1: Road to Happiness

"So, the fateful Hero of legends has finally arrived."

Inside the throne room of the Demon King Palace, the monarch himself smirked as he witnessed his counterpart from the comfort of his demonic throne.

The Demon King is a tall and intimidating man with a lean athletic figure. He has messy black hair and red eyes. He also sported two fearsome black horns on his forehead, a clear sign of his demonic heritage.

He is an imposing figure dressed in majestic black robes fit for his status as the ruler of all the Demon race. Underneath his robes is a black sleeveless suit and a white polo shirt with a red tie. His lower garments consisted of black pants with a luxurious leather belt and black dress shoes. He also donned a pair of black gloves.

"Your reign of terror ends here, Demon King!!"

The dramatic feminine voice came from the Hero, a figure revered by the entirety of the Human Kingdoms. The Hero is clad in a full set of glorious plate armor with a white gold color scheme, including a winged great helm that served as head protection. On her hand gripped an elegant-looking sword with the same color design as the armor.

"Wow, that line is so cliché that I have heard it over and over again from your other party members and human allies. And I have a name too, you know." The Demon King could not help but sweatdropped at the Hero's overused line, causing the latter to flinch in slight embarrassment. If the helmet is not in the way, no doubt she could be seen with a blush coupled with a flustered expression.

"Heh, how cute, my dear Hero." The Demon King was pretty amused by his rival's embarrassed reaction. "The Hero of Grayhart, reduced to being a blushing school girl."

"Sh-shut up, Demon King!!" The rattled Heroine immediately recovered and pointed her blade at the enemy. "For years, you have plunged this land in a state of perpetual doom, and many innocent lives have suffered at the hands of your tyranny. You have lost this day, Demon King Tyrian. Your forces are all annihilated and only you remained in the way, an overwhelming obstacle towards the path of peace."

"Peace?" The Demon King named Tyrian chuckled amusingly in response, much to the bewilderment of the Hero. "You surely jest, Hero. Even if I am to be removed from the equation, there can never be true peace, for as long as the sin of Greed exists."

He then shifted to a serious expression, a blood-curdling look that even sent a chill to the Hero's spine.

"You humans always lust for power and wealth, never content with the things you possess, no matter how plentiful it is. With my Demons no longer threatening your land, it is only a matter of time before your kind will eventually wage war against one another. Perhaps simply for expanding your lands? A dispute between families? Or your typical wealth and power, just like I mentioned earlier. In the end, Humans, and Demons… we are not so different after all in that regard."

"I..." The Hero was at loss for words and can't simply find the heart to deny the Demon King's statement.

Because it's all true.

Because of her status, the Hero had the privilege of witnessing Humanity's dark side firsthand. Corrupt nobles taking advantage of the laws for their self-gain and benefit, Crime and mayhem in the streets with high-end criminals getting away by bribery and deceit, the commoners being oppressed, and the ones who suffered the most out of this ordeal. And the worst part is; those were just the tip of the iceberg.

"I'm well aware of my kinsmen's unbecoming, Demon King." The Hero said with a newfound resolve. "But still, I'm willing to have faith that humanity would overcome this injustice and come out on top stronger than ever. As long as others like myself are around, then we can put a stop to it and vanquish the evil within our ranks. I, the Hero of Grayhart solemnly swear upon this."

A smile graced upon the Demon King's face upon hearing the Hero's speech. Of course, this was not because he was moved. No, it's because he was entertained by her naivety. Thus, he could not help but snicker.

"What's so funny, you scum?!!" The Hero was angered by the Demon King's attitude, thinking that he found the statement too sickening for the likes of him.

"Haha, sorry about that, Hero. I just can't resist laughing at how naïve you are." The Demon King said and stood up from his throne.

"But I suppose that it's not necessarily a bad thing though."

The Hero wondered what the Demon King meant. Seeing the Demon King approaching, then she gripped the blade even tighter, in preparation for an upcoming battle.

But alas, not even a single shred of magic came as the Demon King suddenly prostrated down in front of her, much to the latter's utter bewilderment.

"Well, none can't deny your victory today, Hero. Just like you said, my army is all vanquished, and my trusted generals and advisors, all long gone." The Demon King said like he was actually in peace, a gentle smile that is so out of character for a Demonic entity feared throughout the entire land.

The Hero could only wonder what no good scheme the man is playing at.

"I am willing to die by your hands, Hero. But before you perform the heroic deed of slaying me, may I have one final request from you?"

Before the Hero could even answer, a hooded demon familiar suddenly emerged from the corner and approached them. The familiar was seen to be carrying a small bundle wrapped in a white cloth.

Naturally, the Hero became more cautious as a result, thinking that the familiar would attack. Such thoughts were all dismissed however when she saw what the familiar was holding.

