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One day, the lord of the castle, also known as the Demon King, sensed an intrusion of an unknown magical force and sat on his throne with a pensive expression.

The throne room and the castle itself, where he lived, were surprisingly dilapidated due to countless battles with heroes. The floors and walls were stained dark red from the scattered, neglected blood, and piles of debris were everywhere.

Living in such a condition was almost impossible. The damage was so severe that the castle seemed ready to collapse if not repaired. However, he hadn't made any repairs except to the basement.

Since being alone, the Demon King no longer needed food or sleep. He wouldn't die from hunger or overwork. Even without nutrition, or living in a harsh environment, there was no hindrance to him.

Such a Demon King certainly wouldn't seek comfort or aesthetics in his castle, and so it had been left in its current state.

As the Demon King rested his elbow on the armrest of the throne and propped his chin on his hand, the door opened with a jarring noise, almost simultaneously.

"Ah, they've come," he thought, shifting his gaze towards the door, prepared to see the foolhardy face of someone who'd dared to enter his castle alone.

He waited, appearing careless and full of openings. But exploiting such carelessness or openings to do anything to this Demon King was impossible. The fact that he had been defeating heroes without even rising from his throne for the last hundred years was proof of this.

By now, the Demon King's status was so overpowering that just seeing him would make any hero despair. He could only gauge this by observing the reactions of heroes since he didn't know the exact numerical values.

Unlike the heroes, the Demon King didn't have any convenient summoning perks or what one might call "cheats." Although, nowadays, his mere existence could be considered a cheat.

The Demon King recognized three abilities the heroes possessed: the ability to see status, an item box, and the skill to wield the sacred sword. The heroes were incredibly overpowered, able to defeat thousands of demons with a single blow and take on dozens of demon folk. It was a stark contrast to the Demon King, who had become strong from scratch.

With a deep sigh, he waited for the intruder to step into the room. But the intruder didn't show themselves. The Demon King felt a sense of déjà vu and frowned. There was certainly someone there, but they were hesitating behind the door.

"Just come in already."

Growing impatient, the Demon King used his magic to create a gust of wind inside the room. The force was so strong that the door flew open and a shadow was blown, or rather, sent flying into the throne room.

"I might have overdone it," the Demon King thought, glancing at the shattered door remains before turning his attention to the groaning figure.

"Well... Welcome to the Demon King's castle. I greet you."

His voice, devoid of any emotion, echoed. The intruder, seemingly startled, slowly got up while clutching their shoulder.

The intruder had long, lustrous black hair, and slightly upturned eyes that reminded him of a cat. The features were not particularly sharp but well-proportioned. The build was petite and delicate. All of these characteristics hinted at one thing - someone from his homeland.

"A Japanese...?"

He muttered incredulously. If this girl was Japanese, she would necessarily be a hero. However, the magical energy he felt from her was extremely weak, almost ordinary.

And more importantly, she didn't have the sacred sword.

But to his muttered words, the girl's eyes widened in astonishment.

"How do you know about that?"

He almost wanted to retort, "That's my line." He calmly listed possible scenarios in his mind, then voiced the one that made the most sense.

"Reincarnation, perhaps?"

The concept of a soul crossing worlds and receiving a new life in a different one. He vaguely recalled such stories from his original world.

"So, you're a reincarnator?"

"Reincarnator? What are you talking about?"

The girl tilted her head in confusion. With the most probable scenario denied, the Demon King frowned.

"Then who are you?"

"Isn't it obvious?"

She slowly brandished a sword and declared with a resounding voice.

"I am the hero who will defeat the Demon King."

There was a tense silence between the two.

At first, the Demon King thought he had misheard. This child, without the sacred sword, having only ordinary magic power, holding a second-rate sword and wearing equally mediocre armor, claimed to be the hero.

"You must be joking..."

He muttered with a hint of anger.

"Foolish. Pretending to be a hero... You've gone beyond being reckless to just being an idiot."

"No! I am the real hero!"

"A hero without the sacred sword? What a ridiculous hero you are."

"Well, about that..."

Upon mentioning the sacred sword, the girl gritted her teeth in frustration.

"...I was rejected."

"...What?"

"Ugh! I said, I was rejected by the sacred sword! Got a problem with that?"

She shouted, her face flushing red. The Demon King was taken aback, mostly by the claim that the sacred sword had rejected her.

"Rejected by the sacred sword? Is that the truth?"

While it sounded utterly absurd, she didn't seem to be lying.

"It's true. When I tried to touch the sacred sword, it repelled me. Really, what's the deal..."

She gazed into the distance, likely recalling that moment. The Demon King still struggled to believe, but her genuine reaction made it hard to doubt her words.

"What do you mean by that?" the Demon King frowned.

Until now, all the heroes, regardless of their abilities, could wield the sacred sword. They were imbued with immense magical power and also possessed cheats like "Status Open" and "Item Box."

Compared to them, the young girl standing before him could hardly be called a hero. Not just her magical power, but her overall aura was utterly lackluster.

Suddenly, another possibility dawned upon the Demon King.

... A failed summoning.

During the summoning, something might have gone awry, and she wasn't granted any abilities. Hence, she can't hold the sacred sword, and her magical power is only average at best.

It's a plausible scenario.

The Demon King decided to ask the girl directly.

"Status Open and Item Box. Can you use these two?"

"What are you talking about? I don't know any of that."

The girl looked puzzled, not grasping the intent behind the Demon King's question. Meanwhile, the Demon King was convinced of his hypothesis from her reaction and felt his excitement cooling off rapidly.

This girl knows nothing. Was she not informed? That she lacks the power she's supposed to possess? That she's deemed unworthy of being a hero?

Yet, with nothing but herself, she bravely came all this way.

He didn't know what she had been told or what drove her to come here, but...

How pitiful, laughable, and... enviable.

"Heh, hahaha!"

"What? What's so funny!?"

Startled by the sudden laughter of the Demon King, the girl braced herself.

"I was just thinking how lucky you are."

"Lucky? Are you making fun of me?"

A vein popped on the girl's forehead as she asked. However, the Demon King had no intention of mocking her.

"I'm not making fun of you. It's just that sometimes, ignorance is bliss."

"You ARE making fun of me!"

"It's just a play on words."

Brushing off the indignant girl, the Demon King sank deeper into his throne.

"Let's put an end to this charade."

Hearing this, the girl readied her sword with a serious look.

"Even without the sacred sword, I won't lose. I'll defeat you to save the people who are suffering because of you!"

The girl declared with determination, but the Demon King merely looked at her as if she said something utterly boring. It was as if he hadn't heard her words at all.

With a single word, the Demon King addressed the overly enthusiastic girl.

"Leave."

And with that, he closed his eyes in silence.