Inside the royal castle, the audience chamber had been transformed.
I was currently drowning in an immense deluge of administrative work.
New desks were being added to the chamber by the day. The documents pouring in were so numerous that the existing staff could no longer handle them all. As a result, the workforce had been expanded, and now even those below executive rank were packed into the room, hunched over stacks of paper.
"Uooooooooooo! It seethes! My soul seethes with the heat of this labor!"
Grom was the one bellowing as he fought his way through the mountains of parchment. He was putting all eight of his arms to use, processing documents at a frantic pace. He was strangely enthusiastic, likely fueled by the joy of being personally relied upon by me. He had been in this state since early morning—actually, if I recalled correctly, he had maintained this level of intensity for several days now. He was simply overflowing with motivation.
I briefly worried about Grom overworking himself, before remembering he was undead. He was a being completely divorced from physical fatigue. As long as he possessed magic power and miasma, he could recover from even the most fatal of wounds. There was no need to fret over his health.
"Listen, Bone Minister. If you want to practice your shouting, please do it outside."
The complaint came from Luciana, who looked thoroughly annoyed. She was leaning back in her chair with a gloomy expression, clearly worn out by the sheer volume of tasks. I made a mental note to give her some time off once we reached a stopping point.
At her rebuke, Grom stood up and looked at Luciana, brandishing a brush like a weapon.
"This is not practice! I am performing this labor for the sake of the Demon King!"
"Just stop the yelling. It’s ringing in my ears," Luciana said with a scowl.
She looked genuinely irritated. Sensing her mood, Grom sat back down, looking a bit sheepish.
"M-My apologies..."
"As long as you understand. Now, let’s just get this over with."
The two returned to their work in silence. Soon, the room was filled only with the scratching of brushes and the rustling of paper. This same exchange had played out several times already. Everyone else seemed completely used to it, and the other subordinates continued their work without even glancing up.
I didn't mind it much myself. I knew the two of them didn't actually have a bad relationship. The fact that they bickered so frequently was simply proof that they had a bond where they could speak their minds. One way or another, they functioned well together, and for that, I was grateful.
(But no matter how much we do, it never seems to end...)
I looked at the stacks on each desk and felt a wave of weariness. There was a clear reason why our workload had spiked so drastically: the expansion of the Demon King's Domain.
Six months had passed since the battle with the previous Demon King, Diera. Since then, the landscape surrounding the Demon King's Domain had been shifting by the hour. First and foremost, the entirety of the Republic’s territory had been annexed.
Truthfully, I hadn't intended to be so aggressive with our expansion. If the territory grew too large, I would be buried in management work—exactly as I was now. However, the situation had left me with no choice.
Due to the machinations of the former Four Heavenly Kings member Barulk, the Republic had been transformed into a lawless wasteland crawling with demons and magical beasts. If left alone, the chaos would have surely spilled over into neighboring countries. That was an outcome I could not overlook. If an uncontrolled horde of monsters were to flood across borders, it would have brought immense suffering to every nation.
To prevent that, I took the initiative and occupied the entire Republic. I slaughtered or captured the monsters and demons in the region, securing the safety of the survivors. I then dispatched the Demon King’s Army to the human settlements under the guise of an occupation. While we kept them under our control, we pushed forward with reconstruction support.
Lately, many capable subordinates had emerged from outside the executive ranks. It wasn't uncommon for those who had originally been prisoners to achieve unexpected promotions. While I wasn't personally involved in the hiring process, I received regular reports from Luciana and Henry. Those who proved themselves were appointed as regional administrators. I intended to personally thank them for their service eventually.
Though the Demon King’s Army was a force defined by its massacres, we were fortunate enough to find talent in the most unlikely places. I hadn't been able to manage it lately, but I hoped to conduct formal inspections of the occupied territories soon. I no longer heard reports of rebellions or independence movements; for the most part, the people seemed to be living in peace.
Whenever a local lord indulged in corruption, I issued a warning. If they failed to improve, Luciana used her charm magic to bind their hearts, turning them into manageable puppets. However, such cases were in the minority for now. Since I wanted them to govern autonomously as much as possible, I preferred to rely on the lords' own consciences.
