Scenes From The Demon Castle

“Regal, I have returned.”

Into the audience chamber stepped a skeletal swordsman clad in archaic armor.

Regal the Undead King.

He was one of the Demon Lord’s inner circle, the “Seven Great Demon Commanders,” and a fierce general who led the undead legions.

“I have led the elite of my army to scout the northern and eastern regions, but found no remnants of the Heroes. As for the remaining southern and western regions, we shall conduct searches in due order.”

“Good work, Regal.”

I gave a dignified nod from the throne. I was trying to project a regal aura, but it still didn’t feel like me.

“I will continue to need your strength. Do not overexert yourself; take some rest.”

“Your words are more than I deserve, O King.”

Regal bowed respectfully. Then he raised his head and stared straight at me. Deep within the hollow sockets of his skull, a red light flickered.

“…With all due respect.”

“What is it?”

“Your atmosphere has changed slightly,” Regal remarked.

“Hm?”

“I feel a greater intensity than before. Have you taken up the resolve of a King upon your shoulders?”

“Well, perhaps a little…”

Beneath my mask, I smiled faintly. I thought back. To settling things with Lyle in the human world and striking down my former comrade. To reconfirming my own will through the battle with Bel in the Demon Realm.

“Bit by bit, I’m starting to see what I must do from here on out.”

“If those actions bring prosperity to the Demon Realm, I shall support you with all my might.”

Though his tone was respectful, Regal’s aura remained aggressive, as if he were testing me. He was saying between the lines: ‘If your actions bring disadvantage to the Demon Realm, I shall strike you down.’ That was the level of fierce intent wafting from him.

Then,

“Regal, long time no see~!”

From behind the throne, a black dog appeared with the speed of a lightning flash. It was Bel in her Hellhound form.

“…The Emperor Dragon Bel-ga-Elfieda, I see.”

Regal shifted his gaze from me to Bel and growled.

“So you have tamed the Emperor Dragon, the mount of the Demon Lord…” he muttered.

“Bel is fine. The other name is too long.”

“This is the audience chamber. Refrain from frivolous behavior, Emperor Dragon.”

“I said it’s Bel. Still as stiff as ever, I see.” Bel gave a haughty sniff.

“I am not stiff; you are simply too light.”

“If you’re too rigid, your subordinates will feel suffocated, you know? You’re a Demon Commander, so try to be more… upbeat.”

“I am who I am. A warrior has no need for sociability. As long as one has martial might, that is enough,” Regal stated flatly. Then, turning back to me, “I have been remiss. I thank you for saving my subordinates in the human world.”

He bowed deeply.

“Most had already been slain by the Heroes. I simply managed to regroup with the remaining forces,” I said.

“The regrets of the Wraith Legion and those who were scattered shall be avenged by my hand,” Regal declared. Within his flat voice, I felt a mixture of intense fighting spirit and rage. “I shall cut down every Hero with my blade as an offering to them.”

The audience hour ended, and I was patrolling the castle grounds.

“Alright, next! Keep ’em coming~!”

“Uooooh!”

“Take this!”

As I stepped into the courtyard, I heard spirited shouts. Tongues of flame and bolts of lightning were striking targets set up on the ground one after another. It looked like the soldiers were training.

“Hard at work, I see.”

When I called out, the soldiers turned around. At their head was a demon girl with red hair in a ponytail. It was Rilim, the Captain of the Castle Guards. Those with her were all demons equipped with wings: Garudas, Harpies, Sirens, and Wyverns. She seemed to be training the aerial combat types.

“Demon Lord! Hello!”

Rilim was energetic as always. The other soldiers bowed to me.

“We’re practicing combination techniques today.”

“Combination techniques, huh?”

“Perfect timing. Someone, show him!” Rilim called out to the soldiers.

“Alright, let’s show the Demon Lord something good!”

“We’re on it!”

Two demons with wings like birds soared high into the sky.

“That’s Zamato and Ariyu. Good luck!” Rilim cheered them on.

“Okay, begin~!”

At the signal, they dove one after the other. The Garuda, leading the way, made a feint-like movement and suddenly ascended. Hidden directly behind the Garuda, the Harpy fired her feathers like a volley of arrows. The feather-arrows struck the numerous targets perfectly.

“The leader draws the enemy’s attention, and the follower attacks through the opening! We call it ‘Formation Zamato’!” Rilim shouted proudly.

“Ah, ‘Zamato’ is the name of the one who came up with this combination.”

“I am Zamato.” One of the duo—the Garuda—bowed his head slightly.

I see; they were putting a lot of thought into their fighting styles.

“Keep up the good work. Sorry for interrupting.” I smiled beneath my mask.

“A word from the Demon Lord encourages everyone!” Rilim replied with a grin.

“Alright, everyone! One more set, let’s gooo!”

“Oh!”

The soldiers’ morale seemed quite high. Afterward, I continued my rounds, observing the work of the busy civil officials, military officers, and priests. Having finished my patrol, I returned to the office.

“Excuse me, Fried-sama.”

Stella entered.

“What happened with the thing I asked for?”

“I am currently compiling the list, but this is how it looks at the moment.”

Stella handed over a bundle of documents. The posts of the three Demon Commanders killed in the previous battle remained vacant. It was necessary to appoint new demons to strengthen the Demon Realm’s defense in preparation for the Heroes who would likely invade in three months. As the Demon Lord’s inner circle, they were, in effect, the highest executives of the realm. Careful selection was required.

“First, regarding the candidate for the successor to Ziraam the Master of Sorcery—”

Just as Stella began to speak, my vision flickered.

“What is this…!?”

The colors drained from the scenery around me, turning the world into shades of black and white. The floor, walls, and ceiling shook violently, as if in the grip of an earthquake.

“What is happening—!?”

The outer rim of the Demon Realm—.

From a forest area where black mist drifted, a pillar of light rose into the sky. Within it stood a slender silhouette: a demon woman of bewitching beauty. She was in a state of slumber. A gentle sensation of floating came to her intermittently.

—Sleep.

She whispered. With a consciousness half-awake and half-suspended.

—Sleep, all you demons.

She chanted.

—Within my dream, for eternity.