Not All Heroes From Earth Are Bad [EN]: Chapter 223

Rachel could hardly believe what she was hearing.

Summon the Demon King here?

“Hero, you’re joking, right?”
“No, I’m not.”

She desperately wished it was a joke, but Choi Hyun-seok’s expression remained utterly serious.

“Rachel, think carefully. What’s the most important thing we need to accomplish right now?”
“Defeat Gatreau!”
“That’s true, but it’s a situation that’s difficult to resolve through force alone.”

“Yes.”

“So, instead of focusing solely on defeating Gatreau, we need to win the people over. If we can do that, Gatreau’s plans will naturally fall apart.”

*How to change the minds of the hardliners.*

This was the core of Choi Hyun-seok’s strategy.

And based on his observations so far, the hardliners’ main objection was:

“We cannot trust the words of demons!”

She understood where these hardliners were coming from.

After fighting for over 500 years, things couldn’t simply change overnight.

The emotional scars from such a long conflict were bound to be deep.

Distrust was only natural.

Gatreau and the Deusis Church were exploiting this distrust to incite the people.

“But what if the Demon King came in person and promised peace?”

What would happen if the Demon King herself came to the human realm and pledged peace?

That would undoubtedly shift the situation.

It wouldn’t erase all distrust, but it would at least create momentum for change.

“Let’s strike while the iron is hot and ask right away,” Choi Hyun-seok said, taking out a communication device from his inventory. He began contacting someone urgently.

***

“Your Majesty, the Third Army Commander has arrived.”
“Let him in.”

At Sidriel’s command, the door opened, and Raidrun, a muscular, bull-headed demon, entered. He bowed his head.

“I greet the Demon King.”
“What’s the matter?”
“I received a message from Choi Hyun-seok.”

Sidriel tilted her head, recognizing the name.

The human who had helped her become the Demon King.

She had heard that he was once a member of the Demon King’s army but had since crossed over to the human realm and was working to prevent war.

“Why is Choi Hyun-seok contacting me?”
“That’s…”

Raidrun hesitated for a moment before explaining as if he had finally made up his mind. “…He’s requesting that Your Majesty come directly to the capital of the human kingdom.”
“Ah… I hope this isn’t a joke?”

Sidriel asked again to be sure.

Raidrun replied with a serious face. “It is not.”

*That’s right.* There was no way that bull-headed demon would make a joke.

That meant Choi Hyun-seok had actually made such an absurd request.

“Asking the Demon King to go to the human kingdom and declare peace…”

“I’m sorry.”

Raidrun bowed his head and continued. “To be honest, I was worried about whether I should even tell you, but I thought it was right for Your Majesty to judge for yourself.”
“Don’t worry about it. You did well.”

Sidriel stroked her chin and pondered. “Raidrun, what do you think?”
“I am against it. It is far too dangerous for Your Majesty to travel there directly.”

This was different from Sidriel proclaiming peace within the Demon King’s castle.

Until now, the Demon King had never left the demon realm.

In fact, even leaving the Demon King’s castle was rare enough to count on one hand.

For the Demon King to advocate for peace in the human realm?

Depending on one’s perspective, it could be seen as completely surrendering to humanity.

“There is a high possibility that there will be dissent from within the demon race.”

It would be a major problem if the corps commanders and council members rebelled.

This was too much of a gamble for Sidriel, whose royal authority was already precarious.

“Besides, while I don’t believe Choi Hyun-seok would betray us, we must also consider the possibility of a double trap.”
“That’s right. Someone could be deceiving Choi Hyun-seok to plot something.”
“In addition to this, there are too many factors in the human realm that could threaten Your Majesty. And in fact, this is the biggest problem…”

Raidrun continued with a dark expression. “We are currently at war.”

“That’s right.”

“If the Demon King leaves her position at this time, while we are busy fighting the army of the Holy War, the front line may collapse.”

The demons and the army of the Holy War were still engaged in fierce battles.

Since Sidriel had taken office as Demon King, the demons had reunited, but they had not been able to drive out the army of the Holy War.

