Those who move in the dark
After being recognized by the other demon lords without any problems, I returned to the Monsters’ Country Tempest.
“I came back and the country wasn’t there!” Scenario didn’t happen and seeing everyone’s happy faces put me at ease.
And thus improving their skills, they are even contributing to the safety of the region.
After all, our average soldiers are mostly B ranked.
And while it’s great that the vicinity has gotten rather peaceful, I worry that the monsters chased away from here would wreak havoc elsewhere.
While thinking these things I brought Veldora and Shion into the city.
Maybe they were practicing while I was away at the Walpurgis Banquet because they moved as one.
And,
「Hither we sought to honor Your ascension to the seats of the demon lords!
We are filled with endless joy that You have returned to us!」
Rigurdo exclaimed as the representative.
Every time, every single time, his performance gets even more grandiose. Honestly, I’m happy, but far more embarrassed than happy.
I guess it’s fine?
So I do understand if they wanted to celebrate. Though I guess the humans disagree, right~?
And because of this and that, before returning to my house, we held a banquet.
On the day following my return I decided to hold an urgent meeting with the department heads.
Souei accepted, albeit added that「There’ probably no longer a reason to worry about that」
Well, I’d be happy if they were.
After all, we need to insure that the human merchants are able to traverse our roads safely.
In response to my worries,
「In that case, how about we set up an anti monster barrier along the roads?」
Bester suggested.
And as if planning this in advance,
「Danna, we have succeeded! A magic tool that creates barriers!」
Kaijin exclaimed with a satisfied smile on his face.
These old geezers are too amazing.
But to be able to create test products in less than a month, aren’t they just geniuses?
By now, Kaijin had completely left the smithy to Kurobee and wholeheartedly devoted himself to research.
From what he said, the magic energy concentration around here is now able to gather easily. Moreover, superior auras tends to drift freely around here.
As a result, they have been analyzing the effects of change in atmospheric magic energy concentration on the formation of demon crystals.
Moreover, as the concentration decreases, the chance of a monster or a youmaspawning also decreases, thus rendering my worries meaningless.
This is crucial for our country to release competitive products.
Seems like the Magic Stones I acquired in the Ingracia Kingdom came in handy.
Even if we had discovered the method for creating them, it will take time for us to produce any.
Unlike the more purely concentrated energy sources that the Magic Stones are, using Demon Crystals is easy.
It uses the artificial “Demon Crystal” as a fuel source.
Thus, it’s pretty heavy and hard to carry.
It would be great if we could reduce it to a single sheet of demon steel, but at least it’s easy to use.
But I guess adjusting it so that it runs just along the route of the highway is the most praiseworthy part.
It wasn’t something they’ve been designing for the last month but something they were imagining for that long.
I quickly gave my approval and had them plan to set it up along the highway.
And so, the Monsters’ Country Tempest has been steadily trying to become the center of this world’s commerce.
Next, I heard the current state of affairs.
Things have gotten rather quiet.
I also heard Youmu’s circumstances. The King we released is also moving according to our expectations.
If he does befriend us, it might come in handy to Youmu later on.
Thus the report paused.
Everyone has been trying really hard to secretly resolve all my worries, so I just asked whether there were any new problems.
「Not a problem, but I want to let my brethren know about Rimuru-sama’s ascension as a Demon Lord.
Would it be acceptable for me to visit every village as transportation skill practice?」
Gerudo raised his hand and asked.
I had heard that the food situation was solved as expected but nothing after that.
I permitted his journey. And,
「Oh by the way. I hadn’t mentioned this, but I have been given the Jura Forest as my domain.
Oh and how should I declare my reign over the region? Or should I just leave it as is?」
My words caused everyone to stare at me.
What? Did I do something wrong?
「Umm… the whole forest? Really?」
Rigurdo asked hesitantly.
「Hey, hey, seriously? This area had been treated as neutral zone!
But how the secret villages of the Elves react could be problematic.」
Benimaru added.
「Well, that shouldn’t be a problem.
I mean, all the rights of the forest have been bestowed upon Rimuru-danna by the demon lords.
Until now, cities and villages have been developing into the forest taking the resources as they pleased.
