TSMFTDG 05

TSMFTDG

Posted by george.adam, Released on October 21, 2025

Episode 5
❖ ❖ ❖

Whenever Lian used a skill, his eyes glowed red until the power was exhausted.

I watched with interest as the crimson hue of his eyes gradually began to resemble the sun.

“I’m not foolish enough to believe the words of a Demon Lord so easily.”

For someone saying that, he seemed to believe my earlier words quite readily.

Maybe I’d provoked him too much by saying I’d kill the Saint.

“If you don’t believe me, then you’ll just have to stand by and watch that woman die.”

“……”

“So? What will you do?”

“Was it a lie that you claimed to have no interest in humans?”

I really didn’t have any interest in them. Well—except for you.

“I’d say this is a generous offer. If you’d stormed into any other Demon Lord’s castle, you would’ve died the moment you set foot inside. You know that well enough, don’t you?”

Every Demon Lord except me saw humans as nothing more than insects.

Even Rahel, who had once been human, was despised by the others—so how much more would they loathe actual humans?

Just as people kill insects without a second thought when they invade their homes, the Demon Lords slaughtered humans with the same indifference.

“Ah, and when I said I’d ‘kill’ her, I didn’t mean I’d personally take her heart. I hope you understand that.”

“……”

“I’ll just toss her to someone who wants her. Someone like… Saloban, perhaps.”

Saloban was an incubus, so he had a particular fondness for human women.

As I spoke, Lian lunged at me, gripping his sword. The blade radiated a lethal aura, sharp enough to slice even if it merely brushed against me.

I conjured dozens of ice arrows and hurled them at him to keep him from getting closer.

I thought that many would make him hesitate—but no. He charged straight through, slashing through the shards with his sword.

Clang!
The sound rang out as the ice shattered, though not all of it—one piece grazed his cheek, leaving a long cut.

I hadn’t meant to hurt his face. My accuracy was poor since I’d just started using this power.

Just before his sword could reach me, I summoned a storm of ice that sent him flying backward.

“Ugh…!”

So I could use any magic related to ice, huh?

Whatever I imagined became reality. It was terrifying, but at the same time, it felt natural—like the power had already become a part of me.

He hit the wall and steadied himself by driving his sword into the ground. Seeing him stagger made my heart soften a little.

“You’re weak.”

Weren’t the powers of a Demon Lord and a Hero supposed to be similar?

I hadn’t expected such a huge difference. I was only using long-range attacks—and not even my main skill. Yet Lian was already running out of strength. His eyes were losing their color, proof that his energy was fading.

“With that level of power, how do you expect to save humanity?”

“……”

“You can’t even kill me. What makes you think you can kill another Demon Lord?”

After all, you couldn’t stop the world’s destruction before. You just kept fighting until you died.

The reason I was pushing him so hard was simple:

If I won, I was going to offer him a new deal—I won’t kill the Saint, but you’ll stay by my side.

But the plan was progressing far too easily.

Why was there such a big gap in our strength?

Then I suddenly remembered what the system window had shown me:

Greed Demon Lord, Rahel
Lv. Max

Lian Serius
Lv. 60 (Max) / Breakthrough possible upon fulfilling certain conditions.

That’s it. Unlike me, who was already max level, Lian hadn’t broken through his limit yet.

And the condition he needed to fulfill was…

“Marry me.”

That’s right—affection level.

❖ ❖ ❖

Ever since I fell into this game world, I’d been trying to find a way to save Lian.

Making him quit being a Hero. Locking him away somewhere only I could see. All of it was selfish.

But once I realized that unless I removed the cause of his death, none of it would matter, I quickly changed my plan.

Instead, I would kill the Demon Lords myself and bring peace to the world.

“Marry me.”

It wasn’t exactly something you’d say to a Hero who had a sword pointed at you—but I meant it sincerely.

“Why would I do that?”

“Because I like you. You’re handsome.”

Let’s be honest—I can admit the truth.

I mean, seriously, what kind of Hero looks that good?

He was gripping his sword tightly, his breathing rough. Sweat rolled down his sharp jawline and dripped onto the floor.

At the same time, I felt my own throat dry up.

“I refuse.”

