The World I Was Supporting Was Real - Chapter 65



65. I’m a Demon Lord, aren’t I…?

* * *

So, carried back to the cathedral on Erin’s back, the Demon Lord was greeted with—

“Here. Eat this and calm down.”

“What’s this…?”

“It’s a chicken sandwich. I used the leftover chicken from breakfast to make it.”

“……Thank you.”

“You’re welcome. There’s also milk, so take it slow and don’t choke. You’ve had such a hard day. There’s a meeting with His Majesty the Emperor in a few days, so please rest well until then.”

“I understand. I shall… *sniffle* accept your kindness.”

And with that, Erin disappeared.

In the very center of where the stained-glass windows let the midday sun stream through— the Demon Lord munched on the chicken sandwich with his small mouth.

“Munch, munch.”

Fluffy, crispy.

Just moments before, the intense elation of finally achieving a long-held desire was now being softly healed by the taste of delicious food.

By devouring all three sandwiches, he regained his composure and… finally realized something was off.

‘……Wait a minute. I’m the Demon Lord, aren’t I……? Is it okay to end a conversation like this?’

I was, of course, thankful that they’d agreed to all my requests.

Even so, negotiations are best conducted from an equal footing to avoid future trouble.

Just now, no matter how I looked at it, it didn’t feel like we were on equal terms at all…

Forget equal, wasn’t it progressing as if the humans were just unilaterally “giving” to me?

If we’re entering the negotiation phase, it’s true that, from the human perspective, they would have to “give” to a certain extent. After all, I was the one demanding territory.

But that didn’t mean I had any intention of just taking without giving. I was planning to provide things that would obviously be seen as beneficial to the humans. Even if it was lacking, I intended to match what I could, as much as possible.

That was the only way to prevent the demons from being seen as unilaterally benefiting over the humans.

Of course, the Demon Lord knew.

The saint who brought me here, Erin, was someone I could definitely trust.

Her judgment was based on the will of a single entity—the one and only God, Iguoguo, and I, the Demon Lord, knew better than anyone that I’d become this way by divine will in order to attempt this negotiation.

So, I could fully accept it if Erin was unilaterally giving. After all, it wasn’t straying far from her ultimate goal—strictly following God’s word.

But ordinary humans were different.

Even if I was in the form of a human child, if I just accept benefits unilaterally, as if they were “pouring them out”?

From noble mtl dot com

For humans, we demons could very well be perceived as inferior beings, existing in the cracks between them. I couldn’t rule out that possibility.

Like, the Demon King, your representative, was so thankful he was on the verge of tears in front of us, and you guys have the nerve to act like that? – That kind of feeling.

It’s not that I don’t trust humans entirely.

However, unlike the demon race, where the Demon King exists and can project their will onto every single individual, even issuing commands, humans, although they have a class system, are a race possessing such vast diversity that each individual’s personality and ideology are like heaven and earth apart.

Besides, humans had continuously achieved victory after victory against us demons, whom they could never conquer with mere brute force alone. So, isn’t it at least somewhat reasonable that dialogue is important, but we shouldn’t be careless and maintain a low profile?

After turning into a human, I felt like I’d become a little too complacent.

‘…Maybe I was too absorbed in the results brought about by divine miracle.’

Even though I possess the body of a human child, I am, without a doubt, the supreme ruler of the demon race.

I mustn’t forget that fact, even to prevent the demons who have gained territory from being looked down upon by humans.

Still, the speech I gave today was merely to persuade the public opinion of the humans and—

‘The really important thing is the negotiations to come.’

A few days later.

I, as the representative Demon King, was scheduled to have negotiations with the representative of humans—the Emperor.

Everything would be decided then: how far our demon race could go to live together, and what demons can provide in return.

Furthermore, wouldn’t it be a very crucial moment to find a way to dispel the misunderstandings that humans have about demons, and that demons have about humans, one by one!

‘Just because I’m in this body, I mustn’t forget. Even though we are in a position of making a request, there’s no need to be unconditionally dragged along in a low profile. That would clearly become a seed of disaster, both for our demons and for humans in the long run.’

The Demon Lord, to steel herself once more, planted her hands on the floor she’d been slumped on and rose.

