The Fake Saintess and the Elf Warrior

Finally, the battle came to an end. Covered in wounds, Tatia mustered her last strength and leaped to her feet. She swung her sword at the seemingly effortless Demon King.

"Die, Demon King!"

"This is the final blow! Hero!"

The Demon King raised his arm and unleashed a powerful, pitch-black vortex.

If this vortex hits her directly, Tatia will undoubtedly be instantly reduced to ashes.

However, for some reason, when the Demon King unleashed this attack, his arm suddenly trembled slightly. The vortex merely grazed past Tatsia, triggering a massive explosion behind her.

Tatia's sword, however, pierced the Demon King's armor precisely, striking his heart. A torrent of blood gushed forth. The Demon King's body collapsed like a puppet with its strings cut. The battle was now completely decided.

"I won!!!!!!!!!"

Tatiana roared to the sky, unleashing her most magnificent cry. A surge of exhilaration welled up within her—the satisfaction of avenging her great enemy, the sense of accomplishment of eliminating the world's greatest foe, and most importantly, the happiness of surviving and being able to spend the rest of her life with her beloved.

............

The battle was over. Tatsia's companions, though all severely wounded, had barely survived. They gathered around Tatsia and the Demon King's corpses. Tatsia, however, no longer had the strength to move an inch.

One of the teammates said

"Great! Tatia, the world is saved!"

Tatiana replied

"Yes, that's right."

Another teammate said

"This is exhausting... This demon king is really tough to deal with. But no matter how strong he is, he can't overcome Tatia, and there's the trust between us and Tatia!"

Tatiana replied

"That's right, we've gotten this far because of the trust between us."

The third teammate said

"Alright, next, let's cut off this demon king's head and take it back as proof of our victory. Hmph, this guy deserved it."

"Okay, let's do it that way."

With the help of her teammates, Tatia shakily stood up, picked up the holy sword, and aimed it at the throat of the demon king's corpse.

"...Speaking of which, what does this Demon King actually look like?"

Just as she was about to behead the Demon King, a question suddenly arose in Tatsia's mind.

"He didn't take off his helmet the entire time during the battle. He's always been elusive, and it's said that no one knows what this demon king actually looks like..."

"So...it really is true."

His companions nodded in agreement. To be honest, they had always been extremely curious about the true face of this arrogant demon king who had plunged the world into endless war. Then, someone said...

"It's probably a very ugly monster."

"..."

A man capable of so many heinous acts naturally wouldn't be someone anyone could find pleasing to the eye. But now, however, a glance at him wouldn't be so bad. Even with his repulsive appearance, considering he had now received his just deserts, it wasn't unacceptable to her.

Thinking this, Tatia reached out and removed the Demon King's helmet.

What appeared before her was a face capable of completely annihilating all happiness, satisfaction, and sense of accomplishment, instantly plunging Tatsia into the greatest despair of her life.

Yes, that was a profound and irreversible despair that even Tatya had never experienced when her hometown was destroyed and her parents died.

"No...no...impossible..."

The helmet in his hand fell to the ground with a thud.

That was the face of the person she loved most, which had sustained her all this time. It was the greatest spiritual support for Tatsia, and the only reason she could live.

"Why...why...why is this happening..."

This morning, her lips still held a warm, tender touch, but now they are stained with blood and pale with loss of color. Those eyes, which had wept for her own sake and for their shared future, stare blankly at the ceiling.

The Demon King's face showed no trace of the anger or frustration one might feel at being defeated by the hero before her death. Instead, a smile played on her lips—the very smile that could warm Tatia's heart.

"Ah... what... what have I done...?"

When she raised her hands again, in Tatia's eyes, they were no longer the heroic hands that a victor should raise high. Instead, they were hands stained with the blood of her beloved, hands that had personally destroyed everything she had.

Images flashed through Tatsia's mind, one after another, from that night ten years ago until now. They flickered on and on, from her deceased parents, the vibrant flames of war, to Naka's final tears.

Finally, she broke down.

"Ah... Ahh ...

She gripped her scalp tightly and scratched it violently, oblivious to the fact that her nails had already broken her skin and were drawing blood. Finally, she even started scratching her face, tearing her once beautiful face, which had captivated countless adventurers, into a bloody mess.

"Hey! Tatia! What's wrong!?"

Tatia's sudden change caught her companions off guard. They didn't know why Tatia had suddenly entered such a frenzied state after seeing the Demon King's face. Just as they were about to step forward to ask her, Tatia suddenly grabbed the holy sword and swung it at her companions.

"Don't come any closer!"

"?!"

After all, Tatia was already exhausted, and her companions had all dodged the attack. But any further hesitation might have meant being sliced ​​in two. Tatia's attack was ruthless and merciless, leaving her companions speechless and exchanging bewildered glances.

