Points of crimson light dotted the nighttime streets.
Fires had broken out in buildings throughout the city, and people fled in terror through the darkness. I strode through the heart of the chaos.
"Stop right there!"
A roar filled with murderous intent reached me from ahead. They were the soldiers tasked with defending this city. They loosed a volley of arrows in a high arc, each projectile wreathed in white light. Imbued with the holy attribute, the arrows began their descent, seeking me out with unerring precision.
I manifested a Miasma Spear. By spinning it before me, I deflected every single one of the raining projectiles. Not one found its mark. Before they could fire a second volley, I hurled the spear.
It flew in a straight line, skewering several archers at once. The sound of gouging flesh and spurting blood followed. Those struck by the spear convulsed and rose as ghouls, immediately turning to fall upon their former comrades.
(I can leave the rest to them.)
With that judgment made, I turned on my heel. Countless ghouls were now prowling the area. These were once the citizens of this city, but now they were driven by a single-minded hunger for the living.
It had been several days since we had captured the Technomagic Kingdom’s golem. This city was one of the many territories within the Demon King's Domain, originally part of the Empire. Recently, however, the Lord had declared his intent to rejoin the Empire and had begun manufacturing weapons and tools specifically designed to combat the undead.
Since he had ignored my warnings, I was forced to resort to power.
In truth, I could have let it slide, but turning a blind eye would only encourage similar rebellions in other cities. It would destabilize the governance of the Demon King's Domain. This was, in essence, a public execution—a demonstration of the cost of defiance to ensure future operations proceeded smoothly.
I could not afford to be preoccupied solely by the Technomagic Kingdom. My enemy was the entire world. Every nation was plotting my subjugation. Beyond that, I had to remain vigilant for the awakening of a hero chosen by the Will of the World. I had no intention of repeating my past mistakes.
While I could not neglect the mundane work of maintaining order, I had to keep a bird’s-eye view of the grander stage. Conflicts between human nations were steadily decreasing. I had even spotted signs of countries forming clandestine alliances. Taking the reign of the Demon King seriously, the world was beginning to realize that cooperation was their only path.
Bit by bit, things were moving exactly as I intended. I hoped to keep this momentum.
As I walked down the street, the sound of shattering glass rained down from above. A soldier crashed through a window and hit the pavement, several ghouls clinging to him.
"Aaargh, let go of me!"
The fallen soldier resisted desperately, but the ghouls paid him no mind. They tore into him, ripping his limbs from his torso. His cries of agony mingled with the wet sound of tearing flesh. Drawn by the noise, other nearby ghouls gathered with low, guttural moans.
I passed right by them. Even hearing those final death throes, my heart did not ache. I felt only a faint flick of pity. Having witnessed such tragedies so many times, I had grown numb. It felt as though my humanity was being slowly ground away.
(...So, I truly have become a monster in both body and soul.)
Then again, this was nothing new. If I allowed myself to be distressed by every life lost, I could never hope to remain the Demon King. Objectively speaking, this coldness was a positive trait. A frigid heart was better suited for my role.
I felt a profound hatred and despair toward humanity. Perhaps there was a part of me that used this slaughter as a way to vent that frustration. If so, it could not be helped. As long as I did not deviate from the purpose I had chosen, I would tolerate even these hideous impulses.
By the time I reached the center of the city, Henry was walking toward me. With his bow in hand, he raised a palm in a casual greeting.
"Yo, Boss."
"How is the front in the sector I assigned to you?"
"Perfect, of course. I haven't made a single screw-up, and—whoops."
While still looking directly at me, Henry shifted his bow and loosed an arrow that took out the eye of a soldier lurking in the shadows behind him. The man stiffened and fell silently. Throughout the entire exchange, Henry never once broke eye contact with me.
His skill remained transcendent. Henry had continued his training even after joining the Demon King's Army, polishing his craft day by day. Rare talent combined with tireless effort formed the foundation of this man’s strength. It was for this reason that he served as the head instructor for my army and commanded such respect from his subordinates.
We walked together toward the Lord’s Manor. My undead forces were currently laying siege to it; by the time we arrived, the suppression would likely be complete.
As we moved, Henry brought up a topic as if just remembering it.