‘Just because an opportunity has presented itself doesn’t mean I should fall into complacency. If the divine granted me this chance, I must, by any means, make the most of it for my brethren—’

—*Grumble!*

‘—sunshine… and land… for…’

No…

I just ate a chicken sandwich. Why am I already… hungry again?

The moment she registered the hunger, she suddenly felt her thoughts getting sluggish too.

She seemed ashamed of the situation, a little lost for a moment… then, cautiously, she tiptoed towards the door.

With each step came a *squeak squeak squeak*, and the nun on standby near the door responded quickly the moment she opened it.

“Oh my. Demon Lord. What brings you here? Do you need to use the restroom?”

“No, uh… not the restroom, um… just, uh…”

“Then?”

“It’s… um… food, just a little more.”

“Ah! You wanted a little snack. Just wait a moment. It’s a virtue to eat a lot around this time.”

The nun soon returned with chicken soup, warm milk, and soft, fluffy bread made of wheat.

“This is about all I can get ready in a hurry. It won’t be as good as chicken, the food bestowed by the gods, but this is pretty tasty too!”

“……Thanks.”

The Demon King took the tray, plopped back down in his spot, and thought while eating the soup and bread.

—Humans, for some reason, seem to really like chicken.

That in the series of conversations he’d had with the nun, the Demon King was only thinking about chicken.

The Demon King didn’t notice, but that—truthfully, it was a rather strange thing.

* * *

The next day.

“Can you go by yourself? Should I hold your hand?”

“Erin. I know what you’re worried about, but I’m okay now. I’ve practiced walking for ages so I wouldn’t fall.”

Indeed, for the past few days, she had been practicing walking around the room, making squeaking noises as she tried not to fall.

If she fell again, it felt like the Demon King’s prestige would drop endlessly.

Up until now, she’d brushed it off as ‘not being used to a human body’… but even that was getting old.

Of course, she’d been quiet and sitting still when the moon rose, so the squeaking wouldn’t be a nuisance… but it didn’t feel like there hadn’t been enough practice time.

At the Demon King’s firm words, Erin smiled and nodded.

“Alright. But still, if things get tough, please say something.”

“I will.”

*peep peep peep peep peep peep peep peep.*

Thankfully, I was now pretty good at keeping my balance while walking.

I could move easily enough by spreading my wings, but I didn’t want to go around spreading miasma in the capital, not really.

‘Remember. Unlike yesterday, when I needed to appeal to emotions, today I need to discuss real interests. I need to be able to refuse anything that feels too difficult.’

For example, a demand like, ‘In exchange for providing territory, supply demons for use as labor on a regular basis.’

Even if I am in a position where I need sunlight, how could I sell my own kind into slavery?

‘For that reason, I mustn’t get swept up in emotions like I did yesterday and lose my dignity as the Demon Lord. I must be ready to indirectly show my strength when necessary—’

Just then.

“You don’t need to worry too much.”

“……Huh?”

Erin’s words, as if she’d read my mind, made the peeping of the chicks stop for a moment.

“Her Majesty, Empress Eirene, is someone absolutely brimming with the plain facts of god. There will surely be a good result.”

“Is that so. Even so, I shouldn’t take her lightly. No matter how prestigious her lineage, she wouldn’t hold that position for nothing.”

Having assimilated the experiences of the former Demon Lord, she knew.

How the internecine strife for the human representative—the Emperor’s seat—had played out.

Even in the midst of conflict with the Demon Lord, their divisions had allowed our demon race to reap the benefits, time and again.

Erin chuckled at that and said,

“You’ll see when you meet them.”

‘…….’

And so, arriving at the Iggu Ggwo Deon Imperial City with Erin—

The guard, upon spotting the Demon Lord, rushed over.

“You’ve arrived, Saintess. May the plain truths of the faith be with you…”

“Thank you, brother. May the plain truths of the faith be with you as well.”

“It is an honor. And is this the Demon Lord?”

“Yes.”

The guard lowered himself to one knee, meeting the Demon Lord’s gaze, and bowed his head, saying:

“I listened carefully to your speech. It is a cautious thing to say, but even a guard like myself could feel the depth of your desire for peace, our Demon Lord. I pray that there will be meaningful results.”

