By Zephyria 
Demon race.
In the world of 〈The Hero Doesn’t Hide His Power Too Well〉, the primary enemy of humans wasn’t monsters or magical creatures, but the Demon race.
Led by the Demon King Tarajiel, the Demon race had ruled the continent for over a decade, and a deep fear of them was ingrained in humans.
That was why the Hero’s Party, who defeated the Demon King, became heroes.
Despite how it all turned out, the ending of 〈The Hero Doesn’t Hide His Power Too Well〉 was this:
The Hero defeated the Demon King but ultimately failed to find happiness.
Even within that ending, the Story clearly stated:
The Demon King was gone.
But at this moment, the being before Eddie didn’t deny being the Demon King.
Regardless of Eddie’s confusion, the Demon King continued leisurely, “I wanted to greet you at least once. My body isn’t complete yet, so I’m in this form.”
No matter what he said, Eddie couldn’t bring himself to respond. The hand holding his cheek was so cold that he knew it wasn’t a dream, but he couldn’t understand how this situation could be real.
Eddie had felt he’d fallen into a fantasy world every time he saw Sorcery or a different race, but he didn’t want to realize it so abruptly like this.
The torn space was so black that it seemed to absorb all light, and if he were dragged into it, he felt he might never return to this world.
He was simply afraid.
“Scared?”
And the other party was more sensitive to such negative emotions than anything else in this world.
Eddie could sense it smiling as it read his fear.
“Don’t worry, I have no intention of harming you.”
“…”
“I truly only came to say hello today.”
Hello? Before Eddie could feel any more puzzled, the Demon King continued, “Thank you.”
Eddie’s mind filled with even more confusion.
Thank you? To me? Why would this being?
No, more importantly, how?
The Demon King had fallen. Erased by the powerful Sorcery cast upon the Holy Sword.
As a result, the Demon King disappeared, and the Hero was forgotten.
That was… the ending of 〈The Hero Doesn’t Hide His Power Too Well〉. One that even the protagonist couldn’t avoid.
Naturally, the final villain, the Demon King, couldn’t avoid it either.
Demon King.
It could be inhuman, or sometimes resemble a human, but the Demon King appearing in 〈The Hero Doesn’t Hide His Power Too Well〉 was often depicted with a human-like appearance.
A snake-like man with the pale skin characteristic of the Demon race.
That man was right in front of Eddie.
Eddie was frozen, unable to say anything, as he couldn’t understand the situation—being suddenly visited by someone he never expected, at a time he never expected, to offer thanks.
If he had been standing, he might have collapsed to his knees from the overwhelming presence.
“I…”
After a long while, Eddie finally opened his mouth, but the words didn’t come out easily. After repeatedly biting his lip, Eddie managed to say, “I… why are you thanking me?”
Eddie had never done anything for the Demon King.
Of course not. All he had done since being possessed in this world was manage an inn, and if he had to add anything, it would be going to Sandern and watching the tournament?
None of that was for the Demon King.
Besides, how did he even revive?
Didn’t he know that even for a dead person, or rather, a dead Demon race, resurrection was the one thing you shouldn’t do?
As Eddie thought this, he tried to subtly escape from the hand, but it didn’t budge, and naturally, Eddie didn’t escape.
The hand holding Eddie’s cheek seemed amused by his resistance. As if suppressing a child’s kick, the other party simply watched Eddie’s resistance without moving, then leisurely spoke, “It’s all thanks to you.”
“…?”
It was truly incomprehensible. Questions filled Eddie’s mind.
But the situation didn’t allow Eddie to calmly ponder.
“…Oh.”
The voice chuckled softly, as if realizing something.
“Looks like the time I borrowed has run out.”
As soon as those words were spoken, there was a loud crash from the next room!
Followed by the sound of the door to the next room bursting open, the sound of someone running down the hallway, and then…
Bang!
Eddie’s door was flung open with a sound like it was being smashed.
Even though it wasn’t far, being right next door, Ketron was slightly out of breath, as if he had moved his body urgently.
