Chapter 3 - An Enemy Closer Than an Ally

A king who has achieved great feats deserves the respect of all people.

The Demon King is an unforgivable enemy, but from the perspective of kingship, there is no better ruler.

In less than ten years since making his name known, he unified the divided demon races and gathered their will to invade our lands.

From humanity's perspective, he's merely a ruthless invader, but to the demon races, he's likely a savior who rescued their kind.

At least, that's what the common people thought.

When we infiltrated the cities of the demon realm, all the residents praised him and expressed gratitude.

The demon realm is a barren land.

The arable land is limited, and all such places were monopolized by the strong, they say.

So, for the weaker races, starvation deaths weren't particularly unusual.

After the Demon King unified the demon realm, while starvation deaths didn't disappear, they significantly decreased.

All thanks to plundering crops and land from our homeland.

"I thought you all respected the Demon King."

"Respect? Why would we respect that bastard?"

However, those known as the Demon King's subordinates seemed to hate rather than respect the Demon King.

I couldn't understand why they would react this way, given that they had even received power from him.

"...Didn't he make the demon realm more prosperous? I heard that starvation deaths decreased significantly after he appeared. The people seemed grateful."

"You seem to misunderstand something. Not all demons are the same. You humans have commoners and nobles, right? It's the same for us."

The pink-haired succubus seemed to have a lot pent up, looking as if she'd keep talking even after the fight between the Hero and the Demon King ended.

"First, let me correct a fundamental misunderstanding. We demons and some other races don't consider the demon realm a barren land."

"Demon? Weren't you a succubus?"

"...Watch it. No one who's called me a succubus has survived. I'm a proud demon. Not a succubus who fawns under men's legs."

"But why are you dressed like a Holy Saint—"

"It's my preference. Respect it. And what do you mean 'like a Holy Saint'? More like a prostitute."

There was no need to explain that those were synonymous in our party.

There were more important matters to discuss.

"I see. But we've strayed from the topic."

"...We don't need food. The demon realm is rich in mana. We just absorb the mana from the land to replenish our nutrients."

For those commonly called higher demons, including demons, the demon realm wasn't a barren place.

They could absorb mana from the land to replenish nutrients as much as they needed.

There are higher races that can't absorb mana, but they expanded their influence by monopolizing land, so they had no reason to invade the human realm.

If anyone was in trouble, it was only the weaker races.

Those who lacked the power to absorb mana seeping from the land, and the ability to claim fertile lands.

They were races like goblins and orcs who barely avoided extinction through their superior reproductive abilities.

"We didn't want to wage war. We had everything we wanted here. When everyone was living in satisfaction, that crazy warmonger appeared."

"Then the Demon King is a good— no, that's not right either."

Even if they avoid starvation, dying on the battlefield isn't much different.

But if that's the case, I couldn't understand why they praised the Demon King.

"Then why do the weaker demon races..."

"Because they're happy to be thrown some food. Besides, they're inferior races who used to consider it a good death if they didn't starve. Why wouldn't they be happy to die as warriors instead of starving?"

So it's not that they became well-off thanks to the Demon King, but rather their quality of life improved relatively because things were so hellish before.

Thinking that they don't even realize how miserable they are, I felt pity for them.

And, on the other hand, I felt relieved.

Although the intention might slightly differ from our original plan, ending the war by removing the Demon King as a focal point would succeed.

"Then if the Demon King disappears, the war will end, right?"

"That's not the case."

"What?"

"Whether the Demon King lives or dies, the war won't end."

The shock I felt hearing the demon's words was similar to when a well-running carriage suddenly overturns.

A feeling of the world turning upside down without any warning.

Fearing that three years of effort might all be in vain, I asked her:

"...Why is that?"

"Because too many have died."

It wasn't just us humans who lost family to an unwanted war.

The demon races were no different in losing family to the enemy, the cause was just internal.

"I've never been to the battlefield, but the letters from Papa that occasionally arrive are filled with resentment and hatred towards humans. I imagine it's not much different for other races?"

"...But, it's not our fault."

"That's right. It's unfortunate. But even if we just withdraw from here, you won't leave us alone, will you?"

The demon was right.

Just as the demon races have built up resentment against humans, humans have become enraged by the long war.

Even if they retreated quietly, we would surely pursue them to kill as many demons as possible.

This isn't good...

If this is the case, the premise of our assassination operation crumbles.

Our operation was based on the premise that the Demon King was the focal point of the demon army.

We thought that if we killed the Demon King, the focal point, the demon army would collapse from within, and each corps commander would fight internally to become the next Demon King.

Of course, our plan accounted for them retreating to the demon realm to reorganize during this process.

However, if the Demon King is a figure resented by all, a common enemy rather than a savior leading the demon races, then no one would care about the Demon King's name.

"You look like you thought everything would end when the Demon King dies. That's impossible. A country doesn't fall just because one king dies."

"At least I thought I wouldn't see that Hero's face again..."

