The Main Heroines are Trying to Kill Me

“…”

They’re all here.

All four main heroines, except for Kania who mentioned she had something to discuss with Frey, were seated in the inn’s common room.

This feels strange…

To Ruby, this situation was both familiar and awkward.

Just a few days ago they were trying to kill each other in a deadly feud.

But in the zeroth cycle, which was the starting point of everything, they were closer friends than anyone.

Such a unique relationship likely couldn’t be found anywhere else in the world.

“Hmm…”

Thinking about this, Ruby took a step forward but then paused, starting to ponder.

“What should I do…”

It was a small dilemma about how to approach the girls below.

I’d like to be friendly, but… from their perspective, it would be strange. They don’t know the truth.

She wanted to explain the truth, but the evidence was weak.

Even if she somehow convinced them, she worried about the unnecessary guilt these kind-hearted girls would carry.

Should I approach humbly…? But, I used to be the Demon King…

She also didn’t want to lower herself too much.

She had just successfully awakened her love for Frey.

Given her situation, she somewhat wanted to secure her position among those who had already borne Frey’s seed before her.

Moreover, demons had a winner-takes-all belief when it came to mating.

Although she had become a girl, her identity as a demon was still strong, and she retained a certain amount of possessiveness over Frey, her mate, even if not to the extent of monopolizing him.

Still, first, I need to get close to them again.

Suppressing her demonic instincts, Ruby reached this conclusion.

Having repeated countless regressions during the Fourth Ordeal, she was adept at opening their hearts.

Even if they couldn’t remember her, she could improve their relationships.

“H-hey. How are you all?”

With a cheerful smile on her face, Ruby waved and descended to the lower floor.

“Y-You’ve heard from Frey, right? Frey and I have fallen in love. So we’ve decided to stop the fighting.”

Standing before them with arms wide open, Ruby looked around at the four girls and continued.

“A love between a hero and a demon king, isn’t it so romantic?”

“Anyway, because of that… I will now be with Frey. As his lover.”

With a rather provocative expression, Ruby taunted the heroines and then quietly covered her mouth with one hand.

“So, please take care of me from today?”

As she finished speaking, a deep silence settled around them.

“W-What?”

Ruby began to look bewildered by their reaction.

It was so different from what she had expected.

According to her predictions, they should be glaring at her with killing intent by now.

Yet, they all looked down with gloomy expressions, their heads bowed.

…Is this an initiation?

She suddenly thought.

Maybe there was a difference between Ordeal and reality.

“Hmm, Irina. Nice to meet you.”

Adjusting her clothes and her thoughts, Ruby approached Irina.

“…Hello.”

“Hmm? You alone still haven’t even started awakening?”

“…”

“And you’re still using mana instead of controlling it? Tsk tsk. Doing things below your station.”

Ruby said, glancing at Irina slyly.

“Hoho, if you want, I can help you awaken.”

In the past or during the Ordeals, Irina’s ‘true nature’ was the easiest and simplest way to get close to her.

In the zeroth cycle, Irina knew her true nature, but in the altered world that followed, she didn’t.

The moment Irina realized her true nature, she would become as powerful as the Demon King herself.

So, although her true nature was downgraded to a ‘MacGuffin’ ¹ or ‘background character,’ if Ruby revealed it directly, the story would change.

“But you have to promise to be friendly with me from now on…”

“No need…”

Smiling, Ruby tried to speak, but Irina mumbled absent-mindedly, making Ruby blink in confusion.

“No matter how strong I get… I can’t turn back time…”

“Hmm, that’s true.”

“And… I can’t fix a soul.”

“…”

Ruby, hearing those words, smiled wryly and thought to herself.

Nothing I say will get through to her right now.

Frey had said that it was possible to revive him after everything was over with a wish.

Yet, this kid seemed to be unaware of that.

“Hmph, suit yourself.”

Ruby stepped back with a mildly annoyed expression and thought quietly to herself.

I should introduce myself to the others soon.

