"On another note, is the treatment we discussed proceeding on schedule?"
"Yes! We've mobilized additional mages and are making steady progress, ensuring everyone gets proper rest between shifts."
"I see."
I nodded, satisfied with her answer.
The treatment in question was one of the primary projects currently under development at the institute. Years ago, under the schemes of Barulk—a former member of the Four Heavenly Kings—the people of the Republic had been forcibly transformed into demons. Ultimately, I had taken them under my protection within the Royal Capital.
Since then, these demons had integrated into society as either soldiers or civilians. Because no method existed to restore them to their original forms, I had been forced to ask for their patience and endurance.
However, we had recently discovered a viable treatment method. It wasn’t a complete restoration; the transformation into a demon was irreversible. No matter how much effort we expended, they could never truly be human again. This had been established in the early stages of research, and no evidence to the contrary had ever surfaced despite our best efforts.
Consequently, we devised a form of magical reconstructive surgery. By excising traits unique to demons and grafting on substitute parts, while simultaneously altering skin and eye color, we succeeded in making them appear human.
Internally, they remained demons, and anyone capable of magic perception would see through the guise immediately. However, it was virtually impossible to distinguish them from humans based on looks alone. At the very least, it allowed them to live alongside other races without facing prejudice or hardship.
Establishing this method had been an ordeal. The procedure required several different types of magic, meaning multiple casters had to work in tandem. I was currently in the process of training the Demon King's Army’s mages in the specific techniques required. By recruiting only our most trustworthy casters, we were steadily performing surgeries for any demons who requested the change.
Because of the sheer number of applicants, we couldn't solve the problem overnight, but the project was undeniably a success. The social friction between species that had long concerned me was finally beginning to ease. The demons who underwent the surgery were delighted; the new appearances were well-received, and I had heard reports of many finally finding peace in their daily lives.
I personally participated in the surgeries whenever I had a spare moment, doing what I could to resolve their anxieties. At this rate, it wouldn't be long before we reached everyone on the waiting list.
"Inform me immediately if any issues arise," I said. "I will handle them personally."
"Understood! I’ll include the progress in my regular reports."
"Good. I’m counting on you."
Continuing our conversation, the Research Institute Director and I began reviewing the facility's latest developments. Some of the technologies birthed here were distributed across the Demon King's Domain, adopted by various towns and villages to enrich the lives of the populace. Perhaps because of this unstinting support, the citizens often sent gifts of gratitude to the capital.
Weapon development was also proceeding at a brisk pace. This was largely due to the Director’s personal enthusiasm. For better or worse, she was inventing weapons that were far too specialized for the regular army to use. While she oversaw almost every research department, she seemed to have a particular fondness for armaments.
Her output was so prolific that managing the stockpile was becoming a logistical nightmare. Since they were high-grade weapons, we couldn't simply discard them, nor could we allow them to circulate freely within the domain. My staff had even begun making quiet pleas for a dedicated, high-security storage facility.
This led me to a plan: I would remodel the vacant districts and the underground sections of the Royal Capital specifically for the Research Institute's use.
This wasn't merely a favor to the Director. Expanding the institute's physical footprint meant expanding the range of her influence. In essence, the Director herself would become part of the Royal Capital’s defense equipment. Since her powers were primarily tied to the institute, she could exert absolute control over any space designated as her domain.
With her present, the capital’s defenses would become nigh-impregnable. I could say with confidence that the city would never fall, even in my absence. Unforeseen threats were a constant reality, and while I had prepared numerous layers of security, one could never have too many precautions.
I intended to discuss the specifics with the Director as soon as the plans were finalized. Knowing her, she would agree in a heartbeat. She likely wouldn't care about the defensive benefits, but the prospect of a larger facility would be irresistible. A larger workspace meant she could conduct more research projects simultaneously. She would simply manifest more copies of herself to fill the space.
The Director possessed a truly irregular level of power. To be perfectly honest, if she weren't my subordinate, I would have sought to eliminate her immediately. Her abilities were simply too dangerous; if she developed even a shred of genuine aggression, she could potentially wipe out every nation on the continent. I had to keep a firm grip on her reins while steering her toward useful inventions and research.
"How was that gun I sent over recently?" she asked.
"The rapid-fire model? A golem's strength is more than enough to handle the recoil. However, the reloading process seemed a bit cumbersome."
"Ho-hoh! Thank you for the feedback. I'll take another look at the design for the improved version!"
The weapons developed here were already proving their worth on the battlefield. Even after the death of the Demigod, conflict remained constant across the continent. The neighboring nations continued their provocations against the Demon King's Domain, though their movements had become noticeably more cautious. They no longer attempted deep invasions, focusing instead on small-scale skirmishes aimed at seizing minor border territories. Without a standout hero to lead them, they seemed unable to muster any real courage.
In the six months since the Demigod's fall, there had been no reports of a new Hero. There was a possibility the nations were hiding one, so I had my spies keep a close watch. They had uncovered several attempts to mimic ritual magic, but almost all had ended in failure. Rumors of a technique to artificially elevate an ordinary human to the status of a Hero were circulating, but the actual methodology remained a mystery.
This was thanks to the Demigod’s final efforts; he had meticulously erased every trace of the procedure before his death. It seemed his sacrifice had achieved its goal.
On the rare occasions where a ritual showed signs of succeeding, I personally traveled to the site to destroy it. Whether it was the Will of the World or some other incomprehensible force, these rituals occasionally threatened to manifest through sheer persistence. I couldn't afford to be complacent. A technique to mass-produce Heroes simply should not exist. It would bring nothing but chaos to the world and likely lead to a new era of racial discrimination.
Part of my role was to maintain the balance of power between nations. If any one side could generate Heroes at will, that balance would be shattered. Prevention was the only option.
Fortunately, there were no signs of the situation escalating further. The various nations were exhausted, their resources and manpower depleted by the ongoing wars. For the time being, they seemed focused on replenishing their forces and stabilizing their internal affairs. Running a war required immense effort, and continuing one without tangible results was becoming unsustainable. As the burden on the common people increased, so did their dissatisfaction. If public trust eroded any further, the stability of those states would be at risk.
In the grand scheme of things, the only territory the human nations had gained was the land formerly belonging to the Republic. Even that was only because the Demon King's Army had intentionally retreated to force the burden of occupation onto them. Because the territory was an exclave and the nations were in disarray, governance there was practically nonexistent. As a result, the local populace had begun forming their own autonomous systems. According to Luciana’s predictions, this region would eventually coalesce into a new, independent nation.
In a related development, the Holy Staff Kingdom and the Technomagic Kingdom—the nations that had attempted the ritual magic—had collapsed. Battered by the war against the Demon King's Domain and buckling under domestic pressure, they turned on each other in a desperate attempt to shift blame. Revolutions soon followed, and both nations effectively ceased to exist, eventually merging into a single new entity.
The fact that all of this occurred within a mere six months spoke to the sheer volatility of the continent. Compared to that, the changes within the Demon King's Domain were trivial. I had expected a long, drawn-out quagmire, so the sudden emergence of a new nation had come as a surprise. At the very least, it saved me the trouble of having to intervene directly.
Looking at the continent as a whole, the situation wasn't entirely negative. Despite the lingering casualties, the absolute hostility between nations was beginning to thaw. They were slowly aligning their policies toward the common goal of "Demon King Subjugation," and I intended to keep them moving in that direction.
The only immediate concern was the captured intelligence agents. I trusted the Director to find a breakthrough within the next few days. I would continue my own investigations in the shadows while awaiting her report.