The Demon King Who Was Supposed to Lose Ended Up Defeating the Targets, and Now the Heroine Has Been Sent as a Sacrifice - Chapter 03

Chapter 03: The Demon King Supposed to Lose, Suddenly Gets Married

A few days had passed since I turned Elsia into a vampire.

I noticed something strange about the atmosphere in the Demon King Castle. 

I couldn’t quite put my finger on it, but there was a celebratory mood, like something good had happened.

“Balzac, is something happening soon? Everyone smiles and bows when they see me.”

“Rumors must be spreading already.”

“Rumors?”

“Yes. There’s a rumor that the Demon King has taken a liking to the Saintess and used a rare item to turn her into his Queen. Well, it’s not just a rumor, but a fact.”

“Ah, I see. …Wait, hold on! What do you mean by that!?”

How did things come to this!?

Completely bewildered, I asked Balzac for more details. With a big smile, he said:

“Haha, my Lord, you have quite the sense of humor. When I asked, you did say it.”

“Huh?”

“When I asked if the Saintess had earned your favor, you said ‘Yes.'”

“…”

I did say that. I definitely said that!!

Wait, is that what it meant? I just answered without thinking!!

“How is Elsia, the Saintess, doing now?”

“I have assigned several guards to her. Since she is to be the Demon King’s bride, no men are allowed near her. So, I chose guards from the succubus kind.”

“I-I see. Guards from the succubi, huh.”

Succubi are an extremely seductive race, known for producing only beautiful girls and women. Their main diet is human men.

They don’t physically devour men like other demons. 

Instead, they drain men’s life force through intimate means.

Originally, they were an independent tribe, but now they belong to the Demon King’s army.

They used to inhabit a dungeon I used for leveling up, and they followed me after I solved some problems for them.

They swore absolute loyalty to the Demon King, so leaving Elsia to them should be fine.

“Oh, by the way. I heard the bride is receiving night training from the succubus kind.”

“!?”

I really want to see that.

Honestly, the idea of Elsia and succubi doing something intimate is incredibly tempting!!

But that’s not the point!!

“Balzac, by the way, how far has this news about me, um, marrying Elsia spread?”

“Of course, it has spread throughout the entire army!! Even though she was once human, the fact that my Liege, who has never shown interest in females, has chosen her is huge news!! The whole army is buzzing about it!!”

I see. So, it’s spread that far.

Thinking back on my memories as Diablo, I was so focused on destroying humans that I had little interest in such desires.

However, after regaining my human memories, I did find myself sneaking glances at the beautiful succubi.

Maybe it’s because of the sexual desires from my human life. 

I was particularly strong in that regard and often comforted myself in loneliness…

“D-Does Elsia know about this?”

“? Yes, of course. I informed her myself.”

I collapsed to my knees.

How should I face Elsia when I see her next?

…No, I mustn’t panic. I need to meet and talk to her first.

“My Lord, where are you going?”

“I need to see Elsia for a bit…”

“You cannot!! According to the Demon King’s rulebook, the groom is not allowed to meet his bride until the wedding ceremony!!”

“What are these Demon King rules!? I don’t even know about them!!”

Normally, Balzac prioritizes my opinions, but in the end, I couldn’t meet Elsia.

And so, the day of the wedding arrived.

◆

[Side: Elsia]

I can’t understand what’s happening to me right now.

“Oh my!! It looks absolutely lovely on you, Lady Elsia!!”

“Uh, um, thank you…”

A beautiful succubus lady was fussing over me, changing my clothes excitedly.

This is strange.

Why am I being treated so well in the Demon King Castle?

I was born with a mysterious power.

By simply wishing, I could heal animals’ injuries or revive withered plants.

I learned the true nature of my power on my fifteenth birthday.

According to a messenger from the magic academy in the royal capital, I am supposedly the reincarnation of the legendary holy maiden who sealed the Demon King.

I was forcibly taken from the forest home where I lived with my mother and made to attend the magic academy in the royal capital.

