(However, I am not powerless. There are still things I can do.)
I mused while continuing to sign the documents piled before me.
Even as I pondered, my eyes scanned the contents of the paperwork. It was a skill honed through centuries of practice; I was confident that no one could match me when it came to speed reading.
Fortunately, the influence of the nascent Will of the World remained weak. It was still in its infancy, and the Division of the World had fragmented human desire, preventing it from coalescing into a single, unified force.
The strategy I had begun as an experiment was yielding unexpected results. The Will of the World no longer converged as it once had, and it was failing to gather any significant power.
When I first became the Demon King, I had idealized a framework where I acted as the sole and absolute Great Evil. I believed that by doing so, I would foster unity among the various nations.
However, a people exposed to a common threat inevitably pray for the Demon King's death. It is precisely that unified sentiment—that singular, focused wish—that expands the influence of the Will of the World.
With the wisdom and information I have gathered since, I can see that my initial strategy was a blunder. Had I persisted with that plan, the system would have eventually buckled. I would have inevitably found myself pitted against an entity I could never hope to defeat. Had that happened, not only I, but all of humanity would have suffered catastrophic damage.
In that regard, the Division of the World has proven to be an exceptionally effective strategy. I intend to maintain it indefinitely.
"This room never changes, does it? It is exactly as it was five hundred years ago!"
"Yes. I have fixed its state with magic to ensure it does not deteriorate."
I responded to Grom while setting aside the bundle of documents I had finished reviewing. I had used magic to reinforce the sections of the room that had been on the verge of crumbling.
Strictly speaking, this room was the Audience Chamber. In practice, however, it served as a vast administrative office, and I had never used it for its official purpose. On the rare occasions an audience was required, I used a different hall entirely.
There were once plans to establish a dedicated administrative office, but it eventually felt like too much of a hassle, so I simply continued to operate out of here. I suppose I have my lapses; I’ve always been prone to procrastinating on matters that don't present an immediate practical hurdle.
Perhaps the fact that I’ve become more patient since becoming an immortal has played a role in that as well. Since I have no subordinates who care to voice their opinions strongly to me, I have long since given up on making such minor improvements.
Indeed, five hundred years have passed, but I myself have not changed significantly. As an immortal, I do not age; I am simply perpetually buried in administrative work. If I have changed at all, it is only that my thinking has become slightly more flexible and my efficiency has improved.
Thanks to how busy I am, my heart has had no time to wither away. I suppose personal growth, in the end, is really nothing more than that.
A short while later, having reached a stopping point in my work, I decided to take a stroll through the castle interior for a change of pace. Grom followed by my side, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
He glanced at the castle town spreading out beyond the window and let out a delighted exclamation.
"Oho! Truly a magnificent sight, my lord!"
"Indeed it is."
The castle town had been expanded systematically. Compared to five hundred years ago, it had grown to nearly ten times its original area. The transportation network had flourished, with carriages constantly traversing the wide thoroughfares. Furthermore, spies disguised as cleaners made their rounds, gathering intelligence from every corner of the city while performing the public service of sweeping the streets.
As we reached the bottom of the stairs, Grom abruptly came to a halt. His expression shifted to one of suspicion, and he let out a low growl.
"Mm... this presence..."
Grom’s gaze was fixed on the corner of the corridor ahead. A figure peeked out from around the bend. Fluttering a pair of black wings, the individual gave us a casual wave.
"Hey, Demon King-sama! Long time no see. You been keeping well?"
The one who greeted me with such airy familiarity was Luciana.