Chapter 209
Chapter 209. Consideration and Compassion
Well then, I am Zilbagias Reiju, the 7th Demon Lord’s Prince, Marquis of the Demon Lord Kingdom, and Director of the Demon Lord Kingdom’s Necromancy Research Institute, as well as the provisional governor of Evaroti Autonomous District.
Several days have passed since then, and I have been appointed as a Marquis.
With my sudden promotion to governor of Evaroti, Platy, upon receiving the appointment order, was absolutely over the moon.
“You are my proud son!”
She lifted me up in the room and spun around as if dancing. It’s been a while since I’ve been hugged like this. It reminds me of when I was a baby. Ever since I returned from the Demon World and my body rapidly grew, the chances for such intimacy have dwindled…
“By the way, protecting the status of the human race within the district was an excellent decision,” she noted, calming down a bit, as she praised my strategy.
“Since they can’t be casually used as substitutes for the teleportation spell, it doesn’t interfere with the healing capacity of the Reiju tribe, and our family’s interests won’t be infringed upon. Thanks to that, the Reiju tribe can fully support your policies now.”
If I were to fail in my policies and the humans in the district became free to be exploited, it would cause a hell of a headache, which would make them support me even more.
“…But precisely because of that, you need to pay attention to the movements of other tribes.”
Gone was the carefree demeanor, as Platy said with the expression of a cold-hearted duchess.
“Although the humans in the district technically belong to His Majesty, since you are now the governor, you don’t know how they might be utilized. There could be idiots who don’t understand the difference between a governor and a lord getting easily manipulated and causing trouble. You need to be on guard not to fall for any provocations.”
We don’t know what kind of traps might be set, she said seriously.
“Yes, Mother.”
Just like the ridiculous, clumsy fools wanting to break into other territories to steal livestock with no strategy, there may be some morons trying to harass us.
If they dare to make a move directly against me, I won’t hesitate to break their horns. But the mere fact that the autonomous district is so vast makes it quite the challenge to prevent interference with the humans.
However, I absolutely cannot tolerate any unreasonable harm towards the human race.
As a Demon Lord’s Prince.
As a Hero.
I will approach this with a resolute attitude…!!
Leaving that aside.
With the operational plan for the old Defteros Kingdom territory starting up and many posts for officials being created, the Night Elves were also overjoyed.
“Wonderful! Our clan is set for further progress…!”
Particularly, Sidarl looked super happy. Thanks to my personal management of the healing slots, Sidarl had greatly increased his influence, and now he could easily get his relatives into new positions.
“However… unfortunately, it seems the goblin-like slowpokes are also being appointed.”
A somewhat resentful air was evident as Sidarl said this.
Those goblin-like slowpokes—needless to say, he was referring to the Hobgoblins.
The Night Elves and Hobgoblins had been engaged in a disgusting power struggle over the limited posts for officials, but even though the Night Elves were advancing their schemes, everything changed with a single command from the Demon Lord.
“—The eligibility for appointment as an official will be judged fairly based on ability and achievements, rather than race.”
This threw the near-certain removal of the Hobgoblins into disarray.
Why did the Demon Lord protect the Hobgoblins?
Needless to say, it was because I suggested that “consideration for a multi-racial nation is also necessary.”
“I have no idea what underhanded tricks those filthy beasts used to secure their position…!”
Sidarl lamented, and I nodded nonchalantly, “That’s true…”
Who knows who pulled the strings… (deadpan)
†††
On the same day, Barbara’s rapier was completed. I went to collect it with my delightful companions.
“This way, please.”
What Fisero, the head of the Demon Lord Castle Dwarf Workshop, presented was yet another remarkable piece of craftsmanship.
“Whoa, this is…!”
This was precisely the “strongest rapier” conceived by Barbara. It had a sturdy yet minimalist design, boasting an incredibly refined beauty that exuded an indescribable “charm of a sword.”
“Uhohoho—! This is my long-desired—a Dwarf-made—!!”
Inside my bag, Barbara in helmet mode radiated joy.
“Such a splendid creation…”
I couldn’t help but be entranced as well.
“It’s named [Frodiida]. …In ancient language, it means consideration and care. Since it’s a sword for self-defense, I thought it would be perfect as a gift…”
“It’s a fine name. As expected of Fisero.”
The finely honed, flexible blade achieved the ideal balance of softness and strength. Though I wasn’t very familiar with rapiers, I felt an impulse to try it out due to its excellent grip.
Well, given that it uses the bones of a female Sword Saint as its core, it’s no surprise it has a magical allure.
“Wowww—!”
Hey, Barbara! It’s great to be joyous, but don’t disappear from happiness like that!!
“Hehe… The Sword Saint from which the material came is also sure to be thrilled with this.”
