The Hero Party Couldn’t Kill Me

Chapter 15: The story after that (4)

“Asmodians are gathering in front of the Demon Castle. Demons with demonic swords also appeared.”

A week later. Upon returning from the investigation of the rest of the nobles. A soldier guarding the castle reported.

‘In the end, that moment has come.’

I’ve been feeling the holy sword vibrating a little since a few days ago. That’s why I was guessing.

That a new demon king has appeared.

And then he finally showed up.

After hearing the report, I took the Holy Sword and immediately headed for the Demon Castle.

“How are things now?”

“That, that’s strange. They are only requesting the return of the Demon Castle, but are not attacking directly.”

“Then there is no damage at all?”

“Yes.”

“Where is the Demon King now?”

“I am right outside the castle right now.”

I headed for the castle wall under the guidance of the soldiers.

In the middle of the Demon Legion made up of Orcs, Goblins, Trolls, and Gargoyles, I saw an exceptionally tall gargoyle.

‘I never thought we’d meet again.’

I checked the dark red magic sword in his hand. Of course, it could also be a replica like Leviathan was, but I dismissed that possibility right away.

Because I felt the holy sword vibrate minutely, as if resonating.

That person was the new Demon King.

The demon king checked me and shrank his body. He will already guess. Even if he fights alongside the demons he brought, he can’t defeat me alone.

Of course, the power of the demonic sword should never be ignored, but compared to the previous demon kings, he was just a rather strong gargoyle.

But I focused on the message of the goddess who sent the magic sword again. Originally, demonic swords that appeared every 60 years had already appeared. And the opponent of that demon king is me who has already defeated the previous demon king.

What is the intention of the goddess to face the demon king as the owner of the holy sword twice in a row?

‘It looks like the goddess wants an answer from Edmund.’

In the end, it’s just what Saint Joan said.

Leviathan tried to kill me as soon as I became the owner of the holy sword, and he died. So this time, give me a chance.

“I’m going to talk to him.”

I went down to the castle gate without pulling out the holy sword. Eventually, I went out of the castle and approached the Demon King.

As I got closer, the demons seemed to be swaying here and there as if they were uneasy. Their leader, the Demon King, also held the sword tightly as if uncomfortable, and spread his wings at any time and took a posture to attack.

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“… Don’t worry, I’m not trying to fight. Didn’t you all wait outside the castle because you didn’t want to fight?”

I told them that. With the magic of automatic interpretation, they were able to understand what I was saying. Only then did the demon king loosen his wings and slowly approach me.

At first, it was expressed as a gargoyle, but when you look closely, it is a demon king with a huge body that is close to 3 meters. It was more like a balrog than a gargoyle.

But there was fear in his eyes.

“I am the new leader of the Solus Empire. Please tell me Why did you come to the demon castle today?”

I looked into his eyes and said.

The demon king flapped his wings as if he was uncomfortable, then put down his sword for a moment. And he said in a low, deep voice.

“… Originally, the demon king had to listen to the message from the great titan in the demon castle. However, as you humans occupied the castle, the message was no longer heard. That’s why I’m here to take back the castle.”

I was referring to the treasure house of the demon king Titan in the basement of the demon castle. In fact, what he left behind was for the Demon King rather than for me, another alien.

“Of course, I am not asking you to give it back for free. Instead, I’m here to promise you. If we return only the Demon Castle, we will not attack humans.”

“You mean to stop the war?”

“… That’s right.”

“Unfortunately, I am not naive enough to believe that.”

I said in a strong tone.

Of course, I know that having a conversation like this is different from the previous demon king. I too am seeking peace.

But you can’t just trust that one thing and return the Demon Castle for free.

“Don’t get me wrong. I, like you, do not want war. However, I don’t think that peace will be achieved easily by simply giving the Devil Castle. The conflict between demons and humans is too deep for that.”

Humans and demons have been fighting since before the Solus Empire. At least a thousand years. Perhaps even before the history books were written, the war between the demons and mankind would have continued.

Is this only going to end after returning one of the demon castles? Nonsense. In the first place, humans and demons did not fight because of one castle. Because they fought even before this demonic castle was created.

“… That is an undeniable fact. But after one war after another, we realized. That if we continue to wage war like this, nothing but destruction will remain.”

But in the demon king’s words, I found a clue to peace.

In the end, contrary to what Leviathan claimed, the demons gradually began to understand. That war eventually leads to self-destruction.

“… Follow me. I will show you what you want.”

