The NTR Hero Knelt Before the Demon King – Chapter 19

Beastman Fighter Terra.

Among the beastmen, she was renowned as a remarkable warrior, motivated by a sense of duty to her kin and personal desires, which drove her to join the Hero Party.

During this journey, she found herself falling for the Porter, who understood her.

In order to protect him, she, along with other women, decided to leverage the Hero, the leader of the party whom she had seen as the mightiest warrior.

She expressed a façade of affection toward the Hero, whom she did not love, and spared no effort in providing insincere support and encouragement to ensure he could unleash his full combat power during battles.

Though Terra was not particularly skilled in this deceitful art, the overall plan was ultimately executed by the other companions. All she had to do was react appropriately to their actions and ride along.

Thus, the Hero, caught in their praise and false displays of affection, wielded his sword with utmost dedication, oblivious to the underlying treachery.

On one hand, his foolishness, enduring all challenges while caught up in the belief he was fighting for the world with their false affection, stirred a little pity in her.

However, Terra resolved to disregard such emotions. Above all else, what mattered most to her was protecting her most precious thing.

Tora-re, her master and the one who had given her pure affection despite her status as a beastman who faced discrimination.

To protect him, making that foolish Hero unhappy was no problem at all.

As she shed the guilt in her heart and prepared meticulously to strike the Hero from behind at the last moment.

But…

Her loyalty and affection toward her master ultimately broke apart in a way she never imagined.

In a manner utterly unfathomable to her, it was crushed by the betrayal of her master Tora-re and his companions, who, being among the creditors of her massive debts, created a path for their own salvation by selling her into slavery.

Thus, betrayed by her companions and master alike, Terra found herself destined to live out her life as nothing more than a pawn of war for the Union.

However, her despair was far from over.

As a beastman warrior endowed with a powerful force that could easily overwhelm ordinary soldiers, her overseer and master Cassandra placed the item known as the Zokse of Domination around Terra’s neck.

An object designed to seal the target’s rationality and transform them into a berserker who obeys only commands.

In other words, the moment it was fastened around her neck, Terra would lose control of her body, meaning her being would be reduced to that of a beast that exists solely for battle.

Her mind intact, yet her body a mere puppet—a horrifically dreadful thing.

In response, Terra fought desperately to avoid wearing it, but in the end, that dreadful collar was affixed to her neck.

Ultimately, she found herself in a position where she had to live as Cassandra’s battle slave, submissive to her master.

Now stripped of her bodily autonomy, she chewed on her despair and anger as she vowed someday to take revenge once this cursed collar was removed.

Against Cassandra… and the other members of the Hero Party, including Tora-re.

Yet…

At that moment, Terra did not know.

Cassandra’s cruel actions toward her were merely a prelude to the real horrors that awaited her—a much graver fate than she could ever imagine.

***

“You… you are…?”

Staring at a man before her, Terra expressed bewilderment, her emotions flowing naturally without the shackles of rationality.

The moment she registered this fact, Terra began to automatically think she must have been killed, concluding this was the afterlife.

“…So it’s true… Am I… dead?”

“…What?”

The Hero responded with slight disbelief to Terra’s words.

However, right after, he shook off that feeling and began to shoot a cold gaze at the Terra standing before him.

“Well, it doesn’t matter. No point in wasting breath; it will all come to nothing anyway.”

“…? Wh-what… are you saying?”

Terra felt a mix of confusion and an unsettling vibe from the Hero’s words.

But just then, before she could utter anything more…

Watching the Hero slowly raise his finger before her, her expression stiffened.

“! Wh-what is… ? W-why do you… ?”

At that moment, Terra’s eyes were fixed on the Hero’s finger.

And on it was a ring.

Upon discovering it, a chilling sensation enveloped her, and she hastily placed her hand on her neck.

A cold sensation resonated through her fingertips.

Slowly realizing what it was, a frantic voice erupted from Terra’s mouth.

“W-w-wait… wait a moment…!!! GAHHHHHHH!!!”

Suddenly, a gruesome pain pierced her head.

The impact felt as though her skull was being split apart, enveloping her in shock.

Terra screamed in agony and began rolling on the floor.

“KAAAAAAAAAHHHHHH!!!!”

The scream resonated like that of a tortured beast.

Yet, in this moment, amidst her expressions of torment, the Hero simply looked down at her while holding the sparkling green ring aloft, a chilling smile devoid of mercy gracing his features as he unleashed agony upon Terra.

However… despite all this horrific pain, within her heart, the deepest source of torment resided elsewhere.

That was the Zokse of Domination shackled around her neck.

A tool that crushed the consciousness of the bound and stripped away their bodily freedom, bringing about tremendous agony during the process.

Thus, she naturally began to feel a profound despair in her heart, believing that the Hero standing before her intended to enslave her just as Cassandra had done.

“I refuse! To become that foolish man’s possession! To be just a tool for a man with just raw strength!”

She witnessed the Hero’s formidable abilities as the mightiest warrior.

However, to her, he had never exuded any charm as a man; rather, she had always regarded him as something to be used and discarded.

But now, at this moment, the one turned into a tool was not the Hero she had dismissed but Terra herself…

And this made her heart swell with humiliation and deep-seated rage.

“Just wait, Hero… If the opportunity arises… I’ll take your neck…”

Thus, within deep-seated pain and fury, Terra’s consciousness was once again sealed, losing control of her body.

The spark that briefly returned to her eyes faded, returning to a vacant, doll-like stare filled only with emptiness.

And just like that, the state of being no different than a puppet returned…

In this state, Terra’s sealed consciousness looked upon the Hero before her and steeled herself.

A different kind of resolve than when she became Cassandra’s slave—a decision regarding something far more horrifying.

It was not just about being a slave for battle; it involved nightmarish acts she never wanted to undertake with that man.

Having lost her bodily freedom in such a puppet-like state, her body was beyond her control, meaning she wouldn’t be able to lift a finger even if the Hero were to violate her right before her eyes.

In this situation, all she could do was endure the impending humiliation and agonizing times to come.

With that resolve settled, Terra kept a watchful eye on the Hero’s actions, preparing herself mentally for the dreadful future that lay ahead.

Then…

“…? Huh?”

In the next moment, she suddenly sensed a feeling of tranquility—like something she had lost was being returned to her. Terra easily recognized what was happening to her.

“What… what is this? Why…?”

From a practical standpoint, it appeared as if the magic that had been forcibly maintained had just been unceremoniously lifted.

However, before she could contemplate this fact…

The doubts brewing in her heart swiftly morphed into profound despair.

“GAHHHHH!!!!”

In the next moment, the torment surged into her being once more.

A wretched scream burst forth from her lips, while the Hero merely smiled coldly, observing her.

In the agony, her consciousness forcibly tore away as though it was detached from her body again.

Enduring the burden represented by pain one too many times, Terra found herself suffering as if salt was being applied to her wounds.

The sensation of being engulfed by flames enveloped her entire body, lingering unceasingly and tormenting her.

In this agonizing state, she could only ponder the reasons behind the Hero’s actions with overwhelming confusion.

Then…

“Huh?”

Suddenly, once again, it felt incredibly natural as she reclaimed her bodily autonomy.

The ring on the Hero’s finger began to shine anew…

‘! S-seriously?’

In that moment, Terra finally grasped what he intended.

And as she stared at the Hero, who wore an expression of shock, terror, and agony…

A single sentence took root in the Hero’s mind.

‘A 3% probability… maybe I’ll just need to turn it around about 20 times?’