So I’m a Spider, So What Vol. 9 — Part 1 of 8

Part 1 of 8

So I’m a Spider, So What?, Vol. 9

Okina Baba

Translation by Jenny McKeon

Cover art by Tsukasa Kiryu

This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is coincidental.

KUMO DESUGA, NANIKA? Vol. 9

First published in Japan in 2018 by KADOKAWA CORPORATION, Tokyo.

English translation rights arranged with KADOKAWA CORPORATION, Tokyo, through TUTTLE-MORI AGENCY, INC., Tokyo.

Yen Press, LLC supports the right to free expression and the value of copyright. The purpose of copyright is to encourage writers and artists to produce the creative works that enrich our culture.

The scanning, uploading, and distribution of this book without permission is a theft of the author’s intellectual property. If you would like permission to use material from the book (other than for review purposes), please contact the publisher. Thank you for your support of the author’s rights.

Yen On

150 West 30th Street, 19th Floor

New York, NY 10001

Visit us at yenpress.com

facebook.com/yenpress

twitter.com/yenpress

yenpress.tumblr.com

instagram.com/yenpress

First Yen On Edition: August 2020

Yen On is an imprint of Yen Press, LLC.

The Yen On name and logo are trademarks of Yen Press, LLC.

The publisher is not responsible for websites (or their content) that are not owned by the publisher.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Names: Baba, Okina, author. | Kiryu, Tsukasa, illustrator. | McKeon, Jenny, translator.

Title: So I’m a spider, so what? / Okina Baba ; illustration by Tsukasa Kiryu ; translation by Jenny McKeon.

Other titles: Kumo desuga nanika. English | So I am a spider, so what?

Description: First Yen On edition. | New York, NY : Yen On, 2017–

Classification: LCC PZ7.1.O44 So 2017 | DDC [Fic]—dc23

LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2017034911

ISBNs: 978-1-9753-1034-9 (paperback)

978-1-9753-1035-6 (ebook)

E3-20200714-JV-NF-ORI

Contents

Cover

Insert

Title Page

Evil Gods Don’t Smile

1 Arrival in the Demon Realm

Interlude The Veteran Demon’s Secret Feud

X1 The Former Sword-King Reigar

2 Arrival at the Demon Lord’s Castle

Interlude The Old Butler’s Frightful Experience

3 Arrival of the Hooligan

Interlude The Demon Duke’s Distress

X2 Administrator Güliedistodiez

4 Arrival in Heaven

Interlude The Vampire Princess’s Midnight Lesson

5 Arrival at the Great Elroe Labyrinth

X3 Ice Dragon Nia

6 Arrival at Mr. Oni’s Place

O Wrath

7 Arrival in Japan

Evil Gods Don’t Laugh

Evil Elves Do Sneer

Afterword

Yen Newsletter

“Humans love to say that boredom kills, but it’s even worse for gods, you know.”

Such a level voice.

In contrast to that emotionless tone, the bald old man on the screen stomps angrily.

It’s so surreal to see the stoic-looking old-timer stomping around and the girl watching him expressionlessly that I can’t even laugh.

Maybe she’s trying to use the movement on the screen to express her inner irritation, but if anything, it just makes her seem even weirder.

“Being bored is bad enough for humans, but gods live far longer than mortals, so finding ways to kill time is especially important for us.”

She keeps fiddling with the controller as she speaks, moving the bald guy around on the screen.

The hairless adventurer kills the monsters that appear one after another.

She makes it look effortless. Because her character isn’t even taking any damage, one might assume this game is easy, but if I remember correctly, it was so insanely difficult that it gave even the most hard-core gamers a run for their money.

Just how many hours has she sunk into this game?

She wasn’t kidding about how desperate she was to avoid being bored.

“But as you can see, if I set my mind to it, I can do just about anything well.”

On the screen, the bald guy beats the boss monster without taking a point of damage.

“I’m good at everything. As long as I want to be.”

I bet she really does mean everything, not just video games.

If she wanted to, she really could do just about anything.

Like guide the world to peace…or destroy it.

“It’s no fun doing something you know you’re going to be good at.”

If she gets serious about something, her success is already decided.

Since she can do anything, she already knows what the outcome will be, which makes things boring.

“That’s why I interfere as little as possible. If I meddle too much, then I’ll know how the whole thing’s going to turn out. Although I won’t hesitate if my meddling will make things more entertaining, of course.”

In the end, she’s an outsider, an observer.

Since taking action herself would lead to a guaranteed outcome, all she does is look on, like she’s watching a movie.

“Lately, I’ve had so little entertainment that I’ve been terribly bored. So I’ve got high hopes for you, understand? Make sure you entertain me for all you’re worth.”

But as she gazes at me, there’s no glimmer of those hopes in her eyes. Just pure amusement.

Those bottomless pitch-black eyes seem to stare right through me.

The self-proclaimed evil god, D, just looks at me without a word.

ARRIVAL IN THE DEMON REALM

The cart trundles along, pulled by two earth wyrms.

