Heroes and Machine Girls Looking at Profiles

4 – The Hero, the Succubus, and the Demon Lord

Luri Rinus, a succubus and the top-ranked succubus queen, was a demon active in the realms of humans.

Her ability to hide her magic was so outstanding, that until she met me, her real identity hadn’t been exposed once.

Even Cytella, a saintess who’s sensitive to magic at this inn, couldn’t sense Luri’s magic, mistaking her for a human being.

…Well, such a disguise was exposed to me instantly, though.

Anyway, she had approached me right after I left for

“Being directly under the Demon King means you can see the Demon King, right?”

If, through that succubus, I could meet the Demon King.

If I could have a little chat, maybe some kind of solution would emerge.

Of course, that would only be possible if the Demon King would respond.

“Luri.”

“Uh… uh? What’s up?”

Taken aback by my unexpected break from minimal conversation, the succubus Luri stumbled over her words.

I sat up and spoke directly into her eyes.

“I have a favor to ask you.”

At the King of Demons’ castle, deep in the demon lands.

“Huuuh …”

Deep inside the castle, in a glamorous room, a girl sitting in a cushy chair leaned her head onto the desk and yawned.

The Demon King, Illain Cradle.

She had been the Demon King for many decades, succeeding her father, Gwanz Cradle.

As Demon Kings go, she was still considered a newcomer.

“Ugh… So sleepy, but there’s still so much to do.”

Struggling against fatigue and drowsiness, Illain looked at the pile of documents in front of her.

She had always been busy, but recently the work had increased even more.

“All because of that damn hero or whatever he is.”

The miracles bestowed by the goddess in response to the prayers and entreaties of the humans.

That was exactly what the hero was: a human from another world who had been granted powerful abilities at the behest of human prayers.

Based on reports from her subordinates, the hero had terrifyingly powerful strength.

He had completely dominated an ogre, easily fended off a determined attack from a minotaur, and moved even faster than the harpies.

‘…Well, that’s probably a bit of an exaggeration.’

If such a human existed, they would have already stormed the castle and cut her throat.

With that thought, Illain reached for the pile of reports.

“…The city we were capturing near the Finton Republic, it’s been taken? This is that damn hero’s work again, isn’t it?”

Once again a city they were capturing had been taken by the hero.

Such reports had become so commonplace that she was getting used to them.

The damn hero, despicably, was steadily cutting away at the Demon King’s territories, seizing cities from the outskirts and decimating her forces.

As if he intended to completely dry up her power base.

Illain had no clue what kind of demon the man had to be.

Just then, there was a knock on the door to the demon king’s office.

“Huh? Who’s that?”

“My Lord, it’s Frey.”

Recognizing the voice as that of her secretary and childhood friend, a demon woman named Frey, Illain called out.

“Yeah! Come in!”

“Excuse me.”

A female demon, Frey, with silvery white hair, bowed her head in respect.

“So, what brings you here?”

“Yes, Succubus Queen Luri has requested to see the Demon King.”

“Luri? Has she stumbled upon a big incident?”

The succubus troop led by Succubus Queen Luri was tasked with gathering information in human villages, taking advantage of their unique ability to blend in.

If Luri, their commander and representative, personally stepped forward, it meant she certainly got her hands on significant information.

Thinking so, Eileen, the Demon King, nodded.

“Alright, let her in.”

“Yes.”

Frey left the room, and shortly after, Succubus Queen Luri entered.

As soon as she stood in front of the Demon King, she immediately knelt, showing respect.

“Your Excellency, Succubus Queen Luri has come to see you.”

“Hmm, you may lift your head.”

Sometimes, it felt a bit awkward when older demon-kin showed such deep respect.

However, being the Demon King, Eileen had to maintain her dignity and so ignored her discomfort.

“If you’re here to ask for an audience, you must have a significant piece of information, right?”

“Well… actually, there is someone who wishes to meet with you, Your Excellency.”

“Huh…what?”

Eileen was slightly taken aback, thinking that Luri brought some information, turn out someone wants to meet her.

However, it could happen.

There were one or two instances where, instead of bringing the information, they brought the person who held it.

“Well…fine, let them in.”

“Yes, if you’ll excuse me.”

After saying that, Luri left the room and brought someone in.

It was a man with black hair and black eyes, clearly not a demon-kin at first glance.

No, he was a human.

“This human is?”

“Yes, actually…”

Looking at the human, he respectfully spoke.

“Greetings, Your Excellency. My name is Hans.”

“Hmm… Hmm…? I see. I am the Demon King, Eileen Creidel.”

The human, dressed in casual clothes as if he had just woken up, imitated palace manners as if he had learned them somewhere.

Somewhat taken aback by the contrast, Demon King Eileen awkwardly introduced herself.

“So, human, why do you want to meet me?”

“Yes, Your Excellency. Actually…”

Smiling faintly, the human, Hans, revealed…

“Actually, I am the Hero.”

Momentarily, the Demon King was lost for words, as if she didn’t understand him.

