The Second Life of a Monarch
Ira Cezar.
Imagine a balance game with two choices: die or eat shit.
Eating shit is ridiculous, but choosing death would be even more absurd.
They say it's better to live on your knees than die on your feet, and since I've already experienced death once, there's no need for me to choose it again for the sake of some mission. Wouldn't that be the truly nonsensical option?
Besides, my death wasn't that of a mere soldier or warrior. There was no reason to survive by harming those who had brought me back to life.
And so, with this second life granted to me, I diligently attended what Anima called disaster lessons under her protection.
"There are seven legions stationed in Tenebris. Can you name them all?"
"The 1st Legion is Pride, the 2nd is Greed, the 3rd is Wrath, the 4th is Envy, the 5th is Sloth—no, wait, the 5th is Avarice, the 6th is Lust, and the 7th is Sloth. Correct?"
"That's right. As expected, you're remarkably sharp."
Learning the organizational chart of Ravilis, studying its history—in other words, receiving the mandatory education of an evil organization.
I'm not sure if calling it disaster lessons is entirely appropriate, but when I once questioned the term, Anima's reply left me with no room to argue.
"...No, it's fine. Disaster lessons. Good naming sense."
"I'm glad it pleases you."
I believe I've built quite a bit of rapport with Anima by now.
She had dropped that awkward, historical-drama style of speech, and we had grown close to a perfectly normal relationship.
Still, there was one thing that left me somewhat disappointed.
"Haven't you eaten yet? It would be nice to eat together."
"How could I commit such an impropriety... I'm fine, so please do not concern yourself."
"Impropriety, huh... Alright. If you don't like it, there's nothing I can do."
Even though we spent the entire day together, she never once joined me for meals or came near when I slept.
Forced solitary dining.
Until recently, when I lived as the S-Class Hero Eternal, I could count on one hand the number of times I'd eaten alone in my entire life.
Back then, I was always with my childhood friend...
......
Well, eating alone isn't that bad.
"Anima. I have a question."
"Yes, ask me anything."
"That whole 'disaster' thing. That's what I've become, right?"
"Yes, that is correct."
"So does that mean I've become something like a Demon King?"
"Demon King... That's what humans call it. Yes, that would be accurate."
"Then I can participate in battles, correct?"
"...Your body has not yet fully adapted to its new composition, my lord."
"That's for later, then."
"If it's for later... Yes, of course. In fact, I would very much like to ask that of you."
"Good. Understood."
I had to regain my strength somehow. Since I had been brought back to life, there were things I needed to do.
I had originally been S-Class, ranked second among them, but now that my body had completely changed, I could feel that my current power didn't even reach half of what it once was.
Well, that was only natural.
The way I used power had changed.
Or rather, the source of that power had changed. That was why wielding it still felt awkward.
"Alright. I'll head to the training grounds after eating, so prepare everything immediately."
"As you wish."
**
"Oh, your growth rate is truly remarkable."
"...That's an embarrassing compliment."
"Not at all. I mean it sincerely. Even looking at the records, the growth speed you are displaying is unprecedented."
"Really? What is it normally like?"
"Usually, it takes about three years of training before one can barely earn the title of 'disaster.' The power you have achieved in just three months would be enough to defeat an A-Class Hero with one hand. That is more than enough to consider it an outstanding pace."
"I see. So it really was fast."
To me, who still carried my original power, it didn't feel fast at all. But according to Anima, I had grown at a considerably rapid rate.
Even though I couldn't yet produce enough output to burn down an entire large building with the flames from my hands, if this was considered fast... I couldn't even begin to imagine how long the original disaster—especially the one I had faced, the one we called the Demon King, Nex—had taken to reach his level.
"My lord, I have prepared cold water for you."
"Ah, thank you."
As I gulped down the cold water Anima handed me, I somehow felt an intense gaze from her.
"What? Do you have something to say?"
"...No. More importantly, perhaps you should put on some clothes."
"Ah, sorry. It got hot while I was training. It's just the two of us anyway, you and me."
"...I suppose that's true."
After wiping my body with a towel and putting on the zip-up hoodie I'd left aside, I stepped out of the training grounds. A refreshing breeze tickled my hair.
Tenebris, the city where Ravilis resided, was also called the Dark City by humans.
From the outside, it was covered in pitch-black darkness, making it impossible to see anything.