Getting closer was more challenging than during the Ordeals, but if she kept trying, eventually, Irina would open her heart.

That was the Irina she knew.

“Clana. The third princess of the empire.”

“…”

“A

Moving sideways, Ruby was soon lost in thought.

I wasn’t that close to Clana…

Ruby had surprisingly little interaction with her.

Their common ground as rulers only led to discussions about politics or diplomatic exchanges between demons and humans.

“Aha!”

After racking her brain for memories, Ruby finally clapped her hands and smiled.

“Princess. I have good news for y–”

“H-hiicc…”

“Hmm?”

- Flutter!

Just as Ruby started to speak with a beaming expression, Clana immediately transformed into a small canary and hid in a corner.

“That habit is still the same.”

Clana would often transform into a canary and hide.

As a ruler, it was an undignified act, but Ruby understood Clana’s behavior.

Both she and Clana had not received enough love from their parents. It was natural for Clana to show such defensive behavior.

But the good news is related to her parents.

Ruby decided to refrain from sharing the news right now to avoid causing a stir.

“Well then… who do we have here?”

Turning her head again, Ruby approached Ferloche with a relaxed expression.

“Isn’t that my master?”

Ruby said, breaking into a wide grin.

She and Ferloche knew each other well.

For some reason, Ferloche had memories of Retry and had even become her master in the zeroth cycle.

So, there was no need to try and become close again…

“Retry… Retry…”

“…?”

Approaching her, Ruby noticed something was wrong with Ferloche.

“Why, why… isn’t Retry working? This is strange. I don’t understand…”

What’s wrong with her now?

“Ah, ah…”

“Master…”

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry… I didn’t know my place…”

Upon seeing Ruby, Ferloche started to panic and kept apologizing.

“Is this the fool personality?”

It seemed like this wasn’t her original personality but rather the fool personality. If that was the case, it was futile. The fool personality wouldn’t understand her. Ṟ�

She would have to try talking to her again later.

“Finally, we meet in reality again…”

With that thought, Ruby turned her gaze, moving with a gentle smile.

“…”

Right in front of her was her dearest friend.

Will she remember me? Can we become close again? Just like old times, it would be nice to bicker over Frey again.

“Ugh.”

But those thoughts vanished in an instant at the low but distinct sound of retching.

“Blech, ugh…”

Serena, who had been staring blankly at the floor with a lifeless expression, suddenly started retching.

“…”

It was morning sickness.

- Step, step…

Ruby, who had been staring at her in a daze, slowly approached.

- Swish…

“…!”

Ruby reached out her hand towards Serena’s belly.

“W-wait…”

Serena, startled, tried to reach out but then stopped.

Amazing…

Ruby, with a dazed expression, gently caressed Serena’s belly.

Will I have something like this in my belly too?

Ruby touched and prodded Serena’s belly as if handling a fragile porcelain.

“By the way, did you know? Demonic childbirth is twice as fast as human childbirth.”

Lifting her head slightly, Ruby declared with a tearful smile.

“Sorry, but I’ll be taking the position of Duchess Starlight.”

“The one who gives birth first wins, right?”

The girls couldn’t bring themselves to tell Ruby the truth that Frey would die in a week, and they hung their heads low.

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Meanwhile, at that moment.

“That… that happened…”

Frey muttered in a trembling voice.

“Yes, that’s correct. I was cursed with the Curse of Unity by the Demon God back then.”

Kania, bowing her head in front of Frey, added.

“I apologize for deceiving you all this time.”

“So… all my suffering… you’ve been experiencing it all this time?”

“I didn’t want to tell you because I feared this reaction…”

As Frey began to panic, Kania sighed and spoke.

“However, in order to say what I’m about to say, I also need to have nothing to hide.”

“What…”

“Please, Young Master, I beg you.”

Kania took Frey’s hands and began to speak.

“Please stop trying to bear everything alone and take on all the burdens yourself.”

“…”

“You’ve seen countless times what happens to those left behind when you’re gone. So please, stop doing that.”

“But…”

As Frey hesitated, Kania spoke firmly.

“Serena is pregnant.”

“What…?”

“She’s experiencing morning sickness. She’s four weeks pregnant. To put it simply, Young Master, you’re now a father.”

Frey’s expression slowly started to crack upon hearing those words.

“If you sacrifice yourself alone now, it will be a selfish choice. Do you understand?”

“…I’m

Kania, gritting her teeth, spoke to Frey, who eventually lowered his head and responded.

“But to ‘save’ Ruby, I couldn’t think of any other way. That was the quest I received in the first place.”

“I’m not criticizing your choice itself. I’m talking about your mindset after that.”

“…”

“Tell me the truth with your own mouth.”

With his head still bowed, Frey began to speak.

“Because of my choice, my soul is shattered.”

“And?”

“Because of the people affected by the Ordeal… when the system is fixed in a week, I’ll be penalized and cease to exist.”

“And?”

“And… I want to live.”

At this point, Frey began to speak to Kania as if pouring his heart out.

“I want to make Ruby happy. I want to see the fruit of my love with Serena. I want to spend more time with everyone else…”

“…”

“I want to see you in a dress. I want to see Clana’s coronation, Irina’s true identity, and Ferloche’s true self. I want to live a peaceful life with those I love.”

“So, what do you want me to do?”

“…Help me, Kania.”

“Well done.”

Kania embraced Frey, patting his back.

“That’s what a request is, Young Master.”

“…”

“You seemed not to know, so I have to tell you explicitly.”

Frey, who had been smiling bitterly, now muttered with a tearful expression.

“But… does it even matter?”

“…”

“My soul is already shattered…”

“Don’t give up. There is still hope.”

Kania then stood up and spoke.

“Don’t lose the light until the very last moment of the last day. That’s what the Mastermind wants.”

“…Okay.”

“I’ll find a way. I’ll do whatever it takes, so don’t lose hope.”

With those final words, Kania began to leave the room slowly.

“Thank you for today, Kania.”

“…For what”

Frey, seeing Kania off to the door, expressed his gratitude with a gentle expression.

“Ugh.”

“…”

But at that moment, Frey’s eyes began to turn red.

“Grr…”

It was the demonification.

“G-goodbye, Kania.”

“Young Mast-“

- Bang!!

As his left arm and leg grotesquely transformed, Frey, sweating profusely, slammed the door shut.

- Slide…

Moments later, separated by the closed door, both Frey and Kania leaned against it and slid down to the floor.

“Huff, huff…”

Frey, for the first time realizing his desire to live after hearing Kania’s words, began to tremble in fear.

“Sob, sob… uuuu…”

Kania, desperately holding back the tears that she had been suppressing, let out choking sobs.

A stark contrast from their earlier atmosphere now existed on opposite sides of the wall.

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Meanwhile, in the bushes near the harbor inn.

- I don’t want to die… I want to live.

- Why, why… isn’t the divinity working… I already gathered so much… Why…

The Hero Party, somehow eavesdropping on their conversation without being detected, overheard their conversation.

“Is this… all true?”

“Are all the memories… real?”

They were in a panic, chattering noisily.

Alice and Eurelia had completely dead eyes.

“…Strength? Why?”

Aishi muttered to herself with unfocused eyes.

- Just in case, we should visit the mansion…

“B-Brother? It’s a lie. It has to be a lie, right?”

And finally, except for Aria, who was trembling while still clutching the eavesdropping magical device, the rest were silent.

- Ah, I guess it’s no use.

- Thud…!

When Aria dropped the eavesdropping magical device powerlessly, complete silence settled around them.

- Beep, beep… Beep beep…

At the moment the Hero Party learned the truth about the Hero, Frey’s remaining days were shortened to six.

1. MacGuffin is an object, device, or event that is necessary to the plot and the motivation of the characters, but insignificant, unimportant, or irrelevant in itself.