Three days had passed since the Demon King’s Army set out for the Slave Autonomous District.
Operations were proceeding smoothly. Launching their assault without warning, they were currently overrunning the district with overwhelming military force. A significant factor in their success was Grom’s ability to turn enemy soldiers into the Undead. He possessed the highest concentration of miasma in our ranks, second only to myself.
Incidentally, we were trialing the use of Magic Cannons during this campaign. Rather than stationary emplacements, these were mobile units—a hybrid of a cannon and a carriage. Thanks to the tireless efforts of the Research Institute, they had successfully downsized the weapons. Mages would pre-charge the cannons with magic power, and then a team of Ogres would brace and hold the main body steady to fire.
According to a report Grom sent via Telepathy, the cannons required several improvements, but they boasted tremendous destructive power. When I relayed this feedback to the Research Institute Director, she was moved to tears of joy. The proof that her inventions were vital in actual combat seemed to overwhelm her. She mentioned that as soon as she received a detailed briefing from the returning army, she planned to begin making refinements immediately.
Meanwhile, I spent my time chipping away at the constant influx of documents brought to my desk. If I let my guard down for even a moment, the stack would grow into a mountain. The Demon King’s Domain was home to a persistent web of issues, and the number of matters requiring my personal judgment was staggering. Even while delegating as much as possible to my subordinates, the volume remained at this level. Had I not been an Undead, I would have surely died from overwork long ago.
(Governance cannot be achieved through violence alone...)
As I was reflecting on the inherent difficulties of kingship, the doors to the room flew open with a bang. Two familiar figures burst inside.
"Warning to Individual Name Dorda—discontinue pursuit immediately," Yura said, her voice tight with urgency.
She moved as if sliding across the floor, desperate to maintain distance. Chasing after her was Dorda, his arms thrust straight out in front of him. Letting out ferocious, guttural sounds from his wolf head, he advanced with slow, deliberate steps.
"Necks... I want... necks..."
"Requesting Master to mediate—stop Individual Name Dorda's rampage."
Unable to take it any longer, Yura sought refuge behind me. Dorda stopped in front of my desk and tilted his head. His eyes fixed on Yura with curiosity. There was no hostility in his gaze; if anything, it felt rather gentle.
(I see...)
I roughly grasped the situation. Dorda had likely intended to play a prank on Yura, but Yura had found his ghastly form truly terrifying. Both of them were acting in ways I hadn't expected. I never imagined Yura was capable of feeling such fear, and it was the first time I had seen Dorda engage in such mischief. Their emotions were clearly developing in ways I had yet to fully comprehend.
While impressed by this growth, I still had to caution Dorda.
"Yura is afraid. You've gone too far."
"Correction to Master’s grievance—I am not afraid," Yura immediately denied, though she was still clutching my sleeve.
Because her form was that of a doll made of light, I couldn't read her facial expressions, but she was clearly shaken. I wasn't so dense that I couldn't perceive that much.
"Necks... oh..."
Dorda’s shoulders slumped. He turned on his heel and retreated, looking thoroughly dejected. He seemed to be reflecting on his actions in his own way as he quietly exited the room.
I turned to Yura. "He’s a bit clumsy with his restraint, but Dorda meant no harm. I’d like you to overlook it."
"Accepting Master's wish—I will strive to maintain a tolerant attitude toward Individual Name Dorda."
Yura nodded, then suddenly fell silent. She looked back and forth between my face and the door, appearing deep in thought. Then, she abruptly made a declaration.
"Report to Master—I will track Individual Name Dorda’s movements."
"I don't mind, but what brought this on?"
"I will conduct guidance. I have determined it is necessary for him."
The reason Yura gave was likely a pretext. I suspected she was actually concerned about how dejected Dorda had looked. She surely didn't want to leave things on such a sour note. Phrasing it as "conduct guidance" was very much like her.
Their interaction reminded me of a children's quarrel—a minor misunderstanding. If they could resolve it between themselves, that would be for the best. I didn't want to overstep by mediating too much.
Thinking this, I gave a quiet nod. "That is a good judgment. You may go, but be careful."
"Then, I shall depart."
With swift movements, Yura vanished from the room. Luciana appeared a moment later, as if they had swapped places. She was wearing a delighted smile.
"I heard everything. It sounds like Yura-chan is having a hard time."
"It will be a good experience for her. I'm sure there are things she can learn from this."
"You’re just like a father. Maybe you're suited for parenting?" Luciana teased.
I froze for a moment before quickly firing back. "...An Undead Demon King as a father? That isn't even funny as a joke."
"Is that so? I think you'd handle it quite smoothly, Dwight-kun."
"Hmm..."
I hadn't even considered such a thing during my previous life. I couldn't imagine a scene where I had a family of my own. It was a life that could no longer be realized. Even putting that aside, the idea felt far too detached from reality. I suspected my personality wasn't suited for child-rearing; I had no confidence that I could do it well. Developing a new spell seemed far easier by comparison.
After that, Luciana and I began our administrative work in silence. This, too, was part of our daily routine. No matter how much we accomplished, new tasks would always arrive. We couldn't afford to stop.
Partway through, a subordinate brought a report to Luciana. After reading it, her expression clouded. It was clearly bad news.
"Hey, Demon King-sama."
"What is it?"
"It looks like a pack of Magical Beasts is rampaging in the Southern Region. Several towns are reportedly under attack."
"Magical Beasts, you say?" I asked, my voice sharpening.
Magical Beasts were mutated versions of monsters—creatures that had discarded all reason. They were a nightmare for humans to face, and the stronger individuals could even overpower demons. Their nature was closer to a natural disaster than a living creature.
However, Magical Beasts were rarely born. I had only fought them a few times in my entire life. The idea of such beings forming a pack was almost unthinkable. This was clearly an abnormal situation.
(Inexplicable. Did someone set them upon us?)
While I was curious about the cause, the immediate response had to be the priority. This was a problem that humans could not possibly solve. If left alone, the towns under attack would be wiped off the map. I couldn't simply abandon them.
"What's the plan? It wouldn't take me long to handle it if I went," Luciana offered.
"No, I will go personally. I want to capture the Magical Beasts and investigate the cause."
"Are you taking anyone with you?"
I considered Luciana's question for a moment. Before long, I voiced my decision.
"I'll have Yura accompany me. There should be no issues as long as I am there."
The damage was occurring in human towns. It wasn't a situation where one could simply exert raw power, yet it wasn't so complex that it required agonizing over every judgment. It would be the perfect opportunity to teach Yura the things she still lacked. If anything went wrong, I would be there to handle it.
When I gave my answer, factoring in all these considerations, Luciana flashed a meaningful smile. She rested her chin on her hand and peered at me.
"I see, so it's serving as that girl's studies, too... Should I really start calling you Daddy Dwight after all?"
"...I have no recollection of becoming a father," I replied bitterly, before heading off to find Yura.