In fact, Cleon had some anxiety before he first encountered the 'Demon King Alyssa'. He was the one who knew that Alyssa was studying darkness.
"...By the way, is your research going well? You’ve been so busy with it lately that you haven’t been able to meet me often."
"Well? Maybe just doing what we've been doing so far will be enough?"
"What? You're saying there's still half left."
"There's only half left. Do you see what I can't do?"
Now, the conversation with Alyssa, which felt like a midsummer night's dream, kept coming to mind. Surely... It couldn't be her.
Alyssa?
"... OMG."
Sylvia suddenly opened her eyes as if she was being pulled out of the water. As soon as she opened her eyes, air rushed into her lungs.
“Ugh, gulp!”
She twisted her body and coughed lightly. Then, a tickling sensation brushed across her skin, causing her shoulders to flinch.
'...What?'
Sylvia instinctively raised her guard and cautiously got up. Then the fur covering her body slid down. Sylvia realized that her body was naked under the fur and quickly pulled the fur. She blinked in confusion and looked around. A sigh-like murmur escaped her teeth.
“What is this...”
Sylvia was alone in a small cave. Nearby, a bonfire was crackling and her clothes were neatly spread out beside it. It was as if someone had dried her clothes out of fear of her catching a cold.
"...By the way, is your research going well? You’ve been so busy with it lately that you haven’t been able to meet me often."
"Well? Maybe just doing what we've been doing so far will be enough?"
"What? You're saying there's still half left."
"There's only half left. Do you see what I can't do?"
Now, the conversation with Alyssa, which felt like a midsummer night's dream, kept coming to mind. Surely... It couldn't be her.
'That' Demon Lord Alyssa, whom people unanimously condemned. It couldn't be her, could it?
Even though it didn't show on the outside because of his expressionless face, Cleon was more nervous than anyone else throughout the battle. However, such worries were for naught. 'Alyssa', who appeared during the battle with black wings made of darkness, was the very 'Demon' itself.
“Hey, hey! It’s the Demon King!”
“The Demon King Alyssa has appeared!”
People screamed and shouted at the sudden thunderbolts pouring down from above their heads. Cleon turned his head in the direction the people's fingers were pointing and muttered in a tired tone without realizing it.
“...Such an ominous feeling.”
Even though it was quite a distance away, the thick malice and murderous intent were enough to suffocate him. Purple skin, eyes with no visible whites, and two horns sprouting from her forehead. The 'Demon King' had the appearance of being the pinnacle of all demons. There was no trace of the woman he loved on the Demon King. It felt foolish to have suspected for a moment that the Demon King was 'Alyssa'.
“Hey, hey! It’s the Demon King!”
“The Demon King Alyssa has appeared!”
People screamed and shouted at the sudden thunderbolts pouring down from above their heads. Cleon turned his head in the direction the people's fingers were pointing and muttered in a tired tone without realizing it.
“...Such an ominous feeling.”
Even though it was quite a distance away, the thick malice and murderous intent were enough to suffocate him. Purple skin, eyes with no visible whites, and two horns sprouting from her forehead. The 'Demon King' had the appearance of being the pinnacle of all demons. There was no trace of the woman he loved on the Demon King. It felt foolish to have suspected for a moment that the Demon King was 'Alyssa'.
The moment he realized that relief and anger came to him at the same time. Cleon distorted his face and strengthened his hand holding the sword.
'Someone like you.'
How dare you tarnish her name.
'Someone like you.'
How dare you tarnish her name.
His purple eyes, free of hesitation, turned murderous. He immediately created a sword energy five times the size of his blade and charged at the Demon King. The fight that followed was fierce. The Demon King was stronger and more persistent than any other demon Cleon had ever faced.
After such a long battle, Cleon finally succeeded in stabbing the sword into the heart of Demon King Alyssa.
“Keuk...!”
As he felt the blade pierce her heart, a groan and blood burst out from the Demon King’s mouth. However, Cleon did not let his guard down and twisted the sword once more to widen the wound. In response, even more blood fell from the Demon King’s mouth than before.
“Huh, huh...”
An eerie sound, either laughter or tears, pierced his ears. At that moment, the darkness surrounding the Demon King shuddered loudly.
“What are you talking about...!”
