The NTR Hero Knelt Before the Demon King – Chapter 169

The ritual slowly unfolded before my eyes.

Forbidden Dreamland.

Watching it, Niala, a member of the Four Demon Maidens and the Chancellor of the Magic Kingdom, couldn’t contain her excitement.

“Finally, our long-cherished wish is about to be fulfilled! The moment this world kneels before His Majesty, the Magic King… before us!”

Though the ritual still needed some time to be completed, at this point, Niala wasn’t too worried.

The Empire Army was marching toward this place.

They were the greatest threat in this situation, but unlike their initially overwhelming momentum, their advance had significantly slowed.

Even though they sensed a world-ending crisis approaching, the reality was that their supply lines were overextended.

While there was some commotion caused by a detachment presumably sent by the Empire, in the end, the damage was minimal and only a minor nuisance.

With the biggest variable neutralized, Niala felt confident.

The ritual would proceed without issue, and now the world was about to fall under the Magic Kingdom.

“Heh… With this, no one can stop us. This continent belongs to our witches now. Finally, I can gather the renowned musicians from across the continent and hold an opera performance as I’ve always dreamed!”

As the realization of her personal desires drew near, Niala felt her heart race.

At that moment…

“…Huh?”

“What… what is that?”

Suddenly, an unfamiliar sensation began to envelop her body.

That chilling feeling, as if ice were being driven into her spine, made Niala—

No, the gaze of everyone else present began to turn toward the sky as if sensing an ominous presence.

Then they began to see it.

“What the… is that?”

“A… dragon?”

“But… we’ve never seen a dragon that gigantic before!”

A colossal creature filling the sky with its presence.

Its entire body radiated a crimson hue, possessing an overwhelming power that made the faces of the witches here freeze in shock.

“What on earth… how could such a being with immense magic power appear…”

“Could… could this be Divine Judgment? For recklessly attempting to use Forbidden Magic, the gods may be angered…”

Though they pursued their own interests, they couldn’t shake off the unease they felt while proceeding with this matter.

In such a situation, the sudden appearance of a monster with unimaginable strength was more than enough to throw them into utter confusion.

At that moment.

Seeing the witches in turmoil, Your Majesty, the Magic King, Overseer Azuthas, shouted in a cold voice.

“Do not panic. Once the ritual is complete, that creature will not escape our grasp.”

“B-But, Your Majesty. We still need time for that…”

“Let’s proceed with a simplified version for now. In the meantime, I will buy us some time.”

“Y-You’re serious, Your Majesty?”

“It’s dangerous! I’d rather—”

Niala urgently attempted to dissuade the Magic King, but she responded with unwavering firmness.

“Do you really believe you can do anything against that? That creature possesses strength surpassing even mine. You won’t even be able to buy time. Instead, focus on completing the ritual as best as you can.”

“Ugh…”

“I… understand, Your Majesty.”

The Magic King spoke the harsh truth.

As such, neither Niala nor anyone else present could refute and were left with no choice but to obey her command.

Leaving behind her concerned retainers, Overseer Azuthas soared into the sky.

Though she bore the form of a small girl, as the strongest witch in existence, she began to approach the giant red dragon, emanating an extraordinary magical power.

‘…As expected, it’s incredible… Seeing it up close makes it an even more astounding creature.’

Even the most powerful witch felt fear when faced with such a being.

As she sensed a surge of tension, the Magic King also felt an expectation; if successful, she could bend even this creature to her will.

‘For now, it’s better to negotiate and buy time with words. A hasty preemptive attack could backfire…’

Just then.

-Crackle!!

“!! What!”

In the next moment, the red dragon unleashed a bolt of crimson lightning toward the Magic King.

As if there were no room for conversation, it launched a sudden strike, leaving her startled, and she quickly attempted to defend herself.

“Ugh!…”

The giant dragon’s attack was filled with overwhelming power that even she found challenging to withstand.

Recognizing that the creature’s strength was immense, both in appearance and reality, she prepared herself.

“HAH!!”

-Smash!

With a powerful swing of her staff, she dispelled the lightning.

Though it cost a significant amount of magic power, she emerged unscathed from the blast.

-“How dare a mere human defend against my attack? It seems you’re worth the name enough to embrace forbidden practices.”-

“…You can talk? I thought we couldn’t communicate since you attacked without warning.”

With those words, she readied her staff again, taking a combat stance.

Then, she addressed the dragon with a voice cold as ice.

“Who are you? Why are you interfering with us?”

-“You already know there’s no need to explain. It’s clear that a mere human, blinded by greed, would dare to shatter the world’s laws. Amun shall deliver judgment.”-

As those words ended, the red dragon Amun began to glow with an immense magical power, radiating golden light.

Sensing something monumental approaching instinctively, the Magic King prepared her staff for both defense and counterattack.

‘Is it going to shoot lightning again? If so, this time, I’ll return it.’

One of her trump cards, the Reflector, could bounce back any magic aimed at her. If an attack like the previous one came again, she was ready to counter.

‘Amun, you say? Even if you’re a god, you’re still bound by the laws of magic. I was caught off guard previously, but this time…’

With such thoughts, she accelerated her spellcasting, waiting for the next attack.

However…

“Huh?”

In the next moment, golden orbs shot from Amun’s body.

Yet, contrary to the Magic King’s expectation, they did not fly toward her.

The countless golden spheres that passed by her were aimed not ahead or above, but down.

To the ground.

“! No… way.”

-“I’ve known from the start that you were planning something foolish. You reckless sinners who dare to break the taboo! I will immediately execute you, filthy insects, who have indulged in the world’s rules!”-

“This… is unbelievable!”

Seeing Amun attacking those below rather than her, the Magic King realized her attempt to buy time had turned into a blunder. She raced toward the altar.

But…

-Crack!!

“Ugh!”

-“Where do you think you’re going? As a ruler, you chose to step forward bravely, so you must face the end!”-

Amun hurled red lightning, blocking her movement.

At that moment, the Magic King realized that the situation had spiraled into catastrophe and despair began to grip her heart.

“Screaaah!!”

“Gaaah!”

From all around came the screams of the residents of Rehi.

The beasts spawned from Amun’s golden orbs were systematically slaughtering the humans in the city, including the witches forced to halt their ritual in defense.

And as she witnessed this horrifying scene…

The Magic King bit her lips hard enough to draw blood, trembling with rage.

‘If only I had just a little more time… If I had only a moment more… I could have finally grasped this world in my hands…’

An utterly flawless victory had slipped through her fingers, vanishing in an instant. She could only feel deep anger.

Furthermore, this overwhelming emotion steered her toward a decisive conclusion.

‘I won’t allow this to end… I can’t just sit back and take this! If I can’t have this continent… then I will destroy it myself!’

With that determination, she gazed at Amun.

With an utterly chilling expression, she began to draw tremendous magical power into her staff.

Seeing this, Amun sensed that an attack was incoming and prepared to counter.

And then—

“HAH!”

A crimson sphere erupted explosively from the Magic King’s hand.

This immense magic was shot toward Amun, who retaliated with bolts of red lightning to shatter it.

Yet…

-“What?!”

“Hehehe!”

Just as the two forces were about to clash, the Magic King’s attack abruptly changed direction, veering toward the ground.

Amun’s lightning sailed unimpeded toward the Magic King’s body, but in that moment, her final strike descended toward the ground—specifically, toward the spot where the ritual was being conducted.

A cruel smile began to emerge on the Magic King’s lips.

‘I can’t let this end passively. If I can’t have this continent… then I will destroy it!’