A few days later, I made my way to the outskirts of the Royal Capital.
The area had been transformed into a massive construction site, where laborers were pouring sweat into their toil. Temporary huts stood in neat rows, and I even spotted a few structures that appeared to be taverns. While it wasn't a place I visited often, it hummed with a unique, vibrant energy.
This was the Stall District.
It had all begun when merchants visiting the capital requested my permission to set up shop. Since then, those with an eye for business had flocked to the area, and its scale had expanded naturally. Though its inception was quite recent, the pace of its growth had been nothing short of remarkable. By now, it felt more like a small village or a bustling town in its own right.
The district was primarily frequented by wandering mercenaries and war-torn refugees. They had come from far and wide, drawn by the persistent rumors of the Demon King’s Domain. As the population continued to swell, the capital itself had begun to feel cramped. While we could still make room by clearing out abandoned sections, the reality was that other administrative tasks were consuming all of our time. We also had to account for food supplies and the residential segregation of different races.
In its current state, the Royal Capital could not easily accommodate more residents. This Stall District acted as a vital pressure valve, alleviating those burdens. Merchants provided the necessary daily goods, and those who could not fit within the capital’s walls found a home here. From what I had heard, public order was surprisingly stable; the mercenaries had formed their own Vigilante Corps to conduct regular patrols.
Witnessing such a sight made me appreciate the sheer resilience of humanity.
(Eventually, this place will likely be absorbed as part of the capital itself...)
With those thoughts in mind, I walked through the district alone. I had used concealment magic to mask my presence, as being recognized would surely trigger an uproar. The vast majority of the people here were humans who had never met me. If I were to suddenly appear before them, it would only cause shock and unnecessary trouble. It was best to move about in silence.
After a short walk, I came to a halt in front of a facility currently under construction. It was a roofed waiting area. Adjacent to it, long, slender, rod-shaped iron beams had been laid out. Two of these beams ran parallel to one another, stretching out endlessly toward the horizon. Between the iron rails, wooden sleepers were set at regular intervals. Together, they formed a shape reminiscent of a ladder.
These were known as railway tracks—the path for a box-shaped transport called a train. Driven by magic power, the train could move at high speeds to facilitate the rapid transport of people and goods. Collectively, the entire system was referred to as a railway.
The railway was one of the concepts found within the archives of the Technomagic Kingdom. Its inventor was, as expected, John Doe. His ingenuity truly knew no bounds. This groundbreaking method of travel would undoubtedly prove useful in a multitude of scenarios.
At present, the railway was still being built. The tracks were being laid in the direction of the Forest of the World Tree, and we planned to extend them right to its edge. I had stationed undead sentries along the route as a precaution, ensuring that no one tampered with the project or stole the iron materials.
The primary reason for constructing the railway was to ease the burden on Logan and the other elves. Traveling between the World Tree and the capital required a significant investment of time and effort. I felt the current situation was far too inconvenient, so I decided to install this railway on an experimental basis. I wanted to make it possible for the elves residing in the capital to visit their homeland with ease. Once it was complete, a day trip would be well within reach.
That simple fact filled me with a sense of the progress of civilization.
During my recent visit to the Research Institute, my main objective had been to inspect the Golems, but various other developments were also well underway. These projects weren't limited to weaponry; they spanned a wide range of fields. All were either based on John Doe's original concepts or were ideas the researchers had derived from his notes. Innovation would surely continue to flourish here.
I had my own reservations about technological advancement. After all, it could lead to disasters like the Technomagic Kingdom. Even so, I didn't believe that forced stagnation was the answer.
I am the Demon King, but I will not destroy the world. My goal is to reign as the ultimate evil to deter human conflict. However, that philosophy has its limits. If I purely sought peace at any cost, I could simply brainwash all of humanity and rule them so they would never fight again. But that wasn't the future I wanted. If people are reduced to the status of livestock, that isn't peace.
I accept the world as it is meant to be, then introduce the Demon King as an interloper. I believe it is a good thing for technology to spread naturally. That is how humans have always built their civilizations. Therefore, the Demon King’s Domain will incorporate new technology in moderation. I want the people living in this land to lead prosperous lives.
Technology itself isn't evil; its nature is determined solely by the discretion of those who use it. Of course, there are exceptions. I cannot overlook a situation like what happened in the Technomagic Kingdom. That was an event that threatened the balance of the world, and it had to be eliminated swiftly. If similar issues arise in the future, I intend to unleash my full fury as the Demon King.
While wishing for world peace, I repeatedly engage in destruction through wars of aggression. While accepting technological growth, I annihilate those who abuse it. It is a self-righteous and inconsistent way of living.
However, I became the Demon King specifically to see that self-righteous, inconsistent ideology through to the end. If an ordinary man said such things, they would be dismissed as nonsense, but the strongest Demon King can make them a reality. I have overturned fate, even when it was unwanted.
I once met a wretched, tragic end. I will not make that mistake a second time.
(So that when that person finally returns, I can show them a world at peace...)
I still had no clear prospect of success, but I would bring them back to life. That was the atonement and the duty I had taken upon myself.
"Lord Demon King~!"
Just as I was reaffirming my resolve, Luciana came fluttering down from the sky. She landed right beside me. Her sudden appearance naturally caught the attention of the surrounding residents, triggering a massive commotion. There was no stopping it now. It was best to leave as quickly as possible.
Watching the backs of the panicked people as they scrambled away, I turned to Luciana. "What is it?"
"It’s almost time for the meeting, so I came to fetch you. What were you doing out here, anyway?"
"Just looking at the railway."
"Hmm. You have strange hobbies," Luciana remarked, tapping her chin with a finger. Her bat-like wings twitched rhythmically, though she didn't seem particularly interested in the tracks. Shifting her gaze away from the rails, she suddenly clapped her hands as if she had just remembered something. "Oh, right! I heard that in the Former Demon Territory, some unidentified humans were seen making contact with the demons."
"Humans and demons...?" I asked, my brow furrowing in suspicion.
The Former Demon Territory was the land once occupied by the previous Demon King. Located south of the Demon King’s Domain, it was still home to a small number of demons. Apparently, there were several hidden settlements there. They were the remnants of the previous Demon King's Army, living in secrecy to escape the purges led by the human nations.
The territory consisted mostly of deserts and wastelands—a treacherous zone thick with magic power and miasma. It was hardly an environment where humans could survive. The idea that someone was visiting such a place was startling; that they were contacting the local demons was even more suspicious. This warranted an investigation.
"Luciana, do you have any idea who it might be?"
"That was more than ten years ago, you know? I really wouldn't know," she replied with a shrug.
In the past, Luciana had served as the leader of the Moderates, guiding the remnants of the army. She had been hiding in the remote borderlands until my ascension as the Demon King, so it was only natural that she wouldn't know the current state of those distant settlements.
After considering the matter for a moment, I turned to her. "The invasion of the Slave Autonomous District is important, but we can't ignore this. I will investigate the Former Demon Territory tonight."
"All right~, I'll tag along."
"Good. I'm counting on you."
I sensed the stirrings of a new problem. This wasn't something I could afford to put off. It's always too late to panic once a situation becomes irreversible. While working out the specific details of our plan, I used teleportation magic to depart with Luciana.