Cleon instinctively frowned and tried to turn away. If he hadn’t seen the face that appeared for a moment through the swaying darkness, he would have done so. ‘Demon King’ Alyssa sneered in a voice that sounded like scraping iron plates.
“Fucking fucking humans, you little shits...”
Kung.
As he felt the blade pierce her heart, a groan and blood burst out from the Demon King’s mouth. However, Cleon did not let his guard down and twisted the sword once more to widen the wound. In response, even more blood fell from the Demon King’s mouth than before.
“Huh, huh...”
An eerie sound, either laughter or tears, pierced his ears. At that moment, the darkness surrounding the Demon King shuddered loudly.
“What are you talking about...!”
Cleon instinctively frowned and tried to turn away. If he hadn’t seen the face that appeared for a moment through the swaying darkness, he would have done so. ‘Demon King’ Alyssa sneered in a voice that sounded like scraping iron plates.
“Fucking fucking humans, you little shits...”
Kung.
At that moment, his heart stopped. That voice. No matter how hard he tried to erase it, it would be stuck in his ears for the rest of his life and would never disappear. And in the darkness that seemed like a black fog, he saw that face for a moment. He would never forget it until he closed his eyes. Cleon's head was frozen in shock, and his tongue moved first.
"I know..."
"I know..."
Alyssa?
But before Cleon could properly call out, the darkness that had been rippling as if it were her last struggle before death surrounded Alyssa's body and quietly settled down. Along with that, the appearance that had been that of 'Archmage Alyssa' for a moment also returned to that of the Demon King. The Demon King's eyelids drooped and her body, which had lost its warmth, tilted down.
Clank-
The warrior's sword rolled carelessly on the ground. Cleon unconsciously let go of the sword handle and supported her body with both arms. The body that was accustomed to his arms sank. Immediately afterward, an epiphany close to instinct penetrated his entire body.
"Ah."
Ah.
"Ah."
Ah.
The trembling that started from the tips of his fingers slowly spread throughout his body. His legs gave out. His body slowly collapsed toward the floor. Cleon knelt on the floor and groped the face of the Demon King, no, Alyssa, with his trembling hands. He gasped for breath as if his throat was being choked.
“Yes, Lyssa.”
Alyssa. Alyssa. Alyssa...What on earth have I done?
“Yes, Lyssa.”
Alyssa. Alyssa. Alyssa...What on earth have I done?
At that moment, deafening cheers erupted from all directions.
“The Demon King is dead!”
“The Demon King died at the hands of the Hero!”
“Long live the warrior! Long live Cleon!”
“The Demon King is dead!”
“The Demon King died at the hands of the Hero!”
“Long live the warrior! Long live Cleon!”
“Lord Cleon has defeated Demon King Alyssa!”
“Woooo!”
Literally, a roar so loud it shook the earth covered the continent. The cheers of the people poured down from above his head.
“...!”
Meanwhile, the hero, who was the real protagonist of the shout, let out a silent scream while leaning over the Demon King's corpse. The shouts pouring down from above felt like countless needles or arrows. If only it had been that way, he wished. However, everything was reality. A reality that was more vicious and vivid than a dream.
"Ah..."
At that moment, the warrior Cleon truly wanted to break his own neck.
“Woooo!”
Literally, a roar so loud it shook the earth covered the continent. The cheers of the people poured down from above his head.
“...!”
Meanwhile, the hero, who was the real protagonist of the shout, let out a silent scream while leaning over the Demon King's corpse. The shouts pouring down from above felt like countless needles or arrows. If only it had been that way, he wished. However, everything was reality. A reality that was more vicious and vivid than a dream.
"Ah..."
At that moment, the warrior Cleon truly wanted to break his own neck.
***
Cleon had been absent-minded the whole time since he realized that the Demon King Alyssa was the 'Alyssa' he had been looking for. However, people were busy talking about what to do with the 'Demon King's' body, so they didn't notice his condition.
“Shall we cut off her limbs and burn them?”
“That’s fine, but hanging it on a pole and letting crows eat it is...”
“Burning it is too humane. Hang it in the square for a few days and then dismember it...”
“I have a good idea. As food for the monsters who are no different from her own kind...”