We’re on a rough dirt road, so of course bouncing around in the cart feels just awful.

The ride’s so bumpy that if you opened your mouth, you’d probably bite your tongue, so none of us are talking much. The only sound is the clunking and clattering of the cart.

Me?

I’m a grogger, so what?

You know, grogger. Because I’m super-groggy.

Heh-heh-heh. Pretty clever turn of phrase, if I do say so myself.

Typical me, right? I’m such a genius.

“You look like you’re gonna die, White. Wanna take a break?”

The Demon Lord’s saying something. But look! I’m doing so well that I just coined a new word. Bwa-ha-ha!

“…Um, White? Hello? Uh-oh. She’s barely even conscious.”

Hmph. Stupid Demon Lord. What do you know?

As if I could be knocked out by the mere bouncing of a cart!

“Lady Ariel, we will reach our next planned stop soon. Would you prefer to take a break before then?”

Mera’s voice calls from the coachman’s seat.

Sounds like he’s suggesting we should just hang in there until we reach our destination.

“All right. Let’s just get the rest of the way there while White’s passed out, then.”

“Very well. I shall continue.”

Come on! I told you, I’m totally awake over here!

The cart continues bouncing all the way to our destination: the first town we would visit in the demon territory.

“This isn’t quite what I pictured.”

When I wake up in our room at the inn, the first thing I hear is Vampy complaining.

Wait, what?! I’m up? I mean…of course I am. I was fully conscious the whole time.

I didn’t pass out, okay? That never happened.

Anyway, I wonder what Vampy doesn’t like about the place. Oh wait, she’s about to tell me whether I ask or not.

“It’s too normal,” she says.

I glance around the room, appraising the decor. A little fancy, maybe, but otherwise not that different from your average human inn.

Maybe it’s different on the outside? I glance out the window at the town, but there’s nothing special about the street below us, either.

Hmm. Well, I guess I understand what Vampy’s disappointed about, then.

The words land of demons do call to mind something a little more sinister, don’t they?

Y’know, like a gloomy place that’s permanently cloudy and buildings covered in ivy like a witch’s house. There should also be a bunch of inhuman creatures around to give the place a real sense of chaos.

But what do we get instead?

The shimmering, shining, sadistic sun.

Damn you! Your wretched light reaches this place, too?! Give it a rest already!

Ahem.

Anyway, all the buildings are normal, too. They’re not exactly sparkling clean, but they seem to be maintained well enough, so there’s no creeping vines or anything.

And the people walking around are all totally humanoid, no horns or wings among them.

The only key point to remind you we’re not on Earth is their crazy-colorful hair. It looks a little ridiculous, but there were some colorful people in the human territories, too, so this isn’t even a sight exclusive to the demon realm.

In other words, despite being home to demons, this place is no different from your average human town.

You wouldn’t even know you were in demon territory if someone didn’t tell you.

I mean, I guess some human towns had local differences, so it’s not exactly the same, but still.

If I had to say, the demon lands most closely resembles the empire in human territory.

Aside from the whole humans-versus-demons thing, the empire and the demon realm are basically neighbors, so it makes sense that they would resemble each other.

Right, right. That makes sense.

…Well, I’m convinced, but Vampy still looks displeased, so I guess that’s not good enough for her.

“Surprised? Demons don’t actually look any different from humans.”

Draped across the sofa, the Demon Lord swirls wine around in a glass, wearing a smug Gotcha! expression.

…So she held back on teaching us anything about demons for the sole purpose of surprising us?

We’ve been learning bits and pieces of demon language on the way here, since it’d be tough to get by if we couldn’t talk.

But it occurs to me now that in all those lessons, there was a distinct lack of any concrete information about demon culture or general appearance. She spent literal years withholding information from us all for this minor prank.

Leave it to the old lady. You don’t live for a ridiculously long time without building up a stupid amount of patience.

“White, why do I get the feeling you’re thinking something really rude about me right now?”

Non, non, madame. I would never do such a thing.

“They look the same? So what’s the difference between humans and demons, then?”

Good question, Vampy.

“Oh, there are lots of differences. The biggest one is their life span. Demons live way longer than humans. Still not as long as elves, though.”

Just the word elf is enough to make Vampy scowl. She’s starting to develop a visceral hatred of them, I think.

“Also, their stats improve a great deal quicker than humans’. If a human and a demon did the same training, the demon would usually have the advantage.”

Vampy, who was listening curiously, furrows her brow at that. “So all the differences are in demons’ favor? Doesn’t that mean humans can’t possibly beat them, then?”

Demons have longer lives and better stats. That alone would seem to indicate that humans don’t stand a chance of winning.

But for some reason, humans and demons have a long history of warring back and forth.

The explanation for this turns out to be almost disappointingly simple.

“Demons have a way smaller population than humans.”

So although humans have the upper hand on a one-on-one basis, they can’t beat humans because they’re greatly outnumbered.

The demons have quality, and the humans have quantity. These things balance each other out, which is why the fighting never ends.

