Having accomplished our objective, we returned to the Royal Capital via teleportation magic.
The undead raised in the small nation would be led away by the monsters under my command, guided to their destination.
They were to be stored in the warehouse until the opportunity to use them arrived.
"Well then, take care of them, okay! Don't you dare get them killed on your own!"
Luciana waved her hand as she saw us off with those parting words.
In the direction of her gaze stood a cart drawn by monsters.
Several cloth sacks lay upon the cart bed.
Roughly the size of a human.
Occasionally writhing.
It wasn't from the cart's swaying.
The contents of those cloth sacks were the leadership figures Luciana had charmed in the small nation.
We would now extract the information those leaders possessed.
Since the nation that had provided military support to the small kingdom was supposed to be identified, some form of sanction would need to be imposed.
"Well now, this is something else. It really has become a city of monsters, hasn't it?"
Henry marveled at the streets of the Royal Capital.
His appearance had changed dramatically.
He had washed at the baths in the capital's castle, trading his filthy prisoner's garb for a military uniform.
His overgrown hair was tied back, and his beard had been shaved clean.
The transformation from his bedraggled state was so thorough that he looked five years younger.
I posed a question to Henry, who was looking around with wonder.
"Have you ever been to the Royal Capital?"
"Back when I was a mercenary. During my greenhorn days. I'd just come out from the countryside, so I was amazed by the vibrant streets."
Henry spoke with nostalgic fondness in his voice.
His eyes must have been reflecting the Royal Capital of years past.
A place that could never be returned to.
"Well, I don't dislike the current scenery either. It's not bad."
"A lukewarm reaction. This land has been destroyed by monsters. Doesn't it stir any righteous anger?"
Luciana asked Henry.
It was a probing, rather forward question.
It seemed her goal was to size up Henry's character.
She probably wanted to ask while she still had the chance.
Whether he knew he was being tested or not, Henry fiddled with his bow and gave a wry smile.
"It's a world where humans kill each other, right? I'm not going to get angry about monsters being slaughtered. Race doesn't really matter to me. Those who kill, kill. Those who get killed, get killed. That's all there is to it."
"My. Such a detached perspective."
"Otherwise, I wouldn't have sided with an undead overlord. Right?"
Henry stated it matter-of-factly.
There was no pretense; this was his genuine opinion.
He held no consciousness of racial discrimination.
In its place, perhaps one could call it that, a hint of contempt and resignation toward humanity could be glimpsed in his words.
Through his past as a mercenary and soldier, he must have experienced all manner of things.
Perhaps the lack of resistance to joining the Demon Lord's army stemmed from that sort of background.
"Heh, I can't argue with that."
Luciana smiled upon hearing Henry's point. There was no negative emotion to be seen.
Hearing her answer, it seemed she had acknowledged Henry in her own way.
It was a wonderful thing for two people to understand and accept one another.
It might seem simple, but it was surprisingly difficult.
At least within the Demon Lord's army, I wanted to create an environment where such understanding could happen naturally.
I waited for the right moment and called out to the two of them.
"Follow me. I'll show you around the castle."
"Sure thing."
"Sorry about that. We got a bit carried away talking."
The three of us began walking into the castle.
Halfway there, Henry tilted his head upward. What he was gazing at was the Demon Lord's castle, with its deep crimson sheen.
Here and there, pale blue flames flickered.
Henry narrowed his eyes, observing the entire structure.
"Still, that's quite an exterior. Is it the General's taste?"
"Not mine. The one I left in charge remodeled it."
It was originally a castle of white stone, but now it possessed a thoroughly malevolent appearance.
It was Grom's handiwork that had made things so lively.
The Demon Lord's grandeur was certainly emphasized by it.
As there was no reason to restore the original state, I had left it untouched from the start.
I guided Henry as we moved through the castle.
We went straight to the audience chamber and stopped before its door.
"We're here."
"What's in here?"
"The standby guard we mentioned is waiting. He's my right hand; I wanted you to meet him first."
As I explained, I opened the door.
Almost simultaneously, a massive form burst out from within.
"Ah, Demon Lord...! I have been eagerly awaiting your return!"
Grom was overjoyed.
With incredible speed, he leaped before me, sliding gracefully into a kneeling position.
It was such a refined movement, I wondered if he had practiced it many times.
I helped the kneeling Grom to his feet while surveying the room.
The audience chamber's floor, walls, and ceiling had all been polished to a high sheen.
You could see your own reflection if you got close enough.
Grom's vice had been armed with a broom and a rag.
He must have been cleaning thoroughly in anticipation of my return.
Come to think of it, when he had come to report our progress, he had been polishing the throne.
I may not fully understand, but perhaps I simply enjoy cleaning.
"To conquer a nation in such a short time—truly remarkable skill. This Grom is deeply, deeply mov... ed... wha..."
Grom’s fluent speech abruptly froze. His gaze was fixed on Henry.
Having dropped his broom and rag, Grom clung to me with his questions. "Wh-what, what, what does this mean?! Why is there a human here?!"
"Calm down. I’ll explain in order."
While soothing Grom, I laid out the circumstances. The background wasn’t overly complicated. I conveyed only the essential points.
"—So, having won our duel, I recruited him into the Demon Lord’s army. His ability is beyond question, so there’s no need for concern."
"I... I see," Grom replied with a hesitant murmur.
Meanwhile, Henry offered a greeting in a light tone. "Pleased to meet ya."
In that instant, Grom emitted a thick miasma from his entire body. The flames in his eye sockets blazed with intensified vigor. Grom pointed a finger at Henry.
"Do not let your arrogance run wild, human. If you do not wish to shorten your fleeting lifespan recklessly, do not speak to me so familiarly."
"Hey, boss. He sure flipped the switch on you fast."
"Don't worry about it. It's just the usual greeting."
Luciana answers in my place.
Henry nods several times, seeming satisfied.
"Ah ha... I see. I see. No wonder the general has it tough."
"What are you talking about? Who is the general anyway? Surely you don't mean His Majesty the Demon King...?"
Grom glares at him as if he might shoot him, and Henry whistles and shrugs.
It seems he's enjoying Grom's reaction.
The killing intent, enough to make a normal person's heart stop, is easily brushed off by him with a calm expression.
You could call it extraordinary courage.
On the other hand, Grom also refrains from any extreme actions as long as I am watching.
Even if it's a human, he understands he is a subordinate I've brought directly, so he can't be too rough.
Even while speaking emotionally, Grom's reason is functioning well.
He never attempts an outburst that would require me to step in.
He knows this better than anyone else.
That's why I trust him.
"Then let's have a shooting contest. How about the winner gets to call themselves the superior subordinate?"
"Very well. I'll make you regret defying me. Enjoy your bragging while you can."
Somewhere along the way, their conversation found a strange conclusion.
Henry leaves the audience chamber, bow in hand.
Grom followed after him, bowed, then closed the door.
Only Luciana and I remained in the room.
"Good grief, they're both such children. It's embarrassing just watching them."
Luciana sighed with an exasperated look.
I had a feeling she and Grom went through similar exchanges on a daily basis, though.
Whether this was something I should point out or not...
...was genuinely difficult to judge.
"Hmm? Demon Lord, is something wrong?"
"...No. It's nothing."
Apparently, she had no awareness of it at all.
Watching Luciana tilt her head in puzzlement, I chose to keep my mouth shut.