I made my way through the elven village.
Before long, I caught sight of Diera’s back up ahead. She was waiting for me, her expression carrying a hint of guilt.
“Forgive me. I simply had to see the World Tree, no matter what.”
“Do not trouble yourself over it. I was interested as well.”
The opportunity to see the World Tree was an alluring prospect in its own right, even when factoring in my duty to look after Diera. It was by no means a poor arrangement.
At my response, Diera’s face filled with wonder.
“Hast thou never seen it either?”
“No, this will be my first time.”
“Indeed, indeed! Then that makes it all the more something to look forward to.”
Diera smiled happily. I couldn't fathom why she reacted that way. Though I had been associated with her for some time now, there were still many facets of her character that remained a mystery to me. Her words and actions were almost entirely unpredictable.
Just then, a familiar voice drifted over from a distance.
“Lord Demon King! Lady Diera!”
It was Luciana. She touched down after tracing an elegant arc through the air, her movements fluid and effortless despite the low-altitude flight.
Diera questioned her with a puzzled look. “Why art thou here? I heard thou wert to arrive just before the banquet.”
“I wrapped up my work early. I wanted to get my vacation started as soon as possible,” Luciana said with a radiant expression.
It seemed she, too, was looking forward to the festivities. She appeared to be in a better mood than usual. It felt a bit heartless to bring up business while she was in such high spirits, but I voiced the question that had been weighing on me.
“What are the movements of the various nations?”
“No problems there. There aren't even any signs of an intent to invade the Demon King’s Domain. It looks like they’re focused on stabilizing the territories they’ve reclaimed.”
“I see.”
Luciana’s report set my mind at ease. Even though I’d anticipated that answer, I’d felt a nagging need to confirm it. The nations that had reclaimed the Republic were currently occupied with its governance. Realizing that the Demon King’s Army would not be launching a counteroffensive, they were focusing on the stabilization of their own lands.
There likely wouldn't be an invasion of the Demon King's Domain for some time. If there were to be one, it would likely be a small group of elites led by a Hero, but the probability was low. I had already killed a Hero and a Saint. The Holy Staff Kingdom and the Technomagic Kingdom, having tasted defeat in the past, would surely be cautious in their judgments.
Luciana stared into my face, her crimson lips curving into a question.
“Are you still worried?”
“...I cannot deny it,” I confessed honestly.
Being away from the Royal Capital for an extended period left me feeling unsettled. I was certain that no problems would occur, yet I couldn't help but feel concerned. My mind was filled with nothing but pessimistic scenarios. All of them were absurd, and it wasn't as if there were any specific reasons to be unsettled. Despite that, I found myself constantly calculating the worst-case possibilities.
Long ago, she had once told me I was a worrywart. It seemed that particular vice had yet to be cured. I found it pathetic. Perhaps I felt it even more acutely because my subordinates were all such positive-minded individuals.
As I wallowed in a slight sense of self-loathing, Luciana gave me a pat on the back. The force was just enough to nudge me forward.
She spoke in a playful tone. “It’ll be fine. Even if you’re away for a little while, the world won’t end. Besides, with your power, you could return in the blink of an eye, couldn't you?”
Luciana was right. If I used Teleportation Magic, I could return to the Royal Capital instantly. It would never be a time-consuming task. Furthermore, even from here, I could use magic to detect any abnormalities. I understood perfectly well that the Royal Capital was entirely peaceful.
In addition, I had established several defensive measures there. Even if a Hero were to approach, the defenses would buy more than enough time. The Royal Capital was now one of the safest zones in the world. It was practically impossible to outmaneuver me and destroy it.
“You are right. My apologies.”
“Don’t worry about it. I actually like how cautious you are, Lord Demon King.”
“It helps to hear you say that.”
As the conversation reached a natural conclusion, Diera spoke to Luciana.
“Dwight and I are going to see the World Tree. Wilt thou join us?”
“Sure. I’ll tag along.”
With Luciana now part of our group, we traveled along the village paths. The houses eventually thinned out, and the path gradually turned into a rugged beast trail. Finally, the way was blocked entirely. The surroundings were choked with dense thickets, and there was no visible passage.
Diera groaned as she tried to peer through the brush. “Ngh, it looks like a dead end, but...”
“It is concealment via perception obstruction. Let us pass through.”
“Shalt thou not destroy it?”
“It would be a hassle to repair. I would rather not cause trouble for the elves.”
As I answered, I cast Insight Art on myself and the other two. Immediately, a portion of the bushes vanished, revealing a hollowed-out path. It was a hidden passage that had been invisible until a moment ago. It was enchanted so that even if one were to physically touch the space without the art active, the path would remain undiscovered.
“This should suffice. Can you see the path?”
“Oh! I can see it clearly! What a marvelous bit of magic.”
Diera frolicked about in surprise. She looked around excitedly, searching for anything else that might be hidden, but unfortunately, there was nothing else to find.
On the other hand, Luciana wore a dubious expression, her sharp gaze fixed on me.
“I don’t recall a spell like that. Did it even exist?”
Luciana possessed a wealth of magical knowledge, so it was only natural for her to be curious.
I replied flatly, “I improvised it. I simply combined several existing spells.”
“...Honestly, Lord Demon King, you’re such a cheat. Developing a new spell is normally a monumental feat, you know?”
“I know. I struggled with it during my lifetime as well,” I said, looking back on those past days as Luciana laughed in exasperation.
In the battles against the demons, I was forced to use a wide variety of magic. There were many situations that could not be handled with existing spells alone. Therefore, I had inevitably set about developing my own. Lately, I hadn't faced any particular difficulties, so I had mostly been reusing established spells. Since I hadn't demonstrated such improvisation often, it seemed I had caught Luciana off guard.
We proceeded through the hidden passage. We hit several forks in the road, and each time, I confirmed the way with magic as we walked.
“Is this the right direction?”
“There is no mistake. The spirit power is growing considerably stronger.”
As I answered, I felt a strange sensation in my fingertips. Looking down, I saw that one of my hands had begun to crumble. The holy aura was piercing through my Protection Art, taking its toll on my form.
Luciana looked at my hand with a worried face. “Hey. Is that okay?”
“It is fine. I will adapt soon.”
I adjusted the Protection Art and compensated for the missing parts with miasma. It would be brittle for a short while, but the reaction would likely subside if left alone. My physical body held little importance to me. Since vessels were easily replaced, a minor bit of decay was hardly worth a second thought.
“Oh, is it just ahead?” Diera, at the front, muttered.
The end of the hidden passage came into view. At the same time, the holy aura and spirit power rose to their absolute peak. I felt as though my non-existent eyes were being seared by the flood of brilliance.
(I have no choice but to endure it for a little while...)
Pushing the pain out of my mind, I stepped out beyond the hidden passage.