We live at the foothills of Dragon Peak.
The Throne of Domination.
“So, do you know his movements?”
“A report has come in that he returned to the Demon Capital after crushing Count Bagrad’s close relatives.”
“Does that mean Count Bagrad’s family is annihilated?”
“Damn you, Gillar…”
The demon capital, which had lost its ruler who had reigned for many years, and then a new ruler who appeared briefly had passed through.
In a corner of the devastated city, multiple demons gathered in a mansion where residents had long since fled.
However, the expressions of the gathered demons were uniformly grim.
When Gillar, a high-ranking demon who had disappeared for a time, returned to the Demon Capital, he quickly brought the surrounding area under his control.
“What I hate is that demon sword, Bielmear. It is said to be the last and greatest demon sword forged by the sword master Bielmear. If only we had that, we would have had a chance to strike back.”
“It’s not just that. The Night Robe, said to have been created by the ancient Demon Lord by peeling the outer skin of the yōma Jesscheriv. Because of that, I can’t grasp his true form.”
“He’s a commoner who doesn’t even have a noble title…”
“However, he is the leader of the demon hunters who control this area. Even without direct power, he has always had his own private army.”
“As expected, we should cooperate…”
“Why not request cooperation from Count Yuyo, who holds territory in the west?”
“He is also one of those aiming for the Demon Lord’s Seat. It is possible that he will agree to our proposal to cooperate and defeat Gillar, who is currently expanding his power significantly.”
In the depths of the heavily guarded mansion, demons who were each aiming for the Demon Lord’s Seat were facing each other.
Who would have thought Gillar would be the one to occupy the Demon Capital first.
After the Southern Demon Lord’s forces retreated.
They were caught off guard while observing and restraining each other.
Nobles and high-ranking demons who were late to the game, and ambitious demons from other regions, had been investigating Gillar’s recent movements, hoping to cooperate and defeat him, who had begun to show superior ability.
“Well then, let’s send an envoy to Count Yuyo immediately…”
The demon who was presiding over the meeting suddenly stopped speaking.
Before the assembled demons, who looked on with suspicion, the demon’s head fell to the floor.
“!”
At the sudden event, even the mighty demons gasped and stiffened.
“Oh my. What do you think you’re all gathering here to discuss?”
And then.
Unbeknownst to them, a demon clad in a jet-black cloak stood behind the headless demon.
Despite his gentlemanly smile, a blue demon sword was held in his hand.
“G-Gillar…!”
The man who shouted the gentlemanly demon’s name suddenly split in half vertically and fell down.
The demons, unable to comprehend what was happening, were stunned.
Gillar, still standing in the same spot, surveyed the gathered demons with an elegant gesture.
“If you wish to contend with me, please do so here. It would be the quickest way for me as well.”
“Damn you!”
The demon who recovered his senses first attacked Gillar.
He poured magic power into his right hand and tore at Gillar with sharp claws.
However, the demon was bewildered by the lack of resistance. And then, the demon who had swung his claws collapsed to the floor and died.
“Impossible,” someone exclaimed in shock.
Gillar, who should have been standing there until just a moment ago, was gone.
Surely, everyone present had witnessed him being torn apart by claws imbued with magic power.
“The Night Robe…”
Just as someone muttered next.
Five demons, who had just died, lay on the floor.
“Damn it, what were the lookouts doing!”
A demon shouted and unleashed magic.
“You already know, don’t you? My magic, my magic tools.”
Everyone knew the rumors about Gillar. It was a famous tale among demons, even reaching other countries.
Even though they knew it, seeing it with their own eyes, it was still a power that made them think, “No way.”
He should have been visible. He should have been audible.
Gillar was not there.
Magic burned his phantom, and the demon sword passed through the afterimage.
And Gillar, who was present but not correctly recognized by anyone, stood serenely and gentlemanly in front of the demons’ gaze.
Merely standing there, demons fell victim to the demon sword Bielmear one after another.
An enraged high-ranking demon engulfed the entire mansion in flames with all his magic power.
Even if he couldn’t catch Gillar’s true form, the demon, who intended to obliterate everything around him, died with a blue blade protruding from his chest.
