The NTR Hero Knelt Before the Demon King – Chapter 143

Out of the blue, my friend Antonius declared that he had turned into a woman.

No, now she goes by Cleopatra.

Through tales only Antonius could know, she managed to make Achilles believe the truth.

“So, does that make it a bit believable now?”

“Hmm… Well, if you know that much, it’s actually more suspicious not to believe you.”

Cleopatra, speaking fluidly about secrets that only the two of them knew in the past, left Achilles in deep surprise, finally acknowledging that the man before him was indeed Antonius.

“Well then, since we haven’t seen each other in a while, how about we grab a drink? That’s actually why I came here.”

“…I guess if it’s you, it’s normal to say that. In that regard, it doesn’t seem like you’ve really changed much, even after becoming a woman.”

“Hehe, no matter what, I’m still me.”

As she beamed with a bright smile he had never seen before, Achilles understood that her transformation was not just about changing genders.

“So, can I hear what’s been going on with you all this time?”

“Of course! I came here to give you an update, after all. I’ll tell you everything, one by one.”

With those words, Antonius tilted her glass, starting to recount the events that had transpired.

It began from the moment the news about Amun—the deity they both worshipped—was cut off.

In trying to execute a plan to deal with the world, there was an attempt to assassinate Octavia, the Pope’s daughter from the Elf Church Country, which ultimately failed.

Caught by Eliza, a member of the Demon Race’s elite guard, Antonius underwent brutal torture.

And in the end, she found herself experiencing pleasure in harsh and overly dense ways as a woman, eventually yielding completely in body and mind to Eliza.

Hearing about her friend’s circumstances, which couldn’t possibly be taken positively, naturally made Achilles furrow his brow.

However, even so, he felt a bittersweet relief that he was able to meet a friend he had thought was dead, even if it was in this manner.

“Well… at least it’s fortunate that you could survive. Still, that Eliza really has some twisted tastes; I can’t believe someone could be changed this way just for the sake of torture.”

Cleopatra’s life had been entirely turned upside down, not merely experiencing pain but with her entire life altered beyond recognition.

With her gender change, she had lost everything she had built up until now, and her very way of living was fundamentally changed.

This devastated life of hers weighed heavily on Achilles, her long-time friend.

Yet, contrary to his somber feelings, Cleopatra began to smile broadly.

“No, not at all! To be honest… I’m actually happier than before!”

“What?”

The unexpected words from Cleopatra brought confusion to Achilles’ face.

To that, Cleopatra spoke with sincerity, addressing her friend.

“It’s true. Right now, I’m living so much happier than I ever did in the past. Breaking free from that heavy sense of duty and living entirely for my desires… You can’t imagine the joy of being liberated from all the constraints I was forced to endure.”

“Is that… really so?”

Her words, filled with honesty, were unlike anything he had witnessed from Cleopatra, who had previously been consumed by thoughts of revenge and hatred.

Her face was flushed, and an uncontrollable smile sparkled on her lips. There seemed to be an unhealthy glimmer in her gaze.

Some might think she was out of her mind seeing her like this.

However, hearing her speak, Achilles…

Even though their kinds were different, he understood too well that she was not just an old comrade, but his closest friend who walked the same path as him.

He couldn’t simply dismiss her altered state as mere madness born from severe torture.

‘No matter how much torture she endured, Antonius’ heart wouldn’t have easily broken down… The fact that she speaks like this means that what she experienced truly brought happiness into her life. Unlike me…’

While he had accomplished his life’s purpose, he lost his will to live amidst a deep emptiness and agony.

In contrast, Cleopatra seemed utterly joyous, even with only half her goals achieved.

Watching his kindred spirit walk a drastically different path mirrored in his soul, Achilles could not help but take a deeper interest in her life.

“Uh… Antonius… No, Cleopatra. Is your life really that happy? Is this how you truly live, casting everything aside and even changing your gender?”

“Yes. Honestly, I regret the time I was tied up in trivial matters. Although I’m disappointed I couldn’t perfectly fulfill Amun’s wishes, the happiness I gained under Eliza’s blessing is something I could never have imagined while lost in revenge. I’d even want to recommend it to you.”

“…Is that so…”

Though her gender and appearance had changed, the ideas from someone who was once aligned with him began to deeply embed themselves in Achilles’ heart.

Especially for him, who was currently lost and aimless.

The notion of perhaps abandoning everything to start anew began to take root.

With the emperor and his wife gone, there was no one left to exact revenge upon.

And even if that didn’t mean he desired to seize power.

Treading blood-soaked battlefields had grown tiresome, and he didn’t even want to think about meeting another woman.

Yet, living a life that would decay like a drunkard was something he certainly did not want.

Furthermore, despite his show of strictly avoiding power struggles, Achilles couldn’t shake the thought that Cassandra might try to eliminate him as a potential rival depending on the situation.

As a result,

His life, stripped of everything yet filled with danger…

Was entirely marred by unhappiness.

Amidst such circumstances, the thought of wanting to escape and live a new life began to take root in the back of Achilles’ mind.

Watching his friend, who seemed to have grasped happiness amidst his own confusion, sparked a resolution within him.

‘Even if… it leads to another misfortune different from what I had envisioned, it might be better than living a life like a withered tree.’

Right after he made that decision, Achilles cautiously spoke to the friend before him.

“Uh… Cleopatra. If I may ask.”

“What…?”

Eliza, one of the Four Kings of the Demon Kingdom and the elite guard leader,

At this moment bore a blank expression while watching the member of the Empire’s Three Knights, Achilles, before her.

“No… wait a moment, did you just say what I think you said? You want me to… turn you into a woman?”

“…Yes. Can you do it?”

“…Are you out of your mind?”

“I’m definitely in my right mind. Although I can’t say I’m completely sane when I think about how death might be a relief from this exhausting life.”

Conveying this with sincerity, not as a jest, Achilles’ plea caused Eliza to ponder how this human had ended up in such a state.

“Hey, she’s your friend, right? Explain this to me. How did this happen?”

“Well, it goes like this, my lord.”

Following Eliza’s command, Cleopatra began to explain the situation.

In her role as a representative for Achilles, she narrated how the events unfolded.

Eliza began to sense that even though this man before her seemed a bit off, considering the circumstances, it wasn’t entirely incomprehensible.

‘I’ve heard that infidelity can tear a man’s soul apart, but I never imagined it could be this destructive.’

In truth, Eliza herself had recently experienced a painful rejection, and she understood the depth of the anguish from love lost.

However, the wound she bore was from unrequited love, and having never realized that love, she could heal to some extent, with no sense of betrayal.

Yet this man before her had been married, only to have that bond gruesomely torn apart.

The pain he endured was undoubtedly far worse than anything Eliza experienced.

Contemplating this, recognizing him as an unfortunate soul in a slightly mad condition, Eliza began to think deeply.

And shortly after,

Having completed her mental calculations, Eliza looked straight into the eyes of the warrior, who possessed greater strength than herself, and declared,

“…Alright. I’ll grant you your wish.”

“Ah!”

“But there’s a condition beforehand.”