The town of Trafkir was celebrating, people danced in the streets and music blared from every corner. Of course they would, because the Heroes and their Queen had just saved their home. The Heroes themselves were happily smiling with them as they were showered with praise and thanks. After I had spoken with Lisanna about what happened she departed for the palace, leaving me alone in my thoughts. I screwed up. Not only had I brought a disaster to my people but I allowed Sayuri to know who I was. Her reaction was a lot worse than I had expected. Sure the situation didn't look so great but even as the townsfolk ran around me with flowers and cheers I couldn't forget her expression. Fear, disappointment, and distrust. It was saddening to know even after all the time I had spent with them, my identity as Demon Lord could trump it all. Thankfully I still had some of the mushrooms I used on Heafest. With those Sayuri was back to her usual self, but I knew deep down it would have changed her.
"Dave check this out!" Gary pulled me towards Alicia.
"Look Dave," Alicia pointed at the ornament in her hair. "It's on fire but I can't feel any heat! Carl what do you think?"
"It's umm," Carl's lips twitched into a smile as he struggled to find the words, "It's beautiful but it's because of you that it can look its best."
Alicia blushed, "Wow Carl that was upfront."
"S-sorry I just felt like saying it."
"Don't worry it made me happy." She took his hand and pulled him away, "Let's go see what's over there."
And then there was these happy go lucky Heroes so oblivious to the sufferings around them. I even spied Sayuri laughing together with some children as they pinned the same ornament onto her hair. A bright red flame against her black hair, it was truly a wonderful sight. I shouldn't complain about them, after all it was how I intended. It was with a smile on their face that their qualities showed the best.
"Dave are you okay?" Sayuri asked me as if seeing through my fake smile.
"I'm just tired from last night," I replied.
"I knew it! You really did do something," she came right up to my face scoldingly. With her this close all I could remember was the fear in her eyes.
I lightly pushed her away, "I told you it was nothing. I'm going to get some more rest."
"No," she grabbed me a little forcefully. "Tired or not, it's time to have some fun."
"But I don't think I can right now."
"At least keep me company," she didn't let go. It was like she was trying to prove something to herself. Her grip was a little too tight and although she might not have noticed it, her hand was shaking.
"Okay, for you," I took her hand and we walked down the streets.
Aside: Gary's mishap.
Gary:
Sigh. I watched Dave take Sayuri's hand and together they left me behind in the street. First my sister and Carl, now even Dave and Sayuri. Stop pairing off so naturally and having fun. Though I'm pretty sure Dave doesn't see Sayuri that way, he might in the future, you never know. As for me, why couldn't there have been a sixth Hero. A pretty and cute girl with a nice figure! By my luck if there was a sixth Hero it probably would have been a bigger burlier version of Carl.
"Mister Hero, Mister Hero!" a group of children jumped up and down around me.
"Hey there," I smiled. I guess I'd just sooth my heart playing with these kids. They weren't as diverse as the ones from Dave's hometown but they were still cute.
"Did you really beat back the demons?"
I flexed my muscles, "Of course I did. You shouldn't doubt my power."
One of the children jumped and grabbed onto my arm, which sagged downwards from his weight, "You don't look so strong."
"That's because I'm a magician," I laughed boisterously. A blue light spread across the children and they floated up with gleeful squeals.
"Higher! Higher!"
"See how talented I am?" I slowly floated them up and down.
"Mister Hero is awesome."
"You bet I am," I grinned. Yeah kids were great. I settled them on the ground.
"Hey, hey, do you wanna play with us?" they danced around me.
"I've got some time to kill so why-,"
I was cut off as a gentle hand tapped on the one of the children's shoulders, "Why don't you let Mister Hero have a break. Share these candies." She handed them a sizeable bag. The children peaked inside, nodded and ran off. "Sorry, they can get very excited."
Beauty alert! A bit shorter than me, long auburn hair, a pretty face that was still undeniably cute and a great figure! Her blue eyes were almost enchanting.
"Hello," I gulped.
"Hello," she laughed, "No need to be nervous. You're the saviour of our home, we could never thank you enough."
"Ah well, it's just that you're a very pretty lady."
"Thank you," she blushed slightly, "But I'm probably not much older than you. Please call me Mira." She offered me her hand.
"Gary, it's nice to meet you," I shook her hand and an electric zap spread through me and I began to feel a little flustered.
"Being a Hero must be tough," she didn't let go and instead gently pulled me to a nearby seat.
"It can be," I laughed nervously, "But we do it for the people."
"How brave of you," she pushed a little closer to me. "You must have many amazing stories."
Her body was close enough for me to feel a comfortable warmth. I forced myself to remain composed, "Ah well, I wouldn't say too many. I mean we have saved a few towns and repelled armies but we're still human."
"I'd love to hear more about it."
"Re-really? Then I guess I could tell you more."
"Don't you think it's a little loud here? I live close by, how about you come for a drink?" her words whispered close to my ear.
"I really should find the others," I stood up to leave but she grabbed my hand once more.
"Do you find my company hurtful?" she asked with teary eyes.
"N-no why would I?" I replied nervously. This situation was making my heart beat a little too fast.
"Then how about just one drink and one story?"
"Well if it's just one, I think I can spare the time."
She drew me closer as she stood up, "Then please this way."
