The Audience Chamber.
I sift through the mountain of reports piled on my desk.
It feels like the reports have increased lately.
The spies are being diligent.
They're making sure not to overlook even the smallest tidbit.
(Striving within reasonable limits is a very good thing.)
Currently, I've heard no reports of spies being captured or their identities exposed.
They are all exceptionally capable personnel.
Perhaps problems don't arise because they know the right time to withdraw.
Luciana was by my side.
She was organizing documents in front of her office desk.
She was contributing to lighten my burden, even if just a little.
Simultaneously, she was drafting instruction sheets related to the spy operations.
It's because Luciana, the command center, is so capable that the subordinate spies can conduct their operations smoothly.
(Still, this Audience Chamber is becoming a title in name only...)
I survey the room, now filled with added desks and document shelves.
With the passage of months and years, it had half-turned into an office.
Its spaciousness made it convenient to use.
Currently, no outsiders visited.
Since I rarely used my private quarters, I naturally ended up working here.
It had been thirty days since John Doe's assassination.
Changes were rippling across the world.
The Empire would be the first place mentioned.
With the Imperial Capital obliterated by a rage-maddened Great Spirit, the machinery of state had seized up.
Without a leader emerging, one noble after another was reportedly fleeing to other nations as refugees.
Furthermore, facing invasions from foreign powers, its territory was being carved away, shrinking steadily.
All trace of what was once called a great power was lost; now, it was in a state near total ruin.
The Demon Lord's Domain had also invaded several times, seizing adjacent territories.
The Empire would never recover.
Even if left alone, it was destined to vanish from the map.
All that remained was for it to be entirely devoured by other nations.
It was, perhaps, a fitting end for a war state built on aggression.
The Magitech Nation, which had just fought the Demon Lord's Army the other day, was also seeing dramatic changes.
The damage brought by the battle in its capital was immense; here too, the nation was essentially destroyed.
Reconstruction prospects were said to remain nowhere in sight.
While the Demon Lord's Army's attacks played a part, the greatest cause was likely the giant golem.
The ultimate weapon invented by John Doe had carved indelible scars into the capital.
A weapon on that scale...
It had probably been constructed with the nation's backing.
Those involved must never have imagined such an outcome.
The upper echelons of Makia had underestimated the danger of the giant golem.
They understood the immense power it offered and accepted that aspect with purely positive sentiment.
Driven by greed, they had become blind.
Currently, Makia's forces were under invasion by the Holy Staff Nation.
Sensing an opportunity in the capital's destruction, the Holy Staff Nation had seized the moment to launch their attack.
They likely believed this was their chance to reclaim power.
In a previous battle with me, the Holy Staff Nation had lost its Holy Maiden and main army.
Having recovered from those losses, they had likely decided to commit to this invasion.
In response, Makia was resisting with its remaining forces.
Among the surviving territory, they had designated a large city as the new capital and were attempting to recover.
Because the leadership had survived the battle with John Doe, they could respond swiftly.
I hadn't particularly cared about the survival of their leadership at the time.
Back then, John and the secret stones were my top priorities.
As long as they had lost their extreme technological advantage, Makia was no significant threat.
The Holy Staff Nation and Makia would likely continue their war for some time.
This was a situation I could not ignore.
My wish is to stop the conflicts between humans.
The situation of the two nations stood in stark opposition to that wish.
However, I had no desire to take sides with either.
Therefore, I decided to adopt a compromise.
This will soon form a massive wall or chasm between the two nations.
It will create a physical barrier against invasion.
I could accomplish this with one hand tied behind my back.
Furthermore, I would destroy nearby towns and demand both nations offer sacrifices to the Demon King's domain.
They would surely consider it unwise to provoke the Demon King.
They have tasted full well what happens when they become hostile.
And inevitably, attention would turn towards me.
With the demand for sacrifice, they would no longer be in a position to invade each other.
Externally, it would appear the Demon King is tormenting the losing nation.
Without question, the Demon King would be perceived negatively.
It would serve as a stark reminder of that threat.
If I committed such despicable acts, my true purpose would remain undiscovered.
Numerous advantages are inherent in this.
This scheme was proposed by Luciana.
She devised it after grasping my hopes and objectives.
This kind of shadow play was Luciana's specialty.
She would display without reservation the talent she possessed in the Four Heavenly Kings era.
Back then, she tormented me relentlessly, but as an ally, she is incomparably reliable.
"...Hmm."
While reading the report, I found I needed related documents.
I had wanted to check against past examples, just once.
Such oversight could lead to unexpected problems later.
It was a part of the work I couldn't afford to neglect.
I stood from my chair and addressed Luciana, who was working silently.
