In a dim, sealed chamber, a man sat bound to a chair.
He had short hair, and most of his face was covered by an iron plate.
One eye was missing; in place of the eyeball, a white gemstone had been set into the socket.
The man was missing limbs.
More than half his body, not just his face, was composed of metal.
Anyone with knowledge of magic would recognize it for what it was — a golem.
This man was none other than the Steel Knight.
This was his appearance with the armor that gave him his epithet removed.
The Steel Knight slowly raised his head.
Spotting me merging with the darkness, he revealed his wariness.
I paid it no mind and spoke.
"So, you're awake."
"I see… So I've been captured."
The Steel Knight spoke in a hoarse voice.
He was surprisingly calm for someone who had just grasped his situation.
He must have anticipated this outcome before losing consciousness.
That saved me the trouble of having to soothe him.
The Steel Knight shifted slightly.
Without his limbs, there was nothing he could do.
On top of that, his self-destruct device and all other weaponry that had been installed inside him had already been extracted.
Only the bare minimum of functions remained within the Steel Knight's body.
He was barely clinging to life, and that was the extent of it.
As for the parts that had been removed, the Director was probably dismantling them with glee right about now.
I went ahead and cut straight to the point.
"I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but I need you to provide some information."
"You think I'd comply that easily? I'm not so foolish as to spill my secrets to a Demon King."
The Steel Knight responded in a resolute tone.
A natural reaction.
We were enemies.
There was no way he would readily hand over his nation's confidential intelligence.
Any information he offered up too readily at this point would be all the more unreliable.
That was why I threw out an additional threat.
"If you continue to take this stubborn stance, your homeland will be destroyed."
"I don't care. At the end of the day, I'm just a sellsword. I haven't got a shred of loyalty."
The Steel Knight answered without hesitation.
The words he spoke were no bluff.
He truly believed what he was saying.
I had heard that the Steel Knight was originally a mercenary.
Through his exploits, he had risen to become a knight serving a nation.
Even in the prior intelligence reports, he had struck me as lacking in loyalty.
An answer like this was well within expectations.
So I chose words that would strike closer to home.
"But you do have family love, don't you?"
"—What?"
The Steel Knight fixed me with a sharp gaze.
A honed killing intent.
That alone was enough to make a timid person faint on the spot.
I continued in a matter-of-fact tone.
"A remote village in the northern part of the Magitocracy. A mother and daughter living there. A blonde-haired woman and her child."
"…………"
The Steel Knight fell silent.
He was feigning composure, but a definite mix of panic and dread bled through.
He had realized his family was in danger.
This was the Steel Knight's one and only absolute vulnerability as a hero.
"Depending on how you conduct yourself, I can't guarantee their safety either."
"…How do you know about them?"
"The Demon King's intelligence network is vast. Don't underestimate it."
Luciana's direct agents included some highly capable operatives.
Even the Steel Knight's family — classified information — had been uncovered in short order.
This fact was not known to the general public.
But with enough effort put into an investigation, it could be found out more easily than one might expect.
"With a single command from me, I can take their lives even from here. That wouldn't be a favorable outcome for you, would it?"
"—You despicable undead! Killing people who haven't done a thing wrong — does your heart not ache at all!"
"War is merciless to the very end. I forgot about heartache a long time ago."
I answered the Steel Knight's condemnation with cold detachment.
When it came to the essence of warfare, he understood it far better than I did.
There was no need for me to lecture him.
And yet, the Steel Knight had no choice but to denounce me.
He must have felt that much rage and hatred.
"I'm not a very patient person. Before I get bored, why don't you just confess? Depending on your answers, I may even protect the mother and daughter."
"Don't lie. You would never do such a thing. You're a hideous Demon King of the undead."
"If you won't believe me, then I'll show you proof."
I placed my hand on the Steel Knight's shoulder and activated a teleportation spell.
In an instant, the surroundings became suddenly bright.
We were high up in the sky, bathed in sunlight.
I used a force field as a floor to maintain our altitude.
Spread out below us was the cityscape of the Royal Capital.
The Steel Knight gazed down at the ground, stunned, and murmured.
"This is…"
"The capital of the Demon King's domain. I've been ruling it for over a year now."
I answered his unspoken question.
Thinking back on it, the place had developed remarkably.
At first, after I had wiped everything out, it had been nothing but a ruin inhabited solely by undead.
From there, people had naturally gathered, and it had regrown to what it was today.
After a moment taking in the view, I made my proposal to the Steel Knight.
"I'll have your wife and child live here. They won't lack for work, and they'll be able to lead a reasonably prosperous life. Of course, that depends on your attitude."
I paused there and watched his reaction.
The Steel Knight remained with his head bowed, trembling.
Sweat ran down the back of his neck.
Surely, fierce turmoil was raging inside his mind.
He couldn't make up his heart wavering.
After a long silence, the Steel Knight spoke to me in a voice so faint it nearly vanished.
"…It's true, then. You really will save my wife and daughter?"
"I want you to trust me."
I nodded deeply.
Then, a change came over the Steel Knight's expression.
He exhaled and let his body go slack.
And with a groan, he spoke his answer.
"…Fine. I'll tell you everything I know. So…"
"I will protect your wife and daughter."
I declared this with emphasis.
I fully intended to keep that promise.
This hero was prepared to discard everything he had in order to protect his family.
I was not so far gone that I would desecrate that pride.
While I was sending instructions to the local agents via telepathy, the Steel Knight fixed his gaze upon me.
I could no longer sense any hatred.
And yet, the look in his eyes was peculiar.
It didn't quite seem like idle observation either.
Curious, I decided to ask about his intent.
"What is it?"
"Inside your heart, I can see anguish. So even a Demon King of the undead has emotions."
"…………"
He had seen right through me.
I couldn't deny it.
I was always in anguish.
I knew what needed to be done, but there were times I questioned myself within that certainty.
Though, admittedly, that was nothing new.
Being called out on it now was hardly the kind of thing that would wound me.
I knew well enough that I was foolish, indecisive by nature.
"Well, that's neither here nor there…"
The Steel Knight murmured, then gazed down at the Royal Capital once more.
Bathing in the wind that swept past, he spoke to me.
"If my family's peace is guaranteed, I have no more regrets. I can finally end my life."
His expression was unexpectedly serene.
It was the look of one who had fulfilled his mission.
"Demon King. I await your arrival."
"I have no intention of perishing — not now, not ever."
"Is that so? Then let me pray that we never meet again."
The Steel Knight smiled, his metallic face twisting into something almost gentle.