After Joining the Hero’s Party, the Hero Ran Away [Genshin Impact: Zhongli X Childe]

[May become a series]

Reader's guide:

Hero Tartaglia x Demon King Zhongli

[Blurb One]

My name is Bennett. Although I'm the narrator at the beginning, I'm not the protagonist of this book. I'm actually the protagonist of another book, The Hero Who Started Late.

Ahem, let's leave that aside for now and talk about why I'm narrating this story!

That year, I wasn't the hero yet. The hero was Mr. Tartaglia, the kingdom's greatest warrior.

The hero's party was almost fully assembled and getting ready to attack the Demon King's castle when I joined them.

But not long after I joined, Mr. Tartaglia ran off... He ran off...

That's right, he ran away.

(He ran off with all his money and possessions.)

I heard he'd met the person he wanted to spend the rest of his life with, so he gave up being a hero and went to their side.

I have great respect for our former hero, so I hope Mr. Tartaglia and his beloved stay together until their hair turns white, loving each other for all eternity.

[Blurb Two, Tartaglia's point of view]

Love at first sight is the oldest, most clichéd trap in the book.

But later, when I thought back to the first time we met,

You were dressed in the simplest black cloak, your face half-hidden. When you looked back at me with those captivating, diamond-shaped amber eyes, perhaps I'd already fallen into your trap.

My Demon King.

[Blurb Three]

A legend has been passed down in the Kingdom of Teyvat since ancient times.

Beneath the Sea of Thorns in the Far East hangs a Demon King's castle, upside down.

No one can make it through the castle's maze alive. No one can reach its heart alive. And no one can leave the castle alive.

On the day the king and queen had a daughter, a mysterious astrologer performed a great divination.

She said, "Mourn, for the end of the world will come on the next Divine Birthday."

The king and queen were terrified. "The next Divine Birthday? Isn't that today, seventeen years from now?"

The astrologer replied, "Don't panic. Fate always leaves a thread of hope. The hero will save everything!"

The king and queen asked, "How?"

The astrologer smiled mysteriously. "With love, of course."

Love is the heart no one can do without.

Love is the only thing that can last forever.

Love is the most selfless and the most selfish angel and demon.

Love is every spring beneath a cherry tree where you and I meet.

[Planned cast]

Xiao: One of the five great dukes under the Demon King, but he volunteers to become the king's personal guard.

The other four great dukes: The other four Yakshas.

Ganyu: The Demon King's secretary.

Hu Tao: The Demon King's vanguard, a little demon.

Madame Ping: The Demon King's head of logistics.

Azhdaha: An ancient sealed beast.

The hero's party:

Tartaglia: Hero, swordsman.

Xiangling: All-purpose chef.

Kazuha: Wandering samurai.

Barbara: Healing priest.

Bennett: The tank who draws aggro.

Guest appearances:

Great Astrologer: Mona.

King and Queen: Passerby A and B.

Mysterious general goods merchant: Dori.

Alchemist: Albedo.

Smiling magician: Kamisato Ayato.

Bard: Venti (Ehe~)

Theme: Love is the best medicine for healing everything