The audience chamber.
I sifted through the mountain of reports on my desk.
It seemed the frequency of these updates had increased lately. My spies were clearly working with renewed vigor, ensuring that not even the smallest detail escaped their notice.
(It’s heartening to see them push themselves, so long as they don't overreach.)
Currently, there were no reports of anyone being captured or compromised. They were all exceptionally skilled individuals. Their ability to know exactly when to pull back was likely why they remained undetected.
Luciana was by my side, seated at a desk of her own and organizing documents. She went out of her way to lighten my administrative burden, drafting instruction manuals for the intelligence network even as she filed the incoming reports. It was precisely because she was such an efficient commander that her subordinates were able to operate so seamlessly.
(Still, calling this place an ‘audience chamber’ is starting to feel like a stretch...)
I glanced around the room. Desks and bookshelves had multiplied until it was effectively a makeshift office. It was spacious and practical, and since I rarely received outside visitors, it made sense. Having never been one to spend much time in my personal quarters, I had naturally transitioned into working here full-time.
Thirty days had passed since the execution of John Doe.
Changes were rippling across the globe. The Empire was the most notable example. With its capital annihilated by the fury of the Great Spirit, the nation’s core functions had been paralyzed. In the absence of a central leader, the nobility was reportedly fleeing to neighboring countries in droves. To make matters worse, other nations were seizing the opportunity to invade, tearing away chunks of territory and leaving the Empire a shriveled husk of its former self. Once a superpower, it was now on the brink of total collapse.
The Demon King's Army had also moved in, claiming several bordering territories. The Empire would never recover. Even if left to its own devices, it was fated to vanish from the map. Now, it was little more than a carcass for others to scavenge—a fitting end for a warmongering state built on the spoils of invasion.
The Technomagic Kingdom, which had recently clashed with my forces, was also in dire straits. The devastation wrought upon its capital was total, leaving the nation effectively crippled. Reconstruction efforts hadn't even begun.
While the Demon King's Army had played a part, the primary culprit was the Giant Golem. John Doe’s ultimate weapon had left an indelible scar upon the capital. An engine of destruction on that scale must have required state sponsorship to build. Surely the officials involved never imagined their investment would lead to such a catastrophe. They had underestimated the risk, blinded by the allure of overwhelming power. Blinded by greed, they had failed to see the danger.
Currently, the Technomagic Army was struggling to repel an invasion from the Holy Staff Kingdom. Sensing weakness in the wake of the capital’s destruction, the Holy Staff Kingdom had struck with opportunistic ferocity, hoping to reclaim their former glory. Having lost their Saint and their primary military force in their previous conflict with me, they had spent the intervening time rebuilding. Now, they were ready to reassert themselves.
The Technomagic Kingdom was resisting with whatever strength it had left, designating a large provincial city as its new capital in a desperate bid for survival. Their leadership had survived the battle with John Doe, allowing them to mount a swift response. I hadn't particularly cared whether those officials lived or died; at the time, John and the Secret Stone had been my only priorities. Without their extreme technological edge, the Technomagic Kingdom was no longer a significant threat.
War would likely rage between the two nations for some time. However, I could not let it continue. My goal was to end human conflict, and this escalating war stood in direct opposition to that aim. That said, I had no desire to play favorites.
Instead, I chose a compromise.
In the coming days, I would raise massive walls and carve deep moats between the two nations—physical barriers that would make invasion impossible. For me, such a feat required little more than a passing effort.
Furthermore, I intended to destroy several nearby towns and demand sacrifices from both countries for the Demon King's Domain. Neither nation would want to provoke me further; they had already experienced the consequences of my wrath. Their attention would inevitably shift away from each other and back toward me. Between the physical barriers and the threat of my demands, they would no longer have the luxury of fighting amongst themselves.
To the eyes of the world, I would look like a tyrant tormenting defeated nations. I would be hated, certainly, but my image as a looming threat would be reinforced. By acting with such calculated cruelty, my true intentions would remain hidden.
This strategy of "malicious mediation" had many benefits, and it was Luciana who had proposed it. She had designed the plan by looking at my objectives through a cynical lens. Sabotage and subversion were her specialties, and she was putting the talents she’d honed as one of the Four Heavenly Kings to excellent use. She had been a nightmare to deal with as an enemy, but as an ally, she was peerless.
“...Hmm.”
As I pored over the reports, I realized I needed specific reference materials. I wanted to review historical precedents to ensure no unforeseen issues would arise. In matters of governance, negligence was a recipe for disaster.