"A baby?"

Indeed, said bundle is a white-haired infant maybe around two months old. The baby was seen to be sleeping peacefully, completely unaware of the events that are currently transpiring.

'C-cute!!' If they weren't in such an awkward situation, no doubt the Hero would be gushing all over the baby for how precious it is.

"This is my bundle of joy, the light of my life, the apple of my eye, my beloved daughter, Lucia." The Demon King proudly introduced. "She is quite adorable, isn't she?"

"Y-yes, yes she is." The Hero replied in complete agreement.

But then, something that the Demon King mentioned spurred a great surprise. 

"Wait… daughter!?" The Hero was baffled by this newfound revelation. Due to the lack of demon horns on the baby's forehead, no one would even think of her being a demon.

The Hero then pointed accusingly at the Demon King. "Since when did you have a child!? Who is the mother!? And why are you telling me all this!?"

The Demon King pinched the bridge of his nose in utter annoyance at how ridiculously fast the Hero's barrage of questioning is, even if his rival's shocked reaction is totally justified.

"One month ago, Lucia was conceived by my human lover, Elaine." The Demon King said.

As the Hero was about to pinpoint something regarding the issue about the Demon King's lover, Tyrian instantly interrupted her.

"And before you ask, no. I did not force Elaine to submit against my will. We genuinely love one another and Lucia is the result of our union. For the record, she was my first and I never had any other women or concubines. Elaine was… is the only one for me, even if she's a human."

"I see." The Hero understood, relieved that this Elaine person was not another one of the Demon King's unfortunate casualties. Demons are infamous for being vile defilers of chastity after all.

And to think that the Demon King is a faithful man and not a womanizing scum as many had come to believe.

Huh, you hear something new every day.

The Hero could also see the genuine expression that the Demon King is currently having. It's an attitude that is rather unbecoming for someone with the status as Ruler of all Demons. Thus, the Hero could not help but be surprised by this dilemma.

The Demon King capable of love? It's quite unbelievable really. In addition, the happy look that the Demon King possessed when he introduced his very own daughter is also something that the Hero took note of.

Demons are not exactly known to be kind and nurturing folks, but the Demon King's attitude said so otherwise.

Was it a ploy, a trick to let the Hero's guard down? Or was he really sincere in expressing himself, especially when it came to his loved ones?

"And as for your last question." The Hero's thoughts were interrupted when the Demon King's demeanor turned darker. This meant that their conversation is going to shift into a more serious note and is something that she is not fond of, based on her experience with their previous encounters when the Demon King would taunt her ideals.

"It's related to the request that I ask of you," Tyrian said and took a deep breath.

"After you kill me, I want you to take good care of my daughter."

"W-what!?" And here she thought that she won't get anymore shocked than this. The Hero was caught off guard by the Demon King's request.

"Are, are you joking?! You want me to take care of your child!? Are you insane!?" The Hero added. Perhaps her ears are failing her? Hence the need to ask for clarification.

The Demon King's response was a simple silence, his facial features unyielding as he retained his overly serious expression.

That was all the answer that she needed to see.

"Y-you're not joking." The Hero sighed in mental exhaustion. "I'm not sure what bore in that thick skull of yours to implore me of such bizarre request, but may I ask… why?"

"My daughter, Lucia." The Demon King stared at his child with concern, her peaceful look bringing a gentle smile to his face. "Her future here in the Demon Kingdom of Gehenna is bleak. As a parent, I wanted nothing more than to see my child grow up happily without the burden of war and violence weighing her down. If I continued this life as the ruler of all the Demon race, then naturally Lucia will be the heiress. Meaning, she is going to inherit this warmongering position of mine bent on destroying all your kind, continuing my family's dark legacy as a result. I don't want her to suffer the same fate and pressure as I do."

"Thus…" He added, taking a short pause before resuming what he was about to say. "I want Lucia to thrive in a friendly environment away from here in Gehenna. You, Hero of Grayhart, are known to be a kind and honorable individual, much to the utter disgust of my demonic brethren. I'm sure you will be a good influence on my daughter."

The Hero processed the information that was given to her. She was speechless, to say the least. Revelations after revelations keep piling up against one another. Once again, she never expected such a selfless attitude coming from the Demon King of all people.

'Huh, no matter what race you are, a parent's love is undeniably indomitable, doing whatever it takes for the good of your child. I suppose even demons like him have their way of expressing it.' The Hero thought with a smile.

Her circumstances were not so different as well. When she was chosen to be the Hero of Grayhart, she was forced to be away from her parents, being sent far away to the capital city of Lendett for her training as humanity's last hope against the demons. Seeing her parents' anguish when she was taken, the Hero's heart clenched with sorrow and her first many nights are filled with tears after every whole day of training.

