0.0000001% Demon King - 0DK Chapter 24: Hero Sinclair (3)

After the conversation between Karos and Irina concluded, Sinclair returned.

Irina opened her mouth to speak.

“Lord Sinclair, there’s something I wish to ask.”

“What is it?”

“Why have you come here? This is not an accusation but a genuine question. This place belongs to humans. There’s no reason for you to be here, is there?”

It was a critical issue. Heroes, except when killing the Demon King, always stayed within their own domain. If Sinclair had come here because she learned of Karos’s presence, any plan they could come up with would be meaningless. After all, it would mean that the largest religious order in the world was aware of them.

Irina waited for her answer with a serious look. Sinclair opened her mouth with a calm expression.

“I heard there was a disturbance caused by monsters here.”

“Mon… monsters, you say?”

Irina asked back, surprised by the unexpected answer. Sinclair nodded with a look that confirmed she had heard correctly.

“I didn’t expect a Demon King to be here. Rumors were that the cries of ogres had been heard. That’s why I came.”

“The cries of ogres…”

Irina pressed her forehead.

“Even so, I don’t think it’s a matter significant enough to warrant Lord Sinclair’s presence.”

“I thought the same, but the order requested my presence.”

“A request, you say…”

It was unfortunate. Irina thought so and sighed softly.

‘Fortunately.’

Only Sinclair knew about the Demon King’s castle. The rest could be handled by them.

‘It’s going to be tough.’

Irina made a small gesture towards Karos. Karos blinked quietly.

“If that’s the case, Lord Sinclair, I have a request.”

“Speak, lord of this land.”

“I would like you to refrain from announcing the existence of the Demon King for now. The same goes for attacking it.”

“Why is that?”

Sinclair tilted her head in confusion.

“The enemy of the gods resides there. Shouldn’t it naturally be eliminated?”

“It would bring chaos.”

Irina continued smoothly.

“This area is human territory. If it becomes known that a Demon King appeared here, it will cause a great uproar. Especially during these times, it could even lead to the collapse of the domain.”

“Hmm… I am somewhat aware of your situation.”

“It was quite a scandalous event.”

The empire’s first female lord. It was an event that, in one way or another, would be recorded in the history books. Irina’s name was now engraved across the empire.

“If mishandled, the people of the domain might lose their lands and scatter. And the ripple effects would extend to all domains.”

“Uh, hmm?”

Sinclair mumbled dumbfoundedly. Irina continued to explain as if teaching.

“It’s simple. Until now, people within human territories haven’t worried much about the Demon Kings. Because they were far from the battlefield and in areas safe from the Demon Kings. But what if it suddenly becomes known that the Demon Kings can appear inside our empire? What do you think will happen?”

“Ah, I see. I understand.”

Doubt and suspicion will spread, leading to significant chaos.

‘It would be quite beneficial for the Demon King.’

Karos clicked his tongue. It would be putting the cart before the horse if he became the victim.

“So, I propose this. Lord Sinclair, please return to the holy land of the Sun God, report this fact, and complete the necessary procedures. Then, return with a substantial force.”

Announcing the presence of the Demon King under the name of a god would reassure people. A god is a being beyond human comprehension. The very announcement that a god has marked the Demon King would bring a blind faith that it would soon be eradicated.

“We will guard the borders. In case of an incident, we will also cooperate with nearby domains. What do you think?”

Sinclair closed her mouth and said nothing. Irina suppressed her beating heart and waited calmly. Finally, Sinclair spoke.

“You are right.”

“So?”

“Good! I will do as the lord wishes.”

Sinclair declared with conviction.

“I will return to the holy land first. Then, I will report this matter.”

“Thank you. I must attend to some business now. I apologize for not being able to entertain you properly.”

“No, it’s sudden on my part as well. I do not expect hospitality.”

“Farewell.”

Irina glanced at Karos. Karos nodded quietly.

* * *

‘You did well, Irina.’

Inside the inn, Karos organized his thoughts. Irina had performed beyond his expectations.

The existence of the Demon King could not be hidden. If the other party were ordinary civilians, it would be possible to handle and conceal the information, but the other party was Sinclair, a hero renowned for slaughtering Demon Kings.

Even Sinclair alone could kill them all, so the best strategy was to buy as much time as possible. It was a reasonable approach.

The problem was that their end remained unchanged.

Eventually, if the Sun God’s order found out, it would be their end.

‘Now it’s my turn.’

Abandoning the Demon King’s castle was the last resort. The castle was not just a base for the Demon King but a part of him. Abandoning it would mean his powers would be sealed until it was reclaimed.

‘So.’

“Hero.”

“Hm. Speak.”

Sinclair, who was praying with her eyes closed, immediately responded.

“What are your plans now?”

“I plan to follow the lord’s words. I’ll inform the order and come back down with the Paladin Corps to deal with it.”

