Demon King of the Royal Class-Chapter 459

“Your Majesty, rumors about this place are slowly spreading across the continent,” Eleris reported.

Eleris mostly operated alone. She wandered the continent, destroying warp gates wherever possible, doing what she could to bring about the complete end of the Gate Incident.

“Rumors?” I repeated.

“Yes. We’ve confirmed that stories are spreading about a paradise in the south, although we’re not sure if the source of these rumors are refugees who have refused to join up with us,” Eleris explained.

The continent was in chaos. The empire was too busy trying to manage its own affairs to know that I had settled in this region far to the south. Even if they knew, they wouldn’t have the resources to act immediately.

“Currently, it’s only been spoken of as somewhere in the south, and no one knows specifically about the Edina Archipelago. However, in the long term, powerful forces, including the empire, might search the southern region and discover Port Mokna,” Eleris continued.

“... That makes sense,” I replied.

Our continental base, Port Mokna, was just a tiny dot on the continental map, but if the empire discovered that it was not only intact but also hosting a large military force, it could pose a significant issue.

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If someone from Port Mokna were captured, the empire would realize that the Demon King had established a base in the distant southern archipelago.

The Edina Archipelago would not remain unnoticed by the empire forever. The Gate Incident had destroyed much of humanity’s foundations, but the situation would eventually end.

Eleris’s report concluded with that.

“The installation of water and sewage systems in the refugee settlements is almost complete. The large-scale reclamation of farmland in the south is nearly finished, and we just need to sow the seeds. We’ve also started constructing ships for transporting goods to other regions,” Lruien reported, and I nodded.

The vampires of the Thursday clan were knowledgeable in alchemy and magic related to biology, although I did not know if there was a reason for this affinity.

I hadn’t expected them to use this knowledge for farming, but having high-level mages, many of whom could be utilized for resource production and agriculture, was one of my significant advantages.

The empire could not adopt this approach. The territory they had to defend was too vast, and they never knew when the roving monsters that had emerged from the gates would invade a city.

In this distant archipelago, safe from the immediate and dangerous repercussions of the Gate Incident, we could focus all our national power on supporting the people.

“Mining operations are underway at the abandoned mana stone mines near Port Mokna. While mining is possible, transportation of resources is expected to be difficult, so it would be good if the Thunder Queen could lead a unit to assist with transport,” Galarsh suggested.

“Yes, let’s do that,” I agreed.

Mana stones were an absolutely scarce resource at this point, since they could not be sourced from the Edina Archipelago. From streetlights to everyday magical tools, there was nothing that didn’t require mana stones.

Even having lights to illuminate the night would significantly reduce the crime rate in the refugee areas. Therefore, Galarsh was in the process of securing numerous dormant mana stone mines and quarries to supply mana stones to the Edina Archipelago.

If enough sources were secured, the quality of life on this archipelago could be significantly improved. Given the explosive population growth in the Edina Archipelago, it was no exaggeration to say that mana stones were needed in almost infinite quantities.

Eleris, Lruien, and Galarsh were done with their reports. Finally, it was Antirianus’s turn.

“Great Being, it seems the empire has succeeded in destroying about 80% of the existing warp gates,” Antirianus reported.

“Is that so?” I replied.

Antirianus was in charge of intelligence operations. While I was trying to rescue as many civilians as possible and had often gone to the southern part of the continent to deal with monsters and gates directly, the empire was still the key force that could bring an end to this situation.

I had already heard that the unit operated by Sabioleen Tana was focused solely on destroying warp gates in numerous cities.

‘Eighty percent...’

Once all the warp gates were destroyed, the Gate Incident would be over. However, there was still the long and arduous task of dealing with all the monsters that had already emerged into the world, and that would become increasingly difficult.

As the number of warp gates decreased, the remaining gates would spew out even more powerful monsters. As the Gate Incident reached its conclusion, each gate was becoming increasingly dangerous.

“Additionally, the empire has succeeded in reclaiming all its direct territories, including thirty major hub cities, and is firmly establishing a defense posture. It seems they will now support other surviving vassal states in reclaiming their own territories. It can be said that the empire has fully regained its functionality,” Antirianus continued.

While the Edina Archipelago was safe, the empire had managed to reclaim its territories on the continent that had been overrun by monsters, across which monsters rampaged like waves, and had fully restored its functionality.

I felt anew the resilience of humanity.

Eighty percent of the warp gates across the continent had been destroyed, and the empire had fully reestablished itself. Now, they were preparing to help the vassal states rebuild and rise again. I wasn’t sure if this constituted good news for me, but Antirianus was smiling slightly.

“However,” he continued to report, “the population of the imperial capital of Gradium, where most of humanity has concentrated, has exceeded forty million. Large refugee camps have formed on the outskirts of Gradium, and their scale makes it impossible for the empire to manage. The streets of the refugee camps are filled with sewage and filth, and the bodies of refugees who have starved to death are left unattended, creating a security vacuum.”