She does not want anyone to withstand the same fate as her parents, someone deprived of their treasured flesh and blood, no matter what reason it is.

And yes, even if that certain someone is no other than the scourge of humanity, the Demon King himself.

"But wait." A sudden realization hit her. "What about your lover, Elaine? Isn't she suppose to take care of your daughter then?"

"I believe that's impossible, no matter how much I yearn it." Instantly, sadness engulfed all over the Demon King's face. "She passed away giving birth to Lucia."

"I… I'm sorry." Was all the Hero could sincerely say. Even if the Demon King was her arch-nemesis, she still felt bad for him. "That was rather insensitive of me."

"Heh, don't be. At least Elaine died with a beautiful smile on her face, seeing me and Lucia before her last breath." Tyrian shook his head in dismissal.

"Now, on to the matter of hand."

Tyrian faced the Hero, his resolve as solid as diamond as he prepared for his damned life here to end.

"Strike me down, Hero. Do it, and my daughter shall be safe from this accursed bloodline of ours. Seal my fate inside the bowels of history and let my title as Demon King of Gehenna be scorned for many generations to come."

It was like her birthday just came early, the Demon King offering himself, just like that?

The Hero wanted to end his evil existence, she really does. For all her life, this was the culmination of all her training and hard work that led to this exact fateful moment. Humanity indeed shall be better off without the tyranny of the Demon King.

So why?

Why was she still?

Why was her sword arm not even making a move to strike him down?

Was… was she faltering?

The Demon King noticed her hesitation, the nervous shaking of her arm apparent.

"Tsk, Is that reluctance I see, Hero? Where is the drive, the passion of ending me that I have witnessed from time and time again during our past encounters?" Tyrian grunted in irritation. "Don't tell me that your resolve is shaking just because I told you of my pitiful circumstance. The world does not revolve around a single person, and your sympathy is wasted on someone like me. I was prepared for this, so don't insult me by not returning the gesture."

His words did not even move her, not even in the slightest, causing a whole lot of contempt from him.

This can't be good.

"You… you idiotic girl!!!"

Hero was usually what he referred to his rival out of sheer respect for her skill and prowess only matched by him and a few, but apparently, it was sent pummeling down the moment when he saw her being a cowering buffoon in the face of adversity.

This was not going according to plan.

"What are you hesitating for?!! Where is the drive that I saw during our previous battles?! Hero of Grayhart? How pathetic!! You may be an adult, but you have the will of a naïve village girl!!!"

He had hope that by insulting her, she would at least retaliate and rekindle the fire burning in her heart, the desire to end humanity's blight once and for all in the form of his truly.

But alas, it had the opposite effect. The Hero succumbed to pressure and drop her sword, much to Tyrian's utter horror.

"I… I can't."

"What?! What do you mean you can't? I demand that you pick up that sword this instant!!"

"I said I can't!!!"

This time, it was the Hero's turn to be frustrated as her rattled voice echoed around the throne room.

She then removed her helmet, revealing her angelic face with short pale blonde hair styled in a ponytail.

Seeing her face, Tyrian was immediately taken aback. And no, it's not because of how beautiful she is. He was all too familiar with the facial features of his rival. Being the Demon King, he had seen his fair share of beautiful ladies, but none really interest him except for Elaine.

The reason for his shock is because of the tears seen flowing down from her green eyes as she gazed directly right at him.

She was crying.

She was crying… for him.

Him… the Demon King.

The Hero, crying with genuine sadness for the Demon King no less.

For his whole existence, no one actually shed a tear for him, not his allies, not his most trusted advisors and generals.

And certainly, not even his parents.

All except for his lover, Elaine, when she expressed deep concern when he suffered a fatal injury after a certain skirmish with four of the Hero's party members who were powerful in their own right.

And also before her death.

And now, the Hero too.

To think that the Hero, his very sworn enemy, would exhibit this manner of fragile emotion to him.

He was rendered speechless by this surprising act.

After choking a sob, the Hero resumed what she was going to say.

"I… I just can't." All manner of hostility was forgotten and she knelt as well like Tyrian. "When I saw how you talk about your lover and daughter, I never imagined that I would get to see such genuine expression coming from you. I too have the same circumstance more or less when I was deprived of my family at a very young age due to my status as the Hero. The looks on my parents' faces when I was taken away are heart gutting. Please, Demon King, as much as I wanted to end this war by finishing you, I don't want to be the reason for your daughter to be an orphan. She deserved a loving father, and yes, even someone like you."

After hearing her, Tyrian look down at the floor and was filled with utmost contemplation at her speech.

