"A tribe of elves, is it?"
I mused aloud, taking in the report I had just been given.
It was an unexpected development. I had initially suspected one of the surrounding nations had engaged in some bizarre new maneuver, but that didn't seem to be the case. Rather, I had a premonition that the circumstances were far more complicated.
Elves were demi-humans beloved by the spirits. As a rule, they shunned humanity—the Human Race—and rarely ventured from their ancestral homes. One would almost never encounter them within the borders of a human nation. While a few eccentric individuals might leave their homeland to pursue independent paths, they were rare exceptions. The general consensus was that elves and humans were simply incompatible.
And yet, here they were, traveling in a group. They surely had a specific objective. Why they had chosen this moment to enter the Demon King’s Domain remained a complete mystery.
"The elven group is moving on foot through the northwestern reaches of the territory," Grom reported. "Judging by their heading, they are making for the Royal Capital. At their current pace, I expect them to arrive in about three days."
"I see."
I nodded along as I considered the situation. If they were heading for the Royal Capital, they likely had business with me. I couldn't think of any other reason for them to travel this way. It certainly wasn't a sightseeing tour.
By the same token, it was unlikely to be a hostile incursion. The most telling piece of evidence was the way they traveled: a small group, moving openly without any attempt at concealment. If anything, it felt as though they were intentionally making their presence known to signal a lack of hostile intent.
"I wonder if they are seeking an audience with you, Maou-sama..." Grom muttered, tilting his head. He had clearly reached the same conclusion.
"The question remains: what could they possibly want to say?"
"Precisely, Sire. A baffling lot, indeed."
Since becoming the Demon King, I had waged a continuous war of conquest, yet I had left the Forest of the World Tree untouched. It was far removed from the Kingdom's borders, so the elves had suffered no damage from my undead legions. As it stood, there was no reason for our paths to cross, let alone for them to step into my domain.
Personally, I had no intention of destroying their home. Trampling that land would do nothing to foster human unity; it would only cause the elves unnecessary suffering, a result I had no desire for.
"How shall we proceed? If you wish, I shall deal with them personally," Grom offered.
"No, I will meet them myself."
I shook my head at his proposal. Meeting them face-to-face was the most direct way to resolve this. They had likely entered the Demon King’s Domain specifically to seek this meeting. It would be troublesome if they reached the capital and caused a scene, so it was best to intercept them now and ascertain their goal.
Having made my decision, I gave Grom his orders.
"Make preparations to receive our guests."
"As you wish! I wish you a safe journey!"
Grom gave an elegant bow. He showed no signs of worry or anxiety. He understood perfectly well that a mere group of elves posed no threat to me.
"..."
I activated my detection magic, focusing my consciousness. I cast a net of sensory perception in their direction, filtering through a mountain of data until I located the specific signatures I was looking for.
I found them. The numbers were correct, and they were indeed heading for the capital on foot.
"There."
Once I had a lock on their position, I immediately activated Teleportation Magic.
My surroundings shifted instantly from the streets of the Royal Capital to a highway winding through a hilly region. I turned to see a group of several dozen men and women approaching.
They had pale hair, pointed ears, and fair skin. Their slender frames radiated the faint aura of spirits—all the hallmark traits of the Elven race. Though they wore robes to conceal their features, it was obvious enough to anyone looking for them.
It seemed I had teleported directly into their path. I began walking toward them.
"Wha—!?"
"H-hey, you’ve got to be kidding me!"
The elves cried out in shock, instantly leveling their bows and staves at me. They began to back away, weapons trained on my form. They were clearly on high alert, and the atmosphere was so thick with tension that a battle could have broken out at any second.
Naturally, that was an outcome we both wanted to avoid. To quickly clear up the misunderstanding, I spoke.
"Wait. I have no intention of fighting."
"..."
The elves did not lower their guard. Dozens of sharp gazes pierced me, monitoring my every move. If I did anything even remotely suspicious, arrows and spells would fly in an instant.
I suppose appearing so suddenly was a mistake, I realized.
I reflected on my own rashness. An unexpected encounter like this would naturally put anyone on the defensive. It was my fault for not considering their perspective. Perhaps my social instincts had dulled after a life consisting of nothing but constant battle since my resurrection.
Furthermore, my current appearance was nothing short of sinister. The elves were likely sensitive to the boundless magic and miasma coursing through my frame. I was, quite literally, a monster beyond measure. For such a being to appear out of thin air... it was a wonder they hadn't attacked me on sight.
Well, I’ll just have to push forward with the conversation.
I remained calm. We were at a stalemate, but staying silent would only make things worse. Dialogue was the priority. Even if they did attack, it wouldn't be a disaster; I would simply continue the conversation while neutralizing their efforts.
Having set my course, I spoke in a level voice.
"Who is your representative? I wish to speak."
The elves exchanged looks at my request. After a moment, a young woman stepped forward.
"Young" was a relative term, of course. Elves were a long-lived race, and there was usually a massive gap between their appearance and their actual age. Even if she looked to be in her early twenties, she was undoubtedly far older than I.
The elven woman approached me alone. She carried herself with a quiet dignity, showing no signs of fear or hesitation. Seeing her move, the other elves finally lowered their weapons.
She stopped before me and introduced herself with a resolute air.
"A pleasure to meet you. I am the Acting Chief, charged with leading this group. A pitch-black skeleton... then you are the Undead Demon King, are you not?"
It seemed she had already deduced my identity. I gave a wordless nod.
A stir went through the other elves. Unrest spread through the group like a wave. It seemed they hadn't expected to run into the Demon King himself so far from the capital. They might have recognized me as a high-tier undead, but the reality of my identity was clearly a shock.
Ignoring their reaction, I continued.
"The fact that you have entered my territory suggests you have a request. I have come to hear it."
"Yes..."
The Acting Chief’s expression hardened with resolve. Then, with an air of profound sincerity, she made her plea.
"The Forest of the World Tree is under siege by a human army. We stand on the brink of ruin. Please... we ask that you lend us your strength."