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

Rosa and her team arrived at the Demonic Capital in record time—just three days after entering the portal. The Shadow Corp was nothing if not efficient. Their mission was clear: infiltrate the Demonic Empire, gather intelligence, and find any leverage they could to force a peace treaty with the Demons. But, as with all things involving the Demons, things were never going to be easy.

The team moved like ghosts through the shadows, weaving in and out of the Demonic Capital's streets and passages, completely unnoticed. Their first task was to infiltrate the Castle of the Demonic Empress, Lilith Umbrosia. They'd infiltrated castles before, many times, and this was no different. They checked the castle from top to bottom, piecing together a detailed blueprint of the entire structure. They were thorough—there was no room for error.

But despite their best efforts, they found nothing. No hidden doors, no suspicious behavior, no secrets to exploit. The Demons were too careful. The weeks dragged on, and Rosa began to lose hope. It seemed impossible. There was no sign of anything that could be used for blackmail.

And then, just when they were about to give up, something changed.

Lilith, the Demonic Empress, had always been a figure of mystery, her movements closely guarded. But that day, for reasons unknown, she approached an empty shelf in her private chamber, and with a practiced motion, opened it to reveal a hidden passage. A hidden passage. This was it.

Rosa's heart raced. This had to be something important. They followed her in silence, slipping through the shadows like they always had. What they saw next, however, was nothing short of shocking.

Lilith Umbrosia, the ruler of the Demons, was kneeling in front of an altar, whispering something under her breath. She was worshiping a God. This wasn't supposed to happen. Demons had long since abandoned the worship of the Divine, according to history. But here, in the privacy of her chamber, Lilith was praying to a being far greater than herself. The implications were staggering. The Demons had abandoned their gods centuries ago, so why was the Empress reverting to this ancient practice? And was she the only one?

Rosa's mind was racing with questions. This was huge. This was the kind of information that could shift the balance of power, that could bring peace—or chaos.

But before they could take a single step closer, Lilith's sharp eyes snapped to them.

"Who is there!?" she demanded, her voice full of the dangerous authority only a ruler could possess.

Rosa's heart skipped a beat. They had been discovered.

Lilith wasted no time. With a flick of her hand, the room was filled with dark magic, and Rosa's subordinates collapsed instantly. They didn't even have time to scream. They were knocked down unconscious by a single spell.

Rosa was the last one standing. The weight of the situation bore down on her. She had to think fast.

"I've erased their memories," Lilith said coolly. "Don't worry, they're not dead, just unconscious. Now tell me who sent you, before the same fate finds you."

Rosa's mind was a blur, but she remembered Kaito's orders, his strict commands in case they were caught. "If things go wrong, return immediately," he had said. And he had given them a failsafe: a feather.

It was no ordinary feather. It was an artifact, one Kaito had forged himself. The feather recorded everything they'd seen and heard during their mission and, most importantly, allowed them to teleport back to the Empire. A perfect escape if things went south.

Rosa reached for it, activating the feather's magic. The world around her began to warp, but before she could fully teleport, a powerful spell struck her, sending her flying back, her vision fading as the teleportation process started to take effect.

She was out cold.

When Rosa regained consciousness, she found herself in the familiar chambers of the Imperial Castle, in front of both Kaito and Val. She blinked, dazed, but relief flooded through her. They were safe. However, she couldn't remember what exactly happened. All she could remember is that they were in danger just a minute ago. Her team, and she, was still in the dark about what had happened—they had lost their memories of the mission after entering the Demonic Realm. But that wasn't the biggest problem.

Kaito quickly activated the feather and placed it on an empty sheet of paper. As soon as he did, the feather began to write, the information pouring out, detailing everything they had learned, including the most crucial piece of intel—the secret of the Demonic Royalty.

He read through the written words, his expression unreadable. The information was astonishing. It wasn't just the details of the Demonic Empress's secret worship; it was more than that. There were intricacies, details that would allow the Empire to manipulate the situation in ways Kaito had never anticipated.

But the most important detail was the way this secret could be used. If the truth about Lilith's worship were revealed, it would send shockwaves through the entire world—especially among humans. This wasn't just a hidden practice; it was a crack in the foundation of Demon society, one that could topple everything.

And Kaito knew exactly what he could do with it.