"What am I supposed to do then?" How laughable it truly is for the Demon King to ask a suggestion from the Hero of all people, but sorrow and confusion took great precedence over his pride. "My hands are tainted by the blood of many innocents. It would be good for Lucia if she won't be involved with someone like me. For someone with an abhorrent existence like myself, death is the only salvation to wash away my sins."

"No, death is not the only way, you are not beyond saving, so don't say that." The Hero denied her adversary's way of thinking, causing Tyrian to raise an eyebrow in confusion.

"I may have an idea, so please hear me out." She pleaded as a plan came to mind.

Tyrian sighed in response and said, "Very well. This better be good. If not, we are battling to the death."

"Death is a coward's method, the easiest way out but also the most unfulfilling." The Hero said with utter disgust at the notion of dying. "I want you to live Demon King, no… Tyrian. Renounce your ungodly title and start anew with your daughter."

"You want me to… live?" Tyrian was awestruck by her suggestion. "You are pulling my leg, aren't you? Didn't you devote your entire life just to slay me? And you are going to let me go, just like that?"

"Idiot. As if my precious time would be wasted entirely on you. Don't flatter yourself too much." The Hero chuckled lightly. "But on a more serious note, yes, just like that. Your daughter needs a father, Tyrian. I have full confidence that you will love her completely and won't treat her like a tool for your ambitions. Begin a new life with her, far away from here. If you truly want to see your daughter grow up to be a splendid woman away from your demonic influence, then who better to take care of her than the demon himself. Since you yourself knew and understood the mistakes you have committed, then it's your sole responsibility to sway her away from the dark path that you have once ventured. After all, it is a parent's job to ensure that their children won't repeat the mistakes of the past."

Tyrian was in awe at her sermon. No words can describe how conflicted he felt right now.

Can… can he really do it?

Is someone like him, the King of all Demons, the scourge of humanity, the blight of every race, capable of redeeming himself and start a new life with his only dear daughter?

His palms shook at the prospect, and for once in his life, he felt helpless, undecided at what he is going to do.

But then, he remembered Elaine's parting words.

"Tyrian, my love. Please don't torment yourself any longer. Even someone like you is allowed a chance for happiness. Heck, even for a short time of us being together, you made me the happiest woman on this land alive. I never regretted meeting you, even if it was under unfavorable circumstances. And I even get to meet our little precious Lucia here in my arms. So I beg of you, Tyrian, for yours and our daughter's sake… please don't deny the chance for happiness should it ever arrives."

It was the first time that he cried with utter anguish when Elaine breathed her last, with Lucia crying as well in her tender arms.

And the Hero now suggested that he do the same thing.

He turned his attention at his sleeping daughter once more. Not even once did she awoke despite the heated conversation that he and the Hero had earlier.

What a strange child indeed.

In the end, he made his fateful decision, a decision that would shake the very core of this world and disregard every conception that humanity had against him.

"You know, you would make into a fine mother one day, Hero." Tyrian flashed a smile.

"Huh!? W-what are you babbling about, you fool?!" A furious blush crept on the Hero's cheeks by the sudden compliment.

Tyrian chuckled at her comical reaction and stood up from his spot.

"Thank you for opening my eyes, Hero. I will follow your advice and live a life with my daughter away from all this turmoil. From this day forth, I'm no longer the King of Demons. You have my eternal gratitude." Tyrian bow his head down.

"I-it's fine." The Hero stood up as well. "I am the Hero of Grayhart after all. Redeeming enemies is also an effective way to defeating them. So uhh, yes, this is my victory, Demon King!! Like I said, death is not the only option."

"So I see. Heh, it's really charming to see that awkward side of yours." Tyrian teased, knowing how dishonest sometimes she can be, but not necessarily in a bad way.

"Yeah, yeah." The Hero shook her head but was smiling as well. "Anyways, you don't have to worry about the kingdoms pursuing you. I'll cover you and your daughter, so leave everything to me. For all they know, you have died by my hand."

"You have my thanks, Hero, or I believed that it's Reina, was it?" Tyrian mentioned her name in question, earning a nod from her.

When everything is said and done, Tyrian turned to his back and snapped his fingers, resulting in a violet magic portal appearing right in front of them.

"Till we meet again, Reina the Hero." The Demon King twisted his head back at her with a grin and gestured the familiar to give his daughter to him. "Hopefully under more favorable and… friendly circumstances. My daughter would be delighted to meet the woman who made this all possible."

"I'll hold you to that." Reina returned the gesture with her own smile as she watched the three figures, including the demon familiar entering the portal.

As the portal finally disappeared from clear view, Reina felt that she made the right decision. To deny a father and daughter the chance for a happy future went against her very principles.

"Now then," Reina said as she grabbed her sword from the floor.

"I believe that it's time that I do my part."

It was time to announce the Demon King's death and the climax of this maddening war.

Next Chapter: Around next week.