Throne (7)
The next morning, Sahadin was standing in front of my door. This NPC really kept his promises like clockwork. He'd said he'd make time tomorrow, so here he was right on schedule.
"Your Majesty, this concerns our defensive posture. May I escort you to the conference room?"
"Sure."
And so we arrived at the conference room. Sahadin unrolled a parchment across the long table—a map overlooking the entire Land of Darkness, with black lines radiating out from the fortress in multiple layers centered on the castle.
"Our current defensive lines are triple-layered. The outermost consists of scouting outposts, the middle is the main defensive line, and the innermost is the fortress itself."
"Triple-layered, huh."
"A legacy from the previous Demon King's era. However, they've been neglected for so long that repairs are needed."
"Repairs—be specific."
"Four outermost scouting outposts are in ruins. Half the camps along the middle defensive line have lost functionality."
"Half? That's pretty bad."
"It's the limit of maintaining them for centuries without a Demon King."
For something spanning centuries—an unrealistically long time—it had held up surprisingly well. I nodded vaguely and asked,
"So what do you need from me?"
"Grant your approval. I'll assemble forces and begin repairs."
"Fine. Do it."
"Thank you. And one more thing."
"What."
"The fortress interior needs maintenance as well. The corridors and conference rooms are functional, but the three towers in the upper levels have been abandoned for ages."
"Towers? There were things like that?"
"The tallest one overlooks the west. The previous Demon King used it to monitor human territory."
"You can see the west from there?"
"Yes. On clear days, your view extends beyond the border."
"......That's useful."
I liked the sound of it, plain and simple.
"Shall I order the maintenance?"
"Yeah. And not just the towers...... Clean up the whole place overall."
"Overall, you say."
"The corridors have dust piling up. The walls are filthy. Everywhere I walk should at least be clean."
"......You're ordering a full cleaning of the entire fortress?"
"It's just dirty."
"......Understood. I'll implement it immediately."
Sahadin's eyes flickered slightly. An NPC who'd endured centuries without a Demon King, shaken by a cleaning order.
......Well, yeah. The new Demon King's first decree being a cleanup must sound absurd.
"Anything else?"
"Troop deployment plans. Based on projected invasion routes for the subjugation army."
The guy was competent as hell. Sahadin pointed to a red line on the map—a path stretching east from Istius.
"The human subjugation army has three main approach routes. First, the central route straight from Istius. Second, bypassing via the northern mountains. Third, crossing the southern wasteland."
"Which way do you think they'll come?"
"The central route is most likely. It's the easiest for maintaining large-scale supply lines."
"Yeah, figures."
"The plan is to station scouting units along each route and concentrate main forces on the central one."
"......But this is active defense. Can't we just wait inside the fortress?"
"The fortress's defenses are sufficient, but wearing down the enemy at the outermost lines is more efficient."
"Efficiency-wise, sure."
I stared blankly at the red lines on the parchment, then raised a finger.
"Sahadin. You said it'd take three months for the subjugation army to reach here?"
"Accounting for assembly and march time, yes."
"So when would scouts spot them?"
"If they assemble and begin marching...... Contact at the outermost lines in about two and a half months."
"Two and a half months."
"Yes."
"......We've got time until then."
Time. Yeah, plenty of it. Whatever we did, we'd be waiting two and a half months anyway.
"Follow your plan for the defensive lines. But add one thing."
"What is it?"
"They're coming, so we need to prepare. Clear the fortress entrance route."
"The entrance route......?"
"The area in front of the gates is a mess right now. No barricades, ground all torn up and abandoned."
"That's on the repair list, of course...... But why prioritize the entrance?"
"......Just because. It looks better tidy. Do it along with the cleaning."
"Understood. I'll include entrance route maintenance and cleaning."
"And keep the soldiers lined up on both sides of the gates. You know, that formation."
"......That's ceremonial for Your Majesty's entry—"
"Keep it."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
I peered back at the parchment. The defense plan filled with lines and symbols. Reviewing it seriously felt a bit ridiculous, but once I did, gaps jumped out.
"There's a canyon here, midway along the central route?"
"Yes. Natural terrain."
"No troops assigned."
"......A canyon suits defense, but bypassing it risks isolation, so we excluded it."
"Bypassing takes time. Didn't you say supplies are key for the subjugation army?"
"That's correct."
"Then bypassing's tough. Station even a small unit there, and it'll slow their march for sure."
"......You're right."
"What's with the face."
"Nothing. I simply...... didn't expect Your Majesty to be versed in tactics."
"I played some games."
"......Games."
"They exist. Don't dig into it."
Sahadin nodded, marking the canyon on the map.
"I'll deploy a small delaying unit."
"Good. One more thing."
"What is it?"
"Who do you think leads the central route vanguard?"
Sahadin looked up. His face said the answer was obvious.
"The Hero."
"Yeah."
My finger slowly traced the red line on the map. Starting from Istius, east and east, until it reached this fortress.
Adelaide's path.
"......Vanguard means they arrive first, right?"
"Generally, yes."
"And if not?"
"Sometimes elite squads advance ahead of the main force for scouting and disruption. The vanguard of the vanguard."
