Chapter 5: The Unlikely Alliance

After the ball, Queen Sisi didn’t seem angry, still leaving with her usual arrogant smile. However, unlike my initial expectations, I didn’t find myself by her side enjoying a life of privilege. Instead, I was taken away by Vilya, who had just slain the demon king.

Vilya didn’t free me from my leash as I had hoped, but instead faithfully carried out the queen’s wishes, still treating me as a dog or a s*ave. My situation hadn’t changed much, and it didn’t align with my image of a hero. Wasn’t the legendary hero supposed to stand up like Lucia and save everyone? Why was the hero in front of me someone who could slash at a little girl without hesitation and treat a person like a s*ave?

Moreover, perhaps due to her military background, Vilya showed no mercy to prisoners, making sure I couldn’t escape. She even bound my hands.

Is… is this really the hero?

Vilya led me to a tent and, after pulling back the curtain, pointed inside, looking back at me and saying, ‘Take care of her.’

‘What…’

Before I could get an answer, I was thrown into the tent, face-first onto the ground for the third time that day! This time, unlike the previous falls, there was no carpet to cushion me. I felt the sand scraping against my face, causing a burning sensation. With my hands and feet bound, I writhed on the ground like an insect, turning my head to see Vilya close the door without a second glance. It seemed this wasn’t just a tent, but a prison cell!

Inside, there was no light. The thick curtain blocked out the cold moonlight. I struggled to sit up, even this simple action proving difficult with my hands and feet bound. I blinked hard, trying to see in the darkness, but I hadn’t heard any sounds from the little girl I was supposed to care for.

Slowly, my eyes adjusted, and I could make out the shapes in the black tent. It was indeed a cell, with an iron cage inside. In the cage, there was a small figure lying there.

I crawled toward it, my body aching with each movement. The little girl, probably Lia, must have been in distress after being dragged back by Vilya and tormented by the human queen. She was just a child, and even if she was the demon king’s daughter, she hadn’t harmed anyone. What the humans were doing was no different from the demons.

Honestly, I didn’t need to care for her, as I was in the same boat. But for some reason, maybe because she was the only one who had shown me kindness in this world, I found myself longing to be with her.

The demon king’s castle was empty, but the humans were doing the same things as the demons.

With great effort, I reached the cage. The small figure inside trembled slightly, curled up in a corner like an injured puppy. She lifted her head toward me and let out a soft sob, unable to see me clearly, just crying softly in my direction.

‘I’m here.’

I leaned against the cage, feeling the cold metal and the harsh reality it represented. But I didn’t care. Inside the cage, the girl was also bound. She wriggled her small body toward me, and in the darkness, I saw her tear-filled eyes, crying silently. Our faces touched, and we stayed like that, saying nothing, feeling a strange sense of peace and happiness.

I could feel her fear and despair, and I felt the same. I didn’t know what awaited us, or what Vilya had planned. I was the disgrace of the crossover world. Others came here to be pampered by mothers, but I ended up as a plaything, thrown into this place, with only a demon girl by my side.

‘Hungry…’ The little girl whispered, her voice trembling. I looked around and saw a plate with a few slices of dark bread. I knew this bread; it was the kind modern people ate for ‘health,’ but I was sure it tasted worse here.

I crawled over and picked up the bread with my mouth, feeling like it was as hard as the plate itself. Earlier, the queen had made me pick up a steak this way, but I refused. Now, I had no choice but to do the same with the bread. But this time, I didn’t feel humiliated.

I brought the bread to the girl, and she eagerly took a bite, but quickly spat it out, coughing. I realized that for her, this bread was as hard to chew as the iron bars. There was water, but it was placed outside the cage! How was she supposed to drink it, like a dog? This must have been Queen Sisi’s idea, the shameless tyrant. Her people must be suffering, even if she won the war.

I’ll make you pay for this!

I put the bread in my mouth and tore off a piece, feeling like it was made of ceramic. Then, I leaned over to the water bowl and took a sip, mixing the bread with water and chewing desperately. My teeth ached, and my jaw started to numb, but I kept chewing, then fed the mixture to her.

She was just a child, and she would grow up to be a beautiful girl. I tried to feed her, and she swallowed eagerly, the food a lifeline for her.

Now, I’m saving your life.

Finally, we pulled apart. If anyone saw us, they might think we were doing something indecent. The girl’s face was red from lack of air and embarrassment, and I felt dizzy from the lack of oxygen.

‘I… I want more…’

The girl seemed confused, moving closer to my mouth, still hungry, wanting more of the bread paste. I bit off another piece, feeling the bread cut my mouth, tasting blood.

This time, we were just feeding each other. I had never had a child, never experienced being a father, but now I was desperately saving her.

She finally let go, and we both slumped back, her body hitting the iron bars, which creaked open…

What the hell? The prison door wasn’t even locked!

Meanwhile, at Queen Sisi’s camp.

‘Vilya, are you sure the demon king’s daughter won’t escape?’

Vilya’s hand twitched slightly, and she looked at the queen, saying seriously, ‘It’s locked.’

Queen Sisi smiled slightly and said, ‘Then, I leave the girl to you, Vilya. If you want her to die, make sure she suffers first.’

‘I understand.’

Vilya nodded slightly. Queen Sisi nodded in satisfaction, turning back to the map on the table. ‘Now, it’s time for me to reward my brave warriors, Vilya. This is the current map of human territory. You can choose any area you want, of course, except for my capital. I’m quite sentimental.’

Vilya looked up at the map. It was a generous offer, giving a warrior a territory to rule, much better than any reward. If she chose the most fertile land, her life would be secure, and her descendants could inherit it forever.

For a warrior who ended an era, she deserved this glory.

But Vilya pointed to the far north, the most distant area.

‘There?’

Queen Sisi seemed surprised, looking at Vilya in shock. ‘That’s not a fertile area, Vilya. It’s just a small village we recently cleared, full of heretics, on the border, and until recently, it was demon territory. Why do you want to go there?’

‘You said to choose a suitable place, and as a soldier, I choose to guard the border for you.’

Vilya looked calmly at the queen. ‘Money isn’t what we need; we need glory.’

Queen Sisi studied Vilya, who looked back at her queen. After a moment, Queen Sisi sighed, smiling wryly. ‘You’re amazing, Vilya. Every time I see you, I’m proud as a queen, but as a friend, I think you’re too brilliant, and sometimes perfection can bring danger. But since you’ve made your choice, I’ll respect it. Just remember, I want to see a thriving region, not just a military outpost. That’s the work of a lord, not a warrior or a knight.’

‘I won’t let you down.’

‘Good. Here’s a golden necklace from the elves and a flask of dwarven liquor. I’m not sure which you’ll like more. Take your companions’ gifts with you to your new land. Oh, and don’t forget your s*ave and prisoner. I’m looking forward to seeing what story unfolds between you! Hum hum hum…’

Queen Sisi smiled happily. Vilya nodded slightly, saluted, and left the tent.

‘Your Majesty.’

‘What is it?’

Queen Sisi looked at the man behind her, smiling lightly. ‘It seems Vilya poses no threat.’

‘So far, Vilya hasn’t shown any intentions.’

‘You know, I heard from a friend a saying: ‘When the hare is caught, the hounds are cooked; when the bird is shot, the bow is hung up.’

Queen Sisi looked at the map, smiling softly. ‘Now, what use is Vilya? Someone with the power to kill the demon king also has the power to take my head. The demon king is dead, so the hero’s era is over. I’ll gradually remove these unnecessary powers. Now, it’s your turn, my merchants. Fill my war-empty treasury!’

‘I understand! I won’t let you down, Your Majesty!’