The Hero Stole My Lover, So I Decided to Steal the Hero's Lover Instead - Chapter 60-61

Chapter 60: The Hero Party’s POV(+the Carriage Driver’s POV)

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“…Hey, what do you think we were summoned for?”

Cain asked his companions. Inside the carriage, only the four members of the Hero’s party were present. The soldiers rode in separate carriages. It seemed they didn’t believe the four would attempt to escape.

In fact, none of the four were planning to run. They couldn’t even imagine what would happen if they did, but it was clear it wouldn’t end well. For now, they were heading to the royal capital. Since they didn’t know the reason the king had summoned them, they couldn’t properly brace themselves. The soldiers hadn’t told them anything.

There was nothing to do until they arrived in the capital. So, the four decided to try and guess the reason they’d been called. Maybe they could arrive at the correct answer.

“No idea.” 

Daryl said, shaking his head. 

“But I’m damn sure it’s not for anything good…”

With that, he let out a heavy, weary sigh.

“Perhaps…All of our misdeeds have been found out.”

Ronnie said in a quiet voice.

“If that’s the case, Cain’s title as a Hero will be revoked at the very least.”

“If I’m no longer the Hero—”

“The Holy Sword will be confiscated.”

The Holy Sword was the symbol of the Hero. If Cain ceased to be the Hero, a new one would be chosen, and the sword would be passed on to them.

“Up to now, we’ve been showered with all sorts of privileges just for being the ‘Hero’s Party’…”

Anita muttered in a hushed, trembling voice. Her face was pale.

“…But if Cain-san is no longer the Hero, then we’re just ordinary people, and all those benefits will vanish.”

“Oi! Isn’t there anything we can do about this?!”

Daryl cried out in a voice filled with despair.

The perks of being associated with the Hero had been immense. And those benefits hadn’t been limited to the Hero alone. They had extended to the other three members of his party as well.

The three had gorged themselves on sweet rewards. There was no going back to their old lives now. It was like trying to lower your standard of living after getting used to luxury. It simply couldn’t be done.

“…There’s nothing we can do.” 

Anita said, smiling sadly as she slowly shook her head.

“All we can do now is…”

Ronnie said, gazing out the window.

“…-simply beg the king for forgiveness.”

“You really think that’ll work?” 

Daryl asked.

“Most likely, even if we do apologize, it won’t change a thing. Like pouring water on a burning stone.”

But, Ronnie continued.

“If we promise to defeat the Demon King immediately… Then maybe…”

“The Demon King, huh…”

After all, the Hero’s duty—his true mission—was to defeat the Demon King, ruler of the Demon Kingdom. But the four of them had found it too troublesome to travel there, and instead used the Hero’s title to slack off and play around.

They had all but forgotten (or perhaps abandoned) their original objective. Even if their misdeeds hadn’t yet been exposed, it was only a matter of time before they were stripped of their titles.

Still, while it wasn’t exactly a case of “all’s well that ends well,” if they could just succeed in defeating the Demon King, then perhaps all their past misdeeds, laziness, and debauchery would be forgiven and forgotten.

That’s it!

Cain thought. A glimmer of hope appeared in his mind.

“Alright. Let’s talk to the king about defeating the Demon King.”

“But there’s one problem…” 

Anita said. 

“We hardly know anything about the Demon King. We don’t even know what kind of person he is…”

The Demon King. Because he was the “King” of demons, the four simply assumed he must be a man. Cain had actually communicated with the Demon King through a magic crystal, but being as dense as he was, he hadn’t realized it.

“That’s a trivial issue. If we just go to the Demon Kingdom and start killing every demon in sight, the Demon King will have to show up eventually.”

“I see.”

“Besides, it doesn’t matter whether we can actually defeat him right away. What matters is whether we can convince the king.”

And so, the four decided to beg the king: “We’ll defeat the Demon King immediately, so please give us a little more time.”

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The coachman, overhearing bits of the four’s conversation from the carriage, couldn’t help but let out a bitter chuckle.

They were far too naïve. Why hadn’t any of them considered the possibility that they might be executed? …Or maybe they simply couldn’t.

What a bunch of carefree fools.

