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The wind howled violently.
Storms relentlessly haunted the forbidden island. Ever since Tamon’s party set foot here, they had been greeted by ferocious monsters—Kraken, Griffith, and the Demon King’s elite forces. Tamon kept shouting to his party, “Keep going! The Demon King’s castle is right ahead! We just need to cross this mountain!”
Keito, whose physical strength was the weakest, had been gasping for breath for quite a while. He could no longer endure climbing the steep mountain leading to the Demon King’s castle, Ouri. Between his ragged breaths, he said, “I can’t go on anymore! Leave me behind! My familiar will help watch over you along the way. I’ve also made sure my magic can cover the entire island.”
“Keito? Are you really alright? I’ll heal you!” Utage shouted back, trying to make her voice heard over the crashing waves and storm.
“Go, Utage!” Keito summoned his familiar, Katy, to follow the party, “I’ll be fine! I’ll survive!”
The waves grew fiercer. Rain began to chill the air, spreading thick fog around them, and in an instant, Keito’s figure disappeared.
Tamon bit his lip. Reluctantly, he gave the command, “Quick! We have to move before this fog leads us astray!”
The hero party resumed climbing the steep mountain. One wrong step, and they could fall into the abyss or the raging sea—there would be no survival. Natsuki shuddered. Even with her scouting ability, she could sense just how dangerous the path ahead was.
“Should I go ahead first?” Natsuki offered.
“No! We’ve already lost Keito. We can’t lose you too, Natsuki!” Tamon replied.
“But you know how dangerous the road ahead is,” Natsuki said, pointing at Katy, Keito’s dog-like familiar, “And Keito isn’t dead. Katy wouldn’t be with us if he were.”
Tamon clicked his tongue. This was a difficult choice. Natsuki’s scouting would greatly help them find a safe route, but sending her ahead alone was a huge risk. He didn’t want to lose another comrade.
Amid his turmoil, Keito’s voice came through their communication magic, “Tamon! What are you thinking?! We’ve come this far, we have to give it everything we’ve got. Trust us.”
Natsuki, Rintaro, and Utage looked at Tamon with determination. “He’s right, Tamon. Trust us!”
Tamon wiped his eyes, heavy with unshed tears. “Alright… I’ll trust you!”
Natsuki moved ahead first. Keito could sense that there was a massive source of magic between them and the Demon King’s castle, but he couldn’t pinpoint its exact location. Through the cooperation between Natsuki and Keito, Natsuki began navigating the safest path toward the castle while avoiding dangers. A faint yellow glow stretched forward, signaling that Natsuki’s scouting skill had succeeded. Rintaro, Tamon, and Utage simply followed the light she guided.
“Tamon! Over here—!!!” Natsuki shouted from ahead.
“Natsuki! Watch out!!!”
The warning from Keito came too late. Not even a second after he shouted, Natsuki was thrown back by a sudden attack from a giant Chimera. It had two lion heads and a bull’s head in the center, with a snake for a tail. It roared viciously at Tamon’s party.
Utage immediately ran to heal Natsuki, while Rintaro and Tamon drew their weapons and engaged the Chimera.
Katy transformed. Her body grew ten times larger as she let out a thunderous roar. She bit into the Chimera, tearing its flesh apart. Rintaro charged forward and drove his axe into one of the lion heads. The Chimera howled. Its snake tail lashed back, baring its sharp fangs, but Tamon blocked it with his shield.
Natsuki stood back up and shouted from a distance, her wounds already healed by Utage. “Tamon! Go! We’ll take care of the Chimera!”
A glowing light emanated from Katy’s body, signaling that she was being strengthened by Keito’s magic. “She’s right, Tamon! Go! Just listen to Natsuki and trust us to handle things here!”
Tamon’s heart felt unbearably heavy. He couldn’t bring himself to leave his comrades behind. It hadn’t been easy to reach this point. Who knew how much time, effort, and lives had already been sacrificed?
“Tamon!” Rintaro, who was usually quiet, shouted this time. “What Keito and Natsuki said is right! Leave this to us! You and Utage go to the Demon King’s castle and defeat him!”
The guiding light from Natsuki still shimmered, pointing directly toward the castle.
Utage gently held Tamon’s hand, giving him a small reassuring smile. “Everything will be alright.”
