Your Majesty’s benevolence.”
“You too have labored hard, Duke Simeon. We hope you will continue to lend your strength in restoring this war-torn land to prosperity.”
“Of course, Your Majesty. This servant shall devote his utmost.”
“If there is anything you require, please command me at any time, Your Majesty. I, Issachar, shall continue to offer you unwavering loyalty as I have until now.”
“We shall not forget your devotion. We ask that you continue to serve Us well.”
From elderly demons to young ones, a great many bowed their heads and offered words of loyalty and praise. Though she was my lover, watching her in this moment made me keenly aware of the considerable distance between us.
‘No matter how much of a hero I am… the Demon King may still be too lofty a partner for someone like me.’
Even so, I had no intention of abandoning the relationship we had finally formed. After all, the reason I had endured so much hardship was to earn her love. A burden of this magnitude was something I could bear.
Nevertheless, the heavy weight of her position as the Demon King pressed upon me more clearly than ever in this moment. I couldn’t help feeling slightly daunted.
At that moment…
“Um…”
“…?”
A voice I thought I had heard somewhere before reached my ear. I turned toward the sound.
What entered my vision was a woman. Yet the instant I saw her face, I instinctively tilted my head in confusion.
Standing there was a female demon I had never seen before. She possessed blue eyes and lustrous golden hair styled in neat braids. Her figure was flawless, comparable to the Demon King’s, and she radiated a bright, warm beauty.
At this moment she seemed slightly embarrassed, her cheeks tinged with a faint blush. Though she too was a beauty, the impression she gave was the complete opposite of the Demon King’s dignified, somewhat cold and haughty elegance. She felt far more approachable and gentle.
Setting aside that brief impression, I remained somewhat wary of this unfamiliar female demon who had spoken to me and offered a polite greeting.
“Good evening. Pardon me, but may I ask who you are?”
Although many comrades who had bled alongside me were present, we were surrounded by high-ranking demons. I had no choice but to remain somewhat tense. Especially since some among them still looked upon me—a human—with clear displeasure. I needed to stay alert to avoid any troublesome situations.
Seeing my reaction, the woman before me appeared even more embarrassed. She looked strangely anxious, as though she wanted to say something.
Then—
“Ah. There you are.”
The next moment, another woman appeared behind her and lightly placed a hand on her shoulder. Recognizing the now-familiar face, I bowed politely out of courtesy.
“Good evening, Lady Belzebeuty.”
“It has been a while, Hero.”