“Fufufu. Do you think that much can do anything to me?”
Gillar brushed away the explosion and kicked away a fireball cast by another demon.
He enveloped the demon approaching from behind with red skin in smoke, and conversely, robbed him of his sight.
And then, as if nothing had happened, he stood in another place.
Without understanding what had happened, several more high-ranking demons perished.
Gillar’s eyes glowed with a dangerous light.
The demon who had fled, showing an overwhelming difference in skill, suddenly had his outline expand. And then, he exploded.
The many demons in the surroundings who still harbored hostility retreated in alarm.
“Gillar… I never imagined you were this strong.”
“In such a short time, you’ve killed so many high-ranking demons…”
The demons who had been hostile were chilled by Gillar’s immense killing intent and miasma.
“Damn it, who was it that said we could win if we attacked in large numbers?”
“It’s impossible, the magic power is too different…”
To the trembling demons around him, Gillar regained his gentlemanly smile and adjusted his attire.
The match was already decided.
Before he knew it, he was holding a staff, not the glowing blue demon sword.
“Foolish. No matter how large an army you attack with, you won’t be able to do anything if you can’t read my master’s presence.”
Gillar’s retainer appeared from behind the ruined mansion and bowed respectfully.
The demons who were supposed to be guarding the mansion had all been eliminated.
“In the first place, you are mistaken. Attacking in large numbers? Foolish. Only those who truly possess ability are chosen as Demon Lord. Those who can only attack me by cooperating with others are losers from the start.”
No one could refute Gillar’s words.
Their plan was to cooperate to defeat Gillar, who had gained an edge in the struggle for the Demon Lord’s Seat, and then fight amongst themselves.
However, the result was disastrous.
Instead of Gillar’s attack, they were attacked by Gillar.
The high-ranking demons, who were among the strongest present, likely died before understanding what was happening, unable to even read Gillar’s presence.
Even when the remaining forces counterattacked, they couldn’t even break through Gillar’s defense, leading to the current situation.
Of the dozens of demons who had formed an alliance, fewer than half remained after a short exchange.
The demons knelt as if surrendering and dropped their weapons.
“I have no intention of needlessly reducing my future subjects. If you pledge loyalty to me from now on, I will consider your treatment.”
“Th-thank you. I, Gillar-sama, will serve you.”
“Please, me too.”
“Take me as your retainer.”
Gillar smiled with satisfaction at the submissive demons.
“I will accept your loyalty. However, I will not forgive betrayal.”
The demons trembled at Gillar’s eyes, which gleamed ominously.
“Then, Master. Lunch is prepared. Shall we return?”
Prompted by his attendant, who had served him for many years, Gillar turned on his heel.
The demons, who disliked conflict, left, and he returned to the desolate demon capital.
When Gillar returned from a human king’s country to the country ruled by Demon Lord Kusharilla, he took advantage of the giant Demon Lord’s withdrawal and quickly brought it under his control.
He was now based in the Demon Lord’s Castle and was gradually expanding his control to the surrounding areas.
“Hurry up and repair the upper levels of the castle. It’s unsightly as it is.”
“I will see to it immediately. However, the carpenters have also fled, and it’s quite difficult to secure manpower.”
“Expand slave hunting to the provinces. You secured manpower earlier, didn’t you? Once the newly organized army is ready, send them to subdue the surrounding areas. Eradicate those who resist. Be lenient with those who obey.”
“As you wish, Gillar-sama.”
Gillar gave instructions as he looked at the Demon Lord’s Castle in the distance.
Gillar walked confidently down the main street of the Demon Capital.
The few remaining residents of the Demon Capital looked at their new ruler with fear.
Gillar smirked, thinking how easy it was to seize power.
Gillar was originally one of the high-ranking demons living in the Demon Capital. He was a pure battle enthusiast who rose through the ranks by hunting slaves.
Gillar’s cunning hunts were famous both domestically and internationally, and demons still fled the Demon Capital in fear of his actions.
Before he knew it, demons who disliked conflict had fled early, and demons who, like Gillar, had ambition were all defeated, and the area centered on the Demon Capital had fallen under his control.
