Chapter 6: The Hero’s Rejection

"Hah? What business does a royal envoy have with me?" Ryutaro asked.

The royal envoy pulled out a piece of parchment containing the king's decree and read it aloud in front of Ryutaro.

"Ryutaro, as the successor of the first hero, His Majesty commands you to return to the kingdom and reclaim your title as a hero. There is no room for refusal," the envoy declared.

"Wait a minute… How did you even know I was still alive and living here?" Ryutaro questioned.

"The royal mage has seen it through a crystal ball," the envoy replied.

A Few Hours Earlier in Celestia's Palace

"Your Majesty, I have identified the successor of the first hero," said the royal mage.

"Tell me who it is," King Albert ordered.

"It is the last person Your Majesty cast into the Black Forest," the mage revealed.

"Don't tell me… Is it that farmer?" King Albert stroked his chin.

"Yes, Your Majesty. He is still alive and resides in that forest," the mage confirmed.

"Hmm… Interesting. He hasn't died yet? Good, good," King Albert mused.

Just then, the royal advisor whispered something into the king's ear.

"How about we summon him here? If he refuses because we abandoned him, just offer him some women. Surely, he will be tempted. After all, he's just a mere farmer who accidentally awakened the hero job," the advisor suggested slyly.

"Hmm… Good idea. Soldiers, send a royal envoy to the Black Forest. Issue the royal decree. If he refuses, offer him women," King Albert commanded.

"Understood, Your Majesty," the royal guards responded.

"Hah… Soon, the successor will be in my hands. The Demon King's territory will be mine," King Albert smirked.

Back to the Present

"What if I refuse?" Ryutaro asked.

"King Albert is willing to offer you women as an apology for exiling you to the Black Forest," the envoy said.

"Hah? Don't be ridiculous. Do they think they can summon me whenever they please after abandoning me in this forsaken place? And now they suddenly need me? Tch, sorry, but I'm not interested," Ryutaro scoffed.

"But—" the envoy tried to argue.

Suddenly, Grace appeared.

"Hmm… So this is the royal envoy? Did you not hear what my husband just said?" Grace interjected.

"And who are you? This is an official royal order directed at Ryutaro. Outsiders have no right to interfere," the envoy retorted.

"I am Demon Queen Grace," she declared.

"Demon Queen Grace? Don't tell me… Are you the Demon Queen who was sealed away for 500 years in this forest?" The envoy's face turned pale with fear.

"Indeed, that's me," Grace smirked confidently.

"Lies! How do I know you're truly Demon Queen Grace? No one should be able to break that seal," the envoy stammered.

"Oh? Is that so?" Grace replied.

She unleashed a dark, ominous aura, filling the air with overwhelming pressure. The envoy trembled in fear.

"This aura… this color… I read about it back at the academy. Y-You really are the Demon Queen Grace!" the envoy gasped.

"That's right," Grace confirmed.

Driven by fear, the envoy blurted out something that infuriated Ryutaro.

"Hey, Ryutaro… Did you break her seal?" the envoy asked hesitantly.

"Yes, I did. So what?" Ryutaro answered coldly.

"Are you insane?! You released a creature that was never meant to be free!" the envoy shouted.

"Yeah, I'm insane. Got a problem with that?" Ryutaro smirked.

The envoy's lips curled into a wicked grin.

"Do you even know who she truly is, Ryutaro? She's not just any Demon Queen. She devoured her own kind—her own parents—to claim her title!" the envoy sneered.

"Stop it!" Grace shouted.

"So? What will you do now, Ryutaro? Are you upset? Are you angry?" the envoy laughed mockingly.

As the envoy continued laughing, Ryutaro's expression darkened, and he unleashed an intense, dark aura.

"Are you done talking? Or should I wait until you're finished?" Ryutaro asked, his patience wearing thin.

"What do you mean? She's a monster!" the envoy spat.

"Even if she devoured gods themselves, I wouldn't care. At the very least, she is far better than your kingdom. And you think you can ruin our bond with your words? Do you really believe you'll walk away unharmed?" Ryutaro clenched his fists.

Without hesitation, he delivered a powerful punch to the envoy's face, leaving him battered and bruised. However, Ryutaro refrained from killing him, knowing it would only create unnecessary complications.

"You're not going to kill me?" the envoy coughed.

"I won't dirty my hands with your blood. Leave and deliver this message to your king—

I will never obey his orders. Ever. And if he dares to disrupt our peaceful lives, I will reduce his kingdom to ashes," Ryutaro declared.

The envoy staggered to his feet and ran away in terror.

"You will regret this!" the envoy shouted as he fled.

After he was gone, Grace approached Ryutaro with a look of fear in her eyes.

"I… I'm sorry for keeping the truth from you, Ryutaro," Grace said softly.

"It's okay. I know you must have had your reasons. If you're willing, you can tell me everything," Ryutaro reassured her, pulling her into a comforting embrace.

"Alright… But let's go inside first," Grace nodded.

Inside the House

"I was once the daughter of the most powerful Demon King and Queen. However, they were extremely strict and never allowed me to leave the castle. One day, I sneaked out and got lost in an alley. I was nearly kidnapped, but an unknown demon saved me.

"From that day on, we secretly became close friends. We even made a promise—to unite all races and end discrimination when I became Demon Queen.

"But someone exposed our friendship to my parents. They were furious. They had my friend whipped and exiled before my very eyes.

"I was consumed with rage… and in that moment, I lost control. When I regained my senses, I had devoured everyone around me, including the demons who tortured him… and even my own parents.

"When I looked down, all that remained were the scattered remains of those I had unknowingly killed," Grace lowered her head in shame.

"I see… So how did you eventually become the Demon Queen?" Ryutaro asked.

"I discovered an ancient book hidden in the castle's underground chamber. From there, I began my journey and ultimately became the Demon Queen… That was before the humans' rebellion," Grace explained.

"I see," Ryutaro nodded.

"Aren't you afraid? What if I lose control again and end up devouring you?" Grace asked hesitantly.

"Don't be ridiculous. Why would I be afraid? It was your parents' fault for restricting your freedom. If they had treated you better, none of this would have happened," Ryutaro said, trying to comfort her.

"You're right…" Grace smiled weakly.

Ryutaro embraced her tightly.

"No matter what happens, I'll always stand by your side," Ryutaro promised.

"Me too," Grace whispered.

After hearing Grace's past, their bond grew even stronger.

However, unbeknownst to them, someone was watching from the shadows.

What will the king do after receiving the envoy's report? And who is the mysterious figure observing Ryutaro and Grace?

Find out in Chapter 7.

*If I made any minor mistakes that might be distracting, I sincerely apologize. I have done my best for this novel, and if you enjoy it, please consider giving it a like and sharing your feedback, suggestions, or criticism so I can learn and improve. Thank you for reading, and see you in the next chapter!*