Struck at my core, I reflexively retorted.

This piqued the interest of the demon and the knight, who tilted their heads at my words.

"Seems like you have your own circumstances. Is your boss problematic too? I feel a bit relieved knowing we're not the only ones struggling. Right, Tyrant?"

"......"

The knight called Tyrant, perhaps unable to speak, expressed his thoughts through sign language.

I didn't know sign language, so I couldn't understand what he was saying at all.

"What did he say?"

"He says it's unfair to only hear our side, so how about you share some information too?"

"Hah..."

Somehow, the atmosphere no longer feels like we're about to fight.

If this were my home, I'd feel like offering these enemies a meal.

"If you don't mind hearing my personal story..."

"That's exactly what we want to hear. Oh, would you like some wine? I received a good one from Papa earlier. Tyrant, you'll drink too, right?"

The knight called Tyrant nodded.

As I was chuckling in disbelief, the demon was already handing me a glass filled with wine.

"I'm Izarbella, princess of the demons. Just call me Bella."

"......"

Beside her, Tyrant gestured again.

As before, I could understand its meaning through Bella's words.

"It's not an impersonation!! I really am a princess!!"

*****

What on earth am I doing right now?

I never had a sense of mission for the task of subjugating the Demon King, but I didn't intend to do it half-heartedly either.

But look at me now.

In the middle of enemy territory, chatting and drinking with the enemy.

I know this is even worse than what the Hero I so despised would do, but...

"What's with that bitch!! If she were a demon, I'd have plucked her wings and torn off her tail to make her look human!!"

Seeing Bella raging as if it were her own affair, I couldn't bring myself to want to fight her.

Tyrant also trembled as if in anger.

He made a scissoring motion with two fingers, which shocked Bella when she saw it.

"You want to tear that part... I've never seen you say something so violent before."

"...Thank you for getting angry on my behalf."

"I just got angry on my own, there's nothing to thank me for."

"No, it's because no one has ever gotten angry for my sake before."

It's embarrassing to admit, but I don't have friends.

The Magic Tower is a ruthless competitive society where those who fall behind are mercilessly weeded out.

Even the masters who once considered me their disciple now see me as a competitor and sent me here.

My family prioritized the interests of the entire family over a single person like me, so I never had anyone on my side.

"It's quite refreshing to have someone take my side. By the way, what kind of demon is the Demon King? Rumors say it's a woman."

"The Demon King is a smelly old man. I don't know why such false rumors spread, but it's good. That perverted Hero must be wrestling with that old man right now."

"Yes, that is fortunate indeed."

"But the Hero is pretty bad too, though not as much as the Demon King. Even incubi aren't that loose."

"Come to think of it, they are somewhat similar. Our Hero is also popular among the ignorant commoners."

"Sometimes it's better to be foolish. I wish I could be like that too. How long do I have to continue this hostage life..."

I thought they were subordinates, but it seems they were essentially hostages.

Well, if she really is a demon princess, there would be tremendous resistance, so it's not strange to have hostages.

"Rumors say you received power from the Demon King..."

"It's more like shackles. If we try to escape from here or if the Demon King dies, it immediately disappears— Huh?"

Suddenly, Bella shrank back.

At the same time, the swirl of power that filled her body began to subside.

When Bella and Tyrant's power had subsided to the level of a corps commander, we all realized.

That the Demon King had died.

For a moment, a smile flashed across her face, but this wasn't just a cause for celebration.

The Demon King's death meant the Hero had won.

What thoughts would that notorious pervert have upon seeing someone as beautiful as Bella?

"...Run away."

"Huh?"

When I came to my senses, those words had already left my mouth.

Perhaps due to our shared experience of having terrible superiors, these two I had met less than an hour ago strangely didn't feel like strangers.

"I'll somehow hold the Hero back. Please split up and go in different directions, try to escape from here somehow."

"...Are you sure? Even if it means letting demons go?"

"You who sympathized with my pain seem more like family to me than the humanity that pushed me into this place."

"...You, hang in there!"

"Yes, I'll do my best. So please, hurry..."

"Alright!!"

Bella accelerated towards the west, Tyrant towards the east.

Just before leaving, Bella shouted towards me.

"Wait, what's your name?!"

"Pardon?"

"We don't even know your name yet! What's your name?!"

"It's Elang. Elang Meister."

"Elang!! Demons never forget a debt, no matter who the other party is!! Let's definitely meet again!"

"Yes, let's do that."

Looking to the other side, Tyrant was also waving his hand vigorously. The sight of him waving his arm so energetically was almost childlike, making me smile without realizing it.

I waved back.

With all my might, as if returning to childhood, hoping to convey how much I enjoyed meeting them.

As their figures disappeared beyond the horizon, I lowered my head to look at the Demon King's massive castle.

The center of the castle, surrounded by hundreds of thousands of demons.

I slowly descended towards the place where the final battle with the Demon King had taken place and where the Hero was waiting.