“Demons have long lives but a low birth rate, so their population doesn’t go up. They’re superior to humans in almost every way except for that, so I guess you could say it’s their only weakness.”

I guess no matter how skilled the individuals might be, that can get you only so far. If they can’t increase their population, they’ll be permanently short on manpower.

Numbers really are important. You need enough people if you want to get anything done.

You can’t just have soldiers to fight on the front lines. You need people back home growing food, too.

Whether it’s agriculture, animal husbandry, or hunting, you need a system to reliably feed everyone before you can even think about going to war.

“And right now, the demons are in the middle of a pretty serious population crisis. So they’re in no position to go to war with humans.

“Not that any of that’s my problem,” the Demon Lord mutters, gulping down the rest of her wine. Then, abruptly, she calls out toward the door. “Come in already, will ya?”

I’m the only one startled by her sudden shout. Everyone else just looks at the door with composed expressions.

I guess all of them were able to sense that someone was behind the door.

Dammit! This is the problem with people who have high stats and tons of skills.

I didn’t notice a damn thing!

Unreal.

“…Pardon me.”

After a moment, the door opens from the outside, and an aging man steps into the room.

His clothes aren’t crazy gaudy, but you can definitely tell at a glance that they’re super–high quality.

A couple people who are clearly attendants follow the man into the room.

Okay, this guy’s definitely a big shot.

And then that big shot walks up to the Demon Lord and kneels.

KNEELS?!

This super-important-looking dude is totally kneeling!

And so are his attendants!

The old guy and his crew are kneeling in front of a girl who looks like a minor.

When you put it that way, this is super-weird!

“We have eagerly anticipated your return.”

“Yeah, thanks.”

So casual!

That’s a pretty offhanded response to this big shot’s grand welcome, Demon Lord!

See? He didn’t react, but a few of his attendants twitched. You’re totally wrecking the mood here!

“Oh, I’ll introduce you to everyone. Guys, this is Erguner, the lord in charge of this area of the demon realm. Since this bit borders human lands, he’s basically the ruler of the frontier. This guy’s kind of an old-timer among demons, a skilled commander who’s been fending off human invasions for ages.”

Um, Demon Lord?

I know you’re complimenting him, but it’s kinda weird to explain things to us like he’s not even here, don’t you think?

Especially if you’re gonna refer to him as this guy and all that.

Look, one of his attendants is even balling up a fist and trembling with rage.

“All righty, stand up and introduce yourself.”

“Right away, my lord!”

The Demon Lord orders Erguner around obliviously, but he obeys without a flicker of displeasure.

“Thank you for the generous introduction. I am called Erguner Ricep. A pleasure to make your acquaintance.”

With that short introduction, Erguner faces us and gives a stiff bow.

Yeah, you can totally tell from his brisk movements that he’s a military guy.

Kinda makes me want to call him “Colonel,” so I’m just gonna do that from now on.

“Colonel” has a competent, reliable sort of ring to it, don’t you think? “Major” sounds more like a schemer who works from the shadows.

Mr. Erguner doesn’t just look competent. It sounds like he really is, too.

I can’t imagine that they’d put someone incompetent in charge of protecting the border dividing the human and demon realms.

And this skilled, high-ranking man is kneeling in front of the Demon Lord.

Then again, she is the Demon Lord, after all. She’s the most important demon of all, so I guess it’s only natural that other demons would kneel before her.

But still…she’s the Demon Lord.

She doesn’t really look the part, does she?

And she doesn’t act the part, either.

Huh? You’re saying it’s because her personality’s been massively influenced by my former body brain that merged with her?

I can’t heeear yooou.

“So? Whaddaya want?”

“Pardon me! The moment I heard that you had returned to our land, I hurried here to greet you. I beg your forgiveness for intruding upon your personal time, but I felt it would be far more disrespectful not to show my face as your faithful retainer.”

The Colonel stays on one knee as he addresses the Demon Lord.

Wait, what? You came all the way here just to greet this weirdo?

Meaning you left your important post as guardian of this borderland?

Does that mean the Demon Lord is so intimidating that around here, people feel like they have to bend over backward for her?

“Much appreciated. Sorry you had to interrupt your work just to do that.”

The Demon Lord doesn’t look apologetic in the least as she reclines on the sofa.

Wow, she’s even holding out her wineglass to Mera for a refill.

C’mon, Mera. Don’t humor her.

“Well, as you can see, I’m on a break at the moment. Since you already greeted me, you can go back to your regular work now. We’re gonna stay here for two or three days, then head for the heartlands. I wanna talk to you before then, so make some time tomorrow or something, ’kay?”

So she apologizes for interrupting his work, then demands that he make time for her tomorrow in the same breath? She’s a demon lord, all right.

Man, talk about a self-absorbed boss!

It can’t be easy to clear your schedule when you have an important post like the marcher lord of a border territory.

“Understood. Shall we meet tomorrow after you’ve taken lunch, perhaps?”

So you do have time?!

