One day, a report arrived via telepathy from an undercover agent.
It seemed there had been an enemy attack on a domain outside the continent.
A local army, aiming to reclaim the land, had launched an invasion.
I reviewed the compiled battle intelligence.
The location was a frigid land north of this continent, across the sea.
In that perpetually snow-covered country, we had long received reports of strong resentment toward the Demon Army.
This time, they appeared to have orchestrated a major rebellion.
The domain in question was in the midst of a defensive battle.
Utilizing the undead we had pre-deployed, they were minimizing damage while requesting reinforcements from our side.
Fortunately, the command structure was functioning properly, and they were taking the optimal actions.
According to the agent who sent the report, they could hold out smoothly for half a day.
That said, waiting for that long was pointless.
I immediately contacted my subordinates via telepathy.
As a result, Henry, Grom, and Yura, three in total, would be dispatched.
They each assembled their subordinates as reinforcements.
Once preparations were complete, I transported them to the location.
As military force, it was impeccable.
There was nothing for me to worry about.
I was about to return to my desk work with peace of mind when Luciana spoke to me.
"Oh, by the way, I heard you were going to test a new weapon this time. Why don't you, Demon Lord, take a break and go see how it goes?"
"There's no need. Just give me the report afterward."
"You've barely left the office lately. You should take this as a chance to get some fresh air and observe the battlefield."
"Hmm..."
After thinking it over, I decided to follow Luciana's advice.
I understood she was expressing concern in her own way.
I was probably more tired than I realized.
In cases like this, it's best to simply take the advice.
And perhaps seeing the battlefield might spark some new idea.
It was a tasteless remark, finding relaxation in watching people die, but it was nothing new at this point.
I don't dislike slaughter.
Deep in my heart, I still harbored a smoldering hatred for humanity.
Since becoming the Demon Lord, it had become an indelible emotion clinging to me.
It was a rather filthy nature, but there was no denying it.
And yet, I had chosen to continue being the Demon Lord.
I would confront my true feelings and tend to my mental hygiene.
I tidied my desk simply, then teleported to the battlefield.
As the reports indicated, an expanse of snowy plains stretched before me.
Below, a gray fortress stood tall.
Surrounded by multiple layers of outer walls, my subordinates scrambled about in a flurry.
That was the land under the Demon Army's control.
This is one of the strongholds on this continent.
Casting my gaze a bit further, I could confirm the local army.
They were assaulting the fortress, struggling to breach the first outer wall.
The Demon Lord's army countered by sending in a massive number of undead.
They seemed to be executing a delaying action quite effectively.
The local forces made heavy use of magic and arrows.
Though few, they also possessed what looked like cannons.
Shells were fired in high arcs, arcing down toward the fortress.
However, they were blocked by the defensive magic that was constantly deployed.
The stationed magicians, rotating shifts, were maintaining the barrier.
From the shadows, they were bolstering the fortress's defensive capabilities.
In the courtyard within the fortress, the reinforcement troops I had sent ahead earlier were mustering.
Henry was shouting orders vigorously, leading his subordinates toward the first outer wall.
Meanwhile, Grom had ascended alone into the sky.
Upon spotting me midway, his posture instantly straightened.
From there, Grom began emanating a vast amount of mana.
He seemed quite eager.
A dense miasma was swirling around him.
(I hope he doesn't overdo it...)
While a sliver of unease stirred within me, Grom took position high in the sky.
He spread his eight arms wide and let out a roar.
Black flames erupted from his maw and scattered into the air.
The flames, now fine as rain, poured over the fortress grounds and onto the snowfield beyond.
A chain of thunderous booms shook the atmosphere.
The black fire pierced through defensive magic and detonated right in the midst of the local army.
They were suffering catastrophic damage.
Soldiers struck by the black flames screamed and scattered in every direction.
Comrades tried to extinguish the fires, but they would not die out.
Those who burned to death eventually rose again as undead.
And then turned on the very soldiers beside them.
The local army was thrown into utter chaos.
Undead had erupted right at the midpoint, splitting the army in two from front to rear.
Their command structure was paralyzed, and no coordination could be seen in their overall movements.
Breaking through the outer wall was the least of their concerns now.
Grom did not fire a second shot. He folded his arms and watched in silence.
Had he unleashed his full power, that single strike would have reduced the entire army to cinders.
He had dialed back the force—pressuring them into retreat.
I had been a little worried, but it seemed Grom had his own plan.
As I observed the local army falling into disarray, Yura came up beside me.
She tilted her head and peered up at my face.
"A question for the Master—why did you come to the battlefield? The forces required for interception are already excessive."
"I simply wanted to observe a little. You need not worry."
"Understood the Master's purpose—I will demonstrate the results of my training. I request your evaluation after the battle."
With that, Yura extended both her hands, focusing her will.
Before long, changes arose in the magic circulating within the fortress.
The entire area settled into a uniform concentration, creating an environment optimal for spellcasting.
It seemed Yura had manipulated the mana to reduce the burden on the mages.
Further shifts occurred near the outer walls as well.
Pushing aside the accumulated snow, countless vines extended upwards.
The now net-like vines clung densely to the wall and halted their growth.
It appeared she used spirit magic to manipulate the plants, reinforcing the outer wall's defenses.
Similar phenomena were occurring across the entire wall.
(She chose rear support after considering her own abilities, then?)
Direct violence was already sufficiently handled by Grom and Henry.
Having perceived this, Yura had apparently determined the optimal action on her own judgment.
It was something inconceivable when they first met.
It seemed she, too, had grown within the environment of the Demon Lord's Army.