It was only natural for people to flock to the capital, as in the original story. This led to extensive areas in and around the capital where security was nonexistent.

The population concentrated in the capital alone far exceeded the total population of the Edina Archipelago, and the empire could neither support, control, nor guarantee the safety and livelihood of all those people.

Monsters roaming the continent would occasionally attack the outskirts of the city. While the Gate Incident was coming to an end, other problems were likely plaguing the empire.

“Additionally, distrust of the Church of the Five Great Gods has exceeded its limits, and it has been confirmed that the vast majority of refugees now put their faith in the Hero Cult, which venerates Hero Ellen Artorius as a prophet,” Antinarius continued.

Someone who had been forced to become a hero... The burden that might have been placed on me had now been forcibly thrust on Ellen, with the revelation that I was the Demon King and the root cause of this situation, and she was being venerated as a prophet by this Hero Cult.

Antirianus smiled, as if he found it amusing that I, who was doing all this for humans, had become an object of hatred for the vast majority of humanity.

“We’ve identified that not only the majority of refugees but also a significant number of existing residents of the capital are followers of this Hero Cult, and their dissatisfaction has exceeded its limits,” Antirianus continued.

“Dissatisfaction?”

Regardless of the true nature of the Hero Cult, their ultimate belief was that Ellen would kill me, the Demon King. So what dissatisfaction could there be?

Were they dissatisfied because Ellen hadn’t killed me? Ellen probably didn’t even know where I was.

“The followers of the Hero Cult want to make the princess, who they believe is in league with the Demon King, a scapegoat,” Antirianus explained.

“...”

‘Ah, so that’s what this is about.’

***

I had already heard about Charlotte. Stories about the strange powers she possessed had spread.

In reality, I hadn’t been in contact with Charlotte or anything like that. However, the hatred towards me had exceeded its limits, and it was true that I was still supposedly somewhere on the continent.

People were looking for a scapegoat that could be paraded before them. Thus, Charlotte, who had been kidnapped by the Demon King and had been close to me, was seen as the Demon King’s primary collaborator.

It was ridiculous. Ellen was seen as the unfortunate hero deceived by the Demon King, and Charlotte was considered a collaborator who had cooperated with the Demon King.

Antirianus continued to laugh. Although he was fully cooperating with me, at that moment, I really wanted to punch that smug face. A mad loyalist who becomes happier the more misfortune his lord faces...

“The imperial family is not responding at all to any of the demands of the crowds, but this stance could eventually lead to distrust of the imperial family. People might start saying that the imperial family is also in league with the Demon King, which is why they aren’t handing over Charlotte de Gradias,” Antirianus said.

“... That makes sense.”

People believe what they want to believe. ‘Why aren’t you killing the princess when she should be killed? Aren’t you all actually in cahoots?’ The narrative of why the princess had to die had already been established. They simply wanted to believe she was the Demon King’s collaborator, so they believed it.

With that established, they would try to make everyone who protected such a princess seem like a detestable being. The demands to kill the princess continued not only in the capital but across the entire continent, and if the empire continued to ignore them, a riot would eventually occur.

Killing the princess wouldn’t solve anything.

People were just resentful. They were angry, aggrieved, and grieving. They simply wanted someone to thrust their anger on, someone to die. And that someone was the princess, who was in a known location, rather than the Demon King, whose whereabouts were unknown.

“Emperor Vertus will eventually have to present the princess to the crowds.”

Vertus had become the emperor.

The emperor had to protect the empire. He could not and should not exchange the fate of the empire for Charlotte’s life. Just as the Gate Incident had occurred regardless of my will, regardless of Vertus’s will, Charlotte would eventually have to be thrown on the pyre if things continued as they were.

The life of the princess had to be exchanged for quieting the anger of the citizens.

“Great Being, what will you do?” Antirianus asked with a wide smile.

Charlotte had cursed me. She had told me to die the most miserable death in the world. But I didn’t hold any particular grudge against her for those words. All the misunderstandings I had led Charlotte to believe were enough to justify such thoughts.

I wondered if Charlotte still hated me. I couldn’t know for sure.

I had saved Charlotte’s life twice: once when she’d escaped from the Demon King’s castle and once in the Spring Palace.

So, regardless of whether Charlotte still hated me or not, and regardless of her will, I would save her a third time. I had sworn to do so. I would overcome any night, any hatred, and any malice.

I would save Charlotte.

“I guess I need to look into this situation.”

I didn’t know when that time would come, but I would do it.

***

The Teleport spell was high-level magic, and Mass Teleport was an even higher-level magic. Only those with enough magical power, like Eleris and the other Vampire Lords, could cast it.

Harriet could cast such high-level magic with the aid of a Power Cartridge, but given the circumstances, she couldn’t secure enough Power Cartridges, so she wasn’t using such high-level magic.

