VOLUME 1: Chapter 5 – The Strongest Hero is the Most Unfortunate Hero

[Part 4]

[Present]

“Please excuse me for intruding. I am the Prime Minister of this country, Ruth Hyllingam.”

The hero’s party, who were reminiscing about the Demon King’s subjugation, was visited by a tall glasses guy.

“Thank you very much for rescuing the princess. I cannot do much hospitality, but I will do as much as I can so please do not hesitate to ask me.”

The man who came into the room and gave a gentle smile was young for a prime minister. However, even when discussing with the king in the hall earlier, this man is the one who was always at the side of the king and was managing the place. With unusual eyes and maroon hair, his appearance is on par with the members of the party. His age is probably around mid-30s. However, as expected, his calm countenance is full of quiet force as he does his ministerial duties.

“Thank you very much. We are very grateful to receive your hospitality.”

It was Rufus who responded in behalf of everyone.

Greed, who was looking expressionlessly outside the window until now, turned back and spoke. “Prime minister, I have a request for you.”

The prime minister noticed that the expression he showed to Aria in the hall was quite different, but he didn’t mind and responded while smiling.

“What is it? I wonder if it is something that I can do.”

“I would like to contact her father, but how long does it take riding a fast horse from here to the Viscount Milford’s estate?”

“Oh... To the Viscount Milford’s estate, is it? Well, if you go there riding a fast horse, it will take you three days; six days if it is a round trip.”

While feeling slightly astonished, the prime minister answered and looked for a while at Greed to observe.

“Forgive me for asking but the reason why you wanted to contact Viscount Milford....?”

“Yes. I heard this from Rufus that in the nobility, one must appear before the father to obtain permission to marry. In accordance to that custom, I wanted first to verify her father’s intentions.”

“I see....”

The prime minister’s eyes behind his glasses narrowed, thought of something for a few seconds and then smiled at Greed.

“If that is the case, then I think I can be of assistance. Viscount Milford and I, along with the royal family’s magician Famir, are old friends. Besides———I am her guardian [1] here in the castle.”

“I see. So that’s the quickest way to talk to you.”

It was the elf Rufaga who spoke and stood from his chair.

Ah! Here it is! Here it is!

The party members except Greed thought the same thing.

Casting a sidelong glance in his surroundings, he drew closer in front of the prime minister and looked up at him.

The elf, whose appearance is that of about a 14 or 15 year old boy, and the tall man with glasses. Their eyes met, staring at each other to gauge the other’s thoughts―――it seems they are thinking about something.

The prime minister suddenly expressed a small smile and said. “It seems this story is better not told to people. Let’s move to a separate room and discuss it.”

“Yes, please.” Rufaga accepted the invitation with a smile. It seems like he found an ideal negotiation opponent.

No, rather than a negotiation opponent.... a collaborator?

The prime minister and the elf went out of the living room together.

“Well then, Hero-dono, I will see you later in regards with the letter.”

After the two went out, the complexion of the rest of the members turned sullen as they saw Greed turning his gaze again outside the window.

It is now the calm before the storm. The Demon King was defeated. The threat to the world should have been removed. That word has disproved it.

―――No, when Greed has found her in this castle, it has already started.

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[Past]

Although it is true that the difference between the invalidation of barrier of Demon King’s castle and the distortion of the world is paper-thin, they were chosen to be a member of the elite hero’s party.

They instantly nodded to one another and broke into the castle after splitting into teams as they have already planned.

That strategy was―――

“After Renas constructs the barrier with sacred magic, I will make a hole in the barrier of the Demon King’s castle. When we enter the castle, the group that will rescue the princess will head towards the tower where she was imprisoned. Rescuing her is the top priority. Once you have rescued the princess without being chased by the enemy, go outside the barrier and wait.... The meeting place is here, the entrance to the forest in front of the Devil’s castle. Renas, Rufaga and I will blatantly divert their attention by infiltrating deeper into the castle.”

To put things bluntly, this is only a strategy. After that, they acted spontaneously as usual. In other words, not according to the plan.

I’m sorry to the fans of the hero nationwide but their strategy was always like this.

Princess Louise was, no doubt, in the tallest tower of the Demon King’s castle that they have spotted earlier. There are no watchmen in the area, so you could say that they will follow the established strategy.

However, the hero did not join the group that would rescue the princess. Because his aim is the maid of the princess, not the princess.

Though he cares for the safety of the princess, everything is for her. The princess herself is completely out of consideration.

Moreover, with the abilities of the three who headed towards the tower―――Rufus the magician, Milly, the female thief and Farah, the female warrior―――rescuing should succeed without any problems.

The issue is, aren’t we the ones who will face the Demon King??Renas thought while following Greed, running through the dark and eerie castle.