Oh, wait. Judging by the way the Colonel’s attendant is looking at him, he probably doesn’t actually have the time.

I’m sure that attendant is frantically trying to figure out how to fix the schedule that the Demon Lord just ruined.

“Yeah, sure. See ya then.”

The Demon Lord nonchalantly confirms their post-lunch meeting.

“Then I shall take my leave at once. Please relax to your heart’s content.”

“Thanks. Think you could get me some more booze and snacks or something?”

“I shall make arrangements at once. If there is anything else you need, please speak to the servants who have been assigned to you.”

The Colonel responds to the Demon Lord’s shameless request without the slightest change in expression.

Talk about a model subordinate.

He bows and leaves the room, followed by his attendants.

Once they’re gone, nobody speaks for a while.

“…So that’s what it’s like to have power and influence,” Vampy mutters, quietly but unmistakably.

She’s obviously reevaluating her appraisal of the Demon Lord.

The Demon Lord cackles. “And if you add wealth to that, there’s pretty much nothing you can’t do in this world! You can mess around all day long, and nobody will stop you!”

Vampy’s eyes narrow even further.

The Demon Lord’s stock is plummeting!

On the other hand, Mera remains completely expressionless, pouring more wine into the Demon Lord’s glass.

Uh, Mr. Mera, should you really be letting her gulp it down like that?

I assumed this place was an inn when I first woke up, but it looks like it’s actually a room in the Colonel’s castle or something.

The wine they serve at a place like this probably isn’t the cheap stuff, y’know?

From the looks of things earlier, it seems like the Colonel is treating the Demon Lord as an honorable guest.

What if that wine is so expensive that you could build a mansion for the cost of a single bottle…?

Well, I guess I don’t know if wine works the same way in this world as it does on Earth, so I have no idea if such an expensive wine even exists here, but still.

Whether it’s expensive or cheap, the Demon Lord normally drinks alcohol by the barrel, so if she drinks that same amount of this wine…

Gulp. Hang in there, Colonel.

“Young miss, I believe Lady Ariel took such an attitude for well-thought-out reasons of her own.”

While I’m lost in thought about the price of wine and the damage to the Colonel’s coin purse, Mera speaks up like he can’t bear to just watch and not say anything.

Yeah, I figured as much.

Vampy is the only one who doesn’t get it. She blinks in surprise. “What? Really?”

Her eyes go from glaring at the Demon Lord to simply looking curious.

The Demon Lord grins. “I don’t know if I’d go that far. It’s more of a gut feeling than a carefully calculated plan, really…”

Then she trails off.

As I tilt my head in confusion at the awkward silence, there’s a knock on the door.

The Demon Lord permits the person to enter, and it turns out to be a servant girl with a tea trolley. Silent but dour, she places the wine and snacks on a table and leaves the room with a short bow.

After a moment, the Demon Lord opens her mouth again.

“What did you think of that person?”

“I wouldn’t quite call her hostile, but she did not seem to think too highly of us.”

Of course it’s Mera who responds. Vampy didn’t even understand the question, and I hardly ever speak up!

Mera answering is best for all of us!

Way to read the room, Mera! My man! The ideal servant!

“Well, of course,” Vampy mutters. “How else would you respond to someone showing up out of nowhere, forcing their way in, and demanding to be waited on?”

Yeah, I guess that’s true. What kind of awful guest would do that, though?

Oh wait, she means us.

I was wondering how we got into the castle of a big shot like the lord in charge of the borderlands. We forced our way in, huh?

Yeah, I guess that would seem like a huge imposition to the people who work in the castle.

“Right, right. We’re unwanted guests, after all.”

Wow. Saying that doesn’t even make you sad?

“But that wouldn’t normally be enough to make someone hate or even wanna kill us, right?”

At those words from the Demon Lord, Vampy finally gets it. “So you’re acting rude on purpose to figure out who your enemies are?”

The Demon Lord answers with a grin.

Hiding your hatred or hostility is one thing, but if someone keeps going out of their way to antagonize you, it’s hard to keep those emotions from leaking out.

So basically, the Demon Lord was being outrageously rude on purpose, in the hopes of sniffing out anyone who might be hiding hostility toward her.

At least, that’s the official reason.

“There were definitely a few who weren’t very fond of me in the welcome party earlier.”

Yeah, like the ones who were clenching their fists and shaking.

“Does that mean you don’t trust that Erguner person, Miss Ariel?” Vampy asks.

“I’m not sure yet. I did try to get a rise out of him to see if I could figure it out, but a veteran like him won’t show his weaknesses that easily. Even if his subordinates don’t like me, that doesn’t tell me how their boss feels. Although considering how easily they showed it, that’s definitely a case of negligent supervision on his part, at the very least.”

The way the Demon Lord’s talking, it sorta seems like the Colonel really doesn’t like her, and she already knows it.

Man, a veteran demon, though?

I guess since demons live longer than humans, they can get pretty old. Where there’s longevity, there’s sly old foxes.

