Along with the undead from the former liberation army, I returned via teleportation magic.
Though questionable if possible, it succeeded without issue.
Being able to transport roughly twenty thousand troops in an instant is convenient.
It can be applied to various strategies.
While I clearly felt the drain on my magical power, it wasn’t enough to be exhausting.
If the incantation is refined for group teleportation, the consumption could be reduced further.
That, one could say, is where the skill of a wise man shines.
The benefits of this transformed state are immeasurable.
It wasn’t just that the performance of magic had improved.
I should realize spells I never would have dreamed of in life.
To become a permanent evil, I must not be confined by human limitations.
Without pride in my current power, I will establish an even more solid foundation.
The destination of the teleportation was the outskirts of the Royal Capital.
I didn’t return directly to the castle because I had a small errand.
I headed to the Valley of the Dead.
There, I restored part of the undead to corpses and offered them to the valley.
It was a semi-instinctive action, the result of obeying the miasma dwelling in my soul.
The moment the corpses were offered, I felt an amplification of power.
My authority seemed to have grown stronger.
The Valley of the Dead, which had cleared somewhat because I took it in, began to be enveloped in mist once more.
The Valley of the Dead is the source of my power.
Polluting it with miasma has apparently strengthened my own existence relative to the environment.
This is a useful discovery.
I shall continue to offer up corpses regularly.
(I believe I have absorbed the power of the Valley of the Dead. But in truth, perhaps it is the Valley that has absorbed my existence.)
Such a thought flits through my mind, but it is ultimately trivial.
It will not affect my course of action.
As long as I gain power as the Demon King, the means are irrelevant.
Just in case, I protected the Valley of the Dead with large-scale barrier magic and led the remaining undead toward the Royal Capital.
(Everything has gone smoothly so far. There are no problems.)
The recovery army that sought a swift resolution was annihilated.
Similar concentrations of force had likely assembled elsewhere, but upon learning of this incident, they should hesitate to deploy.
They will surely realize that simply amassing numbers is futile.
From now on, they will hold investigations and strategy meetings, and only after discerning the extent of my abilities will they launch an offensive.
Regardless of the strategy, any action will take time to implement.
That is fine.
In the current state, it is impossible for people to subdue me.
They will not scatter their lives in vain.
I do not wish for the complete destruction of the world.
I merely wish to maintain peace among humanity by continuing to pose the threat of the Demon King.
As long as there were no attacks on our side, the plan was to leave humanity alone for a while. While they prepared, I had my own business to attend to. Before I knew it, I had arrived at the Royal Capital. I proceeded down desolate streets. En route, I dismissed the undead obtained from this battle. Having no plans to use them, I left them to wander within the capital. From there, I walked to the castle on foot. I simply felt a vague desire to tour the city streets. Stains of blood remained here and there, and houses on the verge of collapse lined the roads. Many buildings had been completely incinerated, their forms pitifully ruined. Spoiled foodstuffs, with no one to clean them up, had discolored. Everything was in a state of utter devastation. It vividly portrayed the daily life that had abruptly crumbled away. My heart aches, but there are no regrets. This is the path I chose. The sage Dwight Harvelt, who once contributed to the defeat of the Demon King, is dead. The one who remains here now is an undead Demon King who repeats slaughter. Having made an irrevocable choice, it is my duty to see it through. I cannot allow the sacrifices of those who have died to be in vain. As I checked for traces of people's lives, I eventually reached the castle.
I found myself glancing up at the castle, and its appearance froze me in my tracks. What should have been white stone walls with blue roofing was now entirely cloaked in a reddish-black sheen. Blue flames flickered throughout. The structure seemed composed of nothing but a grotesque mockery of form.
(What happened in the short time I looked away?)
No. I already knew the culprit.
I used teleportation magic to appear directly in the castle's audience chamber. Inside, there was little visible change. The moment I sat upon the throne, the doors opened and Grom entered.
"Welcome back, Demon King! I was observing through farsight magic, and it was a magnificent display! I was so moved, tears nearly came to my eyes..."
Grom's body trembled as he smoothly knelt before me. He made a gesture of dabbing at his eyes with a handkerchief. The flames burning in his eye sockets singed its edge. Was this for real? With Grom's personality, it wasn't impossible. Hard to judge, but now wasn't the time.
Setting aside my thoughts, I addressed the kneeling Grom.
"What's with the castle's exterior?"
"Ah, yes! I had it altered to something befitting the Demon King's residence. I've also laid defensive magic and the like, so there's no neglect in countermeasures against intruders. What do you think? Has it met your approval?"
Grom explained in a tone that practically begged the question to be asked.
He looks incredibly proud.
Despite having the skull of a bull for a face, it’s remarkable how well he can express emotion.
We should be the same, being made of bone, yet our capacity for warmth differs vastly.