Then, her face turned pale, and she asked in a trembling voice.

“Lu… Lu… Luri… You didn’t perhaps sell me out, did you?”

“What?! No, not at all, I didn’t…”

“If that’s not the case, then why did you bring the Hero in here?!”

Taking advantage of the opportunity when the Demon King and Luri were chatting, I used my Profile Skill towards the Demon King.

Just a moment ago, thanks to my announcement with the Demon King, he too met the usage conditions of the Profile Skill.

Name: Ileain Cradle

Age: 179 years old

Class: Demon King

The 23rd Demon King leading the demons.

A magic specialist, able to freely manipulate overflowing magical power and potent dark magic.

Through a unique skill that enables him to see through lies at a glance, he has managed to overcome various internal struggles.

Recently, due to the hero, his work has substantially increased, causing stress.

Indeed, it was the Demon King without a doubt.

I was a bit suspicious since he easily accepted my request to meet Luri, the Demon King. But it seems my worries were unnecessary.

And the last paragraph, looking at it felt a bit unsettling.

“Calm down, Demon King.”

“Calm… Calm down?! Do I look like I can calm down right now?! I… I, too, am the Demon King! You think I would die just like that?!”

The Demon King said, pulling up his magical power.

Indeed, living up to being the Demon King, he boasted the highest magical power I’ve seen among those I’ve met so far.

He possesses an immense amount of magical power making someone like Alessa uncomparable.

“Calm down, and listen to me. I have no thoughts of being hostile to the Demon King or the demons.”

“You… You expect me to believe those words…”

“You know whether my words are lies or truth, right?”

At my words, the Demon King looked as if he was struck dumb.

“H-how do you know that…? I haven’t even shared my ability with Freya…”

“I’ll explain later, for now, ‘I have no intention of fighting or being hostile to the demons.'”

“Um… Um…”

The Demon King, seemingly reluctant.

But he seems to know my words aren’t lies, so he quelled his swelling magic.

“But… But still, how can I easily trust someone I’ve been hostile with up until now?”

“Well, that’s true but…”

Truthfully, it’s a bit bothersome.

It doesn’t look like he’ll accept anything I will say.

His emerald colored eyes are fully loaded with suspicion.

At times like these, presenting physical evidence that can convince him is best.

Thinking this, I spoke to the Demon King, Ileain.

“Could you stand back a bit?”

“Wh…? What did you say…?”

“You could get hurt.”

Creating a distance between myself and the Demon King, Ileain, I pulled from the deep magical power within me.

Earlier, I noticed when the Demon King was on guard, he pulled up his internal magical power.

Be it the Demon King, he was indeed very powerful.

His magical power was such that it would greatly exceed that of the magician Alessa, who was nominated as the next tower master. Indeed, it was fitting of a Demon King.

He could comprehend why humans so desperately desired a hero.

And, at the same time, he understood why a hero was summoned to defeat the Demon King.

If this was the extent of the Demon King’s power, then this lengthy journey was unnecessary.

“What?!”

Demon King Eleraine stumbles backward with a face gone pale.

He even managed to fall backward.

Succubus Queen Luri hurriedly ran to support him.

‘What…what is that monster?!’

Demon King Eleraine screamed in silent terror, as if his soul was being drained out.

The hero before his eyes, the magic he began to emit was beyond imagination.

The magic that overwhelms not only him, but also his father Granz Creidelmar, who once prided himself as the strongest Demon King in terms of power.

He couldn’t help but question if it was actually a human being.

‘The…the rumors may have been true…!’

The report that he crushed the ogre with full power, easily repelled Minotaur’s desperate strike, and moved faster than harpies.

He had brushed it off thinking it was an exaggeration, but if someone has that much magical power, it could actually be possible.

He wondered what would happen if they unleashed the Demon King’s army against that hero.

And, the conclusion came out instantly.

Impossible. They would be wiped out.

“St…stop…!! Stop!!”

Eleraine screamed with a pale face.

At that moment, with the sound of thumping, the office door opened wide.

“Lord Demon King!? What’s going on?!”

A middle-aged demon man with a big horn on his forehead.

It was Big Bull of Black Iron, one of the Four Great Kings in the Demon King’s army.

“Lord Demon King!!”

“W..what in the world happened?!”

Following him, the other Four Great Kings rushed in too.

Palace of Blue Sea.

Rose from Red Blood.

“L…Lord Demon King…!!”

And the Lord Demon King’s childhood friend who barely managed to stand with a devastated expression.

Frei from White.

“F…Frei, are you alright?”

“Ye…yes… I almost fainted, but…I managed…”

Frei, although one of the great four kings, shines in her administrative ability and political brilliance.

Since her physical strength is considered the weakest among the Four Great Kings, she couldn’t endure the magic emitted by the hero.

As the surrounding becomes noisy, the hero quietly stored his power.

Then, after looking at the eyes staring at him, he smiled and asked.

“So, how about it?”

At that moment, the Demon King Ellain sighed, realizing he had fallen for the trap of a madman.