With our mission complete, we returned to the Royal Capital using Teleportation Magic.
The undead we had raised in the small nation were being herded back by my monster subordinates. I intended to keep them in storage until an opportunity to use them arose.
"Well then, I’m counting on you! Don’t you go letting them die on me now!"
Luciana waved her hand as she called out her farewells. She was looking toward a carriage pulled by monsters, its bed loaded with several cloth sacks. They were roughly the size of a grown man, and every now and then, they squirmed. It wasn't the rattling of the carriage that made them move; the sacks contained the heads of state Luciana had charmed back in that small nation.
We were going to extract every scrap of information they possessed. Once we identified the country that had provided them with military support, I would have to decide on an appropriate sanction.
"Hah, not bad," Henry muttered, looking impressed as he took in the streets. "It really is a city of monsters now."
His appearance had changed drastically. He had scrubbed himself clean in the baths of the capital’s castle and swapped his filthy prisoner's rags for a proper military uniform. With his overgrown hair tied back and his beard neatly shaven, he looked easily five years younger.
I glanced at him as he surveyed his surroundings with curiosity. "Have you been to the Royal Capital before?"
"Back when I was a mercenary," Henry said, his voice tinged with nostalgia. "I was a snot-nosed rookie fresh from the countryside. I remember being blown away by how glamorous the streets were."
He was likely seeing the capital as it once was—a sight that would never return.
"Well, I don't hate the current look either. It's actually pretty decent."
"That’s a dry reaction," Luciana chimed in. "You realize monsters destroyed this place, right? Don't tell me you don't feel even a spark of righteous indignation?"
It was a pointed, blunt question, clearly meant to peel back the layers of his character. She wanted to take his measure while she had the chance.
Whether he realized he was being tested or not, Henry just gave a wry smile and toyed with his bow. "We live in a world where humans kill each other over nothing, don't we? I'm not about to start getting worked up over a monster massacre now. To be honest, I couldn't care less about race. Killers kill, and the killed die. That’s all there is to it."
"My. You certainly have a pragmatic outlook."
"If I didn't, I wouldn't be working for an Undead Demon King, would I?"
Henry said it plainly, without a hint of deception. It was his honest opinion. He lacked any sense of racial prejudice; instead, a certain contempt and resignation toward humanity colored his words. His time as a mercenary and a soldier had clearly left him with a lifetime of bitter experiences. That was likely why he felt so little resistance toward joining the Demon King's Army.
"Hehe, I can't argue with that." Luciana laughed, showing no signs of offense. Her answer suggested she had accepted him in her own way.
It was a fine thing to see them reaching an understanding. It sounded simple, yet it was often the hardest thing to achieve. I wanted to foster an environment within the Demon King's Army where such mutual respect could develop naturally.
Sensing the conversation had reached a natural end, I spoke up. "Follow me. I’ll show you the castle."
"You got it."
"Sorry, Boss. We got a bit carried away."
The three of us began walking toward the castle. Along the way, Henry tilted his head back to look up at the structure. The Demon King's Castle possessed a sinister, reddish-black luster, with flickers of blue flame dancing across its surface. Henry narrowed his eyes as he studied the silhouette.
"I have to say, that’s quite the exterior. Is this your personal taste, Boss?"
"It wasn't my doing. The subordinate I left in charge of the place remodeled it."
It had once been a pristine white castle, but it had been transformed into a macabre fortress. This was the work of an over-eager Grom. It certainly emphasized the "Demon King" aesthetic. Since I had no reason to change it back, I had simply left it as it was.
I led Henry through the interior, heading straight for the Audience Chamber. I came to a halt before the massive doors.
"We're here."
"What's waiting for us?"
"The caretaker I mentioned. He is my right hand. I want you two to meet."
As I explained, I pushed the doors open. Almost instantly, a massive figure came flying out from the room.
"Oh, my Demon King...! I have waited with bated breath for your return!"
It was a jubilant Grom. He leapt before me with terrifying speed and dropped into a slide, ending in a perfect kneel. His movements were so refined I suspected he had practiced the maneuver countless times.
As I motioned for Grom to stand, I surveyed the room. The floor, walls, and ceiling of the Audience Chamber were polished to such a high gloss that I could see my own reflection in them. I noticed Grom's sub-arms were clutching a broom and a dustcloth. He must have been cleaning obsessively in anticipation of my return. Come to think of it, he had been polishing the Throne when he came to report his progress earlier. I didn't quite understand the obsession, but he seemed to have a genuine passion for cleaning.
"To think you would conquer an entire nation in such a short time... Your mastery is truly sublime. I, Grom, am so deeply moved that I... I... m-mo..."
The talkative Grom suddenly froze. His gaze had landed on Henry. Dropping his broom and cloth, Grom practically lunged at me, his voice trembling with distress.
"Wh-wh-wh-what is the meaning of this?! Why is there a human here?!"
"Calm down. I’ll explain everything."
I soothed Grom while laying out the situation. It wasn't a complicated story, so I kept to the essential points.
"—And so, after I defeated him in a duel, I recruited him into the Demon King's Army. His strength is genuine, so you have nothing to worry about."
"I-I see..." Grom managed a strained reply.
Henry, meanwhile, gave a casual wave. "Nice to meet ya."
In an instant, Grom began radiating physical miasma. The flames in his eye sockets roared with renewed intensity. He leveled a bony finger at Henry.
"Do not be conceited, human! If you do not wish to see that fleeting lifespan of yours cut short, do not speak to me so familiarly!"
"Hey, Boss. This guy's got a bit of a temper, doesn't he?"
"Don't mind him," Luciana answered for me. "That's just his way of saying hello."
Henry nodded several times, looking entirely unfazed. "Hah... right. I get it now. I see why you have your hands full, Boss."
"What are you saying?! Who is this 'Boss' you speak of? Surely you do not mean the Demon King himself...?"
Henry just whistled and shrugged in the face of Grom's murderous glare. He seemed to be actively enjoying the reaction. Most people would have had their hearts stop from the sheer pressure Grom was emitting, but Henry brushed it off with a cool head. His grit was truly extraordinary.
Grom, for his part, wouldn't cross the line as long as I was watching. No matter how much he hated humans, he understood that Henry was a subordinate I had personally chosen. He was emotional, but his reason was still intact. He would never commit an act of folly that required my direct intervention; he knew his place better than anyone. That was exactly why I trusted him.
"Alright then, how about a shooting contest?" Henry suggested. "Winner gets to call themselves the superior subordinate. What do you say?"
"—Fine. I shall make you regret ever defying me. Enjoy your boasting while you still can."
Before I knew it, the two of them had reached a strange compromise. Henry headed out of the Audience Chamber with his bow in hand, and Grom followed close behind, pausing only to give me a respectful bow before closing the doors.
Only Luciana and I remained in the room.
"Honestly, they're both such children. It’s embarrassing just watching them," Luciana said, sighing in exasperation.
I had the distinct feeling that she and Grom had nearly identical exchanges on a daily basis. I debated whether or not I should point that out.
"Hmm? Something wrong, my Demon King?"
"...No. It’s nothing."
She seemed completely oblivious. As I looked at Luciana tilting her head in confusion, I decided it was best to keep my mouth shut.