“Then become my bride instead.”

Lian’s face twisted in irritation.

Even that expression was handsome—so much that when my eyes lit up, he grimaced in disgust.

That face too was attractive enough to make me lick my lips. Ugh, I’m not a pervert, I swear.

“Stop playing these stupid games and just kill me already.”

“Stupid game?”

…Why would I kill you?

I hadn’t realized my heartfelt proposal would be taken as a joke. I put on a wounded expression, gazing at him like some tragic heroine.

“Did what I said really sound like a joke to you?”

“……”

…Not even that expression worked, huh.

He tightened his grip on his sword.

Ah, right. From up here on my throne, it would be hard to take any proposal seriously.

So for the first time since meeting him, I stepped down from my throne.

His fading crimson eyes watched me intently, as if he couldn’t afford to look away for even a second.

“You’ve already lost. No matter what you do, you can’t defeat me. If things continue like this, that human girl will just become Saloban’s little plaything.”

“Do you want me to beg for her life?”

“Exactly. And if you do, I’ll save her right away. Like I said before—I like you.”

His gaze wavered.

“Beg me, and I’ll spare her.”

The moment he opened his mouth to speak—

I reached out, tilted his chin up with my hand, and kissed him. His lips, even in this moment, were warm—softer than anything I’d ever felt before.

After letting my lips linger for a moment, I lightly bit him. When he flinched, I smiled against his mouth.

When I slowly pulled away, our eyes met. His jewel-like red irises trembled, reflecting only me.

“Still think I’m joking? Do I look like someone who wants to kill you right now?”

He didn’t answer. But from the way his gaze wavered, I could tell he finally understood how I felt.

“Even if more Heroes appear, the world you dream of will never come.”

He couldn’t even defeat me—how could he possibly bring peace? Unless another power moved, the world would remain just as it was.

“What I want is the same as what you want. I just don’t want any more blood to be spilled. But I can’t do it all alone.”

“You want to borrow my power?”

“No. Not borrow.”

I brushed my thumb lightly over his lips where ours had just met.

“I want to have you.”

“……”

“When you’re beside me, I feel stronger. With you, bringing peace wouldn’t be impossible.”

He no longer dismissed my words as a joke.

“So what will you do? Give yourself to me and save the human girl—or let her die and die with her?”

Still, he hesitated, unsure whether to take my hand.

…That’s fine. He could think about it. I just wouldn’t wait forever.

“I’m serious. From the beginning, you’ve been the only one I’ve ever wanted.”

Everyone faces a moment in life that can change everything. What matters is how they choose to use it.

The warmth of his skin under my fingertips spread to my chest. If I could protect that warmth, nothing that came after would scare me.

I’ll protect you.
But in return—stay where I can always see you.

Don’t go anywhere. Stay close enough for our eyes to meet, for me to reach out and touch you.

❖ ❖ ❖

At the border between the Kingdom of Altinus and the Empire of Thesalucis, there was a massive mountain range no human could enter.
Even in warm weather, it remained covered in snow—a mysterious land.

That was where the castle of Rahel, the Demon Lord of Greed, stood.
People called it the Nieves Mountains.

“This is…!”

Those who had been trapped inside the castle for some time were suddenly thrown outside the mountain range all at once.

“Is everyone okay?”

“The Hero is missing!”

“Oh no… he’s not still inside searching for us, is he?”

They checked their equipment and tried to head back toward the castle, but before long, a massive ice wall blocked their path.

A towering, transparent barrier of ice that reached toward the heavens, radiating the majesty of the mountain itself. The sight alone shattered their morale like brittle twigs.

“The Demon Lord was inside the castle all along…”

“But we were told it was empty!”

As panic spread, the Saint, Ecia, stepped forward.

“She spared us on purpose. Maybe she decided to forgive us once for falling for false information.”

With trembling eyes, Ecia placed her hand on the barrier.

Instead of melting it, the warmth of her palm was drained away—it was an overwhelming power.

“We can’t leave things like this. We must rescue the Hero.”

“But how? We can’t get through the barrier.”

They tried all sorts of spells and attacks, but not even a crack appeared. The magic and swords bounced off effortlessly. Finally, the Saint clasped her hands together.