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Kim Hyunsung, the Sunset Swordsman Hero, had spent months on an adventure to defeat the Demon Lord and restore peace to the land. It was a quest given by the King itself. He had faced countless challenges and fought many battles, but he had never been closer to his goal than he was now.
As he approached the castle where the Demon Lord resided, Kim Hyunsung felt a mix of excitement and apprehension. He knew that this would be his toughest battle yet, but he was determined to emerge victorious.
When he entered the castle, he was surprised to find that it was not what he had expected.
Instead of a dark, foreboding fortress filled with monsters and traps, it was a peaceful and serene place, with beautiful gardens and tranquil waterfalls.
There was no monster or evil being could be seen along the way he walked.
As Kim Hyunsung approached the Demon Lord's room easily, he took a deep breath and steeled himself for the encounter. He had never seen the Demon Lord before, and he didn't know what to expect.
Slowly and silently, he pushed open the big door and peered inside. The room was dimly lit, with only a few candles flickering on the bedside table. In the center of the room was a large bed, and lying on it was a figure of a man.
His first thought was that the Demon Lord may have kidnapped this person and kept him here. But he swept the thoughts away after sensing powerful aura from the sleeping man.
'The Demon Lord?'
There was no way Kim Hyunsung could not sense this black aura.
Kim Hyunsungs stares at the Demon Lord and what came to his thoughts was how thin and delicate the Demon Lord looked. He had always imagined him as a hulking, terrifying beast, but the man in front of him is a slender man with a pale skin and black hair.
He watched as the Demon Lord had a peaceful look on his face as he sleeps.
For a moment, Kim Hyunsung felt a bit of guilt. How could he even consider killing someone so fragile and innocent-looking? But then he reminded himself of all the terrible things the Demon Lord was responsible for, and his resolve hardened once again.
As he stepped closer to the bed,the Demon Lord stirred and opened his eyes. Without having to sit up first,his eyes looks at this human trespasser. He stared at Kim Hyunsung as he sits up,and then looks at Kim Hyunsung's sword. His expression turned to one of resignation.
"I suppose you're here to kill me," he said softly.
The Demon Lord smiled as he saw Kim Hyunsung after waking up from his sleep. "Are you the hero?" he asked. "This is my first time seeing one. Are you here to kill me?"
Kim Hyunsung hesitated, taken aback by the Demon Lord's gentle demeanor. He tried not to let himself be swayed by the demon lord's appearance, reminding himself of the atrocities he had committed.
'I have to strike first. Or I could be at disadvantage.'
He raised his sword, ready to strike, but before he could, the Demon Lord restrained his movements as he flicked his hands up.
Kim Hyunsung panicked to see his body got restrained by black magic. He tried to struggle, but it was futile. The Demon Lord slowly got up from his bed and walked towards Kim Hyunsung. As he walked closer to Kim Hyunsung, he was in a trance as he stared at the Demon Lord. The Demon Lord had dark brown hair that covered one of his eyes, and the hidden eye beneath was glowing gold unlike the other side. His body was thin and looked so fragile it could break by some pressure. But most of all, it was his gentle expression and smile that captivated KIm Hyunsung.
As the Demon Lord approached, Kim Hyunsung felt a strange sensation washing over him. He couldn't help but be entranced by the Demon Lord's delicate features and warm smile.
Despite his fear and panic, Kim Hyunsung found himself drawn to the Demon Lord, and he couldn't bring himself to look away.
As the Demon Lord reached him, he gently touched Kim Hyunsung's cheek, and Kim Hyunsung felt a surge of electricity run through his body. He had never felt anything like it before.
'What is this..? Is this one of his ability...?'
Kim Hyunsung could only stare intently, his heart racing with a strange mixture of fear and fascination.
He couldn't believe he was actually making eye contact this closely with the Demon Lord, and that he was starting to feel something for him.
The Demon Lord continued to touch Kim Hyunsung's face, running his fingers along his jawline and down his neck. Kim Hyunsung felt himself shiver with pleasure, and he couldn't help but lean into the touch.
For a moment, the two of them were lost in each other's gaze, oblivious to the outside world. Without a word,the Demon Lord released Kim Hyunsung from his spell. Kim Hyunsung stumbled backwards, feeling disoriented and confused.
Kim Hyunsung's Durendal is still floating on the air by the black magic.
"Hello hero, I'm Lee Kiyoung. The Demon Lord of this century," he said with a friendly smile.
"What's yours?"
"...Kim Hyunsung."
Kim Hyunsung felt like smacking his own face for revealing his own name that easily to the Demon Lord.
