The Demon Lord, faced with this space, felt like asking if some funeral or unfortunate event had occurred.
However, that feeling wasn’t one of deep concern, but rather a mixture of exasperation and amusement.
This conference room was for the upper echelons of the Demon Lord’s Army, comprising those who held positions in politics rather than the military.
These were individuals with power, unlike the generals. While their combat abilities were no match for the generals, they excelled in governance.
Among them, a power broker, likely among the top ten, arrived in a hurry, only to be met with a heavy atmosphere.
The Demon Lord, having already grasped the reason for their presence, found himself considering waiting until they initiated the conversation, finding it amusing. Just then, one of the power brokers opened their mouth, heavy with unspoken words.
“So, what are your intentions regarding this matter, my Lord?”
“Intentions? I’m simply going to proceed with the plan as decided.”
The words that came from his mouth were an indirect denial.
“You might not have been present to witness it, but I saw the outcome of the battle with my own eyes. Indeed, the potential of a Hero is terrifying. In just a few years, he not only fought evenly with Raidou, but also concluded the battle with only minor injuries. Even I would find it difficult to achieve such a feat, yet he accomplished it. This couldn’t have been done without extraordinary effort; it can be called a great achievement.”
The Demon Lord recounted the events with a smile, showing no emotional reaction. The upper echelon members desired to voice their concerns about this power, deeming it dangerous, but they knew that doing so at this moment would be a foolish move.
After all, Jiro Tanaka, as a human, was conspicuous, for better or worse. His actions could be investigated, and his behavior since joining the Demon Lord’s Army had all contributed to the organization’s benefit.
Naturally, some attempted to uncover any hidden motives, and others suspected him of concealing his true nature.
However, all their efforts proved futile. Up until now, Jiro Tanaka’s only flaw had been his lack of certain abilities, a flaw that was now negated by this selection.
The problem of his human race was also addressed, with the presence of Dragon Blood indicating a being outside the human framework. Most importantly, the beings who were close to him were unable to portray Jiro Tanaka as an enemy of the Demon Lord’s Army.
At the very least, the Dark Elves could be considered his allies. Everyone in this room knew the fact that Muil Handelburg, a hero, had become his guardian.
With that, his position could be considered secured.
Furthermore, if results were shown, the Demon Lord’s Army would have no other choice but to reward them. If anyone were to object to his not being appointed General based on these results, they would need to provide valid reasons.
According to the initial plan, he was expected to be defeated by Oni King and Dragon King. Even if he won, he would be opposed on the grounds of lacking an organizational base as a secondary strategy. However, that was no longer possible.
“Besides, I hear he has quite a few supporters. The Toris Trading Company is a well-known example, but there are also several local nobles who have come forward as supporters?”
Indeed, the one backing Jiro Tanaka’s supporters was the Demon Lord himself, wearing a smug smile.
Ordinarily, for individuals present, even a minor noble with little land or power would hesitate to interfere in such matters.
There was a reason why they could declare this so boldly.
“At least, from what I’ve heard, it’s more than enough to fill both my hands.”
The old men present shared a common sentiment: “That wily fox.” Their relationship with the Demon Lord was far from amicable.
It was a perilous situation for the organization, but their mutual understanding of their respective domains maintained a delicate balance.
The Demon Lord’s power in this world was overwhelming. If anyone were to try to defeat him, even his generals, his closest subordinates, would become their enemies. Ordinary troops would be easily defeated, and gathering enough force to challenge him would be unrealistic.
Conversely, the Demon Lord himself could not afford to expel all the powerful lords who had ruled their lands for so long, as it would cripple the country.
Therefore, they had been operating the country while probing each other’s intentions.
This matter, for the elders of the upper echelon, had been an excellent opportunity to curb the Demon Lord’s power. However, the result had ironically been the acquisition of new combat power for the Demon Lord.
The elders’ forces, who had also plotted to defeat the Dragon King, their other hope, were not completely annihilated, but they were repelled with overwhelming force and were on the verge of defeat due to time constraints.
“Well, when that barrier was erected, I thought I wouldn’t be able to witness the outcome of this battle. I’m glad a few familiars managed to infiltrate it. Thanks to them, I was able to see the course of the fight clearly.”
Furthermore, they could not even accuse him of any wrongdoing. Originally, it was thought that the familiars projecting the scene of the current venue would be obstructed by the barrier, preventing them from witnessing Jiro and Oni King Raidou’s battle.
Had that happened, these elders would have found some reason to delay, and then, with fabricated evidence, they would have prevented Jiro from assuming the position of General.
Whether he was aware of this or not, a certain spirit’s thoughtful intervention prevented this from happening.
“Well, it’s time.”
And then, the bell signaling the end of the selection exam rang out in vain. The venue, visible through the projection, lit up all at once, and all participants remaining in the room were enveloped in the light and teleported away.
“As you have all seen, this is the result. Only one participant managed to defeat a current General. We intend to conduct selections for General positions in the future, but first, we must proceed with his inauguration ceremony.”
The outcome concluded as if everything was within the Demon Lord’s grasp. The elders, grinding their teeth in frustration, showed no signs of their displeasure dissipating.
Feeling their reactions from his back, the Demon Lord gazed at the video feed of a particular location.
There, Jiro was supporting the injured Oni King, helping him out of a hole. As if to escape with the Oni King, who had lost half his body and could barely move, the two were laughing merrily.
Thinking that something had happened and that he would inquire about it later, the Demon Lord acknowledged that a new General had been born.
“Now, everyone, do you have any objections to this outcome?”