Instead, they were gradually being pushed into a corner.

They were barely holding the line.

If Sidriel were to go, she would have to travel with at least one corps commander for protection.

In the current situation, the departure of two such powerful figures would create too great a gap in their forces.

There was a risk that the front line could collapse.

“I see. That’s also true.”

Sidriel nodded as if she understood. “Raidrun, I’ll ask you just one thing.”
“Yes.”
“If this war continues as it is, what do you think is the probability that we will win? Tell me objectively.”

For a moment, Raidrun looked embarrassed, but he quickly regained his composure and replied, “To be honest, it’s less than 30%.”
“I think so too. I used the declaration of peace as a way to shake the enemy, but it didn’t work as well as I thought.”

A smile appeared on Sidriel’s lips.

“I think this is an opportunity.”

“…An opportunity?”
“Yes. An opportunity to turn the tide at once. If we succeed, there is a high possibility that human public opinion will change in our favor. If that happens, the army of the Holy War will have no choice but to retreat.”

Sidriel’s eyes began to sparkle.

The more she spoke, the more convinced she became of her own plan.

“I think it’s right to seize the opportunity rather than continue to struggle in a war that is virtually certain to be lost.”

Raidrun nodded.

He could only offer advice.

In the end, the Demon King made all the decisions.

“I’ll prepare right away.”

***

A few days later, Choi Hyun-seok bowed his head to Sarah Dunphy, who had rushed to his request and gone through considerable trouble.

“Thank you.”
“There’s no need to be so grateful. It was a simple task.”

Sarah Dunphy shook her head dismissively. She was currently in Chersilton, the capital of the Cherushi Kingdom, at Choi Hyun-seok’s request, preparing some magical devices.

“By the way… are you really thinking of bringing the Demon King here?”
“Yes. I’ve already promised, and she’ll be arriving soon.”

“You really are…”

Sarah Dunphy laughed. “Amazing. You came up with an idea that ordinary people wouldn’t even think of.”

Summoning the Demon King to the capital of the human kingdom.

Sarah Dunphy, who had studied the common knowledge of this world, knew very well how absurd this was.

To put it bluntly, it was like the king of one country visiting the capital of another kingdom during a war.

“Oh? Just a moment.”

Choi Hyun-seok’s communication device began to light up. It was a call from Raidrun.

-Choi Hyun-seok, we have arrived.

“Yes, I’ll be there soon.”

Choi Hyun-seok ended the call. He looked at Sarah Dunphy and asked, “It’s right nearby. Would you like to come with me?”
“I will. We’ll have to gather eventually anyway.”

Choi Hyun-seok and Sarah Dunphy immediately left the capital, Chersilton. When they arrived at the agreed-upon location, they saw Sidriel and Raidrun waiting.

“Long time no see, Choi Hyun-seok!”
“Have you been well?”

Sidriel waved her hand, and Raidrun slightly raised the corners of his lips.

“Thank you for coming such a long way. It must have been a difficult decision.”

Choi Hyun-seok was sincerely grateful. He knew what the Demon King’s army was like and what kind of decision they had to make to come here.

“You don’t need to thank me. I only came because it would benefit the demons anyway. Rather, I thank you for providing me with this opportunity.”

At Sidriel’s words, Choi Hyun-seok rubbed his nose.

*How nice would it be if our Rachel followed even half of this Demon King’s example.*

*’Ah’ and ‘Oh’ are different, or so they say.* Even if it’s the same words, saying it so beautifully increased her favorability.

*No, let’s get a grip. I have Ien.*

Momentarily pushing back Sidriel, who had entered the bride candidate pool, Choi Hyun-seok looked straight at her.

“Shall we start right away?”

***

“Die, you fanatic!”
“You demon worshiper!”

Another peaceful day in Chersilton… or not. They should be getting tired of it, but people still didn’t stop fighting.

In fact, the fighting was getting more and more intense. The emotional scars between the two factions deepened, and the confrontation between them only intensified day by day.

“Demon worshiper!? Is that all you got! You fanatic bastard!”
“Are you going to hit me? Try it! I’ll twist your neck right now!”

