Chapter 65
Chapter 65
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 65
Chapter Title: Audience with the Empress
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* * *
And so, after being carried back to the cathedral on Erin's back, the Demon King—
"Here, eat this and calm down."
"This is...?"
"Chicken sandwich. I made it using the chicken left over from breakfast."
"...Thank you."
"No problem. I've got milk too, so eat slowly to avoid indigestion. You worked so hard today. There's a meeting with Her Majesty the Empress in a few days, so rest well until then."
"Understood. I shall... accept your kindness... achoo!"
After Erin left.
In the center of the space where stained glass let midday sunlight filter through—the Demon King nibbled on the chicken sandwich with her tiny mouth.
"Nom nom."
Fluffy, fluffy, crunchy.
Just moments ago, the exhilaration from fulfilling a long-cherished wish had been gently soothed by the delicious food.
By devouring all three sandwiches, she regained her calm...
And finally realized something was off.
'...Hold on. I'm the Demon King, aren't I...? Is it really okay to end things like this?'
She was, of course, grateful that all her demands had been met.
Even so, negotiations were best conducted on equal footing to avoid future regrets.
But just now, no matter how she thought about it, it hadn't felt equal at all...
Far from equal—it had felt like the humans were unilaterally "bestowing" things upon her.
Once they entered negotiations, it was true that from the human side, they had to "bestow" something to some extent. After all, she was the one demanding territory.
However, she had no intention of just passively accepting it. She planned to provide benefits that humans would find valuable in return. Even if it fell short, she intended to meet their needs as much as possible.
That was the only way to prevent the demons from becoming one-sided beneficiaries compared to the humans.
The Demon King knew that much.
The saintess Erin who had brought her here was someone she could trust.
Her judgment was based on one existence—the will of the Sole God Igugwoden. And she herself, the Demon King, knew best that she had been transformed by divine will to attempt these negotiations.
So she could accept Erin's unilateral generosity. After all, it didn't stray far from her absolute goal of strictly following God's words.
But ordinary humans were different.
Even in the form of a human child, if she just accepted vested interests "like handouts" in this way?
It was impossible to rule out the possibility that, to humans, her demon kin would be seen as inferior beings squeezed into the gaps between them.
Like, "Your representative, the Demon King, was sniffling with gratitude before us—how dare you act so arrogantly?" or something along those lines.
She didn't completely distrust humans.
However, unlike demons, who had a Demon King who could project her will onto each individual object and even issue commands, humans lived in a class-based society but showed vast diversity in personality and ideology from one individual to the next.
Moreover, since humans had been steadily victorious against demons, whom they could never beat in raw physical strength, it seemed reasonable not to let their guard down or stay overly subservient, even if dialogue was important!
After turning human, she felt she might have grown complacent.
'...Maybe I've been too absorbed in the miracle God's power brought me.'
Even with a human child's body, she was the supreme ruler of the demons.
To prevent demons who had gained territory from being looked down upon by humans, she couldn't forget that.
Still, today's speech had simply been to persuade human public opinion—
'The real key is the upcoming meeting.'
A few days later.
She would meet the humans' representative—the Empress—as the Demon King's proxy for her kin.
That would decide how far out demons could settle, and what they could offer in return.
Wouldn't it be the crucial moment to address each misunderstanding between humans and demons, both ways?
'Even in this body, I mustn't forget. Even if we're the ones asking, we don't have to be dragged along subserviently. That would surely plant the seeds of disaster for demons and humans alike in the long run.'
To steel her resolve once more, the Demon King placed her hand on the floor where she had been sitting fluffily and stood up.
'Just because opportunity has come doesn't mean I should grow complacent. If God's power has given me this chance, I must maximize it somehow for my kin—'
—Gurgle!
'—sunlight and... territory... to...'
No...
She'd just eaten a chicken sandwich, so why was she hungry again?
The moment she recognized her hunger, her mind seemed to fog over, unable to think straight.
She hesitated, embarrassed by the situation itself, then cautiously toddled toward the door.
The pattering sounds gave her away, so the nun waiting nearby responded quickly when she opened the door.
"Oh my. Demon King. What brings you? Need to use the bathroom?"
"No, not that... the bathroom's fine, but..."
"Then what?"
"Um... something to eat, just a little more."
"Ah! You're peckish. Wait just a moment. It's a virtue to eat a lot around this time anyway."
The nun soon brought chicken soup, warm milk, and fluffy bread made from millet.
"This is all I could prepare quickly. It won't be as tasty as chicken, the food from God, but it's pretty good!"
"...Thank you."
Taking the tray, the Demon King sat back down and ate the soup and bread while thinking.
—For some reason, humans really seem to love chicken.
In that exchange with the nun, the Demon King only thought about chicken.
Unbeknownst to her, that was—actually, quite strange.
* * *
The next day.
"Can you go alone? Shall I hold your hand?"
"Erin. I understand your concern, but I'm fine now. I've been practicing walking so I won't fall."
Indeed, over the past few days, she had practiced toddling around her room without falling.
She felt that falling again would plummet the Demon King's dignity endlessly.
She'd made excuses like "not used to the human body" up until now... but honestly, only once or twice.