The Demon Lord’s words, though seemingly gentle, carried an implied meaning.
“You have no intention of objecting to this decision, do you?”
Although it appeared to be a kind request for agreement, the elders, understanding the underlying message, maintained their facade and replied.
“Yes, indeed. We are delighted by the emergence of a new General.”
The implied meaning was: “We were outmaneuvered this time, but don’t expect it to go so smoothly next time.” The elders outwardly agreed to Jiro’s appointment as General while concealing their frustration.
“I see. Then I am relieved.”
Although he had orchestrated much of it, defeating a current General was a testament to his prowess. While pleased by this, the Demon Lord silently watched Jiro and the others teleport away.
Only the empty venue remained after they disappeared.
“Well then, the next matter would be where he will govern.”
He couldn’t dwell on this scene forever. With a new General decided, the next steps involved managing a Dungeon and discussing a territory befitting a General’s position.
“Indeed.”
The elders were convinced that the Demon Lord would be the one to benefit from this discussion. It was obvious that Jiro belonged to the Demon Lord’s faction.
If there were anyone among them associated with the elders’ side, the situation might be different, but such hypothetical scenarios were irrelevant here.
What was needed was a discussion about the land to be granted to the new General.
Currently, there was not enough land on the continent to be divided. While undeveloped areas existed, they were either inhabited by packs of wild monsters or were unattractive in terms of resources and territory. In short, all the lucrative lands were already occupied.
If there was no land available, it would have to be transferred from those who possessed it. Knowing this flow, the elders began to consider how to shift their own damages onto someone else present.
The Demon Lord’s Army was filled with factions that reluctantly acknowledged the Demon Lord’s rule but were always ready to betray him if the opportunity arose. However, the anti-Demon Lord forces were not united.
Each faction had its own agenda, ideology, and ambitions.
Who would willingly cede land to Jiro, a human?
The least disruptive solution would be to grant Jiro land directly under the Demon Lord’s jurisdiction, or perhaps grant him the territory of Nordis, the homeland of one of his fiancées, Evia.
This was not the best outcome for the elders, but it was one with minimal damage.
The best outcome, of course, would have been for Jiro’s appointment as General to fall through, allowing one of their own forces to be appointed. However, that course of action had been thwarted by Jiro.
In that case, there was no point in dwelling on it any longer. The elders’ minds raced with calculations, and they immediately began considering which territory would be most convenient and least damaging to them, unaware that the Demon Lord had anticipated their thoughts.
“Therefore, everyone, I have an idea.”
Naturally, a “good idea” from the Demon Lord would not be in the elders’ favor. Not a single person present took the Demon Lord’s words at face value.
Evia, standing by the Demon Lord’s side, knew what he was about to say. She silently praised Jiro for his performance in the battle and felt a sense of sympathy for the Demon Lord’s upcoming words.
“An ambassador of goodwill to Earth, and a base for interaction with Earth.”
With a snap of his fingers, the image on the screen, which had been showing the venue, suddenly changed.
It was a plan, or rather, a blueprint. It displayed mechanical structures and images of nature.
“How about we grant him the territory of an artificial island to be constructed five kilometers southeast of the Tokyo metropolitan area, where we are based in Japan?”
This occurred while Jiro was establishing his own organization and securing his base with Muil by his side. During that time, the Demon Lord had been engaged in negotiations with both the American Government and the Japanese Government, securing permission to build an artificial island within Japan’s territorial waters.
This also signified the Demon Lord’s Army, as beings from another world, announcing themselves to Earth.
A notification had already been sent through the Japanese Government to UN member states, and the world of the clandestine had been informed through the Japan Shiju Jutsu Association.
Despite various opinions for and against it, the speed with which permission was granted to establish a base was a testament to the Demon Lord’s skill.
The elders, realizing they had been outmaneuvered, harbored silent anger.
“My Lord! Isn’t that too sudden?!”
Among them, one elder stood up, unable to overlook such a proposal.
“Then, would you be willing to cede your territory?”
With that one question, the elder’s words were silenced. Diplomatic relations with Earth provided the Demon Lord’s Army with various resources and information.
Science offered equal power to all. The Demon Lord’s Army had achieved significant advancements by acquiring these technologies, and Earth was a veritable treasure trove. The lack of mana in Earth’s atmosphere was a bottleneck that prevented outright conquest, and research was ongoing to find ways to operate there permanently without mana. In essence, Earth was a world brimming with treasures before their eyes. Even in the field of agriculture alone, the technologies available could lead to breakthroughs for the Demon Lord’s Army. Granting the Demon Lord the means to acquire such technologies was a difficult pill to swallow.
However.
“If not, please take your seat. I have no intention of confiscating your territories.”
The Demon Lord had anticipated that the elders would voice their objections. He had also strategized on how to prevent them from interfering in his negotiations with Earth. Pushing for Jiro’s Generalship was merely a pretext. The true objective was to bring Earth’s diplomatic relations under the Demon Lord’s control. Had Jiro lost the selection, he would have devised another method, but he was relieved that his efforts had not been in vain.
“Then, everyone, let us discuss.”
Everyone present understood that this would be a one-sided conversation, a thorough domination. The Demon Lord, having achieved victory on all fronts, smiled.
Today’s quote: True intentions should be kept hidden.
Thank you for your usual feedback and corrections of typos. If you find this interesting, please leave your comments, ratings, and bookmarks.
Another work is currently being serialized: Pandora Pandemic Panic. Pandora’s Box has been reopened, but we are fighting back with various activities in our secret base!! Please also give it your support!!
