Having secured their first victory at the canal, the Demon King's army pressed onward.
Crossing the border, they finally set foot within the small nation's territory.
Leaving utter devastation in their wake, they smashed through defensive networks and towns established at various points.
To bolster their ranks, fallen soldiers were converted into undead, causing the army's scale to expand explosively.
The small nation's forces, utterly overwhelmed by the disparity in numbers, were being slaughtered.
Though they occasionally attempted counterattacks with holy magic, the damage inflicted was negligible.
In addition to our undead, we had monsters on our side.
Holy magic was far less effective against them.
Having tasted repeated victories, the monsters demonstrated their power by ravaging the soldiers.
They advanced toward the small nation's capital with unstoppable momentum.
Meanwhile, I was inside a carriage made of bone.
It was constructed from hundreds of skeletons joined together.
Pulled by ghoul horses, it moved slowly at the very rear of the Demon King's army.
These were all techniques made possible by the application of my undead manipulation.
They had come about as I experimented with various aspects of my authority's power.
I could have walked, of course, but Luciana insisted this was more fitting for a Demon King.
Indeed, the bone carriage was quite conspicuous.
For the sake of the future as well, it was important to assert my presence on a grand scale.
After this exchange, this mode of transport was settled upon.
"It's proceeding smoothly, almost boringly so. I wonder if there aren't any humans with some spirit left."
Luciana, seated beside me, lets out a bored sigh.
She had been participating in the battle at first, but had grown tired and taken on this demeanor somewhere along the way.
I could understand that feeling.
The small nations had made their preparations, in their own way.
However, our army’s power was overwhelming.
They had seemed intent on pressing into the captured Royal Capital, but it didn’t seem like a fighting force capable of doing that.
As expected, they had been instigated by another nation, or perhaps forced into the invasion.
That was another thing I needed to uncover.
If I went to the royal castle, I should be able to find documents to serve as evidence.
I intended to impose a fitting punishment on the countries that had schemed unnecessarily.
However, I wouldn’t destroy them.
I would merely inflict a moderate amount of damage to impoverish them, driving them to a point where all nations had to cooperate.
"We’ll break down the small nations without pause. It’s better if no unforeseen circumstances arise."
At my words, Luciana made a displeased face.
She swung her legs back and forth.
"Aww, that’s so boring. Even if they’re small, they’re still countries, right? There must be some strong people?"
I shook my head, denying Luciana’s words.
"There are capable individuals, but few who could do anything against this army. In fact, they would need to be..."
"Like a former hero or sage. That’s what you mean to say, isn’t it?"
"..."
I fell silent involuntarily.
I couldn't find the words to respond.
I'd let my tongue slip a little, but what Luciana said was largely true.
Only a handful of individuals could stand against the armies of monsters.
Though I had fought within the kingdom numerous times, I had yet to encounter such a person.
Even in my human days, they would have been rare.
Ten years had passed, but heroes don't simply come into being that easily.
"In any case, we'll crush and occupy this small nation as planned. Execute your duties seriously."
"Roger that. Don't worry—I'm a woman who gets the job done when it counts."
Luciana flexed her bicep to demonstrate.
Despite her joking nature, her strength as one of the former Four Heavenly Kings remained formidable.
She was an exceptional talent, capable of wielding various magics and maintaining calm precision in the heat of battle.
Her ability to survive the decade without the Demon King alongside her subordinates was no mere fluke.
After about half a day's march, the outer walls of a town became visible in the distance.
It was the capital of the small nation.
There had been no sign of the enemy forces along the way.
Nor did it feel like they were lying in ambush.
It seemed they intended to turn the siege into a fortification battle using the outer walls.
Fearing that a poorly executed interception would weaken their own forces, they had decided to make their stand at the capital.
(Noble, but hopelessly naive.)
With my magic, I could shatter the outer walls and infiltrate in a single blow.
Even if defensive barriers were in place, I could easily pierce through.
The small nation finally seemed to have run out of options.
