A meeting room in the royal palace.
Seated at the round table were just Luciana and myself.
Grom stood with impeccable posture.
He had, for some reason, fitted himself with a monocle.
Though he possessed a minotaur's skull, he had managed to position it quite well.
Flipping through paper documents, Grom began to speak.
"Then, shall we commence the war council concerning the future of the Demon Lord's domain? Is that acceptable?"
"No objections. Proceed."
"Understood."
Grom bowed with a refined grace.
It was a sophisticated gesture that brought a butler to mind.
On the other hand, Luciana, resting her cheek on her hand, wore a mischievous smirk.
She had seized the perfect moment to needle Grom.
"That glasses doesn't suit you."
"You wretched brat... to disrupt my chairmanship like this... you have some nerve..."
Grom flared with rage, flames spewing from his eye sockets.
The overwhelming heat melted the monocle.
Since this would prevent any further discussion, I had no choice but to intervene.
"Grom."
"Yes!"
"Continue."
"Understood!"
Grom answered crisply, then peeled away the shattered remnants of the monocle.
Next, I turned my attention to Luciana, who had let her guard down.
"You too, Luciana. Don't provoke them for no reason."
"...Fine."
Luciana replied listlessly.
She seemed appropriately remorseful.
Grom directed his gaze to the round table.
A large map was spread across it.
It was a rough depiction of the continent.
Beside the map sat several pieces.
Models crafted by magic, sorted into various colors.
Grom picked up the pieces and arranged them on the map.
"Currently, most of the Kingdom's territory has been overrun by the Demon Lord's domain. It is no exaggeration to say that de facto conquest is complete."
"The borders and some of the great lords' domains remain unconquered."
"No, no. Their subjugation is merely a matter of time. Their supply lines are cut. Without lifting a finger, they will surely surrender eventually."
Grom held a black piece.
With it, he flicked over an isolated blue piece, knocking it down.
He placed the black piece in its stead.
Grom then traced his finger across the map, following the areas where pieces of colors other than black were placed.
Viewed as a whole, the affected area was vast.
The black pieces occupied only a very small portion.
"Our next targets for attack will be the surrounding nations. This is correct, is it not?"
"Yes, that's right."
When I nodded, Grom pointed to a spot on the map.
"Among the many nations, there is one that requires immediate attention. It is this small state."
"I've heard about the small state from Luciana as well."
When I turned the conversation to her, she showed a cool smile.
"That's right. I had some quiet investigations conducted."
Luciana stood and gave a rough explanation.
A small state bordering the southwest of the kingdom was making suspicious moves.
This information had only arrived very recently.
It was said they were massing troops along the border with the kingdom.
They likely wanted to recapture the fallen Royal Capital and, if possible, expand their territory.
Having been decisively defeated by the kingdom in a past war, the small state had been treated as something akin to a vassal.
Due to the fall of the Royal Capital, they had now, by chance, achieved independence.
Perhaps because of this sequence of events, they were ignoring my summons to submit.
According to a succubus sent to scout, their equipment was strangely well-ordered.
From this, suspicion was strong that they were receiving military support from another nation.
As for the small nations, we intend to charge in and occupy them in one fell swoop.
This will be our first offensive from outside our borders.
We planned to seize control without letting our guard down.
"---And so, the small nations receiving foreign support seem to be starting an invasion into the Demon King's territory. We would like to crush that beforehand. Well? Any additional comments?"
"Grrrrr..."
Before the victorious Luciana, Grom grumbled in frustration.
I felt like asking what competition they were even having.
Noticing my gaze, Grom deliberately cleared his throat.
Despite being just bones, he was rather deft.
"---Just as that succubus explained, we should annihilate the small nations. Demon King, your decision."
"It is decided. We will destroy them."
I answered without hesitation.
The spirit of the small nations trying to slay the Demon King wasn't bad.
However, the method of reducing it to a proxy war, pushing the sacrifices and responsibility onto the small nations—I cannot approve of that from other countries.
There must be various intricate circumstances and power dynamics between nations, but to me, it doesn't matter.
This is a move that will drag the entire world into it.
It's about time humanity started to feel a genuine sense of crisis.
They must stop convincing themselves it's always someone else's problem.
Currently, destroying a few small nations wouldn't affect the majority.
It isn't a place directly tied to humanity's survival.
Rather, allowing myself to be turned into a mere errand boy for the surrounding nations would be troublesome.
The wisest course is to encourage their early exit.
As small nations, they will serve as nourishment for the path to peace.
"Truly, Demon Lord! Let us begin preparations immediately! I await your orders!"
"I'll do my best too, so just let me know if you need anything."
Grom and Luciana were brimming with enthusiasm.
Perhaps they had been eagerly awaiting the chance for foreign invasion.
Thus, the meeting concluded, and preparations for war began.
◆
The audience chamber, deep in the night.
Seated upon the throne, I gaze at the crystal placed beside it.
Within it, sealed remains lie dormant.
I touch the surface of the crystal, but feel nothing.
Inexplicably, my power does not manifest.
"Hero, you are..."
I trail off, leaving the sentence unfinished, and close my mouth.
My power has grown stronger with each successive invasion.
Yet, despite that, I cannot resurrect her.
Is it because the necessary preparations to welcome her back are not yet complete?
If I lay the foundation for world peace, I want to believe we can meet again.
I will build the world she envisioned.
