Chapter 5 — Our Majesty Has Changed (2)
Chapter 5 — Our Majesty Has Changed (2)
[ — Will:
A skill where the desire to achieve something manifests in the form of strength.
While carrying out one's decisions, one draws from within the power to overcome external influences.
This power manifests in countless ways depending on how long and how earnestly one has contemplated it before.]
The Demon King once again marveled at the skill that a mere slave possessed, and at the slave's ability that had formed its foundation.
A power that made a feeble human strong enough to resist the Demon King.
Originally, he was a man with little affection for humans. After becoming the Demon King, his interest in the human species had grown even fainter, but the slave Lisa's ability had made him reconsider that perspective on humanity.
In this world, humans were treated as meat, not even counted as a labor force. Their situation seemed even more miserable than the game had described.
But what Lisa had shown him was the struggle of a weak soul refusing to surrender to that reality.
'Mister.'
The Demon King's gaze drifted out the window. Because the Demon King's castle was situated at the highest point in the capital, he could take in at a glance the grey walls surrounding the city and the wastelands beyond them. A desolate, red plain. For a moment, the Demon King thought of the sunset, and of someone's back.
'I want to survive, too.'
He closed his eyes. In the game, after Erenier marched to war, roughly a year passed before the Hero fought the Demon King. That was never enough time to prepare for death.
As long as the Hero existed, the character of the 'Demon King' was fated to live on borrowed time.
The Demon King was powerful enough, but when it came to facing a fixed destiny, he was in a position where he had to struggle just like a slave. What was more, now that he had become the Demon King inside the game, it was difficult for him to even act freely.
He couldn't guarantee he had the same combat ability as the original Demon King, having never properly used swordsmanship or magic yet. And the biggest problem was,
'Stirring up trouble would be dangerous...'
If he acted rashly and accidentally changed the course of events, he would truly lose his foresight. A future would unfold where he couldn't prepare for anything because he would no longer know what was coming.
That was far more dangerous.
The safest method would be to make the most of what he had, grow stronger, wait for the Hero to come, and then deal with him.
"I, too. Will survive."
His resolve slipped out, becoming spoken words.
The most important thing. Survival.
Ultimately, the Demon King died because he was the enemy of mankind.
If so, then to survive, the Demon King simply had to stop being mankind's enemy. By that point, he would no longer be a Demon King, and the Hero would have no reason to come.
To do that, he just had to deny them a casus belli. The justification that the Demon King was the enemy of humans. The justification that he was an emperor of those who killed, tormented, and ate humans. In that sense, actions to protect the humans in the Demon King's castle, and gradually in the capital and the nation, would hold meaning.
In the end, stopping the war entirely would be best.
'Not that I can say there's no emotional reason for it.'
It was true that the pitiful sight of the slaves and Lisa's willful act had deeply resonated with him. But it wasn't a purely sentimental decision. Saving them was clearly a path that would bring him one step closer to his own survival.
'The reason for this war was unclear from the start, anyway.'
Since it was an eroge, the Demon King's existence and the reason for the war were never important to begin with. The Demon King was just a bad guy, and since he had to be defeated, there was a war and there was a Hero.
But now that he lived here, the Demon King felt the need to learn the details of the war. If he could find out why the war started, he might also figure out how to stop it.
Having laid out his future policy like that, he stretched. Even though nothing had actually been accomplished, he still felt somewhat more at ease.
'Yeah! Now I've got power, and probably money. I'm handsome, plus I've got a ton of women. This is about as good as it gets!'
Even if he was the Demon King.
— I will give you a chance.
The Demon King was this world's evil. He had spent decades in this world as that. So it wouldn't be possible to change everything overnight.
But change could begin right now.
At the same time, this was an occasion for him to give a chance to the weak.
Just like the words someone had warmly spoken to him,
just like what he had said to Lisa.
'It's a once-in-a-lifetime chance for me, too.'
He was no longer the kind of person who couldn't spare consideration for others because he lacked money, or who had to obey someone's words because he lacked power.
Because he was strong, he could finally decide his own life. He realized that he was now standing at a crossroads, a place where he could finally act on the things he had always thought about.
Right now, as he had long dreamed, the chance had arrived to govern his own actions, consider others, and inch a little closer to a life of 'justice.'
'Even if I can't be a hero, this time, let's become a man who isn't ashamed.'
The Demon King unconsciously clenched his fist. For an instant, a difficult-to-describe energy seemed to bolster his resolve.
That was precisely the skill 'Will.' It was a power that encouraged the skill's owner to unfold their own strength to achieve their desires.
The Demon King felt an unprecedented sense of elevation, as if buoyed by hope.
'There's no need to become some kind of great emperor, right? Justice is trying to save the people within my reach and making sure no one suffers.'
What was justice, anyway? Neither Captain America nor the Bat-Guy could save everyone. What mattered was the attitude of trying to save those within sight and reach. Simply refusing to look the other way.
If he just did the opposite of everything the Demon King had done, that was peace and that was the realization of justice.
He'd already started a life of privilege. He'd live it well, with kindness, patience, and longevity!
"Good."
The Demon King murmured with a faint smile. He felt satisfied, a bit refreshed.
"Then shall I check the reward this time?"
He was the type to eat the most delicious thing last.
