Chapter 250
Chapter 250: Research and Development
It’s me, Zilbagias, still busy as the deputy and the Demon Lord’s Prince.
A few months have passed since the Autonomous District got into full swing. I thought it was time to sort out everything that has happened during this time.
First, regarding the former Defteros Kingdom area. The Sauroe Tribe, led by Spinethia, conquered the bases east of Evaroti, finishing off the remaining enemies, and it has completely transformed into the territory of the Sauroe Tribe.
The Evaroti Autonomous District is now in a situation like an enclave, surrounded on the west by the Izanis territory and on the east by the Sauroe territory.
Those former citizens of the Defteros Kingdom who missed the chance to escape abroad were barely transported to the Evaroti Autonomous District without being massacred.
However, not everyone was saved. Even though it was called transport, the number of carriages was limited, so the prisoners had to march under the watchful eyes of the soldiers. Although it was the warm season, many fell behind. The weak were mostly abandoned, and the seriously injured were swiftly disposed of on-site.
As a result, those who managed to reach the Autonomous District were mainly the healthy ones who could still move around.
As the Demon Lord’s Prince, I couldn’t blame that.
Should I consider it significantly better than the previous awful situation—where the sick and injured were undoubtedly executed, and the healthy ones turned into slaves, with almost everyone dead within a few years?
Damn it.
Of course, the new residents of the Autonomous District, who had to abandon their loved ones or witnessed their comrades being disposed of before their eyes, harbor a strong hatred for the Demon Lord Kingdom.
While old residents, starting with the soldier brigade, preach my ideology and raise alarms about the Demon Lord Kingdom’s threats, they probably won’t lash out recklessly—
But still, among them are those who live day by day with blank expressions, while others are burning with revenge and desperately training.
Every time I visit the Autonomous District, I sense a gritty air mixed with the town’s liveliness.
That unmistakably—it was the scent of the battlefield.
Speaking of the Autonomous District, Tavo’s relatives opened a diner on the main street.
I chipped in a bit too. It’s a relatively upscale establishment that helps to circulate the economy by recovering wages distributed to the senior residents of the district.
Moreover, since it serves dishes rich in spices, dog-race beastmen apparently don’t come close due to the strong smells.
—Of course, that was intentional. On Enma’s behalf, I intervened as an investor in the store’s policy to support Claire in her information-gathering efforts.
While it’s a bit questionable that the store owner is a hobgoblin, Claire seems to have reconciled with that saying, “Well, he just looks a bit like a goblin…” If I went crazy every time a hobgoblin came into view, I wouldn’t survive in the Evaroti Royal Castle. The hobgoblin ratio here is way higher than in the Demon Lord Castle…
“I heard from the blacksmith that there’s a fair demand for self-defense short swords. Even the residents of the Autonomous District feel uneasy being unarmed under the rule of the Demon Lord Kingdom.”
While supplying me with magical power, Claire talked about various things she had seen and heard. About the demands in the Autonomous District that she gleaned from merchants and complaints directed at me by the vice-captain of the soldier brigade…
“Dealing with drunks is easy; if you just nod along, they’ll blabber on their own.”
And Claire laughed.
Her expression was the usual forced smile.
Yet, beneath her cheerful tone, I could sense a genuine affection seeping through. It felt like affection for the people she met in the Autonomous District—
No.
Maybe sensing that was just my own wishful thinking.
By the way, while I’m in the Demon Lord Castle, I regularly report various matters to Enma, and the key events of the day come back to me as well.
Usually, it’s just a simplistic note saying, “No particular abnormalities.”
The restrictions on farming outside the walls and migration to rural areas in the Autonomous District are about to be lifted. I just hope nothing goes wrong.
Now, about the Demon Lord Kingdom’s invasion war.
This summer, hostilities were initiated with Arena Kingdom. The vanguard is the Gigamount Tribe led by Diagias.
“—To be honest, wars are just a hassle.”
During our customary tea time, Diagias expressed his utter weariness.
I noticed that his words were heartfelt. It was a rather uncharacteristic attitude for a demon, but Diagias really isn’t that interested in fighting. He gets stronger just by flirting with women and is enjoying it to the fullest.
So why is the busy Diagias having tea with me, his younger brother? According to him, it’s because—
“It’s stimulating.”
…Thanks to my original Bon-Deige style, things that were becoming monotonous are now proceeding exceptionally well, and his magical power has been growing rapidly, resulting in a pretty good feeling.
Well, the topics of our tea parties are mostly new ideas for the Bon-Deige style and discussions about women… This is definitely not something for a six-year-old to be talking about…
“You’re kind of different from us. You’re a weirdo, you know? It’s such a good stimulus, and who knows? Maybe I’ll come up with something great again.”