"Come to think of it, I heard you made a new weapon? Word is it’s supposed to replace the bow. I forgot the name of the damn thing, though."
"The gun. If they become widespread, they will undoubtedly become the mainstay weapon of the next generation."
"Hah, is it really that convenient? Aren't the weapons we have now enough?"
Henry fired another arrow with a look of doubt. A soldier hiding on a roof came tumbling down. The man had been in a complete blind spot from Henry's position, but he had shot him by piercing through both a wall and the roof.
"With a gun in hand, a mere child could kill a mage."
"—Ho. Now that's impressive."
Hearing that, Henry showed genuine interest. He was usually skeptical of new technology, but the sheer utility of the gun seemed to reach him. Few people lived for the battlefield as much as Henry did; he, better than anyone, understood the value of such a tool.
"You can test-fire one at the Research Institute. Would you like to see for yourself?"
"Yeah, I'll take you up on that."
Henry agreed gleefully. Regardless of whether he liked the weapon, experiencing it firsthand was the quickest way to understand it. In the event of a war with the Technomagic Kingdom, there was a high probability they would be equipped with them. It was wise to learn their characteristics now.
"If those guns are going to be the mainstays, I guess that means the bow is going to become obsolete..." Henry murmured pensively. He looked a bit lonely. He was a man who had spent his life on the battlefield, and facing such a major shift clearly left him with much to think about.
I considered his words for a moment before replying.
"I still expect you to be active on the front lines. You will never become obsolete."
"Hahaha, glad to hear it. It’d be a raw deal if I got kicked out of the army over a new toy."
Henry laughed jokingly. It wasn't just a hollow consolation. Even if guns became the primary weapon of war, his archery was a force of nature. It surpassed the gun in every conceivable metric. I could not foresee a time when his power would not be needed.
We walked in silence for a while. Clamor filled the air around us. In the distance, the city gates stood open, and people were streaming out in a desperate evacuation. They fled the city as if the undead were nipping at their heels.
Watching them, I spoke up.
"Henry."
"What is it?"
"Do you desire eternal life?"
Henry raised an eyebrow at the question. He shrugged and gave a wry smile.
"That's sudden. What's brought this on?"
"Nothing in particular. Just simple curiosity."
I had been vaguely wondering about it for some time. Since no other executives were present, it felt like the right moment to ask.
"If I say yes, does that mean you'll turn me into an undead?"
"Indeed. I would transform you into a high-ranking undead with your ego intact."
With my current power, it was an easy feat. A man of Henry's caliber would surely become a formidable immortal. He would be liberated from aging and the limits of a human lifespan, granted the ability to live for eternity.
"Hmm..."
Henry crossed his arms and fell into deep thought. After a long silence, he answered with rare gravity.
"It’s an interesting proposal, but I’ll stick with being human. I like to think there’s a certain kind of happiness in being mortal—in knowing you can eventually die. No offense to you, Boss. That’s just how I feel."
"............"
I fell silent, surprised by his answer. Knowing how much he loved the thrill of combat, I had assumed he would choose the path of immortality without hesitation.
"Well, I don't plan on dying anytime soon," Henry added with a playful grin. Then, as if struck by an idea, he continued. "If I ever have kids or grandkids, I'll tell 'em to come work for you. I'll count on you to look after them then."
"I see. I look forward to it."
I nodded firmly. It was good to see this side of him. I respected his decision; I would never dream of forcing the undead state upon him.
In truth, Henry was right. To be able to die as a mortal was an irreplaceable mercy. It was a mercy I had already cast aside, dragging Grom along with me. Having abandoned my humanity, I could no longer hope for a peaceful end. As the Demon King, I was not permitted to die. I had to reign at the pinnacle of evil forever.
It was an endless ordeal—one that could easily drive a person mad. I could not force such a burden on others. To demand someone follow me for eternity would be a special kind of madness. A pragmatic, temporary cooperation like the one I had with Henry was exactly as it should be.
Afterward, we entered the Lord’s Manor, which was already surrounded by my forces. We executed the Lord as he begged for his life. I could not afford to be lenient; the message to the other cities had to be clear.
With the battle concluded, the Demon King's Army returned to the Royal Capital.