Only a white arm emerged from the dark space, but Ketron’s eyes widened as if they would pop out, as he was more familiar with it than Eddie.
And the moment Ketron saw Eddie, whose face was being held by that white hand, he made an expression Eddie had never seen before.
It was clearly a terrified expression.
The Demon King, who saw Ketron’s expression just like Eddie, opened his mouth.
“So, you also know what fear is.”
It was a very mocking tone.
***
Tarajiel.
The name of the Demon King who plunged the continent into fear for ten years.
His forces arose suddenly one day, ten years ago. During a complicated time when the previous Emperor of the Reneva Empire fell ill, and the current Emperor hastily ascended the throne.
The Demon King’s forces swept across the continent in an instant.
For Ketron, who was just a ten-year-old child at the time, the memories were vague. He only remembered that the world, already difficult for a child who had run away from the orphanage and was wandering the streets, became even more difficult.
People locked up their storehouses, and with their lives becoming harder, one couldn’t expect a kind hand to reach out to a street urchin.
It was a difficult time. For Ketron, and for humanity.
As time passed, and Ketron turned eighteen and began his journey in earnest, he ended the lives of many of the Demon race.
He was chosen by the Holy Sword and gained a firm goal to destroy evil.
Standing at the end of that path was the Demon King Tarajiel.
Tarajiel.
A snake-like Demon race with white, pale skin.
He was considered the most powerful Demon King of all time, but he was ultimately defeated by the human Hero, bringing about the downfall of the Demon race.
He was killed by Ketron.
But even though he was the one who killed him, the moment Ketron saw the hand emerging from the darkness, he was certain that it was Tarajiel.
He couldn’t not know. It was the opponent he had fought for a long time, finally managed to eliminate, and lost everything in return. He couldn’t not recognize him.
He was stronger than any opponent Ketron had fought so far, and perhaps he would never meet an opponent stronger than him in the future.
He was the opponent who always appeared at the end when Ketron was training his mind and body.
The moment he confirmed that the familiar white, pale hand, the hand with the tremendous power to destroy a building with a single gesture, was holding Eddie’s cheek, Ketron felt a shock as if the ground was collapsing, as if the world was swaying.
He didn’t realize at first that it stemmed from anxiety and fear.
But the moment he realized that if that hand so desired, Eddie’s neck would be severed before Ketron, who was a little further away, could stop it, Ketron was paralyzed by the fear that gripped his entire body.
“So, you also know what fear is.”
Only the hand was emerging from the space, but Tarajiel spoke as if he was looking at Ketron’s expression, genuinely sounding amazed.
He slowly, but blatantly, stroked Eddie’s cheek.
Every time he moved his hand to stroke Eddie’s cheek, Ketron gasped roughly, and Tarajiel seemed to find it very amusing.
When the hand brushed against Eddie’s neck as if playing a prank, Ketron flinched as if he was about to jump out.
But he couldn’t. Tarajiel was still closer.
If Tarajiel so desired, Eddie would die before Ketron could reach him.
Eddie would die.
Ketron was too afraid of that to move.
Unable to bear the blatant reaction, Tarajiel burst into laughter.
“How amusing. A proud man who feared nothing in the world has met the wind that will break his pride.”
He didn’t care about the mockery. He didn’t care about the teasing attitude.
Ketron thought he could do anything if Tarajiel would just let Eddie go.
“If I had my way, I’d tear off this neck right now and watch your despairing face.”
Tarajiel said leisurely, stroking Eddie’s neck.
Ketron couldn’t breathe at the sight. He was making a rattling sound, feeling a dizzying sensation as if someone was squeezing and releasing his heart, and Tarajiel, who was watching the scene as if it was amusing, let out a sigh-like breath.
“I can’t possibly do that to someone I’m grateful to.”
Unlike humans, I know what trust is.
It was a cruel thing to say to the Hero who had been betrayed by that trust, but Ketron didn’t care about such mockery.
Even though only the hand was out, he could feel Tarajiel’s gaze shifting to Eddie.
Just before disappearing, he said to Eddie, “I hope I can see you again.”
If that’s possible.
The added words held a strange smile.