If he could gain power so easily, he wondered if he shouldn’t have bothered crossing Dragon Peak. Gillar sighed at his overly cautious past self.
He had secretly crossed Dragon Peak, reversing the flow of the Demon Lord’s Army, which had been defeated in a war with humans and shamefully retreated. The human country on the other side was fragile, and he wondered why the Demon Lord’s Army had been defeated.
However, by the time he arrived, the human country was already under the protection of the Southern Demon Lord, and he was concerned that if he acted too conspicuously, he might draw attention. So, he had cautiously ingratiated himself with seemingly foolish humans and targeted the Dragon King Elnea, a human who was a key figure in the previous war.
As a result, the humans he had incorporated were so incompetent that it ended up being a waste of time.
As dragons and dragon-human races began to emerge, which he deemed troublesome, he reluctantly returned.
He thought he should have been active on this side from the beginning.
Before he cloaked his presence and returned across Dragon Peak, he had gathered information, and according to it, the human he had been targeting had since disappeared.
Humans were humans, after all.
They were too insignificant to bother targeting again.
Although he had issued a provocation as he withdrew, he felt he would gain nothing from it.
“Master. What are your intentions regarding the human you brought back? That person keeps mentioning your name, and my retainers are getting irritated… Did you really make a contract with such a person?”
“Don’t be an idiot. Do you really think I would make a contract with a human? That’s just another disposable pawn.”
“However, lately, it has become unbearable.”
“I brought them back as a means to lure the Dragon King. Well, for now, you can leave them be. We’ll decide their fate later.”
Ultimately, that human was useless, Gillar sighed deeply about his past self.
One shouldn’t engage in petty schemes.
As someone aiming for the Demon Lord’s Seat, he must act with dignity.
The struggle for the Demon Lord’s Seat was not unprecedented.
The proof of a Demon Lord, the magic sword “Soul Spirit Seat,” was readily available. While it was unclear why he didn’t select a new Demon Lord, demons were rampaging, asserting themselves in various regions.
This time, Demon Lord Kusharilla was relocated, and this land became a place without a ruler. Because of this, those aiming for the Demon Lord’s Seat from neighboring demon countries gathered.
Gillar had already risen to a conspicuously prominent position among these aspiring Demon Lords.
His rapid subjugation of the Demon Capital was a major factor.
It was the center of the country ruled by Demon Lord Kusharilla. Becoming the new ruler there lent him prestige.
Many demons willingly submitted to him without a fight.
Of course, there were those like the ones just mentioned who challenged him to seize the Demon Capital, but Gillar’s magic power was fitting for a high-ranking demon, and he also possessed excellent magic tools.
As he defeated renowned high-ranking demons, more demons surrendered, and his influence rapidly expanded.
“This world is so lenient. I’ve recently been thinking that I should have desired power sooner.”
Gillar muttered, and his attendant nodded, saying, “Indeed.”
“I’ve been thinking lately. Why isn’t a new Demon Lord being chosen? But I understand with this incident. A beast with its fangs removed. That’s what demons are now.”
“Hou hou, would you elaborate?”
“Yes, I shall tell you.”
Gillar returned to the Demon Lord’s Castle, which was now under his control, accompanied by his loyal attendant. Demons and slaves working in the Demon Lord’s Castle bowed respectfully, welcoming their new ruler.
Gillar spoke with an expression of intoxication with the current situation.
“Consider the Demon Lords currently reigning. Not only do they possess overwhelming magic power, They rule their countries with absolute dominance. There are moderate factions like the Southern Demon Lord, but that’s because they perfectly control their countries. If a fool tries to stir up even the slightest trouble within their own country, they are dealt with cruelly and ruthlessly. The strongest and most cruel among demons are the Demon Lords. However, what about the nobles and high-ranking demons of today? Do they possess that ruthlessness? They are all accustomed to being ruled and satisfied with the scraps they are given. That is why they do not choose a new Demon Lord. No, they cannot. Although a supreme ruler reigns, a Demon Lord is one who rules, never one who is ruled.”
“Hou hou.”