Her smile gave Tamon a bit of courage. He looked at Rintaro, who was fighting desperately against the Chimera, followed by Natsuki and Katy.
Tamon clenched his fists. “You all better survive, alright?! I’ll haunt you if you die!!”
Rintaro, Natsuki, and Keito smiled. They had already resolved themselves to fight—death didn’t seem so frightening anymore.
Tamon and Utage continued forward.
They crossed ravines, passed through valleys, and climbed steep cliffs until they reached a grand, ancient-looking gate. Without hesitation, they pushed through and entered, arriving at the Demon King’s castle, which loomed ominously before them.
Utage steadied her trembling body. Strangely, the place felt familiar. She took a deep breath. Tamon held her hand to calm her, and together, they pushed the door open.
“Welcome to my castle.”
Before them, Ouri rose from his throne, greeting Tamon and Utage.
The Ouri standing before them was no longer the Ouri they had known as children. Now, he had two demonic horns on his head and wore a dark robe.
“Ouri! Why are you doing all this?!” Tamon shouted.
“Why do you ask? After everything you’ve done, and you still ask why?!” Ouri shot back. He used magic to seize Tamon’s body and slam him against the wall. Utage screamed and ran toward him.
“Stay where you are, Utage!” Ouri trapped her inside an iron cage formed by his magic.
“Ugh!” Tamon cut through Ouri’s invisible magical grip and broke free. “Ouri! Please, come to your senses and come back to us! We can start over!”
“Hah? Come to my senses?” Ouri laughed hollowly, “From the very beginning, from the day Utage died, I’ve done everything fully aware, Tamon.”
Ouri snapped his fingers.
At that very moment, Keito, Rintaro, and Natsuki’s voices rang out through the communication magic. Then suddenly—
Silence.
Tamon’s world collapsed in an instant.
“K–Keito? Natsuki? Rintaro? Y–you… you can still hear me, right…?”
“Hello…? Keito…? This is just the magic malfunctioning, right…? Rintaro! Answer me! Natsuki!”
He called out to them again and again.
No response.
Even Keito’s magic could no longer be felt.
“This… is a lie, right?”
“This is reality, Tamon! Your comrades are gone! And I’m the one who killed them all!” Ouri shouted.
“Liar!” Tamon roared, lunging forward in rage. “How could you kill your own friends, Ouri?! We grew up together in that orphanage! Didn’t you feel anything at all?!”
...
“Look at that kid, kinda scary.”
“Yeah, looks gloomy. Not cute at all.”
I was born with sharp eyes and an expression that often looked sour. No one liked me. The visitors here always preferred Tamon, who was said to be my twin, since we were found on the same day.
“Oh my… Tamon, you’re so cute!”
Unlike me, Tamon often smiled. Even though he was clumsy. He was also picky with food, wasn’t good at doing chores like I was. He was also a crybaby.
“Eh… poor bird.”
At that time, we found a dead bird. Tamon picked it up even though I told him it was dirty, and we didn’t even have a shovel to bury it. But he dug the ground with his hands until his nails turned black, and we got scolded by Keito when we returned.
But. People praised him, saying Tamon was so kind for wanting to bury the bird, especially Utage, the biological daughter of the orphanage caretaker.
Why didn’t anyone praise me for stopping Tamon from dirtying his hands?
Ah, whatever. I don’t care. This is normal anyway.
It should be like that.
“Ouri, why are you here alone? Come play with us!”
Utage grabbed my hand even though I had already refused to play. Tamon looked at me nervously. The last time I played ball with him, he wasn’t good at dodging and got hit by my kick, so I never joined again.
“Wow! Ouri is amazing!” Utage praised when my ball went into the goal.
Oh?
I covered my cheek that suddenly felt warm. That was the first time someone praised me.
If I’m amazing, if I can do everything, will I get a lot of praise? Will I be loved? Like Tamon?
Without realizing it, I learned to be able to do everything. I was very happy when she praised me, saying I was amazing.
Without realizing it, I fell in love with her.
Utage was my world. It seemed that because of her, I could become a bit closer with the others. Tamon, still clumsy—I had to teach him many things. Natsuki, who was mischievous, but for some reason could suddenly become very quiet when her social energy ran out. Rintaro, who really liked expensive novels sold in the city. And Keito, the oldest among us—even though he liked to scold, he cared a lot. I also came to understand why he got angry when dealing with Tamon, who was slow to learn, even I could get annoyed.
