Chapter 206: The cruel and merciless Demon King, part 1
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Translator: Denryuu; Editor: Ryunakama
◆Lyla◆
Stepping away from the gilded throne, the Demon King tutted softly enough that nobody could hear it and stuffed her grandiose overcoat into the arms of the chamberlain that had hurried after her. The commune with her subordinate warlords had just ended, and she was irritated to say the least.
「Unhappy with my way of doing things, are they now?」, she growled at nobody in particular.
「I believe that the warlords are perfectly content」, offered the commander of the cavalry, a dark elf.
「Then why would they suggest something like invading the mainland? Foolish, just foolish! It’s nothing more than a waste of money, resources and lives! And how will we even get our troops there? What, with my magic? Is that what they’re implying?」
「Pardon my impudence, your Majesty… but I know for a fact that the warlords see their future in you. Your strength is enough to conquer and rule over all that exists.」
「Hogwash. If hopes and dreams could run a nation, I would have been relieved of my duties long ago.」
「Your Majesty is as wise as ever.」
The Demon King allowed the various warlords an audience at regular intervals. The cries for war against the humans had been growing louder with each session. Though she had dismissed them as nonsense before, it had reached a point where she could no longer ignore the elephant in the room.
It was clear that the majority of the warlords thirsted for war. They had recruited some of the neutral and even peaceful ones for their cause, and had public opinion on their side as well.
「Wanting to invade purely on the grounds that we’re a ‘superior’ species… how immature can they be?」
A lackey opened the door to her private chambers. She entered and the dark elf followed, leaving the rest of her entourage behind.
「What do you think?」, asked the Demon King.
「Such matters are beyond my understanding.」
I see, replied the exasperated monarch with a sigh as she sank into a sofa. There was, before long, a knock on the door. The dark elf, heading over, inquired of the visitor’s purpose and returned to her superior.
「It is his Highness, Prince Luther.」
「I’m not in a good mood right now. Turn him away.」
「Aye.」
Prince Luther, army commander and younger brother of the Demon King, was a central figure among the warmongering faction.
「Her Majesty is not feeling well. Please arrange for a visit on another –」
Before the dark elf was able to finish her sentence, the door was flung open and the visitor hurried towards Lyla, stamping his feet as he walked.
「Sister.」
「Were you not told that I’m not feeling well, Luther?」
「Why did you give them such a vague answer?」
「Because I find there to be no purpose in starting a war.」
「If we conquer the lands inhabited by humans, they will serve as a stepping-stone for future conquests. The war will also bring great prosperity to our kingdom.」
「It’s easy for you to say」, replied the Demon King who had heard the same line of reasoning too many times. 「You — all of you — only want war because you’re tired of peace. I believe all of you simply want to subjugate other civilisations in a display of military might. Prosperity? Please.」
「And what exactly is wrong with that?」
「What’s the point of laying waste to the mainland? Things are fine as they are now. Why dream to create a world where only we stand at the top?」
「The point is to show everyone that we, the demons, are a race superior to all! I dare to believe that there is no human you cannot crush under your might, sister!」
「I hate to burst your bubble, but I have no interest in doing that whatsoever. Humans are humans, and demons are demons. Neither of us are superior to the other…」
She paused.
「I have made my decision as your king. You may take your leave.」
Prince Luther glared at his sister before stomping off. His fellow war advocates, be they in positions high or low, all had similar motives to promote their cause.
「Is it so bad to live a peaceful life?」
「It has been twenty years since your Majesty’s father ushered in an era of peace. The older and more hot-blooded warlords — Lord Cornelieu, for example — are still healthy and very much alive. To them, making other races bow before us is a given — and it must be done through war.」
「And that hot air balloon Luther is somehow the leader of the pack?」
Perhaps the different eras in which they had grown up had allowed them to form separate views on the matter. She had ascended the throne after the abdication of its previous occupant. The title of the Demon King was not earned by succession, and it was easy to imagine the jealousy and indignation of those eyeing it.
If only I could silence those fools by force, she thought. There’s nothing physically stopping me from showing them how much more powerful I am and making them understand that they can never hope to boss me around.
Physically, that is. Politically, however…
「This matter is a tough nut to crack. Those old-timers are probably much more experienced at playing the political game than I am.」
There was a rumour among the castle’s occupants that had she been in her father’s shoes, the previous war would have ended even sooner. That didn’t mean that he had been an idiot, of course. Though he had been outstanding in his own right, the current Demon King had proven to be so far out of his league in intellect that she was believed to be the strongest in history.
「If I may, your Majesty — I believe stepping up to helm the war effort will not be a bad thing.」
「Oh? It is rare for you to offer your opinion.」
「…Well, I personally have no fond memories of those humans.」
「Because of the place you hail from.」
「Aye.」
「Neither do I. But I have no bad ones either. What to do…」
She flashed a bitter smile, and sighed once again.
This was three months before the most powerful Demon King in history launched her campaign against the mainland.
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