The NTR Hero Knelt Before the Demon King – Chapter 28

Mission failed…

Slightly grandiloquently speaking, the group of Torare was dragged to the castle bearing the sin of defeat.

In a perilous situation, immobilized by the Magic Sealing Handcuffs with blades wavering dangerously close to their necks, the four of them were desperately trying to relax as they recalled the lines they had rehearsed in their minds.

Although their responsibilities as defeated soldiers couldn’t be completely swept away, they thought that if they could skillfully shift most of the blame onto the Hero, their situation could be resolved more easily than expected.

After all, as Torare was merely a porter employed on the side, blaming him was indeed a ridiculous notion.

The very fact that he was being dragged along was simply because he was part of the party, and there were numerous vague aspects in punishing him specifically.

And aside from Torare’s situation, the three female warriors present had the potential to open a path for survival with their excellent value if they simply talked their way out.

They were already recognized for their abilities and fame across the Racial Alliance.

Eileen, the Saint with the Diamond-tier Mercenary background, directly appointed to the Vice Minister position by the Emperor.

Amelda, one of the highest-ranking Paladins acknowledged by the Pope of the Elf Church Country, known to have received the call of the gods.

And Shude, a Witch with noteworthy fame as one of the Seven Great Wizards of the Magic Kingdom, who had accomplished remarkable feats in the war against demon races.

The clear and evident battlefield value of these three was too precious to abandon over a single failure. They believed that if someone wise enough was in charge, they would most likely receive a light punishment as long as there was a suitable excuse.

Thus, the four of them arrived near the interrogation room to receive a report that doubled as an inquiry about the incident.

At that moment…

“Cough!”

“Stay quiet over there.”

Unlike the other three, Torare was thrown into a separate cell.

It seemed the higher-ups judged that there was no need to question a mere porter, which left Torare with a slightly bitter feeling.

“Tch… I expected something like this, but this is really how it went down… Well, I suppose it’s not too bad since it implies they don’t intend to hold me responsible either…”

As that thought crossed his mind, Torare exchanged glances with the three women entering the interrogation room.

From that moment on, he realized that his life hinged on how well they spoke, and he began silently cheering them on in his heart to ensure they wouldn’t mess up.

“Just stick to what we’ve practiced. Then everything will go smoothly…”

*

After parting from Torare, the three female warriors stepped further inside.

From this moment onwards, they felt that their fate and the man’s fate depended on how well they could maneuver their words, and they looked at the interrogation room door before them, steeling their resolve once again.

But then…

“Huh?”

“Wait, where are we going?”

In the next moment, the soldiers suddenly grabbed each of them and began to separate into three different paths.

At the same time, they began to notice other interrogation room doors located quite far from one another.

“What… what’s going on?”

“This is strange… why…?”

“What is happening…?”

Generally, such matters would typically be processed in bulk due to collective responsibility, and the treatment of failed Hero parties or units had always followed that pattern.

The interrogation method was to gather related parties in one place and clarify right and wrong through confrontation.

From Eileen’s past experience of attending similar situations as an observer, she had deemed it almost certain.

In that regard… the current circumstances were creating a sense of unease for Eileen and her companions.

However, though anxious, they simultaneously tried to maintain their composure, reassuring themselves.

“Th-This is simply asking questions separately, right? The approach has just changed a bit. The contents I need to speak about haven’t changed.”

“It’ll be fine… we all made a promise…”

“Something’s fishy… But there’s no need to worry as long as we speak as we’ve arranged…”

With those forced positive thoughts in mind, the three female warriors were drawn into interrogation rooms in different directions—each entirely isolated from one another.

*

“! Ah…”

Arriving in the interrogation room was Eileen.

As she recognized who was waiting for her there alone, she felt the anxiety that had settled on her face wash away.

“Raphael!”

“It’s been a while, Eileen-senpai.”

The Cleric Raphael, who greeted her with a gentle smile.

He was a junior Cleric who had closely followed her in the past, and thanks to her help, he had embarked on a path to substantial success by becoming a Vice Minister.

Seeing someone she could consider an “ally” as the interrogator brought Eileen a sense of peace, thinking that the gods had not forsaken her, and she took her seat with a calmer heart.

“I never imagined I would run into you in a place like this.”

“Yes, I too find it unfortunate that I have to interrogate you like this.”

Eileen spoke in a tone filled with both joy and regret.

Raphael, replying with genuine melancholy, caused Eileen to realize, despite having returned in failure, this place still felt like her home ground, allowing her to regain some composure.

“True… While I might not know about the others, this is the Falcon Empire, my homeland and base. I had almost forgotten what I was…”

Of course, separate from that, Eileen was still officially a criminal for not completing her mission.

At worst, she wouldn’t get her head chopped off, but to navigate this situation without any repercussions, she couldn’t loosen her tension entirely.

Thinking like this…

Eileen began recounting to Raphael the events that had transpired within the Hero Party as they had initially agreed upon.

*

Amelda, the Paladin from the Elf Church Country’s Papal Office.

Once just a regular attendant, she embarked on the path of a Paladin after hearing the call of the gods, and later became one of the most revered Paladins with numerous achievements.

However…

Living a life always under the admiration and expectations of many acted as a firm shackling chain for the Elf woman known as Amelda.

Those chosen by the gods must always remain pure.

Those chosen by the gods must always sacrifice for others.

Those chosen by the gods must suppress all desires.

These words, which followed her throughout her days, piled up the unresolved desires and conflicts in Amelda’s heart, which had remained lodged there even after embarking on the noble mission of the Hero Party.

However…

One day, her life, which had only ever demanded patience, began to change due to that man who saw through her desires exactly.

The porter Torare.

It began with her verbally rejecting him while he half-forced the issue.

Although she expressed denial with lofty notions of her sanctity as a Paladin and a chosen one, the power of the drug already administered forced her desires open.

Yet at that moment, despite her mouth uttering refusal, Amelda’s heart could not lie.

The sensation of long-suppressed lust and greed exploding at once.

The pleasure it bestowed was far beyond her imagination…

Entrapped in a wretched sense of liberation and joy, Torare whispered to her with a sweet voice.

From now on… she could be honest with her desires.

Not to lie to herself anymore…

And to live the life she truly wanted, together with him.

Although it seemed somewhat like a devil’s temptation, Torare’s words felt like a salvation to her.

In the end, his actions had completely captured Amelda’s body and heart by precisely drawing out her essence and uttering the words she yearned to hear…

Ultimately, Amelda took Torare’s hand and became both his lover and his slave.

Thus, she began to dream of a happy future alongside Torare, one who fulfilled her desires rather than the Hero solely focused on saving the world.

Even amid this, in Amelda’s heart remained the lingering sense of duty to defeat the Demon King and end the war.

While she had unraveled the chains of desire, her pride as an elf still resided within her, and her patriotism toward the Elf Church Country firmly remained.

However, in the course of fulfilling that duty, she decided to choose a path that would satisfy her desires…

And bestow achievements to her master and beloved Torare by defeating the Demon King.

By striking the backs of the chosen Hero as soon as he accomplished his “mission.”

For her happiness…

For the man who brought her happiness…

*

With her resolve solidified for her beloved master Torare, Amelda still felt some hesitation regarding the dishonor it would bring to the Hero’s name,

but she chose to maintain trust with her living companions rather than the deceased Hero.

And now, at this moment,

Before the interrogator dispatched from the Elf Church Country, tears streaming down her cheeks, Amelda’s lips were uttering words like these…

“Ev-everything is.. that man’s fault… T-Torare, that man lured us… into betraying the Hero…”