I followed her into an alley and up some stairs leading to a small flat. Although I could still hear the noise from the celebrations, it was chillingly quiet here. She opened the door and let me inside. It was a small one room home with a large bed in the middle but nothing else worthy of note. There were no chairs so instead she pointed me to sit at the bed. My mind was feeling hazy from the sudden turn of events but I wouldn't jump to conclusions. Mira seemed to be a lovely girl. She just wanted to hear about my adventures, that was it….
She came back with two glasses. Wine? Being in another world it really wasn't illegal for me to drink.
"Thank you," I took the glass and sipped it. It tasted fine. "What did you want to hear?"
"How about you drink some more first?" she playfully said as she took a large mouthful of her own glass. The thought of poison entered my mind but I quickly brushed it aside. The drink for both of us had come from the same bottle and I also couldn't sense anything from it.
I took a longer drink and almost coughed, "This is very strong stuff."
"I may not have much but I enjoy a good liquor," she sat down alarmingly close to me. Our thighs pressed together. "I heard about your time in Sasren, can you tell me more about it. From a Hero's perspective?"
"S-sure." This girl, was it just me or was she being incredibly seductive? I told her about what happened in a general and in a more heroic sense. She seemed genuinely interested and my heart managed to calm down.
"That's amazing," she took my glass which was now empty and set it aside with her own empty glass. Her body leaned closer against me. It may have been the alcohol but my insides were really heating up. My hand rose and I was incredibly wanting to pull her even closer. I stopped midway and regained my composure but instead she reached back and pulled my arm around her. Slowly she pushed more weight against me until I was lying down on the bed with her on top of me.
"Umm Mira, I think we're moving a little too fast here," I said.
"Come tomorrow you'll probably be gone, let me have this time with you," she looked down at me with incredible red eyes. Her hair dangled smoothly around her head framing a beautiful picture. A simple tug behind and suddenly her dress loosened to the floor revealing the underwear beneath. My heart lurched.
"M-Mira I'm not so comfortable with this."
"I'll make it so you are," she descended towards me blue eyes against mine as our lips almost touched. Wait blue? Weren't they red? No they were blue…. A buzz floated through my mind, magic was in play here. My internal senses began to kick in and I felt an immediate danger. Mana pumped into my body and I kicked her away. A knife was in her hand.
"What the hell is going on here!?" I yelled as I jumped from the bed. My mind was shockingly clear now as I stared at the half naked beauty holding a knife. "Were you going to kill me?"
"Incorrect, I will kill you!" she dived at me.
Now that I was back to normal I easily deflected her hand and disarmed the knife. She snarled and tried to swipe me with her nails but compared to my usual training partners it was all too easy to pin her to the floor. I may be a magician but Dave had drilled me how to defend myself.
"Damn you!" she growled madly.
"Damn me? You just tried to kill me. Who the hell are you?"
Her body began to shift as her eyes became red once more. A tail, two small horns and small wings appeared on her back.
"You're a demon?" I asked in surprise.
"What? Have a problem with that?" she snapped aggressively, still struggling.
"No, I actually like demons. You guys are really interesting." This girl from her appearance and what she did to me, she must be a succubus. That wasn't quite right though, I'd seen an actual succubus in Dave's hometown and though they shared some traits they were downplayed. This girl must be half human with only some succubus traits from her father. "Why did you try to kill me?"
"Why do you think dumbass? You're a bloody Hero. For my Lord I'd kill you all a hundred times at risk of my own life."
"You mean the Demon Lord?"
"Who else idiot!"
I grew angry, "You're the idiot. Why would you follow his orders? He's evil, why else would he send an innocent girl like you to kill me."
"Don't you dare slander his name!" she started to struggle even more. "Our Lord is the kindest person you'll ever find. He saved my life. Accepted a half breed like me. He's ten times greater than you'll ever be." Tears started to fall and she sniffled. "I'd do anything to make his life easier even if he didn't ask for it."
I paused before replying, "So you did this on your own?"
"Of course I did. Someone like me doesn't even deserve to speak to him."
"Why would you go so far for him?"
"Didn't you hear what I said earlier stupid?" Her voice became quieter, "That boy he's too kind. He trusts too easily. Wanting peace with humans... even for him that's too much."
"What?" my grip loosened and in that instant she pushed me away.
She jumped back and grabbed her dress holding it against her body, "I'll get you for this!"
"Wait!" I yelled as she tried to jump out the window, instead she was bound in mid-air. "What did you mean peace with us humans?"
She looked at me angrily unable to move her body, "What does it sound like? Our Lord is so kind he's willing to forgive the atrocities you did to our people and seek a better solution to war."
"That can't be… he's violent, evil. He tried to kill Dave."
"Liar, don't you dare lie about him! He'd never hurt anyone unless he had to," she was crying again. She really did believe it.
"I…" I didn't know what to think. "Mira, if that is your real name, I'm going to let you go but please don't run. I'll leave like nothing ever happened. You're living in this town right? I saw the way those children smiled to you, they knew who you were."
She stayed silent for some time before clenching her fists, "I used to hate humans. They kidnapped my father, forced themselves upon him and I was born. Even when I finally escaped home nobody cared about me. Who would for a half-human like me…? But he… the Demon Lord, our Lord, he saved me from that. He gave me a new life and I wanted to be of use so I moved here to make sure the humans never betrayed his trust. I… I like it here." Her eyes turned dark as she glared at me, "But I'll never like you Heroes."
"I understand." From all the places to find perspective I didn't expect it here now. "I'm going to leave now." I left the flat with the door closed behind me and released the binding. As I did so, even over the celebrations I could hear the muffled tears of a girl not much older than me.
Aside end: