The Archdemon's Scheme
Nahen's office had a visitor early in the morning.
“Nahen!”
“You’re back.”
It was Dane and Eri. They entered the office wearing expressions of utter shock. Nahen took one look at their faces and immediately understood what they had seen.
A faint smile tugged at the corner of his mouth.
“So, it worked properly.”
“W-what on earth was that!? People were… twisting into something grotesque…”
The moment Dane laid eyes on that bizarre monster, he had grabbed Eri and fled the building without a second thought. He hadn’t even looked back until they were safely back in the Demon Realm. If not for his agility, Eri would have been reduced to nothing more than a lump of meat. Even Dane had barely managed to pull her out in time.
Nahen pondered Eri’s question for a moment before speaking.
“Eri, you once asked what was inside that artifact.”
“…Yes?”
“I’ll tell you.”
Nahen picked something up from the floor and placed it on his desk. It was a rat trapped inside a small cage. Without hesitation, he channeled his demonic power into the cage.
What happened next was horrifying. The rat’s body began to distort, its flesh swelling grotesquely until it transformed into a small, misshapen monster—exactly like the ones Dane and Eri had witnessed.
“This is the source of the unease you felt, Eri. When ordinary humans or animals come into contact with my power, they cannot withstand it. Their bodies twist into hideous forms, and their minds collapse.”
“All of that… happened because of your power?”
“Yes.”
“Then why would you release something like that into the human realm!?”
Eri’s voice rose in protest, but Dane quickly stepped in front of her. Startled, she looked at him. He spoke in her place.
“Eri was merely curious, Nahen. That is all.”
“…Dane.”
“Yes.”
“Stand down. I have no intention of scolding either of you today. On the contrary, I wish to commend you both for your excellent work.”
Nahen spoke with magnanimity.
“So ask your questions, Eri. Raise any doubts you may have. Voice any complaints. However…”
His golden eyes fixed on her. Eri instinctively shuddered, her shoulders trembling.
“My policy will not change. I act for the Demon Realm—more precisely, for the Devata faction. Using humans is nothing to me. You both already knew this.”
They did. Nahen had been capturing human intruders and selling them as slaves until recently. Eri had studied and worked under him while fully aware of that fact. It would be nothing but hypocrisy to suddenly object now.
“Ask, then. What do you wish to know?”
“…What are you trying to achieve with this plan?”
“A fair question. I’ll answer.”
Nahen gave a brief reply.
“War in the human realm.”
“…What?”
Eri looked bewildered. When Nahen and Seere had crossed into the human world before, he had worked to quell the chaos there. Now he was deliberately igniting war to spread disorder. When she voiced this confusion, Nahen explained that the situation had changed.
“It is now more advantageous for the human realm to descend into war and chaos. That is why I am doing this.”
“But… what does turning those people into monsters have to do with starting a war?”
“Do you know where I sent you two within the Empire?”
“No.”
“The Holy Kingdom.”
Nahen placed the artifact the two had passed through the merchant guild onto his desk.
“I informed the Pope of the Holy Kingdom about the artifact. How do you think he will respond?”
Both Eri and Dane were stunned. This was the first they had heard that Nahen had visited the Holy Kingdom.
The Holy Kingdom was more than a nation—it was a colossal religious order devoted to the Heavenly God. It rejected anything related to demons, which was why it was the only human nation without an officially recognized mage organization like the Mage Association. Even individual mages, like Eri five years ago, operated there in secret.
If the Holy Kingdom discovered that demonic artifacts were being distributed within the Bismarck Empire, it would never let the matter slide.
“The two greatest powers in the human realm will clash once more.”
“Indeed. The human realm will undoubtedly fall into chaos.”
Nahen leaned back in his chair, narrowing his eyes slightly.
“Are your questions answered?”
“…Yes.”
“Still, I’m surprised. Eri, I thought you had abandoned any lingering attachment to humans.”
Eri glanced at Nahen. He gave a small nod, permitting her to speak honestly.
“I hold no attachment to humans. It’s just…”
She hesitated.
“Forcibly destroying their bodies and breaking their minds… it feels wrong somehow.”
“…Get used to it.”
“…Pardon?”
“If you intend to remain under my command, you must grow accustomed to it. Otherwise, you will break.”
Nahen offered the simple advice, then turned to Dane.
“Dane, take Eri and let her rest. She looks exhausted.”
“…Yes, Nahen.”
Dane gently touched Eri’s arm and urged her to leave. Without further hesitation, she followed him out of the office.
Nahen ran a hand through his hair and muttered to himself.
“Your words are all correct. But…”
It couldn’t be helped. With his limited intellect, this was the only plan he could devise. Even knowing it was morally wrong.
And there was one overwhelming reason he could make such a decision.
