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Chapter 299. Successor to the Governor

“—Huh, Emelgias is dead?!”

“Did you not know?!”

At the Evaroti Royal Castle, on the observation deck at the very top.

First, we cleared up the misunderstanding or rather the rush to conclusions, and as we were perhaps having some tea… an astonishing fact came to light.

It turned out that Diagias was completely unaware of the Emelgias incident.

He had received a report from the front line stating, “It seems I had tea with Rubyphia,” then swiftly annihilated the Forest Elf defense force and jumped on a dragon to return nonstop.

“I saw a dragon that looked like a messenger from the Izanis tribe along the way, but I ignored it and kept going…”

So it was a case of missed communication… I can’t believe he doesn’t know about the Aurora incident.

“I see… Emelgias, huh…”

Diagias took a nostalgic sip of tea, pondering.

Now that I think about it, this is our first time having a conversation face to face since killing Emelgias. Although we weren’t that close, the death of a brother might be weighing on Diagias’s mind…

“Well, putting that aside.”

Quick to switch gears. He’s putting it aside.

“Is it really true about sister? I can trust you on this, right, Zilbagias?”

He looked at me with serious eyes.

“Brother… Not to put too fine a point on it, but ordinarily, one doesn’t lust after a half-sibling. I do not deny that Sister Rubyphia possesses an extraordinary charm as a demon, but…”

“Uh huh…”

Diagias fell silent, with his mouth forming a slight frown.

“See? I told you, didn’t I, Diagias? Your brother shouldn’t have those feelings for her!”

Interjecting, the only member of our harem present, the Lust Demon Libidine, looked exasperated. Always in her alluring Bon-Dage outfit, she made it hard to know where to look.

“Well, I can’t say I felt even the slightest hint of lust…”

Diagias nodded while staring at me. Ah, he was using his ability to gauge me…

“But Zilbagias, you don’t seem to have any real lust for Liliana or Leila either. If the feelings don’t involve lust, I wouldn’t be able to detect them, so we can’t let our guard down.”

…Are you suspecting that I have a platonic love for Rubyphia…!?

I couldn’t help but show a face like a cat thrown into the starry sky.

“Don’t worry, Diagias!”

But Libidine remained confidently cheerful.

“It’s probably just too faint for Diagias to catch, but Zilbagias is definitely lusting after Leila!”

“Eh?!”

I almost choked on my tea. What the heck are you saying, you lust-struck demon!?

“And in contrast, mentioning Rubyphia’s name brings up absolutely zero lust! Absolutely zero! As long as you’re a mortal, being completely free of love and lust is just impossible!”

“I see, then I can relax.”

No, it’s not relaxing! I cautiously glanced at Leila beside me, who was blushing and looking down.

Hey… hey! What are you going to do? It’s going to be super awkward the next time we get together!!

Thanks to [Kizuna], it’s leaking out from both sides!!

‘Kufu, fufufu-hahaha, fuhyahuhiy!’

Ante was bursting with laughter.

“I’m sorry for doubting you, Zilbag.”

“No… it’s okay…”

Just do whatever you want…

“Wow, sorry again. Just like with that hobgoblin earlier, I’ve been a bit hasty and caused a lot of trouble.”

By the way about Tavo, he got knocked away by super-fast Diagias and had a few bones broken, so I hastily wrote a letter.

If we treat him, I’ll get a taste of my blood as a reward! That should drive the vampires to compete for treatment. Although it pales in comparison to Liliana’s miracles or the Teleportation Spell, he should receive the best care possible in the current Autonomous District.

“Despite appearances, he’s a capable official. We’d be in trouble if he were to be unavailable.”

“I was only seeing Zilbag. I feel bad about that.”

As I protested, Diagias shrugged, looking a bit embarrassed.

“I’ll bring something for him when I visit, so you should present it to him.”

“That sounds good.”

Sigh, what a needless fatigue…

The main subject is about to begin.

“By the way, Brother, I have a request.”

I straightened my posture and started speaking.

“What is it? I’ll listen as much as I can.”

