Demon King of Phantom Thief – a Betrayed Thief Stole the Stats and Skills of the Hero Party Then Reigned Over the World

The town of Caleb was boiling down to the joy of victory.

The cups of ale bump into each other surrounding the bonfire and fly the bubbles.

Soldiers and townspeople all interact, and military songs echo the town.

The Tristram Royal Army, said to be a weak soldier, wiped out the mighty Astran Imperial Army, which would be 10 times more powerful.

This, of course, could not have been done without the power of the Demon King's Army.

But the demon king's army was camping a little far from the town, by the Black Mountains of Nbourne.

By Keith's reckoning, not to frighten the people of the town.

In the tent of each race they share the joy of victory.

After all, the gulf between humans and sub-races (demi-humans) is still deep.

Even subraces such as elves and dwarves (demi-humans) are endless.

Ginroe and Aleira taste their own liquor as they circle from tent to tent.

Meanwhile, Keith and Deanna were alone, inside the fort of Nbourne.

He sat in a chair by the window and watched the sunset sinking across the woods.

A cup on the table is a little brandy drizzled tea.

"Deanna"

Keith said.

Not a voice immersed in the joy of victory.

"Yes, Demon King"

"Ahead... do you think the day will come when demons, people, and humans will drink the same booze?

"That is something I do not understand. However, if there is one thing I can say…"

Deanna said.

"War belongs to humans. Even our fellow countrymen are the ones who can't surround the same table. I thought the road was far away."

The bustling voices of the demon kings echo all the way to the fort.

But Keith couldn't help but feel a grudge in his voice.

"Sooner or later, I know this war must have happened. Instead, I wonder if the demon king's army was moved to minimize the damage."

"I am the Demon King. Whatever it is, I am now king of demons..."

"You're right. The Demon King is the king of kings, the devil, the disciple, and eventually the whole continent."

………………

Keith thought.

(You shouldn't be human forever... More ruthlessly... all I'm asking is to abandon humans... From the bottom of my heart, to be stained with darkness......)

Again, the words of the previous Demon King rise to the back of Keith's brain.

"I can't run away from the demon king. Not to mention the Demon King himself... who can escape... should... '

"... in those words, they didn't make a mistake. I can never escape being a demon king."

Keith shrugged and drank a cup of tea.

Watching the sunset and seeing Keith in awe of things, Deanna thinks.

I want to comfort Keith, who feels responsible for this war, somehow.

Besides, this situation of two people in a fortress - clearly, it's never a bad one.

In consoling Keith, it's never surprising that that or this happened.

I'm sure the Demon King will be delighted...

"Oh, there's a king-size bed in the back. I know if it's a good idea to just lay there for a little while. If I could, I'd like to offer it to you too..."

"Excuse me. I'd like to report something."

Ginroe's voice.

Deanna secretly tongues.

"Get in."

"A demon king has revealed himself wishing to see you through. I'm a cleric named Marie."

………………

Keith's chest stings.

Keith said with shaky thoughts that his heart was about to be pushed back.

"Don't let him in the fort. The wounded should still be there. Tell him to do what he has to do as a cleric."

"I'm in awe"

Ginroe stepped down Nbone's tail and passed on Keith's words to Marie.

"I've run out of magic already. There's nothing more you can do in a field hospital..."

"But you've reached it. It's not easy to get into a fort."

So Ginroe went back to the fort.

………………

Marie didn't go back to town and stood up by the tail of Nbourne all the time.

Eventually the sun sets.

The lights of the camp lit Marie's white robe.

………………

Keith was looking down from inside the fort.

I tell Deanna to go to bed first.

Ginroe was alone in the separate room, drinking.

Marie always protested when Keith was treated unfairly at a brave party.

Marie gave me this cloak when I was piling up drop items.

Marie heeled me when I was about to be killed by the braves.

Marie is the deepest person in her chest that Keith is about to abandon.

(What can I do for you...)

Keith hit the window.

A cold stone wall cooled my confused, hot head.

Marie is not leaving yet.

It's night and it's totally chilling.

Finally, it started to rain down to a light rain.

- Marie, she's not leaving yet.

Little white shadows don't move in cold rain.

"Ginroe......"

Keith finally lost his roots.

"Get Marie inside."

"I'm in awe"

A moment later, Marie came inside the fort, accompanied by Ginroe.

The white robe is completely wet.

"Ginroe, take your seats off."

"I'm in awe"

Ginroe returns to the other room.

In a stone room, two, left behind.

(I abandoned a human being... I am the Thief Demon King...)

Keith turned a cold glance at Marie.

"I am the king of demons that bind the devil's brakes. Of course I guess I'm getting ready."

My chest hurts jiggly.

But Keith is willing to stain the Demon King from the bottom of his heart.

Otherwise, I believed I could no longer keep myself.

"... of course. Mr. Keith is a demon king, isn't he? I don't care what they do."

"So what brings you here for?"

"I wanted to thank the Thief Demon King."

After Keith's cold gaze, Marie laughed lonely.

So I bowed my head deeply.

"Thank you for saving the town"

………………

My chest hurts.

It's a very unbearable pain.

(No, that's because there are still humans in me... throw that away!

Keith tells himself.

"Face up."

Keith manages to squeeze out a cold voice.

A slight tremor hadn't passed on to Marie or that was the anxiety.

"I received your words of gratitude. Then we must leave early."

"I still have someone to thank"

With Marie any more, the Thief Demon King is about to collapse.

Keith, however, desperately endured it.

"... the Four Kings or our people"

"I have to thank them too...... but"

Marie looked Keith straight in the eye.

Black-eyed eyes were glowing beautifully reflecting the flames of the pine lights.

"What I really want to thank you for is... we traveled together, Mr. Keith..."

I see a “human” still clinging to me...

Keith felt herself about to collapse.

………………

Keith accidentally drops his gaze.

But Marie stares gently into her eyes.

"You suddenly become the Demon King, and a lot of responsibility hangs on you... so you have to be the Demon King from the bottom of your heart, Mr. Keith..."

Everything was spotted.

"If you think so, why are you trying to speak to me when I was human!?

No more.

Don't disturb my heart any more.

I am the Demon King.

I'm not human anymore.

If I were human - I'd be broken.

"Let me... be the Demon King..."

"Mr. Keith is the Demon King."

Marie stepped forward and put her hand on Keith's chest.

"Mr. Keith is the Demon King. Among its demon kings, there is the human Keith. You don't have to be one of them. Everyone admires Keith as he is..."

Marie accepted the human Keith, who was desperately, desperately trying to abandon him.

My chest hurt, but it's warm now.

The back of my eyes is getting hot.

A man who could not be abandoned moved Keith.

………………

Keith hugged Marie.

I didn't want to be seen crying.

"Marie... I can't abandon humans..."

"You don't have to throw it away."

Marie stroked Keith's head softly.

"That's Mr. Keith... Keith, please stay with Mr. Keith"

They held each other still until Keith's tears ran out.

Rain in the crosswind wet the window.