Chapter 68
Chapter 68
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter: 68
Chapter Title: Liberation Day
-----------------------------------------------------------------
* * *
Until the proclamation was drafted and put into effect, the Demon King spent most of her time with the Empress.
It was because the harmony between humans and demons was an unprecedented event in history, so they had to iron out as many details as possible.
Once their talks wrapped up, the Demon King lounged on Eirene's thick thighs, basking in the sunlight pouring through the window.
In truth, these moments were when the Demon King felt most at ease.
She spent time with the Dish of Holy Knights at the church.
Her main task was correcting their misconceptions about demons.
Once they understood that demons weren't simply human-hating monsters, the holy knights would work with the Igugwoden Church to spread the word to the public.
And every time that happened—
"Hm? What's this? Do you have something to say to me?"
zzZ
—Do-do-don.
"...No. I'll just keep explaining."
The Demon King glanced warily at the rabbit dozing on Ophelia's head.
Even in sleep, it balanced perfectly, never slipping off no matter how much Ophelia moved—
But beyond that, the intense aura it radiated made it impossible not to tense up.
Fortunately, the rabbit didn't flaunt its power; it simply enjoyed its nap.
It was truly bizarre. To think it carried such a mighty divine beast—strong enough to overwhelm the Demon King and all demons in an instant—yet still advocated for dialogue.
In correcting humans' misconceptions about demons, the Demon King also dispelled her own people's long-held belief, passed down from previous Demon Kings, that "all humans are aggressive beings."
Along the way, she also dealt with subordinates who sought private audiences with her.
Most of those who requested one-on-one meetings were vassals whose territories contained dungeon entrances.
Conversations with vassals who had converted to the Igugwoden Church flowed smoothly without need for negotiation—
But with those who hadn't, discussions dragged on.
"You're certain it won't harm the body? There are so many rumors that 'exposure to demonic energy causes horrific damage'..."
"That's right. I can assure you of that. I stake my name as Demon King on it."
Crunch, crunch.
Nibbling on the cookies the vassal had prepared, the Demon King nodded solemnly.
"Understood. Ah, would you like more?"
"I'd appreciate it."
"One moment."
Normally, a maid would swiftly bring in refreshments—
But for some reason, the vassal wanted to personally serve snacks to the Demon King.
"Here you go. Let me know if you want more. There's plenty."
"Thank you. Humans really make delicious things."
The Demon King said this and crunched into a fresh cookie.
Her eyes sparkled for a moment.
"Since it's a matter of life and death, I'll cooperate as much as I can. That said, we'll likely need your long-term assistance with various things. Not every world runs on goodwill alone..."
"I understand. I get what you're saying."
"Really? I don't need to explain it simply?"
"Of course not. What do you take me for?"
"The Demon King."
"Hm. You know me well."
Such peculiar meetings repeated several times.
They might have seemed like highly political discussions... but every vassal who met the Demon King dropped their guard and eagerly pledged full cooperation.
The sight of a tiny chick waddling around, chirping as it munched cookies, perfectly cleared their complicated minds.
And so, time passed until the day of the proclamation.
Now, the Demon King had to return to the dungeon and report the situation.
"I've been in your debt, Empress."
"Not at all, Demon King. Come visit anytime. Got it?"
"Understood. Friendly exchanges never hurt."
With that, she shook Eirene's hand with her tiny one—
"This way."
And approached Linea von Ainsberg, who was waiting to guide her.
"Sorry to keep you waiting, Linea."
"...It's fine."
Linea von Ainsberg.
For some reason, she was the one in the imperial palace who remained most wary of the Demon King.
Her younger brother Ares had secluded himself, and while eldest daughter Yuria was friendly toward the Demon King, her actions—holding hands for a stroll or viewing flowers together—were far from political maneuvers, just simple goodwill gestures.
'This little child is the Demon King...?'
The more she looked, the harder it was to believe.
Was it God's will to make the Demon King appear as a cute girl?
Because she took the form of an adorable girl, the massive event of human-demon dialogue proceeded smoothly.
In other words, the 'God's will' Linea understood had paved an easy path for humans and demons to talk.
The Saintess, Luca, and Ophelia said, 'If it's God's will, it must be the right path,' but Linea couldn't convince herself no matter how much she thought about it.
Dialogue was good, but was it truly okay to join hands with demons like this?
"Nyam nyam."
"......"
This cute creature, chirping as it held her hand and munched what seemed to be a gift cookie from a vassal—did they have to trust it just because of its appearance?
As Linea pondered this, the Demon King's voice reached her.
"You still don't trust this body, do you?"
"That's...!"
"No need to be surprised. I sense a wariness from you that I don't from other humans. And I'm not saying this to scold or blame you."
Linea didn't reply.
Sensing this meant 'go on,' the Demon King continued.
"Linea, was it?"
"Yes."
"You're very beautiful. Perhaps you take after your mother."
"I humbly submit that the current Empress is not my birth mother."
"...Really?"
"Yes. She's my mother's younger sister."
"I see. You look so alike... Well, cousins resembling each other isn't strange."
As she said, Linea actually resembled her aunt Eirene more than her mother.