"Even then...... Adelaide—the Hero—will come faster. Could be sooner than three months."
"......Your Majesty. Do you perhaps know the Hero."
"What."
"Nothing."
He still wouldn't cross the line. Loyal NPC.
I folded the map and stood.
"Finish the rest yourself."
"Understood. I'll report back tomorrow."
"Yeah."
I left the conference room. Sahadin gathered the parchment and headed elsewhere.
Thus, time alone. My feet carried me down the corridor of their own accord. Destination: the tower Sahadin mentioned, the one overlooking the west.
It probably wasn't fully maintained yet, but I could climb it. I was the Demon King, after all. Who'd stop me?
The stairs spiraled upward, the wind growing fiercer with each step. The purple flames lining the walls flickered on and off—thanks to the gusts, no doubt.
At the top, wind assailed me from all sides. No ceiling, and beyond the half-collapsed railing lay the Land of Darkness in full view.
I looked west. The black plains stretched astonishingly far, and at their edge, faintly...... a boundary where the sky's hue shifted.
The border between the Land of Darkness and human territory. Beyond it lay Istius, and further still, where Adelaide would be.
The wind whipped my silver hair. Annoying, but not unpleasant. From up here, it felt like I was overlooking something.
Better than being cooped up in the fortress all day.
I ended up standing there atop the tower for a long while. No desire to leave.
The throne room was vast and silent, the corridors showed only walls, and the bed was still too big.
......Driving me insane.
Me, standing here staring toward where an NPC would come from.
Suddenly, footsteps from behind. Gartia, probably. Heavier than Sahadin's, easy to distinguish.
"Your Majesty."
"What."
"Here. What are. You doing."
"Getting some air."
"......I see."
Gartia peered over the railing. Several of his eyes turned west, then back to me.
"I heard. You ordered. Fortress maintenance. From Sahadin."
"That's all you need to know."
"Defensive lines. Repairs and. Troop redeployment too."
"Yeah."
"And. The entrance route. In front of the gates."
"So what're you getting at."
"Your Majesty. Are you. Waiting for. The Hero."
His eyes held no reverence. But maybe—just maybe—they now reflected some judgment of his own.
"Waiting's right. She'll come soon, so we prepare."
"Prepare."
"Yeah. Defensive lines, fortress cleaning, troop placements. All prep."
"......Not. War preparations."
"They are war prep."
"If war. Prep. No reason. To tidy the. Entrance route. It's providing. Convenience. To the enemy. Essentially. A welcome."
"So?"
"......"
"What can you do about it. I say it's war prep."
"......Your Majesty."
"Yeah, Your Majesty. The Demon King you serve is me. Gartia. You think the Demon King shouldn't wait for the Hero?"
"The Demon King. Is a ruler. Not one who. Waits."
"Previous ones, maybe. But I'm me."
"......"
"Whatever I do is my call. Not hurting demons or anything."
"Waiting for. The Hero. Affects. Demon morale. Overall."
"Why?"
"If the Demon King. Is smitten. With the Hero. Who do demons. Follow."
In an instant, shadows encircled Gartia.
"Gartia."
"......Yes, Your Majesty."
"Watch your mouth."
"......"
"Watch it."
"......Understood."
Even with death inches away, his composure grated.
......Should I just eliminate him now?
No. As I shook my head inwardly, several of his eyes still fixed on me.
"Done? Then go."
Gartia retreated, his footsteps fading down the spiral stairs.
Soon, alone again. His words echoed in my mind.
A welcome, he'd said. Yeah, maybe.
When reviewing defense plans with Sahadin, why had I grilled him so specifically on the subjugation army's timeline?
Why had my chest warmed at the thought it could be sooner than three months?
Why hadn't it bothered me that Adelaide as vanguard meant she'd arrive first?
Maybe, yeah. I couldn't deny it anymore.
This tangled mess of emotions—I couldn't ignore it any longer.
I placed my hand on the railing; the stone felt rough.
What would Adelaide say if she were here? Not "it's dangerous, step back," but stand beside me with that "do what you want" look? Or maybe chide me for standing where there's no railing.
Back then, she would've. Like in the market, when she'd grabbed my arm without being asked.
......The woman who'd moved first unprompted.
Next time, she'd wield a sword. Cloaked in light, gripping it properly, eyes bloodshot, glaring at me.
Yeah. Yeah, Adel. That's right.
That's how it was supposed to be from the start.
"Come quick, Adel."
The words slipped out.
I started down the stairs. Back to the throne room, another vast bed waiting.
Cold air, empty room, only purple flames lit.
But tonight might be different, I thought.
Because there was something to wait for.
Something at the end of those three months—or sooner.
My steps felt oddly light. Even as the purple flames flickered shadows long and short while descending, still facing west.
"......Ha."
A laugh escaped. Another side effect of the throne?
I reached the throne room door. As I opened it, I glanced back once more.
The corridor stretched to the end. Empty and long.
When Adelaide came here, would she walk this corridor?
I closed the door and flung myself onto the vast bed. The side was empty again today, but it didn't feel lonely.
The fact that Adelaide would come in three months, or sooner.
Strangely, the most peaceful night since arriving.