We live in the foothills of Dragon Peak.
Late spring dusk.
“Speaking of which, I also retrieved this!”
What Lily threw out from the shadows was Graus, the red-haired man.
“…It’s not that I forgot, you know!”
Everyone is seeing Graus for the first time, so they peek into him, wondering who he is.
Graus himself appears to be unconscious from the incident at the Demon Lord’s Castle, or perhaps his consciousness has been taken by Lily. He lies on the floor, his eyelids tightly shut, without moving a muscle.
“That’s right. We need to deliver Graus to the Armēdo Kingdom.”
“It’s no use changing the subject. Just accept it honestly.”
“I understand what you’re saying. But I already have more weapons than I can hold in both hands.”
“Your left hand is the Spirit Tree, isn’t it? Eventually, you’ll plant it in the ground?”
“Guh, how do you know that…?”
“If you lose the Spirit Tree Wooden Sword, your left hand will be free. It would be best to hold the Soul Spirit Seat in your right hand and the White Magic Sword in your left.”
“No no no, the White Sword isn’t a Magic Sword! And don’t just switch it from my right hand to my left without my permission!”
“This is also a good place to start your conquest of the country. If you attack from the borderlands, it will be easier to defend.”
“I’m not conquering any country!”
“Alright, I will lend you an army. How about a hundred thousand to start? If you have trouble with internal affairs, I’ll dispatch Charlotte too. Using Teruru would also be an option. If you trample everything one after another and start from a wasteland, you can build the country as you please. While that one is away from the Forbidden Territory, you can have Micheila stand guard. It’s a pain to ask them, but it can’t be helped. Threaten them by saying you’ll kill the Four Guardians if they don’t obey.”
“……”
“If you take the land from Kusharilla and add the Forbidden Territory, your domain will be second to none among the Demon Lords.”
“Your Majesty, it’s fine to lend us an army, but please have Elnea-kun handle the budget.”
“Hmm. Charlotte, hurry and issue an estimate.”
“Understood.”
What are these people talking about!?
Someone, please pick up this strangely twisted, jet-black Magic Sword that’s sitting on my lap, and stab those people with it!
“You’ll die the moment you touch it, nyan.”
“Nimia, what do you think will happen to me, who is currently touching the Magic Sword that kills on contact?”
“You’ll become the Demon Lord, nyan?”
“I will absolutely, absolutely nnnnnnot become the Demon Lord!!”
*Sniffle*
I have to escape this situation somehow, or I’ll really be made into the Demon Lord.
Everyone, is that okay with you?
Mistral and the others, as if they couldn’t be bothered to deal with it, were relaxing without me.
Even Ares-chan was happily munching on a potato with Priscilla-chan, not paying attention to me.
…This means I have to deal with it myself.
Being confronted with such a harsh reality makes me sad.
“Ah, that’s right. Meduria-san, don’t you want a Magic Sword? I’ll give it to you for free right now.”
I tried to offer it to Meduria-san, thinking it would be good if it found another owner, but she remained frozen in a prostrate position.
“Elnea-kun, that won’t work. Most regular demons, when faced with His Majesty, are like you see.”
Ruilala said, shrugging her shoulders.
Even moving or lifting one’s head is an act of disrespect before the Demon Lord. Speaking is something they can’t possibly do out of reverence.
Even the Black Winged Demons are kneeling in awe. Meduria-san’s vassals look like they’re about to die just by being here.
A Demon Lord… that kind of absolute authority, huh.
It’s different from the kings I know, or the rulers of human nations.
Someone who subjugates everything by force, possessing absolute power. Those who defy them are killed, and those who displease them are eliminated. A tyrant, but someone for whom it is permitted.
Someone who bows to no one and subjugates all.
That is the Demon Lord who rules over the demons.
The Demon Lord smiles, reading my thoughts.
“I don’t want to rule over everyone. Even if you show me such callousness by abandoning me in a pinch like that…”
I glanced at Mistral and the others, and they gave me a look of disappointment, as if asking what I was talking about.
“I don’t want to be chosen as Demon Lord just because I’ve caused a lot of trouble in the demon country or defeated famous demons! I don’t want to be chosen based on my reputation alone. In the first place, the fact that owning the Soul Spirit Seat is the proof of being the Demon Lord is what I hate the most.”
“Ho ho, what do you mean?”
“Because, right? If the Demon Lord is someone with absolute power, overwhelming strength, then those with the qualifications are already the Demon Lords without needing such a Magic Sword. I’m not the Dragon King because I have the White Sword or the Spirit Tree Wooden Sword, or because I studied under Sleigsta the Old Man, or because I contain the Dragon Jewel of the King of Dragons. I believe I am the Dragon King because everyone recognized my efforts. Therefore, I absolutely refuse to be put on a throne of a position that is thrust upon me by the will of others, like ‘Here, take the Soul Spirit Seat, and you shall be the Demon Lord.'”
In the first place, the Demon Lord Succession Battle is wrong.
If you want to be the Demon Lord, you should just found your own country and call yourself the Demon Lord.
Someone who is higher than the Demon Lord?
If you’re afraid of that, then you aren’t the Demon Lord that everyone trembles before at that very moment.
If I truly had the qualifications to be the Demon Lord, I believe the demons would have called me “Demon Lord” long ago.
I would understand if it meant being the chosen king of the demons, not being the Demon Lord just because I possess the Soul Spirit Seat.
Well, either way, I don’t want to become the Demon Lord.
“W-H-A-T-E-V-E-R anyone says, I will not become the Demon Lord!!”
My body trembled, and I flicked the Magic Sword from my lap, turning my face away.
It was the only resistance I could offer, bound to the golden throne with my entire body.
I thought that if I threw away the Soul Spirit Seat, even the Demon Lord would get angry, but…
The Demon Lord sighed in exasperation and picked up the Soul Spirit Seat that had fallen to the floor.
“Everyone, it seems those with the qualifications don’t want to become the Demon Lord.”
“Everyone?”
Are there others besides me who don’t want to become the Demon Lord?
Putting that aside.
“I just want to live peacefully with everyone. So, please forgive me.”
“No matter what, you don’t want to become the Demon Lord?”
“Yes!”
When I answered energetically, the Demon Lord laughed, as if our previous conversation had never happened.
Neither I, nor even the vassals Charlotte and Ruilala, understood what was so funny, and we all tilted our heads.
“Good grief. Charlotte, release Elnea.”
“Is that alright?”
“It’s fine. Since the person himself is refusing, I cannot force him.”
“T-This is unexpected… I was so worried, thinking I would definitely be forced to become the Demon Lord!”
“What? You mean to say, if I had threatened you, you would have become the Demon Lord?”
“No, I would have refused!”
“I see. I understand your will. However…”
The Demon Lord played with the Soul Spirit Seat he was supposed to give me, and looked at me again.
I gulped.
What would he say next…?
Charlotte released me with her whip.
But I remained seated on the throne, waiting for the Demon Lord’s words.
“Accompany me for a walk. The Dragon Princess is permitted to join.”
“Huh?”
I froze, unable to keep up with the Demon Lord’s sudden change of topic.
“M-M-M-Maybe… If I won’t do it, are you thinking of making Mistral the Demon Lord!? No, you can’t! Not just me, but none of my family will become the Demon Lord!”
I gave the signal to everyone to prepare to flee, taking advantage of my freedom.
Everyone started scrambling in a panic.
But the Demon Lord smiled, watching them.
“Fool. Is there anyone else here with the qualifications of a Demon Lord besides you? I just said to accompany me for a walk to clear my head.”
“Ah, I see.”
Apparently, I had jumped to conclusions.
But, did he really give up?
It’s hard to say, but after pushing me so hard, it’s suspicious that he would back down so easily.
“Now, come with me. Refusal is not permitted.”
Saying that, the Demon Lord went out of the mansion, leaving behind his bowing vassals and Meduria-san.
Looking at Mistral, wondering what to do, he nodded, saying, “Well, I suppose we have to go.”
“Well then, everyone else, please stay here. I’m just going for a little walk.”
“Um, a souvenir?”
“If… if I find something, perhaps…”
Waving goodbye to Priscilla-chan, Mistral and I left the mansion. The Demon Lord, who was waiting for us outside, emerged into the streets of the beautiful Necropolis as we caught up.
Still, to go from being told to become the Demon Lord to going for a walk, what is the Demon Lord thinking?
Perhaps he’s the Demon Lord because ordinary people like us can’t understand him, but it’s still utterly nonsensical.
The Demon Lord walked with no apparent destination, and Mistral and I followed him.
As we entered the city, familiar faces began to gather again.
However, the moment the demons saw us, they froze or ran away.
