The NTR Hero Knelt Before the Demon King – Chapter 0

A colossal black golem collapsed before my eyes.

As they witnessed this, the people present began to smile with determination.

“Alright! Now we can head inside!”

“Now, we just need to take down the Demon King inside…”

With a sword radiating with divine energy, the elf paladin Amelda shouted with confidence, while the cleric Eileen, sporting silvery-white hair, timidly chimed in with an eager voice.

They knew that their adventure, which had spanned several years, was now reaching its climax.

Having just defeated the black golem guarding the Demon King’s castle, they felt a surge of accomplishment.

Though this creature possessed considerable combat strength, it crumbled without inflicting any significant damage on the hero party.

It was only natural.

Those gathered here were the strongest warriors of the continent, united to overthrow the Demon King.

The cleric Eileen, who held the position of Vice Minister, the elf paladin Amelda, the witch Shude donned in a red robe, and the beastman fighter Terra with copper-toned skin and crimson hair.

And then there was… the leader of this party, the mightiest hero of the continent, Ellen Savior, who had just pierced the heart of the golem in a blink.

He brushed off the debris from his sword and turned to his party members, stating, “Great job, everyone. Now, let’s do a quick check and head inside.”

Perhaps it was the tension before the final showdown with the Demon King that made his face seem slightly rigid.

Seeing this, the party member and Ellen’s childhood friend, cleric Eileen, spoke sweetly with a gentle tone, “Don’t be too tense, Ellen. As it has been until now, we will ultimately win. We’ve got your back, so don’t worry at all.”

“Right, hero! With your strength, we’ll surely defeat the Demon King. Then afterward… just like we’ve always talked about, we’ll…”

Echoing Eileen’s sentiment, the paladin Amelda spoke with a voice filled with trust.

Watching their interaction, the witch Shude and beastman Terra frowned slightly and remarked, “Hey, are you trying to sweet-talk him again? Sorry, but I refuse to back down when it comes to the hero!”

“Agreed. The hero belongs to all of us. After defeating the Demon King, we should all share the spoils.”

Their complaints carried a mix of jealousy and affection.

In response, Eileen wore a look that suggested such a notion was utterly absurd, addressing the three others, “Everyone, cool it! No matter how much the hero promises to treat us all equally, the hero’s main partner will always be me. Keep that in mind.”

“Sigh…”

“Yes, yes…”

“Understood, Lady Main Partner.”

The party members retreated half a step, conceding to Eileen’s words.

While listening to this light-hearted banter, the hero, who had been wearing a stiff expression, began to break into a slightly awkward smile.

With that short yet tension-relieving conversation finished, the hero party rose, steeling themselves for the final battle.

And then, from a distance, watching them was a man.

Torare, the party’s porter who had brought all the necessary supplies and tools, smiled innocently and said to the warrior party, “Well then, as I said, I’ll be waiting for you here. Please defeat the Demon King and bring peace to the world.”

“Thanks for coming this far with us.”

“Make sure to wait there! After we defeat the Demon King, there will be treasures galore!”

“Thank you for your hard work. We’ll definitely come back victorious.”

“See you later, Torare.”

“…”

With no combat capabilities, but having journeyed with them thus far, the hero party entered the castle, greeting their comrade.

Although the hero Ellen merely cast a single glance back, the other female members waved brightly at him as they said farewell.

Thus, the hope of humanity, the hero party, vanished into the dark depths of the Demon King’s castle.

Watching their departure, Torare smiled slowly, his voice filled with earnestness, “Please return safely, ladies…”

*

Inside the Demon King’s castle shrouded in thick darkness.

As they stepped in, the members of the hero party beheld an expansive space that far surpassed their imaginings.

It evoked memories of a soldiers’ training ground… No, it resembled an arena where warriors engaged in duels.

There, numerous demon races were equipped with evident combat prowess, and at their center sat a figure shrouded in black armor, emanating a powerful black aura…

The being presumed to be the Demon King lounged on an ornate throne, gazing in their direction.

“Is that… the Demon King?”

“It seems they were waiting for us to arrive.”

Clearly, the Demon King had prepared formidable defenses.

And facing them, the heroes, unyielding and brimming with determination, readied to charge forward.

In ancient tales, such scenarios often featured discussions between heroes and demons before battle, but for them, negotiation was never an option.

Gripping their weapons firmly, the hero party stared at the place where the Demon King and his subordinates awaited.

On the cusp of a battle that would determine the fate of the world, they each began to express their resolve.

“After this fight, we’re getting married.”

“We’ll wrap this up in an instant, Hero, for our brilliant future.”

“Let’s go! For our future and peace!”

“Killing the Demon King.”

The rallying cries of their hopeful comrades echoed through the air.

And hearing their declaration, the very individual they were calling upon, hero Ellen, began to quietly reflect inwardly.

In his heart, he couldn’t help but think the words he dared not voice out loud.

‘What the hell is going on…’