I Failed to Be a Hero, So I Became the God of Three Realms

The air crackled with tension. The skies over Eldoria's borders darkened, though not from clouds, but from swirling magic and the haze of preparation. The human forces stood ready, steel glinting in the dawn light, faces set with grim determination. Commander George surveyed the front lines, his eyes resolute. Today was the day they had prepared for—the day war would descend upon them like a storm.

But no amount of preparation could have braced them for what was about to unfold.

Suddenly, with a tremor that seemed to shake the fabric of reality itself, dark Corridors tore open near the borders. Out of these swirling voids emerged the Demonic Troops, disciplined and unwavering. The first to surge forward were the Kobold Army—beasts with lupine features and sharp claws, their eyes gleaming with predatory focus.

The Earth Mages stepped up, their chants resonating through the soil, causing the ground to rise in jagged formations. Stone walls erupted, blocking the Kobold charge. Bolts of rock shot forward, hammering into the advancing demons. For a moment, hope flickered. The front lines held firm.

But then came the second wave.

With a guttural roar, the Ogre Army emerged, their hulking forms blotting out the light. Their sheer numbers were staggering. Massive clubs smashed into the earthen defenses, shattering them like glass. The Earth Mages fought valiantly, but the tide was relentless. One by one, they fell back, the first line of defense collapsing.

The second line readied themselves—a mix of Water and Wind Mages. Cool determination replaced fear as spells surged through the air. Blades of wind and torrents of water crashed into the Ogre ranks. Nearby, Usagi and Hanae tended to the wounded, their hands glowing with healing light. Usagi occasionally broke away to hurl rocks and earth spikes at encroaching demons.

The Ogres faltered. Victory seemed possible.

Then the third wave arrived.

Hobgoblins, their twisted forms moving with unsettling grace, stormed the battlefield. These weren't the feeble goblins of folklore; their muscles bulged with brute strength, and they wielded weapons with deadly precision. Worse, they cast spells—bolts of fire and streams of darkness slicing through the air.

At their helm, a Hobgoblin Commander barked orders, his guttural voice resonating with uncanny power. Each word seemed to infuse his troops with renewed ferocity.

Reiji, clutching his grimoire, shouted urgently, "It's the Motivation Skill! An upgraded version of Bravery. I read it can evolve into Valor!"

The Hobgoblins surged forward, their strikes growing more lethal with every shout from their commander. The Water and Wind Mages struggled to hold the line, their energy draining fast.

Then, the third layer of human forces advanced. The Fire Mages, with Riko at the forefront, roared into battle. Flames surged, incinerating Hobgoblins in waves. Riko's fists crackled with energy as she punched through enemy ranks, each blow a miniature explosion. Usagi joined the fray, balancing between healing and flinging chunks of molten earth.

The Hobgoblin ranks broke under the fiery onslaught.

But before victory could be celebrated, he arrived.

Demon Commander Veldora, his armor shimmering like obsidian, strode onto the battlefield. His presence alone seemed to weigh down the air. His crimson eyes locked onto George, and with a nod, the duel began.

Their confrontation was a spectacle of devastation. Swords clashed, arcs of energy erupted, and the very ground cracked beneath their feet. George fought with every ounce of skill he possessed, but Veldora's strength was monstrous. With a final blow, George crumpled to the ground, defeated but alive.

Tatsuya and Reiji leaped in next. Tatsuya's sword blazed with fire and wind, while Reiji hurled bolts of dark and lightning magic. They pushed Veldora to his limits, their attacks a relentless barrage.

But even their combined efforts weren't enough. They fell back, panting, as Veldora's figure loomed over them. Just when defeat seemed certain, Veldora's eyes narrowed—and he retreated.

The demons withdrew, vanishing into the dark Corridors from which they came.

Silence fell over the battlefield, broken only by the moans of the injured. Hanae and Usagi moved swiftly, healing soldiers, their hands shaking with exhaustion. They entered the heart of the chaos, fearless, stitching together torn flesh and easing shattered bones.

As the dust settled, the realization sank in:

Not a single human life had been lost.

Their bodies were battered, broken—but none were dead.

