The Demon Lord

"A few months ago before this incident had happened. This village had an agreement on a no war policy by leaving the Demon Lord's domain just beyond the horizon of the forest in the west." The Guild representative started his statement.

"What happened to that policy?" I asked.

"Let's just say something went wrong when one of our agents went overboard on observing the domain. It was a mistake on our part despite being a neutral place in each village in this country." The Guild representative replied.

"So your men started this mess?" I asked again.

"Not exactly but it was gas lit by one of the anti-demon revolutionaries that started the fire. Because of that they were all wiped out by the Demon forces that were guarding the domain.

The Guild has been requesting support from other branches and they're yet to reply or their messengers were killed even before they arrived here. Don't exactly know when they will arrive or if they even answered our request.

By then the kingdom was already being attacked by the Demon troops. Here's some detail none of the people here knows about the Demon Lord. But he used to be this very village's greatest hero." The Guild representative said some pretty heavy details from that alone.

"Seriously? What happened to him?" I questioned.

"He was such a renowned hero of this village and I don't really know. In fact none of us knows why he became a Demon Lord out of nowhere. Not that he got manipulated or turned into one by some other Demon Lord.

He already killed the Demon Lord by then and he's protected from becoming one from divine protection. And we were confused on how he ended up becoming the next one.

And since you're here and you represent the most famed hero of this world I hope you handle this on behalf of everyone here. This village ain't gonna hold on much longer after so much it has gone through." The Guild representative lowered his head after losing faith.

A Hero becoming something he feared himself. Something's off from that story, maybe something or someone had made the Hero become who he is now. Has Father ever encountered such a conundrum like this before?

Most likely but I wanna know more about this Hero myself.

"Can I ask for archives of the Hero if you still have it." I asked.

"What?" Surprised, the Guild representative raised his head in confusion.

"I'm taking this request personally and I want to know who I'm facing first. So do you have any archive data about this Village's hero?" I gave my thoughts and proposal to the representative.

"If so I can give you the records." The Guild representative stood up and walked to the bookshelf to check the records.

There are things that's not align really well. How did things turn out for him? Why would he do this? And how did he become the Demon Lord despite the divine protection.

A third party should be involved in his transformation. Also to think this had happened in just months is too quick for development. I mean if you just recently became the Demon Lord surely you have the power to gain an army.

But making an army and making sure that army is prepared and well war ready. Takes time, especially if that Demon Lord is a Hero who doesn't know how to handle such an army on his/her own.

You can't just plant a bud and immediately expect it to bloom and bear fruit within just days.

"Here, here's the records of his heroic deeds. I guess you're doing this on your own leisure?" The Guild representative asked.

"If I was here for leisure I shouldn't have asked you for extra information. I'm through with my job after all this will become a catastrophe if I don't stop it. My Father wouldn't let that happen, so why would I let it happen?" I replied.

"Is there any chance you get to make our hero return to normal?" The Guild representative asked.

"I can't promise that… But I'll do everything within my power to make sure he gets back here and fix up his own mess. I have to go now, thanks for the archives. I'll be keeping it so I can read it on the way there." I stood up holding the book as I headed out to the door.

I left the Guild building towards where the domain is on the west. The severe difference between the greenery is visible and how dark the aura is that separates the Demon domain and the Humans.

The Hero's name is Joseph. He was chosen by the heavens to be a Hero to represent the village under the Goddess of Faith. He saved countless lives and countless times from multiple Demon Lords that used to surround the very village he grew up in.

But there was unusual behavior that started to show from the Hero each time he dived down to the Demon domain to do commissions for the Guild. They said his face changed just within the span of 3 days.

His final record was he came to the Guild to finish his final commission before he disappeared while wearing a helmet with a sad yet frustrated face molded on the front. After that he was gone and never came back.

I finally arrived in the domain border between the Demon territory and the human realm. And already I can feel things are off and dangerous from just the entrance alone…

I guess this is my first dive down on Demon territory. Got my hatchet ready and my shotgun loaded up.

I stepped into the domain and immediately a few enemies towards my direction. And is running for me.

*Roar*

A loud roar from the running Demon seems to try and intimidate me. A running target is an easy take down from the knees. I holstered my hatchet and grabbed my ax.

And hit the Demon on the kneecap stopping from its tracks and killing it by dropping it towards the neck killing it quickly. Soon after I raised my shotgun and shot two other troops going right after me.

*Bang* *Bang*

"Young child, try throwing the ax at the enemy and raise your arm to summon it back to you." The Goddess seemed to whisper something in my ear.

Throw the ax? Seriously?

With that I followed the instruction with the enemy far from me and killed it immediately. Now summon it back by raising my hand.

*Woosh*

A quick ax spinning back towards my hand landed how I threw it earlier.

"Huh, neat. This saves ammunition for later." I holstered my shotgun and grabbed my hatchet so I could fight these Demon troops right their alley.

In the Demon Lord's castle…

"What is this feeling?" As the man on the throne raises his head.

"Hear me Hero, keep your head down and pay penance to your Goddess upon you." Whispers go through his ears.

"Yes, my Goddess." The man stood up as he wore his helmet with grunts of pain as he wore it as blood dripped down from below.

The man grabbed his thorn-covered sword as his hand also started to bleed upon the blade empowering it.

"Let your penance save this village from their very own fate." The Goddess continues to whisper in his ear.

The man raised his sword and the Demons below him stood up and ran towards outside where Alan is to intercept him.

Back outside in the courtyard…

I managed to reach the courtyard of the Demon Lord's domain from the looks of it. The castle should be just up from here.

*Roar* *Growl*

A group of Elite Demon Monsters seems to surround me. I'm this close to reaching the Demon Lord. I should handle these fools before going in.

I finally used my shotgun this time. From the looks of it I need more firepower so it fits in that I will be using the shotgun in this fight.

*Bang*

"That's one." The first shot echoed throughout the courtyard scaring the birds to fly out of the place as feathers dropped.

The sound of slashing as I went through the horde of Elite Demon Monsters. The hatchet might be overwhelming from just the amount of them but this shows how I need more of my Father's teachings to improve my combat ability.

Soon after killing off the last remaining Elite Demons. I gave myself a minute to breathe and take in what just happened.

Collecting thoughts and giving myself time to get everything in check.

"Alan… He's waiting for you in the castle. He knows we're here." The Goddess whispered to me as I opened my eyes as everything returned to normal pace.

I gave myself a good tour around the castle as it stays quiet. With my gun on my quick release holster. While I was there I observed the garden of the castle grounds.

Despite it being Demon Lord's domain the plants here seem to be intact and living on their own. I guess the Hero only cares about those who try to attack him.

"He awaits your arrival beyond this door Alan… Be careful this is your first Demon Lord battle. With your current skill it will be a very hard battle." The Goddess continued to whisper.

I found some fragments while I'm here and found fragmented lessons on guarding and counter-attacks. Should be useful when I get close and personal with this Demon Lord.

I opened the door and saw a man with metal-clad armor though from the looks of it the armor is heavily used, worn, and with blood stains dried up making it a slight shade of red. The armored man looked upon me as I walked into the room.

"You came here to stop me?" The man with the armor asked.

"Joseph, listen… This isn't what everyone wants." I replied.

"Lies! I made the reasonable choice. I placed myself under penance for my heroism. A sin I can never fix back." Shouted Joseph.

"Then tell me what went wrong? Why did you walk down the path? Why are you paying penance to something you should be proud of?" I asked these questions.

"I have nothing for you to say." Joseph lunges forward at high speed.

I guess I have to knock some sense out of him then.