The number and weight of their crimes were too great. Even if some degree of misconduct might be overlooked because they were the Hero’s party, their sins were still grave enough to warrant execution. They didn’t understand. They didn’t grasp the depth of their guilt.

If they just looked at themselves objectively, it would be obvious—but no, if they were capable of that, they wouldn’t have committed so many crimes in the first place. With scorn in his voice, the coachman muttered under his breath, making sure they couldn’t hear him:

“…Truly…What a bunch of hopelessly stupid and foolish people.”

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Chapter 61: The Hero Party’s POV

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They finally arrived at the royal capital, Seintill. The carriage came to a halt in front of the royal castle standing at its center. The door to the passenger compartment opened, and a soldier ordered them to step out. The four of them exited the carriage and walked toward the castle, surrounded by soldiers.

Eventually, they arrived at the top floor. They stood in front of the room belonging to King Phillip. From behind the grand double doors, they could feel something heavy, almost oppressive, like a palpable sense of intimidation.

“We’ve brought the Hero and his three companions, Your Majesty.”

“Enter.”

It was a voice brimming with kingly authority.

Cain wasn’t particularly fond of overbearing monarchs (if anything, he disliked them). However, since the king stood above him in rank, he made a point of acting humble. This was what one might call a survival tactic.

He took a deep breath. The soldier opened the doors and gestured for the four to go in. They entered. Seated on the throne was the king, and standing beside him was his minister. The queen and princes were also present. A large number of palace guards stood at the ready.

“Well, you’ve finally come.”

It was a token greeting, devoid of any real warmth.

“No, well…”

“Do you know why I summoned you here?”

“……”

He wasn’t sure how to respond.

Bringing up their past misconduct or the possibility of having his Hero title revoked felt too risky. If—by some small chance—the king had called them for a different reason, saying the wrong thing could make things worse.

As Cain stayed silent, King Phillip spoke.

“I’ve heard about the countless crimes you’ve committed.”

“Those are just rumors!”

Ronnie jumped in. If it was merely gossip, it would be easy to dismiss. If they denied it firmly enough, maybe they could still escape unscathed from their crime. However―

“Don’t bother trying to talk your way out of this. Some of those accusations come with evidence and witness testimony.”

“……”

Ronnie fell silent, a pained expression on his face. It was clear he was thinking, “Maybe I should’ve just apologized outright…”

“I’ve been too lenient with you until now. Far too lenient. I looked the other way because you were the Hero and his companions. But my patience has run out. You haven’t made a single move to defeat the Demon King. In fact, you haven’t even set foot in the Demon King’s territory.”

“About that, Your Majesty…”

Cain prostrated himself on the floor and spoke.

“We will defeat the Demon King right away, so please, grant us just a little more time—”

“It’s far too late for that now!”

King Phillip stood up, stormed over to the kneeling Cain, and kicked him in the head.

“Guh—ugh!”

Cain rolled ungracefully across the floor. Blood poured from his nose and stained the carpet beneath him. It was downright disgraceful. Humiliating. Normally, he would have killed someone for this, but that wasn’t an option against the king. He wanted at least to glare at him in defiance, but he forced himself to endure even that.

Anita rushed to his side and cast a healing spell.

“You think you can still talk your way out of this!? Time, you say!? I’ve already given you plenty of that! And what have you done with it? All you’ve done is mess around wherever you go and rack up more crimes! I’ve had enough of your nonsense!”

The brilliant plan Cain had come up with in the carriage instantly vanished like mist. Not only did it fail to earn forgiveness, it had only fanned the flames of the king’s rage.

Ah, what a disaster…

Cain groaned internally. At this rate, they’d be stripped of their Hero Party status and reduced to just an ordinary group—no, to mere commoners. From Hero to peasant… That alone had to be avoided at all costs. But he couldn’t think of a better idea. For now, he decided to do the only thing he could—apologize with all his might.

“Please! I beg of you, forgive us! Anything but stripping us of the Hero title—”

“Hah? What are you talking about?”

Philip looked at him with sheer disbelief.

“…What?”

“Stripping you of the Hero title? You really think I’d let you off that easily?”

“Wait… Then—”

“All of you are sentenced to death. I’ll have your heads taken off at the guillotine!”

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