“The moment you bow your head to another, you are unworthy of being a Demon Lord. Even if it’s to defeat a common enemy, alliances are out of the question. A Demon Lord’s vessel is domination, not alliance.”
“Indeed, that is the path you are treading, Master.”
“Fufufu. Just watch. Eventually, I will bring this entire country under my control. To rule a country and rule demons. That is what a Demon Lord is, and that is my future. If I demonstrate my ability and dominance, they will surely choose me as their Demon Lord.”
“Ooh! Your future is clearly visible, Master!”
Gillar smiled with satisfaction at his attendant’s exaggerated praise.
Satisfied with his attendant’s grand reaction, Gillar moved further into the Demon Lord’s Castle.
“However, Master. There have been some strange movements in the provinces recently.”
“Tell me about them.”
Gillar, heading towards the targeted room, listened to his attendant’s report as he ascended the stairs.
“Yes. The northern provincial city, do you know the strange city ruled by the necromancer Goldoba?”
“The Necropolis. A cursed city where only the dead were said to live, correct?”
“That is correct. After the undead disappeared from the Necropolis, it was under the control of the Southern Demon Lord’s subordinates.”
“The Southern Demon Lord’s Royal Guard? I’ll have to deal with them eventually.”
“Actually, for a while now, refugees have started to flow towards that Necropolis in the northern provinces.”
“What do you mean?”
“It seems that demons who dislike conflict, truly beasts with their fangs removed, are fleeing to the Necropolis. From what I’ve heard, the Black Winged Demon Race has changed its policy of not letting anyone into the city, and they are apparently sheltering the refugees and slaves inside the city.”
“Those detestable beings. It’s already unpleasant that they continue to occupy it even after the Southern Demon Lord’s retreat. Could they be rebelling against the Southern Demon Lord and trying to establish their own country?”
“I cannot say…”
“Was that place the one where that human rampaged last year?”
Remembering the human he had targeted some time ago, Gillar pondered.
Dragon King Elnea.
She was currently missing, but was this incident at the Necropolis unrelated to that human?
It was that human who had defeated the seemingly immortal necromancer Goldoba.
A world of the fittest.
In a sense, the new ruler of the Necropolis was that human.
“It seems I need to investigate a bit.”
“Leave it to me.”
The attendant, who keenly understood Gillar’s concern, immediately disappeared to take action.
He was a considerate and diligent attendant. Gillar, impressed, entered the hall where a temporary throne had been set up.
The throne room, located in the mid-levels of the Demon Lord’s Castle and towards the back, was dim despite it being daytime.
“Someone, let there be light,” he tried to say.
But he frowned, sensing a strange anomaly.
Something was off.
The presence of his retainers was weak.
It wasn’t that there were no soldiers or servants stationed at the Demon Lord’s Castle. However, around the throne room, there was not even the presence of slaves, let alone demons.
Was it just a coincidence?
No, it didn’t seem so.
Gillar glared into the dimness of the throne room’s depths.
“Who is it that sits there?”
In the depths of the hall, a person sat insolently on a throne bathed in golden light.
“Kukukuku…”
The defiant laughter was childish. Yet, the presence was so immense that Gillar tensed up, wondering why he hadn’t noticed it until just now.
“That is my throne. I would like you to move.”
“Kukuku. Is that so? This is your throne. It’s quite ill-fitting for you. Besides, you’re not even a Demon Lord yet, are you? Why do you have a throne… Fufu.”
“You have a lot of nerve.”
The miscreant seated deeply on the throne, laughing uncontrollably, seemed to find something amusing.
Gillar’s murderous intent flared at his attitude, which was provoking him.
Gillar took a few steps forward and peered into the depths of the dim hall, wondering who had defiled his throne.
“…Y-You are!?”
And then, he was shocked and gasped at the unexpected person sitting on the throne.
“As promised, I have come to the Demon Capital.”
“Grrr. You are the human Dragon King… Elnea!”
At Gillar’s words, the person sitting insolently on the throne, Eight Dragon King Elnea Eris, slowly stood up.
“I shall make you regret targeting me and involving my family.”
With that, Elnea drew her White Sword and the Spirit Tree Wooden Sword.
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