This chapter is the end of volume 1. If you like the story leave some comments. Even a thanks for the chapter would be great if you liked it.

Chapter 18: Decisions, decisions…

“I ask you Hitoshi whose side will you take?”

The Demon’s King question caused Hitoshi to furrow his brows in deep thought, his heart was thrown in turmoil.

He was someone who was transferred in this world without his own will. He didn’t know anything of this world when he was transferred here. The real demon’s general memories of this world were gone as soon as he occupied his body. About the feud among the races he didn’t know either. He didn’t take the time to learn anything, how foolish of him. But now, he was pressed to make a decision…

He learned after talking to Sachiko that the way the demonic race was treated in this world was how he was treated in his previous life. They were treated like scary existences, like monsters, like him. The humans and elves couldn’t see past their appearance that was different from their own and denied their existence.

But in the demonic race he…he had found acceptance. Despite how scary his face was looking, he had respect and people that cared for him. He had found people that considered him a friend and were willing to risk their lives for him.

Nico, Niki and ….even Harry (he could be considered like the little brother that everyone wished they never had), they were like a family to him. From them he felt the warmth and love that he only did when his parents were alive. They were willing to follow him here no matter the danger and the consequences.

They belonged to the demonic race that’s for sure and yet they were more human than the humans in his previous life ever were. No matter the decision he took they had already made it clear to him that they would follow him no matter what.

So, could he decide to take the humans’ side, slay the demon king who just wanted peace thus condemning the only people that cared for him in a life of being looked as traitors and hunted down by their own race?

For what? For his foolish one-sided crush with Sachiko, a human priestess that looked down on demons?

Shaking his head he mentally said to himself:

“No way in hell!”

But…he was human in his previous life and in the end he was still human in soul. No one knew about that except her. Ah her! Could he raise his hand and harm her according to the King’s orders?

Taking his side meant that he would have to follow his King’s orders and that he would have to kill the heroes that threatened his life. He would have to turn his back to what he once was, to humanity. That also included her. She clearly rejected him, calling him crazy, saying there was no chance that anything could happen between them.

He loathed her reasoning, but so what? That’s what she was taught since birth after all. Would killing her and all her companions change anything?

The answer was clearly no. Killing them wouldn’t solve anything. It wouldn’t make Asmodeus’s wish for peace between the races be fulfilled, only his current anger would be satisfied.

On the contrary, it would just make things worse. The heroes’ party consisted of people with noble background, as Harry had informed him. Would the human kingdom stay calm after news of the death of the most prominent in their young generation came?

No, it would only bring grief to their parents, then their wrath would unleash, a new war would break and people from both sides would lose their lives and the ones remaining would suffer.

How would that be any good?

He understood the Demon King’s anger. He truly did. He himself might also act that way and wish for his enemies’ death if he were in his shoes. But now that was not the right way to act.

Asmodeus, himself….the demonic race had a way to prove to the rest of races that they were not what they thought of them to be and this had to be…

Asmodeus seeing Hitoshi’s eyes light up seemed to realize that his General finally reached a decision. What that might be though, he himself didn’t have the slightest idea. Yet one thing was for sure, if Hitoshi decided to side with the humans and betray him, even if it was the last thing he would ever do, he would make sure he paid for it.

“So what is your answer Hitoshi?”

“Right or wrong King only fate will prove it. I will not kill the humans that attacked you…” he said before being interrupted by an angry Asmodeus.

“Then you dare take their side?” the Demon King yelled.

“I am not done speaking!” Hitoshi roared with a voice that left no room for objections and quickly continued

“But I will fulfil your wish for peace. I also wish for peace. The day when humans and demons can walk side by side is also my dream.” (This sentence said while looking at Sachiko who upon meeting his gaze turned her face in awkwardness. After his confession, she…. )

“If the human King doesn’t come to meet you King, then we will go to meet him and see what he has to say! Why does he keep sending heroes to kill you when you offered peace?”

“Maybe he thought the whole peace treaty meeting here was a trap laid by you? Maybe for reasons unknown to us he didn’t ever receive the message you sent? Either way, even if it is the last thing I do for you King, I will accompany you to the Human Kingdom so you can finally have the answer you seeked for. If it’s war or peace let’s hear it from his own lips and then let’s act.”

“So, let’s head with the heroes back to the human kingdom, King!”

“Are you out of your mind?”

Eric from the heroes party and the King shouted at the same time.

“You think we would lead you two to our King so you could kill him?” Eric yelled.

“Do you think we could come and go to the Human Kingdom as we please? The humans will kill us on sight!” the king yelled.

“Don’t worry King that’s what these guys are needed for after all. Being with them we will have a free pass to anywhere we want to go. Getting into the palace will be no problem.”

“Ha, you think that we would actually accept to guide you there? Peace my ass! You guys only intend to kill our King. Like hell will we guide you there!” Eric declared.

The rest of the heroes also agreed with Eric’s reasoning. They were not entirely convinced that the Demon King wanted peace and that he and the General wouldn’t take advantage of their entry in the palace to kill the human King.

After all, the idea of all demon’s being evil, cunning and deceitful beings was nurtured into them since birth. How could they accept so easily that the demons seeked peace with them?

“Oh, I don’t think you understand the situation well heroes. It’s either you do it or you’re done.” Hitoshi said with a smirk on his face.

“But you said you wouldn’t kill us” bitched Marion.

“I don’t remember ever giving this promise to you. My talk was only with the Demon King. Sure I said that I wouldn’t kill you while talking to him but you should also be aware that sometimes even death is better than being alive.”

“What…what do you mean?” asked Eric, even though he was aware that the answer would not be something anyone of them would like to hear.

“Since you were so kind to ask, I will tell you great Hero!” Hitoshi replied with a smile on his face making him look sinister.

“Cutting your “mighty sword” wouldn’t make you lose your life and from what my friend here told me it wouldn’t even be considered as a great loss since it appears to be small and breaks easily? Hmm, but I guess that for you it doesn’t mean that you wouldn’t be miss it dearly.”

Eric’s face changed a million colours from white to red, from red to purple….

Realization came when he understood the meaning behind the words friend as Hitoshi looked at his chubby eyeglassed subordinate.

“You …(finger pointing at Harry) you… Heidi?”

“Yes, daddy?” Harry replied with a fake childish feminine voice.

The Demon King just stood there confused. What was happening? Unable to hold his curiosity he asked

“What’s going on General? Who’s Heidi?”

“Now, now King… don’t be hasty we have the whole trip to discuss this. Let’s start packing. We have a long way ahead of us.”