Master 63

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“Ugh….”

When Hestia, who kept asking dangerous questions, finally left the room with a sulky look due to my continued silence, an awkward atmosphere began to settle over the meeting room.

‘…Well, I should at least do the favor I was asked for.’

Even though her request to hold back the people from the Holy Kingdom was one-sided, I did have business with them anyway.

“Excuse me, people of the Holy Kingdom?”

“Eek.”

“Wh-What is it?”

As I approached the Holy Kingdom members who were glancing at me nervously while preparing to leave, their responses were, unsurprisingly, full of suspicion.

“Haha, anyone would think you’re facing a demon lord, not a hero.”

“……”

“…You know I’m joking, right?”

Honestly, it still hasn’t fully sunk in, but I am officially a hero now, right? These reactions are kind of hurtful.

“So, what’s going to happen to the demon I… um, subdued?”

“…O-Of course, the Holy Kingdom will seize and handle it accordingly.”

Setting aside my disappointment, I asked the gathered people the question, and the most experienced-looking priestess, standing behind the young priests watching nervously, stepped forward to answer.

“Hmm, that’s a bit problematic.”

“What?”

Though what she said would be the common-sense solution, from my point of view, it wasn’t.

Because if the Holy Kingdom were to secure the Archdemon Azrael, they would undoubtedly realize that she had been subjugated by someone.

Even though I was just officially recognized as a hero, the Holy Kingdom clearly still doesn’t trust me, so if they catch onto that, they might come after me at any moment.

“A demonic entity like that stepping into sacred grounds? What if something happens?”

“There’s no need to worry about that. The Holy Kingdom is stronger than you think.”

When I subtly laid the groundwork, the priestess looking at me with wary eyes responded with a firm voice.

“…Is that really so?”

Well, I’m not denying that the Holy Kingdom holds one of the highest levels of power in the world right now.

“But from what I know, the Holy Kingdom isn’t exactly in a position to worry about demons right now.”

“What do you mean…?”

“…Lend me your ear for a moment.”

However, I happen to know one critical weakness that the Holy Kingdom is desperately trying to hide.

“Your divine power—it’s slowly running out, isn’t it?”

“……!”

And judging from the reaction of the priestess, who seemed to be someone of high rank, it seems I hit the nail on the head.

‘The reason the black mages who had long been in hiding started to move openly is because the Goddess’s power began to weaken.’

According to the original game’s story, the power of the Goddess, who was meant to maintain the world’s balance, has recently begun to weaken considerably.

It’s been hundreds of years since the story of the second Demon Lord and the Hero ended, and now the time for a new Demon Lord to emerge has come.

Naturally, the Goddess was aware of this, which is why she used her last strength to create the Saintess and the Hero.

Of course, with Hestia having unintentionally fallen into corruption and me becoming the Hero in this chaotic situation, it’s hard to judge clearly.

Still, one thing is certain: the divine power of the Holy Kingdom, which originates from the Goddess, is being depleted at a rapid rate.

“There might not be a problem right now, but if, for some reason, the Saintess steps away or the Holy Kingdom’s forces weaken, things could get complicated….”

Because I pointed that out, it’s only natural that the priestess in front of me looked visibly shaken.

“What is it you’re trying to say?”

“…I’ll manage the demon.”

Seizing the opportunity, I smiled as kindly as I could and made a suggestion.

“There just so happens to be a maid position open at my mansion. Like the Holy Kingdom, my family is also suffering from a labor shortage.”

“…You want to employ the former commander of the first Demon Lord as a maid?”

“I’m the Hero. What can’t I do? Haha.”

Honestly, I didn’t really like the idea of letting a demon into my home either, but it was a much better option than handing her over to the Holy Kingdom and risking trouble.

“That’s foolish. A demon is not something to be reformed, but a monstrosity that must be eliminated.”

“Hmm. I never said I planned to reform her.”

“Regardless of the details, we cannot accept such a request. Please reconsider.”

As expected, the Holy Kingdom wasn’t about to give in easily.

Sure, the priestess in front of me probably doesn’t have the final say, but even if I went to someone higher, the answer would be the same. In the game, the Holy Kingdom was always rigid and stubborn.

“I’m sorry, but in that case, this is no longer a request—consider it a notification.”

“…What?”

Unfortunately for them, I had no intention of repeating the frustrating concessions forced on me in the game.

“I won’t be asking His Holiness the Pope—I’ll go directly to the Saintess.”

“Ah……”

“As you know, the Saintess and I share a deep bond. I’m sure she’ll grant any reasonable request.”

I didn’t go out of my way to lift Hestia up to her current position for nothing.

Having accidentally obtained the fallen Saintess, I should make full use of her while I can, even if I have to clean up the mess later.

“How could the Holy Kingdom fall into the hands of someone like this…”

“…No. Let’s not be shaken.”

“Yes. Justice will prevail in the end….”

Somehow, I feel like the people of the Holy Kingdom are beginning to see me as the exact opposite of a Hero, but so what?

“You guys should probably start preparing to switch sides.”

Knowing full well that the balance shifted in my favor the moment the Pope failed to check me, I decided to offer them some advice while I was at it.

“Even if the ceremonial ranks of the Pope, chosen by the people, and the Saintess, chosen by the Goddess, are the same—don’t you think it’s obvious where the real power will end up?”

“T-The Holy Kingdom is not swayed by such worldly interests!”