Tatiana said nothing more. She ignored her companions' questions. Instead, she raised the holy sword in her hand, looking at her own reflection in the blade. It was unclear whether she was talking to herself or speaking to someone.

"It's...it's you...you're the murderer who killed Sister Naka."

Then, she pointed the sword at her own throat.

"I'm going to kill you to avenge Sister Naka..."

"Takia! No!"

When they realized her intention, her friends immediately rushed to stop her.

But it was too late.

"Pfft"

The hero who had defeated the Demon King collapsed, his body bleeding profusely, like a puppet with its strings cut. He fell onto the Demon King's corpse.

The battle between the Demon King and the Hero came to an end with no winners...

None of the hero's adventurer party returned to report. Only the news arrived that the hero had perished alongside the Demon King. As for where the others went, no one knew. The people of the city cheered and celebrated the end of the war. But soon, everyone forgot that such a thing had ever happened.

On a lush green plain, several young people stood before a stone tablet, the leader holding a letter. It had been found in the Demon King's room. After reading the letter, they were all speechless for a long time, their hearts filled with mixed emotions.

"...The Demon King initially discovered her by chance while inspecting the battlefield. Her plan was to raise Tatia, the hero, before revealing her true identity, enjoying Tatia's despair before killing her. But she never imagined that she herself would develop genuine feelings for Tatia...?"

The Demon King's letter meticulously recorded every detail of her encounter with Tatia. It revealed her regret for her past decisions, her complex emotions of mixed joy and sorrow upon learning of Tatia's growing strength, and her regret at not being able to stay with her until the end. The further the readers went, the more wrinkled the paper became. The letter must have been written with tears in her eyes. At the end, the Demon King left these words...

"I've never believed in karma or retribution. I've always believed that the victor reigns supreme, and that power is the only truth. You taught me how foolish that idea was. If killing me was your dream, then for me now, dying at your hands is my dream. I can't live with you. But I can become the foundation of your dream. When you go to the king, choose a wish that is more meaningful to you, and find someone who won't betray your feelings, and spend your life with him. That's it..."

The letter ended there. It was clear that the Demon King lacked the courage to finish the last sentence. The young man holding the letter sighed and tucked it back into his robes.

"That demon king is truly foolish... Didn't he understand what Tatia really wanted until the very end... to take your head to the king to claim credit and reward? Not even we could do that, let alone her..."

They didn't reveal the Demon King's identity or appearance to anyone. Instead, they took it upon themselves to remove the Demon King and the Hero's corpses and dispose of them. No one else knew about this except for them.

"What should we do with this letter? Are you going to take it?"

"Yes. This book contains a lot of information about the Demon King and the Hero. If it's left here, it's bound to be seen by irrelevant people, so I think it's better if I keep it safe."

"...you're right"

The young man stood up, offered a bouquet of flowers and words of blessing to the stone tablet.

"...May you meet again in the next life and have a truly open and loving relationship."

The tombstone did not bear the deceased's identity or name. It only bore this one line of text.

"A loving couple rests here."

In front of the monument, a pure white conch shell, as white as jade, was placed in the very center of the bouquet.

This short story is the earliest version of the work I envisioned. It's not detailed; if I had to describe it, it's just an outline. But it was the initial motivation that led me to start writing it.

The content you see in the final version is a heavily revised and processed version based on this outline. The character relationships and story events differ significantly from the original version. Therefore, the ending of this chapter does not represent the true ending of the final story. Don't worry about spoilers in this short story. After finishing this tragic ending, I look forward to concluding the final story with a more happy ending. I hope you will continue to support me.

IF·Tia vs. Diaz: Another Showdown (Part 1)

This is a world without war.

The Demon King's castle was no longer as sinister and terrifying as it once was. Now, a large number of monsters, elves, and humans gathered in the plaza in front of the castle gates, sitting peacefully together, chatting and laughing. They chattered excitedly about the monsters busily setting up a magnificent spectacle on the high platform at the front. For a spectacle that the world would soon witness was about to unfold.

Behind them, countless photographers carried magical recording devices to broadcast the event. Besides those present, many more people, monsters, and elves were watching the live broadcast from their homes in front of their magical telescopes (machines that use magic to watch programs). Those fortunate enough to be there in person and watch up close were naturally quite lucky.

Ten minutes passed, and finally, with the director's countdown, the program was about to begin:

"Three! Two! One! Go!"

As the footage was instantly transmitted to homes worldwide, a voluptuous monster girl with short, light blue hair jogged onto the stage. Her black wings and long tail swayed in the wind with her light steps, and the black fabric, almost indistinguishable from a swimsuit, drove countless men wild. Just this appearance alone was enough to captivate her many admirers. She was the host of the program.

Holding a magical amplifier, she smiled knowingly at the camera and began broadcasting the news in a sweet voice that could melt anyone's bones.

"Hi everyone!! Hello viewers in front of the Demon TV! I'm the Demon King's best friend, the Succubus General Saccurbus! How have you all been lately?!"

