Although he had written quite a few light novels in his previous life, the otherworld before his eyes was still different from what Joey had imagined.
Chimneys, gears, gothic architecture, a sky filled with black smoke where clouds couldn’t be seen.
A steampunk otherworld, a bit dark in style, but for a fun-loving Demon King like Joey, it was just right.
Or rather, he was extremely excited.
However, Seia didn’t feel the same…
Her money had been taken by Joey, and the Adventurers’ Guild had dismissed her because no Party had accepted her.
Even the Guide from the Church at the time had driven her away with a look of disgust, as if she were a stray dog.
“Being a Human Hero doesn’t seem all that easy either.”
In the shadows, Aiki stood beside Joey, holding a sunshade umbrella, watching everything.
“Of course not…”
Joey curled his lips.
“After all, in the Human World, Heroes are consumables…”
The young boy spoke with a mischievous smile.
“Consumables? Isn’t there only supposed to be one Hero in the Human World?”
Aiki asked coldly.
Joey didn’t answer, but instead pointed to a hooded woman standing in the corner behind Seia.
“See that person?”
“Yeah.”
Aiki nodded.
“That woman’s been following this little village girl all morning.”
“She’s an Assassin who specializes in killing Heroes, sent by their Human Leader…”
“Although there can only be one Hero…”
Joey tilted his head and spoke slowly:
“So those idiot humans thought…”
“If the Hero is useless, just kill her.”
“That way, the Hero’s position becomes available for someone stronger or more skilled.”
“Humans are really cruel to their own kind.”
Aiki looked at Seia coldly.
Tsk…
Why did it feel like this damn Aiki was secretly mocking him for toying with Seia’s feelings?
After all, his real race was also human.
Joey twitched his ears, listening to Aiki’s sarcasm.
But then he remembered that Aiki had no idea he was human, so he didn’t care much.
“But is she really going to be killed just because she was expelled from the Party?”
“Of course…”
Young Joey shrugged.
“Humans value efficiency… In the years I spent among them, I’ve heard of four cases where Heroes disappeared.”
“Then they announce to the outside world that the Demon King killed the Hero, shifting all the dirty work away from themselves.”
“They really know how to sling mud.”
“So, you’re saying that when the current Hero dies, the title gets passed on to a random human?”
Aiki pressed.
Joey nodded.
“That’s right, so if someone lacks talent or a strong background, getting the Hero title is a hot potato—but they just don’t realize it.”
“If only being a Demon King was this simple…”
Aiki muttered from the side.
Joey glared fiercely at the cold-faced beauty beside him.
“If you keep saying annoying things like that, I’ll kill you…”
The white-haired beauty Aiki first wore an expression of being caught, then instantly acted as if nothing happened, glancing around.
“Hm? Was Young Master just talking to someone?”
“Don’t pretend nothing happened, you wicked maid…”
Joey finally rolled his eyes at Aiki, then shifted his gaze back to Seia.
“Hmm? Seia’s already been caught by that Hero Assassin?”
Aiki raised her brow.
“Judging by Young Master’s character, the next act is probably to personally rescue Seia and come clean with her, right?”
However, Joey first frowned, then his expression relaxed.
“Seeing her get tied up puts my mind at ease. Let’s go back to the inn, I need another nap…”
The young boy stretched.
“Eh?”
Aiki looked surprised by his response.
“You’re not planning to rescue Seia, Young Master?”
“Ha? I just kicked her out of the Party, now I’m supposed to go rescue her myself? I’m the Demon King, you know…”
“Doing something like that is too embarrassing…”
“You still care about that? I think being a childhood friend of the Hero is already humiliating.”
Aiki retorted.
Joey ignored Aiki’s words and said,
“Of course, I want her to truly experience the cruelty of the Human World. Then I’ll send a subordinate to rescue her in secret…”
“I’ve already told Zixuan to handle it.”
“Zixuan…to rescue her?”
Aiki frowned at the name.
“What’s wrong?”
“Nothing, just that Young Master really doesn’t understand his own subordinates.”
Aiki said coldly, then turned her face away.
On the other side…
“Joey… Don’t go…”
Seia mumbled in her sleep, then slowly woke up in the basement, a sharp sound of metal scraping against stone ringing in her ears.
“Clang! Clang! Clang!”
So…loud…
She struggled to open her heavy eyelids.
Where…am I…
Who…tied me up…
“You’re awake, Miss Hero.”
A woman wearing a cloak and mask stood before Seia.
“Who…who are you? And! Why did you tie me up!!”
Seia shouted in panic at the woman.
“Isn’t it obvious…”
The cloaked woman held a knife.
“My mission is to kill you…”
“Kill me…”
Seia’s voice trembled.
“I…I’m the Hero…”
“If you kill me, the world will be ruled by the Demon King.”