“…I feel no guilt.”
Not a shred of guilt stirred within him.
#
Claude von Bismarck, Emperor of the Bismarck Empire—the greatest power on the continent—trembled as he stared at the letter before him.
“E-excommunication!? It says excommunication!?”
“Y-Your Majesty! Please calm yourself…!”
“How can I calm down!? Those mad old men in the Holy Kingdom have declared they will excommunicate me!!”
A middle-aged nobleman stepped forward and bowed before the enraged emperor.
“Your Majesty, may I speak?”
“…Marquis Ebert.”
Claude pressed his fingers to his throbbing temple and granted permission. Marquis Ebert expressed his thanks before offering his opinion.
“This is likely due to the grotesque creatures that appeared at the Germanium Mage Association and other associations.”
“…Yes, that must be it. But do you know the reason they cited for my excommunication, Marquis!?”
Marquis Ebert did not. Naturally, since the emperor had yet to share the contents of the letter.
Claude slammed his fist against the armrest of his throne, his fury plain to see.
“They claim we distributed demonic artifacts!!”
“…Pardon?”
“The Hernanto Guild and other major guilds based in Germanium have been circulating demonic goods!!”
“Wait, Your Majesty… is that true?”
“Of course it isn’t! We dispatched investigators to every guild, but they found no trace of contact with demons. The only things recently distributed were high-performance mana artifacts……”
Claude trailed off, his eyes widening as he sensed something amiss. The other ministers present shared his realization.
“…Weren’t all the places where those horrific monsters appeared mage associations?”
“Yes, Your Majesty…”
Claude and his ministers were no fools. The recently circulated mana artifacts. The organizations that had purchased them in large quantities were, of course, the mage associations. And those same associations had been overrun by nightmarish monsters.
Having completed the calculation, Claude roared.
“Arrest the guild masters immediately!! And find out who supplied those artifacts!”
“Yes, Your Majesty!”
Marquis Ebert accepted the order and left the audience chamber. Claude pressed his fingers hard against his temples. The headache eased slightly.
“Haa… Do any of you believe the Holy Kingdom was unaware of this?”
“They must have known long ago. Now that our empire has grown so large, it is obvious they intend to restore the balance of power by excommunicating Your Majesty.”
“As I thought.”
Claude ground his teeth. Then he addressed the gathered ministers.
“It seems they still haven’t learned their lesson even after seeing what happened to the Northern Alliance. If that’s the case, I’ll have to teach them personally!”
“Your Majesty, does that mean…”
“This was something we would have done eventually! Doing it a little earlier won’t cause any problems!”
Just as Claude rose to declare war, someone stepped into the center of the hall.
“You must not.”
“…What did you say?”
“I said you must not, Father.”
It was a woman with sky-blue hair, clad in a resplendent uniform adorned with golden embroidery. She was, aside from Claude von Bismarck himself, the most noble and powerful figure in the empire.
“Why must I not, Charlotte!?”
Charlotte von Bismarck. Claude’s only other blood relative and second in line to the throne. The remaining heir was still far younger than Charlotte, but as a prince, he held the first claim. That was why Charlotte had long since abandoned any thought of succession and instead secured a military post to wield her abilities to their fullest. Having led countless victories against the Northern Alliance, she now stood at the head of the military, holding real power. While the emperor nominally held command, it was Charlotte who truly led the army. Her leadership had secured victory against the Northern Alliance, so Claude could not simply dismiss her words.
“The scars from the war with the Northern Alliance have yet to heal. If we recklessly attack the Holy Kingdom now, the empire will walk the path to ruin.”
“You lead the military, yet you speak such weak words?”
“I am speaking realistically, Father. As you said, I hold a position of military leadership.”
Charlotte met her father’s gaze with emerald eyes.
“Therefore, I have no choice but to speak with complete objectivity.”
“Then speak. If we accept this excommunication, the damage to our empire will be immense. How do you propose we respond?”
“…It is simple, Father.”
“Simple?”
Charlotte nodded. Then she made a shocking declaration.
“Accept the excommunication and expel the excommunicated. That is the only way to prevent the empire’s collapse.”
“……What?”
At her words, the ministers, royal guards, and military generals—everyone except a few—drew their weapons and cut down those who had not.
“Aaaagh!”
“Kuhk!”
“T-this is treason…!”
No one could come to their aid despite the cries of treason. Claude had believed Charlotte had truly abandoned her claim to the throne. That was why he had even supported her when she sought a military position. But he had been wrong. She had merely been biding her time, hiding her fangs and claws.
Though she appeared delicate, a great lioness lurked within. The empire’s lioness fixed her green eyes on her father—her prey—and spoke.
“Sacrifice yourself for the empire, Father.”