The loser is silent. People competed to offer their opinions on how to deal with the Demon King's corpse a little more brutally, and gratifyingly. After the great war, it was only then that the warrior Cleon, who had been silent and absent-minded, stepped forward.
“...I am the one who cut off the Demon King’s heart. So please leave the disposal of the body to me as well.”
Some objected to his words, but most nodded their heads in agreement. Rather, they agreed that a warrior would be the most suitable person to desecrate the Demon King’s corpse.
“Shall we cut off her limbs and burn them?”
“That’s fine, but hanging it on a pole and letting crows eat it is...”
“Burning it is too humane. Hang it in the square for a few days and then dismember it...”
“I have a good idea. As food for the monsters who are no different from her own kind...”
The loser is silent. People competed to offer their opinions on how to deal with the Demon King's corpse a little more brutally, and gratifyingly. After the great war, it was only then that the warrior Cleon, who had been silent and absent-minded, stepped forward.
“...I am the one who cut off the Demon King’s heart. So please leave the disposal of the body to me as well.”
Some objected to his words, but most nodded their heads in agreement. Rather, they agreed that a warrior would be the most suitable person to desecrate the Demon King’s corpse.
That’s how Cleon was barely able to receive Alyssa’s body. Alyssa had maintained her demon form except for the moment when he pierced her heart. Her body was the same. He placed the old coffin containing her body in a small temple near his house and never left. Cleon gradually forgot how to use his body. He just sat down in front of the coffin and stared at Alyssa’s face, or occasionally traced her face with his fingertips. Fortunately, the corpses of demons did not rot or anything until they were burned.
“...”
Empty-eyed Cleon carefully tidied up the hair covering her forehead. Since Alyssa died, the dark horns and wings had disappeared. Except for the fact that her skin had become a purple color like the demons, it felt as if Alyssa was lying in the coffin, quietly sleeping. Cleon could not bear to leave her seat, as she seemed ready to open her eyes and raise her body at any moment.
“...”
Empty-eyed Cleon carefully tidied up the hair covering her forehead. Since Alyssa died, the dark horns and wings had disappeared. Except for the fact that her skin had become a purple color like the demons, it felt as if Alyssa was lying in the coffin, quietly sleeping. Cleon could not bear to leave her seat, as she seemed ready to open her eyes and raise her body at any moment.
That went on for a day, two days. Until even those who had been curious about the Demon King’s disposition lost interest. Cleon prayed every single day, guarding Alyssa’s coffin.
'Oh my God.'
He doesn't know Alyssa, why on earth did she become the Demon Lord, or what happened before that. In fact, he still can't believe that she, who was the first to protect people from the demons, became the Demon Lord. But what if.
'If...'
If Alyssa really became the Demon King, then it's all his fault for not being able to stop her from becoming the Demon King. It's his fault for not being able to stay by her side until she became the Demon King.
'Oh my God.'
He doesn't know Alyssa, why on earth did she become the Demon Lord, or what happened before that. In fact, he still can't believe that she, who was the first to protect people from the demons, became the Demon Lord. But what if.
'If...'
If Alyssa really became the Demon King, then it's all his fault for not being able to stop her from becoming the Demon King. It's his fault for not being able to stay by her side until she became the Demon King.
So please, not Alyssa. It's me...
“...Please punish me.”
His parched lips moved faintly. Tears welled up in his sunken eyes. Cleon finally collapsed on the coffin and sobbed quietly.
“Oh, uh, please. Oh God, please...!”
She, who always smiled brightly and comforted people, but cried secretly alone. She always pretended to be brave but hid her trembling hands under her cloak before going to battle. My love, her. Please forgive me. And punish me. Please do so...
“...Please punish me.”
His parched lips moved faintly. Tears welled up in his sunken eyes. Cleon finally collapsed on the coffin and sobbed quietly.
“Oh, uh, please. Oh God, please...!”
She, who always smiled brightly and comforted people, but cried secretly alone. She always pretended to be brave but hid her trembling hands under her cloak before going to battle. My love, her. Please forgive me. And punish me. Please do so...
The tears on the coffin did not dry. On the 100th day since Cleon had shed tears without eating or drinking.
<...Can you handle those words?>
God answered.
<...Can you handle those words?>
God answered.
***
"... OMG."
