Within roughly seventy days, the humans had successfully recaptured the entirety of the Republic.
The Demon King's Domain returned to its original borders, and the neighboring nations were revitalized, celebrating their victory with fervor. The emergence of the heroes undoubtedly played a significant role in this. The Valkyrie and the Steel Knight had distinguished themselves on numerous battlefields; by all accounts, their prowess was said to be a match for a thousand men each.
The existence of such visible hope is a powerful thing, and the people welcomed it.
Perhaps swept up in this momentum, rumors even began to circulate that the Demon King was dead. This was likely because I had not personally appeared on the front lines.
Grom was incensed by this hearsay. He clearly took it as a personal insult against me. Since the rumors weren't entirely baseless from a certain perspective, I couldn't exactly deny them. For a time, he had been intent on annihilating the nation where the rumors originated. It had been an exhausting ordeal to talk him out of it.
If Grom truly set his mind to it, no nation could hope to stand against him. Before such overwhelming power, one could only wait for death. The people had finally found hope; to snuff it out so prematurely would have been a poor tactical move. It was not a desirable outcome.
Besides, the people wanted to cling to a convenient interpretation. If they didn't, they would have eventually succumbed to mental exhaustion. The reality of a Demon King using the undead to destroy the world was not something they truly wanted to accept. It was only natural that they would want to believe the source of their terror had perished.
I had seen that side of the world ten years ago.
As for this "recapture drama," it was actually full of benefits for the Demon King's Domain as well. In the first place, it was a calculated defeat. With the reduction of our occupied territory, our surveillance range had narrowed, making the management of the domain significantly easier.
Occupying the entire Republic had been a clear case of overextension. While it had been unavoidable given the circumstances, it had brought many disadvantages to our side. By relinquishing unnecessary territory, the current Demon King's Domain regained its stability.
While there were sporadic movements plotting independence in various regions, the succubi led by Luciana worked behind the scenes to keep the damage to a minimum. Specifically, they charmed influential figures and applied mental suggestions to ensure they would not oppose the Demon King's Army. They weren't turned into complete puppets; rather, their consciousness was merely altered to a slight degree. Even so, the effect was remarkable.
Additionally, after I deployed undead to several cities, the unrest stopped escalating into full-blown riots. The people who managed to "dispose" of the undead suddenly became quite docile. Facing the threat in person seemed to have sobered them up, and our warnings finally hit home.
The people within the domain have reaffirmed the terror of the Demon King's Army. This is a positive development. If we are looked down upon too much, the number of people who take foolish actions only increases. A light warning is necessary every now and then.
Despite some minor commotions, the Demon King's Domain was operating without issue.
On the other hand, the recaptured Republic was carved up. It seemed the nations that participated in the war would each manage a portion of the territory. I expected them to bicker over the distribution, but the matter was apparently decided without much argument.
However, regarding the regions bordering the Demon King's Domain, every country supposedly dreaded owning them. This was because they had no way of knowing when I might retaliate. They had no desire to station precious military forces in such a high-risk zone. Ultimately, the territory fell to the Holy Staff Kingdom, at least in name. In reality, they have withdrawn their army, leaving it more or less abandoned. Driven by anxiety, the people have fled those areas, turning into refugees.
In other news, it seems the northern region of the former demon territory was occupied by foreign powers at some point. It has apparently become shared territory between the Holy Staff Kingdom and the Technomagic Kingdom. They must have invaded while the Recapture War was in full swing. They likely wanted to ensure the Republic's territory was contiguous. It is nothing but wasteland, but strategically, it is an important position. Those two countries surely wanted to secure it at all costs.
Diera, the master of that former demon territory, didn't seem particularly concerned. She said she had no intention of seeking retribution or imposing sanctions. As far as she was concerned, she didn't mind so long as her own residence wasn't disturbed. Having the edges of her territory shaved off didn't bother her in the slightest.
In truth, Diera hardly utilized the lands of the former demon territory anyway. She still didn't even have a home. She had attempted to build one once, but it apparently collapsed within three days after being exposed to the elements. I remember it well because she spent that entire day sulking in bed at the Demon King's Castle. Since then, she has continued to take up residence in various ruins scattered across the wasteland.
She also visits the Demon King's Domain frequently. I've suggested that she might as well just live here, but she refuses. I have extended the offer casually several times, but she adamantly declined every one. According to her, she loathes a life of dependency. I suppose that is a point of pride for a former Demon King. I feel as though she is already quite dependent on me at this point, but she clearly has her own criteria. I decided not to press the issue.
Diera's situation aside, the movements of the various nations were exactly as I had intended. While minimizing our losses, the Demon King's Army has successfully positioned itself for the future. One could say we have weathered the storm.
The people living in the Royal Capital were reportedly anxious after hearing news of our consecutive "defeats," but even that was on a minor scale. Aside from the Recapture War, the Demon King's Army has done nothing but win. My past track record is well known, and no one is truly worried about my downfall. It seems I have managed to build up enough achievements to be worthy of the title of Demon King.
Then, one day, I was in the archives from the morning. My paperwork had finally settled down, and I thought I would do some reading for a change of pace. It's fine to have days like this every once in a while. Relaxation is a vital part of one's duties.
As I was browsing the room with a book in hand, I heard the sound of the door opening. It was unusual for this time of day. Those permitted to enter are limited, so I wondered who it could be. I stopped and waited until two visitors appeared.
It was Diera and Grom—a rare combination. I often saw them bickering, but they almost never acted in concert. Diera, striding in as if she owned the place, greeted me with her usual familiar tone.
"Dwight! I have come!"
"I see."
"Lord Demon King, my sincerest apologies. I attempted to restrain her, but she simply refused to listen..."
Grom apologized with a low bow. He must have tried to stop her multiple times. Feeling a bit sorry for him, I spoke up in his defense.
"Don't worry about it. If it's Diera, it can't be helped."
"What do you mean, 'it can't be helped' because of me!?"
Diera raised a defiant fist. Grom took a long stride toward her, the flame in his single eye flickering.
"Former One! My Lord is clearly exasperated by your numerous disappointing words and actions."
"Ngh... you certainly don't mince words, do you?"
"This is the archives. If you're going to bicker, do it elsewhere," I said, cautioning the antagonistic pair. If a fight broke out here, the archives would be the first casualty. I couldn't bear to have my precious books incinerated.
Once the two of them settled down, I looked at Diera.
"Since you've come to see me, I assume you have some sort of business?"
"That is right! I had almost forgotten."
Diera's smile deepened. Looking at that expression, I felt a faint sense of dread. She pointed a finger at me and made a grand declaration.
"Tonight, the executives shall hold a banquet! Thy participation is mandatory!"