As I advanced through the forest, a slight shortness of breath began to set in.
My bones creaked, and a faint, burning pain shot through me.
Honestly, it wasn't worth fretting over, but ignoring it served no purpose either.
I cast a protective spell on myself and Grom.
The pain throughout my body vanished without a trace.
That solved the problem.
At that moment, Diera turned to look at me.
"That's quite the holy energy, but are you feeling alright?"
"No issues."
I nodded in reply.
The World Tree Forest was brimming with holy energy.
The deeper one went, the stronger it became.
At this concentration, any ordinary undead would be rendered immobile.
"I'm glad to hear that. Being purified out of nowhere would be no joke, after all."
Diera heaved a sigh of relief.
Seeing her relax like that made me want to ask why she had chosen the World Tree Forest as the venue for her feast in the first place.
Knowing her, she probably hadn't thought it through very deeply.
It was a reaction entirely typical of Diera.
After walking for a while longer, Diera turned her gaze toward me.
She studied me intently, from the top of my head to the tips of my toes.
Was there something wrong, then?
I checked, but my body was the same as always.
Not a single thing seemed off.
As I was puzzling over this, Diera said with deep feeling.
"I had the impression that the undead would hinder daily life, but seeing you all, I'm forced to reconsider."
"We're the exception. Normally, even sunlight is poisonous."
The undead are fundamentally frail.
They possess several advantageous traits compared to the living, but in exchange, they carry a host of weaknesses.
Holy magic is perhaps the most representative example.
Throughout recorded history, many notable undead have existed.
All of them met their end in the end.
Even in heroic tales, they are invariably slain.
That is how the undead are perceived.
When I first became the Demon King, people likely saw me as a threat that could be dealt with quickly.
They judged it a problem contained within the kingdom and saw no need for urgent action.
My self-proclamation as Demon King must have been dismissed as nothing but idle talk.
That is precisely why I was able to seize control of the kingdom so swiftly.
While I had anticipated as much, I have no choice but to be grateful to the other nations for not interfering at the outset.
"Don't you ever wish to become human again? There's no need to be undead to play the role of Demon King."
"I'd never really thought about it. In the first place, I can't return to being human. No spell could make that possible."
I declare.
Whether she sensed something or not, Diera returned my gaze with a meaningful look.
"The curse of the Valley of the Dead?"
"That is right."
I possess the sovereign power of the Valley of the Dead.
I am supplied with nearly inexhaustible power from that place, and in turn, I return corpses to the Valley of the Dead.
To put it plainly, it was a relationship of coexistence.
Of course, this was not entirely advantageous.
I was bound to the Valley of the Dead.
If that place were to be purified, my life would be imperiled.
Moreover, no matter what magic was used, the transformation into an undead was irreversible.
The sovereign power that devoured me prevented it.
No matter how much effort I made, I could not cease to be an undead.
The only way to stop being an undead would be to face my second death.
Naturally, I had no intention of allowing such a thing to happen.
Therefore, I am an eternal, undying Demon King.
Wearing a solemn expression, Diera then peered into Grom's face.
She asked softly.
"Do you not wish to become human?"
"This body is a precious gift from the Demon King. I am already content."
Grom answered without hesitation.
There was no trace of wavering; I could sense his firm resolve.
In a way, perhaps even more so than myself.
If I were to state my personal opinion, I would say Grom should do as he pleases, but he seems to have a certain fondness for his undead body.
Perhaps what truly matters is that he exists as a being of the same nature as me.
If I were to become human, Grom would likely follow suit with a cheerful smile.
As we walked, exchanging such idle thoughts, a cluster of wooden buildings came into view ahead.
The elven village.
It seemed we had drawn surprisingly close without realizing it.
Immediately, Diera quickened her pace and moved ahead.
"It seems we've arrived!"
The elven village, which I hadn't visited in some time, was enveloped in a moderate bustle.
It exuded a peaceful way of living.
I could sense no hostility toward us.
When the elves made eye contact, they offered a slight nod.
It was a somewhat curt reaction, but this was their norm.
It was not that they disliked us.
On the contrary, they were welcoming us.
If they truly rejected us, entering their village so freely would not have been so easy.
Regardless of the circumstances, elves never abandon their pride.
They are a race that would never bend their convictions, even if it cost them their lives. That was why I could respect them. Though our relationship was formally one of subordination, I had managed to maintain a comparatively good rapport with the elves. My consideration for their treatment and feelings since transplanting the forest here had borne fruit.
"I pass through here! Make way!" Diera bellowed as she strode forward with grand strides.
Even though no one was actually blocking her path, her cry was filled with intense spirit. Grom and I followed, apologizing to the bewildered elves as we went. It was an extremely troublesome display.
Before long, we arrived at the home of the chieftain, Logan. He was waiting outside.
"The gathering isn't until night, yet you arrive quite early. Were you that eager to come?"
"Dwight simply couldn't wait, so we moved out early," Diera said with a sigh.
Logan furrowed his brow at her and sought confirmation.
"...Is that so?"
"Mmm," Diera nodded, as if stating the obvious.
It was, in reality, a bald-faced lie, but her tone gave no hint of that. It was too much trouble to correct her, so I held back Grom when he started to object.
Logan continued, seeming to sense something. "The others will arrive shortly. Until then, make yourself comfortable. You may even stroll through the forest if you wish."
"May I see the World Tree?"
"...Only if Dwight accompanies you."
Hearing this, Diera immediately turned on her heel. She looked at me and waved frantically.
"Right! I owe you one! Dwight! We're going to see it now! Follow me!"
Without waiting for an answer from either of us, Diera darted toward the depths of the village.
The scattering elves paid her no mind, and she quickly disappeared from sight.
The World Tree must hold great interest for her. Perhaps it was something unseen during the era of the active Demon Lords, which only heightened her curiosity.
Having witnessed the entire exchange, I turned my gaze to Logan.
"...You pushed that onto me, didn't you?"
"What choice is there? A minder is required. Besides, you're not devoid of interest in the World Tree yourself."
Logan retorted with unwavering composure.
He was certainly right.
The chance to lay eyes on the World Tree was exceedingly rare.
I was interested.
I turned to Grom.
"What about you?"
"Since I have to prepare for the meal, I regret that I cannot join you."
"I understand."
Having nodded, I began to move, following after Diera.
Truthfully, I wanted to rest for a bit longer, but there was nothing to be done.
I would humor Diera's whims.