I Became A Slave To The Mastermind

People who don't know might think this way:

"Why haven't the demons been wiped out?"

It was a reasonable suspicion to have.

Humans, elves, beastkin, merfolk, and every other race with power saw them as enemies.

If all the other races decided to unite with the sole purpose of exterminating the demons, no matter how exceptional the demons' physical abilities were, they would stand no chance against such an alliance.

So why is it that, even hundreds of years after the Great War ended, the demons still exist so openly?

The reason lies in the Demon Realm itself.

The Demon God, who loves carnage and war.

The Demon Realm is directly influenced by her power.

And the demons, who are blessed by the Demon God.

In the Demon Realm, they were the dominant race standing at the pinnacle.

And their ruler, the Demon King.

An immortal existence, almost impossible to kill.

Even for her—the one known as the strongest human.

***

Slash!

Bright red blood sprayed across the wall, leaving a vivid stain.

Looking down, I saw a deep wound in my side, gushing blood profusely.

"Ha ha ha! This is exhilarating. Truly exhilarating."

"…."

"It's been so long since I've faced someone who can match me like this in the Demon Realm."

The Demon King raised her hand high into the sky.

Above, obsidian swords rained down with the force of a violent storm.

I leapt backward to evade, but in an instant, a massive demonic blast appeared right before my eyes.

Anticipating it, I immediately sliced through the blast with my sword and sent a wave of energy slashing toward her.

"Useless."

The powerful wave, charging fiercely toward her, vanished the moment it touched the Demon King's hand.

Well, I didn't really think it would work.

I lunged forward, slashing my sword downward with all my might, aiming to cleave her from above.

But again, my attack didn't land.

She casually raised her arm and caught the blade, stopping it effortlessly.

Then, with a mighty roar, the Demon King unleashed an enormous burst of mana, sending me flying backward until I crashed into the wall.

"What a pity. If you had a Holy Sword, this might have been a worthwhile battle."

She waved her hand, and several black mana orbs slammed me into the ground.

A sharp pain surged through me, and warm blood trickled from my head, dripping steadily onto the floor.

"It would've been truly delightful if you were a Hero."

"Why are you acting like this is already over? This is just the beginning."

Spitting out the blood pooled in my mouth, I brushed the dust off my knees and stood up casually.

The Demon King frowned slightly and spoke to me.

"I don't understand."

"What don't you understand?"

"All this time, you never paid any attention to the demon kind. And now, you're fighting like your life depends on it?"

"Oh, that?"

She gave her a sly smile before silently summoning his beloved sword.

Light particles began gathering in her hand, slowly taking form. Before long, the shape of a sword materialized in her grasp.

"If I'm going to die, I might as well be useful in death."

"Useful? What do you mean?"

The Demon King tilted her head, puzzled by her words.

Of course.

She wouldn't understand.

Not even I fully understand myself. How could a demon like you possibly grasp it?

She planted her sword into the ground, closed her eyes, and calmed her mind in reverence.

"I'm curious. How much of a dent will my full strength make against that mighty Demon God of yours?"

"Hahaha! You still plan to fight? You'd do better to give up."

Leaving her boisterous laughter behind, she began to chant softly to herself.

'Stake your life.'

'Burn your existence.'

Let everything be reduced to ash beneath my feet.

"Ardiet."

Fwoosh—

A small flame ignited within her heart, spreading like a fuse through her veins, setting her body ablaze with searing heat.

In an instant, intense flames erupted around her, roaring fiercely like a miniature sun.

The corpses of nearby demons began to melt away as if made of snow, their blood evaporating in moments, leaving only scorched bones behind.

And there she stood, in the midst of the inferno.

The pain of her flesh burning was palpable, yet it didn't trouble her in the slightest.

No, the pain of Hera's resentment toward her—that was far worse.

Gripping the sword once more, the intense heat transferred to the blade, enveloping it in golden flames.

