"What punishment do you all think is fitting for the greatest villain in the Netherworld?"
Amidst the ruins of the demon castle, the leader of the neatly lined demons asked this question to his subordinates.
When the demons heard the words "Greatest Villain," killing intent radiated from their bodies.
In response to their leader's question, the demons shouted in unison, "Kill him!" Their synchronized stomping caused the ground beneath them to quake.
Their target was a single demon named Zero, kneeling in front of the assembled demons.
Despite still wearing a butler's uniform, which signified his position as the private butler of the demon queen, Zero's condition resembled that of a slave.
His uniform was torn in various places, exposing stab wounds, cuts, and bruises to the open air.
Both of his knees had collapsed to the ground. His hands were bound tightly behind his back with magical handcuffs. Not just his hands, but his entire body was shackled with magical chains, leaving him unable to resist or fight back.
Although Zero was curious about the magical chains that managed to restrain him, his thoughts were focused elsewhere.
For some reason, the scene unfolding before him reminded him of the story of a French queen executed by guillotine.
The reason he knew about Earth's history was because he wasn't just an ordinary demon.
Though his current body belonged to a demon race, complete with horns and a tail, his soul was that of an ordinary human from Earth.
'Two years... it's already been two years since I've lived in this world under the name Zero.'
His mind raced back to the early days when he had just arrived in this strange land.
This land was called the Netherworld, a realm inhabited solely by demons.
When he first entered this world, he endured endless suffering. Life-and-death struggles became his daily routine. That was until he met Lilu—not long after—who later became the demon queen.
As Zero was lost in his memories, the demon leader who had been riling up his subordinates stepped forward.
The leader's demonic aura was far thicker than the others. His demonic features—wings, tail, and horns atop his head—were far more pronounced.
What stood out even more was the black halo hovering above his head, exuding an air of divine authority.
'Crowley.'
Zero whispered the demon leader's name in his heart.
Unlike Zero, who was merely a butler, Crowley was one of the Seven Demon Wings.
Despite the situation, Zero maintained a calm expression with a faint smile on his face.
"I'm amazed you can still smile in a situation like this. Do you think you still have the strength to fight back? I doubt it," Crowley sneered.
"But it is surprising. I thought you survived this long only because of Demon Queen Lilu's protection. Turns out, you have some skills of your own."
From the perspective of other demons, Zero was merely a low-ranking demon clinging to the demon queen. They saw no value in the queen appointing him as her private butler, especially when she already had the Seven Demon Wings by her side.
However, they were wrong. Zero's contributions to Lilu's successful campaign to unite the Netherworld—earning her the title of demon queen—were undeniable.
In truth, Zero was the mastermind who orchestrated Lilu's actions from the shadows. Becoming her butler was merely a strategy to stay close. In simpler terms, he was a shadow villain.
This was possible because Zero possessed critical knowledge about this world.
The Netherworld bore a striking resemblance to a game Zero had played on Earth. However, lacking initial strength, he was forced to rely on Lilu.
Over time, Zero amassed power he deemed sufficient to survive in the Netherworld. Yet, who would have thought he'd end up in such a wretched state?
"Before I execute you here, do you even know what crime you've committed?" Crowley asked coldly.
"...."
"Fine, I'll spell it out for you. You are a traitor to all demons in the Netherworld. You sought to kill Demon Queen Lilu and leave us without a leader, didn't you?"
"Hahaha!"
Crowley's accusations only made Zero laugh aloud.
There was no crease on his forehead, no flames of anger in his eyes.
Instead, he looked up at Crowley with a mysterious smile.
Enraged by Zero's laughter, the demons behind Crowley began striking Zero's face and body.
Thwack!
"Urgh!"
Even as blood trickled from his head, staining his face, Zero barely let out a grunt. His calm demeanor remained unshaken.
Crowley eventually ordered his subordinates to stop, creating a private space between himself and Zero.
Spitting blood from his mouth, Zero smirked. "Regardless of your accusations, I have never betrayed you, much less Lilu—that's impossible.
Well, given how demons never use their brains, it's no surprise they'd believe I'm a traitor just because you said so."
"Then explain why you stabbed Demon Queen Lilu in the heart."
"...."
