Throne (2)
I set foot in the Land of Darkness on the fifth day after departure. Sahadin's spatial transfer finally proved useful on the third day—the shadows beneath my feet melted away, and in the next instant, I was standing somewhere entirely different. It made me want to hurl.
The sky was pitch black. Impossible to tell day from night. Stars were visible, but according to Sahadin, this was daytime.
"Your Majesty, we have arrived."
"......This is really daytime?"
"In the Land of Darkness, the sky holds no light."
"I heard that much. But I didn't expect it to be this bad."
Stretching out before us was a fortress built of black stone. Its sheer scale was unreal. I'd thought Istius's walls were impressive, but this was on another level entirely. Multiple towers pierced the sky, and atop the battlements, violet flames burned at regular intervals in place of torches. It felt like skipping straight to the Demon King's Castle from the game without any detours.
"Your Majesty."
"What."
"The demon soldiers await. Grant us permission to enter."
"Permission? What the hell am I supposed to do?"
"Simply walk inside."
"......That's permission?"
"Your Majesty's footsteps are command enough."
"......Hah, ridiculous."
As we approached the gates, figures lined up on either side came into view. Demon soldiers in armor. They resembled humans in form, but with subtle differences—darker skin, sprouting horns, and so on. The moment I stepped forward, they all dropped to one knee in unison. Dozens—no, hundreds of them. The clash of armor rang out majestically.
"Welcome to the Throne of Darkness, Your Majesty."
Sahadin's voice echoed. Then the soldiers chorused after him.
"Your Majesty!"
"Your Majesty!"
"Your Majesty!"
Their shouts poured out all at once. Rows of soldiers stretched deep into the gates.
......This really feels like a game.
I moved forward. Into the fortress.
"Sahadin."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
"How many demons live here?"
"Three thousand soldiers, two hundred officers. Over ten thousand including non-combatants."
"Ten thousand."
"All have awaited Your Majesty."
"Awaited? More like they've just been living here."
"......The same thing."
"Doesn't feel like it."
Sahadin said nothing. He simply led the way. The fortress interior was even darker than outside. Violet flames embedded in the corridor walls were the only light sources. Stone floors, stone walls, stone ceilings—all black stone. Demons we passed halted and prostrated themselves. Noisy. I didn't voice it. No idea why, but it felt like I shouldn't say it here.
The corridor ended at massive doors. Sahadin pushed them open.
"The throne room."
It was vast. A dizzyingly high ceiling, pillars lining both sides, intricate patterns carved into the floor. And straight ahead, atop a staircase: a single black chair. The throne.
Something sat upon it. Humanoid in shape, but its outlines were blurry, like compacted smoke.
"What the hell is that?"
"The remnant shadow of the previous Demon King. An empty husk without will."
"......That's been playing Demon King until now?"
"Not playing. It merely guarded the throne."
"Same difference, isn't it?"
"......No. With Your Majesty's arrival, it has fulfilled its role."
I ascended the stairs. One step, two. Standing before the throne, the husk looked up at me. Or did it? No face, hard to tell. As I approached, it dissolved into wisps of smoke, scattering until nothing remained.
I cautiously sat on the empty throne.
Woooong——
The entire fortress hummed to life. The floor patterns glowed, climbing the pillars and weaving across the walls. Shadows exploded from beneath my feet. The shadows, sluggish after three days of battle, engulfed the floor and swallowed the whole room.
In the distance, demon soldiers knelt as one. Thuds of prostration echoed in chain reaction from beyond the doors.
"......This is...... what it means to be the Demon King?"
"Indeed."
Sahadin knelt, head bowed. Awe laced his voice.
Leaning back against the throne, cold stone pressed into my back. As the shadows slowly receded, the room darkened once more.
Demon King...... I had become the Demon King.
Surprisingly, no real emotions stirred.
"Sahadin."
"Yes."
"So what now?"
"As Your Majesty desires."
"As I desire...... So I don't have to do jack shit?"
"Even that is Your Majesty's will."
"......Convenient."
Descending from the throne, I toured the fortress under Sahadin's guidance. Corridors, meeting halls, barracks. I brushed off his explanations with vague "I see"s.
Entering the meeting hall, four pillars stood with seats beneath each. One was already occupied.
A bizarre entity. Too alien to call human. Twice an ordinary human's size, chitinous skin dark red, eyes embedded in multiple layers.
Sahadin stepped forward to introduce.
"This is Gartia of the Four Heavenly Kings."
"Four Heavenly Kings?"
