The new chapter begins!
I’ve finally reached this point, and the sense of accomplishment is a thrill I never tire of.
I’m clad in ceremonial armor prepared for this very day. It’s not flashy, but it’s a masterpiece imbued with the craftsmanship of giants, pursuing refined functional beauty.
The primary hue is a pale blue, with magic circle engravings at various points serving as patterns, elevating it to the realm of art.
Donning such armor, I greet this day.
“Lord Jiro, it’s time.”
“Ah.”
Escorted by a demon soldier who addressed me with respect, I step out of the luxurious room where I was waiting.
I’ve rehearsed this path countless times, so it’s steeped in déjà vu, and my heart pounds with the anticipation of being the central figure in the ceremony.
Tens of thousands of soldiers lining the passage raise their spears, and as I approach, they form a corridor by arching their long spears over me like a roof.
Perfectly synchronized movements.
As expected of the Demon Lord’s direct royal guards.
Their movements are devoid of waste, their gazes free of malice.
All that exists is the duty of a soldier and, perhaps, a flicker of envy.
Following this path, I arrive at the corridor outside the throne room, the very heart of the Demon Lord’s Castle.
A red carpet is laid out, the walls are adorned with decorations, and the sound of trumpets rings out.
In response, soldiers now draw their ceremonial swords and hold them before their chests.
I proceed down the path flanked by these soldiers.
With each step I take, I can’t suppress the pounding of my heart at what is about to occur.
Then, I stand before a colossal door, so large that even a giant would consider it excessive, and large enough for a dragon to pass through.
“Lord Jiro Tanaka has arrived! Open the gate! Open the gate!”
The soldiers guarding the gate loudly announce my arrival to those inside.
And then, the gate slowly opens.
What lies within comes into my view.
The first thing I see is the throne, positioned at an exceptionally high point within the grand hall. And seated there is the President, now the Demon Lord, no longer in his usual suit, but wearing a crown that exudes kingly presence and attire befitting his station.
Flanking him are the generals, now five in number, and Evia.
One step lower, on my left, are Suella, Memoria, and Himik, dressed in elegant attire, along with Yukiera and Sachiera seated in specially designed strollers for this ceremony. On the opposite side are Suella’s parents, Muil-san and Smilasta, along with Muil. Memoria’s parents, Gray and Miruru. And then, my surprisingly composed mother and my utterly nervous father.
Further down, the attendees, the dignitaries of this nation, line up to form a path. Among them, near the entrance, I see Kaido and his four companions, all clad in formal wear, visibly tense and somewhat overwhelmed by the solemn atmosphere.
This scene fills my vision for a few seconds.
As the gate is fully swung open, I slowly advance down the created path. The moment I take my first step, music begins to play.
Enveloped in a divine melody, I proceed, watched by all.
Despite being indoors, the path is long.
I estimate it to be at least fifty meters. The gazes I feel along the way are half cordial, and the other half are skeptical, as if they don’t quite accept it.
The President, the Demon Lord, has acknowledged me, and I have proven myself against the instructor, so they refrain from hostility. Given the historical animosity between humans and our kind, I see this as a step towards dispelling that lingering resentment. Carrying that weight, I take another step forward.
Leaving footprints on the sinking carpet, I reach my destination and kneel; the music stops.
“Hereby, we shall commence the investiture ceremony for the new General, Jiro Tanaka!”
My kneeling signals that preparations are complete, and at that moment, Evia announces the start of the ceremony with a voice that resonates throughout the throne room.
“There is a word from His Majesty. Jiro Tanaka! Raise your head!”
“Yes!”
While still kneeling, I lift my face and look at the President.
“Your Majesty.”
“Hmm.”
As he meets my gaze, the President slowly rises from his throne.
“Hereby, I shall confer the rank of General. If anyone wishes to object, speak now! Those who approve shall remain silent!”
He boldly declares that anyone with an objection should voice it here. Naturally, with the President and all the generals present, no one dares to speak out. Even the elder dignitaries lower their eyes, indicating their tacit agreement.
The President nods with satisfaction at their compliance.
“Jiro Tanaka, you are permitted to rise and ascend the stairs. Come forth!”
“Yes!”
I rise to climb the stairs leading to the throne and take a step. These stairs before me are normally accessible only to the king. However, in this nation, there are those of a certain status, besides the king, who are permitted to ascend them. That is the general. Generals are considered the nation’s strongest military asset and are guaranteed the highest rank among the Demon Lord’s close confidants. It is precisely because they are trusted and expected to act as the king’s arm that they are permitted to climb these stairs. They are different from others. This ceremony physically demonstrates a different tier of existence. Suella, my fiancé(e), and my mother are waiting mid-way up the stairs as my relatives and key figures, a symbolic appearance along the path. I ascend directly, without averting my gaze. I feel the eyes of Suella and the others, and I can faintly hear the voices of children nearby, but I continue my ascent.
Before me, at a significantly elevated position, stand the President, Evia, and the generals, including the instructor.
“Welcome, Jiro Tanaka. Proceed forward.”
“Yes!”
I was told no unnecessary words were needed, but I’ve only managed to reply with “Yes” so far. The instructor had a similar experience according to our prior instructions; I might have said something out of line if I hadn’t been told beforehand, I think to myself and slowly move forward.
“Bow your head.”
“Yes!”
As instructed, I kneel before the President and bow my head. Then, the President slowly draws the sword hanging at his waist, and its tip moves into my field of vision.
“I ask, Jiro Tanaka, for what reason do you become a general?”
“For this country.”