"I'm going to the archive."
"Oh, while you're there, there are a few books I'd like you to borrow."
Luciana looked up and listed several titles.
I committed them to memory and nodded.
"Understood. Wait here for a bit."
"Thank you, Lord Demon King. I'm counting on you."
Having finished the exchange, I teleported to the archive within the castle.
There was already a guest.
I focused on the two figures with their backs turned.
"Target located. Confirming height insufficiency for acquisition. Requesting assistance."
"Here, I'll get it for you. Is this the book you meant?"
"No. Two books to the left."
Before shelves that covered the entire wall, a humanoid form of blue light was stretching on its tiptoes.
It was a partial incarnation of a Great Spirit.
Standing beside it was Grom.
He reached for a book on a high shelf, then handed it down to the incarnation.
"Is there anything else you'd like to read?"
"Commencing self-inquiry on interests and preferences—determining response. I would like a botanical encyclopedia."
"I see, I see. If it's a plant encyclopedia, I know where to find it. Follow me."
Grom's gentle tone shifted as he turned on his heel to face me.
The moment he laid eyes on me, he leaped back with an exaggerated startle.
Grom stumbled backward, crashing into the bookshelf behind him in shock.
"Wha— wh-what! The Demon Lord!?"
"I commend you on your educational efforts. It seems you yourself are thoroughly enjoying it, which is a relief."
It was truly a heartwarming sight.
The clone had grown quite attached.
I'd appointed Grom as the handler to keep the clone in check in case it went berserk, but that decision seemed correct for other reasons as well.
"Th-this is a misunderstanding... I am merely caring for this girl under orders. I certainly do not have any such feelings—"
For some reason, Grom was hurriedly trying to explain himself.
The clone tugged on his sleeve.
"Detecting error in individual designation—initiating correction. Not 'this girl.' I am Yura."
"Th-that's right. My apologies..."
Upon being corrected, Grom's shoulders slumped as he apologized.
It wasn't just my imagination that he seemed particularly dejected.
(That's right, I did give her a name.)
I recalled the events from a few days ago.
Late at night, Grom came to me in secret, suggesting we name the split entities.
It seems he’d grown bothered by their remaining nameless.
That was probably my oversight.
I’d been so preoccupied with other matters that I’d completely forgotten.
I think it wouldn’t have been strange even if the Great Spirit had scolded me.
Accepting the proposal, I left the naming entirely to Grom.
It wasn’t that I found it troublesome—simply that I myself had shallow knowledge in such matters and couldn’t come up with a good name.
This is something I heard later, but from that day on, Grom spent his days in the library, meticulously deliberating names.
He must have been taking it quite seriously, in his own way.
I learned this from Luciana’s report.
And after days of careful consideration, the split entity was given the name Yura.
Yura—I believe that was a character from some hero’s tale.
I never asked why he chose that origin.
Perhaps I’ll ask next time I have a chance.
“Ah, by the way, Your Majesty the Demon Lord, what brings you here?”
Grom, slightly fidgety, transparently changes the subject.
Remembering my original purpose, I answered.
“I just came to retrieve some documents. Sorry for disturbing you.”
“Not at all! I, for one, am blessed every day by the privilege of seeing Your Majesty’s honored face.”
Grom responded with excessive courtesy.
This was his usual manner.
It was no flattery—he truly believed it.
Then Grom glanced at Yura standing beside him.
"Yura. Greet the Demon Lord."
"Accepting the Bone Minister's request—executing greeting. Good morning, Master."
"...Ah, good morning."
I replied after a slight pause.
I detected something off in Yura's words.
There were points I was unsure if I should address.
"...!"
As expected, Grom was trembling.
Miasma seeped from him, emanating an ominous aura.
The flames in his single eye socket blazed with increasing intensity.
Suppressing his rage, Grom asked Yura in a voice like an earthquake rumbling.
"—Yura. Did you just call me the Bone Minister?"
"Yes. I received an update instruction from individual Luciana. It is currently registered under that name."
"That succubus! What impertinence!"
The moment he heard the answer, Grom flew into a fury.
Enveloped in extreme killing intent, he shot forward and vanished from the library in the blink of an eye.
The shock caused books to fall from some shelves, so I set them back in place with magic.
Midway through the task, Yura came before me.
She stared intently at me, voicing a single query.
"Detection of Bone Minister's anger—commencing cause analysis. Master, I request a proposed solution."
"…Don't call him the Bone Minister anymore. Just revert to Grom. That's enough."
"Change directive accepted—update complete. Henceforth, the Bone Minister shall be referred to by the individual name Grom."
Yura stated this in a flat tone.
With nothing further to add, I simply nodded.