Not long after Polon stormed out, Ellyad slowly opened his eyes. Upon waking up, he saw Thrett sitting by the bedside, nibbling on a half-eaten red apple.
“Did I just fall asleep?” Ell had no recollection of the events before his nap, only faintly remembering that Polon had come with an apple, but not understanding why he had suddenly dozed off.
“Yeah, you slept for a while,” Thrett casually replied, tossing the apple core into the trash on the small table, appearing relaxed as if nothing had happened.
“Oh, apples are tasty, aren’t they?” Ell, surprised to see Thrett, who rarely took the initiative to eat anything, willingly finish the half-eaten apple, teasingly asked.
“Not bad.” Thrett smiled, offering the remaining apples on the tray to Ellyad, who, after expressing his thanks, happily accepted them.
—
The National Hero week quickly entered the most anticipated day, the day of the Heroic Display. In the colossal circular arena, the spectator stands were filled with a boiling crowd. Not only humans but also a few contracted demon races, elves, and others were mingling in the crowd. Members of the royal family were concentrated in the specially designed observation platform in the middle-upper tier, providing an excellent view.
The handsome demon with red-purple long hair extended his neck, looking around on the stand. After confirming that he didn’t see the person he was looking for, he focused his attention on the arena.
“Are you looking for us with all that turning around, Ziyuan?” Suddenly, Thrett, cloaked in a cape, appeared on Ziyuan’s right, teasing.
Although Ziyuan hadn’t done anything wrong, he was startled by the unexpected voice.
“Hello.” Following that, Ell appeared on Ziyuan’s left, and Lena was next to him.
He really minded being discovered by these people. Although, looking at the martial arts competition, there was nothing to be ashamed of, he couldn’t help but feel more and more concerned. Thinking about how he became more attentive after that night when he talked to Polon, he felt ashamed of his contradictions when he wanted to come and see the performance of that arrogant little guy, the hero.
While Ziyuan disliked the arrogant and conceited little guy, he didn’t dislike the self-confident demeanor that exuded a kingly arrogance. Thrett deeply understood that Ziyuan originally disliked humans, but he could probably deduce what kind of humans attracted Ziyuan. Recognizing this, the Demon King deliberately showed a knowing and radiant smile to Ziyuan.
Although Thrett had no good feelings towards that little guy, considering that in the future he might become a handle for Ziyuan to be teased, he no longer cared so much.
“Tsk!” Ziyuan turned his head, ignoring the Demon King’s annoyingly radiant smile. Speaking of the Demon King in his family, although he never wanted to fulfill the duties of the Demon King properly, he was sensitive to everything and always able to see through things with just a few words.
The golden horn sounded from all four corners of the arena, signaling the beginning of the performance.
We’re sorry for MTLers or people who like using reading mode, but our translations keep getting stolen by aggregators so we’re going to bring back the copy protection. If you need to MTL please retype the gibberish parts.
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Polon stood alone in the arena, with no sign of an opponent playing the role of the Demon King or any contract demons. Therefore, he had to start the performance himself. He raised the red giant sword, showcasing various attack stances, announcing his readiness for battle.
Traditionally, performances involved two actors—one portraying the hero and the other the Demon King—enhanced by the magical effects of contract demons. The plot typically featured the hero battling the Demon King and emerging victorious.
‘It’s okay. I’ve come this far, standing before everyone. It’s okay,’ Polon reassured himself. He understood that this was entirely different from the hero performances he had watched since childhood. Normally, those portraying the Demon King and the hero, along with the contract demons responsible for the effects, would stand at the four corners of the arena and engage in a dazzling magical battle from opposite diagonals. The fight would progress towards the center of the arena, rather than leaving the hero alone in an awkward showcase.
No matter how much he tried to reassure himself, he couldn’t calm the trembling of his wrist. Just holding the giant sword made of red crystal was draining Polon’s strength, and beads of sweat covered his forehead.
As the audience began to feel puzzled, the golden horn sounded for the second time, long and heavy. Polon recognized it as the signal that his opponent was about to enter, and he tightened his grip on the crystal giant sword.
Suddenly, animal roars echoed from the eight gates of the arena. First, there were wolf howls, dragon roars, followed by indistinguishable beastly growls.
Everyone fell silent instantly as the eight gates of the arena slowly opened in sequence, and ferocious beasts rushed out, baring their fangs and claws!
Eight powerful and fierce giant beasts emerged from the gates, each exuding a violent predatory aura. These were the “Demon Kings” that the “Hero” would have to defeat this time.
“It’s magical beasts!” The first exclamation triggered a domino effect, and a wave of screams and fear spread throughout the circular viewing platform.
These magical beasts were more dangerous than ordinary animals, relying on their brutal instincts to hunt down other creatures. They not only attacked humans and regular animals but could even turn on their own kind. Moreover, conventional sword attacks were ineffective against them due to their tough outer skin and sharp spines. Some were highly aggressive, attacking anything that moved with a frenzy that normal people couldn’t withstand. The greatest danger lay in the fact that they harbored magic within them, capable of unleashing tornadoes or spewing out pillars of fire. Killing a magical beast typically required an entire bounty hunter team.
Now, not only Ziyuan but the entire audience, with over ten thousand pairs of eyes, looked in disbelief at the center of the arena where the hero prince was surrounded by eight magical beasts.
The young man, hailed as the hero, clad in royal attire, held a cumbersome forged sword, spread his pure white wings, and prepared to stand alone against the eight magical beasts. This was not a hero performance but a slaughter, a conspiracy by the royal family to sentence the cursed child to death.
“This is too much to ask.” Worried, Ellyad furrowed his brow, sensing that this had already surpassed the scope of a performance. Lena slowly closed her eyes, whispered an unheard prayer, and hid within the Hero Sword that had not yet been summoned.
