The NTR Hero Knelt Before the Demon King – Chapter 58

The soldiers of the Falcon Empire were able to retreat safely thanks to the ‘mercy’ of the demon races.

However, throughout their retreat, their hearts were heavy with the fear that the demons might ambush them at any moment.

They were just a few hundred, while the enemy numbered in the thousands and tens of thousands.

If the demons decided to change their minds, those who had escaped the castle would find themselves helplessly slaughtered.

This reality automatically compelled them to retreat strategically… no, to flee.

Fortunately, contrary to their worries, there were no pursuers or ambushes from the demons.

As a result, the soldiers stationed in Galbory managed to arrive safely at Rob, where their retreat was ongoing.

And thus, the tales of their harrowing experiences began to spread among those who had miraculously survived.

Stories of the demon armies numbering in the thousands and the perilous situations they narrowly escaped from.

*

“The enemy has fully retreated. Demon General.”

“Good. Then let’s set off.”

Samson stood up from his seat, feeling good upon hearing the report that the situation had ended.

Immediately after, he opened the barracks and stepped outside.

There, he saw the gathering of his subordinates.

There were fewer than a thousand soldiers assembled.

This was all that Samson had brought with him to capture Galbory.

Frankly, the number seemed a bit lacking for a siege, and some of them hadn’t fully recovered from their injuries from the last battle, making the overall situation less than ideal.

However, despite this actual fighting strength, from a distance, Samson’s troops looked vastly larger in scale.

At that moment, each of Samson’s subordinates bore wooden stands on their backs.

Each stand was bound with three to four burning torches.

Additionally, some demons were even holding torches in their hands.

To an observer from afar, the number of soldiers present would surely appear to be four to ten times greater than reality.

Through this deception technique, Samson was able to create a misjudgment in the enemy that his troops vastly outnumbered them.

As a result, he successfully captured Castle Galbory without losing any of his own men.

Thus, having achieved his goal easily without any casualties, Samson and his soldiers entered the inner fortress of Galbory and began to relax comfortably, sharing stories about their recent undertaking.

“I kept the torches lit until the last moment, just in case, but nothing happened after all.”

“It was only natural since they already sacrificed their commander.”

“I’d experienced it before, but the hero’s strategy is truly remarkable. I never imagined they could scare the enemy into fleeing with such a simple trick.”

“Yeah, he’s definitely impressive. He’s not only exceptional as a warrior but also knows how to bring victory in war. Though there’s no one more dangerous than him when he’s an enemy, having him as an ally is incredibly reassuring.”

The demons nodded in agreement as they listened to Samson, who spoke with a smile.

In this way, the victorious Samson and his subordinates strengthened their trust in the hero who led the plan.

*

At that moment, as Samson’s group captured Galbory,

simultaneously across the Demon Kingdom, similar ‘victories’ were occurring.

The overwhelming numbers of the Demon King’s army led many in the Racial Alliance to give up their resistance in fear.

Although a few among them continued their desperate resistance despite the terrifying situation, such numbers were not significant.

In a situation where hope was nowhere to be found, very few could claim honor until the end.

Especially when considering those responsible for the situation.

For regular soldiers, it was difficult to muster the will to do anything, even at the cost of their lives.

Especially true in situations that felt like despair and death were closing in around them.

Thus, the demons faced a peak of offensive while directly witnessing a depletion of combat power, managing to reclaim most of the remaining territory.

Consequently, they also achieved a bonus in shattering the remaining will to fight among the fleeing soldiers.

However,

even amidst this scenario, there were still some forts that fiercely held on to their will to resist until the end.

As a result, those leading a small troop felt a bit bewildered, deciding to wait and calmly observe the situation for further updates.

Initially, they moved their forces emphasizing deception rather than direct combat, so this was unavoidable.

Among those feeling the frustration of the situation was also the woman who had been troubled as of late.

*

Before her stood Castle Galilee.

As she gazed at the castle occupied by elves, Eliza instinctively frowned, feeling a surge of irritation.

“Seriously… those filthy elves have such ridiculous pride.”

Despite the hero’s advice to use deception techniques and suggest surrender, the elven soldiers at Galilee stubbornly kept the castle gates firmly locked.

Thinking back on this, Eliza waited as previously discussed, while also seriously contemplating if she should infiltrate herself and behead the enemy commander. However, she soon shook her head.

“Of course, with my abilities, it’s not impossible, but if I do something like that, it might only boost the enemy’s morale. People can sometimes become braver in the face of death.”

Thus, deciding against taking any reckless actions to worsen the situation, Eliza gave her soldiers some rest while observing the movements around the castle.

And…

with the leisure time she gained,

Eliza began pondering her thoughts about something that had been worrying her lately: the relationship between the hero and her most beloved figure, her mother.

“Well, I’ve sent people out to investigate, so something should come up… but what if Mama has a relationship with the hero? I mean, it’s true that Mama is more mature and beautiful than I am, but…”

Though her mother, Elias, was nearing 400 years old, she still possessed an incredibly youthful and beautiful appearance.

It was hard to believe she was a widow with an adult daughter, as Elias was stunningly beautiful.

Not just because she was her mother, but objectively speaking, a woman of Elias’s caliber would surely captivate any man at first sight.

In contrast, Eliza felt that she hadn’t matured enough in her appearance for her age, and this became a source of her insecurities.

At a glance, she often gave off more of a sisterly or daughterly vibe than that of a girlfriend.

As she entertained these thoughts, a wry smile began to form on Eliza’s lips.

“Ah… I can’t believe there would come a day when I’d feel jealous because of Mama’s looks…”

Feeling a strange sense of disillusionment about this situation, Eliza let out a heavy sigh.

At that moment…

“Eliza, report!”

“Huh? Report?”

Eliza felt a hint of doubt as she saw her head officer rush over in a hurry.

Immediately, he began to recount what he had just witnessed.

“A group of enemies has appeared on the back road to the west. They seem to be trying to enter Castle Galilee.”

“What? Reinforcements have come this far?”

Galilee was essentially isolated, like a remote island, right in the heart of the demon’s occupied territory.

Knowing that their condition was too grim to send reinforcements this far, Eliza was genuinely caught off guard by the unexpected appearance of new enemies.

However, her head officer cautiously responded to her.

“That’s what it seems, but… honestly, I can’t say for sure. They are far too few to be considered reinforcements.”

“How many are we talking about?”

“At most, it looks to be fewer than 100.”

“What? Only 100?”

Certainly, that number seemed significantly less than those holed up inside the castle, putting its importance into question.

However, there was something suspicious about that, prompting Eliza to feel the need to gather more details.

“First, let’s head over. I need to see them with my own eyes and judge for myself.”

“Yes, understood, Eliza.”

With her head officer, Eliza arrived at the forest path where the intruders were entering.

But right after, amidst the cautiously moving ‘reinforcements’, Eliza spotted a familiar face.

“That girl is definitely…”

A female paladin appeared to be leading the group.

Eliza recognized her instantly.

It was one of the members of the hero party who had assaulted the Demon King’s Castle in the past, a figure she had faced in a fleeting moment.

And…

one of the ‘betrayers’ who had provided the key moment for the hero to abandon the Racial Alliance and join the demon ranks.

Recalling that fact, a cold smile automatically crept onto Eliza’s lips.