Chapter 1

―― Is this what I think it is?

The Fourth Great War of the Hero and the Demon.

In other words, the fourth war between the hero and the demon king.

The Demon King is a dark king who only thinks about destroying humanity.

And the hero is a man who was born destined to destroy the demon king.

Mankind dispatched its hero and his comrades to attack the Demon King and his army. This is a merciless war. Needless to say, many people were caught up in the clash between the two sides. And the conflict continues to go on and on until now. After ten years, it is finally coming to an end.

――As if the war never happened.

Surrounded by burning flames and crumbling ruins, I felt a sense of desolation.

I’m sure of it.

This war will come to an end in a few minutes.

By now, the hero should be in a fierce battle with the demon king.

And — For me, I have also completed my last mission.

“So this is the heart of the Demon King, huh”

Looking at the black heart pulsing in my palm.

It felt lukewarm, and according to my superior, this is the “Demon King’s Heart”.

What reason cause it to separate from the body is still unclear, but for now, it is still squirming healthily.

“If I destroy this, the Demon King will die, right?”

I asked towards the being that kneels next to my foot.

“Yeah… that’s right.”

The kneeling figure affirmed in a hushed voice.

It seems like the current demon king has a very cautious personality..

Unlike humans, as long as his heart wasn’t destroyed, the Demon King wouldn’t die no matter what kind of injuries he suffered. Therefore, the Demon King had stored his heart in a separate place in advance to prepare for the upcoming final battle. The current Demon King, even if the hero chops off his limbs, as long as his heart that was stored elsewhere is still intact, he can revive instantly.

That’s why I was given a mission.

While the hero was relentlessly fighting the Demon King, I was to take the Demon King’s heart which was stored elsewhere and destroy it.

“I never thought that he would be killed by the hands of someone other than the hero.”

The voice came from the creature on the floor.

It was the demon who was in charge of guarding the “Demon King’s Heart”.

He was the biggest obstacle to taking away the heart.

As expected, he is the guardian of the Demon King’s weakness, so he is more powerful than any enemy than I have ever fought. After a fierce battle in which the entire area was burnt to the ground and most of the buildings around us collapsed, I was finally able to win him.

Though if you looking at the result, you could say it was a crushing victory.

The demon, who had his heart pierced through, had been vomiting blood for some time now. In contrast, I have no major injuries at all. And I even had more energy left to move at full strength for at least one more fight.

“While the hero is busy subjugating the Demon King. You’re just another demon, and I’m more than enough for you.”

The demon snickered as he replied this.

“Stop joking around. You’ve noticed it too, haven’t you? The Demon King of this era is weak. In this current war. We — the demon subordinates, were far superior to than Demon King. Those heroes who have their hands full with the Demon King can’t even possibly kill me. I’ve always thought that if there was someone to kill me, it must be you.”

Upon hearing the demon’s word, I frown.

“We’re supposed to have met for the first time, but how do you know me?”

“Of course. Ever since the start of the war, there is not a single demon among us who doesn’t know you. Most of the demons you’ve killed are much stronger than the demon king, you know. It’s you that we are wary of, not the hero”

The demon’s skin starts to peel.

His bones and flesh inside melt as if it turned to sand. It’s a signal’s when a demon is about to die..

“Farewell, O’Hero Of The Shadow. I am honored to be slain by your hand and not by those hero.”

At the end of those words, the demon’s body turned into dust and dispersed.

The demon was probably praising me. But that’s something I shouldn’t have received.

I squeezed my hand..

And crushed the demon king’s heart.

Now the Demon King is dead.

With this, the war should be over.

“This should do it I guess.”

Until the war was over, it has been ten years

It’s hard to feel whether it’s been a long or short period

Well, that’s understandable

This isn’t someplace like the front stage. It’s the backstage, and the front stage is at elsewhere.

I take a strip of thin paper from my pocket and press my finger down the center.

Holding the faintly luminous thin paper close to my mouth, I start the call.

“Mission accomplished. I have destroyed the Demon King’s heart.”

“Roger that. The demon king’s death is confirmed. You are requested to return immediately…. Don’t get noticed by the heroes in the vicinity….. You’re not supposed to be on that battlefield.”

“I know. It was the heroes who defeated the Demon King. And I have no intention of overshadowing that fact.”

“Good.”

I cut off the communication and left the scene.

I don’t feel that I’ve saved humanity in the slightest.

I’m simply doing the job I was given.

I was raised to be a soldier who obeyed orders.

It was an institution that was designed only to win wars. And we were raised to be tools to win the war.

Now that the war is over.

It was my last mission, and it’s all over.

Now… I wonder what should I do with my life?