I didn’t want to leave the village and my mother, who raised me alone, but it was a royal decree to attend the academy.

I couldn’t disobey.

Apparently, it has long been customary for the reincarnation of the holy maiden to marry into royalty or nobility. The magic academy, attended by many noble children, was considered an ideal place for such encounters.

At first, I thought it was all a joke.

But I made friends at the academy, and I even met a handsome prince.

There were some people who were mean to me, but as a commoner, I thought it was just something I had to endure.

I was shocked when I was nearly turned into a dog with an item from a dungeon, but some boys I had become friends with protected me.

Things changed when the Demon King turned out to be stronger than expected, and the expedition to defeat him failed.

The prince told me that the Demon King, just after being resurrected, wouldn’t be at his full power, and could be easily defeated by a small, elite group.

I was eager to go along with that plan.

I know it sounds terrible, but…

I was getting carried away.

Everyone treated me like the legendary holy maiden, and I started to believe it myself.

Even though I hadn’t actually done anything.

The prince said he would love me no matter what, and the other boys promised to protect me forever.

So, I got greedy.

They said it didn’t matter if I wasn’t the legendary holy maiden, but I wanted to be recognized like her.

So, I set out for the Demon King Castle to defeat the Demon King.

The result was a crushing defeat.

The Demon King’s strength far surpassed my expectations, and we retreated in disgrace.

It was humiliating. Did my past self really seal that monster?

She must have.

That’s why the legendary holy maiden’s story is still told today.

That’s when I understood my mission.

I realized that I was born to seal the Demon King, just like the legendary holy maiden.

There was no time for romance.

I was determined to become stronger, but then it happened.

“Elsia the Witch!! For the crime of pretending to be the holy maiden, you are hereby banished from the country!! Furthermore, you will be handed over to the Demon King as a sacrifice to appease his wrath!!”

I was suddenly summoned to the castle, only to be captured by soldiers and told this by the king.

The king, fearing the Demon King’s retaliation, wanted to protect his country by offering me, the holy maiden, as a sacrifice.

I couldn’t understand it.

The prince who said he loved me, and the boys who said they would protect me, all avoided my gaze.

Well, it was the king’s order. They had no choice.

Even though I understood that, I couldn’t control my anger.

But my anger was in vain. I was thrown into a cage, paraded through the town, and pelted with stones by the people.

They called me a fake, a witch.

And so, I was banished from my homeland and brought to the Demon King’s castle.

The terrifying Demon King stood before me.

Honestly, I was at my limit back then, and I don’t remember what we talked about. 

But I do remember his eyes.

They were kind, with a warmth in them.

Seeing those eyes, my anger started to boil up.

Not anger at the Demon King.

I had tried to kill him and was simply defeated.

It was wrong to blame him.

What truly made me angry was my homeland, which celebrated me as a holy maiden but then offered me as a sacrifice when I failed.

Yes, I enjoyed the benefits of being treated like a holy maiden, and getting carried away was my fault.

But I still resented my country, deeply.

And before I knew it, I was no longer human.

Now, I am a vampire.

My fangs have grown, and at night, an incredible strength wells up from deep within me.

But what I don’t understand the most is how I am being treated.

Gone were the rags I wore. I was given a bath, and now I am clean and refreshed.

“The bridal outfit has to be like this!!”

“Uh, I think it’s quite revealing…”

“Really? For us succubi, this is actually quite modest.”

A bridal outfit.

Yes, it seems like I’m getting married. To the Demon King… or rather, His Highness the Demon King?

Honestly, I’m on guard.

I wonder if this Demon King plans to use me too. That’s why I plan to ask.

On the first night, when I can speak to him alone.

―――――――――――――――――――――

Afterword: A little side story

The succubi’s bridal outfit barely covers the important parts. Elsia’s bridal outfit is similar.

If you thought, “It’s funny that the Demon King doesn’t know the Demon King’s rules,” “I can’t wait to see what happens next,” or “The first night… muhaha,” please leave a comment, bookmark, give a rating, or write a review.