Anyone who lives that long is bound to end up holding some grudges. Or am I just assuming things?

Well, either way, we probably shouldn’t let our guards down around this guy.

It seems like the Demon Lord is taking care to make sure no one else in the castle can eavesdrop on our conversations, for one thing.

She stops talking whenever someone approaches. And it’s possible that she’s taking other countermeasures that I just haven’t noticed. She’s probably used a spell or something to make sure our conversations can’t be heard from outside the door.

“So yeah, I’m just gonna do whatever I want! No holding back!”

With that, the Demon Lord gulps down the rest of her wine and reaches for the snacks.

“…Are you sure that wasn’t your number one goal in the first place?”

Vampy squints suspiciously at the Demon Lord, who ignores her and lolls around on the sofa.

This time, Mera doesn’t say another word.

I wonder if he’s noticed?

The Demon Lord’s real goal, or at least her real thoughts.

I don’t think Vampy is entirely wrong about her wanting to goof off, but that’s not her real motivation deep down.

The Demon Lord said it herself: It’s a gut feeling, not a well-thought-out plan.

If you ask me, I think the Demon Lord just wants to keep from getting any closer to her demon subjects than necessary.

Someday soon, the Demon Lord will have to lead the demons into war against the humans.

And she’ll probably have to send them into battle almost like sacrificial pawns in order to accomplish what she wants.

Her goal requires a lot of casualties, after all.

To put it another way, the Demon Lord is basically going to be sending a bunch of demons to their graves. That’s why she’s trying not to get too friendly with them.

She’s acting deliberately rude toward the demons so that they won’t make the mistake of idolizing her.

For demons, the Demon Lord is someone to be feared and hated, someone who will send them to their deaths.

By putting herself in that position, she’s trying to bear the brunt of the demons’ hatred and resentment herself.

And most of all, she’s probably using being hated by the demons as a way of punishing herself.

This is all just my assumption, of course. I can’t read the Demon Lord’s mind. But I don’t think I’m wrong.

Seriously. How kindhearted can one person be?

Sure, it doesn’t change the fact that she’s going to send the demons to their deaths, so it’s not exactly unconditional kindness, but I still think she’s way too nice to call herself a demon lord.

Not that I’m complaining, since her kindness has saved me on several occasions.

As these thoughts run through my mind, I casually sit down next to the Demon Lord and help myself to some snacks.

Heh-heh. The concept of “holding back” has always been foreign to me!

If there’s something edible in front of me, I’ll eat it! Whether that makes me an unwanted guest or not!

Ooh, this jerky’s got a nice salty bite to it. Now I want a drink.

I slide my hand toward the bottle nearby, but I get caught before I can reach it.

“White? You can’t drink until you’re twenty or older, you know.”

The Demon Lord grins as she scolds me, holding my arm firmly in place.

Grrr! Come on—a little bit can’t hurt!

Besides, it’s her fault for making it look so delicious in the first place!

If someone gulps a drink down in front of you like that, of course you’re going to want to know what it tastes like!

The drinking age may be twenty in Japan, but we’re in a parallel world here, so we should be able to make an exception!

“No means no. You can’t always get what you want.”

Tch! I don’t need any sage wisdom right now, thank you very much.

I’m definitely gonna distract her and have a drink one of these days.

As I reluctantly withdraw my hand, Mera holds out a glass of nonalcoholic juice. Best servant ever!

“Merazophis, I’d like some, too.”

Of course Vampy gets jealous right away.

Yep, things are back to normal.

It’s actually kinda peaceful.

I can tell I’m slacking a bit, probably because we finally accomplished our big goal of reaching demon lands.

I’m kinda tempted to just hang out in the Demon Lord’s protection and laze around forever.

But I don’t think that’s gonna happen.

Oh, I just wish that this peaceful atmosphere would last a little longer.

What? No can do?

I see.

Sigh. Unreal.

THE VETERAN DEMON’S SECRET FEUD

“Lord Erguner, it is time.”

I raise my head from my paperwork when my secretary informs me that the time for my meeting with the Demon Lord has arrived. I was already well aware of this, of course.

Thus, I take my time tidying up my papers, putting down my pen, and standing up.

“Very well. Let us be about it.”

My preparations are long since complete.

I begin walking without hesitation, followed by my secretary and attendants. The lot of them seem slightly more agitated than usual.

The atmosphere has been different ever since the Demon Lord, whose whereabouts have been unknown for some time, suddenly appeared at the castle yesterday.

The previous Demon Lord disappeared, eventually died in some unknown place, and was replaced with this current Demon Lord.

To be honest, I cannot deny that some part of me hoped this Demon Lord, too, would stay missing forever.

With the current state of the demon race, we are in fact better off without a demon lord.

Our many long years battling the humans have exhausted us, causing so much destruction that it has become impossible to ignore.

Our land is barren, our population—and therefore our workforce—is depleted, and our citizens are starving.

The famine only further reduces our workforce, lowering our ability to produce food.

We cannot possibly go to war while this vicious cycle continues.