The Demon King, sensing the drastic shift in her aura, had dropped her playful demeanor and now gazed at her warily.

"…That power… it's dangerous."

Ignoring her caution, she tightened her grip on the sword.

"Sorry, but I don't have time to waste."

There was no time for delays.

Even now, her life was being consumed by the flames, vanishing moment by moment.

With a mighty swing, she sent a massive wave of energy hurtling toward the Demon King.

She raised her hand, just as before, to block the attack.

Slash—

Too easily, her arm was severed cleanly from her body.

"Your—"

The Demon Lord glared at me with turbulent eyes.

She glanced at her severed arm for a moment, then quickly regenerated it with flesh growing back instantaneously.

I wasn't surprised, but seeing such easy regeneration was a bit disheartening.

However, there was no point in showing my discouragement.

I kept a composed smile and challenged her with my sword drawn.

"Amazing. Shall we see if you can regenerate a neck too?"

"Very well. Try your best."

Without hesitation, I lunged at her.

After that, no more words were exchanged.

Only the sounds of flesh and bones tearing filled the castle.

***

Time passed.

The once splendid and imposing Demon Lord's castle was now so destroyed that only ruins remained.

Breathing heavily, I looked at the Demon Lord amidst the ruins.

"It's astounding. Unbelievable."

The Demon Lord, regenerating her severed arms and legs, looked exhausted and breathed heavily.

"Cough…"

Blood gushed from my mouth onto the ground.

I no longer had the strength to hold my sword.

As I let go, the sword quickly turned to dust and scattered into the air.

Soon, with nothing to lean on, I collapsed to the ground.

"It's not fully regenerated. I won't be able to do anything for a while."

The Demon Lord glanced at her half-regenerated arm and sighed.

"Annoying, but you have won. If it weren't for the power of the Demon God, I would be the one lying here."

"Though you are my enemy, I respect you. Do you have any last words?"

"…My…words…"

At her request for a last remark, I thought deeply.

But all I could think of was Hera's cheerful smile, even as my life was fading.

Perhaps amused by the incongruity, I let out a faint laugh.

"Kill me."

I told the Demon Lord without any lingering attachment.

She nodded solemnly, respecting my wish.

"So be it."

I sighed once more and looked up at the dark sky through the shattered ceiling, waiting for death.

"Hera's hair color…"

The pitch-black night sky naturally reminded me of her.

What might Hera be doing now?

She must have arrived at the empire by now.

She should live happily there, without suffering.

"Cough…"

Feeling nauseous, I coughed again, and more blood poured out from my mouth.

I could feel my life force flickering out.

My body was growing colder, and my eyelids heavier.

'…So this is death.'

It's alright.

I was prepared to die long ago.

I wasn't scared at all.

In fact, I felt at peace.

It finally felt like I could rest.

I could sense peace approaching.

From the distance, I heard her voice calling out to me.

Hearing her beautiful voice naturally brought a smile to my face.

'Hera.'

'I love you.'

'And I'm sorry.'

You are a beautiful and lovable person. Wherever you go, you'll be loved.

Someone like me…

should be forgotten quickly. I just hope you're happy.

I bade her a final farewell and quietly closed my eyes.

"Athena."

From the other side, Hera called out to me once more.

It was as if she was urging me to cross over quickly, calling my name again and again.

Her voice…

No matter how many times I heard it, it was a beautiful melody.

"I love you, Hera."

Holding her voice deeply in my heart…

The hero slowly drifted into sleep.

Athena.

Athena.

"ATHENA!!!!!!"

Slap—

A sudden, powerful impact landed on my cheek, violently turning my head to the side.

The abruptness of the blow.

The swamp of death that had pulled me under suddenly released its grip.

I snapped back to consciousness, my eyes flying open.

"What… what happened?"

As confusion clouded my mind, I saw her before me.

Her tear-streaked face, eyes swollen red, and her voice calling my name.

The person I had longed and wished to see more than anything else.

The most lovable being in the world.

"…He…ra?"