As we strolled through the castle interior, we repeatedly crossed paths with various executives of the Demon King's Army and their subordinates.
These were individuals I had come to know over the last five centuries.
Some were mortals, while others were ageless ones. There was no uniformity whatsoever among their diverse races; on the whole, they were a collection of highly eccentric personalities.
After several such interactions, Grom let out a weary lament.
"What a boisterous lot they are... One can hardly enjoy a proper stroll, I say!"
"It’s always like this."
The quiet types were certainly in the minority. To one degree or another, every one of them had their own peculiar quirks. When they all gathered in one place, the energy only intensified. It was only natural to feel a bit exhausted after dealing with them one after another.
"However, the attendance rate seems high this time. Truly, it is a joyous thing," Grom added with an air of satisfaction.
The Demon Kings and their corresponding executives were fundamentally busy people. Various problems arose day and night within their assigned worlds, leaving them constantly preoccupied with finding solutions.
That said, some simply found it a nuisance to answer a summons, while others were absent for their own private reasons. Every time that happened, Grom would become indignant. Personally, I didn't particularly care about absences. Since everyone had their own circumstances, I had no intention of forcing them to attend.
Besides, highly important matters could be communicated via telepathy. In the case of an absence, a proxy subordinate often attended in their stead, so it never caused any practical issues for our operations. In a way, these gatherings were more like social mixers intended to foster interaction between the various branches of the Demon King's Army.
Reflecting on that, I remembered something I had intended to ask Grom.
"I forgot to ask, but is everything all right in your world?"
A large-scale war between nations had broken out in Grom's assigned world. I had heard it was quite chaotic for a time, but I hadn't yet received a full report on the conclusion.
At my inquiry, Grom straightened his back, seizing the moment to shine. He answered with a boastful flare.
"Of course, everything has been resolved! It would be a grave disgrace if the Second-ranked official were to struggle so. I made my majesty known to them until they could endure it no longer!"
"…Just make sure not to overdo it."
Grom tended to get overly enthusiastic. Considering the potential damage to the surroundings, I needed him to exercise some degree of self-restraint. His power was in a realm where he could easily destroy entire worlds; he required the utmost care in handling.
Suddenly, something plummeted past the window.
A split second later, a thunderous roar echoed through the air. It seemed someone had fallen from one of the upper floors. I leaned out the window to investigate.
Rubble was scattered across the ground near the flowerbeds. Buried amidst the debris were the twins, Kenny and Lana. The two were looking up with ferocious, wide-eyed grins.
"Gah-ha-ha! Still too soft! You'll never best me that way!"
Dorda's boisterous voice rang out from above. Apparently, they had been training on one of the higher floors. They must have gotten too heated and smashed right through the wall.
From the moment I heard they were going to train, I had suspected a wall might end up destroyed. Therefore, it wasn't particularly surprising to me.
While I remained composed, Grom did not.
His eye socket flames flared with intensity as he flew into a rage, actual fire billowing from his mouth.
"You lot... What do you think you are doing to the Lord Demon King's castle?!"
Grom leapt out the window, descending to scold Kenny and Lana. The two of them gleefully bolted away. They seemed to view his pursuit as just another part of the game.
Left behind, I glanced down at the rubble littering the grounds.
Repair duty seems a fitting punishment.
Of course, I intended to hold Dorda collectively responsible as well. Logan was likely in the same room, but there were times when even he was powerless to stop them. He probably wasn't at fault.
Having settled on the disciplinary measures, I set off after them to soothe Grom's temper.