It was for this very reason that when the prior Demon Lord went missing, it was a boon to the demons.

If there is no demon lord, then there will be no war.

We put our battle against the humans on hold and focused on recovering our own strength. Thanks to that, the livelihood of the populace stabilized somewhat while the Demon Lord was absent.

The one thing we have not managed to improve is our shrinking population.

Our declining birth rate is connected in no small way to infants dying of malnourishment or being attacked by monsters.

Though we have recovered slightly, we still have a long way to go.

And yet…

As I sink into thought, we arrive at our destination.

I reach out to open the door to the room, pause just in time, and knock instead.

“Come in.”

A voice permits my presence, so this time I open the door and enter.

“Hey. How’s it going?”

A short-statured girl greets me with a casual wave.

The Demon Lord. By appearances alone, she would seem to be an ordinary child.

But the powerful energy that rolls off her, as if unable to be completely contained, serves as a reminder that she is anything but.

I have never encountered anyone but this Demon Lord who reveals such power even when thoroughly suppressing it.

Her presence is so overwhelmingly powerful that I could sense it even through the door.

“I am terribly sorry to have kept you waiting.”

“Nah, it’s not your fault I showed up early.”

I had intended to enter the room first and await her presence, but instead I made the Demon Lord wait for me.

Yet she forgives this blunder with a smile.

Her actions may seem like those of a benevolent ruler, but I cannot be sure of the truth that lies behind her eyes.

“Well, no point in standing around, right? Have a seat.”

“Of course! Pardon me.”

I sit down on the sofa across from the Demon Lord, and my secretary and company stand behind me.

The Demon Lord, on the other hand, is alone.

She had several attendants with her yesterday when I greeted her, but they are not present now.

All of them save one were young women, but like the Demon Lord herself, their appearances were no doubt deceiving.

The Demon Lord has no need to take them along with her. She has little use for guards, after all.

What a truly terrifying person.

“As I stated yesterday, we are most pleased to celebrate your safe return.”

“Hmm. Are you, now?”

I was merely offering a polite greeting to begin the conversation, but the Demon Lord reacts strangely.

Her gaze passes over me to the attendants standing behind me.

“Just a moment, please.”

Sensing danger in that gaze, I call over my secretary, list a few names, and have them removed from the room.

Within moments, the attendants the Demon Lord was eyeing are ushered out of the room.

“Pardon the interruption. I shall deal with them accordingly after our meeting.”

“Nice, nice. You’re quick on the uptake, huh?”

The Demon Lord nods in satisfaction. It appears that my actions were correct.

“It’d be a pain to have to deal with some stupid revolt. All I want are obedient soldiers, y’know? Soldiers who’ll fight for me, and die for me, at my command.”

Her voice is calm as she says the unspeakable.

Yes, it was certainly the right decision to dismiss those hot-blooded attendants ahead of time. If they had shown even the slightest resistance to her statement, she might very well have killed them to set an example.

“Give your subordinates a warning for me. They can either fight the humans or get killed at my hands. I recommend the former. In the latter case, there’s not even the slightest chance of survival.”

With these words, the Demon Lord is essentially declaring that she herself is stronger than the entirety of humanity.

If anyone else were to say such a thing, I would scoff at such nonsense.

But in her case, I cannot say that she is wrong.

“I need you to ramp up military preparations, please.”

Though it’s phrased as a request, I know it is an order.

“Understood.”

“Great. Thanks.”

I have no right to refuse.

After that, we discuss the finer details of our upcoming plans, and the meeting ends.

“Whew.”

“Good work, my lord.”

When I returned to my office and let slip a sigh, my secretary offered me words of praise.

“Thank you. I cannot remember when last I was so exhausted.”

The only reason I complain thus is that there is no one else in the room but my secretary, who has worked at my side for many years.

“However, this is no time to rest.”

I open the desk drawer and grasp the object inside.

A device known as a “mobile telephone,” small enough to be held in one hand.

The telephone has only one button, which I press now.

I am told that long ago, in an ancient culture, this device was used to speak with many faraway people. But now, it has no such features.

The device in my hand can contact only one person.

As I hold it to my ear, it makes a dull tone for a while, until finally a beep indicates that it has connected.

“It is I, Erguner. Can you hear me?”

“Yes, of course I can.”

The voice that comes through is that of a completely emotionless male.

Namely: Potimas Harrifenas.

The patriarch of the elves and a heretic who brings ancient secrets into the modern era.

“The Demon Lord has returned, just as you said she would.”

A few days ago, Potimas contacted me through the mobile telephone, informing me that the Demon Lord would soon return.

Thus, I informed the guards of the Demon Lord’s characteristics and instructed them to guide her politely to the castle should any such person appear.

So that this would not seem unnatural, I temporarily dispatched watchmen to the Mystic Mountains so that I could claim to have learned from them of the Demon Lord’s return.

In truth, our domain has not the spare hands to send a guard to the Mystic Mountains.

But I suppose I will no longer be able to say that soon enough.