Just as two men were grabbing each other by the collar and shouting, a tremendous roar echoed.

*Kwarurururung-!*

A deafening noise, as if the sky was collapsing.

The two people who were fighting were startled and looked up.

“What, what is it…? What’s going on!?”
“Look over there!”

Black light poured from the sky.

A phenomenon commonly called a lightfall [a concentrated beam of magical energy].

Like sunlight falling through the clouds, black light plunged straight into the center of the capital, Chersilton.

People looked at the black light with a mixture of curiosity and fear.

“There! There’s someone in the light!”
“It looks like a person?”
“Something about it is…”

Everyone stared at the light with bewildered eyes.

Sidriel’s voice echoed through the capital.

-I am the Demon King, Sidriel.

People were startled by the words “Demon King.”

“D, Demon King!?”
“It’s a demon! No, it’s the Demon King! The Demon King has appeared!”

Amid the chaos, Sidriel calmly continued.

-Do not be alarmed. I have come to promise you peace.

Finally, Sidriel landed completely on the ground.

Before they knew it, a crowd of thousands of people had gathered around.

People whispered as they looked at Sidriel and Raidrun.

“Is this okay? It’s the Demon King…!”
“I know! Shouldn’t we run away? What is the capital guard doing?”
“Is that red monster the Demon King? The pressure is definitely enormous!”

The last words were spoken after looking at Raidrun behind Sidriel.

Looking at her appearance alone, Sidriel was a small girl, so people didn’t think she was the Demon King at all.

At that moment, tremendous magic power emanated from Sidriel.

“There seems to be a misunderstanding. I am the Demon King, Sidriel.”

“Gasp…!”

People gasped.

It wasn’t that she was threatening them.

Even though she had only released her energy, a thick magic power permeated the entire capital.

Sidriel originally had magic power at the corps commander level, but now that she had been recognized as the official Demon King, her magic power had become even denser, almost 1.5 times thicker than before.

People felt instinctive fear and trembled at the overwhelming magic power.

“Oh, no! Everyone’s going to die!”
“Get a grip. She said she came to make a peace agreement!”
“How can you trust the words of a demon!?”

People were at a loss, unsure of what to do.

Someone had to step forward to sort out the situation, but no one could bring themselves to do it.

Raidrun’s gruesome appearance also played a part in that.

“Hmm.”

Raidrun, standing behind Sidriel, looked every bit the monster to the average person.

A physique that far exceeded human limitations.

Muscles all over his body and red skin.

Flames constantly flickered from the huge horns on his bull-like head.

It was fortunate if people didn’t wet their pants when they faced him.

It was even stranger if they were sane in a situation where Sidriel’s thick magic power was added.

“Don’t lie!”

Just then, a man jumped out of the crowd. It was a priest of the Deusis Church [a religious organization], wearing a pure white robe.

“Do you think I’ll believe the words of a demon!”
“Believe it or not, it’s the truth. I stood here for peace.”
“You! You’re playing with your wicked tongue! God will punish you!”

Before anyone could stop him, the priest ran towards Sidriel.

Even though he was trembling all over from fear, the priest ran with his eyes wide with fury.

“Die!”

Raidrun tried to move, but Sidriel stopped him by raising her hand.

The priest, who had come right in front of Sidriel, swung his staff.

*Hwaaaaa-!*

Pure white divine power spewed out from the staff and struck Sidriel’s head.

*Peo-eok!*

A heavy thud.

The priest dropped his staff to the floor as if the strength in his grip had been released.

And silence fell.

“…”

Everyone stared at the priest and Sidriel with wide eyes.

“Hmm.”

A stream of blood flowed from Sidriel’s head.

The skin hit by the divine power was torn.

Sidriel reached out her hand.

“Hic…!”

The priest, terrified, flinched, but Sidriel picked up the staff that had fallen on the floor and returned it to him.

The priest received his staff back with a dazed face.

“Where is your king? I want to meet the king.”

“…”

“Is there no one brave enough to guide me to the king?”