Sensing this, I called out to Luciana.
"I'll send a progress report to Grom. I'll be right back."
"Okay, okay. See you in a moment."
Those were the farewell words from Luciana.
I focused my consciousness.
With a brief sensation of floating, the scene before my eyes changed.
I stood in a well-ordered room.
This was inside the castle in the Royal Capital.
I had transferred my consciousness into one of the undead I controlled.
Through training, I had become able to perform this transfer without having to destroy my original body.
It was possible between any undead under my control, regardless of distance.
Compared to teleportation magic, the advantage was that the drain on my stamina was minimal.
To ensure I could execute it smoothly, I had been practicing secretly recently.
"...Hmm."
The body I had possessed was that of a ghoul.
As I checked its condition, the flesh and blood began to evaporate into miasma.
The exposed bones turned black, and in the blink of an eye, it took on its usual form.
The same phenomenon occurred when I had tried this before.
Regardless of what kind of undead it might be, it forcibly becomes like a black skeleton.
Perhaps my existence is fixed in this form.
Currently, it doesn't pose much trouble, but it is somewhat concerning.
It might be worthwhile to practice adjusting it so it can be fixed in a different appearance.
I used translocation magic to move to the audience hall.
That was because I sensed Grom's presence there.
"Hum-hmmm, hum-hmmm."
A carefree hum reached my ears.
Grom was crouched down, engaged in some work.
Peering from behind, he was diligently polishing the throne.
Judging by the tune of his hum, he was in an exceptionally good mood.
He seemed so uplifted that he hadn't noticed my presence.
"Grom."
"Wh-wha!?"
When I called out, Grom jumped, shoulders flinching.
He turned towards me and immediately assumed a rigid, standing-at-attention posture.
As a reflexive action, it would score a perfect hundred.
Grom addressed me while being transparently flustered.
"Th-this is... the Demon Lord! Why are you here?"
"I came to report the progress."
"I am most grateful for the visit. Then, how do things stand?"
I do not mention the matter of polishing the throne, and instead convey the news of this battle.
However, there is little to report.
The Demon Lord's army has been ravaging its way through the small nation's territory and will reach the capital soon. That is all.
Upon hearing this, Grom sighs with relief.
"Quite so, as expected. It is impossible for mere humans to stand against the Demon Lord's forces. I had predicted as much myself."
"We should return tomorrow. I leave the defense of the Royal Capital in your hands."
"Yes, leave it to me. When you return, we shall hold a celebration!"
Ignoring the delighted Grom, I refocus my attention.
And I return my consciousness to my body waiting in the bone carriage.
◆
I am standing in the sky.
From this position, I can oversee the small nation's capital.
Because I destroyed the main gate, the Demon Lord's army was able to infiltrate the city without being delayed.
The battle is now nearing its end, and more than half the soldiers have already been turned into undead.
Even without my intervention, the outcome is already decided.
"Lord Summer!"
As I watch the tragedy below, Luciana flies over.
She does a somersault in the air beside me, then hovers in place.
"What is the state of the battle?"
"The Demon Lord's army has seized most of the capital. But there's one problem..."
Luciana scratches her cheek and gives a wry smile.
For her, it was an uncharacteristically hesitant way of speaking.
I had a vague sense of foreboding.
"What's happening?"
"Inside the prison, the prisoners are resisting, and the undead are being taken down one after another. It seems reinforcements are needed only there."
It was an unexpected report.
The fact that losses were severe enough to require reinforcements was unforeseen.
Especially not from prison prisoners.
I considered that there might be some struggle, but I thought that would be in the castle with the most stringent defenses.
"Seems like a gathering of spirited humans. So, what is the scale of the opposition?"
When I asked, Luciana hesitated to respond.
It seemed like something difficult to say.
After a brief pause, she spoke softly.
"...One person."
"What"
"A single prisoner is fighting the Demon Lord's army on equal or better terms. Probably, but someone with strength comparable to a hero."