As he looked up at the Demon Lord, he realized that things were never going to be the same again. He had come here to kill the Demon Lord, but now he wasn't sure if that was what he really wanted. All he knew was that he was drawn to Lee Kiyoung,the Demon Lord, in a way that he couldn't explain.
As he stood there, lost in thought, Lee Kiyoung approached him once again. This time, however, he did not use his magic to restrain him. Instead, he reached out and took Kim Hyunsung's hand in his own, holding it gently.
Lee Kiyoung looked at Kim Hyunsung with a soft expression, studying him closely. He could sense the confusion and conflict within him, and he wanted nothing more than to ease his mind. "I know what you are thinking. But you have to listen to me. I haven't done anything to harm the humans ever since the past years I ascended the throne to become the current Demon King."
Kim Hyunsung's mind was in turmoil as he listened to Lee Kiyoung. He had always thought of the Demon Lord as a ruthless tyrant, responsible for countless deaths and suffering. He looked at Lee Kiyoung's gentle expression and felt a twinge of doubt. Was it possible that he had been wrong all this time?
"Of course, the past Demon Lords was in the wrong. But for now you can rest assured that it won't happen again as long as I am the Demon Lord."
Kim Hyunsung looked at Lee Kiyoung, feeling a sense of conflict within him. He still couldn't fully trust the Demon Lord, but he also couldn't bring himself to hate him much. For now, he decided to listen to Lee Kiyoung's side, to try and understand him better, and to see if he was being honest.
................................
Kim Hyunsung paced around the room, taking in his surroundings. The room was spacious and comfortable, with soft cushions and warm blankets. He had been given plenty of food and water, and he had even been allowed to take a bath alone.
But despite the comfortable surroundings, Kim Hyunsung couldn't shake off his sense of unease. Why had Lee Kiyoung spared him? What was his intention in keeping him here?
'How confident is he that he won't even have anyone to guard me?'
But as he looked around the room, at the comfortable surroundings and the books that Lee Kiyoung had provided, he couldn't help but wonder if there was more to the Demon Lord than he had ever imagined.
..............
Kim Hyunsung had never expected to spend his days in captivity like this, but to his surprise, he found himself enjoying the company of the Demon Lord. Lee Kiyoung would come by his room every now and then, and they would play chess, chat about their lives, and even take walks around the castle grounds.
"Accompany me,Hero."
"..."
As they walked around the big gardens, Kim Hyunsung couldn't help but notice how beautiful the sunset looked from here. He turned to Lee Kiyoung and found him staring at the flowers, a gentle smile on his face.
Lee Kiyoung's appearance,bathe in the sunset's light was enchanting.
"...pretty," Kim Hyunsung blurted out, before he could stop himself.
Lee Kiyoung turned to him with surprise, and for a moment, Kim Hyunsung feared he had said something wrong. But to his relief, Lee Kiyoung simply chuckled and shook his head.
Kim Hyunsung felt a flush of embarrassment rise to his cheeks, but he couldn't deny the attraction he felt towards the Demon Lord. Despite his doubts, he couldn't help but feel drawn to Lee Kiyoung's kind and gentle nature.
...........................
Weeks passed,Kim Hyunsung was walking by the hallways after a short training in the morning .
Kim Hyunsung heard the sounds of sword clashing coming from Lee Kiyoung's room and rushed over to see what was happening. When he arrived, he saw that another hero had infiltrated the castle and was attacking Lee Kiyoung. Kim Hyunsung recognized him as a hero from a neighboring kingdom by the broad and unique sword he was handling.
"Kiyoung..!"
As Kim Hyunsung witnessed the chaos unfolding in front of him, his eyes were fixed on Lee Kiyoung, who was struggling to defend himself against the hero.
'....Should I help the hero...? Or should I help Kiyoung..?'
A wave of emotion washed over Kim Hyunsung, and he realized that he couldn't bear to see Lee Kiyoung hurt.
Kim Hyunsung immediately drew his own sword and blocked the attacker's strike.
"Stop what you are doing!" Kim Hyunsung yelled at the other hero.
"What are you talking about!? I'm here to kill the demon lord, just like you!" the other hero retorted, swinging his sword again.
Kim Hyunsung parried the strike and responded, "He's not what you're thinking!"
"He's a demon! He deserves to die anyhow!" the other hero shouted.
Kim Hyunsung gritted his teeth and engaged in a fierce sword fight with the other hero, while trying to protect Lee Kiyoung at the same time. The clash of metal echoed throughout the room as they exchanged blows. Finally, Kim Hyunsung managed to disarm the other hero and held his sword to his neck.
"You traitor..." The hero said as he struggling to break free from Kim Hyunsung's strong grips.
"..."