I glance at Grom.
He is nervously shifting his gaze around.
He probably wants praise.
If he had a tail, I feel it would be wagging.
While his unauthorized modifications to the castle’s exterior were presumptuous, they cause no actual harm.
It’s not like I have any strong preferences.
Honestly, it wouldn’t trouble me no matter how it was renovated.
And Grom didn’t just alter the castle’s appearance; he simultaneously worked to bolster its defenses.
An analysis with detection magic revealed an immense number of spells had been woven in.
If anyone intruded without permission, they would be reduced to ash in an instant.
Such sinister magic has been deployed extensively.
With so many layered barriers, it’s even questionable whether entry is possible at all.
Rarely would you find security this tight anywhere in the world.
It offers a glimpse into Grom’s motivation and a fraction of his true power, accomplished in such a short time.
You might almost forget how out of his depth he sometimes acts, but he is an extraordinary being.
If he so desired, he could wipe one or two whole continents from the map.
That would lend even more plausibility to the extinction of humanity.
He was far more fitting as a Demon Lord than I was.
"Forgetfulness of the city's defenses, you say. I appreciate your consideration."
After a moment's thought, I offered words of praise.
Though it was a decision made on his own, there was almost nothing to fault.
Rather, I should commend Grom's efforts.
Receiving my words, Grom flared the flames in his eye sockets brightly.
"It is most pleasing to hear such kind words from you...! Oh, it was well worth the worry and thought I put into this exterior. It is this Grom's honor to be of service to the Demon Lord!"
"I, too, am honored to have such a capable subordinate. However, in the future, consult with me before taking such actions."
"Ah ha! If you would but utilize the brain of this loyal servant, I would be most grateful."
Grom responds by pressing his forehead to the floor.
It was absolute loyalty to me.
Or perhaps, worship for the Demon Lord.
That thoroughness drew a wry smile from me, inwardly.
◆
"My Lord Demon Lord, it is terrible!"
Two nights later, a panicked Grom burst into the audience chamber.
Something serious must have happened.
"What is it? An intruder?"
"N-No, it is not that, but... in any case, it would be best for you to see it directly."
For Grom, that was unusually evasive wording.
It must be contents difficult to report.
I immediately used magic to sense the entire Royal Capital.
If there was any abnormality, this should reveal it.
And sure enough, numerous responses caught my attention near the outer wall gates.
The number was around five hundred.
They had massed in front of the gates.
They were certainly not intruders.
They weren't advancing into the capital, merely holding their position there.
I understood why Grom was perplexed.
Folding my arms, I released the magic and returned my consciousness to the audience chamber.
"Hmm, seems we have visitors."
"What shall be done? If you give the order, I shall annihilate them."
Grom emanated an ominous presence.
Hatred and killing intent seeped from him.
If I nodded, he looked ready to dash out in an instant.
"No, I will go. Follow me."
"Yes! Understood!"
Grom erased his killing intent and saluted.
The speed of his mental switch was terrifyingly swift.
Before my orders, any prioritization of personal feelings is simply out of the question.
The fact that he practices this so naturally leaves me impressed by Grom's loyalty.
I cast a teleportation spell, bringing Grom along as we departed the castle.
Our destination was the outer wall of the Royal Capital.
It was the perfect vantage point to observe the state of the main gate.
I landed on the edge of the wall, with Grom hovering beside me.
From there, we intently watched the group assembled before the gate.
Normally, the night would impair visibility, but it doesn't matter with this body.
I maintain sight as if it were broad daylight.
Gathered below was a horde of monsters.
The small, green creatures were goblins.
The large ones were ogres.
The pig-faced, corpulent beings were orcs, and the small, dog-faced ones were kobolds.
Those with twisted horns and bat-like wings were a succubus.
Various other species of monsters had also assembled.
"This is a formidable army... It's puzzling we couldn't detect them until just before."
"Some sort of concealment magic, no doubt. There's no shame in it. Consider the opponent."
At my words, Grom turned to face me.
He asked somewhat hesitantly.
"That tone of voice... Could it be that Master, you already know the true nature of those creatures?"
"Yes, I know. It's a grudge that goes back to the living days."
While the two of us were exchanging words, the group of monsters noticed us.
They let out loud cries, their faces twisted in surprise.
The panic spread like wildfire, and the band of five hundred descended into chaos of unmanageable proportions.
Then, all at once, they fell silent.
It happened the very moment the succubus at their head raised a single hand.
Grom, ever perceptive, stroked his chin thoughtfully.
"Ho. So that succubus appears to be their leader. Just who might she be, I wonder?"
There was no point in playing coy.
I might as well tell him upfront.
With that thought, I gave him the answer he was looking for.
"She served the former Demon Lord — as one of his four great generals."