While the Demon Kingdom’s succession of the throne was unique, the government was fundamentally a monarchy. In other words, the Demon King, as the sovereign, was the highest authority in the land. I had assumed that if a territory directly managed by the Demon King was being rebellious, it would be a simple matter of replacing the magistrate who administered that region.
I wondered if there was a specific reason why the Demon King didn’t just do that.
"No, simply dealing with the magistrate wouldn't necessarily solve the problem," the Demon King explained.
He gave me a brief lecture on the nature of governance. It was complex, and I didn't grasp every nuance, but I managed to understand the parts relevant to our current situation.
First, I had to understand what a magistrate actually was in the Demon Kingdom. They were local officials appointed to manage territories held directly by the Demon King. Essentially, they were the Demon King’s proxies. Their primary responsibilities, in simple terms, were to collect taxes, prevent uprisings, and disseminate new laws. While their duties also included apprehending and judging those who broke the law, I decided to set that aside for the moment.
The crucial point was that the magistrate acted as the Demon King's representative. So, how did a magistrate actually govern a territory? If it were a small village of fifty or a hundred people, they might be able to manage it by getting to know everyone personally—it would be difficult, but possible. However, once a village reached five hundred or a thousand people, that became unrealistic. In a city with tens of thousands of residents, it was outright impossible.
So, how did they manage? They used subordinates, which was only natural. The more subordinates a magistrate had, the easier governance became. However, there was a limit to how many staff one could hire, as both human resources and financial budgets were finite.
When those resources reached their limit, the next step was to seek local collaborators. In other words, they governed by establishing connections with influential figures—the local notables and bosses who held sway in the region. To use a familiar example, Michael-san of the Goroun Company was one such influential figure. He was one of the leading men in Shashaato City, and he frequently consulted with Magistrate Ifuls, the man who administered the city.
That brought us to the current issue. Based on the Demon King’s explanation, the picture was becoming clear. Either the magistrate's subordinates... or the local influential figures were doing something behind the magistrate's back.
"Ah, we’ve ruled out the magistrate's subordinates," the Demon King added. "If the subordinates were the cause, the magistrate’s entire administrative district would be acting up, matching the suspicious region perfectly."
Because the pool of people capable of serving as magistrates was limited, they were usually stationed in large cities and tasked with managing the surrounding villages as well. If the problem lay with a magistrate's staff, then every city and village under that magistrate's jurisdiction should have been problematic, but that wasn't the case here.
Which meant...
"The influential figures are the ones who are suspicious. Therefore, replacing the magistrate would be a meaningless gesture. Perhaps things would improve if I could replace them with an exceptionally talented official, but such individuals are rare. I've already entrusted them with critical locations, so I cannot move them lightly."
I see. "So, what exactly do you want me to do?"
"It’s nothing difficult. I want you to take the Spring Parade you hold in the Village of the Great Tree and perform it from Village Five all the way to the Demon Kingdom Royal Capital. Of course, you can wait until after your village's parade is finished. Since you'll be using teleportation gates for the journey, it shouldn't even take half a day. We would love to welcome you officially at the Royal Capital, but I expect you wouldn't care for anything too flashy. I promise not to involve you in any formal ceremonies; once the parade is over, you may return home immediately."
That was a relief to hear, but I had my doubts. "Would just holding a parade really accomplish anything?"
"To put it bluntly, the parade is a decoy. While you draw everyone's attention, our investigation units will be moving in the shadows."
I tilted my head. If it was just a decoy, surely something other than a parade would work? A parade was fine, but did we really need to be the part of it?
"I chose a parade specifically to summon the magistrates and influential figures from the various regions," the Demon King clarified. "By having them all present for the event, we reduce the risk of innocent people being taken as hostages."
"I see."
"Naturally, I will also call upon the various mayors and village heads."
"Wait... ah, I see. It would be a problem if only the Village Head of Village Five didn't participate."
"Exactly. Furthermore, a parade isn't something that can be organized overnight. It requires considerable preparation in advance. However, for the Village of the Great Tree, I imagine that won't be an issue."
He was right. We would have just finished our own parade, so we could simply view this as an extension of the route.
"Indeed. I feel apologetic for causing such trouble for you and your residents," the Demon King said.
"No, like I said before, trouble between the Royal Capital and Shashaato would be a problem for me too. I understand the plan for the parade. But... isn't it dangerous?"
"It is not dangerous! Absolutely not!"
"I-Is that so?"
"Yes. Besides, I will be participating in the parade myself. If there is any malice, it will be directed toward me."