Funny how the Pope’s expression, shown through the crystal ball, looked like he’d bitten into a lemon the entire time.

Well, in the original story, he eventually yielded power to the Saintess anyway, so I’ll just wait and see.

“Haha, well then, I’ll be going now….”

In any case, enough time had passed.

I walked past the priestess, who was trembling with a tense expression, and made my way out of the meeting room.

“Huh.”

However, the slight high I felt from dealing a blow to the Holy Kingdom was instantly shattered the moment I saw what was happening outside.

– Gooo…

Lady Meredia and Saintess Hestia were somehow facing each other in the hallway, emanating an eerie, chilling aura.

“…Say that one more time. Before my patience reaches its limit.”

“I don’t really mind, but with so many eyes watching now, are you sure you’re okay with that?”

For a moment, I wondered if I was hallucinating and rubbed my eyes, but all I saw was the two women clearly poised for a duel.

‘…What the hell is this now?’

I thought I had just barely made it through the storm, so why does it feel like the final battle from the original story is unfolding right in front of me?

***

“Saintess…?”

“Lady Meredia?”

The chilling standoff in the hallway turned the faces of the priests and academy staff who followed Whitney pale.

“Ahaha… um, everyone.”

“I don’t know what’s going on, but how about we stop here, both of you?”

Looking just as pale as everyone else, Whitney stepped forward, taking responsibility as he tried to intervene between Meredia and Hestia.

“As the Saintess said, there are many watching, you know?”

Of course, given the overwhelming tension between the two, no one actually believed Whitney’s words would resolve the situation.

“…Alright.”

But surprisingly, the moment Whitney finished speaking, Meredia—her eyes dyed a fierce red—calmly withdrew her killing intent and stepped back.

“Very well.”

Hestia also pulled back the gray smoke rising from her body and took a step back.

“It’s about time we part ways.”

As people turned their indescribable gazes toward Whitney, who had seemingly subdued the two with just a few words, Hestia, who had stepped back, signaled quietly to the priests and spoke.

“Before that, let’s talk one last time.”

The priests, who had hurried forward to stop her, halted in place as Hestia raised her hand to restrain them.

“Honestly, when I first met you… I thought it was all over.”

No longer showing any signs of her once-immature self, Hestia, now radiating the full dignity of a Saintess, began to walk slowly toward Whitney, her voice calm and low.

“…Turns out, it wasn’t the end. It was the beginning.”

Meredia’s eyes narrowed slightly as she watched, but thankfully, no new conflict arose.

“Before I go—though it’s not much of a farewell—I’ll give you a little gift.”

“……”

“That much is okay, right?”

Glancing briefly at Meredia, Hestia turned her gaze to Whitney and reached out her hand to him.

“Here, give me your hand.”

“Huh?”

“Go on.”

As she frowned and urged him, Whitney hesitated briefly before holding out his hand—and at that moment—

– Whoosh…!

In the blink of an eye, Hestia grabbed his hand, pulled him toward her, and gently embraced him.

“See? Isn’t it nice, making that kind of expression?”

As everyone—including Whitney—froze at her sudden action, Hestia simply smiled brightly and murmured.

“…Or is that a face you always show someone else?”

It was undoubtedly the brightest smile she had ever shown—not just since meeting Whitney, but in her entire life—yet there seemed to be a hint of sorrow mixed within it.

“I hope, this time, you manage to protect what’s precious to you.”

Then, as if the earlier sadness had never existed, Hestia erased it from her expression and leaned close to Whitney’s ear, whispering softly.

“…Lord Demon King, the one who returned.”

Her voice was so quiet that no one—not even Meredia, who had been glaring at Hestia from just a step away—could hear what she had whispered.

“…What?”

“Hehe….”

Whitney, having experienced such close physical contact with a woman for perhaps the first time in his life, stood frozen like a statue, dumbfounded.

“If I keep holding you, I think the lady behind you might actually kill me.”

“…Ah.”

Watching Meredia behind Whitney slowly exude killing intent again, Hestia smiled slyly and finally took a step back from him.

“Well then, excuse me.”

“……”

“When the time comes, I’ll come find you again.”

With those parting words, she bowed her head slightly and, surrounded by her priests, walked slowly down the hallway, away from Whitney.

“…My dear hero.”

By the time her figure had disappeared, a faint whisper drifted back from afar.

“Ahaha….”

But Whitney had no energy to react to that.

“…So, did you enjoy it?”

“My lady, this is…”

“I asked if you enjoyed it.”

Having no other target, Meredia’s adorable rage was now entirely focused on him.

*****

“Haa….”

Leaving behind Whitney and Meredia, who were now once again entangled in a sweet and deadly love affair—

‘…Seriously, who would’ve thought I’d end up not as the Goddess’s Saintess, but the Demon King’s?’

Wearing a slightly more relaxed expression as she exited the academy with the priests, Hestia chuckled faintly and murmured to herself.

‘Well, I guess it’s fine.’

Lowering her head just slightly—so subtly no one would notice—she gave a sly smile once more.

‘Besides, I gained a pretty useful surveillance tool…’

– Let me go! I must return to my master!

The spider monster, who had always followed Whitney closely, squirmed frantically in her chest.

“Now, now. Let’s get along from now on, fellow familiars.”

– Kyaaah! Let me go! I said let go!!!

“Ufufu….”

And so, with Hestia now no longer the Goddess’s Saintess but Whitney’s familiar, the last piece of incriminating evidence against him was quietly erased.

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