But, I shouldn’t have fallen in love.
We tested about our talents at the age of 12. They said I had two talents—swordsmanship and magic at the same time. It was almost impossible for someone to have two talents, something that might only happen once every 200 years. Everyone praised me.
But now, other people’s praise didn’t feel that important anymore. I searched for Utage. Only her praise mattered to me now. She and Tamon should have seen it too—they were the same age as me.
But what I saw there, Utage was hugging Tamon, who was crying because he was declared to have no talent.
At that moment, I knew that Utage would never love me.
She only loved Tamon.
...
Ouri laughed loudly.
'Not feel anything' he said?
Tamon deflected the rain of magic arrows from Ouri using his sword. Without giving Tamon a chance to rest, Ouri also enchanted the ground with traps. One or two arrows pierced through Tamon’s defense, and he also had to endure explosions from traps everywhere. His strength was being drained.
Utage whispered to herself, “Come on, hurry!”
Her hands had been releasing white magic all this time to create a small gap in Ouri’s black magic cage. Once she made a gap, she could destroy the cage more easily.
“Got it!” Utage shouted in a restrained voice. In just a few seconds, Ouri’s black magic cage shattered, and she created a barrier of white magic to protect Tamon from Ouri’s rain of arrows.
“Your saintess power has grown, Utage,” Ouri said quietly.
...
Maybe because he spent too much time with Rintaro, Tamon ended up having the dream of becoming a hero who defeats the Demon King, even though he had no talent at all. Even though the Demon King had already been defeated 15 years ago. But if I said that, he would just grin and say that the Demon King could come back again, and when that time came, he would defeat him.
Utage really liked Tamon like that. I really liked Utage, even though her loving gaze wasn’t for me, I could do anything to protect her smile, including helping Tamon.
Some time after my talent was evaluated, nobles began to take interest in me to adopt me. And there was one noble who, for years, never gave up on wanting to take me, even though I had rejected him many times (if I left, I wouldn’t be able to see Utage). But in the end, I proposed a condition: once a week, I would come here bringing a trainer to train Tamon in swordsmanship.
At that time, Utage was very happy about what I did, and that was enough for me.
Seeing Tamon’s progress (finally), I began to slightly let go of Utage. I started coming less often, because I believed Tamon could protect her.
At the age of 17, Tamon and Utage apprenticed at a monastery, with Tamon as a holy knight and Utage as a saintess assistant because of her holy power talent. Keito had long since gone to work at the magic tower, they said he was quite talented. Rintaro went to study under a warrior, while Natsuki usually joined adventurer parties to hone her scouting skills.
At that time, I should have never trusted Tamon.
Monsters began to appear more frequently, a sign that the Demon King was reviving. The monastery where Tamon and Utage were was attacked. I tried to get there as fast as possible, but I was too late.
Tamon was lifting the burning ruins of the monastery, shouting Utage’s name.
“What are you doing?! Where is Utage?!” I grabbed his collar.
Tamon’s voice choked, he pointed at the monastery ruins, “U– Utage we– went, the monastery burned, she saved—”
“Damn it!!!”
I used all my magic power to lift the monastery debris until my breath grew tight, my magic reached its limit. The remaining debris I lifted with my own hands. I didn’t care if my hands were injured or burned by the still-burning wood.
Found it!
There was only a blackened corpse in front of me. There was a bracelet, blackened, with a crescent moon pendant on her arm—a birthday gift from Tamon when we were 8 years old. There was no mistake.
My love, Utage.
I hugged her tightly. Her beautiful hair was burned away. The fragrance of her body had turned into the smell of burnt flesh. Maybe what I was holding was only flesh and bones now, but she was still Utage.
“Ouri—”
“Stay back!!!” I snapped at Tamon, holding Utage even tighter, “I won’t let your filthy hands touch her.”
My dear Utage, what did that idiot do to you? Look, your smooth skin is now rough and sticky with blood.
I should have never trusted him.
I carried Utage and brought her to my residence. No one dared to question what I did, because in these past years, I had seized the succession into my own hands.
So, what can I do for you, my dear?
...
Utage pointed her hand at Ouri and released white light. Judgment magic. The ultimate holy power to bring down the Demon King. Ouri groaned, the magic shattered the defense he had put up and struck him directly.