This time, Zero couldn't refute Crowley's words.
Before the battle that led to the destruction of the demon castle, Zero had indeed committed an unforgivable act: he had plunged a sword into Lilu's heart.
At the time, his mind felt manipulated, as if someone else was controlling his actions. By the time he regained consciousness, his hands were gripping the sword buried in Lilu's chest.
Lilu should have been furious and killed Zero on the spot, but instead, she stormed out of the demon castle with a face full of rage.
Only after Lilu's departure did Crowley and his subordinates begin their assault on Zero.
"… No one else should have seen me stab Lilu in the heart. Were you the one who manipulated my mind?" Zero asked.
Crowley smirked slyly, leaning close to Zero's ear and whispering, "What if I was?"
Even with Crowley's admission, Zero's expression remained composed. He began to piece together the situation in his mind, theorizing that Crowley and the other Seven Demon Wings were likely the masterminds behind everything that had happened.
Their motive?
The War of Harem.
This peculiar rumor had spread across the Netherworld. As Lilu's private butler, Zero naturally knew more about the rumor than anyone else.
In essence, the War of Harem revolved around the Seven Demon Wings competing to become Lilu's consort.
After Lilu's successful unification of the Netherworld, securing her title as Demon Queen, the demons began to wonder who would become her partner.
Although Lilu had proven herself as a powerful ruler, she needed a consort to continue her lineage.
In such a situation, the Seven Demon Wings believed themselves to be the most deserving candidates, given their status as Lilu's right-hand demons and the strongest in the Netherworld.
Thus, they started gathering additional demon soldiers, sabotaging one another's forces, and even assassinating each other's subordinates to weaken their competition.
At least, that's what was visible on the surface, leading many in the Netherworld to assume they were embroiled in a War of Harem. However, the truth seemed more complicated. Rumors remained just that—rumors.
Even if one of the Seven Demon Wings were chosen as Lilu's consort, the ultimate power would still lie with her. Lilu's individual strength far surpassed theirs.
For that reason, Zero speculated that Lilu's death was a necessary step in their plans.
"What will you do after all this?" Zero asked. "Start an open war with the other Demon Wings? Or divide the united Netherworld amongst yourselves?"
"Hahaha! That's none of your concern," Crowley sneered.
Without further debate, Crowley raised his spear high. He seemed prepared to cleave Zero's head in two—or perhaps dismember him entirely.
'So, this is how it ends,' Zero thought. 'Even after surviving two years in this wretched world, I still die again.'
It was almost laughable. For two years, he had worked tirelessly to make Lilu the Demon Queen, all so he could live peacefully. Yet reality had other plans.
Had he only survived this long because he knew certain information about this world, which resembled the game he had once played?
In that game, when a character successfully united the Netherworld, the game would end.
Thus, after helping Lilu achieve unification, Zero no longer held any informational advantage.
Was he unprepared for the unexpected betrayal by the Seven Demon Wings?
No, he had prepared for it. Yet somehow, his mind had been manipulated, and his power restrained by magical chains.
'Could this truly be the work of the Seven Demon Wings? No… If it were just them, this would be impossible.'
Just as Crowley's spear descended toward Zero's neck, he paused, as if deliberately offering Zero a sliver of hope.
But the words Crowley spoke next wiped away Zero's calm expression for the first time and ignited a burning rage in his heart.
"Oh, and don't worry. Even though you failed to kill the Demon Queen, I'll take care of her myself after you're gone. Your job is done, so it's time for useless trash like you to disappear, isn't it?"
Clech!
Zero bit his lip so hard it began to bleed.
In his mind, he swore vengeance—even if he had to rise from the depths of hell. Whether it was against Crowley or any other suspect, he would have his revenge.
But before he could act on his fury, Crowley's spear descended again.
First, it severed Zero's hands, then his legs, and finally, it sliced cleanly through his neck.
The spear truly succeeded in separating Zero's head from his body. Blood gushed profusely from the severed neck as his body collapsed and his head rolled across the filthy ground.
[Your body is dead.]
[Congratulations! You have completed the hidden mission, 'Survive Until the End of the Game.']
[You are eligible to claim a reward.]
[Initiating Return process.]
[…]