Feria’s Report.

After speaking with Regal, I returned to my office.

It appeared Stella had already checked today’s share of documents, as they were placed inside the box awaiting my signature. As always, she was incredibly fast at her work. Just as I was about to pick up the top document, a knock, knock sounded at the door.

“Come in.”

“Fufu, look who’s here.”

A female demon with her pink hair tied in twin tails stepped inside. Her charming, succubus-like beauty was perfectly complemented by her highly revealing, provocative outfit. A thin tail extended from her waist, and bat-like wings grew from her back. She was one of the Seven Demon Army Commanders, the Succubus Princess Feria.

“I simply couldn’t contain my feelings for Demon King-sama anymore,” Feria said with a neat wink.

The mere action sent a sudden shiver down my spine for an instant, precisely because she was a succubus who spread her charms half-unconsciously.

“——Just kidding. Though it’s a fact that I adore you, Demon King-sama, I came here strictly for business today. I have something to report.”

“A report?”

“Actually—” Feria leaned her face in close and briefly conveyed the details.

“…The barrier of the Demon Realm is being eroded?”

“Yes, it’s a type of mental assault magic.”

I knit my brows beneath my mask. As a succubus, she was an expert regarding mental-attribute magic.

“Is it the handiwork of the heroes?”

During the previous invasion, the Demon Realm’s barrier had weakened considerably. The damaged areas should still remain. Since those repairs hadn’t been completed, I wondered if they had launched a mental assault as a second wave.

“Hmm… I can’t say for certain, but it’s probably different,” Feria noted. “It doesn’t feel like something artificial. Or perhaps—it might be the power of God.”

“The power of…?”

At the end of the fierce battle against Rearvelt, the “Power of God” he had acquired had flown away outside the Demon Realm. By now, it was likely back with God. Was that power what was eroding the barrier of the Demon Realm…?

“I don’t think it will have an immediate impact, but I advise you that leaving it unchecked is dangerous,” her usual succubus-like smirk vanished, her face turning completely serious. “As things stand… it will eventually breach the barrier, and holy-attribute mental magic will rain down upon the Demon Realm. If that happens, the vast majority of demons will take massive damage. It will be troublesome if the erosion worsens.”

“Understood. As for the barrier, I will go inspect it directly.”

“Should I come along too?”

“Yes. Can you accompany me?”

“Of course.” Feria smiled radiantly and wrapped her arms around mine.

Her full breasts pressed firmly against my forearm. “Wherever you go, I shall follow. Be it the barrier, the battlefield—or your bedchamber.”

“You’re as straightforward with your seduction as always.” Feria leaned her face closer to me as I let out a wry smile.

“Then, let me ask you even more straightforwardly… what does Demon King-sama think about choosing a queen?”

“A queen?”

“The title of Demon King isn’t hereditary, so among the successive generations of Demon Kings, there were those who remained single throughout their lives. But what does Demon King-sama intend to do?”

“Right now, I don’t have the luxury to think about such things.” My wry smile deepened beneath my mask.

“Oh? But hasn’t Stella been making her approach?”

“N-No, well…” The memory of her kiss and confession flashed back. “…Stella has nothing to do with this, specifically.”

Despite my age, I had found myself thoroughly flustered.

“From the looks of it, you don’t seem entirely indifferent. Do I not stand a chance, then?” Feria pressed her body even closer.

I felt a sudden jolt at the touch of her full breasts and supple form.

“…Are you using your charms on me again?”

“I am a succubus, after all. This is practically a biological trait of mine,” Feria wore a captivating smile. “So, how about it? I—intend to do absolutely anything to match Demon King-sama’s tastes, you know?”

“Feria…”

“Do you prefer a more pure and elegant style? Like Stella? Or would you rather have sex appeal turned up to full throttle? Or perhaps—”

Never losing her mischievous smile, Feria slithered her body sensually. It was a demeanor where it was altogether difficult to judge how much was a joke and how much was sincere.

“I’m not saying this out of calculation or a casual whim, you know. I—am truly grateful to you for saving me from the darkness, and I harbor feelings for you… because…” The Succubus Princess exhaled a hot breath. “This is how I truly feel. If you ever find the luxury to consider a queen, please at least include me as a candidate, okay? I don’t even mind being a concubine if it comes down to it. Right?”

Feria lightly planted a smooch on the cheek of my mask.

The barrier is being eroded—. Following Feria’s advice, I left the office along with her.

We soared upward from the balcony of the Demon King Castle using flight magic. Feria flapped her bat-like wings, keeping pace with me. Upon reaching an altitude of several hundred meters, we stared directly at the barrier.

“…I can’t really tell the difference myself.” That was my honest impression.

The barrier itself had certainly grown fragile. The parts where holes had opened when the heroes invaded had already been patched up, but those were merely emergency measures after all. However, I couldn’t quite perceive the “erosion” that Feria spoke of.

Well, she was the specialist regarding mental magic. Even if I couldn’t comprehend it, if Feria felt something, I would choose to believe her.

Just then—

“Heh, so you noticed the erosion. As expected of a succubus.”

A single demon came flying through the air at supersonic speed. It was the silver-haired, dark-skinned beautiful boy—Juda.

“Demon King, you need to hone your magic perception capabilities a bit more too. Your combat prowess is beyond reproach, but you still have plenty of room for training when it comes to things like this.”

“Will you train me next time, then?”

“Roger that. You are quite worth teaching, after all,” Juda smiled mischievously. “Now, let’s return to the main topic. The barrier is indeed being eroded. No, to be precise—I should say the erosion is accelerating.”