The Hero Stole My Lover, So I Decided to Steal the Hero's Lover Instead - Chapter 6-7

Chapter 6

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“First of all, unlike you, I don’t particularly want revenge on the Hero. However, if possible, I do want to kill him. And even if I can’t, I want to make it so he can no longer fulfill his role as a Hero.”

“His role as a Hero…?”

The role of a Hero. It was to save the country and to save the world. In other words, that meant—

“—To defeat the Demon King.”

“Exactly.” 

Sharon nodded. 

“Now, can you guess why I want to kill the Hero?”

The mysterious beauty, Sharon. She was so beautiful it felt unreal, like she lacked any trace of humanity… Or perhaps she wasn’t human to begin with. That was the impression I had gotten earlier.

And maybe that impression of mine wasn’t a mistake.

Her hair was an unnaturally lustrous golden blond, her skin white as snow, her features so close to perfect it was eerie. If she wasn’t human or demi-human, then that would mean—

“Don’t tell me… You’re a demon?”

“Correct.”

Sharon smiled confidently.

“Because you’re a demon, you want to kill the Hero, your natural enemy. After all, he’s the one destined to kill the Demon King.”

“Hmm… Maybe you’re not as much of an idiot as I thought.”

Is that supposed to be a compliment? Even if it is, it’s a pretty condescending one.

I thought to myself. Maybe Sharon wasn’t just any ordinary demon, but, to put it crudely, she was someone important.

“So, what do you think now?” 

Sharon said. 

“Knowing that I’m a demon, do you still want to become my slave—no, my ally—and take revenge on the Hero?”

“Yeah.” 

I nodded. 

“I don’t care if you’re a demon or whatever. I’ve got no grudge against demons, and you haven’t done anything bad to me yet.”

“Very well.”

Sharon gave a satisfied smile and stood up, holding out her hand for a handshake. I shook it without hesitation. Thankfully, there was no curse or magic cast on me.

“Then once again—”

Gripping my hand tightly, Sharon declared.

“I am the Demon King Sharon.”

“I’m just a humble adventurer, Luke.”

“Let’s work well together from here on out.”

“Yeah. Same here… Huh?”

“Is something wrong?”

Wait, something felt off… Was it just my imagination? No, it wasn’t. Just now, what did she say about herself?

I am the Demon King Sharon. I am the Demon King Sharon. Demon King. Demon King. Demon King…?

“What? Demon King!?”

“Yes, that’s right. Is there a problem?”

“No, I mean, if you’re the Demon King, then…Yyou’re the ruler of the Demon Realm, right?”

“Yes, indeed. I am the leader of the Demon Realm. I’m the Demon King herself!”

Sharon puffed out her chest and declared proudly. With that glamorous body, she looked nothing but female, but if she was the Demon King, did that make her a man?

No, maybe Demon King was a title that could be used for either gender?

“Sharon, you’re a woman, right? You’re not actually a man… Right?

The moment I asked, a sharp slap struck my cheek.

“Ow!?”

“The title of Demon King can be used for women too. I am a woman.”

“Ah… I got it.”

I rubbed my cheek, which was probably bright red now. It stung like hell. She moved so fast I didn’t even see it coming.

“Well then.”

With that, Sharon sat down on the bed. I sat down on the bed too, and she didn’t say anything about it.

“My ally, Luke. Now, allow me to explain my full plan to you.”

Alright, alright.

I straightened my posture. I was planning to listen carefully, without missing a single word.

“The name of the plan is…『Project NTR』.”

I nearly burst out laughing, but somehow managed to hold it in.

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Chapter 7

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“The name of the plan is…『Project NTR』.”

I nearly burst out laughing, but somehow managed to hold it in.

There were a lot of things I wanted to point out. Like, why did she give the plan a name? Why ‘Project’? Maybe she thought slapping on ‘Project’ at the start would make it sound cool? Anyway, there were a lot of things to nitpick, but leaving that aside…

NTR? Is that some kind of acronym?

“NTR? What’s that?”

“Ne-To-Ru.”

“Uh… Netoru(寝取る-ねとる)—to steal someone’s lover.”

I had my girlfriend, Sheryl, stolen by the Hero, Cain. To steal someone back from him… Whose lover was I supposed to steal…?

“That’s right, you’ll steal.”

“Steal who?”

“The Hero’s lover.”

“Who’s doing the stealing?”

“You are.”

Sharon pointed at me—no, more like stabbed her finger toward me.

“As a woman, it would be a little—or rather, a lot—more difficult for me to do the stealing, wouldn’t it? That’s why you, a man and a human, will do it.”

“W-Wait a second!”

The sudden development was too much for my brain to process.

Who? —Me.

What? —Cain’s lover.

Do what? —Steal them.

Why? —Because my girlfriend was stolen. This is revenge. Payback.

“There’s a lot to unpack here…”

“What is it?”

Sharon crossed her arms. Just that simple motion exuded a regal dignity befitting a Demon King.

“Uh… Where do I even start…” 

I thought for a second. 

“Okay, first of all—does Cain even have a specific lover?”

“He does.” 

Sharon declared confidently. 

“I investigated thoroughly. No doubt about it.”

“And it’s not my ex—Sheryl?”

“That girl was just a fling to the Hero.”

…Just a fling.

To have someone steal your girlfriend so casually like that—it was infuriating. And knowing Sheryl went along with it…It stirred up a complicated mix of emotions.

Did Sheryl know she was just a plaything? Did she still choose Cain over me knowing that? Or did she truly believe she’d become the Hero’s official girlfriend?

I didn’t know. I wouldn’t know anything unless I asked her directly. But that opportunity probably wouldn’t come, and even if it did—I wasn’t sure I wanted to know.

“Hero Cain’s got that face and the unbeatable ‘Hero’ title. That alone makes him irresistible. He’s constantly surrounded by women and constantly playing around. He never turns anyone away—and if he wants something, he’ll take it by force.”

Take it by force…?

So besides stealing lovers like in my case, had he done even crueler, more savage things…? But then Sharon continued.

“In the end, all of that is nothing but a fling to pass the time. His true heart belongs to someone else.”

“And I’m supposed to steal that one…”

“Exactly. He stole your lover, so now you steal his. That’s what we call an equivalent exchange.”

Gulp. 

I swallowed hard. If I stole his lover, what kind of expression would he make? Just imagining it sent shivers down my spine.

An equivalent exchange. Yeah, this is an equivalent exchange. A justified act of revenge.

As much as I hated him, and even though Cain was a scumbag, he was still a Hero. Killing him would be a bit much.

But stealing his lover? That was his own fault. His comeuppance. He was reaping what he sow. 

“Well? Getting into it now, aren’t you?”

In response to the whisper of the devil, I nodded back with a sinister smile of my own. 

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