“……Thank you.”

It was almost like everyone was being too nice, like it’d make me lose my edge—

The Demon Lord quickly shook his head, clearing his thoughts.

*Don’t get swept away by a fleeting feeling,* he muttered to himself, stepping inside the Imperial Palace.

* * *

The inside of the Imperial Palace wasn’t as overwhelmingly extravagant as he’d expected.

There was only a simple red carpet and a bare minimum of decorations.

*Squish squish squish*, rhythmic sounds matching his footsteps filled the empty hallway.

*‘Definitely different from what’s in the memories of the previous Demon Lords.’*

Some of the Demon Lords, after all, had even invaded the Imperial Palace of the then-Empire, which was located in the human capital.

In their memories, the Imperial Palace, unlike any paltry, ordinary human city, was decorated with sculptures carved from luxurious marble and expensive, extravagant works of art scattered everywhere.

Unlike the palace, which was an utter spectacle of opulence, the Emperor himself was easily defeated by a Demon Lord… Though in the end he was cleaned up by the Saintess and Holy Knights.

How long had he been walking like this?

“This is the Audience Chamber.”

“Thank you, Erin. I will go on alone from here. I cannot simply rely on you even in important places.”

“If that is the Demon Lord’s will, then it must be God’s will as well. I shall wait for you, my Lord.”

The Demon Lord, leaving Erin behind, opened the doors to the audience chamber.

Truly.

Even until the very moment he arrived here, the Demon Lord had absolutely no idea.

[With the remaining power, add functionalities to help the Demon Lord, including the ability to suppress the demons’ instincts and other things to assist communication]

The instant he faced the light, the sentence he heard—”Ten Thousand Won Donation, Hooray!”—what that even meant.

* * *

After parting with Erin, while walking determinedly, *bbyok bbyok bbyok* sounds accompanying his steps down the red carpet of the audience chamber…

“You’ve arrived, Demon Lord.”

“……Huh?”

The one who greeted the Demon Lord within the designated audience chamber was—

“I’ve been waiting. I am the Emperor of the Empire, Eirene von Einsberg.”

Upon golden, bright canary-yellow hair rested a small, adorable tiara.

Asymmetrical bangs exuded an utterly unique charm, and simultaneously, the neatly tied-back hair clearly demonstrated she wasn’t an ordinary person.

Her features were placed with a flawless perfection, and her unbelievably youthful, pure white skin, held such vitality that it was hard to believe she was 36 years old.

Her attire, too, was an off-the-shoulder dress that brought out her feminine charm to its fullest.

A violent chest, far larger than even Erin’s famed for her holy power pouches, a chest no mere fabric could ever conceal, threatened to burst from the dress, flaunting its presence.

—That much.

That much was the Empress everyone, including the Demon King, could have foreseen.

A tiara studded with expensive jewels, a noble and beautiful face, a luxurious dress, an utterly mesmerizing voice…

But.

What she wore was not just a dress.

She had something else draped securely over it.

An apron, draped around her neck, adorning only the front, with the strings pulled back and tied, rested like a strawberry on a shortcake.

‘…Huh?’

—An apron?

And that wasn’t all.

What was… in her left hand?

Something like a wooden cylinder…?

The Demon King swiftly delved into the gaps of memory accumulated from countless previous Demon Kings.

And he could easily surmise what that object was.

The problem was—

‘Why… did she bring *that*…?’

Just as he started wondering if he might be mistaken about what he was seeing,

“I’ve been waiting only for you to arrive, Demon Lord. Today is a very important day for us to talk. So, I prepared something of my own as well.”

Eirene said that, wearing a look of complete ease… a beautiful curve painted on her lips, as she shook the thing in her hand.

—Tinkle tinkle.

‘!!!’

The incredibly dainty sound confirmed that the Demon Lord had not, in fact, misperceived anything.

A toy.

That *was* a toy.

A rattle that went tinkle tinkle when you shook it, the kind used to soothe a baby!

Unlike the Demon Lord, who couldn’t hide his bewilderment,

Eirene, composed and demure, slowly knelt down—

“Come this way, Demon Lord… heehee.”

—and patted her plump thigh.