The NTR Hero Knelt Before the Demon King – Chapter 132

A room cloaked in deep darkness.

In that place, the man slowly knelt, gazing at the statue before him.

An unidentifiable figure made of mysterious metal, with a serpent coiled atop a round globe.

To this, the man gradually lowered his head and spoke.

“Oh, our great God… please show this foolish and ignorant being the true path.”

His earnest plea radiated genuine sincerity.

And just after that,

As if in response, a golden aura began to ripple from the divine statue, and at the same time, the man felt an extraordinarily clear sensation enveloping his entire body, slowly raising his head.

“Oh, God… the true savior of this world, Amun. Please guide me on the path I should take.”

In answer to his words, the statue shone even brighter.

Then, only for him…

A clear voice began to resonate, whispering solely in Achilles’ ear.

-“My loyal servant. My command remains unchanged. Lead everything in accordance. Destroy that which shackles this corrupted world and pave the way for my descent.”-

The voice carried undeniable power and dignity.

However, Achilles, overwhelmed with profound confusion and regret, questioned his God with a trembling voice.

“Yet, Amun, as you know, those who followed your command have committed foolish mistakes. The devotees of the Elf Church have fallen, and the ones from the Magic Kingdom continue to act recklessly. What should this humble servant do in such a situation?”

Expressing his frustration about the current reality, Achilles bowed his head.

And to this…

The unwavering noble voice of the God began to echo in his ear.

-“There is no need to worry about their affairs. After all, this situation was merely a precursor to what we face now. Go. Go and execute my will. Bring forth my descent to this land… the true beginning of salvation!”-

The voice instilled certainty in his briefly wavering heart.

In response, Achilles smiled deeply, lowering his head once more to the God.

“My Lord, I will obey your command!”

*

“Really? So, Aias was defeated, huh?”

“Yes, that’s how it turned out in the end.”

In front of her stood a servant, and with a stoic expression, Cassandra quietly groomed her nails.

After finishing the light grooming, she blew on her freshly manicured nails and spoke in a calm voice.

“Very well, you’ve done well. You may leave now.”

“Yes, my Lord.”

With those words, the servant vanished from Cassandra’s presence.

As she observed, at that moment, the individual seated across from her began to raise their teacup leisurely, sporting a light smile.

With lustrous blonde hair and beauty akin to that of a goddess, the person appeared.

Though Cassandra was also quite beautiful, she couldn’t even begin to compare to this individual, who sat there with an air of intrigue about the situation, addressing Cassandra.

“Unexpected, isn’t it? Honestly, I thought you would be quite shocked upon hearing this news.”

“…Shocked, you say? You thought that?”

“Yes, despite everything, you were quite fond of your subordinates, weren’t you? Isn’t it surprising that they were wiped out?”

“…Not particularly? If I had to express my feelings now, I’d say it was just as expected… after all, I knew based on Aias’s nature that this would happen.”

“Oh…”

The woman began to show genuine surprise at Cassandra’s response.

Continuing to gaze at her, Cassandra maintained a calm smile and continued speaking.

“Moreover, about my most important direct subordinates, honestly, I have little worry. They must know what my final words meant. They probably managed to retreat appropriately as soon as things went awry.”

“Hmm… truly thorough. A true strategist, as I’ve come to recognize.”

With those words, the woman placed the now half-empty teacup down.

Seeing her demeanor, Cassandra quietly smiled, suddenly feeling inspired.

“Then, can I ask what brought you here? I doubt you came just to chat as fellow members of the Empire’s Three Knights…”

“Of course not. I’m not so free. Even if I’ve been positioned below that foolish Achilles due to my lack of loyalty, I’m still quite busy regardless.”

“That would be the case. No matter how lacking in loyalty, I wouldn’t let someone like you go to waste, even if I am the Emperor. Wouldn’t you agree? The officially recognized strongest warrior, Helene.”

Though merely a bureaucratic title, it was nonetheless a statement that held weight.

In response, Helene subtly expressed pleasure and curiosity, inquiring further.

“Hehe… called the strongest in the world; you flatter me too much. It’s not as if I’ve ever lost before. I’m not worthy of such a title. Even the hero Ellen is quite strong, and the Demon King who defeated him might be even beyond my reach. You know, don’t you? Given our history of facing both the Demon King and me.”

“Umm…”

In response to Helene’s words, Cassandra found herself at a loss for words for a moment.

Indeed, as she said, the Helene from the past had been an unfathomably strong opponent. Even Achilles, who possessed a force surpassing her own, would find it difficult.

However,

The Demon King’s might she encountered not long ago was seemingly overwhelming even to Helene.

It was no exaggeration to say that defeating the Demon King might require three Helene-like figures.

Though the disparity would narrow should Helene reveal her true capabilities, Cassandra believed it would still be difficult for Helene to win against the Demon King.

And while Cassandra struggled to reply, Helene smiled brightly.

“Isn’t that so? If we consider a worthy opponent, then the likelihood of my defeat is quite high, isn’t it?”

“…Honestly, I can’t say no. The power of the Demon King I faced was truly something else. I wondered if even you could manage something against it.”

“Hehehe… as expected…”

In response to Cassandra’s words, Helene began to exhibit an oddly mixed feeling of ‘anticipation’ that defied normalcy.

Meanwhile, watching her, Cassandra recalled the last time she faced the Demon King.

Despite having the former Hero Party’s beastman warrior alongside her, Cassandra suffered a crushing defeat.

Had the Demon King not granted her “mercy,” her life would have ended there.

But in the end, the Demon King spared her.

Not as an enemy.

And now, understanding what that meant, Cassandra sensed that the time was approaching, as she’d called Helene today specifically to discuss that matter.

“Speaking of which, Helene. Is your resolution still the same as it was back then? Regarding that… marriage issue.”

“Of course it is! I just had the pleasure of thrashing a man who proposed to me today. Honestly, I couldn’t fathom what he was thinking, challenging someone like me.”

With that said, Helene emptied the rest of her teacup.

Then, her eyes sparkled with sharpness as she gently stroked her abdomen.

“In truth, women are drawn to the stronger ones. Anyone vying to be my partner has to be stronger than me, right? Regardless of whether they are an elf, beastman, or demon, I’d willingly embrace anyone capable of defeating me. No matter how ugly or monstrous they may be… hehehe.”

“…You remain consistent, as always. In that regard, I happen to have a rather good idea to propose. Care to join me?”

Cassandra spoke with a sincere smile, addressing Helene.

In response, Helene, sensing that a discussion related to her biggest hope might emerge, looked closely at her wise friend.

“What’s this good idea you speak of?”

“Hehe… well, it is…”