It’s because Mistral can discern my true nature as a Dragon Race demon. And even if they don’t know my true identity, they can probably sense the Demon Lord’s presence.
It’s amusing to see the demons clearly pulling faces or turning pale.
The slaves, who were mainly human, did not notice Mistral or the Demon Lord and tried to approach me, saying, “The atmosphere is a bit strange, but let’s greet him.” They were restrained by the surrounding demons and slaves of different races.
In the end, even though residents gathered, no one approached us.
The Demon Lord walked aimlessly, unconcerned by the reactions of the townspeople.
Mistral and I, unsure of how to react, followed him.
As we walked, we arrived at the ruins of the Necrotic Castle, the center of the Necropolis.
A huge, hollowed-out crater spread out before us.
The Demon Lord gazed at the crater, from which the foundations had been completely obliterated, and finally spoke.
“This is a good city, considering it was ruled by the undead.”
“It is. I wish it could remain a beautiful city after this turmoil passes.”
“In that case, you really should be the lord of this territory.”
“Guh. I can’t manage a territory. So, I’ll leave it to Meduria-san.”
“Is that so? I’ll leave that matter to your discretion. I can provide support, though.”
“Thank you.”
Did the Demon Lord want to see the Necropolis, so he decided to take a walk?
“I don’t intend to meddle, but please listen to this as a word of advice. Elnea, you must have vaguely realized it yourself. You can no longer build a peaceful life in the human world.”
“…Is it because I’m too special?”
Walking beside the Demon Lord and gazing at the crater together, I pondered his words.
“Mistral is of the Dragon Race, and Priscilla-chan is of the Mimicho Race. Is it because I’m on good terms with the dragons, or because I’m targeted by demons?”
“I’m not saying you can’t live in the human world. However, neither you nor those around you can walk a peaceful life.”
“…If I settle down in human territory, the dragons and Dragon Race will come to visit. Then, it will be difficult for the people of the kingdom. And we can’t say for sure that demon attacks will never happen again?”
“That’s right. For now, the commotion might continue after the festival. But do you think it will last for ten or twenty years?”
“Thinking about everyone, should I move away from where people live?”
“From where humans live, yes. However, the Dragon Race has the breadth of heart to accept you.”
“Elnea. I’ve been holding back because I’m only of the Dragon Race, so I couldn’t make too many selfish requests. But I agree with the Demon Lord. You’d be better off on Dragon Peak than on flatlands.”
It seems the Demon Lord only brought me and Mistral along so that she, being of the Dragon Race, could speak her mind freely without the presence of the other brides.
Come to think of it, the Demon Lord wasn’t my ally from the start; he’s Mistral’s guardian.
“Alternatively, you could honestly become the Demon Lord and live in the demon country.”
“No! I will not become the Demon Lord!”
And the Demon Lord understood my current situation more accurately than I did. That’s why he prepared a safe place, the Demon Lord’s seat, for us and told us to live there with everyone.
“Mistral… You can make all the selfish requests you want. I think the Demon Lord’s consideration is also appreciated. Thank you.”
I see. I thought I was trying so hard to understand the world, but it seems I was too oblivious to my own feet and the immediate future.
While the wedding ceremony is important in the short term, I need to consider life afterward as well.
“Um, well. For now, the only option that’s off the table is becoming the Demon Lord. But I’ll seriously consider the future. I’ll listen to Mistral and everyone else’s opinions too.”
Somehow, I realized that if no one pointed it out, I might have ended up settling down in this luxurious family home.
The security was thorough, there was a garden for the dragons to visit, and I thought everyone was satisfied…
But that’s not right, is it?
Is that what the Demon Lord wanted to point out?
If I hadn’t noticed, I might have been forced into becoming the Demon Lord after all.
Because even now, he’s holding the Magic Sword he was supposed to give me.
The Demon Lord smiled faintly at my thoughts.
“I will give you a proper answer by the wedding ceremony. So, please wait a little longer. Ah, consultations are accepted at any time. Demon Lord, is that alright with you?”
“I trust Elnea.”
“Fufufu, I know. You believed that I would definitely not become the Demon Lord, so you watched the unfolding situation with peace of mind without interfering strangely, right?”
“Yufi and Nina were half amused, though.”
As Mistral and I smiled at each other, I suddenly felt an impact on my back.
“Take your lovey-dovey stuff elsewhere.”
“Ahhhhhhh…!”
The Demon Lord kicked me in the back, and I tumbled into the crater of the Necrotic Castle ruins.