"The four executives under the Demon King. Myself, Livaton, Gartia, and...... one empty seat."
"That one's been empty from the start?"
"It perished long ago."
"And since Livaton's dead too, two out of four are gone."
"......Yes."
Gartia rose slowly. All its eyes fixed on me.
"Your Majesty."
"......"
"Why. Did you. Kill Livaton."
Halting speech—habit or natural? Slow words.
Sahadin glanced at me, eyes offering to speak. But I cut in first.
"She was noisy."
"......Noisy."
"Yeah. So I killed her."
"Livaton. Waited centuries. For Your Majesty."
"If she was waiting, she should've listened. Instead, she moved without permission."
"......"
Truth was, I was bullshitting since I didn't know the reason. My shadows acted on their own—no need to explain to Gartia.
"I see."
Gartia sat back. Some eyes drifted from me. No awe, but whatever. Didn't care what an NPC thought.
"Gartia."
"Yes. Your Majesty."
"Questions done?"
"......One more."
"What."
"Are you. Truly. The Demon King."
"The throne says so, doesn't it?"
"The throne's. Mana. I acknowledge. But whether you are. The vessel. Is another matter."
"Vessel?"
"The previous Demon King. Had charisma. Commanded all demons. With a single word."
Sahadin stepped forward.
"Gartia. Mind your manners before Your Majesty."
"Stating. Facts. Alone."
"You've confirmed Your Majesty's mana matches the throne. What more proof do you need?"
"Mana. Acknowledged. Questioning. The vessel."
Sahadin's shoulders tensed. Something between them.
"Enough. Vessel or not, it's not important now. I sat here. The throne chose me, I sat. That's it."
"......"
"Don't like it? Try dragging me off. Can't? Then shut up and deal."
Gartia's myriad eyes blinked. A beat later, it bowed its head.
"......I shall. Remember. Your Majesty."
I turned my back on Gartia and left the meeting hall. Sahadin followed.
"Your Majesty, Gartia is——"
"Drop it. Not in the mood for demon politics."
"But Gartia's attitude may affect the future——"
"Sahadin. I said drop it."
"......Understood."
NPCs could sort themselves. What was the big deal? Vessel my ass—I didn't come here to be Demon King. Just got pushed into it. Nowhere else to go. Left Adelaide behind.
......No, not left. I turned and walked away.
"Sahadin."
"Yes."
"Where's my room."
"Prepared next to the throne room. I shall guide you."
"Tired. Hurry up."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
The Demon King's bedroom was spacious. Easily ten times the size of the attic. The bed was enormous—too big for one, soft blankets, multiple pillows. Damn, luxurious. Nothing like Istius inns.
Sahadin stopped at the door.
"I shall assign guards."
"No need."
"But——"
"Shadows are here. They'll handle it."
"......Understood. I shall report tomorrow morning."
"Yeah."
The door closed. Alone at last.
Lying on the bed, soft blankets enveloped me. First time since waking as Ailin in this world.
I closed my eyes, but sleep wouldn't come. Tossed and turned. Left, right. Left again. The bed's vastness was inconvenient. No matter how I shifted, no edge.
Finally kicked off the blankets and sat up.
The room was dark. Only faint violet flames on the walls.
So quiet.
In the attic, Adelaide's breathing was there. Steady when asleep, occasional shifts, morning movements. None of that here.
My hand unconsciously reached sideways. Touched only cold sheets. Of course no one. Demon King's room. I chose to come.
Chose? No, nowhere else. Followed Sahadin. Left Adelaide...... not left, just went. No reason to cling to an NPC.
"......Shit."
The word slipped out. Looked around. This was better. Obviously. No comparison.
Lay back, closed eyes. Still no sleep.
What was Adelaide doing now? Alive, probably. Told Sahadin to leave her. Hero powers included healing, so not dead. But broken arm, no food for days—how alone...
......Why worry. NPC.
Demon King now. Sleep. Tomorrow, something to do. Sahadin's report, watch Gartia.
Eyes closed: bloodshot eyes, wet cheeks. Hands gripping sword while crying. Vowed to tear me apart, but first she couldn't kill. Person—no, NPC.
Tossed, hugged a pillow. Soft, but too cold.
In the attic, Adelaide opposite. Not close enough for warmth, but presence known. Breathing, shifts, rustles. Lack of that kept me awake. Just habit. Few days, it'd fade. Surely.
Buried face in pillow. Squeezed eyes shut. Sleep. Please, just sleep.