..................
The hero was immobilized and taken by the demon guards.
'So there was demon guards all along?' Kim Hyunsung thought as he watched the skeleton like demon dragging the hero to the basement.
Kim Hyunsung then turned to Lee Kiyoung.
"Are you alright?" Kim Hyunsung asked, concern etched on his face.
Kim Hyunsung could see Lee Kiyoung was holding the wound bleeding from his neck.
Lee Kiyoung smiled weakly, despite the blood seeping from his hands. "I'll be fine," he said. "Thank you for your help, Hyunsung."
Kim Hyunsung was relieved as he saw that Lee Kiyoung was going to be okay. But at the same time, he couldn't help but feel conflicted about his feelings for the Demon Lord. What the other hero had said to him kept playing around in his head.
How could he continue to be attracted to someone who was supposed to be his enemy?
As the staff tended to Lee Kiyoung's wounds, Kim Hyunsung watched silently, lost in his thoughts. He knew that he had to make a decision soon, but he still wasn't sure what the right choice was.
Despite his initial doubts and suspicions, Kim Hyunsung knew deep down that Lee Kiyoung was not the ruthless demon lord he was told by the king. In fact, he had grown to care for the gentle and kind demon lord, and the thought of losing him made Kim Hyunsung's heart ache.
As they were done tending to Lee Kiyoung's wound,they suddenly heard the sound of clashing swords and battle cries.
"Demon Lord."
A masked demon teleported in out of nowhere.
"There is an emergency. Another group of heroes is in front of the gate,it seems like the trespasser from before was a member of their party."
Hearing that,Kim Hyunsung and Lee Kiyoung had to see for themselves as they saw several human heroes trying to invade the castle.
The Demon Lord's side is losing compared to the powerful heroes's attacks.
Kim Hyunsung drew his sword and charged towards the heroes, while Lee Kiyoung stayed back, using his magic to create obstacles and confusion for the intruders.
Kim Hyunsung was outnumbered but he fought with all his might, cutting through the enemies one by one. Meanwhile, Lee Kiyoung's magic was proving to be too much for the heroes to handle, as they were struggling to keep up with the constant barrage of illusions and attacks.
As the battle raged on, Kim Hyunsung couldn't help but wonder why so many heroes were being sent to defeat this gentle and kind demon lord. He began to question the motives of the king and the other heroes, and whether they were truly fighting for justice or just blindly following orders.
Kim Hyunsung was fighting alongside Lee Kiyoung against the multiple heroes when he suddenly felt a sharp pain in his head. He stumbled backwards, clutching his head, and everything went black.
.....................................
When Kim Hyunsung regained consciousness, the first thing he saw was the figure of Lee Kiyoung lying on the ground by his feet, bleeding and unconscious. Kim Hyunsung was shocked and confused.
"Kiyoung...?"
Kim Hyunsung staggered as he looked at his trembling hands and the durendal in his hands covered with Lee Kiyoung's bloods.
Had he done this? Had he really just stabbed Kiyoung?
He stumbled over to Lee Kiyoung's side and saw the blood oozing out from the wound on his chest. kim Hyunsung's heart sank with guilt and regret. He had never meant for this to happen. He had fought alongside Lee Kiyoung and had even grown feelings for him. How could he have stabbed him?
'Was I controlled by the opposing hero's magic?'
Tears welled up in Kim Hyunsung's eyes as he knelt down beside Lee Kiyoung, trying to stop the bleeding. He knew he had to take responsibility for his actions, but he didn't know what to do. He had never been in this kind of situation before.
'No.... it's okay,Kiyoung is the Demon Lord,he won't die from this...'
He tried to calm himself down. It's true,Lee Kiyoung's wound is deep but he won't easily die just like this.
But before he managed to think straight,the same pain before he was controlled was felt again and he passed out.
.............
Kim Hyunsung woke up to a loud commotion. As he opened his eyes, he realized that he was chained to the wall of a cold and damp cell.
He is inside the dungeon in the King's castle.
He tried to remember how he got here but all he could recollect was the memory of the fight with the heroes in the demon lord's castle.
Kim Hyunsung's eyes widened as he saw Lee Kiyoung lying on the cold, hard ground beside him, still unconscious and chained. His heart was pounding in his chest as he struggled to remember how they got here.
"Kiyoung, can you hear me?" Kim Hyunsung asked, trying to wake him up. But there was no response from the Demon Lord other than the heavy breath, and Kim Hyunsung could feel the panic rising in his chest.
He knew he had to think of a way out of here, but with both of them chained up and Lee Kiyoung still unconscious, it seemed like an impossible task. Kim Hyunsung felt helpless and frustrated, wondering how they were going to escape this.
