The NTR Hero Knelt Before the Demon King – Chapter 24

Chancellor of the Demon Kingdom Beelzebub

She was the retainer of her lord, the Demon King, and also her friend since childhood…

Always putting the safety of her master and the kingdom above all, she had dedicated herself to it.

And at this very moment,

Beelzebub was considering that her…

No, her lord, the Demon King, was facing a grave crisis.

The actions of the Hero, who requested to have a meal alone with the Demon King, and the King accepting it.

One might argue that it was merely an invitation to share a meal, but from her perspective, the current situation was far from trivial.

‘That Hero wanted to dine with the Demon King. Rejecting all other riches and choosing this instead means…’

The ruler represents the nation, so the fall of the ruler inherently signifies the fall of the nation.

Of course, there were countries in the Racial Alliance governed not by a ruler but by a council, yet even they could not escape the fundamental principle that the downfall of their leaders would directly lead to the demise of their nations.

However, that said, the likelihood of the Hero attempting to assassinate the Demon King using this opportunity was quite low.

It’s obvious that carrying weapons into a dining occasion with the Demon King was prohibited, and though it was a private dinner, the servants running back and forth and the armed elite guard always waiting at the entrance made the chances of success too slim.

The fall being referred to here meant ‘fall’ in another sense.

Namely… it was related to the Hero earning the Demon King’s favor.

The Hero’s choice to spend time with the Demon King rather than something else

meant that the Hero might be aiming for the Demon King’s heart… and by extension, this nation itself.

‘That Hero… has an incredible desire comparable to his overwhelming strength. Not to mention, he’s smarter than I thought.’

Beelzebub had already deduced that the Hero was somewhat clever through the events that had transpired so far.

However… this incident forced her to completely reassess her evaluation of the Hero.

No longer merely a human moving for his own benefit…

But a dangerously ambitious existence that could greedily and decisively pursue what he wanted based on his immense strength and abilities.

‘Does that mean he aims to gain control of this country by winning the Demon King’s heart? Then again… with such goals, it makes sense that he would align himself with our Demon Races, especially considering he’s the strongest among humans. What a frightening fellow… I must protect my lord and this kingdom from his grasp, no matter what.’

As Beelzebub began to feel an even deeper wariness and concern regarding the Hero,

She resolved to speak of this matter…

To warn the Demon King sitting before her of the Hero’s wicked schemes.

*

After the Hero arranged a meal date, the Demon King was feeling a complex mix of emotions.

Right after hearing the circumstances, Beelzebub began, as always, with a calm voice and even expressions.

“Your Majesty, if it’s alright, may I share my thoughts regarding this matter?”

“Go ahead. I was just thinking I wanted to hear your opinion.”

Beelzebub, who had always provided the most accurate and optimal answers to the Demon King, was someone the King believed could explain the current chaotic situation, and he was ready to listen.

“First of all… before getting to the main point, you’re already somewhat aware of this, Your Majesty. The Hero’s request for a meal with you definitely did not come from a simple intent.”

“Indeed, honestly, I’m still feeling confused over it. I wonder why the Hero would insist on asking for such a bizarre thing, rejecting all sorts of wealth…”

With those words, the Demon King began to show a slightly subtle expression.

Seeing her reaction, Beelzebub spoke with her characteristic sharp voice.

“Yes, indeed. It truly is a strange request, and… that point itself indicates what the Hero is truly aiming for.”

“What does that mean?”

“Consider it. Your Majesty made it clear that you would grant him whatever he desired. However, what he wanted was not wealth, power, or territory… but to spend time with you. This means…”

With that statement, Beelzebub looked at the Demon King with a frigid expression.

Then, words laden with serious warning flowed from her lips.

“What the Hero desires… is none other than you.”

“Eh?.. Me?”

The Demon King began to display a look of bewilderment at her words.

Seeing her lord’s expression, Beelzebub continued calmly.

“Yes, from what I can see, the Hero is certainly trying to win your heart in some manner. The excessive achievements he’s made in this operation, and the request to dine with you as a reward, are definitely premeditated moves for this purpose.”

“The Hero wants my heart… but why?”

“I apologize. I can’t be certain of how far he’s planning, but it’s highly likely that it’s not for a good reason, so please exercise caution. That Hero is more dangerous than you might think. Please remain vigilant even during the meal.”

“Hmm…”

The Demon King slowly nodded in response to Beelzebub’s words.

However…

Even as she observed her lord’s demeanor, Beelzebub’s heart was still filled with anxiety and profound regret.

‘Honestly, if the situation weren’t this dire, I would’ve strongly advised against such a dangerous meal arrangement…’

From a rational perspective, Beelzebub believed it would be best to prevent the Hero, a figure she couldn’t completely trust, from interacting with the Demon King.

She knew her master was quite unskilled in such human relationships, and the Hero’s deceitful tongue could significantly impact the Demon King.

However, regrettably…

The circumstances of the Demon Kingdom made it impossible to easily reject the Hero, a chalice of poison.

At this very moment, a large-scale offensive by the Racial Alliance Army was ongoing.

This presented the worst crisis that Beelzebub, who had held the chancellor position for a century, could not handle.

While the Demon King, with overwhelming combat power, routinely intervened to douse the urgent flames, there would inevitably come a day when even that would reach its limit.

During such times,

The Hero, wielding power that might surpass even the Demon King,

was the crucial and only key capable of pulling the Demon Kingdom out of this dire crisis, a fact Beelzebub understood very well.

The reason she couldn’t bring herself to tell the Demon King that the Hero might be aiming for this nation lay beneath such background, and that was also why she couldn’t cancel the dinner arrangement.

It was because the stakes were too high to act on mere speculation without solid evidence.

‘For now, I’ve warned the King so she should behave somewhat appropriately… But I will need to keep watching closely. So I can react immediately should that Hero attempt anything suspicious.’

*

“Hu…”

In a hot tub adorned with rose petals.

A space large enough for ten people, there the Demon King was…

Washing her body alone, without a single thread on.

Under normal circumstances, this bathing time would wash away the fatigue of war and provided her with a sense of tranquility.

She started from her neck, moving on to her shoulders and collarbone…

And slowly began to cleanse the tension coiling throughout her body.

However,

At this moment,

Inside the heart of the bathing Demon King, feelings of unease and tension regarding the future swirled instead of the usual tranquility.

‘The Hero wants… my heart, huh…’

Beelzebub’s words to her.

The meaning of that had been somewhat understood by the Demon King as well.

As a ruler, receiving favor from her would imply gaining power… and indeed, a significant amount of power as well.

Especially considering the fact that this target was a human Hero and not another Demon Race, this was a matter indeed worth being cautious about.

What Beelzebub was worried about was precisely that, and the Demon King also somewhat resonated with that concern.

Yet…

Despite knowing this fact,

At this moment, for some reason, the Demon King felt a stronger emotion than wariness towards the Hero—something unfamiliar.

‘But… I can’t comprehend it. If that’s the case, this meal is akin to a poisoned apple… So why am I waiting like this, preparing for that moment as I take a bath…?’

It was a sentiment she couldn’t easily shake off, despite knowing she ought to be cautious—the feeling of ‘expectation.’

As she felt a contradictory emotion, much like when she had visited the Hero to commend his achievements,

The Demon King submerged her face into the bath, slowly exhaling through her nose.

Bubbles began to rise in the tub, seemingly expressing her emotions.

Staring at them, the Demon King began to think deeply about wanting to discover the cause of the swirling confusion within her heart.

‘Perhaps… I might find the answer during this meal. I hope so…’