A man sat bound to a chair in the center of a dimly lit, secret chamber.
His hair was cropped short, and iron plating masked most of his face. One of his eyes was missing, a white jewel embedded in the socket in its place. He was missing all four limbs. Not just his face, but more than half of his body was composed of metal. To any observer with a modicum of magical knowledge, it was clear he was a golem.
This man was the Steel Knight, stripped of the armor that had earned him his name.
The Steel Knight slowly raised his head. When he noticed me blending into the shadows, his expression hardened with wariness.
I spoke to him, unconcerned. "It seems you’ve woken up."
"I see... so I’ve been taken prisoner," the Steel Knight replied in a raspy voice.
He was remarkably calm for someone who had just grasped the gravity of his situation. He had likely anticipated this outcome before he lost consciousness. His composure was appreciated; it saved me the effort of forcing him into a state where we could talk.
The Steel Knight stirred slightly, but he could do nothing without his limbs. Furthermore, all the weaponry built into his frame—starting with his self-explosion device—had been surgically removed. Only the bare minimum functions required to sustain his life remained within his body. He was in a state where simply staying alive was the absolute best he could manage.
As for the parts we had extracted, the Research Institute Director was likely gleefully dismantling them even now.
I immediately broached the subject. "Forgive me for bothering you while you are in such a state, but I require information."
"Do you truly expect me to comply? I am not so foolish as to spill my secrets to the Demon King," the Steel Knight responded in a resolute tone.
It was a natural reaction. We were enemies. There was no reason for him to betray his country's classified information so easily. Indeed, any information provided too readily in a situation like this would be inherently untrustworthy.
Therefore, I offered an additional threat. "If you continue this stubborn defiance, your motherland will be destroyed."
"I don't care," the Steel Knight replied instantly. "I am a man hired for coin. I don't possess a shred of loyalty to that nation."
The words were no bluff. He truly believed them. I had heard he was a mercenary who had risen to the rank of a state knight through his battlefield achievements. Our preliminary intelligence suggested he lacked any real patriotism. This response fell well within my expectations.
That was why I moved on to the words that would actually resonate with him. "And yet, surely you have love for your family?"
"—What?"
The Steel Knight’s gaze sharpened. He radiated a honed killing intent, a pressure so heavy it would have caused a weaker man to faint.
I continued in a clinical, businesslike tone. "A poor village in the northern region of the Technomagic Kingdom. A mother and daughter live there. Both are blonde."
"…………"
The Steel Knight fell silent. He attempted to feign composure, but a visible tremor of impatience and fear seeped through. He realized his family was in danger. They were the sole, absolute weakness of the hero known as the Steel Knight.
"Depending on your cooperation, I cannot guarantee their safety," I said.
"……How do you know about them?"
"The Demon King’s Army has a vast information network. Do not underestimate us."
Luciana’s directly-controlled spies were an elite lot. Even the highly classified information regarding the Steel Knight’s family had been uncovered almost immediately. Their existence was unknown to the general public, but when one investigates with the full resources of a state, such secrets are surprisingly easy to find.
"With a single command, I can take their lives from here. That would be a tragedy, wouldn't it?"
"—You beastly undead! Does your heart not ache at the thought of murdering innocent people?"
"War is a heartless affair. I abandoned the luxury of a conscience long ago," I replied coldly.
He knew the essence of combat far better than most; there was no need to lecture him. However, the Steel Knight felt compelled to condemn me nonetheless. Such was the depth of the anger and hatred he felt.
"I am not a patient man," I told him. "Confess before I grow bored. Depending on what you tell me, I may even take the mother and daughter under my protection."
"Don't lie to me. You would never do such a thing. You are the hideous, Immortal Demon King."
"If you require proof, I shall provide it."
I placed my hand on the Steel Knight’s shoulder and activated teleportation magic.
Suddenly, the world grew bright. We were suspended far up in the sky, bathed in sunlight. I maintained our altitude by manifesting a force field as a solid floor beneath us. Below, the sprawling cityscape of the Royal Capital stretched out to the horizon.
The Steel Knight stared down at the ground, muttering in a daze. "This is…"
"The principal city of the Demon King’s Domain," I explained. "I have ruled it for over a year now."
Looking down, I realized how much it had developed. When I first annihilated it, the city had been little more than a ruin teeming with the undead. From that beginning, people had naturally gathered, and the city had achieved this remarkable rebirth.
After allowing him a moment to take in the view, I made my proposal. "I will allow your wife and child to live here. They will never lack for work and can lead a reasonably affluent life. Provided, of course, that you cooperate."
I went silent and watched him. The Steel Knight was trembling, his head bowed. Sweat trickled down his neck. His mind was clearly locked in an intense conflict, his heart wavering as he struggled to make a choice.
After a long silence, the Steel Knight spoke in a voice that was barely a whisper. "…Is it true? Will my wife and daughter really be safe?"
"You have my word." I nodded deeply.
A change came over the Steel Knight’s expression. He exhaled, his body going limp with relief. Then, he forced out an answer.
"…I understand. I’ll tell you everything I know. Just… please."
"I shall see to the safety of your wife and daughter," I declared, cutting him off.
It was a promise I intended to keep. A hero was prepared to cast everything else aside to save his family. I was not so far gone that I would defile such pride.
As I sent instructions to the spies in the field via telepathy, I noticed the Steel Knight watching me. The hatred was gone. It was a strange look—not a casual glance, but an intense observation.
Curious, I asked, "What is it?"
"I can see the suffering in your heart," he said. "So, even the Immortal Demon King has emotions."
"…………"
It seemed he had seen right through me. I couldn't deny it. I am always suffering. My path is set, yet I never stop questioning myself. It wasn't as if this was a new development, though. Being called out on it now didn't hurt any more than it usually did. I am well aware of my own foolishness and my indecisive nature.
"Well, I suppose that doesn't matter now…" the Steel Knight muttered, looking back down at the capital.
As the wind blew past us, he spoke again. "If my family's peace is guaranteed, then I have no more regrets. I can finally let go of this life."
His face was unexpectedly peaceful. It was the expression of a man who had fulfilled his final mission.
"Demon King. I shall await your arrival on the other side."
"I have no intention of falling for all eternity."
"I see. In that case, I'll pray that we never meet again."
A smile twisted the Steel Knight’s metal-grafted face.