The NTR Hero Knelt Before the Demon King – Chapter 46

Right after I split Parisect’s head open, I couldn’t help but furrow my brow due to the tingling sensation accumulating in one of my hands.

‘As expected, this attack really puts a strain on my body…’

A single strike using the maximum magic power I could gather in a moment.

As I had previously tested it just once, its power was capable of annihilating 200 soldiers in a single blow, resulting in a comically reckless outcome where a part of the inner fortress in front of me also went flying.

However, even with the body of a Hero and clad in sturdy armor, delivering a blow of this magnitude inevitably came with a certain degree of stamina drain and a bit of pain.

To put it metaphorically, it felt like lifting a barbell at the gym that was teetering on the edge of my limit.

It was a sensation that would recover with just a little rest, but it was definitely a technique not suited for consecutive use.

‘Well, to be honest, I’m not so sure there was a point in going that far… Anyway, I’ve now completed the conquest of Antioch.’

Antioch served its role well as bait to draw in the enemies.

With that finished, the continued stamina of this place could spell disaster for us, and as I saw the enemies swarming from beyond the horizon, I immediately decimated the remaining troops of Parisect, who had been guarding the castle until the end.

And right after that.

“…gulp.”

I immediately issued a command to Rebecca, whose face was filled with shock at my actions.

“Hey, don’t just stand there, hurry up and plant the flag.”

“N…n-nani? Ah… yes! I… understand!”

At my words, Rebecca jumped into action, bewildered for a moment.

After directing my subordinates to announce that we had effectively conquered this place, I stayed on alert, keeping an eye on the approaching enemies without letting my guard down.

Hoping against hope that there wasn’t some lunatic among them.

*

“…Is this… really happening?”

“Are we a step too late…?”

The scene before my eyes—seeing the flag of the Demon Kingdom hoisted over Antioch—cast a deep shadow over the faces of the Racial Alliance army, who had rushed here without a moment’s rest.

“Damn it! For General Parisect to fail like this…”

“We ran as fast as we could, but who would have thought it would collapse before we could arrive…?”

The flag flapping at the tip of the central spire signified that Parisect, who had put up the last fight inside the fortress, had ultimately been defeated.

Even though they had engaged fiercely and even injured the Demon King, Parisect and the defenders of Antioch still met with failure.

While the generals who had journeyed so far began to express their condolences, their minds were actually devoid of sorrow for their fallen comrade and instead filled with cold calculations about the potential outcome ahead.

‘So Parisect has fallen… Strategically, that’s not good, but on another note, that’s actually a relief. With this, one formidable competitor aiming for the Demon King’s Neck is gone.’

‘It’s a shame that we lost Antioch, but it’s not all over yet. Our numbers are nearly double theirs. If we can regroup and start the siege, we still have a chance to win.’

‘I originally planned to swiftly take down the demon races in cooperation with the soldiers of Antioch… The plan may have changed a bit, but it can’t be helped. Even if there are some losses, our priority should be taking down the Demon King…’

Thus, the leaders of the Racial Alliance army decided to focus on the ‘Demon King’s Neck’ that had brought them all the way here, regardless of the fall of Antioch.

They quickly set up their camp and prepared for the siege.

Honestly, I was itching to capitalize on our capture of the castle and attack the exhausted enemies.

However, charging into a siege right after coming such a long way was impractical.

Furthermore, with most of our cavalry having hastily ridden in, we needed to wait for the infantry at the rear.

Thus, the Racial Alliance army took a moment to catch their breath, knowing that there was no rush now that Antioch had fallen, they began preparing for the impending battle.

To ensure a more advantageous engagement for their complex reasons,

And to ensure they could decapitate the Demon King with certainty.

*

‘Phew… that was a close call.’

As I watched the flag of the Demon Kingdom unfurl over Antioch, the Racial Alliance began to build their positions and halted their advance.

I realized that a moment of danger had passed, letting out a sigh of relief in my heart.

‘Thank goodness, I was worried that they might charge in recklessly, but it seems they’re not foolish enough to do that right after Antioch has been conquered.’

Besides hastily hoisting the flag before the enemies caught sight of us, now that we had successfully captured Antioch, the demon races were completely exhausted.

They had just finished a siege, their formation was a mess, and their equipment needed urgent checking.

If the enemies had initiated combat to stir up chaos right then, the battle situation could have spiraled into calamity.

In the worst-case scenario, we might have been forced to abandon the reclaimed Antioch and retreat in disgrace.

However… regarding this matter, I had faith that the enemies wouldn’t go that far, and in reality, the situation unfolded just as I expected.

A sensible commander would know that it was best to regroup their troops before launching an attack after coming such a long distance.

Yet, given the abundance of lunatics in the world, I couldn’t help but feel a pang of anxiety.

Thus, seeing them take a breather allowed me to exhale a deep sigh of relief as well.

‘Now then, the dangerous part has passed, and all that’s left is deciding how to handle those guys…’

Both sides were completely exhausted, making it difficult to engage in battle.

Even my direct subordinates, though they were not dead, had started crumpling under the strain.

Nevertheless, I had my own plans and was somewhat prepared to execute them.

But then…

“Hero!”

“Yeah?”

A sudden voice from Rebecca broke through the moment.

I turned my gaze toward her, and there stood my aide, whom I had seen just once before.

The messenger she had brought with her back then, if my memory was correct…

“Are we having a meeting?”

“Yes, that’s correct, Hero.”

“Alright, understood. I’ll head there right away.”

Feeling déjà vu from the earlier situation…

However, because of that, I couldn’t shake the anxious feeling that I might be tasked again with something ridiculous like leading a front-line assault.

Reluctantly, I made my way to the conference room, where I had particularly low hopes.

‘Well, if those guys happen to listen to me, things might just resolve easily… but I doubt it.’

They were prideful and foolish individuals, the kind to put their egos above intelligence, even preferring to treat me as a shield for their front line.

Given that they wouldn’t heed my words, I made my way to the meeting room without any unrealistic expectations.

*

Demon Race General Samson.

At this moment, he and the other generals were feeling quite flustered.

“Are you saying the enemy’s numbers are that vast?”

“Indeed, from what I’ve assessed, there are at least 20,000, and if you include the additional enemies on the way, it could reach nearly 40,000.”

“Ugh…”

“Damn it, why is this happening…?”

They had successfully conquered Antioch just barely.

However, before they could even savor the joys of victory, an unanticipated scale of enemy forces surged before their eyes.

Even the most ignorant of them knew reinforcements would arrive to save Antioch, but the current situation far exceeded their expectations.

Staying idle like this might lead to losing Antioch all over again and being forced to retreat.

“Stop lamenting and propose something! What should we do in this situation?”

“Uhmm…”

“…”

Desperation laced Samson’s words.

It was obvious even to him that trying to charge headfirst into this predicament would be like rushing headlong into a grave.

The enemy’s numbers were extensive, and our forces were exhausted.

Even if they tried to lay siege, the defenses of Antioch wouldn’t contribute much to their efforts.

Neither the offense nor the defense was looking favorable.

Yet, the demon races merely exchanged glances, unable to come up with any solid strategies.

It was no wonder, as every general present, including Samson, was notorious for their foolishness.

There’s a saying that when three come together, something will emerge, but that only applies to individuals with some smarts.

At that moment, Samson’s gaze fell upon one individual who had maintained silence since entering the conference room.

The Hero—who was the only person rumored to have some wits among them and had made significant contributions in this battle.

‘…Hmm… Maybe that would be for the best. One fool who’s shown some cunning is likely better than the ten mindless brutes we have.’