The Demon King-sama is Surprised

"Well then Haruto-san, see you tomorrow."

"Yes, take care."

After making arrangements with Ferna-san, I returned to the inn and unlocked my room.

Taking off my boots, I collapsed onto the bed just like that.

"Aah～"

I couldn't help but groan.

What was that?

Those two, what in the world were they?

Were they idiots? Did they want to die?

Give me a break.

I mean, I knew Carla was strong, right? We actually fought together after all. But in the three years since then, she's become so strong it's like she's a completely different person.

That girl is only 19, right? Even if her Gift is powerful, she doesn't have memories from reincarnation, and she doesn't have the benefits of being transferred from another world. How did she get so strong?

Well, she really did get that strong though…

Thermonuclear Darkness Detonation Hell, that's a forbidden spell, you know? It's supposed to be a spell under national control that you can't take out!

You're not supposed to use it in wars. It's an incantation prohibited by treaty.

Well, the empire that was enforcing that treaty is gone now though!

I mean, I'm the one who did it though!

It couldn't be helped. I couldn't capture the imperial capital with Clarice around.

Even so, three million deaths is too many…

… It's all my responsibility though. Not his. I'm not trying to avoid responsibility here.

Reflection over.

"Uuh～"

And then there's Collapse of Heaven and Earth… Isn't that the magic the gods used during the Great Collapse? Where did she even get that?

I mean, even if you know how to use it, you shouldn't be able to actually use it normally…

God's Bloodline is incredible.

Uaah～

I definitely don't want to make her my enemy.

Not when I already have to fight those people.

Well, in terms of not wanting to make an enemy, the other girl is actually more dangerous though.

Yeah, I heard about her from Rei and Asuka.

Ryukreiana Christoll Casalia Ogress. That's long.

Completely unrelated, but doesn't Christoll kind of sound like clitoris?

… Let's stop escaping from reality and think seriously here.

That one is dangerous.

My hamster-like intuition that's kept me running from heroes for a thousand years is telling me.

That one is something I must not make my enemy.

It seems Rei made friendly contact with her first. I have to say GJ to that. Next time I meet her, I'll pat her head.

Unlike Asuka, Rei doesn't ask for things like that herself.

Now then, what I need to think about.

First, should I make direct contact with that girl called Ria?

Ah, but if she has the Dragon Eyes Gift, my true identity would be exposed.

What should I do? Maybe I should leave it to Asuka after all. Considering my future movements, that girl could probably handle things smoothly.

But you know, Asuka doesn't realize it herself, but she's a bit… no, quite careless.

That girl doesn't seem to have any discrimination against beastkin or ogres, and she can interact with demon tribe members without any problems, so she might actually become an ally surprisingly easily…

That girl seems like a muscle-brain though.

Normally, you wouldn't pick a fight with a country's hero on your first meeting, right?

She's a battle junkie, that one.

As someone who was a laid-back high school student in peaceful Japan, I really want to be spared from dealing with her.

I was smiling when facing Ferna-san, but honestly I was completely put off.

But you know, this is just my prediction, but with pretty high probability, she's probably going to see through my skills and challenge me to a fight too.

On top of that, what she was using was a Japanese katana.

Why a katana? In this world, they're hardly used anywhere except the south.

No matter how you look at it, she's from this world, so I know she's not a summoned hero, but that's just impossible～

Her movements were weird, you know? All squirmy and strange.

I think I've seen them somewhere in Japan in my previous life. It was like Chinese martial arts.

I wonder if she's a reincarnator.

If she has Dragon's Bloodline as a reincarnator, that might be a first.

I don't want to fight her～

I don't want to fight degozaru! I absolutely don't want to fight degozaru!

But kids with that much fighting spirit, if you don't give them a match, a lot of them get all sulky…

Wait, isn't that the same as demons!?

That bloody death march from back then again… No no, the opponent this time is just one person. It shouldn't be that bad.

Fortunately, it seems like she's forming a friendship with Carla, so maybe I can work things through her.

Haah, so many things to think about.

For now, I need to do something about Cordova.

You know, that country is in a pitiful state.

They put too much effort into their military, and everything's out of balance. While their citizens are starving, they're expanding their military, giving preferential treatment to the military, suppressing discontent with military force, invading other countries, and then building up their military even more.

They're finished～

They were a proper country at first, you know. A system that operated with strict, clear laws and fairly considered the burden on its citizens.

As soon as I took my eyes off them, this happened. It's not rule of law, it's rule of neglect! That's not even funny!

Maybe I have no choice but to dismantle them. But even that, if I mess up the method, lots of blood will flow.

Let's think about other places for a bit.

Istria is doing well. After all, the prince there is advocating for slave emancipation as policy.

Well, the chances of success are low, but as part of that process, our side can also gradually infiltrate.

Humans and demons coexisting. It's much more difficult than slave emancipation, but that prince would probably be fired up about it. Strategist-dono is a good person too.

… That's why the civil war still hasn't ended though. No, I shouldn't blame others. The one who hasn't ended it is me too.

As for Lemdria… King Hollyn, I hope you live a long life. But that person is the type to leave things to nature, so he hates life-extension magic. From my perspective, living another hundred years or so wouldn't make much difference.

The successor problem is the issue. The brothers get along well, but their principles and ideologies differ. Prince Sion especially. Despite being flexible on the battlefield, he's stubborn in everyday matters.

I'd appreciate it if he became the army's supreme commander, but to begin with, the way armies are operated is different from demon territory.

The Black Cat people are also focusing there, so maybe I'd just be stirring up a hornet's nest by interfering.

As for Casalia… I made a bit of a mistake with who I put in charge.

I mean, I told them to cause a little internal chaos, but that was only a means, not the goal.

Directly assassinating ministers isn't really my style, and if those people find them and kill them, I won't help, you know?

Well, for a while I need to focus on Cordova, so maybe I should call them over here and monitor them directly within sight.

If I immediately purge them for every failure, I'd be no different from a dictator.

Ah, that's right. Once things settle down here, I should return to demon territory.

Even if I'm receiving reports, leaving everything to the prime minister makes me no different from an incompetent monarch in the human world.

Even though there are many long-lived races among demons, personnel reshuffling is still necessary.

… The number of people who want to battle me has probably increased again too… how troublesome.

… Come to think of it, it's almost time for dinner.

The food in demon territory is better, but this inn's cooking doesn't lose either. That's why I chose this place after all.

Now then, I wonder what today's dish will be.

I changed into sandals and left the room.

This smell is stew. Stewed dishes rarely disappoint.

There's still a lot to think about, but for now, filling this empty stomach is Justice!

Humming a tune, I headed down the stairs. The end.