Sounds of heavy footsteps echoed in the dungeon, the king slowly approached the cell where Kim Hyunsung and Lee Kiyoung were chained. The king's expression was stern and his eyes were fixated on Lee Kiyoung, who was still in an unconscious state and panting heavily.
He walked closer to Lee Kiyoung and examined him closely, inspecting the wounds and bruises that covered his body. A look of disgust crossed his face as he gazed upon the demon lord, who was still chained and helpless.
"You disgust me, demon," the king spat, turning his gaze to Kim Hyunsung. "And you, hero. You have failed your kingdom and your people by allying with this monster."
Kim Hyunsung glared at the king, his eyes burning with anger. "Kiyoung is not a monster. He has done nothing wrong. It is you who have sent countless heroes to attack him without reason," he retorted.
Without warning, the king raised his hand and struck Lee Kiyoung across the face, causing him to groan in pain.
The sound of the impact echoed throughout the dungeon, and Kim Hyunsung could feel his own anger and frustration boiling up inside him. But he was powerless to do anything, as he too was chained and unable to move.
"Say that again."
The king turned his attention to Kim Hyunsung again, who glared at him defiantly. The king smirked and taunted him, "You thought you could defeat me? You and that demon were nothing but pests. Now you will both suffer the consequences of your foolishness."
With that, the king signaled to his guards, who began to beat Lee Kiyoung mercilessly with their weapons. The demon lord writhed in pain, his body convulsing with each blow. Kim Hyunsung could only watch in horror, feeling helpless and powerless to stop the brutality unfolding before him.
Despite his own chains, he tried to reach out and stop them, but it was no use.
"Stop it! He's already unconscious!" Kim Hyunsung shouted, but his words fell on deaf ears.
The king just stood there, watching with a cruel smirk on his face. "This is what happens to those who defy me," he said. "You should have killed him when you had the chance, Hero."
After what felt like an eternity, the king finally ordered his men to stop.
"Though I must applaud your strength to be the first one to be able to stab the Demon Lord,even if I must hypnotize you first."
Kim Hyunsung felt sick to his stomach as he realized the king had set him up to kill Lee Kiyoung. He had been used as a pawn in the king's goal.
They left Lee Kiyoung lying on the ground, his breathing shallow and ragged. Kim Hyunsung desperately tried to crawl towards him, but his chains held him back.
He looked up at the king, his eyes burning with rage. "You'll pay for this," he swore. "I'll make sure of it."
Kim Hyunsung felt anger boiling inside of him. He wanted to lash out some more at the king, but he knew it would only make things worse. He looked at Lee Kiyoung, who was still lying unconscious on the ground, and felt a sense of guilt wash over him. He blamed himself for their current predicament.
The king turned to leave,he gave one last warning to Kim Hyunsung, "If you ever try to escape or cause trouble again, I'll make sure you both suffer a fate worse than death."
As the king's footsteps faded away, Kim Hyunsung was left alone with Lee Kiyoung, both still chained and unable to move. He struggles to break free from his chains, but they are too tight. He then notices that Kiyoung's chains are slightly looser, and he wonders if he can use that to his advantage.
'It must be from the impact of the guard's blows.'
Kim Hyunsung carefully leans over and examines Lee Kiyoung's chains. He manages to free one of his hands and then starts working on the other. It takes a while, but finally, both of them are free.
Kim Hyunsung helps Lee Kiyoung sit up as he groans in pain. His face is bruised, and his eyes are swollen shut. Kim Hyunsung tries to talk to him, but he doesn't respond. Lee Kiyoung is still unconscious.
Kim Hyunsung feels a deep sense of guilt and regret for what he has done. He remembers stabbing Lee Kiyoung while they were fighting together, he wishes he could take it back. He wonders if Lee Kiyoung will ever forgive him, or if he will even wake up at all.
A group of guards walked by the cell and they were surprised to see that Kim Hyunsung and Lee Kiyoung are free from their chains. They immediately draw their swords.
Kim Hyunsung had no choice but to fought fiercely against the guards.
One of the guards who looked like someone of a high ranking, grabbed Lee Kiyoung's body and held him hostage. "Don't move, hero," he growled, pressing a sword to Lee Kiyoung's throat. "One wrong move and I'll slit his throat."
Kim Hyunsung stopped in his tracks, feeling a surge of panic and helplessness. He couldn't risk Lee Kiyoung's life, but he couldn't let these guards take him away either.
Kim Hyunsung gritted his teeth, feeling a surge of anger and frustration. He hated being helpless like this, and he despised these guards for their cruelty and arrogance. But he knew that he had to bide his time and wait for an opportunity to escape. He could only hope that Lee Kiyoung was still alive, and that they could find a way to rescue him before it was too late.
