Queen
Demons were originally beings without intelligence. They were simply heterogeneous entities that moved on the instinct to annihilate living creatures.
However, a select few among them possessed intelligence. One such being was a demon.
In truth, the reason demons possessed intelligence was simple. They had not originally been born as demons.
A demon was a term for any being that had accepted a fragment of the Demon King. Any existence that possessed the ability to accept a fragment of the Demon King and then took it in would become a demon.
Demons born this way were unstable, for they had received only a portion of the Demon King’s fragment. They exhibited an extremely skewed form, focused solely on the ability granted by the fragment they had accepted.
In exchange, that single ability stood in a realm beyond human reach. Just like the spatial magic the Tower Master had displayed.
“Arsens……”
Luen’s body trembled.
The Crown Prince stared blankly at the spot where Perlin had vanished.
In the center of the conference room, black remnants still lay scattered.
Demonic energy.
Even though the Tower Master had disappeared, the demonic energy he left behind remained. It was slowly spreading outward from the center of the room.
I turned my gaze to the guards inside the conference room.
“All guards capable of using magic, seal off the center of the conference room. Prevent the demonic energy from leaking outside.”
The guards immediately followed my orders. Those who could wield magic surrounded the center and helped me contain the spread. Since blocking demonic energy by emitting aura externally was nearly impossible, the guards without magic assisted the other attendees in evacuating.
The princess and the crown prince left with them.
“What is the meaning of this!”
While we were still containing the demonic energy, someone burst into the conference room and shouted.
“The Hero.”
Robento Delhart. Two holy knights followed behind him.
The Hero’s eyes locked onto the black energy floating in the center of the room.
“No…… Why is this here?”
I answered curtly.
“The Tower Master was a demon.”
“What? What do you mean……?”
“There’s no time for a detailed explanation.”
Robento looked as though he didn’t fully understand, but he quickly grasped the gravity of the situation and began to act.
“We will purify the demonic energy.”
The holy knights approached the center. One knelt and spread his hand over the remnants while the other began tracing a holy sign behind his back. The Hero released his saint power to assist them.
White light washed over the black remnants, and they began to dissolve bit by bit.
Only then did I withdraw the magic and aura I had raised. I called for my adjutant.
“Move the conference attendees who left to the annex conference room. Assign separate guards for Her Highness the Princess and His Highness the Crown Prince. I’ll head there shortly as well.”
“Understood.”
The adjutant left at once.
I entrusted the conference room to a few reliable guards and stepped outside.
#
The annex conference room was smaller than the main hall, but sufficient for temporary use.
The administrators, the lords, and the crown prince had all taken their seats. Guards lined the walls on every side.
The princess sitting at the center appeared composed, yet her hands trembled on her knees.
“Are you all right, Your Highness?”
“……Yes. I can manage.”
“Please calm yourself for a moment. I will summarize the situation.”
Instead of the trembling princess, I stepped into the center of the room.
“The imperial conference is suspended.”
My voice rang out.
“Furthermore, under the authority of the Imperial Marshal, I hereby declare a state of emergency.”
No one raised objections in such a moment.
“Tower Master Ronin Veilren committed an act of terror during the imperial conference. He is presumed to be a demon. Therefore, we designate him an enemy of the empire.”
It was not only the Tower Master.
“Perlin Claire, who brought the Tower Master into the imperial capital and fled with him, shall be regarded as his accomplice.”
I looked at Princess Luen. She nodded.
Having secured her consent, I turned to the crown prince.
“Your Highness the Crown Prince.”
“……Sir Arsens.”
“I am temporarily confiscating Your Highness’s succession rights. Perlin Claire was a candidate for Crown Princess and maintained a close relationship with Your Highness. Until the full truth of this incident comes to light, allowing Your Highness to exercise authority risks interfering with the investigation.”
The crown prince stared at me with a dazed expression. His face stiffened.
“That is……”
He closed his mouth, unable to continue. There was no ground for rebuttal. The fact that Perlin had disappeared alongside the Tower Master had already shattered his political standing.
