Demon King: Hero, don’t run away!

In the quest to seize the ”gift” left by the Demon King, nations launched a protracted war, employing countless tricks.

In the eyes of certain princes and ministers, everyone from the enemy country is an adversary, inferior to them and must be purged and corrected.

These princes and ministers often fantasize about trampling others underfoot, savoring the looks of fear and admiration from others.

In the eyes of certain officers, everyone from the enemy country is a walking merit, pigs—to be slaughtered so they can climb ranks.

These officers often lead troops into enemy villages, targeting civilians without mercy, as if slicing fruits, harvesting ”merit” without restraint.

From the perspective of the giant dragon, sweeping over the brutal battlefield, Yang Yu remains silent.

The war Yang Yu participated in was conducted under the giant dragon rules; although the Luo Ze Empire and Wansheng Republic fought for a long time, the casualties were far fewer than imagined.

As for past wars...

Without rules, the rules were their own.

A soldier who didn’t want to die knelt, raising his hands, crying out, ”I surrender, I have a wife and kids, I want to see them again”, yet the enemy country’s soldier hesitated not to strike him down, turning his life into the merit on their chest.

Human wars grew increasingly fierce; several small countries that survived the Demon King campaign were dragged into wars, eventually destroyed.

Gradually, some powerful countries emerged, forming a status of mutual constraint.

At this time, all land without ownership was divided up, yet no country was satisfied with the results.

They all believed they’d paid a great price in this war and must gain more to compensate for their losses in the war.

But the strength of every country was similar; once butting heads with another, someone always took advantage, gaining from them.

To gain more benefits, one needed absolute strength that could overpower other nations.

Almost all countries silently calculated, pondering how they could obtain the strength to subdue others.

Then...

One country set its sights on the hero who had gone into seclusion...

”In this war, we are the true justice.

This war has persisted long enough; it needs someone to end it.

However, to end this war requires strong power.

Country A developed new weapons, Country B allied several incredibly strong S-Class adventure groups, Country C and D formed an alliance, only we are weak, struggling to compete, gain benefits from their rapid rise.

To counter them, I thought of a brilliant idea.

The hero hails from our nation, hidden within our borders.

Now is the time to call upon him; I believe he can stand for justice for us.

No need to worry that the hero won’t emerge; I recently received news that the hero’s past companion, Misha, the Child of the Stars, closely associates with an evil group, fallen as the Catastrophe Witch, even summoned demons.

Now, she’s in Country B; this alone is reason enough for the hero to come forth again.

Shortly, with just a little manipulation, we can make the hero fully support us.

With his assistance, we will undoubtedly reclaim what was rightfully ours.”

Initially, there was skepticism about this proposal.

Yet the question wasn’t about whether to leverage the hero, but whether the ”minor trick” could truly place the hero on their side.

Under the persuasive tongues of several people, this proposal finally garnered unanimous approval from the nation’s top ranks.

The King decisively mobilized substantial manpower to search far and wide for Hero Lox, under the guise that ”the world may soon face catastrophe.”

Soon, they found traces of Hero Lox.

Lox, after all, is human; even in seclusion, there are things he can’t create himself, needing to purchase them in specific places.

The shopkeeper who frequently interacted with the hero disclosed all the information he knew.

The hero, though residing deep in the mountains, never lost his heroic qualities, often helping those lost in the mountains, even buying things people needed out of his own pocket.

According to the shopkeeper’s recollection, the hero even once bought female underwear. The shopkeeper teased the hero, asking if it was for himself or a wife he found, resulting in an amusingly earnest explanation from the hero.

The villagers had also been aided by the hero multiple times.

Many had witnessed the hero’s true power.

With a mere swing of his sword, he could split open Giant Stones, which is why the shopkeeper was so certain the person secluded in the mountains was indeed Hero Lox.

The general was quite thrilled upon receiving this info, preparing to visit Hero Lox, though somewhat anxious about having such a flimsy excuse to visit.

At the time, the general received news that troops in a carpet search had found and slain Demon Clan remnants, prompting him to send for the remnants’ bodies using Teleportation Magic.

If the person he meets were indeed the hero, the general decides to use the corpse to persuade him.

If not, anyone with that kind of strength could certainly serve the nation, making it necessary to persuade him.

Efforts are never in vain; after a relentless search, the general finally found the hero Lox hidden deep within the mountains.

While the general conversed with Hero Lox, Yang Yu did not focus on the two but crouched and scouted the area for anything Lox might have hidden.

Upon seeing the demon corpse, Yang Yu discerned an incredibly complex emotion in Lox’s eyes.

Surprise, anger, sadness, and then deep regret.

Such emotions should not appear on Lox’s face.

He is the hero, and the deceased are demons.

The complex expression lingered on Lox’s face for only a second.

Soon, Lox was as calm as water, peacefully conversing with the general.

The general too paused in slight surprise, though quickly dismissed it as a trick of the eye.

This confirmed Yang Yu’s suspicion that Lox had some connection with that demon.

Thus, he crouched, seeking evidence that might suggest they lived together.

Unfortunately, all Yang Yu witnessed were past images, preventing him from opening cupboards to rummage through.

He couldn’t obtain pages nor find anything to prove any link between the demon and Lox.

Finally, Yang Yu could only quietly listen to their conversation, waiting for Lox’s slip-up.

Alas, the hero decisively agreed to the general’s request, casually setting the hut he resided in ablaze, as if fleeing from something, leaving with the general.

Afterward, the dragon’s recorded perspective once again fell upon Lox.

Yang Yu observed Lox, who has been gloomy since leaving his secluded abode.

The nation planning to leverage the hero systematically showed the hero glimpses of his former companion conjuring demons, convincing him to end her.

Subsequently, that nation persuaded the hero with all manner of rhetoric, entangling him, and hoisting the banner of justice, they pillaged and conquered everywhere.