The NTR Hero Knelt Before the Demon King – Chapter 5

The words “regret” that came from the Demon King’s Mouth…

The moment I heard that one phrase, which could be inferred as a ‘negation’ of something…

I instinctively sensed that she had no intention of saving me.

“Seriously, after going this far, wouldn’t she at least think of letting me live? Is she really planning on killing me like this?!”

As that thought crossed my mind, already caught in a life-and-death situation, I was overwhelmed with thick tension and began to slip into an unbearable panic.

I had just barely managed to come up with a plausible excuse, and now that my last effort was completely shut down…

There was no longer any room to think of anything else.

“Am I going to… die? …Die? …Really? Am I really just going to… end like this without being able to do anything?”

The fear of death, feeling more vivid now that I reached a dead end.

The dread of the cold reality that everything could end without me being able to do anything at all started to envelop my heart,


and as a result, I could no longer muster the composure to think clearly.

“I don’t want to die! I’ve struggled so hard until now… If it’s going to end like this, I might as well die together with those bastards. I can’t die like this so empty-handed!”

The desire to survive began to scream from deep within my chest.

Thus, I began to plead with a voice filled with despair, losing even the leisure to consider the worsening situation.

“Please… save me…”

A warrior who values honor shouldn’t be begging for his life like this.

The Demon King, feeling disgusted by this pitiful display, might be inclined to give me a painful death, but still, I had no choice but to beg.

My weapon had been confiscated, and with one arm incapacitated, there was absolutely no way I could fight against the Demon King.

All that remained was to plead for mercy, even if it meant risking a plunge into the depths of hell.

Thus, I bowed my head before the Demon King, discarding any semblance of pride as a hero.

At that moment…

“!….”

A sudden soft touch above my head.

And right after that, before I could even think of anything, a voice filled with compassion began to ring in my ears…

“I understand… I will spare you.”

*

The hero, wearing a face full of despair and resignation right before her eyes.

As she looked at him, the Demon King couldn’t help but feel a genuine sense of pity once again.

Although he was an enemy, he was someone worthy of respect in terms of capability and character.

However, at this moment, he was not only betrayed by his companions but also had his last shred of honor shattered.

His miserable and utterly pitiable form, having lost everything not just as a hero but also as a person.

And in that state, the hero, with a hollow laugh, spoke to the Demon King.

He expressed his desire to live a different life than before…

Simultaneously, he declared his past, filled with honor and beliefs, as foolish and meaningless.

“How regrettable. To think that the hero, who has never wavered until now, has fallen this far…”

Seeing such a despairing sight of someone he had once seen as his nemesis, the Demon King, who had been strengthening himself to defeat this very hero, displayed a hint of genuine emotion.

“How unfortunate…”

“!…”

At that moment, hearing her words, the hero’s expression slightly changed to one of surprise before darkening even further.

The fact that he received sympathy from none other than the Demon King seemed to have dealt a significant blow to his heart.

And right after that…

“…Please… save me…”

“…”

The words began to flow from the hero’s mouth.

Through that voice steeped in deep despair, the Demon King realized that the last remnants of that man’s pride, which had been barely held onto until just a moment ago, had completely vanished.

The hero, showing nothing but despair, pain, and regret.

Standing at the exact opposite point of himself, and from the very first moment he had met him, feeling as though he wasn’t human.

Watching that figure, now entirely broken to the point of no return, the Demon King felt an unprecedented bitterness and sadness, and without realizing it, she began to stroke that wretched man’s head.

If only she could, in this moment, say something comforting to him.

Moreover, she started to think, if possible… maybe she could penetrate the broken mind of this man and bring him over to her side.

Although she felt genuine pity for him… if he did not actively seek death and bore hatred toward the humans who had betrayed him, she honestly hoped the hero might become her subordinate.

That was the actual reason she had come here in the first place.

The problem was, considering the Demon King had zero experience in such matters, it was questionable if her words could even soothe the hero’s heart.

“If I had known, I should have summoned Beelzebub instead… It seems insisting on bringing myself was a mistake…”

The Demon King felt regret for not bringing a competent aide to the conversation.

Thus, after some contemplation, the words that came from her mouth were…

A phrase that seemed overly clumsy even to her.

A short sentence that didn’t seem very comforting at all.

“I understand… I will spare you.”

“!….”

A single phrase that made it seem as though that was all she could muster.

However… surprisingly, the hero began to show a look of astonishment at her clumsy attempt at ‘comfort’.

In an instant, a flicker of light began to dance across his near-death face.

In response, the Demon King felt a bit puzzled but decided to continue tossing out the thoughts that came to her mind.

“I will spare you. And… I will also grant you an opportunity fitting for you. A chance to regain your honor… a chance to take revenge on the humans who betrayed you, and to make your name known to the world as a warrior.”

“Ah…”

The hero’s expression momentarily became blank in response to her words.

Watching him appear flustered, the Demon King began to speak more freely, sharing the ideas springing up in her mind without restriction.

“I will give it all to you. The honor you desire and also revenge, and if you wish, even more than that! Therefore, hero, kneel and swear your loyalty… pledge absolute subjugation to me! I can grant you all of this!”

Gradually, the Demon King started to speak more forcefully, swept up in the atmosphere.

However, even while speaking, she began to worry if she was going a bit too far.

Although he had been betrayed by humans, he was still very much human.

A noble hero who had dedicated his life to protect humanity.

The truth was, she felt skeptical that he would actually submit to her suggestion…

“I’ve said what came to my mind, but… Haha… frankly, I doubt it could ever be that simple. No matter how much he was betrayed by humans, he is still a hero…”

Once again feeling truly regretful over her lack of eloquence, the Demon King.

But then…

-Thud!

“!?!?”

In the next moment, the hero knelt down right in front of the Demon King.

Immediately, the sound of the hero’s voice began to ring clearly in her ears.

“I swear, Your Majesty, the Demon King! I pledge absolute loyalty to you, the ruler of the demon race and the master of my new life!”

“…”

Declaring his submission without a hint of hesitation.

In spite of having made that suggestion, the Demon King could not help but feel a surge of shock at this unexpected situation.

“No way… Could it be that my awkward words actually provided some comfort? But I shouldn’t have had a talent for that… Oh, no… That’s not it. This is definitely…”

Amidst her confusion and slight shock, the Demon King gazed at the hero’s face.

In that moment, a certain fact became vividly clear in her eyes.

That was… the intense longing embedded in the hero’s expression.

A fierce will that blazed like the flames of hell, utterly different from the earlier dimness.

And, watching that, the Demon King instinctively realized…

Why the hero would kneel without delay and pledge his loyalty to her, who could be regarded as an ‘enemy’, rather than choosing a clean death.

The reason was simply…

“Revenge… perhaps?”