"If we reveal this," Kaito murmured, his voice low but full of intent, "we can bring the Demons to their knees. We don't have to fight. This is the perfect leverage for peace, though it will be forced peace."

Val stood at his side, her face stern as she processed the information. "This will shake the very foundation of their society, won't it?"

Kaito nodded slowly, his mind already racing through the possibilities. "Yes. And the best part? They can't back out. Once this is known, there's no way for the Demons to save face. They'll have no choice but to negotiate with us."

The Shadow Corp had succeeded. And with this information, Kaito knew he had the power to end the war before it ever truly began.

Kaito now held the key to peace in his hands. However, unease still brewed in his mind. Rosa and her team were safe, but the memory loss and the unknown identity of the demon who caught them left him wary. The feather's teleportation worked swiftly, yet it failed to capture crucial details about their captor.

Taking no chances, Kaito ordered maximum security around Rosa and her five subordinates. They couldn't risk a retaliation or unexpected assault. Now, his focus shifted to the challenge ahead: initiating dialogue with the Demonic Empress, Lilith Umbrosia. Convincing her to meet, let alone negotiate, would be a monumental task.

Kaito devised a risky plan. He crafted a letter imbued with his unique power—a letter that would instantly teleport its recipient to a specific location upon contact with their blood. The contents of the letter were clear and direct, referencing the sensitive information Rosa had uncovered.

Getting the letter into the hands of the Demonic Empress posed its own challenge. Trusting in his abilities, Kaito used his power to send the letter directly to her chambers in the Demonic Realm.

Lilith discovered the letter, her expression twisting in fury as she read its contents. The anonymity of the sender left her with one option: to activate the teleportation by shedding a drop of her blood onto the envelope. Without hesitation, she followed the instructions.

In a flash, she found herself in the Valtherian Empire's guest room. Across from her sat Val, her expression calm yet calculating.

"So, it was your Empire that sent this letter?" Lilith asked coldly, her tone laced with restrained anger.

"It is," Val replied evenly. "And we now possess knowledge of your secret."

Lilith's eyes narrowed. "And what makes you think summoning me here was a good idea? Do you realize I could obliterate your Empire this instant?"

"If you do," Val countered, "this secret will be revealed to every human immediately through magic. The information is safeguarded."

Before Lilith could respond, Kaito stepped out from the corner of the room where he had been sitting unnoticed.

"You bastards! I'll ki—" Lilith snarled, drawing her sword in one fluid motion. She turned to strike Kaito but froze mid-swing, her expression suddenly shifting to one of shock and disbelief.

"It can't be... It can't be you!" she exclaimed, her voice trembling.

Both Val and Kaito were caught off guard by her reaction.

[[Notice. Individual named "Lilith Umbrosia" is being intimidated by the Godly Skill "Demonic Authority." Would you like to undo it?]]

Kaito frowned, unsure of the consequences of undoing the effect.

[[Well, you can't proceed further without undoing it. But if you do, another skill will take effect. It won't hinder negotiations—it'll actually help.]]

Confusion deepened, but Kaito chose to proceed.

[[Notice. Individual named "Lilith Umbrosia" is no longer under the effects of the Godly Skill "Demonic Authority." However, circumstances have triggered the Godly Skill "Eternal Charm."]]

"Wait, what? Not that skill again!" Kaito groaned internally.

The next moment, Lilith shocked everyone by lunging forward—not with her sword, but with open arms. She embraced Kaito tightly, leaving both him and Val completely dumbfounded.

"What the hell is going on!?" Kaito exclaimed, prying himself away.

Lilith abruptly regained her composure, stepping back and straightening her posture. Her tone turned serious.

"Let's negotiate. I propose a peace treaty: demons will not touch your Empire for the next three centuries, and you will keep my secret during that time. After three centuries, you are free to do as you wish with it."

The sudden shift in her demeanor was jarring, but Kaito recognized the opportunity. "Agreed," he said, extending a hand.

As the treaty was signed, Val couldn't help but notice Lilith's gaze shifting toward her—not with anger, but with an expression of peculiar curiosity.

Lilith handed over a golden badge bearing the Demonic crest. "Keep this in your Empire. As long as it remains here, no demon will attack you. After three centuries, it will lose its power."

