The Wrong Hero Has Been Summoned
Chapter 33: Cold

Chapter 33: Cold

Luther looked at the demon girl after she kissed him and he didn’t overreact, he just stood there confused. "You choose me? what’s that all about?"

"I am going to make you my husband, pretty obvious no?" She leaned in even closer, "just image, your DNA with mine, our offspring would be so strong."

He took a step back, creating distance between them. "Let me get this straight. You and your friends just tried to kidnap me, kill me, and now you’re proposing marriage? That’s quite the change of heart."

She laughed, the sound like crystal bells in the forest clearing. "It wasn’t a change of heart. I’ve been watching you since that time in section D." She circled around him slowly, her movements graceful and predatory. "The others wanted you as a prize for our king, but I had... different plans."

"And what makes you think I’d be interested?" He asked, tracking her movements carefully. "I’m not particularly fond of demons."

"Oh, but you are." Her smile widened. "I saw how you absorbed their mana. You’re not as human as you pretend to be." She stopped directly in front of him. "We’re not so different, you and I."

"Is that right?"

"I know power when I see it," she continued, reaching out to touch his face. "And you have something special, something rare. You’re wasted among these humans."

He allowed her touch, watching her carefully. "And in the demon realm? What would happen to me there?"

"You’d be revered," she whispered. "My father is a high lord in the court. With your abilities and my connections, we could rise to the top. Maybe even challenge the throne one day."

"Ambitious," he commented dryly. "And if I refuse?"

Her expression darkened slightly. "Why would you? What do these humans offer you that I cannot? They fear what they don’t understand. They would turn on you the moment they discovered what you can really do."

He considered her words, appearing to contemplate the offer. "You might have a point there. Humans can be... unpredictable."

Hope flashed in her eyes. "Then you’ll come with me?"

"I’m curious," he said, ignoring her question. "Why me specifically? There must be plenty of powerful demons you could choose."

She laughed again. "Demons are predictable. Selfish. Backstabbing." She trailed a finger down his chest. "You’re different. You have honor, despite your darkness. And that makes you... interesting."

"Honor," he repeated, as if testing the word. "That’s not something I’d expect a demon to value."

"There’s much you don’t know about demons," she replied. "We’re not all like the stories humans tell."

He stepped closer to her, his expression softening slightly. "Tell me about your father. You said he’s a high lord?"

Her eyes lit up at his apparent interest. "Lord Azrael, one of the Seven Princes of Hell. His domain covers the eastern territories, where the lava fields meet the obsidian forests. Our palace overlooks the Burning Sea."

"Sounds... scenic," he said with the hint of a smile. He moved even closer, their faces just inches apart. "And what would Lord Azrael think of his daughter bringing home a human?"

"Half-human at best," she corrected, her voice dropping to a whisper. "He would see your potential, just as I do."

He reached out, gently holding her chin between his thumb and forefinger. For a moment, the air between them seemed charged with possibility. Lilith’s eyes darkened with desire.

"You know," he said softly, leaning in as if to kiss her again, "there’s something I should tell you about humans."

"What’s that?" she breathed.

He brought his lips to her ear and whispered coldly, "We don’t take kindly to being manipulated."

In one fluid motion, he drove his sword through her midsection. Her eyes widened in shock and betrayal.

"You—" she gasped, managing to kick him away with surprising strength despite her wound.

But the damage was done.

The sword remained embedded in her body, and he could see it beginning to work. The blade started to absorb her mana, drawing it out like poison from a wound.

"You fool," she hissed, her beautiful features contorting with rage. "I offered you everything!"

"You offered me pretty lies," he replied calmly, watching as she weakened. "I don’t need a demon bride or a position in hell."

"This changes nothing," she said, her voice growing fainter as her mana drained. "They’ll still come for you. My father will not rest until—"

"He gets revenge right? Adds me to his collection?" He shook his head. "I will be the one hunting them down, one by one until there are none left."

Her form flickered between her beautiful human disguise and her true demonic appearance as she struggled against the sword’s power.

"You could have been... magnificent," she whispered, a note of genuine regret in her voice. "We could have been... unstoppable."

"I’ll be just fine on my own," he said.

The sword continued its work, draining her until she collapsed to her knees. She looked up at him for one last time, "hehe, I wasn’t lying to you, I really wanted to be..."

Her once-bright eyes dulled as the last of her mana was absorbed into the blade. When it was done, she fell forward, her body turning to ash that scattered in the wind.

He stood in the clearing, watching as the last of her ashes scattered in the wind. His sword glowed with new power, having absorbed the mana from all the demons he had defeated.

He took a deep breath and looked around. The forest was quiet now. No more demons.

For now.

"I need to get back to the city," he muttered to himself. "The girls are probably looking everywhere for me."

He sheathed his sword and started walking back the way they had come. The carriage was probably still there, and he could use it to return faster.

As he walked, he thought about what Lilith had said. About her father, Lord Azrael, one of the Seven Princes of Hell.

About how they would come for him.

"Let them come, makes things easier for me," he said to the silent trees.

The moon was rising when he reached the carriage. The horses were still there, tied to a tree.

He climbed onto the driver’s seat and took the reins. He wasn’t great with horses, but he knew enough to get them moving.

The journey back to the city took most of the night. By the time he saw the city gates in the distance, the sun was beginning to rise.

Guards stopped him at the gate.

"Halt! Where are you coming from at this hour?" one asked, hand on his sword. But after taking a closer look, he realized who it was. "Oh, Luther, I heard you were going to the academy, why are you back?" He asked while opening the gates.

"I forgot something, I won’t be long." He passed through, looking at the guards. ’seems I am really popular, that’s good for things like this I guess.’ He made his way back to the inn, hoping the girls were still there.

---

In Ariadne’s realm, she watched everything with her eyes and she was shocked at how he handled things. "He is a lot cold hearted than I expected. Was choosing him really the right call? He is very dangerous, I should be careful."