If I’m called a weirdo by him, then it’s truly the end… I just didn’t know how to respond.
However.
Even the lazily inclined Diagias eventually departed for battle.
In this fight, he might be one step closer to being promoted to Duke. Even though he isn’t particularly aiming for social advancement, why is he going out of his way to be on the battlefield?
—It goes without saying, it’s to win over his beloved sister Rubyphia, whom he considers the finest woman in the Demon Lord Kingdom. Is he out of his mind?
When Rubyphia brought Diagias under her wing, she apparently said something like, “If you can surpass me, then maybe I’ll consider being your woman.”
Wow… that was a reckless promise. She means it…
No matter how much magical power he develops, you can’t get promoted without showing achievements in battle. Diagias is determined not only to become a Duke on par with Rubyphia but also perhaps to interfere in the Demon Lord throne succession war and subdue his sister, capturing her for himself.
It’s a risky situation where Rubyphia’s faction might end up becoming Diagias’ faction too. And Rubyphia has already accepted that when Diagias joined, so there’s no turning back now.
Thanks to the Bon-Deige style helping Diagias cultivate his magical power, rumors say Rubyphia is growing increasingly anxious.
Once Diagias takes control of the south of Arena Kingdom, it will be passed on to Rubyphia’s forces next. Rubyphia is the type to grow her magical power on the battlefield; she’ll definitely give it her all.
In the northern part of Arena Kingdom, there likely won’t be many prisoners…
No, depending on Diagias’ achievements, who knows what will happen in the south.
Though he’s not overly aggressive and treats other races relatively gently for a demon, Diagias is definitely not a philanthropist.
Once he’s on the battlefield, he kills the enemy without mercy. He might lament, “I don’t want to kill the cute ones,” but whether they’re men or women, he strikes them down without hesitation.
He is closest to understandable yet stands at the line beyond our comprehension.
That is—Demon Lord’s Third Prince Diagias.
I can’t begin to predict how many heads he’ll take in this campaign.
If they are enemies, he will kill them without remorse…
I’m the same.
†††
“What do you think?”
In the basement of Aulora Fortress, commonly known as the Necromancy Research Institute, the manifested Antendeixis asks me while observing the flow of magical power.
“Quite sturdy…”
I answered while attempting all sorts of interference, from opening the portal to the spirit world, casting curses, and chanting summoning spells.
Before me—encased in a magic circle was a palm-sized, slightly larger than usual rocket pendant.
It was an enchanted magical tool called the “Hunting Sphere,” granted to me by Spinethia, which repels magical interference from outside.
For some time now, I’ve been advancing my research on necromancy alongside Antendeixis. Antendeixis’ magical power is of a nature that is distinct from the properties of this world and is not dark; hence, he cannot handle necromancy. However, his delicate perception of magic, due to being a demon, has proved to be a strong ally in theoretical research.
Right now, we are testing to see if it can repel interference by containing a lower-level undead within the rocket.
“As expected of magic from a demon lineage…”
Barbara, now in her ghost form and watching from the side, lets out a voice that was half astonished and half impressed with the pendant that remains unfazed even when I unleash my strongest curse upon it.
“This is amazing… It could be quite a nuisance if it came to a fight…”
While it seems like it would shatter if I smashed in a spear imbued with magical power, it would force the one attacking to take that action. The Sauroe Tribe is no joke.
“With this, it seems we can prevent Enma’s interference?”
Leila asked with sparkling eyes. She seems unable to leave Claire’s situation unaided as it resonates with her past, and she feels pain for her, wishing every day to save her.
Recently, I’ve noticed she’s been reading my notes from my necromancy lectures to deepen her understanding of necromancy. When we travel, she often asks me and Antendeixis more probing questions through the Kizuna, seemingly acquiring knowledge that may surpass that of amateur necromancers within any allied territory.
“It seems we can block outside interference, but…”
I took the rocket pendant in my hand and popped it open. Inside, there was a small human bone. It contained a nameless soul called up from the spirit world.
It had almost no remaining ego, being the lowest tier of undead.
As I infused the bone with dark magic, forcibly enhancing its “rationality,” I mumbled a spell and gave it a command.
“Now… let’s see what happens.”
I closed the rocket again and after a moment’s wait, I opened the portal to the spirit world once more.
“—【Come forth, Test Subject No. 45】”
When I called out—
Without any resistance, the spirit I named No. 45—
The soul that should have been contained within the rocket smoothly slipped out through the portal in my hand.
“Damn it…”
I couldn’t help but grimace.
The command I gave the test subject was, “Open a portal to the spirit world within the rocket, and as it opens, move to the spirit world.”
In other words, even with this sturdy barrier of the Sauroe Tribe—
It couldn’t prevent the internal souls from autonomously using necromancy.