“Tamon, now!” Utage screamed.
Tamon swung his sword at Ouri, which Ouri blocked with an arm he had reinforced with magic. Ouri retaliated by aiming the Demon King’s legendary sword at Tamon. Ouri and Tamon clashed fiercely. Utage took out her saintess staff, aimed it at Ouri, and once again fired judgment magic, reducing the gap in skill between Ouri and Tamon.
Ouri kept his distance, beginning long-range magic attacks. Nine magic crystals in the castle room glowed, emitting dark blue light and channeling black magic into Ouri.
“Tamon! Take this!” Utage threw her bracelet with the crescent moon pendant, “It’s been infused with holy magic! It will protect you from the Demon King’s black magic!”
Tamon caught the bracelet and charged forward, while Utage ran toward the crystals to destroy them.
...
There is no magic that can bring back life except black magic. I studied it for 10 full years to bring you back into my arms.
It was an incredible magic. I even discovered various other magic, such as magic to turn back time.
As soon as I died from giving my life to revive you, I returned to the time when we were 17 years old. When I was acting like a madman studying forbidden magic to bring you back. Don’t worry, this time I don’t need to sacrifice my life to save you—we can live together for a long time.
I took all the lives on the battlefield for you.
You succeeded in living. It wasn’t in vain that I spent a whole year in war to obtain souls as sacrifices.
“Ugh… where am I? And where is Tamon? Is he alright?”
And the first thing you asked was about that brat.
Love me. Look only at me.
And that’s how I placed you like a bird in a cage. But look, this cage is beautiful, isn’t it? Everything you want is here. The most beautiful gems, the rarest stones, the most intricate carvings, the most expensive clothes, the most delicious food.
But your gaze became emptier. The only thing you muttered every day was that loser guy’s name.
Why won’t you ever love me?
Then, you ended your own life in front of me. The blood flowing through my fingers felt unreal. Your skin, which used to glow, turned pale like paper. Your body, once warm, became cold like ice. Your fragrant scent gradually turned into a rotten stench.
Ah, how many days have I been holding you, Utage?
I placed your body, already turning greenish-black, inside a glass coffin filled with flowers. Roses suit your eye color very well, don’t they, Utage?
I stabbed my own heart on top of a magic circle. Before losing consciousness, I activated the magic circle with my blood and whispered, “See you in the next loop, Utage.”
...
The magic crystal in front of Utage shattered into pieces. Utage’s breath was ragged—this was the seventh crystal, two more left. Ouri’s magic weakened; now Tamon could break through his defense, injuring him.
Utage focused on unraveling the magic circle of the eighth crystal, not realizing that blood had been flowing from her nose for some time. She bit her lip; her head felt extremely dizzy. She staggered toward the ninth crystal through a narrow path near the wall. It didn’t take long—
Her body collapsed.
Ouri knocked Tamon back with his black sword and caught Utage’s falling body.
Even though I should have forgotten your scent.
“Ouri!!!” Tamon swung his sword at Ouri, who blocked it immediately, “Give Utage back!!!”
Ouri turned his face away from Tamon. He carried Utage to the throne. Tamon’s body was once again restrained by Ouri’s invisible magic. He could only watch as Utage was taken away.
Ouri held Utage tightly, then laid her on his lap. He began activating a large magic circle on her body.
“What are you doing to her, Ouri?!!” Tamon shouted hoarsely. He couldn’t lose anyone anymore, especially Utage.
...
I did everything to make you love me.
You have a talent for white magic, also called saintess holy magic. The black magic of mind manipulation that I planted eventually cracked. Once again, you died in my arms.
Another loop.
I no longer tried to confine you. You spread your wings, returned home, met that guy. You once again became an angel who's helping people with him. But your great talent made greedy, despicable people exploit you—you died at the age of 19.
Another loop.
I turned this country into a safe place so you could help people and do what you loved. I made those who once exploited you unable to speak ever again. You should have been able to live long and happily now.
But I was wrong.
The potential of your holy magic was beyond that. You might even be the next legendary saintess. You died because of your own magic explosion at the age of 21.
Another loop.
You still died at 21.
Another loop.
No matter what I did, you still died at 21. Then I found two ways to save you. I already tried the second method and reached a conclusion I didn’t like, so I crossed it out and chose the first method.
