"……."
The room fell silent.
Paimon had always led the factions with generous goodwill. The Mountain Faction had a distinctive atmosphere — a loose but broad coalition. The politics Sitri was now practicing were the complete opposite. It could only be described as politics through terror, or perhaps coercion….
For terror to maintain its grip continuously, two conditions were necessary.
First, the conviction that one was safe from the whip.
Even as others dropped like flies, I am safe. That belief had to be shared among the subordinates. In other words, you had to make it perfectly clear "how to avoid punishment" so that your subordinates would know how to behave.
Second, a shared understanding that terror was currently indispensable.
People weren't idiots — they knew that terror was at best a second choice… no, merely the lesser evil. For terror to be accepted as necessary, the perception had to exist that the situation was that dire. If we don't rule ruthlessly, we will be destroyed.
That was why the execution of a traitor was so important.
Executing a traitor, regardless of the era, provided those around you with an exceedingly clear standard. Betray, and you die. Don't betray, and you're safe. There was no cleaner criterion than that. Moreover, since a genuine traitor had emerged, the Mountain Faction demon lords would now be acutely aware of the severity of the situation.
*'The timing was perfect.'*
Quite literally, Demon Lord Belial had chosen the perfect moment to betray them.
It satisfied both the first and second conditions simultaneously. There was insufficient evidence of whether he had actually betrayed them or not, but that didn't matter. The point was whether it was politically necessary. That was all that counted. Sitri's leadership would at least be recognized as necessary for the time being….
"Ladies and gentlemen. As someone who belongs to the Plains Faction, I feel a sense of responsibility."
I took one step forward.
The key to terror was to make people perceive the current situation as close to the worst possible outcome. Close to the worst — but it absolutely must not be perceived as the truly worst. If it was, there was a danger of losing all restraint and spiraling out of control.
*'The Plains Faction might use this opportunity to wipe us out entirely.'* That level of perception was just right. If it became *"The Plains Faction is wiping us out!"* — that would be a problem. The Mountain Faction demon lords would lash out in desperation before going down, running completely amok.
Someone needed to maintain that razor-thin line of perception.
"Belial secretly met with Zepar, a demon lord of our Plains Faction. It's possible — just barely — that there may be some among the Mountain Faction within the Plains Federation who harbor thoughts of splitting us from within."
"Dantalion. I'm afraid you're not free from suspicion either, sir."
The elderly gentleman with a thick white beard spoke. He was Morax, the former twenty-first in rank, known as the Demon Lord of the Horseshoe. If Marbas had maintained his natural beauty while aging gracefully, Morax had become an old man with liver spots scattered across his face.
"You belong to the Plains Faction as well. Not merely by affiliation, but you are the only man Barbatos has ever let into his heart. If there truly were a movement within the Plains Federation to scheme against our Mountain Faction's internal unity, it would be impossible for someone of your stature — a chief among chiefs — to have been unaware of it."
The Mountain Faction demon lords nodded at the old gentleman's pointed remark. They weren't scolding me or putting me on the spot; rather, the atmosphere suggested I should go ahead and explain myself. It was quite courteous.
"I appreciate the high regard, but my influence within the Plains Faction is far more insignificant than you might imagine."
"You're covering the sky with the palm of your hand. I'm not so foolish as to be unaware that you are the true power behind the Plains Faction."
"You seem to know a great deal about me."
"His Excellency Paimon shared quite a bit."
I let out a bitter smile.
I deliberately maintained my silence for a moment. The nuance I wanted to convey was that merely hearing Paimon's name to my face was painful enough. It didn't need to be a long silence. Five to six seconds. That was plenty to get the gesture across to everyone watching.
After timing it in my head, I opened my mouth.
"Lord Morax. Do you know where my power originates?"
"If this old man may venture an answer — it stems from Barbatos's favor."
"To be precise, it stems from the favor of three people. Barbatos, Marbas… and Paimon."
I subtly lowered my gaze. It was the kind of gesture a guilty person instinctively displays. People would believe I carried a deep sense of guilt toward Paimon, and I wanted to keep that misconception firmly in place.
"My power is fundamentally not my own — it originates from elsewhere. It comes from the balance among the factions. Whether it's the Mountain Faction, the Neutral Faction, or the Plains Faction, there will inevitably be moments when each must seek the cooperation of the others. That is precisely when my role shines. Put differently, the moment that balance between the factions collapses, someone like me becomes utterly unnecessary…"
"Isn't that a bit too humble?"
"I'm simply stating the truth as it is."
The old man said nothing. He couldn't refute my words. Because it was the truth.
"I believe the current era has achieved a golden balance. The collapse of that balance would be the worst possible scenario for me. If there are those within the Plains Faction scheming to destroy that balance — then everyone, they are the ones who are my enemies."
The old man slowly opened his narrow eyes and looked my way. Deep wrinkles lined the corners of his eyelids, mottled with age spots.
"What means do you have at your disposal?"
"I have sworn brotherhood with Brother Zepar. I will ask him about Belial directly and without mincing words."
"Isn't that far too simple a method?"
"I am confident in my approach."
I slowly surveyed the room around me.
"I'll be straightforward with you. I am begging for your trust. However, what you all need to understand is that there is absolutely no need to grant me your trust unconditionally. Only trust me, provisionally, when our interests align."
"......"