That was worrying in its own way, but I nodded.
"Thank you. Ah, I forgot to mention... Kuro-dono's children and Zabuton-dono's children are more than welcome to participate in the parade as well."
I froze. "Wait, really? You've always said we should try to keep Kuro's children and Zabuton's children inside the Forest of Death as much as possible."
"That was the case, but I see them popping up here and there anyway, so I figure it's fine now."
"Ah... I'm sorry about that."
"Hahaha! Besides, it would be a pity if they were the only ones left out of the festivities."
He was right. It would be a shame if only the wolves and the spiders were excluded.
"I agree. However, having everyone participate might be difficult because of village security and other factors. I'll leave the scale of the parade to you, Village Head. We also plan to have the Demon Kingdom Army and representatives from various regions join in as well."
"Understood. Since it’s a parade outside the village, some residents might prefer to stay behind. I'll consult with everyone."
"I’m sorry for the imposition, but I leave it in your hands. To be honest... if the suspicious individuals are indeed contemplating rebellion, I hope that seeing your parade will make them reconsider. If we can resolve this without incident, that would be for the best."
Indeed, a peaceful resolution would be ideal. However, judging by how Kierbit and Tiselle were acting, it was almost certain that something was going to happen. Even so, the Demon King wished to show them the parade of those of us living in peace, hoping to change their minds.
The Demon King really was a noble sovereign.
That night, in a private room within the Village Head's Mansion, the Demon King, Tiselle, and Kierbit—still disguised as a wealthy young noblewoman—were gathered.
"For now, we've secured his agreement to hold the parade," the Demon King said. "But is the Village Head truly in no danger? To those with a discerning eye, wouldn't they target him even more than me?"
"With my mothers lined up beside Father, he'll be perfectly safe," Tiselle replied confidently. "Besides, even if they are planning a rebellion, they should still be underprepared. There won't be any actual use of martial prowess."
"But we have to assume the worst-case scenario," Kierbit interjected. "Should we hide the Village Head and prepare a substitute?"
Kierbit chanted an incantation, and her form shifted until she looked exactly like the Village Head.
"I don't think Father would approve of that," Tiselle said, shaking her head.
"Indeed," the Demon King agreed. "Knowing him, he would never want to stay in a safe place while others were in harm's way."
"Even so, letting him get close to danger is still a problem," Kierbit said. She snapped her fingers, and her appearance reverted to the wealthy young lady. "Therefore, we must make sure the Village Head never even realizes he was in jeopardy. Dispose of all threats in absolute secret."
Kierbit looked at the Demon King and Tiselle, and both of them nodded firmly.
"Also, Tiselle. I understand what you're trying to do, but it isn't wise to try to extract two or three benefits from a single action. It's fine if they happen as a result, but if you aim for it from the start, a distortion will appear somewhere, and you'll end up suffering for it."
"...Understood," Tiselle murmured.
"And Demon King, don't spoil Tiselle too much either. You're letting yourself be manipulated by her because you're hoping to abdicate the throne to Alfred or Urza... actually, it's more like you're letting yourself be rolled on purpose."
"U-Umu. I will be careful."
"I won't stop you from abdicating, but make sure to crush any potential nuisances before you do. Otherwise, they'll only grow to resent you for it."
"I-I understand."
In response to the Demon King's submissive reply, Kierbit let out a long sigh. She took enough cups for everyone, poured juice, and handed them out.
"Now then, let us wish for the success of Tiselle's 'Operation: Break the Spirits of the Suspicious by Showing Overwhelming Military Power'."
"I wish for the operation's success too, but I really wish you'd think of a better name for it," Tiselle complained.
"The name doesn't matter. Also, make sure you report properly to Lu-san and Tia."
"Eh? Wasn't Kierbit-san the one handling the communications with them?"
"I've passed the word along, but progress reports are vital—especially from the primary actors. Do you understand?"
"U-Understood."
"Then, once more. To success—cheers!"
"Cheers!"
"Since you joined the toast," Tiselle noted with a smirk, "that means Big Sister Kierbit is officially part of the operation!"
"If I backed out now, Tia would never stop glaring at me," Kierbit muttered.
"So Kierbit will be spending a lot of time at the Royal Castle starting this spring," the Demon King said, looking relieved. "That's a huge help."
"I'm Torain's assistant, so I won't be leaving the Academy," Kierbit corrected him sharply.
"I can see it now... the sight of Torain working at the Royal Castle..." the Demon King mused.
"I think the mothers will be furious if you try to drag Torain to the capital," Tiselle warned.