I made us move dimensions. It required more sacrifices, but that’s fine—I subjugated this country and continent to serve you.
There was a dimension I liked.
It was funny—me and the others worked as singers, entertaining people. You still loved him, but that was fine. The six of us were together there. It felt like, at that time, I slightly remembered the past when we lived under poverty, but we smiled happily in that orphanage. Suddenly, my breathing became a little easier. I even wanted to forget everything. That’s why I cast a spell on myself to lose my memories.
But my memories shattered again the moment I saw your lifeless body at the age of 21.
Why?
Why?
Does God hate me?
I ran away with you across dimensions, living different lives. But death always managed to take you away from me.
I can’t bear to watch you die in front of me anymore.
I returned to the starting point—when we were 17, after you were revived. How many loops and lives have I gone through to escape fate? How many more loops must I endure to kill God and end this pitiful fate? How many more of your deaths must I witness?
I can feel God chasing me for messing with His fate and dimensions. If I get caught, I won’t be able to save you anymore.
So I used the second method, even though I would no longer be part of your life.
...
Ouri concentrated on removing the remnants of black magic he had used to revive Utage nearly four years ago. Tomorrow was the day her holy magic would explode. If he didn’t remove it now, the chance of her survival would be even smaller—even after giving his heart.
The second method completely removes saintess holy magic using the Demon King’s heart.
Ouri had tried many times to revive the Demon King earlier, but none had a heart strong enough to overcome pure saintess magic. So the fastest way was to turn himself into the Demon King. He met all the requirements to become the strongest one. But every Demon King could only die if stabbed by the hero’s sword. Ouri knew he would be destroyed and never reincarnate if that happened. That was why he once abandoned that option.
Ouri still wanted to live. He still wanted to see Utage.
So alongside his resolve to turn himself into the Demon King, he placed magic to interfere with his own memories of Utage.
Ouri’s magic weakened. The ninth crystal shattered on its own. Tamon broke free from the magical restraint and immediately rushed to attack Ouri. Ouri did not move. He added another magic circle to Utage while summoning an earth golem to block Tamon.
“O- Ouri?” Utage opened her eyes after Ouri removed unstable black magic inside her body.
At that moment, Tamon defeated the golem and stabbed Ouri from the back, piercing through to his abdomen.
Blood poured out of Ouri’s body. His mouth also kept spilling blood. Ouri answered softly, “Yes, Utage… I’m here. Always here.”
With a single motion, Ouri cast a spell on Tamon, forcing him to fall and slowing his movements. Tamon gathered all his strength to move and stabbed Ouri wherever he could reach. Utage was shocked, but Ouri immediately covered her eyes.
“Don’t move, Utage.”
Ouri quietly chanted. He tore out his own heart and placed it on the magic circle.
Ouri could no longer feel his legs—perhaps they had already been severed by Tamon’s sword.
Done.
The magic circle surrounding Utage disappeared, and the binding magic on Tamon faded. Tamon immediately pulled Utage away from Ouri’s arms. Ouri, now powerless, fell from the throne. His body rolled down the steps, turning them red with blood.
“Ouri! Please, let me use my holy power! At least it can reduce your pain,” Utage approached him. It was said that damage from holy power did not cause as much pain as other magic types.
Utage raised her hand—but no white light appeared. Her holy power was gone.
“T- Tamon… m- my holy power!” Utage cried in panic.
Ouri smiled faintly, “Good…”
Just as I predicted.
Ouri’s vision blurred. The voices of Tamon and Utage calling him felt distant. People say that when death comes, you see your life flashing before your eyes—and Ouri felt it was true.
He saw himself playing ball in the orphanage yard.
Rintaro guarding the goal. Tamon obediently accompanying Utage playing dolls. Natsuki lying lazily under a tree. Keito coming out of the kitchen, yelling at Natsuki to help.
The memory shifted—Tamon crying while everyone comforted him. The time they went to the market and got confronted by a group of bullies. Ouri fought back, but they escaped and ended up hitting Tamon instead.
Did I hate Tamon?
Everyone loved him—his kindness and gentleness. Including Utage. They said I was strong, that I could do anything. So, they leaving me alone.
Ouri raised his hand. Utage held it, her voice trembling, her heart aching seeing her childhood friend end up as the Demon King.