Sylvia suddenly opened her eyes as if she was being pulled out of the water. As soon as she opened her eyes, air rushed into her lungs.
“Ugh, gulp!”
She twisted her body and coughed lightly. Then, a tickling sensation brushed across her skin, causing her shoulders to flinch.
'...What?'
Sylvia instinctively raised her guard and cautiously got up. Then the fur covering her body slid down. Sylvia realized that her body was naked under the fur and quickly pulled the fur. She blinked in confusion and looked around. A sigh-like murmur escaped her teeth.
“What is this...”
Sylvia was alone in a small cave. Nearby, a bonfire was crackling and her clothes were neatly spread out beside it. It was as if someone had dried her clothes out of fear of her catching a cold.
The moment she caught him in her eyes.
"Alyssa!"
All the memories came back in an instant. Her golden eyes opened wide without her knowing.
“...Randall.”
Immediately after muttering like that, Sylvia threw away her fur and got up in a hurry. She staggered out of the cave, wearing her slightly less dry clothes carelessly. Her entire body muscles were throbbing and she screamed, but she didn't have the presence of mind to care.
“Randall.”
Sylvia frantically repeated Randall's name, pushing aside the bushes with her hands and searching through the forest. Her hands were scraped against the rough branches, leaving raw cuts and bleeding.
“...!”
At that moment, a certain sound suddenly came quickly from inside the forest. Sylvia, despite being absent-minded, noticed it quickly and prepared to attack. As soon as she moved her magically wrapped hand, something suddenly popped out from the bushes.
"Alyssa!"
All the memories came back in an instant. Her golden eyes opened wide without her knowing.
“...Randall.”
Immediately after muttering like that, Sylvia threw away her fur and got up in a hurry. She staggered out of the cave, wearing her slightly less dry clothes carelessly. Her entire body muscles were throbbing and she screamed, but she didn't have the presence of mind to care.
“Randall.”
Sylvia frantically repeated Randall's name, pushing aside the bushes with her hands and searching through the forest. Her hands were scraped against the rough branches, leaving raw cuts and bleeding.
“...!”
At that moment, a certain sound suddenly came quickly from inside the forest. Sylvia, despite being absent-minded, noticed it quickly and prepared to attack. As soon as she moved her magically wrapped hand, something suddenly popped out from the bushes.
Crunch-!
“Sylvia? Why are you here...”
It was Randall with a puzzled look on his face. He unconsciously grabbed Sylvia's wrist which was swinging at him and let out a bewildered voice.
"...Ah."
He suddenly came to his senses at the sweltering heat from his wrist. At the same time, the blood in his entire body cooled down in an instant. Sylvia slapped Randall's hand away with all the color drained from her face. She staggered back from Randall. Randall was taken aback by the sight and put down the sword he had in his arms. It was the sword he always used.
“Sylvia? Why are you here...”
It was Randall with a puzzled look on his face. He unconsciously grabbed Sylvia's wrist which was swinging at him and let out a bewildered voice.
"...Ah."
He suddenly came to his senses at the sweltering heat from his wrist. At the same time, the blood in his entire body cooled down in an instant. Sylvia slapped Randall's hand away with all the color drained from her face. She staggered back from Randall. Randall was taken aback by the sight and put down the sword he had in his arms. It was the sword he always used.
Randall lowered his upper body as if calming a timid wild animal and slowly approached Sylvia. He continued speaking in a low, soft voice.
“Are you really surprised? I’m sorry. The demons that were chasing you earlier followed you here... I was on my way here to clean up after you so that you wouldn’t be able to call in other demons. I’m sorry if I surprised you...”
“I was going to say it.”
But right after that, Randall stopped and closed his mouth at Sylvia's words that suddenly came out. Sylvia took another step back, trying to straighten her staggering body. She said with tearful eyes, mocking herself.
“...I was going to say it.”
“...”
“Are you really surprised? I’m sorry. The demons that were chasing you earlier followed you here... I was on my way here to clean up after you so that you wouldn’t be able to call in other demons. I’m sorry if I surprised you...”
“I was going to say it.”
But right after that, Randall stopped and closed his mouth at Sylvia's words that suddenly came out. Sylvia took another step back, trying to straighten her staggering body. She said with tearful eyes, mocking herself.
“...I was going to say it.”
“...”
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