“Is that so…”

Karos clenched his fist with a somber expression. Anger was evident in his voice, even without seeing his face.

‘Touché.’

Karos thought inwardly.

Then Sinclair opened her eyes.

“Why?”

“What do you mean?”

“If this fact becomes known, the Demon King will be exterminated. Your revenge will be fulfilled. But you seem to resent that fact.”

“No. It’s not like that. I cannot let my personal feelings interfere with the matter.”

Karos shook his head with a visibly gloomy face. Sinclair stopped praying and looked directly at Karos.

“I am an agent of the god. It is my duty to listen to the confessions of humans.”

She looked at Karos’s face earnestly.

“Speak. What is it?”

“I had comrades, as you know.”

“I’ve heard from you. And…”

Sinclair bit her lip.

“That they were victimized by the Demon King.”

“Yes.”

Karos sighed deeply, his expression filled with anger and sorrow.

“My comrades and I had known each other for a long time. We were childhood friends who grew up together.”

It was a story that couldn’t be verified. Make it as provocative as possible. Fill it with emotion. Karos’s fingernails dug into his palm. His voice trembled.

“We made a promise while traveling together. If any of us were killed by someone, we would all join forces to avenge them.”

“Huh, a dangerous promise.”

Sinclair murmured with a grimace. Karos managed a bitter smile.

“Yes. You’re right. But that promise deepened our bond. It meant, ‘I’d rather not go through the trouble of avenging your death, so let’s not die.'”

“…”

“We continued our adventures under that promise. And here… we encountered the Demon King.”

Emotion clung to his voice.

“One by one, my comrades fell. We all prepared for death. When only two of us were left and prepared to fight with our lives on the line, she used the only teleport scroll on me. And she said,”

Karos caught his breath. He grimaced as if forcing himself to speak.

“‘Don’t forget our promise.'”

“I see.”

Sinclair closed her eyes and stroked Karos’s hand. And Karos thought.

‘Upon reflection…’

The opponent was a Demon King who could defeat them all in one blow. To avenge such a being, she sent him away alone. It seemed like a relationship between more than two ordinary comrades, but.

‘What does it matter.’

The important thing was momentum. Karos composed himself and forcefully said,

“I promised. I must avenge them with my own hands. But…”

Karos sadly bowed his head.

“It’s just my personal feelings. I can’t insist on them in front of the safety of humanity. I’m sorry.”

He hid an unhideable, or rather, an intentionally unhidden fury in his gloomy face.

‘Then here.’

He had crafted the story, but it was unlikely to work. After all, the safety of humanity took precedence over personal feelings.

So, he was going to say more.

Just as Karos was about to speak, Sinclair’s grip on his hand tightened further.

“Alright.”

“Then I am… What?”

He couldn’t continue acting and just looked at Sinclair dumbfoundedly. Sinclair was looking at him seriously.

“What… did you say?”

“I said it’s alright.”

“Uh. Hmm.”

The plans he had in mind were all twisted. This was an unexpected response. Karos barely gathered his thoughts.

“Is it really… okay?”

“Of course. It’s a touching story.”

Sinclair gazed dreamily into the air.

“A comrade sacrifices herself to save another, and the survivor tirelessly strives for revenge, eventually reaching their goal. It’s like a tale of heroes.”

It wasn’t something the hero should say, but her expression was more serious than ever. She clenched her fists together.

“Alright!”

Boom!

The inn shook with the force of her power. Screams from the innkeeper could be heard below.

“I will not disclose this fact until your revenge is fulfilled. Ah, but then the domain’s lord is implicated… She has to keep the Demon King by her side.”

“I will persuade her on that matter.”

Karos quickly said. Sinclair smiled as if all her worries had disappeared.

“Good. Then there’s no problem.”

‘What?’

Karos was baffled. He had planned to negotiate using information about the Demon King, but he never imagined she would accept it like this.

‘This is strange.’

It was unsettling. Although it turned out as he intended, it felt odd. The hero before him felt somehow distant.

‘Does it matter?’

The result couldn’t have been better. Karos brushed aside the unsettling feeling and bowed.

“Thank you, Hero. I truly appreciate it. I will definitely repay this kindness.”

“No, there’s no need. I’m the one who should thank you for sharing such a touching story. It was great!”

The hero stood up energetically.

“Starting today, I will train you!”

“…What?”

Karos blinked. Sinclair smiled brightly.

“If you’re to face the Demon King, you must become stronger from now on! Where should we start? Awakening your magic power would be best. If you have no talent for magic, then we’ll focus on swordsmanship. Don’t worry about getting hurt. I’ll always be by your side, never leaving, to take care of you.”

A chill ran down his spine. Sinclair’s eyes shone brightly as she looked at Karos.

“Don’t worry! I will do my best to train you!”

Hyung_Otaku

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