The cloaked woman shook her head, looking indifferently at the knife in her hand.
“The last few I killed said the same thing…”
“Eh?”
Seia’s eyes widened in fear, staring at the cloaked woman.
The last…few?
Why kill Heroes? Aren’t Heroes supposed to save the world…
“You useless Heroes always use saving the world as a shield.”
“If you die, the next Hero will be even better—so in a way, it’s saving the world too.”
The cloaked woman raised her knife, infusing it with Magic.
The blade in her hand transformed like an Engine Scythe receiving power, its patterns twisting and the handle lengthening, the edge curving into a crescent shape until it became a scythe.
“Kekeke…this should be good enough treatment for a Hero like you…”
The woman placed the scythe against Seia’s neck.
“Farewell, Hero Seia.”
Why…does all my effort feel so meaningless…
“I’m the Hero! That means I can protect the world and Joey.”
“Tch, who knows who’ll end up protecting whom… Seia’s the kind of girl who cries if she even hurts her finger…”
“I swear from today on, I won’t cry ever again!!!”
“Yeah, yeah… When your strength is as impressive as your bragging, let me know.”
Joey grinned back then.
“Anyway, stop trying to protect the world… It’s exhausting. Just protect yourself first.”
I’m sorry…Joey…
I didn’t protect the world…
Or myself…
And I couldn’t protect you either…
I…cried again…
Seia’s eyes filled with despair as the scythe’s blade neared her throat…
“Bang!!!”
A skeletal arm burst from the ground, grabbing the cloaked woman’s ankle.
“Undead???!!! Why are there Undead here!!!”
The woman screamed, but before she could react, two more skeletons emerged, dragging her underground.
About half a minute later, another skeleton crawled out, draped in a tattered cloak.
It was the same cloaked woman who had tried to kill Seia…
“Uwaaahhhhh!!!”
Seia screamed at the horrifying sight.
“Today’s Heroes are really ignorant—just a few Undead and they’re screaming their heads off…”
In the distance, a woman in a mage’s robe muttered with her eyes closed.
She had thick, wavy black hair and seductive eyes.
Even dressed in a black wizard’s robe, her curvaceous body was impossible to hide, especially with the side slit revealing half her smooth, white thigh.
“I really don’t get it…”
“Why would Young Master want to protect such a useless Hero… I wouldn’t even want her as my own Undead…”
And she’s a woman, too…
By Young Master’s side, it should be me alone…
So annoying…
A hint of jealousy flickered in the woman’s eyes.
This woman was Zixuan, the one Joey had mentioned.
“But… Young Master personally begged me…so I agreed…”
Recalling something, Zixuan cupped her face in both hands.
Though her appearance was that of a beautiful, mature woman, her expression at that moment was more like a lovestruck maiden.
Back on Seia’s side…
The freckled girl stared blankly as the Undead stood before her, unable to make sense of the situation.
Am I…
The next one to be killed…?
So scary…
The Undead picked up their weapons and pointed them at Seia…
Escaping one danger, only to face another from the Undead…
Seia squeezed her eyes shut, bracing for death…
But the Undead instead cut the bindings on her body and bowed to her.
“Eh?”
Seia tilted her head, not understanding what the Undead wanted.
“Greetings, Miss Seia…”
One of the Undead actually spoke in a sultry woman’s voice.
“We were sent by Young Master to protect you. Please don’t be afraid.”
For a top-tier Necromancer like Zixuan, controlling Undead to act as her voice was child’s play—she used Magic from afar to communicate with Seia.
“Protect…me?”
Seia was bewildered. She didn’t even know any Young Master…
Undead are from the Demon Realm, so what’s going on today…
Humans want me dead, but the Demon side saved me…
But now wasn’t the time to dwell on it.
So much had happened, even a simple girl like Seia was overwhelmed.
“Miss Seia, please let my Undead guide you to a safe place, okay?”
“O…okay…”
Though the Undead were a bit terrifying, the Necromancer’s voice was gentle, and Seia’s nerves relaxed.
She breathed a sigh of relief and followed the Undead forward.
Just as Seia was about to ask the Undead some questions…
“Wait…”
“Miss Seia…”
“Ah…what is it?”
Seia turned to look at the Undead.
“…”
The Undead said nothing, then picked up a weapon, grabbed Seia, and stabbed her in the abdomen.
“Why does this filthy village girl have Young Master’s scent…?! And it’s so strong!!!”
The Undead suddenly went berserk, stabbing at Seia again and again.
“Ugh…haa…I…I really don’t know…your…”
“Don’t know? How dare you say that!!! You dirty little village girl! Playing with Young Master’s feelings!!! And I’m supposed to protect you!!!”
“I’ll cut you open until not a trace of Young Master’s scent remains!!!!”
The Undead raged, stabbing Seia repeatedly until she breathed her last.
Huh?