Equally strange, there wasn't a single demon corpse to be found. The demons had fought fiercely, yet refrained from killing.

It was a war without death, a clash without reason.

No one could explain it. No one understood.

The soldiers stared across the ruined battlefield, a single question etched in their eyes:

"What just happened?"

The war was over.

The echoes of the battlefield had long since faded, and now it was time for the debriefing. Inside the grand Umbrosian Palace, Veldora stood before Luca and Nyx, awaiting their questions. The Demon Commander, usually so composed, couldn't help but feel a slight tension as the two Umbrosians looked at him, their expressions unreadable.

Luca was the first to speak, his voice calm but sharp, as always. "How many casualties have resulted due to this war?"

Veldora didn't hesitate for a moment. "Zero."

The answer came so naturally, so easily, that Luca and Nyx both gave him a knowing look. It was as if they expected nothing less.

"Zero," Nyx repeated, her voice almost amused. "Good. That's what we like to hear." Her eyes sparkled with an emotion that was entirely out of place for a conversation about war.

Luca grinned, his usual cold demeanor cracking just a bit. "It seems like we did our part without causing any real harm. Nice work, Veldora."

Veldora bowed slightly, though the praise didn't quite register the way it should. There was something strangely detached in their tone, something almost... jovial. It was as if they'd orchestrated this entire conflict with the goal of achieving a very specific outcome, and the fact that no lives were lost only made it all the more successful.

They'd planned it. Of course, they had. The war, the battles, the bloodshed—it was all a means to an end. And now that the goal was achieved, they could finally relax.

Luca leaned back in his chair, clearly satisfied. "So, when are we leaving, for the vacation?" he asked, his voice light and carefree, as though there hadn't just been a bloody war between two realms.

Veldora blinked, clearly taken aback by the sudden shift in conversation. He had just witnessed the destruction of part of the Human Kingdom, the injuries, the chaos—and Luca, the Great General of the Demons, was talking about vacations?

Nyx, however, didn't miss a beat. "Bro, the war just finished. At least wait for things to cool up. And even though we are free, they've got a lot of distress and other stuff to deal with. His Empire is an ally of the Kingdom, after all. We can at least wait for him to join." She rolled her eyes, her voice dripping with the kind of playful sarcasm that only a sister could get away with.

Veldora couldn't help but chuckle, though it was a bit out of place considering the context. "It's like the war was just a minor inconvenience for you two," he muttered under his breath, but the statement was lost on them. They were already planning their next steps, their next vacation, as if nothing had happened.

And perhaps, to them, nothing really had.

The Valtherian Empire was bustling, as always, but in the heart of the Royal Palace, Emperor Marc was far from his usual composed self. Instead of sitting at his grand desk or conducting affairs of state, he was pacing back and forth in his chambers, looking absolutely miserable.

"I'm telling you, Prime Minister," Marc whined, throwing his hands up in the air, "I need a vacation! Now! It's been over five years since I've had a proper break! I'm practically about to combust from all this responsibility!"

The Prime Minister, an older man with silver hair and a no-nonsense expression, stood across the room, arms folded across his chest. His posture was stiff, his gaze unyielding. "Your Majesty, with all due respect, the Kingdom, and our allies, require support in the wake of the war. The Empire cannot afford to be without its Emperor, not now. Not after what just happened."

Marc stopped pacing and turned to face him, putting on his best dramatic pout. "You're killing me here. You know, if you didn't interrupt my vacation plans every time, I would be way more effective as an Emperor. I promise! You'd be surprised what a little relaxation can do for a man!"

The Prime Minister raised an eyebrow. "I highly doubt that, Your Majesty. If anything, your vacation could wait. The war is over, yes, but the dust has barely settled. We need you to oversee diplomatic negotiations, offer support to the Kingdom of Eldoria, and ensure the peace remains intact."

Marc groaned loudly and slouched against his desk. "But why now? It's the perfect time to take a break. They've got all the people they need. I'm sure the rest of the empire can manage without me for a month at least. Please, just a month!"

The Prime Minister didn't budge. "A month, Your Majesty? I'm afraid that's out of the question. At the very least, you need to remain here to solidify the peace and handle our relations with the Kingdom. A month would stretch things too far."