However, once you stepped inside, Tenebris looked surprisingly like an ordinary city.
During the day, a normal breeze blew, and the rustling of grass blades sounded refreshingly clear.
At night, the central district's nightscape shone brilliantly.
Until now, the only Ravilis I had seen were those heavily armored knights from the first encounter, so I hadn't realized it. But the beings living in this city looked far too ordinary to be called 'demons.'
"Anima, about Tenebris. Is it normally this ordinary?"
"You mean Tenebris?"
"Yeah. It just feels like a normal city. From the outside, it's completely black, isn't it?"
"Ah, um... So you knew."
"Huh? Oh, y-yeah. It just seemed that way to me."
Whoops. I almost made a mistake.
The fact that I was once Eternal was a secret no one could ever discover.
To them now, I was a newly born existence who had lived here my entire life. I couldn't afford to slip up over such a trivial detail.
This mistake had come from thinking of Anima too casually.
"Well, I don't know how you knew, but you are correct. To be precise, it's because of the 'mana' this city possesses. Humans draw their power from the sun, but we demons all draw our strength from this mana."
"I see. So the density of mana makes it look dark from the outside?"
"Yes. Because of that, it is difficult for us to exert our full power in human cities. Within Tenebris, no matter how much power we use, our mana is endlessly replenished. But on human soil, mana does not recover easily."
"Understood."
Indeed, the training scenes of the Ravilis army I had witnessed in this city were completely different from the weak, disposable soldiers I had seen before.
Even those elite troops couldn't use their strength properly in the human world?
"Please take a moderate rest before returning. I still have work to finish."
"Ah... Thank you. Shall I help you later?"
"I appreciate the thought, but I must decline. I prefer to handle my own tasks myself."
"That's a good attitude. I'll head in first."
"Then I shall take my leave."
After sending Anima inside first, I listened to the sound of grass blades rustling in the wind and enjoyed a long-awaited feeling of refreshment.
It was a peaceful afternoon.
**
Another three months had passed.
By now, I had grown accustomed to manipulating mana, and I could use the foundations of the techniques I once employed by converting them into mana.
Rapid growth. Since I was simply walking a path I had already taken once, albeit through a slightly different method, it made sense that my progress was fast.
And so today marked exactly six months since I had received this second life in this city.
It was also the day I would officially step forward as Ravilis's 'disaster'—in other words, its leader.
After neatly adjusting my attire, I headed to Anima's office to check the speech draft with her one last time. She was slumped over her desk, fast asleep, likely exhausted from overwork. I immediately shook her shoulder to wake her. Anima shot upright as if nothing had happened and met my eyes.
"Did you call for me?"
"Weren't you tired?"
"It was merely to conserve stamina. I was not dozing off because I was tired."
"...You talk a good game."
"I am not only good with words but also an excellent secretary. As you have seen so far."
"Yes, yes, you're amazing. So, what do you think of the speech? Will this be enough?"
"It is perfect. My lord—though I suppose I should no longer call you that."
If I had to pick the single biggest change over the past six months, it would be this.
My new name.
"Lord Ira's voice is what matters most. But there is no need to worry about that. After all, your voice is outstanding. You simply must not get nervous."
"You compliment me so well with that expressionless face. Well, thank you."
"It is nothing. More importantly, you must now firmly establish the proper mindset as 'Cezar.' Not every legion commander is as favorably inclined toward you as I or the 3rd Legion Commander. Until you prove yourself, they will all suspect and oppose you."
"Oppose me..."
"Yes. You must be cautious. Of course, with your current abilities, you would never lose in a one-on-one fight against any legion commander."
"Thanks for the advice. I'll keep it in mind."
My new name, Ira.
It was a name Anima and I had brainstormed together for an entire week.
I rather liked it. It was a declaration of my resolve never to live as Eternal again.
From my perspective, having a separate title was far better than being called something like 'disaster.'
In any case, from now on, my name would no longer be Eternal, but Ira Cezar.
"Shall we go, then?"
"Yes. I will accompany you."
"What about Fade?"
"He is already waiting with the elite soldiers of the 3rd Legion."
"Good. Let's go."
After one final adjustment to my clothes, I strode forward with purpose.
Toward the platform where my inauguration ceremony was prepared.
Today, I begin my new life.