Before joining the Igugwoden Church, eldest sister Yuria had a similar vibe to Eirene in her youth.
Among the three siblings, third prince Ares took after their mother Aisha the most.
"Be that as it may, it might not be the best topic for this body to bring up... Linea. Aren't you—"
—afraid of God?
"!!!"
"That's why you can't bring yourself to trust me."
In that instant, Linea's steps halted.
The Demon King's chirping stopped too, creating an eerie chill in a flash.
"No need to worry so much. Your 'God'... Igugwoden is an incredibly warm being. I can feel the deep love he holds for you humans."
"......"
She could have said 'I know that' or 'I don't think that way'—plenty of responses—
But for some reason, Linea wanted advice from her, rather than brushing it off.
Even as the Demon King, she might offer meaningful insight.
"If the outcome is good... is that okay?"
"What do you mean?"
"I agree that Lord Igugwoden and the Igugwoden Church pursue paths beneficial to all. After the Saintess descended, religious corruption and graft vanished overnight, and my mother, once mired in politics, repented and walked the path of a true sage ruler."
"But... ever since we suddenly felt God's 'Plain Fact' through the Saintess, everyone acts like completely different people... It scares me."
That was why she still kept the Demon King at arm's length.
Why, among the Dish of Holy Knights, she alone never uttered 'Plain Fact.'
It stemmed from fear of God.
Fear of a transcendent being whose interventions humans could neither comprehend nor counter.
"I see..."
The Demon King resumed walking with her chirps.
Holding her hand, Linea had no choice but to follow.
"No need to fear that much. God won't harm you no matter what."
"...How can you be sure?"
"Isn't this body proof enough?"
The Demon King looked up at Linea and grinned.
"God made this body like this to protect you humans, not us."
"...!!!"
"Thanks to that, I could talk with humans. So this body holds deep gratitude toward your God too."
He changed a demon... for us non-demons.
Linea mulled those words over the entire way to the dungeon with the Demon King.
God's will.
'Was it God's love, or...'
...merely a whim of God that followed the Saintess's descent.
Ironically, she—who distrusted God most among the Dish of Holy Knights—was perhaps the only one...
No, maybe among all in the imperial family and church, the closest to grasping God's true nature.
* * *
After parting with Linea.
Arriving at Cheriside Dungeon, the closest to Igugwoden Citadel, the Demon King steadied her tense heart.
It was only natural to be tense.
Today was practically her comrades' 'liberation day'!
'Even this body can't suppress the trembling excitement.'
Securing territory exclusively for demons—a long-cherished dream of all demons.
The thought of proudly telling her comrades they could now live openly filled her with elation.
To report her achievements, the Demon King stepped forward confidently with her tiny feet.
Pip, pip, pip, pip.
At that moment.
"Th-that sound... Could it be the Demon King?!"
"...?"
A unfamiliar voice from beyond the dungeon entrance startled her—
But calling her 'Demon King' meant no hostility.
Likely a kin, then... Did she have any kin with such a seductive, melodic voice?
"What's the matter?"
"This intense energy... It is the Demon King! Ah, um... C-could you come this way...?"
Chirping toward the voice, she arrived to see—
"...!"
A naked human woman, frantically covering herself, unsure what to do.
'Wait, why is a human here?'
Unlucky scenarios raced through the Demon King's mind.
Had a minor human disturbance occurred while she was away... and they kidnapped a human female to hold in the dungeon?
—No. The woman called her 'Demon King,' and she'd never seen a human wandering naked.
To demons, a human nude was just another race's body—nothing more, nothing less—so no reason to confiscate clothes. Thus, this woman must have entered the dungeon like this—
By the time those thoughts crossed her mind.
'Not the time to panic.'
The proclamation had just been issued.
Before the fragile tower she'd built crumbled, she needed to calm the human quickly.
A quick check showed no injuries. Maybe just lost.
Calling her Demon King could mean she already knew of the human girl form.
She'd spoken publicly in the citadel center, so locals knowing her appearance wasn't odd.
The Demon King spoke in her most dignified tone.
"Who are you? How did a human end up here...? Demonic energy must have been tough. If my kin brought you, it must be a misunderstanding. This body will resolve it, so explain the situation fully—"
"N-no, that's not it! I'm not human!"
"What...?"
The Demon King examined the woman again.
Her long purple hair draped over one eye, giving a mysterious air.
—Though her teary expression killed half the mystique right now.
Her skin was flawlessly pale, as if never touched by sun, and her exposed breasts were so ample one hand couldn't fully cover them.
A trivia learned in the citadel: The Igugwoden Church revered large human breasts. That size would surely earn Saintess Erin's approval.
Of course, fresh from facing Eirene, they didn't seem that huge to the Demon King.
The breast and hip shapes, her use of human language.
She looked unmistakably human—
"It was... I was heading to your room, Demon King, but light leaked out, I lost consciousness, and suddenly became this body..."
'...Huh?'
Wait.
Light leaked out?
Like when I became human?
The Demon King never dropped her guard while scheming.
And the only ones who could approach her unguarded inner sanctum were—
Sweating coldly in disbelief, the Demon King asked.
"You... don't tell me you're Ballus?"