But now, even the Elves would have to ensure that they can still continue living in their hidden villages.
So this will be big you know?」
Kaijin said, full of anticipation.
As he says, no one needed permission to live around here until now.
「But, will that go as you say? They’ve been living here for so long, so isn’t their presence already recognized?」
I asked.
「No, no, the question is: will they come seeking the Demon Lord’s protection or choose to live as they please.
But that would mean that they are opening themselves to an invasion.
If anything, our race will come to greet you. I will let my father know!」
Panicked, Gabil said.
Ignoring the carefree Veldora, Shion for some reason has a very proud look on her face.
By the way, Shion, this domain was not earned by any of your efforts, you know.
I despaired.
「Fufun! That’s only to be expected of Rimuru-sama!」
And other similarly haughty lines Shion said with a proud expression.
From now on we will be conducting an investigation of the Jura Forest to find out what kind of intelligent races live here.
Well, we haven’t built one leading into the Sorcerers’ Dynasty Sarion yet, so we have a lot of work left over.
Seriously, I had expected that becoming a demon lord would be a pain, but to think that I was right to such an extent!
After ending the Department Heads’ meeting, I remembered a question I forgot to ask.
Right, did we get a response from Hinata yet?
「By the way, did the messenger we sent to the Western Saint’s Church safely deliver the message?
Did we get a response?」
To my question,
「Kufufufufu. My master, of course it arrived safely.」
We have yet to receive a response.」
Diablo confirmed the message’s arrival and Benimaru noted the lack of a response.
I wouldn’t want to fight Hinata, but that depends on her.
Honestly, and I know this is impossible, but I would rather they just apologize.
I want to focus on expanding as a country already.
And thus, facing problems the same way I did before I became a demon lord, I ended the department meeting.
In an unknown land of perpetual night, into a deep burial chamber, a single beautiful silver haired girl ventured.
She is the ruler of this land and a demon lord known as the Queen of Darkness.
There were few people who could venture this far and no one who could dispel her barrier. Or at least there should have been no one…
Her heart throbbing loudly, she proceeded towards the girl’s burial chamber.
The chamber had been disturbed, and there’s a left over smell of another human along with that of her beloved girl.
But that was a trivial fact…
Confused for the first time in her life, she couldn’t accept what she was seeing.
But, her logical part winning over, she was able to recognize the situation at hand.
That her beloved coffin had been stolen.
While screaming her lungs out in anger she released all her hidden magic energy.
One that no being could enter, a space of death itself.
Only she could break the barrier erected here.
Or perhaps those beings that could rival demon lords in power.
Otherwise, there was no need to enter.
In other words, to take advantage of her absence, they had to know of the Walpurgis Banquet.
If so… the culprit is…
The current seven other demon lords; should she also include the no-longer demon lords too…?
But.
「Wait a second… aren’t I forgetting someone?」
She muttered.
Clayman.
What was that he said before he died?
He wasn’t a demon lord but someone that rivaled them.
And if that’s the case… then his real objective was to acquire the coffin all along…
「He ordered Clayman to hold a Walpurgis Banquet and sought to obtain the coffin in the meantime…?」
So it didn’t matter who called the Walpurgis Banquet.
So if that’s his real objective, then the rest was just for show?
Ruminas’ anger turned redder as a sense of humiliation filled her heart.
Anger towards he who stole her beloved, anger towards the demon lords who kept her away from home.
But perhaps the guards would have not changed the outcome in the slightest.
Whichever the case…
「Unforgivable. I won’t forgive you. When I find you, I’ll tear you limb from limb!」
The dark ruins of the burial chamber were filled with the silver haired girl’s screams and her rampaging power.
And her unfulfilled lust caused Ruminas to change.
≪Verified. Conditions have been fulfilled.
Unique skill『Lust』has evolved into ultimate skill『Lustful King Asmodeus』≫
The Voice of the World declared to the silent Ruminas.
And,
「I don’t care! I don’t care about that!!!」
She shrieked.
She was truly fortunate that there was no life in the near vicinity.
In an unknown land of perpetual night resounded the never ending screams of a silver haired girl.