The hero and the Demon King exist as pairs. Once in hundreds of years, a Demon King is born among demons. Then the world――― the goddess, rather, selects a hero among humans. It has repeated for thousands of years, for many generations. The demons are basically a tribe that prefers to act independently so it is rare for them to go in groups. Because the number of individuals in the tribe is small, their existences are not that harmful to humans. At least, just enough to be repulsed by humans.

Although it is the demons that possess magical powers which surpass humans far more, most of that magical power is, in fact, spent on the formation and maintenance of the vessels to hold it. However, it was the existence of the Demon King that completely changed the situation.

The breeding season of the demons begins as if to match the Demon King’s birth through mutation. Keeping on breeding and increasing their magical powers―――they start to attack humans according to the command of the Demon King. However, the breeding season of the demons is a threat to human beings, as well as a threat to the natural order of the world. So the world created the hero to eliminate the existence of the Demon King and the demons. When someone among the demons becomes the Demon King, like a pair, the goddess chooses a hero among the human beings.

In other words, if there is a Demon King, there is a hero.

Just a little while ago, Greed was trying to find out the meaning of his existence. Killing the Demon King―――that is all.

So if the Demon King is killed, then what will happen to Greed afterwards? That was the common fear among the party members except for the hero Greed. Until Greed encountered her. Now, that fear is gone.

―――But, is it really?

“Arrow of light.”

With a faint voice, countless lights exploded frontward. What the hero released was an attack magic.

Without expression, Greed continued after slaughtering the demons with magic and holy sword. Renas was concerned.

To eliminate the existence of the other pair, will it not lose the meaning of the other’s existence?

“It is okay.” Rufaga, who is running beside Renas, said as if reading Renas’ thoughts. “Greed will not be influenced by the Demon King. Rather, I have another concern.”

“Another concern?”

“Yes―Ah, looks like we’ve arrived.”

Suddenly seeing a big black door blocking their way, Renas and Rufaga stopped running. Greed has already stopped in front of the door, staring at the door in front of him. The door is massive and has a sense of intimidation.

Without asking anyone, they can feel that there is someone inside. The closer and closer you get here, it is evident that the number of demons attacking them has increased.

“You are inside, aren’t you――Demon King? I can feel an enormous high-density magical power from inside.” Rufaga said as he looked at the big door.

“Then, let’s finish this quickly.” Greed murmured as he swung the holy sword in a casual way.

“So you came.... the goddess’―no, the world’s lowest people....”

―――A middle-aged macho.

The one sitting on the throne in the back of the dimly-lit hall and the one who greeted them with a low groaning voice, the three people including Greed, who saw the Demon King, thought it was strange that they were the same person.

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Those were the words that Greed’s beloved lady have testified in the hall.

“It was not handsome! It has black hair and red eyes――It was a middle-aged macho!”

When he heard that, he thought she was lying but that testimony was extremely accurate.

There are large eyebrows on the slightly wrinkly face of the Demon King and each one is oddly thick; he does not look young. In other words, he is a middle-aged man. His physique is bigger and stronger than anyone else. No, rather than being strong, it is better to say that his physique is ridiculous. The clothes on which the black jewel is embedded is luxurious and the arms and chest are likely to burst with muscles. It was absolutely not just their imagination that maybe engaging in hand-to-hand combat is much better than using magic. It’s just they felt uneasy because the leaders of the demons they’ve met so far were all slender-faced and beautiful.

Renas wondered why it was necessary to make such an appearance when they’re beings capable of containing magical powers―that is, they are demons who can freely form their appearance.

Just to be sure, he asked Rufaga.

“Is that. . . really the Demon King? He seems fake....”

However, Rufaga, who is expected to see the flow of magic, replied, “It was the real thing.”

The Demon King glared at them with hatred. “Stupid people. After all, you are no more than a mere chess piece of the goddess. Just for the purpose of surviving in this hateful world.”

The enemy has not used magic yet. But even with just the malice and hate, it will be a burden for human beings. The major subordinates that they have fought until now did not have this sense of oppression. Certainly, the man in front of them possesses magical powers suitable for a Demon King.

“We only use our magical powers and if it is said to have increased too much, we are killed―that damned widow goddess. I did not realize that we are also included to those who are to be culled. Just crush these average manipulated puppets for survival!”

Hatred, hatred, hatred, and then wrath. From the words of the Demon King, such emotions were bursting as if they were fired from a gun. Except from the hero, the other two think that it is impossible.

The myth, being conveyed on the human realm, was modified to sound nice.

The truth was more harsh and cruel. For demons, and for humans too.

For this reason, people had to cover up the real state of the world, the truth, with a modified myth.

――――For the world to not to despair.

Translator’s note: