Chapter 4: Hostage Exchange

────Vermilia's Perspective (Crimson Demon Lord's Territory)

"Ron! What is the meaning of this?!" Crimsonia-oneesama demanded, calling Ron forward to grill him.

It seemed even she could not overlook the immense harm brought upon her citizens.

"Ah? My condolences to the peasants who kicked the bucket, I guess," Ron replied, completely unabashed. "But hey, it's not like I did this behind your back, Crimsonia-sama. I got your proper permission first, so you've got no right to complain!"

"What did you say?!" Silverback-san roared in fury, looking as if he was about to rip Ron to shreds on the spot. "You're no different from the Calamity God Angra Mainyu! You might as well have slaughtered those people yourself!"

"Aw, come on. Vermilia-chan did a great job hunting down those humans for us, didn't she?"

Ron sauntered over to me with a slimy grin. He tried to casually drape his arm over my shoulder, but I deftly sidestepped him.

A sharp click of his tongue echoed in the room. Ignoring his petty annoyance, I joined my sister’s vassals in cornering him.

"You could have at least lent a hand in saving our people," I pressed. "Why didn't you?"

"Because I was busy, okay? I'm in the middle of creating something that can wipe those pesky humans off the face of the earth. Grand achievements always require a few sacrifices, don't they? It's not like I enjoy watching our own kind die, you know. That's why I'm busting my tail. But look, if you want me to apologize so bad, I'll say sorry. Forgive me already. I'm totally reflecting here. Heck, if you want, I'll even go over to the dead guys' graves and hold a memorial service or whatever."

"I cannot believe a single word of your 'reflection,'" I declared firmly. "We will return the hostages."

"Ah, well, if our big hero Vermilia-chan is the one saying it, I guess I have no choice," Ron muttered with a shrug. "Sure, give 'em back."

I felt a lingering sense of unease at Ron’s unusually cooperative attitude. Still, returning the hostages would strip the humans of any excuse to wage war against us. I had to keep pushing forward so the people of the Demon Lord's territory could live in peace and prosperity without constant conflict.

From what I had gathered, a faction rebelling against the new Priestess, Inarsha, had gone rogue and launched an invasion into our territory.

Inarsha was whispered to be the strongest holy knight in the Theocracy of Elon, yet she lacked the genocidal drive of her predecessor, Ellis, who believed all demons must be utterly eradicated. By all accounts, she was normally a remarkably gentle, maiden-like young lady.

"Then I shall immediately dispatch a message to the Theocracy of Elon stating our terms for the hostage release. I trust that is acceptable to you as well, Crimsonia-oneesama?"

"Umu... We have no other recourse," Crimsonia-oneesama sighed. "Our people have already suffered devastating losses. For now, I shall defer to your judgment."

────Kain's Perspective

We were sprinting along the sandy beaches of a port town in the Theocracy of Elon, desperately fleeing from a squad of heretic inquisitors.

"Huff... huff... Why on earth do I have to run away too?!" I wheezed, my lungs burning.

"How should I know?! It's obviously divine punishment for your daily misdeeds!" Hans yelled back.

Behind us, inquisitors in heavy plate armor over their white surcoats were scouring the area with bloodshot eyes.

—"Where did they go?!"

—"Show yourself, Hans, you pathetic Demon Lord's lackey!"

—"We know you're hiding out there, Kain the Exhibitionist!"

Exhibitionist?!

"No, I'm not! I am absolutely not an exhibitionist! That is a horrific misunderstanding!" I screamed back.

"Kain! You idiot, what are you doing?!" Hans barked. "Who in their right mind exposes their position to such cheap bait?!"

"An idiot who calls me an idiot is the real idiot, Pants-senpai!"

"This is no time for schoolyard insults! If you're going to stand there, I'm leaving you behind!"

"You coward! Are you trying to leave me to be sacrificed again?! You always do this!"

"Don't slander my good name! I am a Hero, too! It is my sacred duty to save those in distress. That goes without saying!"

"Then save me!"

"That's a flat-out refusal. First of all, you're not cute enough to be my junior. Secondly, you're a Hero just like me! A true Hero never begs others for help."

"Well, that's just like, your opinion, Pants-senpai."

"S-Shut up! If you've got breath to argue, move your legs! Run!"

"I am running! Desperately!"

Pants-senpai was smugly showing off, having cast a speed-enhancing magic buff on himself.

"Hahaha! Tremble before my speed, you weakling! Behold the true running prowess of a Hero from the Ackersen Kingdom!"

"Pants-senpai, didn't you get kicked out of Ackersen?" I pointed out.

"Wrong! I didn't abandon my beloved homeland of my own free will! It was that underhanded Nord who—"

"Ugh, I've heard this story a million times," I interrupted. "To sum it up, Nord-san beat you like a drum and you ran, right?"

"You persistent brat! You always rub togarashi right into my open wounds! Shall I break that insolent mouth of yours?!"

"Even if you don't break my mouth, isn't that pathetic little rod dangling between your legs already broken anyway, Pants-senpai?"

"There are some things you simply do not say! My fishing rod is built different! It's not going to snap that easily!"

By the time we had finally shaken off our armored pursuers, we stopped to catch our breath and realized the surrounding foliage looked bizarre.

"Huh? Pants-senpai... where exactly are we?"

"How should I know? But looking at how gloomy and dense this forest is, we might have accidentally stumbled into the Forest of Wandering, right on the border of the Theocracy of Elon."

—Grrrrrrrrrr!

"Honestly, Pants-senpai, stop making those weird noises."

"I didn't say a thing. Has your hearing finally gone bad too—"

—Grrrrrr! Arf!

"..."

"Eh?!" we squeaked in unison.

We slowly turned around, our blood running cold. In the murky depths of the forest, dozens of glowing red eyes stared back at us. Giant, jet-black wolves emerged from the shadows, growling menacingly as they exhaled dark miasma from their fangs.

"Black Wolves..." Pants-senpai whispered, swallowing hard.

"Run—?!"

Before he could even finish the word, I was already booking it in the opposite direction.

────Nord's Perspective

I had arrived at Afegao, a city located in the Crimson Demon Lord's territory, acting as Inarsha's bodyguard. It was situated right near the border of the Theocracy of Elon, usually a bustling hub of trade in peaceful times. Currently, however, it was overflowing with displaced refugees who had fled with nothing but the clothes on their backs.

The outer walls surrounding the city still bore painful, jagged scars from the recent invasion by the old Elis faction, but the interior appeared relatively intact and functional.

The refugees glared at our entourage with intense, burning hatred. Fortunately, the demonic guards deployed by the Demon Lord kept a watchful eye on them to prevent any riots from breaking out.

We were escorted to the fortress commanding the city. Despite being a demonic structure, the interior lacked any eerie or ominous atmosphere, looking very much like a typical human castle—save for some bizarrely designed furnishings.

"I am Inarsha Clazit, Priestess of the Elon Religion," Inarsha introduced herself.

"Pleased to meet you. I am Crimsonia, the Crimson Demon Lord," the beautiful girl replied, bowing politely.

Despite claiming to be the supreme Demon Lord, her humble and polite demeanor was so jarring that my lips almost twitched into a smirk. I barely managed to keep a straight face.

She called herself Crimsonia, but instead of the typical horns of the Crimson Ogre tribe, she had bat-like wings protruding from the sides of her head—unmistakable traits of a Succubus.

In reality, she was Vermilia, Crimsonia's younger half-sister. Inarsha likely knew this from what her father had told her, but she chose to proceed without questioning her identity.

So far, the sequence of events was identical to the plot of Rising Hero...

The only major deviation was that I was standing by Inarsha's side instead of Kain.

Clearing her throat lightly, Vermilia got straight to the point.

"Let me be completely frank. We shall return the people we captured from the Theocracy of Elon. In exchange, you must promise to never invade the Demon Lord's territory again."

"We desire the same," Inarsha replied. "However, we must ask that you extend this promise of non-aggression to all nations that follow the Elon Religion, not just the Theocracy itself. Is that agreeable?"

The demon prisoners captured by the various Elon-aligned nations did not include any who had been sold into slavery.

"Even if the number of nations increases, our stance remains unchanged. Do not set foot in our territory. That is our sole condition for the return of the hostages."

"Understood. We have a deal," Inarsha said.

Vermilia gestured to her subordinate, who brought forward a square stamp carved with a dragon emblem. Meanwhile, Inarsha turned to me and requested ink and a quill.

Vermilia stamped the parchment treaty, and Inarsha signed her name right beside it. With the hostage exchange and the non-aggression pact officially established, applause broke out among the representatives of both sides.

Having finished signing, Inarsha gestured for me to lean in close.

"That was rather unexpected," she whispered. "I fully anticipated them demanding reparations for the damage caused by the old Ellis faction's invasion, but they didn't bring it up at all."

"It only proves how desperate they are to avoid escalating conflict with humanity," I whispered back. "A wise decision for a Demon Lord, but don't lower your guard. They are still demons... you never know what tricks they might play."

"Indeed. You speak the truth."

As we whispered in each other's ears, I noticed Vermilia casting anxious glances our way, clearly bothered by our intimacy.

Leaving the conference chamber, we relocated to Afegao's central square. There, we found the abducted village girls alongside members of the Rosa Luminous squad, their hands bound securely behind their backs. From the Elon side, carriages unloaded demon and beastman prisoners, who were promptly lined up by our knights.

Suddenly, the returned demon and beastman captives fell to their knees, tears streaming down their faces.

"Demon Lord-sama! To think you would do so much for mere commoners like us..."

It was clear they deeply revered the compassionate Vermilia.

On the other hand, the village girls and Rosa Luminous members captured by the demons were acting incredibly strange.

"W-What is... happening to me...?" one of them gasped.

The girl wiped her face in shock as bloody tears began to spill from her eyelids. The phenomenon spread like a contagion.

"Ugh... I can't... breathe..."

Several girls clawed desperately at their necks, their bodies beginning to shudder violently.

"Help! Save me!"

They fell into a panic, slamming their heads against the stone walls or thrashing in agony on the ground.

"Blegh...!"

Some even began to violently vomit. Their bodies swelled up rapidly, turning red and puffy as if they had been stung by a swarm of hornets. The swelling intensified by the second, looking as though their skin might rupture at any moment.

"What is the meaning of this?!" Vermilia cried out, her face turning pale as she witnessed the horrific suffering of the human hostages. "How could this be?! Don't tell me..."

A magical energy rampage!

The Defiled Saintesses were taboo existences in the Theocracy of Elon—women whose bodies had been forcefully stuffed with as much concentrated mana as they could physically hold. If left unchecked, they would self-destruct, obliterating everything and everyone in the vicinity.

Even though I knew this was coming because of my knowledge of the game, seeing their agonizing torment up close made me instinctively want to take a step back.

Inarsha screamed in outrage.

"Did you demons go so far as to turn girls without any magical aptitude into Defiled Saintesses?!"

Unable to bear the fierce, accusatory glares from Inarsha and the Elon knights, Vermilia shook her head frantically, tears welling in her eyes as she denied the charge.

Damn it! I have no choice but to do it!

Inarsha surely knew the solution as well, but she was surrounded by suspicious demons and couldn't move freely. I dashed forward to the first trembling, agonizing village girl and pulled her into my arms. Her eyes rolled back, and her jaw quivered in unbearable pain.

An Archdemon in a tailcoat, who had been guarding the hostages, stepped in to block me.

"What do you think you're doing?!"

"Get out of my way, you fool!!" I roared.

Paralyze

"Guh...!? M-My body... won't..."

The Archdemon stiffened instantly, paralyzed in place.

"If we leave them like this, they will detonate! They'll wipe out everyone in this square and reduce the entire city to ash!"

Looking down at the village girl in my arms, I swallowed hard. She might have been a mere mob character, but in this eroge world, every single girl possessed striking beauty. Feeling a profound sense of moral transgression, I pressed my lips against hers.

"Nord-dono?! Have you lost your mind?!" one of the Elon guards cried out.

Their expressions warped into disbelief, as if thinking, Of course Nord Villance would pull a stunt like this in the middle of a crisis. But I ignored them. I had to drain the excess mana.

Tongue against tongue...

When I had been sent to the labor camps as my past self, Norn, I had received mana from a Defiled Saintess. Back then, I learned that only a deep, intense kiss would suffice to draw out and absorb the raw magical energy. It was exactly like a charging cable—if it wasn't plugged in firmly, the transfer wouldn't work.

My heart hammered against my ribs.

Right next to me, Inarsha—who possessed the gorgeous, mature aura of an older sister—was deeply kissing one of the beautiful Rosa Luminous members. I couldn't help but feel a sudden jolt of excitement at this intense yuri spectacle unfolding right before my eyes.

The crowd clearly believed I had succumbed to madness, but there was a method to my apparent insanity.

"Ahhh... ♡"

As if a fully-charged alarm had gone off, the girl's eyes softened, and her agonizing pain melted away into a peaceful expression the moment her excess mana was completely drained.

"Ah! I will assist you, Nord!" Inarsha gasped, finally realizing what I was doing.

"Right, please do!"

She immediately leaned down and began kissing another Rosa Luminous member.

"Wait! We haven't officially released them yet—" some demon soldiers protested, but Vermilia raised her hand to stop them.

"Let them handle this," she commanded.

Thanks to Vermilia’s intervention, we were able to treat the girls on the verge of magical explosion without further interference. Inarsha and I worked in tandem, moving from one girl to the next. Finally, we reached the very last one.

Oof, I'm gonna burst...

Even though we had split the workload, absorbing such a massive quantity of raw magic from nearly ten girls left me feeling severely "mana drunk."

Still, seeing the tranquil, relieved faces of the girls we saved made the exhausting ordeal feel entirely worth it.

But the tension hadn't fully dissipated. Now that the immediate danger had passed, the representatives from Elon cast extremely suspicious looks at Vermilia.

Before they could interrogate her, I decided to take the initiative.

"Hey, Demon Lord. I need a word with you. Lend me your ear."

I reached out and pinched the tip of Vermilia's pointed, elf-like ear.

"You are Crimsonia’s younger half-sister, Vermilia, aren't you?" I whispered.

"How... How do you know that?!" she gasped, her eyes widening.

"Who do you think I am? If you thought you could deceive Nord Villance, you're a thousand years too early! But that's irrelevant right now. You've been set up. Someone intentionally triggered a magical rampage in these Defiled Saintesses to blow this entire plaza—and the city—sky-high."

"What...?"

Seeing the genuine, blank confusion on her face, my suspicions were confirmed.

"Good grief. At least it seems you had absolutely nothing to do with this plot." I offered her a hand as she sat slumped on the stone floor. "Are you planning on staying down there forever?"

Just as she reached for my hand—

—Screams echoed from the distance!

—"Aaargh! Why are there so many monsters?!"

—"It's a massive pack of Black Wolves!!"

Terrified shrieks erupted from the residents of Afegao. Black Wolves were massive, tiger-sized magical beasts that even high-tier demons struggled to tame.

If they went on a rampage, it would be far worse than a simple dog bite.

"Tch!"

My inner frustration leaked out through Nord’s body, causing me to click my tongue. Just when we had finally gotten a handle on things!

"He's here! That bastard!!" Vermilia screamed.

Her eyes flashed with a dangerous light. She took off at a speed resembling a Formula One racecar, passing right by my outstretched hand.

"Why are those beasts here?!"

As it turned out, Kain and Hans were sprinting into the city, trailing a massive horde of Black Wolves behind them. Vermilia immediately lunged at them, swinging her unsheathed saber as she cornered Kain.

"Did you kill my brother?!" she shrieked.

"Whoa!"

"Kain, are you alright?!" Hans yelled.

Caught off guard, Kain barely managed to dodge the lethal arc of her blade.

"What are you talking about?! Unlike Nord, I would never bully the little brother of a cute girl like you!"

"Don't play dumb with me!!" Vermilia roared. "The ogre horn resting within my soul tells me everything! You slaughtered my younger brother, Orgas, and treated his remains like worthless garbage!"

"I don't know anything about that! You've got the wrong guy! I've never even heard of an 'Orgas'. The only one I defeated was Demon Lord Azrael!"

"Stop lying! I will tear you apart with my own hands and feed your corpse to these Black Wolves!"

"If you're going to be that unreasonable, then I guess I'll just have to beat some sense into you! Don't blame me for what happens next!"

Kain drew his replica Holy Sword, Excalibur.

Oh, great. If either of them dies here, the game's corrective force might just erase me from existence!

I had to stop this fight at all costs!

But first, I had to deal with the swarming Black Wolves.

Dark Wave

"Tch! What an absolute pain in the ass."

Nord's arrogant persona took over, prompting another annoyed click of my tongue. A high-tier dark magic spell could easily wipe out the entire pack in one go, but unleashing that kind of power inside the city walls would slaughter the fleeing civilians and reduce the town to rubble. While the Black Wolves prowled the streets like they owned the place, Vermilia and Kain clashed, their blades throwing off a shower of brilliant sparks.

"Damn it! Stay away from me! Fireball!"

Hans was busy trying to keep the wolves from surrounding Kain.

I need to separate those two, fast!

As I grew increasingly anxious, yet another crisis presented itself.

"Father!"

"Lulua?!"

Evidently desperate to escape the surrounding wolves, a demon father and his young daughter bolted out of their house. The little girl tripped on the cobblestones. By the time her father managed to scoop her up, they were completely surrounded by snarling beasts with no way out.

"H-Help...! Oh god!"

Shatter! Galianus, the Serpent-Sword

Just as a wolf lunged to tear the father and child to pieces, the segmented blade of Galianus whipped through the air with a sharp whoosh, wrapping around the beast's neck and cleanly severing its head, which went rolling across the ground.

"Heh, pathetic mutts that can only hunt the weak."

—Grrrrrr!

Sensing a greater threat, the remaining wolves shifted their focus and lunged at me in unison. I drew the Holy Sword Excalibur alongside Galianus, slicing the oncoming beasts into neat, bloody pieces.

"Who told you idiots to wander outside at a time like this?!" I barked at the trembling demons. "Get back inside and lock your doors tight if you don't want to die!"

"Y-Yes! Thank you so much! We will never forget this kindness..."

"Save your gratitude! Locking yourselves inside is the best way to repay me!"

The father cradled his daughter and scrambled back into their home, slamming the door shut.

"Damn it! There are too many of them!" Hans wailed. "I thought we'd be safe if we made it to the city! What a massive miscalculation!"

While Vermilia’s retinue, Inarsha, and the freed members of the Rosa Luminous fought alongside the beastmen to hold back the wolf pack, Vermilia and Kain remained locked in their fierce duel.

"You absolute fools!!" I roared, my voice booming across the plaza. "Are you seriously trying to kill each other in the middle of this?! Open your eyes and look at the civilians fleeing for their lives!"

"Ah...!"

Vermilia froze at my shout. She had backed Kain up against a residential wall, her blade poised to strike, but she slowly lowered her weapon.

"Surviving this onslaught takes priority," she muttered coldly. "We shall purge the city of these Black Wolves first. Consider your life temporarily on loan, Hero. Wash your neck and wait for me."

With weapons distributed to the combat-ready Rosa Luminous members and the freed demon hostages, the tide of battle quickly turned. Before long, the wolf pack was annihilated, and silence returned to the streets of Afegao.

────Nord's Perspective

After surviving the chaotic hostage exchange in Afegao, I finally made it back to the familiar confines of the Headmaster's office at the Hero Academy. As I sat sipping the black tea Lillian had brewed for me, explaining the entire ordeal, an uninvited guest burst through the door, complaining loudly.

"Why on earth am I classified as a Primary Retentioner?!" Hans barked at Lillian.

Because bringing a horde of Black Wolves into the city was deemed an accidental occurrence—and since Hans had fought to defeat them—Inarsha had intervened to clear him of heresy charges. However, he was still forced to re-enroll at the Academy.

"Huh?" Lillian drawled. "You didn't pay your tuition. What did you expect would happen?"

"Ugh..."

"Honestly, I don't care if you drop out," she added with a shrug. "I'm not your parent, so I won't force you to stay."

"Grrr..."

"Oh, that's right. Hans, your specialization is Offensive Magic, correct? That means you'll be placed in Nord’s class. Do your best."

"K-Kuh...!"

Hans ground his teeth so hard I thought they might shatter. Lillian really was a sadist. There were plenty of other professors in the Offensive Magic Department, yet she went out of her way to dump him right into my class.

"Study hard, Hans," I sneered. "Who knows? I might actually turn you into a respectable Hero."

"Nord! I'll beat that smug look right off your—"

Hans raised a furious fist, but I wordlessly cast a high-pressure gravity spell on him.

"S-So... heavy...!"

"Hahaha! How incredibly respectful of you," I laughed. "Bowing your head so deeply to acknowledge me as your master."

"I will never... ever forgive you, Nord!!"

"Heh, how amusing. It's not as if I ever desired your forgiveness in the first place."

Though I had successfully returned from my encounter with Vermilia and Inarsha, I couldn't help but worry about Vermilia's safety. However, as a human, I couldn't simply go wandering back into the Demon Lord's territory without a valid reason.

A week passed. I was back to teaching my classes at the Hero Academy, enjoying a brief moment of peace.

"Hans, answer this question."

"Hmph. You think a two-time Primary Retentioner like me can't solve a simple problem like this?"

My, my. Look at Pants-senpai acting like a smug, double-reincarnated cheat protagonist. The question regarded the most effective magic to counter dragon scales.

"The answer is Drago Blade!" Hans declared proudly, puffing out his chest.

"Pfft... Ahahaha!"

"What's so funny?!"

I had absolutely no intention of mocking his answer, but unfortunately, Nord's natural instinct to bully anyone who barked at him took over, and I couldn't help but laugh.

Though Hans looked ready to explode, I had a perfectly logical explanation to offer. Well, in Nord's typical arrogant tone, of course.

"To think you don't even know that... You're bringing shame to the prestigious title of 'Two-Time Primary Retentioner'."

Under the influence of Nord’s personality, I let out a dramatic sigh, turning my palms upward and shrugging. Hans could only grind his teeth in silent fury.

"Regrettably, your answer is completely outdated. Perhaps that was the correct response when you first entered the primary division, but magic is constantly evolving. That is the price of looking down on your junior classes. Today, the optimal countermeasure is World-Rotting Poison: Mold."

"Mold?!" Hans scoffed. "Don't make me laugh! That weak, mold-based poison spell that even primary students can cast? Working on dragons?! Stop pulling my leg!"

"Believe what you wish. But I have taught you the truth. Do not forget it."

Right as I finished my warning, the clock tower of the Hero Academy began to toll—Bong, Bong, Bong—signaling the end of the class.

"Wow, Pants-senpai, you couldn't even counter Nord-san's argument," Kain mocked. "What was even the point of repeating the year?"

"Shut up! A useless brat who didn't even know the answer has no right to talk down to me!"

As Hans and Kain engaged in their usual pathetic bickering, Lei approached me.

"Nord-sama, it is almost time."

"Time for what?"

"Have you forgotten? Today is your marriage interview with Princess Ottoline of the Delihera Kingdom."

"Ah, cancel it. Tell them I'm far too busy preparing for tomorrow's lectures."

I was already swamped trying to avoid my various death flags; I didn't have the luxury of participating in events that deviated from the main plot. I tried to slip out of the classroom, but—

"Hold on, Nord."

"Tch...!"

"It's Chancellor Wald!"

"Why is Wald-sama here?!"

"I can't believe he's already back on his feet after that massive injury!"

A hush fell over the students as Wald Villance made his grand entrance.

"You went to the trouble of visiting with that prosthetic leg of yours. How diligent," I remarked.

"It is thanks to the excellent prosthetist you recommended. I am in fantastic shape. In fact, I feel even better than before."

"That is purely your imagination."

With that, I activated my Breathing Shadow magic, intending to vanish from his sight.

"Nord, do not underestimate your own father," Wald chuckled. "Indeed, I do not possess the talent to detect you when you fully conceal your presence. However, this prosthetic arm of yours tells me exactly where you are!"

"What?!"

While I was grateful for his recovery, I secretly cursed the sheer competence of the prosthetist!

"Now, go quietly to your marriage interview with Princess Ottoline."

"I do not have the time to worry about marriage contracts! I still have unfinished business in the Theocracy of Elon—"

"I am not telling you to marry her," Wald interrupted. "I am simply telling you to meet her and decline the offer in person. Turning down an offer without even showing your face is the height of disrespect."

"Oh?"

If I was allowed to reject her, then that changed everything. There was no reason to hesitate.

Though Princess Ottoline was a minor character, her appearance was far too beautiful to be wasted on a mob. That being said, attracting any more love interests would only invite further jealousy from Kain and the others.

It was crucial to draw a clear line.

────Ottoline's Perspective

My father had ordered me to go and meet a potential fiancé.

Of all people, it had to be the notoriously wicked Nord Villance...

Rumors described him as a despicable beast who would violate any woman in sight, exposing his crude lower half to anyone he took a fancy to.

My father and mother dismissed these stories as mere rumors, refusing to listen to my pleas.

It seemed I was born under a tragic star.

Oh, how I wish I could meet the Black Hero, Kain-sama, who successfully vanquished the Demon Lord Azrael...

But that was nothing more than an impossible dream.

Still, surely I was allowed to indulge in my fantasies within my own mind. I closed my eyes and let my imagination wander.

In my dream, Kain-sama, with his sleek black hair and sharp eyes, gently lifted my chin.

"You are so beautiful, Ottoline."

"P-Please... call me Trina."

"Very well. I wish to steal your lips, Trina. May I?"

"Y-Yes...!"

Just as I was about to share a kiss with Kain-sama in my fantasy, the carriage jolted violently—perhaps running over a stone—and the shock dragged me back to reality.

What a terribly rude rock! To ruin such a blissful moment. I opened my eyes in annoyance, only to be greeted by an unexpected voice.

"I see. So you have absolutely no desire to be engaged to Nord Villance-sama."

"Eek?!"

"I have been inside this carriage since before you even boarded."

"A-A demon! Driver, stop the—"

The figure pulled back her hood, revealing a pair of fluffy beast ears.

"Do you understand now? You are already completely within our grasp."

In a panic, I grabbed the carriage door handle.

"Help! Someone, please! K-Kain-sama! Please save me!"

Yet, the door refused to budge. The demon stepped closer, placing her hands on my shoulders as she whispered in my ear.

"Do not be so frightened. I have no intention of harming you. I simply wish to take your place and meet Nord-sama."

"Eh? What do you mean...?"

"I apologize, but I cannot share the details. You will not have to meet the dreaded Nord-sama. Is that not a wonderful arrangement for you as well?"

Was this the devil's whisper? It was true that if I could avoid an engagement with that beastly man—who supposedly flashed his pathetic lower half to any woman he liked—it would be a blessing.

As hesitation bloomed in my heart, the demon smiled.

"Allow me to gift you a sweet, beautiful dream."

A thick, pink smoke filled the carriage. Strangely, it didn't choke me. It had a sweet, incredibly relaxing scent...

Where am I...?

I had heard that high-ranking Succubi possessed the ability to trap humans in vivid dreams.

"Kya?!"

Suddenly, Kain-sama appeared right before my eyes!

"You called yourself Trina, correct? My real name is Nord Villance!"

What?! How could this be?

The handsome gentleman who possessed Kain-sama's face was claiming to be the vile Nord Villance!

Overwhelmed by his intense presence, I backed away, only to lose my footing and fall. Despite my terror, Nord closed the distance between us.

"Stop this! Stop pretending to be Kain-sama! I love Kain-sama, the hero who defeated Demon Lord Azrael... No! Don't touch me there...!"

Ah...! Even though I hate him, why does it feel so good?!

When my father showed me Nord's portrait, I felt nothing but disgust. Yet, to think that this man possessed Kain-sama's face on the outside but Nord's essence on the inside! This had to be the Succubus's doing.

"Oh, how strange! Even though your mouth cries out for that piece of trash, your mind cannot help but conjure thoughts of Nord-sama!"

"N-No... that's... Ah! Stop! Please, no more...!"

"It is better to be honest with yourself. Surely the Nord-sama in your dreams will lead you to the heights of ecstasy."

"I-I'm going...! I'm going...!"

"Your body is so honest. To think that you, who claimed to loathe Nord-sama so deeply, would reach such a beautiful climax!"

As my consciousness faded, the Succubus's voice echoed in the distance...

────Vermilia's Perspective

"Fufu... What a blissful expression. If you are satisfied, then my efforts as a Succubus have not been in vain."

Nord-sama had not only saved me when I was consumed by rage and obsessed with killing Kain, but he had also rescued my people without prejudice.

I could think of no one better suited to become the new ruler of the Crimson Demon Lord's territory in our place. Surely, Mother would have no choice but to agree.

His overwhelming presence screamed of a true powerhouse. Even the new Priestess, Inarsha, seemed to place absolute trust in him.

I apologize to the Delihera Kingdom, but since Princess Ottoline loathed Nord-sama due to those baseless rumors anyway, there should be no issue with me taking her place. I shall use this marriage interview to secure a peaceful future for us Succubi in the Demon Lord's territory.

────Nord's Perspective

"I am Ottoline de Delihera," she introduced herself.

What on earth?!

"Hahaha! It seems Nord has taken quite a liking to Princess Ottoline. I shall leave you two to talk," Wald chuckled, heartlessly leaving the room and abandoning me.

Well, his absence was actually quite convenient.

"Reveal your true identity. You cannot deceive my eyes with a mere disguise."

—Jingle-jangle!

The classic puzzle-solving sound from a popular fantasy RPG echoed in my mind. A brilliant light flashed before my eyes, and in place of Princess Ottoline, a girl of jaw-dropping beauty appeared, taking my breath away.

"Vermilia...?"

"Yes. I am deeply honored that you remember me, Nord-sama."

She fell to one knee, bowing her head. It seemed she hadn't used transformation magic, but rather manipulated light to mimic Ottoline's appearance.

"Why go to such lengths? What is your goal?"

"Please forgive me. It would cause too much of a stir for a demon to visit human lands openly. I had no choice but to resort to this method."

Unlike the hot-headed demons, Vermilia belonged to the moderate faction. As long as she wasn't angered, her manners and speech were exceptionally polite.

"I have come to beg for your assistance, Nord-sama. We need your strength to save the Succubi... no, the entire Crimson Demon Lord's territory from a terrible crisis."

"A crisis?"

"Yes. Crimsonia-oneesama has launched an invasion against the territory ruled by the Succubi..."

"What?!"

I was stunned. Crimsonia, who looked like a shrine-maiden-clothed, horn-bearing chibi VTuber, and Vermilia, the mature Succubus, were half-sisters who deeply loved each other in the game Rising Hero.

For Crimsonia to attack Vermilia's homeland made no sense. Ron had to be the mastermind pulling the strings.

"I understand the situation. But that form stands out too much. Disguise yourself as Ottoline again. We're heading to the Demon Lord's territory immediately."

"Are you certain?!" she gasped, her eyes shining with hope.

"That is why you came all this way, isn't it? If we dally, your people will be slaughtered."

"Thank you, Nord-sama...! I swear to repay this debt, even if it costs me my very soul."

"Hahaha... Don't make me laugh. I've never heard of a demon repaying a favor. Don't get the wrong idea—I'm only going there to eliminate the mastermind, Ron."

To avoid my own death flags, I decided to charge straight into the enemy's stronghold.

As I rode in the carriage alongside Vermilia, my mind drifted back to the trauma of playing Rising Hero. The Crimson Demon Lord route was notorious for its brutal branching paths: choose to save Crimsonia, and Vermilia dies; choose to save Vermilia, and Crimsonia dies. It was a merciless trolley problem of a game.