Ouri could feel her rough hands from training, and the scars.
“I… am being chased by God. You will forget me,” Ouri struggled to maintain his fading consciousness, He could see Utage and Tamon in front of him, crying, “Utage… live long and happily.”
Ouri let out his final breath.
His body crumbled into dust.
Nothing remained.
...
I was once consumed by hatred and emotion. I once took your lives with my own hands.
But strangely, in every dimension, there is always the six of us. It feels intoxicating. My hatred melts as if it never existed.
Even when I used magic to completely forget everything. Smiling, enjoying peaceful days, laughing together with all of you, and looking at your beautiful face. But I always remember everything when the day of your death comes.
Why, even in other dimensions, does God make your life short?
Ah… maybe I had already given up by then. I don’t know which life this is anymore. In this final loop, I want us to live to the same age. So instead of gathering souls for a year, I gave my own lifespan to you. You’ll die in four years anyway.
I hope… I can see your beautiful face grow old and wrinkled. I don’t have time to fight God. Becoming a demon king is faster…
Maybe I’ve gone mad.
I only left myself five years. You must live until old age—100 years, perhaps? Fight to reach your 21st year. If you like Tamon, I’ll bring you closer to him. A journey to defeat the Demon King with the one you love—sounds nice, doesn’t it?
It seems like traveling with all of you would be so much fun. If only I could join.
Ah, you got hurt during that journey, didn’t you? Even though I had ordered all my subordinates not to harm you. I even beheaded anyone who dared touch even a strand of your hair.
If only your smile was directed at me, I would make the world kneel beneath your feet.
If only you chose me, I wouldn’t let you get hurt.
If only you chose me, you wouldn’t have to get hurt to defeat the Demon King. I could fight alone and bring you the Demon King’s heart.
If only you chose me, I feel like I could defeat God within four years.
Ah… maybe because I knew you would never choose me, it became easier to give up my life, i give up even after i knew being caught by God means my existence will be erased. I'm okay—for you, live long.
In the end, I always loved you.
...
“Tamon! Are you alright?!” Keito’s voice came through the communication magic.
The fog surrounding the forbidden island had disappeared. The evening sunlight pierced through the fading black clouds. The storm had calmed, and the waves gently hit the island’s rocks.
“K- Keito…? You’re alive?” Tamon wiped away tears that flowed uncontrollably.
“We’re alive too! Don’t forget us!” Natsuki added.
“Yes, we survived,” Rintaro said.
Tamon could no longer hold back his tears, “Everyone…”
“I thought you all were dead... I was attacked and my communication magic suddenly truncated..." Keito cut in, "alright, this isn’t the time to cry! More importantly, this means the Demon King has been defeated, right? We won?”
“Y- yes… we defeated the Demon King,” Tamon wiped his face, “That Demon King… he was strong. Utage lost her holy power. Ah, what was the Demon King’s name…?”
Tamon’s voice trailed off. Huh? Did he really not remember the Demon King’s name?
“It doesn’t matter what his name was, the important thing is we defeated him!” Natsuki said, “More importantly, you lost your holy power, Utage? Are you okay? You were supposed to become a legendary saintess!”
Keito immediately told Natsuki to be quiet, but Utage replied that she was fine. Rintaro expressed relief and suggested the six of them return home.
“Six? What do you mean, Rintaro? Weren’t there five of us from the start?” Natsuki lightly hit his shoulder.
“Ah… but somehow, I understand what Rintaro means. It feels like… there should be six of us, right?” Tamon said.
“Yeah… somehow,” Keito agreed.
They all fell silent for a moment.
Something was missing—but they couldn’t remember what.
The Demon King… what did he look like?
Utage looked around the gloomy room, still bearing the traces of a fierce battle. Once again, she felt a strange familiarity stepping into the Demon King’s castle.
On the other side, Natsuki joked that maybe they felt like six because Katy, Keito’s familiar, always counted as one. Tamon extended his hand to Utage, and she took it. Together, they walked away from the Demon King’s chamber.
Utage glanced back one last time.
Something had been left behind—and none of them knew what it was.
She let out a breath, then turned forward. The evening sunlight bathed Tamon and Utage’s dust-covered faces. They laughed.
They never expected to bring peace to the world.
Most importantly, we had defeated the Demon King!
--- End ---