Two knights in full-plate armor, mounted on heavily armored horses, stood side-by-side at the very front of the parade.
Each knight held a single sword aloft before their chest, gripping it with both hands. The sword of the knight on the right glowed with a pure white light, while the blade held by the knight on the left emitted a dark, black radiance.
Shining black?
How was that even possible? Well, even if I couldn't wrap my head around the mechanics of it, the mystical aura was undeniable. I assumed these two were the vanguard of the procession. Their faces were completely obscured by their helmets, so I had no idea who they were, but their skill was evident to anyone watching.
After all, they were holding those swords with both hands. They weren't even touching the reins. Despite that, they kept their horses walking in a perfectly straight line, and the blades they held high didn't wobble so much as a hair's breadth. I was stunned to learn the Demon Kingdom had such remarkable knights.
Still, why were they hiding their faces? In a parade like this, you’d usually want to show your face to get some recognition. There were no markings on their armor to indicate a specific house or noble title, either. I could only tell they were high-ranking based on how expensive the intricate decorations looked.
The group following the two knights was the pride of the Demon Kingdom: the Royal Guards. This was the army under the Demon King’s direct command. Naturally, there wasn't a single weakling among them. They were the elite of the elites of the Demon King's Army. For this parade, they had likely hand-picked the best of the best from that already prestigious pool.
I checked the banners the group was carrying. They were definitely the colors of the Royal Guards, and their armor bore the unit’s insignia. There was no doubt about it.
So why were they carrying massive shields instead of weapons? Every single person except for the flag bearers was equipped with a shield—and not just any shield, but ones large enough to hide their entire bodies. What’s more, they weren't carrying them at their sides; they held them braced forward as they marched.
What was the point of that? What did it even mean?
To make things even weirder, there were so few of them. Maybe twenty in total. The person carrying the flag was at the very back of the group, while the shield-bearers marched in front. I’m no expert on parade protocols, but shouldn't the flag bearer be leading the unit?
Besides, the men with the shields looked incredibly tense, as if they were ready to spring into action at a moment's notice. I wasn't the only one confused by this bizarre formation; a ripple of unease spread through the crowd.
That stir was silenced by the next group: the band. About fifty musicians dressed in vibrant, flashy costumes marched along, playing their instruments. The lighthearted music energized the spectators, and the people around me quickly forgot the strange Royal Guard unit as they looked forward to what was coming next.
Following the band was... wait, what? The Demon King? Already?
The Demon King himself arrived, riding in an open-topped carriage.
Wasn't this way too early? You’re supposed to save the star attraction for the finale. It’s not that I was unhappy to see him, but even an amateur could tell that the Demon King’s placement in the sequence was all wrong.
Sure enough, the murmurs the band had suppressed came rushing back. Was this going to be okay? At this rate, the whole parade was going to be a flop. The Demon King was waving to everyone with a broad smile, but I couldn't help but worry.
No, it was too soon to panic. Lady Yoko, the Acting Village Head of Village Five, was part of this event! There was no way she would ever allow a disgraceful performance.
Or so I thought, but following the Demon King were the Four Heavenly Kings themselves. First came the carriage of Lord Randan, who was in charge of Internal Affairs. Then came Count Chrome of Foreign Affairs, followed by Lady Hou of Financial Affairs.
Wait... where was General Gratz, the head of Military Affairs? The Four Heavenly Kings weren't all there.
Just as the spectators were starting to get anxious, the next arrivals swept those worries away. It was a trio of beastmen. Everyone knew who they were: the children of the Village Head of Village Five. They had held a spectacular wedding ceremony in our village once, and the whole place had turned into one giant festival. They had also been seen frequently during the preparations for this parade, and they were the ones who had coordinated the rehearsals.
The three of them rode their horses, waving to the crowd as they advanced. Because they were familiar faces, the cheers from the onlookers were deafening. Honestly, I think the roar was even louder than it was for the Demon King. Was that really okay?
Following the three beastmen were... uh, who exactly? Apparently, they were participants from the towns and villages located between Shashato City and the Royal Capital. Each place had sent a small delegation of three or four people, forming a group of about fifty. I see. I understood our confusion, but it seemed like even the people marching were looking a bit bewildered.
Next came the various divisions of the Demon Kingdom Army: the First, Second, Third, Fourth, and Fifth. There were about thirty soldiers in each group. These were the units that held the front lines against the human kingdoms. While not quite on the level of the Royal Guards, they were the backbone of the military and consisted of incredibly capable fighters.
But again—why weren't they carrying swords?
The First Division held axes, the Second had scoops, the Third had hoes, the Fourth had hammers, and the Fifth carried sickles. Their gear was light—actually, they weren't wearing armor at all, just standard military uniforms. Honestly, if someone had told me they were headed out to clear some woodland, I would have believed them.
Maybe it was a deliberate choice to avoid intimidating the civilians? If that was the goal, I suppose it was a success, but personally, I really wanted to see them looking like powerful warriors.
Perhaps it was because I was thinking those thoughts that my wish was granted.