“And? Surely you have not called me simply to relay that fact.”

As ever, Potimas is quick to guess my intentions.

“Indeed. I wish to know the state of the entrance to the Mystic Mountains on the human side. Has the boy with horns on his forehead appeared there these past few days?”

“Hmm.”

Potimas falls silent, as if deep in thought.

During my conversation with the Demon Lord, she mentioned the boy.

She said it was possible that he might cross the Mystic Mountains, breaking through the ice dragons’ territory in the process, as unlikely as the scenario seemed.

If he did show up, the Demon Lord instructed me to avoid provoking him and contact her immediately.

That was the end of our conversation. She did not explain what connection she had to this boy with horns.

But since she made a point of bringing him up and warning me about him, I must assume that this situation is important to the Demon Lord.

I thought perhaps we might be able to take advantage of that somehow, but since the Demon Lord herself said it was unlikely, I doubt the boy will come our way.

But I cannot afford to worry that it is an unlikely chance, nor do I have any idea how I might use it against her.

“…It doesn’t appear that we have received any reports about a boy of that description. But I shall place the entrance to the mountains under watch, just to be safe.”

“Thank you.”

Even as I respond, calculations are racing through my mind.

Because his response showed that Potimas Harrifenas, too, has a vested interest in the horned boy.

If he has drawn not just the attention of the Demon Lord but also Potimas, then how can I discount this boy?

“Do you know anything about the boy?”

“Not a boy with horns, no. However, up until recently, there have been several reports of an unusual ogre taking down a great number of adventurers. It seems as though there might be some connection, does it not?”

“I see.”

An unusual ogre?

Ogres are indeed a humanoid race with horns.

And though it is incredibly rare, I have heard tell that it is possible for an ogre to ultimately evolve into a form to more closely resembles a human: an oni.

It is possible that this ogre evolved enough that it was able to become an oni.

However, that is all I can speculate.

The only information Potimas offered me is a morsel that I likely could have learned on my own with some investigation.

Oni are extremely rare, but I doubt that alone is enough in itself to garner attention from both the Demon Lord and Potimas.

There must be something else they’re not telling me.

But no doubt, Potimas will remain tight-lipped, even if I press the issue.

“Thank you for the information.”

“But of course. It is a trivial matter to share with a friend.”

Friend? Surely you mean pawn.

“I will contact you again if anything else happens.”

“Quite. I may need a favor from you in the future as well. If I do, I hope you’ll indulge me.”

“Indeed.”

I end the call.

Immediately, just like after my meeting with the Demon Lord, exhaustion assails me.

“Whew.”

“Good work, my lord.”

My secretary and I repeat the same exchange as when I first returned to the room.

“Work, indeed. The Demon Lord and Potimas alike are truly taxing to deal with, even in light conversation.”

Personally, I would prefer not to get involved with either of them.

But I have no choice in the matter.

The Demon Lord holds authority over all demons, and the elves have had a powerful influence on the demon race’s revival.

From supplying food to providing new technology, the help of the elves has been instrumental in getting the demon race back on its feet.

I knew that Potimas had motives of his own, but I was left with no other options.

And since I owe him such a debt, I cannot turn against him…or so Potimas undoubtedly believes.

“All of them assume I will do just as they please.”

I received an order from the Demon Lord, one that I did not relay to Potimas.

To get rid of every elf in our lands.

“And the Demon Lord makes the most unreasonable demands.”

The realm of demons was saved thanks to the aid of the elves—at least, this is the only part of the truth that most demons know. Many feel indebted to the elves as a result.

And now we are to drive them out of our territory, even if we must use force?

The citizens might very well revolt.

If I obey the Demon Lord, there will be chaos in our ranks, and soon we will be made to go to war against the humans.

Yet, if I defy her, she will simply take matters into her own hands.

Either choice will undoubtedly prove to be a thorny path.

The future of the demon race looks bleak.

And yet, I cannot give up. I must devise a way to survive, for the sake of my race.

I will use any means I can to find a path to salvation, no matter how minute that path might be.

Fortunately, the Demon Lord will leave this place in a matter of days.

Once she does, I can move a bit more freely.

The Demon Lord is heading to the heart of the demon realm: Phthalo. The land that generations of demon lords have called home, ruled by Balto Phthalo.

Balto is a capable man but perhaps a bit too obedient.

His intellect keeps him from opposing the Demon Lord, as he knows all too well what the result would be.

If only he were a bit more cunning, we might yet make better progress.

But that is fine for now.

Let him obey the Demon Lord and win her trust if he can.

I, on the other hand, am willing to get my hands dirty.

I will pretend to obey the Demon Lord’s orders, while secretly maintaining a connection with the elves, seeking a path to the demon race’s survival.

“I will survive and outwit the Demon Lord and the elves alike.”

No matter how difficult that might be.

THE FORMER SWORD-KING REIGAR

I fought to the best of my ability.

Looking back on my life, over half of it has been spent on the battlefield, days dyed the silver of cold steel and the red of fresh blood.

