Facing my old friend, I felt a jolt of genuine surprise.
Logan was an elf I had met during the journey to slay the previous Demon King. I knew he hailed from this forest, but I never imagined we would reunite under these circumstances. When we first met, he had been living in a human kingdom. As I recall, he had claimed he was disgusted with his homeland. Though the specifics of his journey remained unclear, it seemed he had returned home sometime over the last decade.
As I reminisced about those bygone days, our eyes met.
His gaze was sharp, leaving no room for vulnerability. He was a man unfamiliar with fear or trepidation. Even standing before me—the Demon King—he didn't flinch.
"...What is the meaning of this?" Logan muttered, his voice heavy.
His interrogating stare shifted from me to the elves standing nearby, starting with the Acting Chief. They looked away in silence. Given the situation, their hesitation was understandable. Even if they felt they had no other choice, they had agreed to the subservience of their entire race. It was a betrayal that would normally have resulted in their immediate exile.
Sensing that the elves would not offer an answer, Logan turned his focus back to me. He posed a quiet question.
"Are you the Demon King?"
Despite his calm tone, he exuded a crushing pressure. A man of lesser will would have recoiled in terror. He had been impressive when we first met, but he had clearly refined his presence since then. Just by facing him, I could sense the depth of his power.
(Now then, how should I proceed?)
I carefully weighed my options. Judging by his demeanor, he hadn't recognized me. That was only natural; I had been fundamentally transformed. No trace of my former self remained.
There was no advantage to revealing that I was Dwight Harvelt, the Sage. It would only overcomplicate the situation. It was best to remain silent on the matter. Beyond that, I feared that my own emotions might waver if I spoke of the past. I had to proceed as the Demon King and nothing more. My previous life was something I needed to discard.
Once my resolve was set, I answered him without hesitation.
"I am. I shall explain the situation in their stead."
Since the Acting Chief and her companions were too cowed to speak, I laid out the events that had transpired. When I mentioned the Brand of Subservience, the atmosphere grew even colder, yet no one dared to interrupt. Perhaps they didn't want to get in the way of Logan as he listened with grim intensity. The air was too heavy for anyone to resort to emotional outbursts.
"That is all. I have come to deliver these terms."
"I see. I believe I understand. You lot—lower your bows."
Having heard the explanation, Logan gave a casual signal with his hand. The elven archers positioned in the trees lowered their weapons and vanished back into the foliage. As I had suspected, Logan held a significant rank among his people.
He stepped toward me. Ignoring his guards' attempts to restrain him, he walked until he stood directly before me.
"I apologize for the late introduction. I am Logan Rhyn Freetilt, Chief of the Elves of the Forest of the World Tree."
So, he was the Chief. I was struck by the realization that he didn't just hold a high position—he was the absolute leader of his race. Knowing the man he was, however, it made perfect sense. Logan possessed the caliber for such leadership. Though he may not have been known for flashy heroics, he was undeniably a man of great character. His presence alone was testament to that.
"If I am to believe the Demon King's word, you will repel the Imperial Army on the condition of our subservience. Is that correct?"
Logan directed his gaze toward the Acting Chief. She answered in a frail voice.
"...Yes."
She was trembling with such intensity that she looked as if she might faint. Her complexion was ghastly. It was clear she was in no state to continue the negotiation. I stepped forward to intervene.
"The Acting Chief has already accepted these terms as the consensus of the tribe," I said. "Do you have an objection?"
"And if I did?"
"Then I would simply reduce your numbers until I reached a unanimous consensus."
I answered instantly, allowing a sliver of miasma to leak from my body. It was a warning—an act of intimidation—but my words were absolute. I had decided to bring the elves under my rule. If anyone stood in my way, I would purge them, regardless of who they were. Even Logan would not be an exception.
The elven guards reacted to my killing intent with visible terror. Some collapsed to their knees, overcome with nausea. Only Logan remained unmoved. He stood his ground and spoke with dignity.
"I have no objection. We shall accept this subservience. I will inform the rest of the tribe later."
"Wh-what...?"
"Chief!?"
The other elves gasped in shock. To them, his words were likely unfathomable. While it wasn't my place to judge, I knew that emotionally, this was a pill they couldn't swallow. Yet their leader had conceded without a fight.
"It is a shameful thing, to be sure," Logan said solemnly, his voice carrying the weight of his conviction. "But we cannot defeat the Imperial Army alone. Rather than being trampled into extinction, I choose the survival of our people through submission."
There was a fierce resolve in his eyes—a spiritual pressure that suggested no amount of protest could change his mind.
I took another step closer to seal the deal. "You will not renege on this?"
"I will not. In exchange, do not lay a hand on my people. As Chief, I will suppress any internal dissent."
He stared me down as he spoke. I sensed no falsehood or deception in him. His declaration was born of a clear, unshakeable resolve. Satisfied, I nodded.
"Chief of the Elves, I accept your word. From this moment forward, the Forest of the World Tree and all the elves within are officially the property of the Demon King."
I exercised the same Forbidden Magic I had used in the Audience Chamber. Beams of light struck the backs of the hands of every elf present, including Logan. He winced slightly, then examined the mark on his hand before looking back at me.
"What did you do?"
"It is the Brand of Subservience. As long as you do not attempt anything foolish, it is harmless."
I had no intention of abusing the mark for cruelty. If they acted with sincerity, it would remain nothing more than a pattern on their skin. Their fate was in their own hands.
"Now, show me to the Elven Residential District. I must establish several defense spells and barriers."
"Very well. Sister, you guide him."
"U-understood..."
The Acting Chief gave a shaky nod. I had thought they shared a resemblance; it turned out she was Logan's younger sister. I knew his parents had passed away, but I hadn't realized he had a sibling.
With the negotiation concluded, Logan and his guards turned to leave. It seemed he had said all he intended to say. His habit of departing the moment business was settled hadn't changed one bit.
"This way, please. I will show you the path."
The Acting Chief began to lead the way, and I followed behind her.