The Demon King cast a quick glance around. His constantly active 'Detection' skill always told him roughly where everyone was, but this act was for a bit of mental reassurance. He was definitely alone in the room.
"Starlight."
The Demon King whispered very quietly.
Magic and swordsmanship were considered parts of 'action,' so no separate explanation could be found in the character information. Yet from the moment he acquired the magic, knowledge of how to activate it was in his head.
And in that moment, a soft energy coiled around his entire body, and he felt it gathering at his fingertips.
'Ah, so this is mana...'
It was an incredibly natural flow, just like how one doesn't consciously think about every bodily movement while walking. Then a tiny light appeared at the Demon King's fingertip.
'Oh, this! Right before I came here...'
And he remembered that he had felt this warmth once before. It was very similar to the sensation he got from the voice that called him right before he became the Demon King.
A light, fainter than a candle flame, flickered unsteadily at his fingertip before vanishing.
"What the hell is this...?"
The Demon King was a little disappointed. He had expected something decent, given it was a quest reward. Though, thinking about it, something had been a bit odd from the beginning.
If he needed illumination, he already had the Light spell. Even with a Knowledge stat of 40, he'd learned the Light spell by default. And, quite obviously, the Demon King could specialize in Dark Magic, which had no 'light.' Common sense would say it'd be strange for a spell the Demon King used to have 'light,' wouldn't it?
"Hmm..."
The Demon King reviewed his knowledge of magic and was about to try the spell once more.
"Roan!!!"
The giant bedroom door, far too large for anyone to fling open, burst open with a crash of noisy hinges. The maids trailing behind the woman who stormed in couldn't stop her, fretting uselessly before quietly closing the door and disappearing.
The Demon King froze in surprise, startled by the sudden appearance of someone who hadn't even shown up on his 'Detection.'
"Who dares emit such a sinister aura in Roan's bedchamber...? Hm?"
An elegant beauty with long, night-sky-blue hair was scanning the Demon King's bedchamber, holding an ominous sphere of mana in her hand.
"Erenier."
"That's strange..."
The Demon King knew the face of the woman tilting her head repeatedly.
She had opened the door and entered without warning, but no one could fault her for rudeness.
No one in this Demon King's castle could call the Demon King by his name as she did.
She alone could stand before this Demon King without fearing death.
That was why she was esteemed second only to the Demon King not just in the palace, but throughout his entire territory. She was Erenier, the Demon King's fiancée.
The number written on the affection window floating beside her was a full 100. The maximum.
"I sensed the presence of a nasty bit of magic. Roan, you're not hurt anywhere, are you?♡"
Her murderous aura from earlier having vanished without a trace, she smiled softly and approached the Demon King. The Demon King's outward appearance seemed indifferent, but the man inside was newly marveling at Erenier's ability to detect such a tiny hint of magic.
The Demon King once again reflected that Erenier was an archmage capable of turning the tide of a war.
"Don't feel too lonely, even if I haven't been able to see you for a while."
With a touch as gentle as a spring breeze, Erenier wrapped her arms around the Demon King, Roan's waist.
Her indigo hair, like the night sky, cascaded down to cover the Demon King's shoulder. Erenier hugged him from behind and buried her face in his shoulder. A scent like flowers or sweet fruit stimulated his nose.
Stimulated by the soft breasts pressing against him and the ticklish sensation, he felt an involuntary rush of blood to his lower body. The Demon King's member stirred for an instant beneath his thin gown.
And Erenier, noticing it, narrowed her eyes. She spoke in a trembling voice.
"Roan, what has happened?♡"
Erenier's eyes, shining like rubies, sparkled with joy. As if to hide her embarrassment, she carefully stroked Roan's horns.
Erenier wore a light, outing-style dress under a black traveling robe. Though the robe was loose, her figure, which the dress failed to fully conceal, was visible through the open front.
Pressing closely against Roan, her voluptuous breasts were crushed against the Demon King's sturdy forearm. He could feel Erenier's nipples, hard, beneath the fabric.
"For you to... react like this."
Roan was a little bewildered by Erenier's words. What did she mean? Did the Demon King normally not react to Erenier like this? Wasn't Erenier established as the 'Demon Queen'? Then the Demon King was more surprised by Erenier's next action.
Erenier suddenly lifted the hem of her dress with a sweep. This was the majesty of a character with 100 Affection.
"?!"
Beneath the lifted skirt were exposed white ankles and slender legs, toned thighs, and a garter belt holding up thin stockings. And,
beneath the small underwear covering her secret place, everything was soaked with anticipation. As if she could bear it no longer, Erenier squirmed her thighs, over which her arousal fluids trickled. Her voice was light with joy.
"Roan, I am always ready. Seeing this happen makes me so happy.♡"
He'd seen Erenier's naked body as a CG, but watching the real thing lift her own clothes like this felt exceptional. With a strange sense of emotion, the Demon King unconsciously drew in his breath. The hidden secrets under layers of clothing were unbearably provocative.
Watching a character he usually felt sorry for become giddy with sexual desire right before his eyes, the Demon King struggled to hold onto his reason. Fortunately, unlike his inner self, his face maintained its poker face quite well.
"Perhaps... hearing that I was leaving to war... troubled your heart?♡"
Having lowered her lifted skirt and pressed her body even closer to the Demon King, Erenier asked in a beguiling voice.