I was proud.

The sword-king, leader of the Renxandt Empire, humanity’s ultimate line of defense. I thought myself the guardian of humanity.

I had a dream.

Someday, I would defeat the demons once and for all and bring about eternal peace.

In my youth, I truly believed I could accomplish that.

But the world is not so easily swayed.

Death was a constant companion of mine.

Though the corpses of my enemies piled up endlessly, I saw as many of my comrades join the Word of God.

I myself had a close brush with death countless times.

And soon I grew tired…

…of these endless days of battle, this perpetual dance with death.

I began to doubt.

Why must we fight?

Humans and demons sacrificing their lives to prolong an endless war.

They all die the same way: bloody, screaming, and full of regret.

There is no room for hope or dreams on the battlefield. Only fighting.

I fought for my pride, for my dreams.

But soon, that all began to fade.

As I grew weary of spending my days at death’s side, I began to question the point of the conflict.

And yet, I had no choice but to fight on.

For I was the sword-king.

The most powerful swordsman alive, leader of the Renxandt Empire.

Alongside my comrade, the most powerful mage alive, I was to lead mankind to victory.

And to that end, I was fated to stand on the battlefield for the rest of my days.

“My occult powers exist to protect the innocent.”

Ever at my side, the peerless mage Ronandt spoke without a shadow of doubt.

He stayed true to his beliefs and would not hesitate to use his power for them.

I was envious of his simple, honest ways, the strength of his convictions and belief in himself.

His willingness to unwaveringly fight for his ideals even while surrounded by death.

Though he could occasionally be eccentric and unpredictable, the man called Ronandt was unmistakably a hero.

Which is why I believed that as long as humanity had Ronandt, they would be safe without me.

Although if I said as much to him, no doubt he would cry, What foolishness are you spouting?!

And so, when the Demon Lord was defeated, I took my leave from society.

The fact that the demon race was at its limit, and thus both sides were left without the strength to fight, only spurred me onward.

Without a war, I had no role to play.

I had spent more than half my life on the battlefield, so I excelled at swinging my sword and commanding armies, but I have no gift for governing.

During battle, I can at least serve as a half-decent military leader.

But in an era without war, the people need a wise king who can keep the empire stable, not one whose only talents lie on the field of battle.

I withdrew from the throne of sword-king, declared my son as my successor, and left.

Perhaps I am being punished.

Or perhaps this is the reason I am here.

These past few days, I could tell that something was amiss in the mountains. It was also clear that the cause of the chaos was coming my way.

The dragons who live in the Mystic Mountains attempted to stop it, but their fight has been in vain, for the creature approaches ever closer, making no attempt to mask its hostility.

I know not what will happen once it reaches this place, though given how even the dragons could not stop it, I suppose what it’ll do next is a foregone conclusion.

A savage devastation will befall these lands.

In these mountains, I alone have strength enough to oppose it.

That said, after long years away from the battlefield, I do not boast the power I once had.

Even if I did, I cannot say for certain how I might fare against a creature that even dragons could not hinder.

Still, I have no choice but to challenge this intruder.

I must repay the debt I owe this land for allowing me to live here quietly all these years.

“Urgh…”

I heave a loud sigh, hoping to expel the rust that has built up in my body during my long absence from the battlefield.

As if to cast off the warmth I have amassed during these times of peace.

Everyone else has already been evacuated.

Fortunately, as the village is at the base of the Mystic Mountains, its population is small.

It was a quick evacuation, so, at worst, even if the village is destroyed in the coming clash, the loss of life will not be significant.

Of course, I would prefer to avoid that, so I am waiting some distance away from the village.

I have already made preparations to intercept the enemy.

The armor I wore when I was sword-king is back in my homeland. It belongs to the throne and the empire, not to me.

As I have abdicated the throne, I no longer have any right to it.

Instead, I wear my spare armor made by my own means.

It may not compare to the sword-king armor I left behind, but it is still first-rate equipment: The entire set is made from rare dark-dragon remains.

Dark dragons, like light dragons, rarely show themselves to humans.

Dragons in general are seldom seen unless one enters their territory, but in the case of dark and light dragons, their territory is not so easily defined.

My armor is believed to have been made of materials from a dark dragon that a hero defeated by chance several generations past.

I left one other set of my own armor in the empire.

It has the ability to weaken the opponent.

All dragons can dampen the effects of magic, but dark dragons also have the Curse attribute.

If you cut an opponent with a sword made from dark-dragon materials, it will weaken their strength, as well as their magic.

With its latent ability to dampen magic, the sword can cut off the opponent’s access to almost any spell.

The armor, too, has powerful defense against magic.

It has suited me well, as I am more proficient in close combat.

It still falls slightly short of my sword-king armor, a treasure of the empire made of materials from a queen taratect that the former hero defeated at the cost of nearly his entire army. Nonetheless, it is a powerful sword and suit of armor undoubtedly coveted by many celebrated commanders.

Part 1 of 8

Table of Contents Next »