As for the magical beasts and demons captured throughout the region, I handled their disposition personally. Among the demons who retained their reason and had no desire for conflict, many were settled as residents of the Royal Capital. To avoid friction with other races, they were currently living in a dedicated district, though I intended this to be a temporary measure. Eventually, I wanted to create a society where everyone lived together regardless of race.
In the current Royal Capital, humans and monsters were already living side-by-side. Though there had been a cold distance between them at first, that resistance had blurred amidst the city's rapid development. I believed the demons would eventually fit in the same way.
Those who had lost their sense of self or harbored deep-seated malice were consigned to the research institute. They were made to assist in experiments focused on returning magical beasts and demons to human form. Many among the demons wished for nothing more than to regain their original bodies. They were victims of Barulk's conspiracy, and I wanted to grant that wish if it was within my power.
A certain percentage of the demons had also joined the Demon King's Army, though we only accepted volunteers. There was zero pushback from the existing troops regarding this. Part of it was likely because few dared to argue with my decisions, but the main reason was the army's fundamental nature. From the start, the majority of our forces consisted of monsters and the undead. Adding demons to the mix didn't feel like a significant change. If anything, their superior combat abilities made them welcome additions.
The military operated on a strict meritocracy. While the chain of command had been refined and units subdivided to accommodate our growing numbers, the core philosophy remained the same. This reflected the personalities of Henry and Grom, who sat at the top of the hierarchy. Capable individuals could rise through the ranks regardless of their origins.
Thanks to these factors, the military strength of the Demon King's Domain had achieved unprecedented growth. It was a force truly worthy of the name, and that was a development I found very gratifying.
Other nations, sensing the threat, were focusing their hostility entirely on us. A large part of that was the perception that the Republic had been deliberately dismantled by my hand. Rumors swirled that Barulk had been my pawn all along, and that I had dispatched him to destroy the Republic from within.
While that wasn't exactly the truth, the fact that I had seized the territory was undeniable. From a third party's perspective, it was the most natural interpretation. I allowed the misinformation to spread; after all, it was a brand of villainy perfectly suited for a Demon King. It aligned with my goals quite well.
The high-ranking officials of other countries were likely trembling with fear. They were no doubt busy devising plans to counter me. As evidence of this, the usual news of wars between nations had completely vanished. Instead, I heard reports of alliances being forged everywhere. For the last six months, the continent had been blanketed in a strange silence. In order to achieve the Demon King Subjugation, humanity was diligently sharpening its claws.
The current situation was almost ideal. Although minor issues persisted, the mere presence of a reigning Demon King was deterring human conflict. However, I couldn't afford to be complacent. This was merely the quiet before the storm. Eventually, the nations would make their move. When they did, I would have to intercept them with appropriate force. My policy remained unchanged: if a major problem arose, I would deal with it swiftly.
The only other significant change abroad was that a portion of the Slave Autonomous District had surrendered to the Demon King's Domain. Cities that had previously been on the receiving end of our invasions had raised the white flag before we could even plan a second strike. Roughly ten percent of the district had fallen under our practical control.
This was a pleasant surprise. The local rulers there even boasted that they could provide us with high-quality human resources at any time. They were certainly quick to change their tune. Since the autonomous district didn't function as a unified nation, they likely felt very little sense of betrayal toward their neighbors.
As a result, the Demon King's Domain had become the largest power on the continent in terms of total land area. This expansion was the root cause of our chronic labor shortage. While we were well-equipped for war, we were struggling with the finer details of governance. Eventually, I might have to consider accepting the provision of those slaves just to keep up with the workload.
Despite these headaches, the Demon King's Domain continued to thrive. We had been caught up in one troublesome incident after another, but we had always managed to find a resolution. I intended to keep pushing toward a future of permanent world peace.
Just then, the door to the audience chamber swung open.
Yura entered, carrying a literal mountain of documents in her arms. At a glance, there were at least several hundred sheets, yet she carried them as if they weighed nothing at all.
"Reporting to Master—I have brought more documents. Please review and sign them."
"...I see."
I nodded quietly. I had hoped to take the afternoon off, but clearly, that wasn't going to happen. It looked like I would be working through the night again. I suppose I would have to follow Grom's example and put my undead traits to good use.
I felt my subordinates' eyes on me—a mix of pity and respect—as I cracked my shoulder bones and reached for my brush.