However, since that thought can only be sensed by me and Antende, I shared it with Leila as well, indirectly letting her know that Barbara was exhilarated.
“That’s great!”
Leila beamed as she received the rapier, practically radiating joy as if it were her own.
(——Before a rapier made from the bones of a Sword Saint, the Demon Lord’s Prince and his beloved mistress shared cheerful smiles. Faced with such an excessively sacrilegious sight, Fisero, wrestling with his own sins, murmured in dismay, “I’m sorry…” as he turned his gaze away.
Beaten by the Demon Lord and having his bones collected as a token, finally crafted into a gift for his mistress—a dismal fate awaited the Sword Saint, one could hardly begin to imagine…)
“Oh…!”
At that moment, a young Demon wrapped in a Bon-Daisy style appeared cheerfully walking from the back of the workshop.
But upon noticing me, he froze up in surprise.
“G-Good day, Your Highness…”
“Hey.”
I had no idea who this person was, but it seemed he was quite familiar with me, and he hastily exited the workshop, eager to avoid any interaction.
The Bon-Daisy style is certainly trending, huh…
While I stared vacantly, Leila lightly blushed and adjusted the collar of her maid uniform. She, as always, had Kizuna hidden under that outfit…
“Ahaha, materials, materials! I need to make something new!”
With a sparkling smile, Kusemon dashed out of the workshop toward the materials storage.
Apparently, she was receiving an overwhelming number of orders, but far from being troubled, she seemed even happier.
“Woohoo! The Demon Lord Castle is the best!”
Bouncing excitedly, Kusemon disappeared into the storage, while the dwarves in the workshop looked on with mixed expressions.
…I bear a part of the responsibility for her turning into that.
“I’m really… sorry.”
When I spoke up, Fisero shook his head weakly, looking utterly resigned, “No….”
We thanked him again for the rapier and left the workshop.
†††
“…How is it?”
“It seems to have gone… well!”
Back in my room, I promptly transplanted Barbara’s soul from the helmet into the rapier.
Yes, it seems to have settled in without issue.
“Wow?”
Liliana, who trotted over, climbed up onto the bed and tilted her head curiously close to the rapier resting there.
“Ah! Stop licking!”
Barbara will get purified! It may look like that, but she’s undead!!!
“? Woof!”
With a look as if she understood somehow, Liliana flopped onto the bed, relaxing.
“…Being in a Demon Lord’s castle, I feel the proximity of death…”
Barbara murmured pensively.
“Well… our circumstances are a bit unique…”
Only one being in this castle could wipe out an undead with just one lick…
“…What’s wrong? Is there a problem?”
“Not a problem per se… but, I’m a bit confused…”
Barbara hesitated.
“Just a minute ago, I was so excited about getting a Dwarf sword! But now that I think about it calmly, becoming the sword itself is a bit unexpected… I’m not quite sure how to react to that…”
“Ah…”
That’s… reasonable.
From the rapier, a faintly translucent Barbara’s spirit emerged. She tried to grab the sword that housed her soul.
Of course, her translucent fingers merely slipped through the handle.
“…”
Skaap.
“…”
Skaap.
Barbara’s spirit drooped her shoulders. Her expression was hidden from view…
“…I guess I need a body too! I’ll do my best to prepare one as soon as possible! Though I have a lot of things to learn as well!”
“Oh, no… You don’t need to worry about that at all!”
Barbara forced a somewhat strained smile while waving her hands.
“It’s not that I was shocked, it’s just that I’m still trying to come to terms with it! You’ve got your own busy life, so don’t mind me! There are more important things to focus on… and you’ve gone through all this trouble to prepare such a magnificent sword for me, thank you! It’s a wonderful sword, my dream has come true!”
Barbara bore a satisfied smile as she held up the splendid sword, but she didn’t even have the freedom to admire it right now…
It was all too hard for her to come to terms with being undead, and despite that, she was trying to think of me, which made my eyes well up with tears.
“No…! There’s nothing for you to apologize for…!”
It’s all because you can’t swing a rapier like before anymore… it’s all my fault…
—I swore I would at least prepare the best body for Barbara.
I made that firm vow. To do that—
“…Master! Master!!”
Garuña knocked on my room door.
“Hmm, what is it?”
Peeking into the room was Garuña, fluffy and pure white as always.
“Um, there’s an undead calling herself ‘Claire’ who has come to see you. She says she carries a message from the Undead King Enma…”
Garuña twitched her nose anxiously, as if worrying about the smell of death.
Ah… speak of the devil.
I still have much to learn from Enma.
Besides… I’m sure she’ll have heard about the situation in the autonomous district.
There are things that need to be discussed. Various matters, indeed.