I said as I headed back to the Demon Castle. The Demon King hesitated.

“Isn’t this a plot to assassinate the Demon King!”

“Danger! Danger!”

The demons nearby also stood up. So I looked at them and said.

“If I had intended to kill you, I would have done it a long time ago. Don’t worry, just follow me.”

Then the demon king finally made up his mind and followed me.

“No matter what happens, just stay here.”

Before leaving, the demon king said to the demons who were holding back.

When I arrived at the castle with the demon king, the soldiers looked at me in disbelief.

“There will be no battle today. Be vigilant, but don’t strike first. If the demons are looking for the demon lord, please tell them that they are still acquiring knowledge in the basement of the demon lord.”

After asking the soldiers, I took the demon king and headed to the underground storage of the demon castle.

***

Deed deed deed…….

When the demon king inserted the demonic sword into the hole in front of the warehouse, the door to the secret space opened.

Unlike the time I entered before, mana was being injected through the magic sword, so the space of Titan was activated again.

“… The alien and the demon king are coming at the same time. I never thought this scenario would really happen.”

As we stood in the center, Titan’s hologram looked at me with disbelief and said, looking back at the demon king. I turned my head and said to the demon king.

“I will give you plenty of time, so please take the knowledge you want.”

The Demon King nodded.

I waited patiently for the demon king to look through the memories of the previous demon kings.

After a long time, the demon king came out of the magic circle with a hopeless expression.

“… Among the previous demon kings, there were those who had similar thoughts. It was the same with the previous king. But in the end they never took off for peace.”

“And what was the reason?”

The demon king flapped his wings as if he was uncomfortable.

“… It’s complicated. We distrusted each other, and still coveted each other’s land. Also, the remnants of the previous war remained.”

“And the end was a war.”

I guessed. Until now, I had never seen a single record of a hero and a demon king dying while enjoying their lives.

In that sense, the Demon King was in despair. In the end, I think his ending will also be a war.

… To be honest, I’m not even sure. Even if we maintain peace for now, will this continue after that?

“Then it’s about time we first made an exception.”

But if you make an exception, even just once. Could it give us a clue to maintaining peace in the distant future?

“… Is there any way?”

“Isn’t it a big improvement that the owner of the holy sword and the owner of the demonic sword have already come together in this space? We have already surpassed our predecessors.”

“Yet, that is still not enough. Right now, the Orcs hope to get back Sordon, which they took away. The Gargoyles, to which I belong, are also crying out to bring back Kaoron.”

“Aren’t you here because you want peace?”

When I asked back, the demon king nodded.

After thinking about a method for a while, I drew out the holy sword. Then, instinctively, the magic sword stuck in the hole in the door reacted and flew towards me.

Kwajijik!!!

But I didn’t care and stuck the holy sword into the stone floor.

Then the magic sword stopped moving.

I explained to the demon lord who was still looking at me with an expression of incomprehension.

“My suggestion is this. It is to seal the holy sword and the demonic sword here.”

“… What exactly are you trying to do?”

“The idea is to keep each other’s authority, but not to use force.”

“And this room will be sealed?”

“Because the key to open this place is the sword. If we get out and the door closes, it will be completely sealed.”

Of course I know another way to open this room. But even that method will consume the mana in this room just like before leaving to cut off the source.

Then it wouldn’t open even if I chanted.

“The biggest reason the demon king and the king fought was because each had the only weapon that could kill each other. And with this, that possibility is blocked. At least we won’t be killing each other.”

“So what next?”

“That is something that needs to be addressed gradually. But at least, let’s promise each other here. No matter what happens, let’s not start a war in our generation and find an agreement through dialogue.”

“… I promise.”

The Demon King also said, sticking his sword into the ground.

The two swords trembled as they resonated with each other, but then gradually calmed down.

Then, when I shook hands with the demon king, the two swords completely stopped shaking.

After that, he talked about his future plans with the Demon King. We checked each other’s positions and tried to find a point of agreement.

Then, as soon as the mana ran out and the door seemed to be closing, I left the space of Titan with the demon king.

Wow!!!

With the door closed like that, neither I nor the Demon King could hold the holy sword or the demonic sword again.

Of course, this did not completely take off for peace. Because the conflict between humans and demons is still deep.

It is not that the war was completely suppressed. If you want to, you can wage a war without a holy sword or a demonic sword.

But at least through this, I was able to cast off the disbelief that the other person might kill me, and prepared a stepping stone to build trust.

That alone was the first of its kind, and a good starting point.