Of course, she'd sat quietly at night when the moon was out to avoid disturbing others with the pattering... but she didn't feel short on practice time.
At the Demon King's firm words, Erin nodded with a smile.
"Got it. But tell me if you get tired."
"I will."
Pat pat pat pat pat pat pat pat.
Fortunately, she could now balance quite well while walking.
She could move easily by spreading her wings, but she had no desire to spread demonic energy in the capital.
'Keep it in mind. Unlike yesterday, when I appealed to emotions, today we discuss real interests. I must be able to refuse anything that seems unreasonable.'
For example, a demand like "In exchange for territory, supply demons periodically as labor."
No matter how much they needed sunlight, how could she sell her kin into slavery?
'To avoid that, I can't let emotions sweep me away like yesterday and lose my dignity as Demon King. If needed, I must be prepared to indirectly reveal my power—'
At that moment.
"No need to worry too much."
"...Huh?"
Erin's words, as if reading her thoughts, made the chick-like pattering pause for a second.
"Her Majesty Empress Eirene is full of God's plain facts. I'm sure it'll turn out well."
"I see. Even so, I shouldn't underestimate her. No matter the bloodline, she didn't hold that position for nothing."
Having internalized the experiences of past Demon Kings, she knew.
How the fratricidal struggles for the human representative—the Empress's throne—had unfolded.
Even in conflicts with the Demon King, human infighting had sometimes benefited demons.
Erin smiled brightly at her words.
"You'll see when you meet her."
'......'
Arriving at Igugwoden Imperial Palace with Erin—
The guard at the door spotted the Demon King and rushed over.
"You've arrived, Saintess. May God's plain facts be with you..."
"Thank you, brother. May God's plain facts be with you too."
"An honor. And this is the Demon King, right?"
"Yes."
The guard knelt on one knee, matching her eye level, bowed his head, and said,
"I heard the speech. I hesitate to speak out of turn, but even a mere guard like me felt your desire for our Demon King's peace deep in my heart. I hope for meaningful results."
"...Thank you."
Everyone was being so nice it almost made her relax—
But the Demon King quickly shook her head and refocused.
Don't get swayed by momentary feelings, she repeated to herself as she entered the palace.
* * *
The interior of the Imperial Palace was surprisingly not overly luxurious.
Just a simple red carpet and minimal decorations.
Pat pat pat—the rhythmic sounds of her steps filled the empty corridor.
'Definitely different from what past Demon Kings remembered.'
Some Demon Kings had invaded the empire's imperial palace in the human capital.
In those memories, the palace was adorned with luxurious marble sculptures and expensive, opulent artworks everywhere—unlike ordinary human cities.
A palace of unparalleled splendor, yet the Empress had fallen pitifully to the Demon King... though ultimately dealt with by the saintess and holy knights.
After walking for a while,
"This is the audience chamber."
"Thank you, Erin. I'll go alone from here. I can't keep relying on you even in such an important place."
"If that's the Demon King's will, it must be God's will too. I'll wait for you, Demon King."
Leaving Erin behind, the Demon King opened the door to the audience chamber.
In truth.
Even up until arriving here, the Demon King absolutely could not have known.
The meaning of the sentence that echoed in her mind the moment she faced the light—"One hundred thousand won sponsorship hurray."
* * *
After parting with Erin, she pattered along alone, stepping confidently onto the red carpet of the audience chamber.
"You've arrived, Demon King."
"...Huh?"
Welcoming her in the designated audience room was—
"I've been waiting. I am the Empress of the Empire, Eirene von Ainsberg."
A small, cute tiara atop golden, bright yellow hair.
Her asymmetrical bangs exuded a unique charm, while her neatly tied-back hair clearly marked her as no ordinary person.
Her features were perfectly placed, and her fair skin, supporting an incredibly youthful face, made her 36 years hard to believe—it brimmed with vitality.
Her off-shoulder dress fully accentuated her feminine allure.
Even larger than Erin's famous divine power pouch, her violently voluptuous breasts asserted their presence, as if ready to tear the dress at any moment.
—Up to there.
Up to there, it was the Empress's appearance anyone, including the Demon King, could predict.
An expensive gem-encrusted tiara, elegant and beautiful features, luxurious dress, seductively enchanting voice...
But.
She wasn't just wearing a dress.
She had draped one more thing over it.
An apron tied with strings at the back, adorning only the front—like a strawberry atop a shortcake.
'...Huh?'
—An apron?
And not just that.
For some reason... her left hand held something.
A wooden cylindrical object...?
The Demon King quickly sifted through the accumulated memories of countless past Demon Kings.
And easily guessed what it was.
The problem was—
'Why... is she holding that...?'
Just as she wondered if she'd mistaken it for something else,
"I've been waiting only for your arrival, Demon King. Today is a day for very important talks, so I prepared in my own way."
Eirene said this with a very relaxed expression... a fine smile curving her lips, shaking what she held.
—Jingle jingle.
'!!!'
The adorably cute sound confirmed she hadn't been mistaken.
A toy.
It was a toy.
The kind that jingled when shaken, used to soothe babies!
Unlike the Demon King, who couldn't hide her bewilderment,
Eirene gracefully knelt slowly—
"Come here, Demon King... hee hee."
—And patted her plump thigh.