Almost every man in the world shouted "I'm fine!" at the same time. Sacciobas, the host, is both one of the Demon King's strongest subordinates, the "Five Generals," and a world-renowned idol. Possessing unparalleled fighting prowess and a beauty and singing voice that captivates countless men, she has fans from every country and race. Some admire her strength, while others admire her beauty. She is a superstar, a dream girl for many, enjoying immense popularity.

"Hmm! I can feel everyone's enthusiasm! So without further ado, let's begin today's program... 'The Ultimate Showdown: The One Who Knows the Demon King Best is the Grand Finale!' Our program is a global audition competition to see who knows the Demon King best! In the end, two invincible contestants emerged from hundreds of thousands of applicants! Oh my, they really, really know the Demon King so well that it makes me wonder if they should be arrested... They know him that well! Now, please welcome our two finalists! They are my good friends, the Zerg General Diasdi and the Elf Warrior Taqia!"

Sacciobas turned her body to the side and saw a huge insect and a girl with a tense expression and long, pointed ears sitting on either side of a table with a glittering semi-circular button.

The insect glanced at Tatia, who was sitting to its left, and said disdainfully.

"Hmph, I didn't expect you, an elven brat, to be the last one standing. Looks like your trip with His Majesty the Demon King wasn't for nothing."

Tatia, not to be outdone, replied...

"I'm the person who knows Naka the most in the world! I know the way Naka eats, the way she sleeps, even the way she takes a bath... Ah, I really want to go back to the day Naka scrubbed my back..."

...What needs to be corrected is that her initial refusal to back down was only part of the story; by the end, Takia was completely blushing, cupping her face and lost in a fantasy of what might not be real. This only fueled Diaz's furious roar.

"What! You...you brat, you're so...so enviable...no, so audacious! You actually made His Majesty the Demon King condescend to serve you! Shame on you! You utterly disrespectful wretch!"

"Oh dear, both of you contestants, the competition is already heating up before it even starts! But for the sake of the show, it's just right! Now that the contestants have been introduced, let's talk about the prizes for this competition! I'm sure both of you, and the audience, are eager to know what kind of reward the champion will receive...? Well then, please look this way! Please welcome our grand prize: The Demon King's Daughter!"

Finally, the spotlight illuminated the figure of a silver-haired girl bound to a chair with rope in the corner of the stage, her face covered in black lines. Even though the audience, and even the contestants Diaz and Tatia, cheered and jumped for joy upon seeing her, the girl herself remained frowning.

"That's right! The champion of this competition will have the exclusive right to spend 24 hours a day alone with the Demon King! During this time, the Demon King will obey 100% of the champion's orders and requests, whether it's physical labor, mental work like handling official duties, or even using her body to do this or that... it's all OK!"

And this was precisely the reason for the Demon King's furrowed brow. She had vehemently opposed this inexplicably foolish competition from the very beginning. Yet, with the secret encouragement of the generals, it had somehow progressed to this point. By the time she wanted to back out, it was too late. She was left here as a prize for the champion.

Furthermore, the fact that her own affairs were being used as a topic for the entire world to answer made the Demon King feel somewhat embarrassed. The thought of her privacy being exposed filled her with immense shame, causing her face to flush red.

But the host, Sacciobas, didn't care what she thought. Instead, she went to the tables of the two contestants, handed the magical device to Diaz first, and continued the proceedings.

"Didi! If you win, what would you like the Demon King to do?"

"Of course, I want to spar with Her Majesty the Demon King and hope she'll teach me even more powerful magic!"

The Zerg general answered without hesitation. His answer made the Demon King nod with some satisfaction. If that's the case, then it's not entirely unacceptable.

After asking Diaz, Sarciubasi then began asking Tatia.

"So, Tower Lord, if you win, what do you want the Demon King to do?"

"...Keep it a secret"

Tatya's face began to flush, and her eyes started darting around nervously. The Demon King, seeing this, broke out in a cold sweat. Clearly, she was thinking about something that was probably beneath her dignity.

After both contestants had expressed their opinions, Sarchubas approached the Demon King, who was the prize, and handed him the magical device while whispering something to him.

"Hey, Karenla, everyone's watching you! Come say hello to everyone, and the two other contestants too!"

So, the Demon King said weakly

"....good"

"Hmm! Our prize is alive and can even talk! So, Demon King, from your perspective, which of the two contestants would you like to win? Which contestant would you like to take home?"

"....."

The Demon King glanced at the two contestants on the bench out of the corner of his eye. Their eyes were practically shining as they looked at him. One's light represented admiration and worship, the other's, perhaps, represented a wolfish, wild nature. That's what the Demon King thought.

So she answered

"...I hope General Diaz does well."

"Excellent! Thank you for your expectations, Your Majesty! I will certainly not let you down!"