Marc crossed his arms and leaned back dramatically. "So, what, I'm supposed to cancel my vacation plans? Again? For the sixth time? This is getting ridiculous!"

With a sigh, the Prime Minister finally relented, though only slightly. "Fine. One month. But that is it, Your Majesty. After that, your vacation can be considered." He shot Marc a stern look. "You'll stay, help with the Empire's duties, and then—then—you may take your vacation."

Marc stood up straighter and threw his hands into the air, a grin creeping across his face. "A month! That's all I need! A whole month of peace! I'll even do extra work to make up for it. Who's going to stop me, huh?"

The Prime Minister gave him a pointed look, the weight of the Empire resting on his shoulders. "It's not about stopping you, Your Majesty. It's about doing what's best for the Empire... and right now, that means staying right here."

Marc groaned, but then his grin widened. "Alright, alright, you win. But you owe me a big favor for this one."

"Of course, Your Majesty," the Prime Minister replied, though there was no humor in his voice. "Now, let's see to the Empire's matters, shall we?"

And with that, Marc reluctantly agreed to stay in the Empire for a bit longer—at least until the peace was a bit more stable. But the moment that month was up? He'd be gone, and no one could stop him.

The Kingdom had barely begun to recover from the war, and yet, the heroes were already off on their next mission. After the bloodshed, it was time to focus on adventuring once more, but this time with a more covert purpose. The heroes had spent much of their time defending the Kingdom, but now, they were going to shift gears. They had a new task ahead of them—spying.

The Kingdom had plenty of jobs that needed to be done, ranging from delivering supplies to defending villages on the outskirts. The heroes figured they could use these small, inconspicuous tasks to fund their mission while doing some good in the process. By working jobs for the Kingdom, they could donate the funds to the people, to the Kingdom, or even directly to the army. It was an easy way to help out, but the real goal lay in the shadows of their next endeavor.

With the Demons still lurking as a potential threat, the heroes knew they couldn't let their guard down just yet. They needed to keep an eye on the Demons' movements, and that meant keeping close tabs on their most powerful figures: Demon Empress Nyx and Demon General Luca.

The heroes' plan was simple—undercover surveillance. It wouldn't be easy, given the power and influence the Demons held, but the heroes knew they had to at least try. They had to gather as much information as possible, especially after the war, to ensure there were no further surprises on the horizon.

For weeks, they quietly observed the Demon Empress and General. They kept their distance, moving like shadows, blending in with their surroundings, and quietly taking note of the Demons' activities. It wasn't long before something strange started to catch their attention.

It was subtle at first, almost too subtle to notice. Nyx and Luca were making odd preparations. It wasn't military gear. It wasn't weapons or training. It wasn't anything that could be called "war-related." But there was something about it—something... off.

They'd seen the Demon Empress and General talking together in hushed tones, their expressions serious yet oddly carefree. Nyx would hand Luca a strange piece of paper, and they'd both nod like they had agreed on something important. Luca would smile more than usual—a lot more than usual—and it didn't look like the typical, intimidating smile of a general.

Then came the strange equipment—a bunch of oddly packed bags and what looked like luggage. A few servants were running around in preparation, but it wasn't for a war, that was for sure.

The heroes were confused at first. What could this mean? Could they be preparing for another invasion? Were they gearing up for something more sinister?

But no… the more they observed, the more it seemed like Nyx and Luca were preparing for something completely unexpected.

"Are they… planning a vacation?" Riko whispered, unable to hold back her disbelief.

The heroes exchanged looks, uncertain. They couldn't quite put their finger on it, but the more they watched, the more it seemed like that was the case. Nyx and Luca were casually organizing what appeared to be a vacation.

A vacation? After the war? Could it really be?

It seemed ridiculous. Why would the Demon Empress and General take time off? And to where? What was going on behind the scenes? But the heroes couldn't deny it—everything about this situation pointed in that direction. Their careful planning, the packing, the smiles—it all fit together too well.

The heroes couldn't make sense of it, but they knew one thing for sure: there was something going on, something the Demons were preparing for. And no matter how strange it seemed, they couldn't take their eyes off them.

What could it mean? A vacation? Or something more?