The setting was a conference room within the Royal Castle.
Luciana and I were seated at a round table, while Grom stood tall with impeccable posture.
For some reason, he had donned a single-lens eyeglass—a monocle. Despite his bovine skull, he had managed to position it quite well.
Grom began to speak while leafing through a stack of documents.
"Now then, I shall commence the military council regarding the future of the Demon King's Domain. Is that acceptable, my Lord?"
"It’s fine. Proceed."
"Understood."
Grom bowed elegantly. It was a refined, sophisticated movement that brought to mind a professional butler.
On the other hand, Luciana sat with her chin resting in her hand, wearing a malicious smirk. She waited for the perfect opening to needle him.
"That monocle looks ridiculous on you."
"You little brat... You certainly have nerve, interfering with my presiding...!"
Grom flew into a rage, and the magical flames within his eye sockets erupted. The overwhelming heat instantly melted the monocle into a puddle.
Since the discussion was never going to progress at this rate, I felt compelled to intervene.
"Grom."
"Yes!"
"Continue."
"As you wish!"
Grom gave a crisp reply and peeled the metallic remains of the monocle from his face.
Next, I directed my gaze toward Luciana, who was looking quite pleased with herself.
"Luciana, that goes for you as well. Do not provoke him for no reason."
"...Fine."
Luciana gave a listless reply, though she did seem to be reflecting on her behavior—at least for the moment.
Grom turned his attention back to the table, where a large map was spread out. It was a rough illustration of the continent. Beside the map lay several pieces—magical models color-coded by faction.
Grom took the pieces and began arranging them across the map.
"At present, the majority of the Kingdom’s Territory has been repainted as the Demon King's Domain. It would not be an exaggeration to say that our de facto conquest is complete."
"Though we have yet to secure the frontiers or the territories of certain high-ranking nobles," I noted.
"No, no, capturing those is merely a matter of time. Their supply lines have been severed. Even if we do not lift a finger, they will eventually be forced to surrender."
Grom picked up a black piece and used it to flick away an isolated blue one. He replaced it with the black marker. Then, he traced his finger over the regions of the map where colors other than black remained.
Viewed as a whole, the map was vast, and the black pieces still occupied only a small fraction of the total area.
"Our next targets for invasion will be the surrounding nations. I assume this is correct?"
"Yes. That is the plan."
As I nodded, Grom pointed to a specific spot on the map.
"Among the many nations, there is one that must be dealt with immediately. This Small Nation."
"I have already heard the details regarding this Small Nation from Luciana."
When I shifted the focus to her, she offered a cool smile.
"That's right. I took the liberty of investigating them on the sly."
Luciana stood up to offer a summary.
A Small Nation adjacent to the southwestern border of the Kingdom had been making suspicious movements. This information had only recently reached us. Apparently, they were massing their military at the border. Their likely goal was to seize the fallen Royal Capital and expand their own borders if the opportunity arose.
Having suffered a crushing defeat against the Kingdom in a previous war, this Small Nation had been treated as little more than a dependency. With the fall of the capital, they had effectively stumbled into independence. Perhaps because of that history, they had chosen to ignore my recommendation of surrender.
According to the Succubus scouts, their army was strangely well-equipped. This raised strong suspicions that they were receiving military aid from other foreign powers.
My plan for this Small Nation was to invade and occupy it in a single strike. It would be our first offensive outside the Kingdom's borders, and I intended to move toward total dominance without letting my guard down.
"—And so, this Small Nation, backed by foreign support, intends to launch an invasion of the Demon King's Domain. Our goal is to crush them before they can. Any questions? Or perhaps some supplementary information?"
"Gunuuu..."
Faced with Luciana’s triumphant attitude, Grom let out a frustrated groan. It was enough to make me wonder what kind of competition they thought they were having.
Noticing my gaze, Grom cleared his throat affectedly. For someone made of nothing but bone, he was quite expressive.
"...Just as the Succubus explained, we should wipe this Small Nation from the map. Demon King-sama, please, give us your decision."
"The choice is clear. We destroy them," I replied instantly.
The Small Nation’s ambition to subjugate the Demon King wasn't entirely misplaced. However, I found no merit in the way other countries were using them as proxies—forcing the Small Nation to bear the sacrifice and responsibility of a war they couldn't win.
While there were undoubtedly complex political ties and power dynamics at play, they meant nothing to me. This was a move intended to drag the entire world into the conflict. It was time for humanity to feel a genuine sense of crisis. I could not allow them to believe this was someone else's problem forever.
In truth, destroying this Small Nation wouldn't change the global landscape much. It wasn't a vital hub for human survival. If anything, allowing them to remain as puppets for the surrounding powers would only be a nuisance. Forcing their early exit from the stage was the most tactical move.
I would have this Small Nation serve as the fuel for the fire that would eventually lead to peace.
"As expected of the Demon King-sama! We shall begin preparations immediately! Please, give us your commands!"
"I’ll do my best too, so let me know if you have a job for me."
Grom and Luciana were brimming with motivation. They had likely been waiting for the chance to expand our reach beyond the borders.
With the meeting concluded, the gears of war began to turn.
Late that night, in the Audience Chamber.
Seated upon the throne, I looked at the crystal pedestal installed beside me. Within it lay the sealed remains of the Hero.
I reached out and touched the surface of the crystal, but I felt nothing. It was strange; my Authority would not react to her.
"Hero-sama, you..."