“Your Highness’s authority will be transferred to Her Highness Princess Luen until the incident is resolved.”
Every gaze in the room turned toward the princess.
“I seek formal consent from the attendees of this imperial conference. Those who agree to transfer authority to Her Highness the Princess, rise and declare your support.”
The first to move was Kayan. He stood in his capacity as Palace Steward.
“Palace Steward Kayan agrees.”
Next rose the representative of the border lords—the very man who had formally protested my administrative intervention earlier on the crown prince’s behalf.
“……The border lords agree.”
One by one, the other lords stood. Even the administrators under the crown prince joined the consensus. They had no other choice. Having witnessed the scene unfold before their eyes, agreement was their only option.
At last, every attendee had risen.
Finally, Princess Luen stood as well.
“Princess Luen Nathaniel.”
Her voice still trembled as she spoke.
“I accept the transfer of Crown Prince Leon’s succession rights as the decision of this conference. Until the incident concludes, I shall take responsibility for the governance of the imperial family.”
The crown prince stared blankly at the sight. His authority had been stripped away in the middle of the conference room.
The princess glanced at him briefly, then addressed the remaining attendees.
“Dealing with the casualties takes priority. The Hero’s party will finish purifying the main conference room, so the rest of you, please assist with restoring order.”
With the princess’s command, the attendees slowly rose from their seats.
The crown prince stood as well. He cast a bitter glance at the princess and me before leaving the room.
#
Two days passed.
The situation within the imperial capital had largely been brought under control. Casualties had been accounted for, and the purification of the main conference room was complete.
The princess had begun reviewing administrative matters after receiving the crown prince’s authority, and with Kayan’s assistance she was gradually securing control over the imperial family’s operations.
Some of the border lords had returned to their territories, while others remained in the capital. The crown prince stayed shut away in his residence, lost in a daze.
Yet no clear plan existed for dealing with the Tower Master. There were no leads to track him, and even the Magic Tower had no knowledge of his whereabouts.
Where had he gone? And how should we respond?
After spending the entire day wrestling with these questions, night had already deepened.
Once my meeting with the princess ended, I made my way to my office. I needed time to organize my thoughts.
“Hmm……?”
Upon reaching the door, I stopped. A presence could be felt inside.
I drew my sword at once.
Unfamiliar breathing and a heartbeat echoed from within the office.
Had the imperial security network been breached? I would have to overhaul the system. First, however, the intruder had to be dealt with.
Sword in one hand, I gripped the doorknob with the other.
Bang—!
I flung the door open and stormed inside. In a single instant I located the intruder and swung my blade without hesitation.
The sharp edge came to rest against the intruder’s neck.
“Eek—!”
A strange scream rang out.
The intruder wore a black cloak. Beneath it, large ears protruded. A beastkin woman?
Her voluminous gray hair cascaded naturally over her shoulders. Her light gray eyes were wide with alarm.
Seated in the chair, she raised both hands while staring at me in shock.
“Wait, wait a moment!”
Her voice was urgent.
“I’m not your enemy! Truly!”
“How am I supposed to trust someone who trespassed into the imperial capital without permission?”
“If I were an enemy, would I have waited so calmly in a chair for you?”
“……”
She had a point. Still, suspicion remained.
“If you didn’t come to attack me, then why are you here?”
She hesitated before answering.
“I have information about the Tower Master. I came to deliver it.”
An answer I had not expected at all.
“You expect me to believe that?”
“You’ll have no choice but to believe it.”
Strange confidence colored her tone.
“Why?”
“If you promise to listen, I’ll tell you. Just don’t kill me right away. Please.”
She pleaded earnestly.
Well, I was confident I could subdue an intruder of this level anywhere. I lowered my sword.
“Understood. I promise. Now speak.”
“Really? You promised!”
“Yes.”
“Then I’ll tell you.”
She let out a nervous breath and continued.
“The reason you have no choice but to believe the information I hold about the Tower Master is simple.”
She lowered her head for a moment. Then, in an instant, an unpleasant yet familiar sensation spread through my entire body.
“I’m a demon too.”
When she raised her head, her eyes had turned pitch black.