"And this is precisely such a time."
The Demon Lords' gazes converged on Sitri. They were willing to follow whatever their leader decided. But Sitri didn't so much as twitch an eyebrow.
"I'll make this clear while we're at it. I am in love with Dantalion."
"......"
"But my personal relationship has absolutely nothing to do with our faction's affairs."
The expressions of the Mountain Faction Demon Lords shifted. They looked surprised. A subtle tension rippled through the air in the office, but Sitri continued in her same cold, unwavering tone.
"I will not use a personal relationship to dictate the major and minor decisions of our faction. That should be obvious. The Mountain Faction doesn't belong to me. It's our place — something Paimon built with her sweat and blood. All I want is to protect this place where her memory and her presence still remain."
"Your Excellency Sitri......"
"So let's all decide together. Even though Paimon isn't here right now......let's think about what she would have done."
Nothing stirs the heart as effortlessly as a love that never wavers.
Even the youngest demon in the Demon Realm knew how deeply Sitri loved Paimon. In politics, suspecting the other side is second nature, but Sitri's devotion was beyond reproach. It was that purity of heart that moved the Demon Lords.
"I agree."
"I also agree. Dantalion is indeed well-suited for the role of negotiator. There's nothing to be gained by opposing this either."
"I concur."
The Demon Lords of the Mountain Faction voiced their approval one after another.
In the end, even Morax gave a nod. Even if he had wanted to oppose, rebelling against Sitri here would have been the worst move. He must have figured it was better to rally around Sitri for now rather than stir up unnecessary discord. It was the correct judgment.
"Thank you, everyone."
I placed my right hand over my chest and bowed respectfully, like a butler.
"I'd like to confirm the role I've been given once more. I will investigate whether there truly are factions within the Plains Faction attempting to cause a split, and do everything in my power to prevent the Golden Balance from collapsing. Is that correct?"
"Yes, it is."
The Demon Lords agreed.
From the moment I entered the room until the very end, I never once made eye contact with Sitri, then walked out through the door. I immediately headed to the office assigned to Brother Zepar.
The Imperial Palace was broadly divided into the East Wing and the West Wing.
Of these, the East Wing was assigned to the Plains Faction, and the West Wing to the Mountain Faction. The central areas were occupied by the Neutral Faction and unaffiliated Demon Lords. A straightforward arrangement.
The Habsburg Empire's Imperial Palace had originally been quite plain. The previous emperor—that is, Elizabeth and Rudolf's father—had been the most extravagant spender in history. He kept trying to renovate the palace at every opportunity, but the nobles strongly opposed it and the plans fell through.
On top of that, when Consul Elizabeth burned the capital to the ground and tore through the heavens during the Crescent Alliance Army war, a considerable portion of the palace had been dismantled—and yes, every last valuable decoration and statue had been stripped off and hauled away! Come to think of it, Consul Elizabeth was quite the penny-pincher too—leaving it in a sorry state.
Now, however, its scale had changed dramatically.
Using the original framework as a base, Goblins and dwarf craftsmen brought in from the Demon Realm had carried out massive renovations. Its size had ballooned several times over, to the point where it could be considered a small city unto itself. Thanks to that, I now had to walk a full several tens of minutes from the West Wing, where the Mountain Faction was located, to the East Wing, home of the Plains Faction.
"Welcome, brother."
Brother Zepar greeted me warmly. His face was as stern as ever, but a hint of fondness lingered in his voice. Brother Zepar set down the documents he'd been working on and flashed a grin.
"It's not bad seeing you so often these days."
"It seems like managing your territory has been quite taxing."
"Honestly, it's only slightly easier than dealing with the knights of Bretagne."
We shared a light laugh. After some idle chat, Brother Zepar dismissed the servants from his office. I put on a serious expression and spoke.
"Brother. What I'm about to tell you must be kept in absolute secrecy for the time being."
Brother Zepar's face turned grave immediately. He was a man who could switch to being serious whenever the situation called for it.
"Something serious has happened, hasn't it?"
"Yes. Demon Lord Belial was purged just moments ago."
"......"
Brother Zepar's eyes widened. They remained that way for a moment before slowly lowering as his eyelids closed. He pressed his index finger against the bridge of his nose.
"...Purged, you say?"
"It appears Sitri personally took Belial's head. The Mountain Faction demon lords had all gathered in Sitri's office until just moments ago. They may still be there."
Brother Zepar let out a sigh with his eyes still closed.
"This has blown up into quite a commotion."
"Actually, it may not be as dire as you'd think. Sitri has requested to negotiate with me."
"Negotiate?"
"The Mountain Faction believes that Demon Lord Belial betrayed them. And to that end, he supposedly held a secret meeting with you, Brother..."
Brother Zepar's brow furrowed.
"What utter nonsense. In the current situation, at a time like this, what good could possibly come from accepting a runt like Belial? It would only stir up pointless conflict."
"The Mountain Faction isn't entirely foolish either. They think the same way you do, Brother. However..."
"However, there's a possibility. Is that what concerns you?"
I nodded.
"Brother. This is my fault. Please, let me take the blame."
"What are you talking about?"
"Weren't you originally hesitant about meeting with Belial? I was the one who advised you to meet with him. This entire situation is entirely my doing."
I bowed my head.
That's right.
Demon Lord Belial had betrayed them at a truly appropriate timing.