“I ask, Jiro Tanaka, what kind of general will you be?”
“One who can repel calamities.”
I exchange the predetermined lines with the President. After three questions, the rest is left to the course of events. I know the answers.
“I ask.”
I prepare to answer the final question. In a way, it’s a question far removed from modern times.
“Jiro Tanaka, can you give your life for this country?”
“For my loved ones, for the beings born in this country, and to protect the nation, I shall offer my life.”
To a modern person, this might sound outdated and laughable, but in this country, such a declaration requires the resolve to actually carry it out. If there were any falsehood in my earnest words, the President’s blade would cut me down on the spot. Evia told me so, and for this moment, I spoke these words without any lie. I will no longer die a peaceful death in Japan. I have sworn to be a monster, having taken dragon blood into my human form, and to stay by the side of the women of this otherworld. Even if a future filled with the possibility of death in battle awaits, I have vowed to move forward.
The blade, which had momentarily disappeared from my sight, is placed on my shoulder.
“I see you have the resolve to bear the life of this nation. I appoint you General, the Human King.”
Thus, the President declared. The Human King, written as Jin’ō. The moment a general of the Demon Lord’s Army was born from a human.
The first sound I hear is thunderous applause from right beside me, right behind the President. It’s the sound of the instructor’s large palms and powerful physique. Following suit, the other generals begin to clap, and gradually, the applause spreads throughout the venue, eventually becoming a roaring ovation as if everyone present were clapping. This signifies my acceptance as a general of this nation.
“Now!! Blessings for the new General!”
Finally, the President’s resounding declaration is met with a grand fanfare of trumpets.
“Stand, Human King. You are now a general of this nation.”
As the President prompts me, I stand up. I’m then urged to turn, and as I do, I see a multitude of people clapping and offering their blessings.
“Very well, we shall move. Follow me.”
Evia says this, and I begin to move with the President and the other generals through a passage beside the throne.
“Well, things are about to get hectic now.”
As we walk side by side, the President speaks to me in a slightly lowered voice.
“Next, we will show yourself to the populace. Many citizens are already gathered in the plaza, and during the subsequent parade, a large crowd will surely flock to see your face. Furthermore, many nobles desire to attend tonight’s celebratory banquet. And even after the banquet, with your appointment as General, various appointments with lords will continue ceaselessly for some time.”
The President conveys my future schedule with a voice tinged with joy, as if he’s pleased that I will be busy. There’s a certain nuance to it, similar to my former senpai at the company who invited me into this world of death marches, calling it a “black world.”
“I will do my best to handle it.”
Unable to point out the emotional aspect of his words, I offer a safe response. The President nods his head approvingly, seemingly unconcerned.
“Do your best. Now, I have one piece of advice.”
“Advice?”
With a cheerful expression and a playful glint in his eyes, the President, without looking away from the path ahead, says, “Take care of your health. Raidou is eager for a rematch with you, and the Dragon King is looking to challenge you to a match. Matches between generals fall under my jurisdiction, so please avoid any scandals.”
He then explains the meaning behind the intense gazes I’ve been receiving. The fighting spirit emanating from those gazes, which I’d felt since arriving at the throne room, almost made my face twitch, but I managed to postpone the issue, assuming I would be safe at least until the ceremony concluded today.
“…I will handle it appropriately.”
Having secured my mental peace by saying this, I can only offer a dejected response, despite having just become a general. It’s because, whether I choose the instructor or the Dragon King, a fight awaits that will not result in minor injuries. At worst, I could die.
If you ask me if I’m looking forward to it, I won’t deny that I feel a sense of anticipation. However, my footing as a general is not yet solid. I can’t afford to suffer an injury right at the outset and have my momentum crushed. The President likely caught wind of my thoughts, but he continued walking with a smile, not saying a word, probably looking forward to seeing how I would handle things.
Thinking I’ve ended up with a difficult superior, I walk on, and the end of the passage comes into view.
“Now, Jiro-kun, let’s go.”
Together with the President, I step out of the passage. The general murmur abruptly quiets, and all eyes turn to me. Everyone was waiting for the birth of a new general. After a few seconds, the murmurs begin to resume.
“Citizens! In the name of Insigne Runallos, I declare: This individual is the new General, the Human King!”
Gathering all the gazes onto myself, he makes his declaration, then turns his gaze to me.
“A flashy one, please.”
He winks. Hesitating, wondering if I should really do this, I recall Evia’s instruction during rehearsals to put on a spectacular show to demonstrate my abilities to the populace. After much deliberation, I step forward and raise my right hand.
“Amaterasu.”
On my palm, I create a minuscule sun. At first, the small flame startles the citizens, but I don’t pay it any mind and launch it high into the sky. In this world, where night is the norm, this small light ascends, and the moment I judged it to have reached a safe altitude, I unleash the compressed Amaterasu as a miniature sun.
“White.”
What is created is a world of white night. For a mere few seconds, undeniable light illuminated the entire world. The sky turned blue, and a white radiance shone in its center. The citizens gasped at the immense magical power contained within, their eyes captivated by the presence radiating warm light. As the light gradually recedes and the world returns to its nightly state.
“Waaaaaaaahhhhhh!!!!”
A thunderous roar erupts.
“Not bad.”
Receiving a mark of approval from the President, I feel a sense of relief in my heart.
Today’s word:
Beginnings are always by your side.
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I am currently serializing another work: Pandora Pandemic Panic. The Pandora’s Box has been reopened, but I am fighting back with secret bases and various other endeavors!! Please check it out as well!!