Therefore, only a very few could immediately return to the Edina Archipelago from the continent or be deployed to the continent via mass teleportation. For example, only someone like Riana de Granz, who had just teleported to the central training grounds of the palace with Eleris, could travel back and forth via teleportation.

The Vampire Lords of the Senate didn’t always reside in the palace, as they all had their own duties.

Riana, who was dressed simply, nodded at me when she saw me.

“Are you getting any sleep?” she asked.

“Of course,” I replied. Riana was now more widely known by the nickname Thunder Queen. She was both the shield protecting Port Mokna and the strongest spear when it came to rescuing people from monsters.

“I’m starving. Let’s talk while we eat something,” Riana suggested.

“Sure,” I agreed.

Despite our lighthearted exchange, it remained true that Riana had killed the most monsters and saved the most people among us.

***

Harriet, Riana, and I sat in the palace dining room, talking. The king’s meal wasn’t particularly lavish, but it wasn’t too meager either. It was much better than the meals provided at the Temple, in terms of both quality and quantity.

“There are no more monsters or people around Port Mokna. You have to go incredibly far to even catch a glimpse of a monster. There’s nothing more to do there,” Riana reported.

Searching the vicinity of the fixed base for people fleeing or hiding from monsters had yielded little result.

That was why only eight hundred refugees were brought ashore this time, a much smaller number compared to the multitudes that we used to bring back by ship.

“I heard there’s another port city about a hundred and seventy kilometers west of Mokna. It might be better to secure that place and use it as a base for search and rescue operations,” Riana suggested.

“Alright,” I agreed. “Let’s assess the situation.”

We could establish another base, turn it into a forward base, and conduct rescue and monster eradication operations from there.

“Then the important thing is whether to abandon or maintain Mokna. What do you think?” Riana asked as she chewed on a sausage.

“Hmm... Operating two forward bases doubles the chance of being discovered by the empire. Maintaining Mokna, which has lost its utility, seems unnecessary,” I replied.

“But it’s a shame to abandon all the supplies and infrastructure there,” Riana countered.

“That’s true,” I agreed.

We set aside the discussion about whether to abandon Mokna and focused on the necessity of establishing a new forward base, which I fully understood.

“By the way... Are you really going to the empire’s territory?” Harriet asked me.

“The empire? What are you talking about all of a sudden?” Riana, not knowing what I was planning, tilted her head in confusion.

“There’s been a strong and growing public opinion over there lately that the princess should be executed, so he’s planning to go and take a look at the situation himself,” Harriet explained.

Riana’s head tilted again. “Wow... I always thought you were a sucker among suckers, but isn’t that going too far? It’s not enough just to take care of humans, now you’re even looking out for the princess of an enemy nation?”

Among us, Riana was the one who most wanted the empire to collapse and the Gradias royal family to fall, and she wasn’t particularly close to Charlotte either. It was natural for her to be confused by my decision to scope out the empire out of concern for the princess of an adversary nation.

Having heard everything that had happened between Charlotte and me, her exasperation was completely understandable.

Well... Was I really being a sucker? I wasn’t sure.

“Hey, I’ve been doing something that doesn’t suit me for two years now, you know?”

“What? Being a king?” Riana asked.

“Yeah. It’s not something a Demon King should say, but I’m sick of sitting around all day listening to 'Your Majesty, Your Majesty, Your Majesty.’ It’s driving me crazy.”

“For someone who’s saying that, you’ve actually done pretty well so far. And besides, what are you even going to do if being a king doesn’t suit you? You’re a Demon King after all,” Riana asked.

“I did it because I had to, not because it suited me. Of course, all of this doesn’t suit me either, but going out to the continent and killing monsters is slightly better. Sometimes, when people come to the palace asking me to punish their neighbor for breaking their dishes, I want to punch them in the face regardless of who’s right or wrong.”

“Oh, you’re talking about that time...” Harriet, who had been with me then, knew what I was talking about.

People came to me with countless trivial matters, whining for solutions. It was so terrifying that I felt like I might die of high blood pressure again.

Riana looked at me, slightly overwhelmed.

“Ah... You’re really stressed, aren’t you...” she said.

“It’s not something I should say to someone fighting on the front lines like you, but I’m sick of this. I can’t do it anymore.”

Two years was a long time. It wasn’t a field that suited me, nor one I had any talent for. I had done it because I had to, not because I liked it. And the more I carried on, the more it wore down my mental state.

Harriet could handle the administration for a while. She would undoubtedly do it better than me. But she couldn’t do it forever, and I couldn’t hand it over to her because she had too many responsibilities as a magic expert, and was not just my secretary.

I needed someone who could sit in that position for life. I would appoint someone more talented and capable than me as regent and have them do it for life.

“I don’t know how I’ll do it, but if I get the chance, I’ll bring Charlotte here. I’ll have her act as the ruler in my place.”

At this point, it wasn’t about me saving Charlotte. Charlotte would be the one saving me.

After all, wouldn’t I be owed at least some compensation from her if I saved her life three times?