Only I can make it a reality.
"――Your Majesty? Demon Lord!"
Someone was calling.
I came back to my senses upon hearing it.
Before me stood a minotaur with flames in its eye sockets.
"...What is it, Grom? Is it time already?"
"Yes. That is why I came to call you... but are you feeling unwell?"
"My apologies. I was merely lost in thought."
When I apologized, Grom waved his hand exaggeratedly.
"Not at all! It is I who should apologize for interrupting the Demon Lord's thoughts."
"It is nothing of consequence. Do not worry about it."
I rose from my throne.
I crossed the room and made for the castle balcony.
From the balcony, I gazed down at the ground below.
Under the moonlight, I could see monsters standing in formation.
This was the reborn Demon Lord's army, after ten years.
Those who loved conflict.
Those who desired vengeance against humanity.
And those who thought to repay me.
The motivations of those gathered here are varied.
Of course, what they think doesn't matter.
The task I will ask of them is the same for all.
"What a sight."
"Everyone is eagerly awaiting your words, Demon Lord."
"Is that so."
I gather my resolve at Grom's words.
This is a critical moment.
It will greatly influence how I exist as the Demon Lord.
Beside me, Grom raised his voice toward the army of monsters.
"Silence. The Demon Lord will now speak. Listen carefully."
Silence descended upon the scene.
Only the sound of hundreds of breaths could be heard.
With a quiet heat, all eyes were fixed upon me.
I accepted their gaze with dignity.
"Once, there was a man called a Sage. He was a human who, alongside the Hero, survived countless death battles, and in the end, destroyed a Demon Lord."
"..."
I felt Grom gasp beside me.
I continued without heeding him.
"The Sage's end is of no importance. However, the truth he discovered is worth considering."
So I spread my arms wide.
The monsters' reactions were poor.
They hadn't grasped the direction of the conversation and wore indescribable expressions.
After allowing enough of a pause, I resumed speaking.
"In this current world, countless evils run rampant. Everyone is permitted to kick others down, blame them unjustly, and revel in doing so—and they desire it."
I felt anger and killing intent from the monsters.
Those listening to my words seemed to each recall something.
Those memories must have been bitter ones.
"We are victims. Beings discarded by the flow of the times."
There was no reply.
Yet, a strong sense of empathy filled the room.
This was a promising turn, not a bad one at all.
I clenched my fists and declared to them:
"Is there no means left for the discarded to resist? The answer is no."
I let miasma leak from my skin.
A pitch-black that was recognizable even in the dark night flickered ceaselessly like flame.
The monsters murmured in awe.
"We can rally ourselves. If the world rejects us, we simply have to crush it."
I struck the balcony railing, waiting for the monsters' response.
As if responding to that, a desperate longing began to mix into the gazes fixed on me.
This is evidence that the emotions within them are stirred.
An excitement that could burst forth at any moment fills the air.
With clear and forceful words, I expose each one.
"The time for trampling has come. Stain your body and soul with evil. Become a fragment of the surging history. Behold the manifestation of the new Demon Lord."
Someone in the horde groans, caught up in the fervor.
It is not from pain.
It is irrepressible joy.
With that as a starting point, silence begins to crack with sound.
The swelling impulse is nearing its breaking point.
Sensing this, I seize the moment to pose the question.
"We shall become the one and absolute evil. Are you prepared for that?"
The next instant, a roar like a peal of thunder erupts.
The emotions of the monsters have finally exploded.
The ground shakes, and a commotion that could pierce the sky ensues.
After witnessing a burst of this frenzy, I raise one hand straight into the air.
That alone is enough to make the monsters fall silent.
They are concentrating intently, not wanting to miss a single word.
I stop the emanating miasma and declare.
"Very well. You are now the servants of the current Demon Lord. Wield your brutal power to your heart's content. We are evil. There is no need for restraint. Discard pointless justifications and run wild to your instincts."
The horde of monsters surges with fervor once more.
Cheers or screams rose up from all around. Before long they merged into a unified chorus praising the Demon Lord, and unending acclamation filled the night in the Royal Capital. Listening to them, I returned from the balcony to the darkened interior of the room.
Grom offered his praise in an obsequious tone.
"Truly, that was a splendid oration. As expected of the Demon Lord."
"I merely fanned the flames. They do not know my true purpose."
When I said this, Grom's demeanor grew awkward. Though showing some hesitation, he inquired in a low voice.
"...Is it not necessary to inform them?"
"One never knows where information might leak. Even our allies must not learn of it."
Having considered the current situation, I decided against speaking aloud the true world peace. The moment this was revealed to the human side, my position as Demon Lord would crumble away. It fails to instill true terror and the premonition of destruction in humans. For that reason, I should not reveal the truth to my subordinates. My policy was to confide only in a select few like Grom and Luciana.
Tonight's speech would send the monsters into a frenzy of slaughter. My role was to rein them in.
"You have chosen a harsh path..."
"Do you think me a fool?"
At my self-mocking words, Grom quietly shook his head.
"Surely not. There is no one more kind than you."
"Kind, you say. What a strange jest."
"..."
Grom falls silent.
I had given too sharp a retort.
Apologizing would only make him more uncomfortable, so I headed briskly for the exit.
"I will rest for a while. Call out if you need anything."
"Y-yes, understood."
With those words from my capable subordinate at my back, I left the room.