3 - Chapter 0: Prologue [Death of the Demon King]
I killed the Demon King.
My comrades and I overcame countless hardships,
journeying through miraculous times.
The ruler of the Demon Race,
a disaster for humanity,
a catastrophe incarnate.
Pooling our strength with my comrades,
we faced the Demon King—
a being we thought we could never defeat, the pinnacle of absurdity.
Together, we broke through countless barriers and magic,
finally plunging the Holy Sword into the Demon King's heart.
Even with a blade driven through his heart, as if he'd been waiting for this very moment,
the Demon King spread his arms wide and began to laugh boisterously.
"Bwahahaha! Foolish Hero, you know nothing of the Demon Race's suffering."
"The suffering of the Demon Race? What absurd nonsense you spout."
Have you forgotten the evil you've committed?
The vast lands you turned to ash,
the countless people you've slaughtered?
The Demon King, the pinnacle of evil, speaking of suffering only drew a hollow laugh from me.
"If you hadn't slaughtered humans and ravaged our lands, none of this would have happened."
"Foolish Hero, because you look at the world through tinted glasses, you will live trapped in your own world forever."
To stop the wicked Demon King's nonsense, I channeled holy power into the Holy Sword that pierced his heart.
"Ugh... I've been waiting for this very moment. Hero, you too shall feel what it's like to be the weak."
A magic circle activated beneath the Demon King.
Dark energy rose from the floor as the magic circle swallowed my body.
Whoosh!
"Yuria!!!!"
Before my eyes, I saw my comrades running toward me, shouting my name.
My precious comrades,
the ones I'd protect even if it cost me my life.
But since the Demon King was dead,
my comrades would be able to live on in a peaceful world.
Yes, this was enough.
My sacrifice was worth it,
because now everyone could be happy.
I saw my comrades running toward me.
Soon, they were obscured by the darkness rising from the magic circle.
The Demon King's curse-laden voice struck my ears.
"Bwahahaha! Spend the rest of your life in suffering!!!"
Strength drained from my entire body.
This was as far as I went...