Without another word, she turned to leave, but not before throwing Val a venomous glare and casting Kaito an inscrutable look.

"Finally!" Kaito said with relief after Lilith vanished. "Our biggest obstacle is gone!"

Val, however, seemed less enthusiastic.

"At least that skill didn't take effect like the last time!" Kaito thought, "Although, it's supposed activation probably did help with the negotiations just like that Halo said."

[[The charm did work, for sure. It's just that you're a bit dense, and she's a bit shy.]]

"What's that supposed to mean!?" Kaito shouted in his thoughts.

Lilith returned to her grand obsidian castle through a shimmering portal—a skill unique to her, allowing her to traverse the vast Demonic Realm in mere moments. Her composure remained icy and commanding as she strode past her servants and into the innermost sanctum of her chambers. Once alone, however, her demeanor shattered like fragile glass.

Her cheeks flushed a deep crimson as she paced the length of her lavishly adorned room, her hands trembling slightly. "I… I almost attacked him!" she muttered, her voice a mixture of shock and shame. Her fingers tightened into fists at the memory. "What was I thinking? That was him! Our God... just as foretold by the ancient prophecy."

Lilith slumped onto a velvet chaise lounge, burying her face in her hands. The room, filled with towering bookshelves and artifacts of immense power, bore silent witness to her turmoil. "But he doesn't know. He doesn't remember his true self." She exhaled deeply, her mind racing. "If he remains unaware, his potential might go unrealized... and the realms will remain divided."

Her thoughts took a more resolute turn as she straightened her posture. "I must guide him, make him see the truth. He must ascend to his rightful Godhood!" Her voice brimmed with determination. Then, after a brief pause, she added in a softer, almost trembling tone, "And I... I must be by his side."

The reflection of her own words made her cheeks heat up further. Embarrassed but resolute, Lilith began pacing once more. "Yes! That's it. I'll approach him with a demand—no, a formal proposal! Something he cannot refuse… but something that doesn't expose my true feelings." A sly grin curled on her lips as she began formulating her plan.

The next morning, a sealed letter from the Demonic Empress arrived at the Valtherian Empire. The seal bore her unmistakable crest—a crescent moon entwined with serpentine flames. The letter was addressed to the Emperor himself and carried urgent tidings.

Kaito sat in his chamber alongside Val as they read the contents together. Val's expression darkened as her eyes darted across the elegant yet ominous handwriting. Kaito, on the other hand, groaned loudly and slumped back in his chair.

"It seems the demons of the outer regions of the Demonic Realm are opposing the treaty," Val summarized. Her tone carried a note of irritation. "They claim it's a disgrace to their sovereignty and an insult to their independence. The Demonic Empress has stated that she will visit us in person within the week to discuss the matter."

Kaito rubbed his temples, muttering, "If this opposition spreads, it could void the treaty entirely. And the only alternative... would be war." His voice was filled with exasperation.

Val crossed her arms, her golden eyes narrowed in thought. "The fact that she's willing to visit us directly is unusual. What does she gain from such a dangerous move?"

Kaito sighed. "That's what I don't get. If the treaty falls apart, she loses the diplomatic edge. Why risk it unless...?" He trailed off, shaking his head. "No, that's too far-fetched."

Val frowned. "What's too far-fetched?"

Kaito hesitated, then waved dismissively. "Nothing. Forget it. Let's prepare for her visit and see what she brings to the table."

Despite his outward dismissal, Kaito couldn't shake the odd sense that there was more to this than mere political resistance. He looked out the window, watching the bustling streets of the Empire below. He had a week to prepare, but something told him the days ahead would bring complications he couldn't yet foresee.

Meanwhile, in her castle, Lilith stood at the balcony of her chambers, overlooking the endless crimson skies of the Demonic Realm. Her eyes gleamed with anticipation as a faint smile played on her lips. She could already imagine the moment she would meet Kaito again, standing in his regal hall with that clueless yet commanding aura of his.

"This time," she whispered to herself, "I will make my presence irreplaceable. He will understand… even if he doesn't know yet, I'll ensure that he realizes who he truly is."

Her gaze hardened, and her aura flared briefly. "And if anyone dares stand in my way—whether demon or human—I will crush them without hesitation."

The Demonic Empress had made up her mind. Whatever it took, she would see her plan through.