I stood from my chair and addressed Luciana, who was working in silence.
“I’m heading to the archives.”
“Ah, could you pick up a few books for me while you’re there?”
Luciana looked up and rattled off several titles. I committed them to memory and nodded.
“Understood. Wait here.”
“Thanks, Lord Demon King. You’re a life-saver~”
I teleported directly to the castle’s archives.
I wasn't the only one there. Two figures stood with their backs to me, and I paused to watch them.
“Target identified. Height insufficient for retrieval. Requesting assistance.”
“Now, now. I shall get it for you. Is this the one?”
“Negative. Two volumes to the left.”
Before a bookshelf that spanned the height of the wall, a humanoid figure made of shimmering blue light was reaching upward. It was the Great Spirit's Avatar. Standing beside her was Grom. He reached for a book on a high shelf and handed it down to her.
“Is there anything else you wish to read?”
“Commencing self-inquiry regarding interests... result finalized. Requesting a botanical encyclopedia.”
“I see, I see. I know exactly where those are kept. Follow me.”
Grom spoke with uncharacteristic gentleness as he turned around. The moment he saw me, he nearly leaped out of his skin. He stumbled back into the bookshelf behind him, his expression one of pure shock.
“W-W-What?! Lord Demon King?!”
“Good work on her education, Grom. I'm glad to see you’re enjoying yourself as well.”
It was a strangely wholesome scene. The Avatar had clearly grown attached to him. I had appointed Grom as her guardian to ensure he could restrain her if she ever lost control, but it seemed my decision had been beneficial in more ways than one.
“T-That is not it at all, I assure you! I am merely tending to this girl as per your instructions! I do not harbor any such sentiments!”
Grom began rambling at a frantic pace for some reason. As he did, the Avatar tugged on his sleeve.
“Error in individual designation detected. Correcting record. I am not ‘this girl.’ I am Yura.”
“A-Ah, quite right. My apologies...”
Grom’s shoulders slumped as he apologized. It wasn't my imagination; he looked genuinely dejected.
(That’s right, she finally has a name.)
I thought back to a few nights ago. Grom had approached me in private to suggest naming the Avatar. It had apparently bothered him that she remained nameless. That was a lapse on my part; I had been so preoccupied with other duties that it had slipped my mind entirely. I wouldn't have been surprised if the Great Spirit herself had taken offense.
I had left the naming to Grom—not because I found it troublesome, but because I lacked the creative flair for such things. I later learned from Luciana that Grom had practically lived in the archives from that day forward, painstakingly researching names. He had taken the task very seriously.
After days of deliberation, he had settled on "Yura." If I recalled correctly, it was the name of a character from an old Heroic Tale. I hadn't asked him why he’d chosen it, but perhaps I’d ask him when I had a moment of leisure.
“B-By the way, my Lord, what brings you to the archives today?” Grom asked, clumsily trying to change the subject.
I remembered my original errand and answered.
“I just came for a few references. I didn't mean to interrupt.”
“Not at all! Seeing your esteemed face is the highlight of my day!”
Grom bowed with his usual over-the-top reverence. He wasn't just being a flatterer; he genuinely meant every word. He then glanced at Yura.
“Yura. Greet the Lord Demon King.”
“Bone Minister’s request accepted. Executing greeting. Good morning, Master.”
“...Good morning.”
I replied after a slight pause. Something Yura said had caught my attention, but I hesitated to bring it up.
“......!”
As expected, Grom began to tremble. Miasma began to leak from his frame, casting an ominous aura. The magical fire in his eye socket flared with a roar of indignation. Struggling to contain his fury, he looked at Yura and spoke in a voice that sounded like grinding stones.
“...Yura. Did you just call me ‘Bone Minister’?”
“Confirmed. Received registry update from individual Luciana. Currently registered under that designation.”
“That succubus...! She’ll pay for this!”
Grom exploded. Radiating a terrifying thirst for blood, he sprinted out of the archives and vanished in an instant. Several books fell from the shelves in his wake, so I used a bit of magic to return them to their places.
As I worked, Yura walked up to me. She stared at me fixedly and voiced a question.
“Anger detected in Bone Minister. Commencing root cause analysis. Master, please provide a solution.”
“...Change his name back to Grom. That’s all you have to do.”
“Instruction accepted. Registry updated. Henceforth, Bone Minister shall be referred to as Grom.”
Yura spoke in her usual mechanical monotone. I had nothing left to say, so I simply nodded.