“Bringing so many magical beasts at once, that kid must be highly regarded.” Thrett casually remarked, while Ziyuan unusually roared at the Demon King, “Do you have no eyes? This is obviously malicious slaughter! Even if the power of the hero is strong, it’s impossible for a kid like him…”
Realizing he had shouted at the Demon King impolitely, Ziyuan immediately lowered his volume, turned away in frustration, and gripped the railing of the platform tightly, his shoulders trembling with anger.
“Calm down. I knew you would understand human emotions better than me, being a half-demon.” Thrett deliberately spoke vaguely, and Ziyuan didn’t pay attention to Thrett’s words. He was solely focused on the movements in the arena.
Facing eight magical beasts, Polon remained unruffled. He first flapped his wings to soar into the sky and then used the ornate and expensive great sword to strike one of the magical beasts. The magical beast was unscathed. Seeing that the attack was ineffective, Polon, like a fledgling bird, circled around the giant creature and continued futile attacks.
Stimulated by Polon’s actions, the magical beast continually twisted its body, trying to bite him. The other magical beasts seemed unaware of Polon’s presence and engaged in their own battles.
Polon followed, flying over the entangled magical beasts, continuously delivering seemingly ineffectual attacks. The scene was as comical as it could get.
Finally, the red crystal broad-bladed sword wounded one of the magical beasts on its spine. Roaring in pain, the magical beast vigorously swung its tail like a meteor hammer. Unable to dodge, Polon was struck in mid-air, his wings taking a hit, and several snow-white feathers scattered.
Although losing the advantage of the sky, Polon, undeterred, shouted loudly and charged towards the group of magical beasts after landing. Proud of his destiny as a hero, even with only half of his power, he would fight with all his might, proving that he was not a cursed child. With this divine power, he aimed to protect the people of the country.
However, Ziyuan in the audience had a different perspective.
What kind of act was this? What a ridiculous farce!
What was the purpose behind such an absurd spectacle?
Who is that fool in the center of the arena, resembling a clown?
Who is the one who, that night, vowed to protect the country and daringly challenged the Demon King alone for the sake of the people?
Countless questions flooded Ziyuan’s thoughts and gaze. He could feel anger boiling within him.
As the cheers surrounded the clown in the arena, the members of the royal family, calmly seated in a corner of the stands, observed with disdain. The groups of contracted demons were solely focused on setting up defensive barriers for the royal family and the audience, implying that they would not intervene in the life or death of the prince below.
‘You scum, all of you disappear for me!’ In an instant, Ziyuan suddenly wanted to annihilate all the ugliness before him.
“People are true to their names,” a low, pleasant voice interrupted Ziyuan’s thoughts of slaughter. He turned his gaze, filled with restrained killing intent, back to the indifferent Demon King.
“What do you mean?” Suppressing his anger, Ziyuan’s tone was quite hoarse. He was well aware that the Demon King wouldn’t have any regrets for a mere life. It was precisely because of this that he felt so infuriated with the current Thrett. However, he failed to notice that, as a demon himself, he was an anomaly within his own kind.
“His actual name is Wei Yu. That should be a subtle reference to ‘pseudo feathers,'”
Pseudo feathers—imitation wings.
Ziyuan was left speechless on the spot, staring blankly at the Demon King who had revealed this. It turned out that Polon’s actual name had been a clear expression of the royal family’s contempt for this child from the very beginning.
After the youth rushed into the chaotic battle with the demonic beasts, his figure was no longer visible. Only the snow-white feathers continued to flutter out from the turbulent dust.
Ziyuan gritted his teeth anxiously. He couldn’t understand why, in such a situation, Polon hadn’t used the divine power on him that was sufficient to contend with the Demon King.
“Ah!” Amidst the tangle of demonic beasts, a human scream suddenly echoed, just one brief and mournful howl.
Ziyuan’s attention was immediately drawn, and he strained to lean forward. However, the distance was too great, making it impossible for him to see the situation inside. The audience also began to stir, and the sound of lament and mourning could be heard.
『Crack!』 Suddenly, a footstep sounded on Ziyuan’s left side. Ellyad stepped on the railing of the audience seats, his voice deep as he said, “I can’t stand this kind of farce any longer.”
After speaking, he pushed off with one foot, leaping in a parabolic arc. His gray scarf fluttered in the wind, and finally, with one hand supporting himself and both knees kneeling, Ell landed. After regaining balance, he also charged into the midst of the magical beasts.
A wave of anxious murmurs erupted from all the spectators in the arena, and the clamor irritated Thrett, who furrowed his brow in annoyance.
Once again, Ziyuan was stunned. If he guessed correctly, the human companion of the Demon King should also be an incomplete hero. However, he jumped into the midst of the eight magical beasts without hesitation. Could it be that he wanted to sacrifice himself?
“Your Majesty?” Ziyuan forgot to address him with the proper title and instead called out in a familiar way.
“He’s just that kind of personality, isn’t he? Impulsive with a straight line of justice in his heart,” Thrett explained with a smile. He liked Ellyad’s strong and impulsive nature, full of a sense of justice. Such a figure was like a brilliant light, irresistibly attracting the admiration of the Demon King, even though he usually maintained a cool and indifferent demeanor.
“How much does that human think he can help?”
Though I don’t like Polon very much, I still hope he ends up in a better place, because even he doesn’t deserve that type of treatment! 😭
Thank you for the chapter (,,•ω•,,)
I really like Polon as a character. He reminds me of Bonshen Uralis from To You the Immortal; seemingly a shallow stereotype at first but quickly differentiated as someone believable and interesting. I just wish the side ship didn’t sail. Idk. I hate when there are 4 main characters and they are all paired with each other. but this story is so good I’ll live with it