124 Chapter 43

[6 years later.]

In the past six years, the entire world underwent a massive change.

In the first year.

The Hero had betrayed them.

The revelation sent by the Goddess stunned the Empire.

But what happened next was even more exaggerating.

More than 70% of the Empire's population revolted, they refused to believe it, most thought that it must be the noble's plot to pull down the image of their savior.

Unfortunately, the reality was often disappointing, even after months of waiting Grant didn't show his face in public because of which they were forced to accept the harsh truth.

Their Hero has really betrayed them.

On the other hand, the name of Paradise spread far and wide, especially among the demi-humans, from every corner of the world, the races which have been suppressed by humans for so long gathered together, protected under Grant's immense might they developed the city to a whole new level, some even started calling it the Holy City Of Wishes.

Of course, the human kingdoms and empires weren't willing to see a city of demi-humans rise up like this, unfortunately, they were helpless before the wall known as Grant Ashdown.

But there will always be some idiots who wanted to try their luck.

And they died instantly under the might of several 8th tier spells, not even leaving a corpse behind.

Still, Paradise was actually a neutral power, it just quietly developed on its own neither attacking the human kingdoms nor helping them, with the help of Grant's magic tower nourishing the lands around it, food wasn't a problem.

As for the metals and such, they actually traded with their friendly neighbors! the demons!.

The demon continent was pretty much a wasteland, that's why it suffered from a severe lack of food, while Paradise produced a surplus of it lacking in metals instead.

Considering the situation and having heard the rumor about the Hero's betrayal, the demon king Zef in person made his way towards the Holy City.

The next day another earthshaking news spread out.

Grant Ashdown and the Demon King Zef have actually reached a consensus.

All of this happened within the span of a single year.

Following that trades between Paradise and the demons became stronger, a slight population of Paradise now even consisted of demons.

Paradise was flourishing but the same couldn't be said for the human kingdoms.

Why?

Because they were once again being cornered by the demons and this time even worse than before.

But why? since Grant was guarding the dividing point between the two continents it shouldn't have been possible for them to attack the human kingdom unless Grant turned back on his words right?

That is also what the human kingdoms and even the Goddess thought.

Due to their oversight, they forgot to notice an important detail.

Sea routes.

Out of everyone's expectations the demons managed to infiltrate the human continent through sea routes.

And having only promised to not let the demons pass through his land, it wasn't of Grant's concern whether they used the sea or air.

Having no intention of going out of his way to stop the demons, Grant completely rejected each and every letter of help sent by the empire and the various human kingdoms.

Actually Grant unknowingly played a major role in the human kingdoms's current predicament.

After all the ships which the demons used to cross across the sea were actually made by none other than the dwarfs of his Holy City.

The reason for it was even simpler.

Some the dwarf's did it out of their hatred for humans while the others simply wanted to build a metal ship due of their curiousity.

Whatever the reason maybe, they ended up providing the demons with weapons of mass destruction.

And what happened next was a war.

A war which was ongoing even now, after 6 long years.

During these six years, the demons actually prospered.

No longer having to worry about their food supply running out because of their trade with Paradise, the demons attacked the human kingdoms in full swing.

Under the lead of Demon General Io, who somehow survived the battle between William and Root, the demons cornered the Gritonia Empire as well as Limia Kingdom.

But seeing the miserable state of her beloved humans, a few months ago the Goddess finally summoned another hero.

Yes just like in the original story, she summoned Makoto and threw him out right after seeing his ugly appearance.

After that just like in the original, Tomoko Iwashi and Hibiki Otonashi were sent down as the new heroes.

It's just that.....

"What! you can't even kill 10 demons by yourself? do you even know the previous hero destroyed an entire army of almost 300,000 demons on his own?"

They were continuosly being compared.

"Are you serious? you don't even know how to utilise magic? unbelievable!."

By the previous hero Grant Ashdown.

"Aren't you a bit too weak compared to the previous hero?"

Constant criticism, even Tomoki Iwashi who possessed the charm eyes was no exception.

And having learned from the previous Hero, the demons took them VERY seriously.

You want know how serious?

Well Tomoki Iwashi was beaten to death on his first battle.....

The goddess was forced to make a move and call him back at the very last moment, or he might just have really died.

Having heard what happened to Iwashi, Hibiki Otonashi was smart enough to stay inside the castle.

Though the demons weren't willing to give them any time to breath.

Thus on the very next day the capital of Gritonia Empire fell along with the old Emperor and his wife empress Maria.

"I see so this is the Paradise created by the previous Hero Grant Ashdown.", Hibiki Otonashi said as she admired the city which seemed to glow even in the middle of the night completely different from the simple stone fortress she had been staying in all this time.

"Are we really going to meet the previous hero Hibiki? even though he already betrayed the human side?", Navarre a member of Hibiki's part said as she curiously looked at the orc's and goblins moving around the street.

"What a disgusting place to be in.....", The knight and main tank of their party who was following behind them said while having his armour on as if ready to fight at any time.

"Don't cause trouble Bredda, remember we are not here to cause trouble but ask for the previous Hero's assistance.", Hibiki said in a strong voice silencing the knight.

"But will it even work? I have heard that the previous hero has cut all contact with the human kingdoms for the past six years.", commented Navarre.

"We won't know until we try..."

Hibiiki raised her gaze and stared at the giant magic tower which seemed to be reaching for the skies.

Meanwhile at the very top of the giant magic tower, stood a man with long flowing golden hair and a face so beautiful that it seemed to give a new definition to the word beauty itself, almost a bit repulsive.

Grant who had now grown up to look like a man in his early twenties greeted an unexpected guest.

"I didn't expect to meet you today...."

Staring across at the familiar face of the woman sitting in front of him, Grant continued.

"Princess Lily."

With an expressionless face, Lily stared back at him