With a composed face, Diagias sipped his tea, readily agreeing.

“It’s about the successor to the governor of the Autonomous District.”

“Oh, I don’t want that. It’s too much trouble.”

“You just said you’d listen as much as you could, didn’t you!?”

Just now! Mom, your tongue hasn’t even dried yet! We’re moving too fast here!!

“No, because it’s impossible. I have to keep loving everyone at the Demon Lord’s Castle, and despite appearances, I’m busy.”

I wonder if I should be getting ready to leave now… as Diagias lifted his waist. Don’t run away!

“Well, well, please hear me out. I’ve come up with various ideas to make you want to take the role as governor.”

Right. The first demon I want to recommend is Diagias.

It’s evident from how he handled Tavo that he’s generally mild-mannered even towards other races (especially given that he’s a higher demon) and has zero interest in politics, so he won’t meddle unnecessarily in the situation.

As long as he supports my policy, my bureaucratic organization built in the district can handle everything on its own. Plus, he has genuine power and authority. To my knowledge, there’s no one better suited among the living demons to be the governor of the Evaroti Autonomous District than him.

And since I anticipated a “it’s too troublesome” refusal, I had a powerful bargaining chip prepared to get Diagias to nod…

“First, including my private room, you are free to do whatever you want with the Evaroti Royal Castle while I’m gone. With tight security, my people are discreet and keep secrets. You’re welcome to remodel my brother’s hobby room however you see fit.”

“That’s already available at the Demon Lord’s Castle though. That place is more convenient for various things.”

“I figured as much. So here’s another proposal.”

I raised a finger and looked at Diagias—no, I looked at Libidine, the Lust Demon beside me.

“—Wouldn’t you like to bear a child for your brother?”

Libidine, who had been cheerfully listening with a smile, suddenly lost her expression.

It’s a well-known fact that Libidine governs lust and that she and Diagias have been having a chaotic good time together.

But still, she is just a demon. Nearing biological life, she is a mass of magical energy with defined outlines, a pseudo-life form. No matter how many times they do it, she cannot conceive.

Could Libidine really accept that and think, “Oh well”?

…In my and Ante’s assessments, the answer is “no.” And seeing Libidine’s face, which seemed to suppress all emotions, it became glaringly obvious—

“Zilbagias.”

Diagias spoke quietly.

“You’re not joking, are you?”

The air crackled with tension, signalling a warning of, “I won’t forgive you if you’re joking.”

“I’m not joking at all. Even as a demon, I know how to make a body that can bear children, like a mortal.”

“So you’re saying, in exchange for teaching me that, I should take the role of governor… It’s not a bad proposal, but I can’t nod easily without confirming the validity of that information.”

“No, I’ll explain the method right here and now. You can decide afterwards.”

“…What?”

Diagias looked puzzled.

Before him…

—I demonstrated the Human Transformation Spell.

“…!?”

Diagias, and beside him, Libidine, widened their eyes. Though I shared a fairly good relationship with them, I couldn’t allow myself to show weakness to potential enemies. I immediately deactivated the magic.

“This is the Human Transformation Spell of dragons. It turns out demons can learn it too.”

I said while moistening my throat with tea.

“My attendant, Sophia the Knowledge Demon, has also learned it.”

I glanced back at Libidine; they were already acquainted—

“If you drink, you can get drunk just like a mortal, and you can also indulge in laziness. While you weaken by taking a human form, you can gain physiological functions.”

Needless to say, that includes reproductive capabilities.

“……….”

Diagias was speechless.

“How…?”

he began, then shook his head as if struck by dizziness.

“Dragon magic, huh. Now that you mention it, they are often in human form.”

He glanced at Leila, dressed in a one-piece, and groaned.

“I never expected that not only we but even demons could learn it… The thought of transforming into a human never even crossed my mind. But it makes sense now. That’s why you seem so relaxed even after being expelled.”

“I’d appreciate it if you didn’t spread this around too much.”

