The NTR Hero Knelt Before the Demon King – Chapter 170

We were heading towards the capital Rehi of the Magic Kingdom, where Torare was.

Although the distance was somewhat far, it was certain that the descent of God Amun would occur soon, so my companions and I were doing our best to run there.

“Let’s hurry. Once God Amun descends, a commotion like that of the Imperial Capital will undoubtedly arise. We need to ensure the ceremony is definitively stopped in that chaos.”

“I know that.”

Of course, the pretext I laid out was not for the personal reasons concerning Torare, but rather to make sure the ceremony was definitely interrupted.

Given that we were dealing with the Magic Kingdom, where debauchery was the norm, I had faith that God Amun would manage things efficiently. Yet still, to handle matters thoroughly, I had to take the initiative to confirm everything.

As I approached, the silhouette of Rehi’s castle began to come into view alongside the figure of Amun floating behind it.

All those present here had already surpassed the ordinary level, and thus, our speed was unfeasible, exceeding that of any ordinary horse.

‘If things go on like this, we should arrive within 30 minutes. Now… Torare, be ready to have your neck scrubbed! This time, I will definitely put an end to you!’

While the ceremony was important, I was fueled by the joy of revenge and quickened my pace towards Rehi.

At that moment…

“Huh?”

“What… what is it?”

In the next instant, a strange sensation abruptly began to manifest.

Simultaneously, my companions and I turned our gazes toward a giant orb falling from the sky.

It emitted a crimson light, clearly visible even from this distance, and it fell directly into the center of Rehi.

And then…

– Thud!

An instant surge of chilling silence washed over us.

In the midst of a sensation that raised the hair on our bodies, we instinctively shielded our eyes from the blinding light that was flying towards us.

‘What… what is happening? Why all of a sudden?’

I had thought the situation would essentially be over with the descent of God Amun.

However, at that moment, the light that began to envelop us instinctively warned me.

Something dangerous was about to happen that would exceed my expectations.

After a period of enduring an almost unbearable wave of blinding light, it finally began to fade, and I felt my vision returning.

“What on earth was that…?”

Amid a deep sense of confusion, I cautiously began to survey my surroundings.

Everything appeared to be largely unchanged compared to just moments ago, including my own state.

However…

“What… what is this?”

In the next moment, I was gripped with profound bewilderment as I realized one crucial fact a moment too late.

“Hey! What’s happened to everyone…?”

What I saw were my companions, frozen in place like statues.

Their eyes wide open, not blinking at all, they stood as still as if they were solidified rocks.

In that moment, I recognized instinctively that something was fundamentally wrong.

“C-Could it be… has the Dreamland already been activated?”

Given the current situation, that was all I could think of.

The forbidden magic that manipulated the laws of the world.

The ‘frozen state’ I was witnessing could only be interpreted as such.

And one question arose.

Why was it that I, amidst all this, could still move without being affected?

‘Could it be… is this because I am not originally from this world?’

It wasn’t certain, but at this point, I could think of no other possibilities.

‘Either way… this leaves me with only one choice. I must rush to where the Magic King is all on my own and deal with him!’

Given the range of the magic circle, it seemed the Demon Kingdom was likely unaffected at this moment.

However, even if I were to reach there and bring back reinforcements, it would take too long and they might also end up becoming as rigid as the others the moment they entered the scope of this magic.

In the end, it all came down to me handling everything by myself.

With Amun’s figure in the distance frozen in motion, I had no one else to depend on, and I was forced to handle it all alone.

‘…What a pain… I wanted to live my life without such troubles. But it looks like things have turned out this way… being a hero just seems to be inescapable fate.’

As an ordinary citizen of that other world, I didn’t particularly wish to become a hero who saved the world.

What mattered more was my own safety, and at best, I would wield my sword to protect the safety of those I loved.

Kneeling before the Demon King or wielding my sword on their side was all because of that.

Yet, somehow I found myself deeply entangled in the duty of a hero tasked with saving the world.

A situation where only I could take action.

And I felt myself cornered into a situation where if I failed, the whole world would perish… right?

Thinking that way, an overwhelming burden I had never felt before weighed down on me.

However, even amidst these feelings, my steps were surprisingly lighter than I had imagined.

Beyond the heavy burden, there was a strong sense of duty compelling me to see this through.

It wasn’t a grand notion of saving the world as a hero, but rather a profoundly simple sense of duty as a family man.

As a husband to a woman and a father to a child.

A duty born from the desire to protect my beloved family, which everyone could possess, but because of that, it was stronger than anything else.

Embracing that in my heart, I began to quicken my previously halted steps.

*

“Ha…”

“Are you alright, Your Majesty?”

The Demon King was rising from her seat, slightly struggling.

Seeing her, Beelzebub asked cautiously, and in response, the Demon King smiled gently.

“I am fine. But to be honest, I’ve never felt my body this heavy before; it feels a bit awkward.”

As she slowly stroked her now enormous belly, the Demon King straightened her back.

Watching her, Beelzebub began to feel a warm sensation in her chest.

“We’ll soon be able to see your child, Your Majesty. They will undoubtedly be extraordinary.”

“Indeed. They certainly… will be.”

The Demon King smiled proudly at Beelzebub’s words, displaying a side that excuded a gentle demeanor as she prepared to be a mother—the opposite of the cold ruler she had been during the Racial War.

Watching her, Beelzebub realized how love could profoundly change a person, filling her heart with warmth.

“By the way, have you decided on a name for the one who is about to be born?”

“Of course. To be precise, the child’s father named them before departing.”

“What is it?”

Beelzebub asked, curiosity filling her voice.

In response, the Demon King recalled the face of the man who had taught her love, bringing a smile to her lips.

“Chris… Chris Savior.”

*

Finally, we arrived at the capital Rehi of the Magic Kingdom.

Approaching cautiously into the heavy silence that enveloped the place, I felt my tension spiking.

‘If I get caught here, it would be like poking a hornet’s nest, right?’

Since this was magic performed in the Magic Kingdom, the witches probably weren’t affected.

The success of this venture depended on how well I could approach the Magic King without drawing attention and without exhausting too much of my power.

‘According to Shude, the Magic King’s power is on par with mine, but after having caused a ruckus earlier, his magic shouldn’t be in top form… so then…’

With the thought that if I played my cards right, there could be a chance, I leaped over the castle wall still cloaked in my robe.

Fortunately, perhaps due to the effects of the activation of Dreamland, the defensive wall I mentioned earlier no longer existed.

However, what I witnessed right after filled me with questions.

‘…What is going on? Why are those guys also frozen?’

Hidden in the blind spot, what I observed was an incredibly bizarre scene.

The soldiers guarding the castle walls, as well as the few people I could glimpse within the city, were all frozen in place.

From those who were continuing their daily lives obliviously to the situation, to those who had fled from the beasts unleashed by God Amun but froze rigidly alongside the monsters—what I was seeing looked like a stone garden made on the scale of a city.

Feeling a chill from the eerily picturesque display, I instinctively realized that something was very wrong beyond merely the activation of Dreamland.

‘For detailed info… I’ll have to check out the altar where the ceremony is taking place.’

It felt uncomfortable in many ways, but perhaps in a way, it alleviated my burden of having to sneak around.

Now recognizing that I didn’t need to be cautious, I drew the great sword hidden beneath my robe and started moving forward.