Lee Kiyoung's body who was in the hand of the guard,suddenly crumbled into a pile of black ashes, leaving them,especially Kim Hyunsung in shock and disbelief. He couldn't believe that the demon lord, who had always seemed so invincible, could be reduced to mere ashes so easily. Kim Hyunsung couldn't even bring himself to touch the pile of ash, feeling as if it might disappear into thin air if he did.
As he stood there, staring at the remains of the demon lord, he began to feel a deep sense of loss. Even though they had only known each other for a short time, Lee Kiyoung had become a precious person to Kim Hyunsung.
The guards moved Kim Hyunsung to a more secure cell and leave him chained there.
Kim Hyunsung spent his days in the cell, feeling utterly hopeless and powerless. He missed Lee Kiyoung, who he had grown to care for deeply,and he could only hoped that Lee Kiyoung is still alive somewhere.
Days turned into weeks, and weeks turned into months. Kim Hyunsung became increasingly desperate, and began to plan his escape. He tried to break the chains that bound him, but they were too strong compared from last time. He tried to pick the lock on the cell door, but it was too complex.
Some more time passed,Kim Hyunsung was lying down on his bed, staring blankly at the ceiling of the dark cell, when suddenly, the cell shook violently. The sound of crumbling walls and screams of agony echoed throughout the castle. Kim Hyunsung jolted up, confused and disoriented. He heard a faint voice in the chaos, calling out to him.
"Hyunsung! We need to go now!" Lee Kiyoung's voice shouted from outside his cell.
Kim Hyunsung quickly got up, his heart pounding with anticipation. He saw Lee Kiyoung standing in front of him, looking disheveled but determined.
"Follow me," Lee Kiyoung said as he unlocked the chains that bound Kim Hyunsung's hands. "I'll explain everything later."
Kim Hyunsung didn't know what was happening, but he trusted Lee Kiyoung and followed him closely as they ran through the halls of the castle. They encountered a lot of guards along the way, but Lee Kiyoung easily dispatched them with his powers. Kim Hyunsung could see that there's monsters and demons under Lee Kiyoung's order fighting with the guards.
After they managed to catch a breath in some hidden corner, Kim Hyunsung immediately ran towards Lee Kiyoung, tears streaming down his face, and hugged him tightly. He could feel Lee Kiyoung's warmth and breath, confirming that he was indeed alive. "I'm so glad... Kiyoung," Kim Hyunsung choked out, his voice breaking with emotion. "I thought you were gone...."
Lee Kiyoung, who was equally relieved to see Kim Hyunsung unharmed, hugged him back and patted his back. "It's okay, Hyunsung," he said softly. "I'm here. We are alive. We made it."
"What happened? How come you...?"
"I transfered myself into another body. Its hard to kill off a demon lord completely because of this."
"That's...I see..."
Kim Hyunsung pulled back and looked at Lee Kiyoung, "Thank you for saving me," he said gratefully. "I don't know what I would have become if you hadn't come for me."
Lee Kiyoung smiled warmly at him. "Of course, Hyunsung. You are important to me."
They stayed like that for a few more moments, holding each other, until they heard the sounds of the monsters dissipating and the castle guards coming back to their senses. They parted reluctantly and prepared themselves for the next course of action.
As they reached the throne room, they found the king sitting on his throne, surrounded by his loyal guards. Lee Kiyoung raised his hands and summoned a horde of monsters from the depths of the underworld. The monsters rushed toward the king and his guards, and a fierce battle ensued.
Kim Hyunsung watched in amazement as Lee Kiyoung controlled the monsters with ease, using them as his personal army to fight against the king's forces. The two fought side by side, taking down the human guards left and right.
As Kim Hyunsung fought alongside Lee Kiyoung and the monsters, a hero and a demon lord's combined power, it overwhelmed the remaining guards and soldiers.
Eventually, the king was cornered and defeated. Lee Kiyoung stood tall, looking at the fallen king with a mix of triumph and sadness.
"I'm sorry it had to end like this," Lee Kiyoung said to the king. "But you gave us no choice."
After defeating the king,Lee Kiyoung returned to Kim Hyunsung's side and smiles as he holds Kim Hyunsung's hands.
"Let's go home,Hyunsung."
Kim Hyunsung nodded.
There's no place for Kim Hyunsung in the kingdom anyways.
The sun was setting and the sky was painted in hues of orange.
They stood there for a while, watching the sunset. As the sky grew dark, they retreated back to the Demon Lord's territory,ready to spend the rest of lives together.