“…Why are you telling me this? What if I refuse here? What do you plan to do? Once it’s known that it’s dragon magic, it would be easy to learn. If I just speak to the dragon I just rode, I might be able to learn it without agreeing to your request.”

“That’s true, but…”

That question was quite reasonable. However—

“Even if you learn the magic, where would you conceive a child, hide a pregnant Libidine, give birth, and raise the child?”

This time, Diagias and Libidine were struck as if by lightning.

“You can’t revert from your human form while pregnant. If you do, of course the baby will disappear.”

Libidine’s expression stiffened, and she instinctively held her stomach though there was nothing there.

“While carrying a child, you’ll need to stay in human form for nine months until you give birth. And naturally, the child born will be of the Human Race.”

It seems that hybrids between demons and humans are possible, but to my knowledge, there are no half-bloods within the current Demon Lord Kingdom. The low probability of conceiving combined with the fact that—

“A hybrid of a demon and a weak human is something that cannot be allowed to exist.”

Once it is discovered, they will be disposed of. If it’s bad enough, both mother and child will be…

When I took Leila under my wing, I received similar warnings from those around me, including Platy. Since Leila frequently reverted to dragon form, it all worked out in the end…

“Besides, even if brother just does it with Libidine, that doesn’t guarantee that a child will be conceived right away. If that is the case, then if brother also transforms into a human, you’ll likely be able to have children.”

Actually, Diagias is said to already have several demon children. Due to his position, they are treated as illegitimate offspring and not regarded as legitimate heirs.—So, in other words, it proves that Diagias is not sterile. If the two of them transform into humans and get to it, they could easily conceive a child.

The problem is how to shelter Libidine—who will be extremely vulnerable—for nine months, make it safely through childbirth, and then raise the child—

“I see, that’s what you mean.”

Diagias looked down at the town from the observation deck.

At the streets filled with humans and beastmen in the Autonomous District.

Ah, that’s right.

In the Demon Lord’s Castle, it’s impossible. But here, in Evaroti—

“It’s the only place within the Demon Lord Kingdom where humans can live freely.”

It would be easy to slip your child through.

“It’s far from the Demon Lord’s Castle, and most of the castle’s personnel are my people. They are tight-lipped. If I surround your segment with my loyal subordinates, the secret will be kept safe.”

Most of my private soldiers have been engaged in dangerous missions at the frontlines and are seasoned elites. They’re far from the casual Night Elves.

“My bureaucratic organization is also filled with excellent personnel, like Tavo from earlier. The administration of the district should operate smoothly without troubling you. All you need to do is rule. Just that is enough to stabilize the district.”

“……….”

“And while my exile lasts for a year, there’s no guarantee I’ll return exactly in a year. In fact, there’s a possibility I may never return. You have sufficient time—time to establish this place as your own castle…”

“…………”

How about that? These are some favorable conditions.

Not just within the Demon Lord Kingdom, but across the entire continent, such conditions are hard to come by.

“—Brother, won’t you become the governor?”

Diagias stared at me without even blinking—

“Diagias… I…”

Libidine hesitantly began to speak.

“I… I don’t want to be a bother to you—”

Before she could say anything more, Diagias pulled her into a fierce embrace.

“Mmm…♡”

Whoa… what an intense kiss…

Oh man… that’s something else. Wow, wow…

But it’s great that there’s passion, but could you please stop emitting that pink mist…?

Gently, I stepped back. These two just create their own world in an instant…

“…………”

Leila also gasped “Wow…” and covered her mouth, utterly overwhelmed. …No, not just that, she was glancing back and forth at me.

Leila’s gaze is intense.

The pressure from Leila’s gaze is immense.

No, really, Leila’s eye pressure is crazy.

What kind of feelings should I have when I get together with Leila later!? Hey!!

“Libidine.”

Ignoring my bewilderment, after a long, long kiss, Diagias pulled away and said.

“Will you bear my child?”

“…Yes♡”

Diagias, with the resolution of a man, looked back at me seriously.

“I’ll accept that proposal.”

—And thus, the appointment for the successor to the governor of the Evaroti Autonomous District was confirmed.

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