That day, I was relaxing in one of the castle's many rooms.
It was a game room, established only recently. Diera and Henry were there with me, sitting across from each other at a table with grave expressions. Between them sat a board divided into a grid of even squares. White and black pieces were scattered across it in an irregular pattern, and the two moved them in alternating turns.
The game was a miniature recreation of war. It was a reproduction of something I had discovered within John Doe’s memories, later refined and improved upon by the executives. The premise was a battle between the Demon King’s Army and the Human Army.
The Demon King’s Army began with fewer pieces. However, by capturing the opponent’s units, a player could add Undead pieces to their own side. By merging these Undead pieces, one could create more powerful units or even resurrect those that had been lost. Additionally, certain pieces possessed traits that made them impervious to anything but specific enemy units. Since they could eventually overwhelm the opponent through sheer numbers, they were a faction that excelled at crushing the enemy in the endgame.
The Human Army, by contrast, started with superior numbers. Their pieces boasted a wider variety of movements and unique abilities. Furthermore, if pushed into a corner, their units could awaken as Heroes. They were a formidable force from the opening move to the final gambit.
Lately, the game had become a sensation among the ranks of the Demon King’s Army. Everyone was devising their own strategies and engaging in matches. Though it appeared to be a mere pastime, its value was undeniable; it was a tool for honing strategic insight. It was well-received because it allowed everyone to learn while they enjoyed themselves.
"Nunuuu... This position is..."
"Just move already. You’re the one who made the rule against overthinking, remember?"
The battle between Diera and Henry was heating up. I focused on the board. At the moment, Henry had the advantage while commanding the Human Army. He had produced numerous Hero pieces and was whittling down the Demon King’s Army's forces one after another.
Eventually, the match reached its conclusion. The tide of battle never turned, and Henry emerged victorious. On the board, the Human Army had pushed through the front lines to strike down the Demon King piece.
Diera collapsed onto the floor. She flailed her limbs in a tantrum, screaming for a rematch at the top of her lungs.
"The Demon King’s Army is weak, I say! Next time, I shall use the Human Army! If I do so, I shall absolutely not lose!"
These were hardly the words one would expect from a former Demon King, but it would have been boorish of me to interject. It simply meant she was that deeply immersed in the contest. I noted that she had lost five consecutive matches while switching factions, but I decided not to think too deeply on it.
Watching them rearrange the pieces, I refolded my arms.
...It was a peaceful scene.
I gazed out the window. In the afternoon sun, people were coming and going through the castle town as they always did. They led prosperous lives and contributed to the city's growth.
A year had passed since the Beast of the Outside World was vanquished. No conflicts worth mentioning had occurred on the continent since. Each nation was preoccupied with restoration work and had no time for petty squabbles.
The Demon King’s Domain continued to launch sporadic attacks. While these were not aimed at total destruction, they forced each nation to constantly consume their resources. Their leadership was likely screaming in distress. Unable to implement policies according to their own designs, they were forced to devote all their efforts to recovering their national strength.
Though it was a distorted peace, it was peace nonetheless.
The situation was similar outside the continent. The devastation wrought by the beasts had been catastrophic. Furthermore, the defense mechanisms that had intercepted them had caused no small amount of destruction themselves. The human nations bore the weight of this double affliction. They were forced to release their stockpiles and focus entirely on restoration. Ironically, the economy seemed to be thriving as a result, and the lives of the common citizens had reportedly improved.
Since the incident with the beasts, the Demon King’s Army occasionally conducted expeditions outside the continent to carry out invasions. However, these were not full-scale attacks. We would strike with the latest weapons and hold territory only temporarily. Upon receiving a counterattack from the local military, we would immediately withdraw.
Of course, depending on the circumstances, we sometimes maintained control over the long term. Currently, there were more than a few places that had effectively become part of the Demon King’s Domain. However, the majority of those were regions where the original public order was abysmal and which suffered from various systemic problems. We took over such locations, establishing them as our bases of operation on the other continents. While they served to instill vigilance in each nation, they did not hinder actual national administration.
As a result, the number of countries that viewed the Demon King’s Army as a threat had increased rapidly over this past year. I had become a target for those far beyond our shores, but this was precisely what I had intended.
On this continent, inter-state war had drastically decreased due to my activities. Warfare between nations had become non-existent, and people were striving to cooperate for the sake of justice. I intended to start the same process on the other continents.
The wish I upheld was nothing but world peace. Its realization was finally within my sights.
For her sake, I would see it through.
"Nooooooaaaaah! Why can I not win, I say!?"
Diera’s screeching snapped me back to the present. Having tumbled from her chair, she was writhing on the floor in tears. Apparently, she had lost yet again.
My train of thought interrupted, I scratched the side of my head with a sigh.