Approximately seventy days later, the entire Republic had been reclaimed by humanity.
The Demon Lord's domain returned to its former size, and the surrounding nations celebrated their victory with renewed vigor.
The appearance of the heroes must have played a significant part.
The Valkyrie and the Steel Knight had fought tirelessly across countless battlefields.
According to reports, their prowess was legendary—one warrior matching a thousand.
The presence of tangible hope made a profound difference.
The people welcomed it wholeheartedly.
Perhaps influenced by this current, rumors even began to circulate that the Demon Lord was dead.
It was likely because I had not shown myself on the battlefield.
This infuriated Grom.
He apparently felt that I had been insulted.
He wasn't entirely wrong, so I couldn't deny it outright.
For a time, he nearly razed the nation where the rumor originated.
It was exceedingly difficult to talk him out of it.
Should Grom become truly serious, no nation could withstand him.
Before such overwhelming power, one could only await death.
The people had finally found hope.
Snuffing it out prematurely would be a poor move.
It was not the desirable way.
They, too, wished to cling to a convenient interpretation.
If it weren't for that, I would be mentally exhausted.
The reality of the Demon Lord using the undead to destroy the world is not something one wants to accept.
One would even want to believe the rumor that the source of it all had died.
Ten years ago, I witnessed that kind of world.
This recapture campaign was entirely beneficial for the Demon Lord's domain.
It was, in essence, a calculated defeat.
With the territorial contraction, the surveillance range narrowed.
As a result, management within the domain became easier.
The state of occupying the entire Republic was clearly excessive.
Though it was unavoidable given the circumstances, it brought us considerable disadvantages.
By relinquishing the unnecessary territories, the current Demon Lord's domain has regained stability.
While there are sporadic movements aiming for independence in various regions, the succubi led by Luciana work in the shadows to keep the damage to the absolute minimum.
Specifically, they charm influential figures and implant suggestions to ensure they do not oppose the Demon Lord's army.
It is not about creating complete puppets, but merely about subtly shifting their consciousness.
Even so, the effect should be outstanding.
Furthermore, once undead were dispatched to several cities, there were no more incidents escalating into riots.
The people who eliminated the undead suddenly became docile.
Confronted with the threat, they regained their composure, and our warnings seem to have gotten through.
The people within the domain have been reminded of the terror of the Demon Lord's army.
This is a good thing.
If we let them trample over us too much, there will be more who take foolish actions.
Occasionally, a light warning might be necessary.
Despite some minor disturbances, the Demon Lord's Domain was running without issue.
In contrast, the recovered Republic had its territory partitioned.
It was said that the countries which participated in this battle would each manage their portion.
One might have expected disputes over the division, but it was decided with surprisingly little debate.
However, regarding the regions bordering the Demon Lord's Domain, no country wanted to claim them.
No one knew when I might strike back in revenge.
Apparently, they didn't want to waste valuable military assets in such a dangerous zone.
In the end, it nominally became the territory of the Holy Staff Nation.
In practice, they had withdrawn their troops, leaving it largely abandoned.
Driven by fear, the people from those regions fled and became refugees.
In a separate matter, the northern part of the former Demonkin Territory had somehow been occupied by another country.
It was said to have become shared territory between the Holy Staff Nation and the Magitech Nation.
They had invaded during the recapture battle.
Perhaps they wanted the Republic's territory to be contiguous with theirs.
Though it was nothing but barren wasteland, its strategic location was undeniably important.
The two nations must have been determined to secure it.
The ruler of that former Demonkin Territory, Diera, wasn't particularly concerned about it.
It was said she wasn't considering retaliation or sanctions.
As far as she was concerned, her dwelling was not to be disturbed.
If her territory’s edge was chipped away, it was neither here nor there.
In truth, Diera had made almost no use of the former demon territory’s land.
She still possessed no home of her own.
She had once attempted construction, but it was said to have collapsed within three days under wind and rain.
She had spent that day sulking in the Demon Lord’s castle, so the memory stuck.
Since then, she had continued sleeping and staying in the ruins dotting the wasteland.
And she frequently visited the Demon Lord’s domain.
I had thought she could simply live here, but Diera would not do it.
I had made casual suggestions, but she refused each time.
According to her, she disliked a life dependent on someone else.
Perhaps that was a remnant of the previous Demon Lord’s stubborn pride.
Even now, she seemed quite dependent, but Diera must have her own set of standards.
I decided not to press the matter.
Setting Diera aside, the movements of the various nations had unfolded as I had planned.
With losses minimized, the Demon Lord’s army had successfully maneuvered to position itself for what comes next.
It could be called having weathered one storm.
The people living in the Royal Capital were said to be anxious after hearing the news of the consecutive defeats, but that too was on a minor scale.
Aside from the recapture battle, the Demon Lord’s army had continued to win.
With that established reputation, no one was worried about my demise.
It seems he has been able to build up enough accomplishments to be worthy of the title of next Demon King.
One such day, I had been in the library since morning.
Paperwork had finally settled down, and I thought I might enjoy some reading as a change of pace.
A day like this now and then was surely no bad thing.
Taking a break is an important thing to do.
As I picked up volumes and made my rounds through the room, I heard the sound of the door opening at the entrance.
Unusual for this hour.
The number of people permitted entry was limited, so who could it be?
I stopped in my tracks and waited, and two visitors appeared.
It was Diera and Grom.
Not a combination one saw often.
I would see them interact on occasion, but they rarely moved about together.
Diera, striding about as if she owned the place, greeted me in a familiar tone.
"Dwight, I have arrived."
"Is that so."
"My Lord Demon King, I am terribly sorry. I tried to stop her, but she simply would not listen, no matter what I did..."
Grom bowed low in apology.
He must have tried to restrain her any number of times.
Feeling sorry for him, I offered words of support.
"Don't worry about it. If it's Diera, there's nothing to be done."
"If it's me, there's nothing to be done about it—what's that supposed to mean?"
Diela thrust her fist upward, practically radiating dissatisfaction.
At that moment, Grom closed in with long strides.
He swayed the flame in his single eye as he declared:
"Predecessor. The Demon Lord is growing tired of your regrettable remarks."
"Guh—no need to be so blunt..."
"This is the library. Take your bickering somewhere else."
I cast a sharp warning at the two hostile figures.
If a fight broke out, the library would bear the brunt.
Having precious books burned was a loss we couldn't afford.
Once they both stopped moving, I turned to Diela.
"Did you visit me for some business?"
"That's right—I completely forgot."
Diela's smile deepened.
Seeing that expression, I had a sudden, unpleasant feeling.
She pointed at me and declared loudly:
"Tonight, the executives are holding a feast. You're forced to attend."