The NTR Hero Knelt Before the Demon King – Chapter 63

Port Town Rob, a major harbor stronghold connecting the continent and the Demon Kingdom.

Currently overseeing this place is Cassandra, who holds the position of one of the Empire’s Three Knights, and she was feeling a bit relieved that the work she had been engaged in for the past few weeks was finally coming to an end.

‘So, I’m really leaving like this… Honestly, when I started, I wondered how on earth I was going to send all those people off, but somehow, it worked out.’

Although she had previously experienced the disgrace of a critical blow to military supplies due to an ambush by the demon races, Cassandra managed to precariously maintain her position by utilizing Head Officer Glen, who had lost his life in that battle, along with the power of her family.

Head Officer Glen, backed by Duke Menelaus, a prominent aide to the Emperor, was indeed involved in some shady dealings, which Cassandra was aware of beforehand. However, she had turned a blind eye and simply gathered related evidence over time.

Then, right after Glen’s death, amidst the uproar over this attack and questions about responsibility, Cassandra revealed that evidence along with fabricated proof implicating Glen in collusion with the demon races, successfully placing the majority of the blame on Glen, who had departed this world.

Despite being accountable to some extent as the overseer of this place, Cassandra managed to avoid a significant setback, such as losing her position.

Additionally, during this process, she and her family were also able to launch an attack against Duke Menelaus, who had been their competitor, resulting in a situation where she could conclude the whole affair with a net gain.

Of course, her miscalculations had butterfly effects, leading to the disintegration of the Racial Alliance, but Cassandra was not overly concerned about that.

After all, as someone who had avoided political repercussions, she really didn’t care about a war started with nothing but a flimsy pretense against the Demon Kingdom.

What mattered now was simply to wrap up the mess resulting from the crumbling dynamics as the head of this town.

“What’s the situation in the eastern district?”

“Yes, everyone has finished the cleanup.”

“All the troops from Emmao have boarded as well. We just need to embark ourselves.”

“Good, everyone did a great job. We’ll set sail as soon as we board.”

“Yes, Commander.”

“Understood.”

After concluding the final inspections, Cassandra and her subordinates boarded the ship.

At that moment, behind them, the port town of Rob, which had served as a forward base for the Racial Alliance over the years, was engulfed in flames.

A place where countless supplies and soldiers had landed for quite some time.

However, after a series of crushing defeats over the past six months and escalating conflicts between the core powers of the Falcon Empire and the Elf Union, the Racial Alliance, which had gathered under the motto of “Let’s eradicate the evil forces of the demon races,” had effectively disbanded.

As a result, this harbor had become a place with little significance for them, and it was best to destroy and depart from Rob, which was now rapidly turning into ashes, leaving behind its glorious past.

And thus, completing the incineration of Rob and the prior retreat mission of the Empire Army, Cassandra felt a complex mix of slight emptiness and concerns about the future in her heart.

‘With this, the Alliance’s motto of driving out the evil forces has failed… But the real war is just about to begin.’

As the Demon Kingdom weakened due to the devastation of the land from the war, it was clear that the new arch-nemesis she and the Falcon Empire had to focus on was the Elf Church Country.

For the time being, the Falcon Empire and the Elf Church had temporarily joined forces due to their common goal of the Racial Alliance’s retreat.

However, everyone knew how their situations would change once this temporary cooperation ended.

Due to disputes regarding the Hero, the two powers had crossed an irreversible river.

At the same time, the Emperor had firmly displayed his resolve to decisively deal with the Elf Church during this opportunity when the Empire’s national power reached its peak.

‘Of course, considering the atmosphere has somewhat calmed down, there will be some caution. But surely, it won’t be long before war breaks out. With the facade of the Racial Alliance now severed, the Emperor probably has nothing to hold him back…’

While contemplating the unending war, Cassandra stood on the deck, gazing at the last sight of burning Rob.

However, separate from that place, which she felt she wouldn’t be seeing again, a certain phrase that had been uttered at that site lingered in her mind…

The Demon King, whom she had encountered by chance, had said to her…

‘Not an enemy…’

A statement that could only be understood with a deep understanding of Cassandra and her family’s essence; it felt like the temptation of a devil.

This thought automatically caused a slight smile to appear on Cassandra’s face.

Though currently useless, she pondered that depending on the situation, this devil’s touch might become a trump card that could turn things around for her…

*

In the capital of the Demon Kingdom, Jerusalem.

At this moment, countless demon races had poured out onto the streets, shouting in celebration.

“Hooray! Hooray!”

“Long live Your Majesty, the Demon King! Long live the Demon Kingdom!”

“Eternal glory to the Demon Kingdom!”

After several years…

Including the ceasefire period, it was nearly a war spanning decades, and now it had finally ended with the victory of the Demon Kingdom over the Racial Alliance.

At this moment, the demon races were shouting with genuine joy.

“Wow… I never thought I would see such a day in my lifetime.”

“To think we drove out all those filthy humans and elves, truly our Demon King!”

“Um… So, can we now return to our homeland? I’ve been away from my hometown in Emmao for over ten years…”

“Exactly! With this war, those Racial Alliance scoundrels ran away, so there’s nothing to worry about anymore.”

“Even if they attack again, what’s there to fear? Our Demon King, who wiped out all those filthy humans and elves, is with us!”

Thus, celebrating the fact that they could return to their long-missed hometown, the demon races sang praises for their Demon King.

Of course, the place they referred to as home had likely been trampled underfoot by the Racial Alliance for at least one to two years, if not several decades, making it hard to find any trace of its former self.

However, that itself served as good motivation for them to start anew, so at this moment, the hearts of the demon races were ablaze with joy for their victory and determination to rebuild their homeland.

*

With the citizens celebrating their victory.

And soldiers sharing in their joy among them.

On the other hand, at this moment, the subject of the citizens’ praises, the great ruler who led this war to victory, the Demon King, was enveloped in deep contemplation that was evident on her face.

“Hmm…”

Dressed in casual clothes, seated atop her bed with a serious expression, the Demon King.

Seeing this, Beelzebub, who was nearby, asked her with a hint of worry.

“Your Majesty, is there something bothering you?”

Noticing the serious atmosphere surrounding her lord, Beelzebub began to feel concerned about the aftermath of this war or worries related to the Racial Alliance.

‘Seeing how serious the Demon King appears, could there be some immense danger lurking?’

With such thoughts, Beelzebub steeled herself in her mind.

Then, the Demon King spoke with a calm voice.

“Yes, personally… there’s one concern I have, Beelzebub. It might seem trivial to others… but it’s very important to me.”

“Trivial? Please, do not say that. Whatever your Majesty’s concern is, each one is precious and important to me. I hope I can offer my humble assistance.”

Beelzebub spoke in a very respectful tone.

In response, the Demon King contemplated for a moment before looking at Beelzebub’s face and said.

“…Well, then, please don’t laugh and listen closely. It’s really something incredibly trivial, but…”

“Yes, speak freely, Your Majesty.”

With a firm voice filled with loyalty, Beelzebub urged.

Seeing her like that, the Demon King, maintaining a slightly stiff expression, opened her mouth to the wisest person she knew, who served as the prime minister of this nation.

And the content of the ‘question’ in question was…

“Beelzebub… could you tell me how I should go about dating?”

“…What?”

It felt drastically ordinary, far beyond what she had imagined, yet it could also be viewed as a matter of great significance when it came to marriage, or so one might say.

And…

The moment she heard this unexpected question, Beelzebub, similarly to the Demon King, who was still single, found herself momentarily stunned.