Published at 26th of December 2025 7:41 am

Chapter 499: I Could Understand Those Feelings, but Whether I Could Accept Them Was a Different Matter.

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Guh how frustrating

Long live the Demon King!

In the depths of the Demon Kings castle. After defeating a knight clad in eye-catching red and blue armor, beyond him was an unmistakable door. As we sheathed our swords and caught our breath, Lorenz slowly looked around at our faces before speaking.

The Demon King is likely beyond this point. Is everyone ready?

Of course! Im always perfectly prepared!

Im fine too. How about you, Tia?

Fufu, I still have plenty of energy left.

Everyone answered with a smile to his question. Understanding that these were their true feelings, Lorenz nodded and placed his hand on the massive double doors that seemed to be at least three meters tall. With a creaking sound, the doors slowly began to open.

Wow! Yuusha-sama, youre so strong!

No, they opened on their own. Hmm, its dark inside Ah!?

Beyond the doors was darkness without a single point of light. But suddenly, blue flames lit up in two braziers near the entrance, illuminating a central path between them.

Were being invited in, arent we?

Seems like it.

Nodding at Tias words, I peered into the depths of the passage. I couldnt see anything yet, but if this led to a dead end with a sign saying Gotcha! or something, Id have to seriously reconsider my evaluation of this worlds Demon King whether for better or worse.

Lets proceed for now.

Saying this, Lorenz began walking in the lead. After walking a bit, the next brazier lit up, revealing more of the path This happened about five times, and when the sixth pair of braziers lit up, suddenly the entire room became as bright as midday.

So youve arrived at last.

Before we could even be confused, a figure seated on an ornate chair in front of us let out a low, heavy voice.

Are you the Demon King?

I am. I am

A large man wrapped in a black cloak answered Lorenzs question. The Demon King, who had been sitting in a languid posture with his elbow on the armrest of the throne, stood up and looked down at us then sat back down in the chair.

? Demon King?

How strange, Im seeing something impossible Am I tired? Yes, I am

The Demon King shook his head lightly and tried to stand up and introduce himself again. But once more his movement stopped, and his expression became stern with his brows furrowed tightly.

What are you trying to do? What are you doing, Demon King!?

Ah Hero. You are the hero, arent you?

The Demon King pointed at Lorenz and asked. So Lorenz nodded while maintaining his sword stance.

Thats right. I am Lorenz, the current generations Hero!

I see. Youre fine. Its inevitable fate for the hero, a puppet of the world, to come to eliminate me. Im surprised and impressed that youve made it this far, but thats fine.

After nodding deeply, the Demon King next pointed at Tia.

Youre fine too, I suppose. You seem to have an aura that feels somewhat familiar, but an elf as a heros companion is well, acceptable Are you perhaps secretly a princess of the elf country? Or maybe youll marry the hero after the journey is over?

I wont! Im just an adventurer, Lunaritia!

Tia answered with a slightly annoyed expression to the Demon Kings questions. Ill pretend I didnt notice Lorenz secretly looking dejected next to her. Anyway, next, the finger was pointed at me.

You too well, I suppose I can accept it if I take a hundred steps back. I thought the day would come when wed meet. I didnt expect it to be together with the hero, but Ive prepared for that too. Honestly, you look a bit more shabby than I imagined.

Shut up!

For some reason, I felt like I was the only one insulted, but completely ignoring my complaint, the Demon King finally pointed at Luka and his hand began to tremble for some reason.

But you! What are you!? What is this divine power overflowing from your body!? Just who are you!?

Eh? Isnt it bad manners to ask such things to a cute person like me?

Luka answered in a playful tone to the Demon Kings words. But the Demon King, ignoring this completely, shouted with his eyes wide open.

This is absurd! Why is someone with such immense power in this world!? Is that it? Was I abandoned in this place by God just so that He could impose an inescapable despair at the very end and laugh at me!?

Thats enough, Demon King! What have you been saying all this

I dont know! I dont care anymore! Ah, do whatever you want! Here, take it! My head or whatever, take whatever you want, damn it!

The Demon King fell backwards onto the floor with a thud and stopped moving after saying this. Faced with such an unexpected situation, even Lorenz stopped moving, looking like he didnt know what to do.

What should we do about this?

Ed?

Hey, dont ask me What are we going to do, Luka? This is your fault, isnt it?

Eh, me!? Hmm um, Maou-san? You dont have to be so despondent

I dont know, I dont know, I dont care! My hundreds of years of effort were all meaningless! This shitty world can go to hell for all I care! Everything in this world, including me, is just a toy in Gods toybox after all! Waaah!

The Demon King shouted, flailing his arms and legs like a child throwing a tantrum. Honestly, Im the one who cant bear to watch this.

No, really, what should we do? I think we could easily defeat him if thats all we needed to do, but defeating the Demon King in this state is just

Haah, I guess theres no helping it. Here we go!

Perhaps unable to bear this disgraceful sight any longer, Luka let out a big sigh and snapped his fingers. Then everyone except me and Luka stopped moving as if time had frozen.

Tia!? Hey Luka, what did you do!?

Ah, no need to panic. Stopping time is really difficult and impossible as I said before, so Ive just stopped the consciousness of the Demon King, yuusha-sama, and Tia-san. In terms of their physical state, its like theyve been forcibly put to sleep, I guess?

What are you planning to do by doing this?

While keeping Luka in my sight cautiously, I gradually moved towards Tia. But Luka, not minding my actions at all, shrugged slightly with a wry smile.

What else? Were going to start over. In this situation, it doesnt really feel like a proper battle anymore, right? Even I feel unsatisfied with this

Then, what are you going to do?

Ill tweak the Demon Kings memories a bit so that he doesnt realize our true identities. That way we should be able to fight normally.

I see. Indeed, that would make for a proper battle, but if thats the reason, there was no need to stop Tia.

Excluding just Tia-san would be troub ahem, it would require delicate control of power thats difficult. In your case, senpai, I can just use my power roughly and youll resist it automatically. Well, if I had failed

If you had failed?

You might have woken up with nuts stuffed in your nose along with yuusha-sama and Tia-san.

You were still thinking about that!?

My spine shivered in sheer terror. If that had actually happened, Tia would have burst into laughter when she woke up, and I would have been teased about it for the rest of my life.

So, Ill take care of the Demon Kings side. Could you carry yuusha-sama and Tia-san outside the door, senpai?

Alright.

Either way, theres no point in me making a fuss in this situation. For now, as Luka said, I carried Tia and Lorenz outside the door. While doing so, I glanced over to see Luka holding his hand over the motionless Demon Kings head, which was glowing Well, yeah with such a difference in power, I guess anyone would want to give up.

Phew, Im done.

Im finished on my end too.

After positioning Tia and Lorenz sitting nicely on the floor, Luka and I sat down on the floor as well. Then Luka snapped his fingers, and the doors that had been left open slammed shut

Hm?

Eh?

At the same time, time began to move again for Tia and the others.

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