I trailed off, unable to finish the thought. My power had grown significantly through my recent conquests. And yet, I still could not bring her back.
Was it because the world was not yet ready to receive her? I wanted to believe that once I had established the foundation for world peace, we would meet again.
I would build the world she had dreamed of. I was the only one who could make it a reality.
"—King? Demon King-sama!"
Someone was calling me. I snapped back to reality.
Standing before me was the ox-headed skeleton, the flames in his eyes flickering with concern.
"...Oh, Grom. Is it time?"
"Yes. That is why I have come to fetch you... but are you feeling unwell?"
"My apologies. I was merely lost in thought."
When I offered my apology, Grom waved his hands in an exaggerated fashion.
"Perish the thought! It is I who should apologize for disturbing your contemplations, Demon King-sama!"
"It's no matter. Don't worry about it."
I rose from the throne and walked toward the castle balcony.
Looking down from the heights, I could see the monsters gathered in the moonlight. This was the Demon King's Army, reborn after a decade of silence.
Some were here because they craved conflict. Others sought vengeance against humanity. Some simply wished to repay their debt to me. Their motives were varied, but I didn't care what drove them. The task I had for them remained the same.
"It’s quite the sight."
"Everyone is holding their breath, waiting for your words, Demon King-sama."
"I see."
I braced myself at Grom’s words. This was a critical moment. It would define my existence as the Demon King.
Beside me, Grom projected his voice across the courtyard to the assembled host.
"—Silence! The Demon King-sama shall speak! Listen with your very souls!"
A heavy silence fell over the grounds. I could hear nothing but the collective breathing of hundreds of monsters. Their gazes were fixed on me, heavy with a quiet, burning intensity.
I stood tall and accepted their focus.
"Once, there was a man known as the Sage. He was a human who, alongside the Hero, survived countless battles and ultimately struck down the previous Demon King."
Grom gave a sharp intake of breath beside me. I ignored it and continued.
"The fate of that Sage is of no consequence. However, the truth he discovered is worth our consideration."
I spread my arms wide. The monsters looked confused; they couldn't grasp the direction of the speech yet, and their expressions were unreadable. I let the silence hang for a long moment before resuming.
"The world today is infested with countless evils. Humans thrive on trampling others, casting blame unjustly, and taking pleasure in the suffering of their peers. They desire it."
I felt a wave of anger and bloodlust ripple through the crowd. My words were stirring their own bitter memories.
"We are the victims. We are the ones the era attempted to weed out."
There was no verbal response, but a profound sense of empathy filled the air. The momentum was shifting in the right direction. I clenched my fist.
"Do those who have been cast aside have no means of resistance? The answer is no!"
I allowed Miasma to pour from my body. The pitch-black energy wavered like dark flames, visible even in the dead of night. The monsters stirred in awe.
"We shall rise. If the world rejects us, then we shall trample that world under our feet!"
I struck the balcony railing. The longing in their eyes was now palpable. Their emotions were being set ablaze, reaching a fever pitch that felt ready to explode.
I drove the point home with every word.
"The time for slaughter has come. Let your hearts and bodies be dyed in evil. Become the agents of a turbulent history. Witness the manifestation of a new Demon King!"
One of the monsters let out a low, guttural groan—not of pain, but of stifled ecstasy. That was the spark. The silence shattered. The surging impulse had reached its breaking point.
Sensing the climax, I threw out the final challenge.
"We shall become the absolute evil of this world. Do you have the resolve for it?"
In the next instant, a roar like a thunderclap erupted. The emotions of the monsters finally detonated. The very ground trembled, and the cacophony seemed ready to tear the sky asunder.
After letting the frenzy wash over us for a moment, I raised a single hand.
The monsters fell instantly silent, terrified of missing even a single syllable. I suppressed the Miasma and spoke my final command.
"Very well. You are the Apostles of the Demon King of this era. Wield your atrocious power to your heart's content. We are evil; we need no restraint. Cast aside your worthless justifications and run wild, following nothing but your instincts!"
The army seethed once more. Cheers and screams collided in the air. Eventually, they merged into a singular rhythmic chant praising the Demon King, a roar of applause that drowned out the night within the Royal Capital.
Listening to the cheers, I stepped back from the balcony into the darkened room.
Grom offered his praise in a deeply respectful tone.
"My word, that was a truly magnificent speech. As expected of the Demon King-sama."
"I merely incited them. They do not know my true objective."
Grom’s expression became slightly awkward. After a moment of hesitation, he whispered, "Is it... wise not to tell them?"
"I don't know where information might leak. Even among allies, the secret must be kept."
I had decided that the goal of true world peace must not be spoken of. The moment humanity learned of it, my role as the Demon King would be compromised. I could not instill genuine terror or the fear of extinction if they knew my heart.
For that reason, the rank and file must never know the truth. Only a select few, like Grom and Luciana, would be privy to the plan.
Tonight’s speech would send the monsters into a joyful slaughter. It would be my duty to keep their leashes tight.
"You have chosen an incredibly harsh path, haven't you...?"
"Do you think me a fool?" I asked with a self-deprecating smirk.
Grom quietly shook his head. "Hardly. There is no one in this world as kind as you, my Lord."
"Kind? What a ridiculous joke."
Grom fell silent. Perhaps I had been a bit too sharp with my retort. Apologizing would only make him more flustered, so I turned and headed for the exit.
"I’m going to rest. Call for me if anything urgent arises."
"Yes, my Lord. Understood."
With the words of my loyal subordinate at my back, I left the room.