Volume 7 Chapter 9 The Capital Battle Begins
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
Shifa revealed that if the two long-lived races, the Black Dragon clan and the True Demon Clan, were to enter the Demon Lord’s chamber, it could lead to a long dictatorship, and the Kingdom, considering this a taboo, had granted them autonomy as duchies in exchange for not producing Demon Lords or marrying into the royal family from the second generation onwards.
”If marrying into the royal family is impossible… perhaps the only remaining option is to propose granting the duchies complete independence from their subordinate position and ceding territory. I doubt the current Kingdom has the power to retain 2 dukes… we might have to treat them as independent nations.”
Realizing that a political marriage was out of the question, I began to consider other options.
That was to bring the Kingdom to a status equivalent to its dissolution.
The Black Dragon Dukedom and the True Demon Dukedom had long supported the Kingdom as its vassal states, but due to Gertroud’s rebellion, it seemed that their long-held grievances had finally exploded.
”Does Lord Blackdagger intend to dissolve the Kingdom! This is in front of Your Majesty Shifa!”
”In reality, it’s already as good as dissolved, isn’t it? When Gertroud rebelled and the Demon God Emperor’s nation was established, the True Demon Kingdom fell from its position as ruler of the Magic Continent.”
I rebelled with calm words as Letticia lashes out.
Shifa, having been confronted with the current situation by Aldo and Velis since Gwain left the court, slightly nodded in agreement with my words.
”Kent is right… I must admit that I am no longer the Demon Lord, the ruler of the Demon Continent. Now, I am merely the king of a small country with only the territory around the Capital City, and even that is on the brink of destruction. There is no time to choose means to win. I have decided. I will issue a letter recognizing the marriage into the royal family from the two duchies and their independence from the Kingdom, and ask them for reinforcements.”
Shifa steeled himself to defeat Gertroud.
He chose the path of temporarily dissolving the Kingdom to ensure its survival.
”Your Majesty! That won’t do. Kingdom is a traditional country that has ruled the Demon Continent for 3 thousand years. You shouldn’t make such a hasty decision. Do you intend to abandon the people?!”
”Letticia. That is not the case. I am dissolving Kingdom for the sake of the people. This country has become rotten from its long years of peace. I intend to dissolve it once for the sake of the people and rebuild a better country. For that, I thought it would be better to have neighboring countries that stimulate each other. If I conduct good politics, the people will choose us. If that happens, the independent Dukedom will also return to us, I believe.”
”That’s right. I thought so too when I saw the territory my foolish son governs. People gather where good politics are practiced. The population of South District has increased several times in less than a year because of the politics of my foolish son. If Your Majesty also practices good politics, Kingdom will surely regain its position as the ruler of the Demon Continent.”
Being praised by my father-in-law is flattering, but I don’t feel like I’ve done anything particularly good politically.
I just think it’s a great achievement that I was able to accomplish because of my competent wives and subordinates who gathered like clouds.
”Father-in-law… I haven’t done anything in particular. My subordinates are very Competent. I alone wouldn’t have been able to do anything. Your Majesty should also leave what you can’t do to those who can. If you find someone trustworthy and leave it to them, they will surely produce results.”
Shifa placed a hand on my shoulder.
”That’s why I trust Kent. I leave the war to Arbalest and Kent, so I’m counting on you. I thought of asking Velis about the diplomatic matter, but it would be impossible with that status, so I’ll have Aldo do it. That guy will get the approval from the two kings no matter what.”
Shifa said he would entrust Aldo with the role of envoy to the two kings.
I thought that Aldo might be able to talk the two kings into participating in the defense.
Thus, it was decided to send Aldo as an envoy to the Two Kings to summon reinforcements, according to the policy decided upon in the imperial conference.
However, since the surprise attack on the first day of the war, the movements of the Gertroud army have come to a complete halt.
The enemy army remains holed up in their position, showing no signs of movement for an entire week.
* * *
*Gwain’s Perspective
”Sir Gwain, you have been summoned by Sir Rashid. Please prepare yourself.”
Georgia entered the bedroom carrying clothes.
Beside me, the twin succubi, Rhea and Lyla, who had survived the retreat, were sleeping.
These 2 were also members of my personal guard, belonging to the elite guard.
I barely managed to retreat from the northern fortress, but during the retreat, the elite guard of 2 thousand soldiers was either killed or deserted, reducing their numbers to just 5 hundred.
Along with that, the 15 Dream Demons succubi who were to accompany us on this expedition were now either dead or missing, leaving only these 3.
”Georgia… I’m getting up now.”
I got out of bed and let Georgia dress me.
Since the end of the retreat, I had been under Rashid’s protection, but it felt like I was being semi-imprisoned in a large mansion, with no contact with the Capital City.
There was no word from Sven, whom I had sent out for reconnaissance at the northern fortress, leaving me in a state of ignorance about what was happening in the Kingdom.
”Hasn’t Sven returned yet?”
”Hah, there’s been no word from Lord Sven either…”
”Could it be that I’ve been abandoned…”
Perhaps Sven had found a new master and abandoned me.
The shock of losing the power base I had cultivated for years was immense, and I felt like I was losing my nerve.
Discouraged by the defeat, I was so depressed that I considered hiding away in the Dream Demon’s village, bowing my head to Miriallia.
”I hope that’s not the case…”
”It would be nice if it wasn’t…”
Once Georgia had helped me change, she guided me to the waiting carriage.
I rode in the carriage, which set off for the True Demon Dukedom’s royal castle.
* * *
Upon entering the audience chamber of the castle, Rashid greeted me.
Rashid, a Black-colored clan member who considered himself pure-blooded even within the True Demon Clan, was a young man with black hair, black eyes, and black skin.
However, since the True Demon Clan’s appearance doesn’t change from their twenties to thirties, their actual age is quite different from their looks.
Rashid, who stood before me, is officially stated to be 521 years old.
”Welcome, Lord Gwain. Is there anything lacking?”
”Skip the formalities. Get to the point.”
Rashid continued to smile without breaking his pleasant expression.
”Then, let’s be direct. I want Lord Gwain’s head.”
Rashid uttered a shocking statement with a smile.
”My head?”
”Yes, your head. It seems His Majesty Shifa is leading a campaign in the Capital City. A messenger from the Kingdom just arrived, demanding Lord Gwain’s head as the person responsible for the recent defeat.”
I thought Fabulanova would be controlling the court in the weakened Capital City, but Shifa taking over was a bit of a surprise.
I thought Shifa, who I considered a good puppet to manipulate, would start ruling when my influence waned.
It seems my wife, Estelle, who remained in the Capital City, failed to maintain her power through their daughter.
I knew Lila was less capable than Estelle, but I didn’t think she was this incompetent.
Letting Lila go was a mistake…
When I heard she ended up in the South District and became part of Kent’s Property, I thought there was someone with a penchant for old women, but she later showed abilities that successfully managed Kent’s territory and even elevated him to become one of the Kingdom’s most prominent Nobles.
Rumors also spread about her beauty surpassing her prime.
”So, are you going to sell me off? How much will you get?”
”You’re not willing to sell, are you? Even if I were to sell the current you, it would only fetch a meager amount in the True Demon Dukedom. By the way, are you aware that the Kingdom is set to be dismantled? The person who came as an emissary this time, Aldo Dracul, has proposed to recognize our True Demon Dukedom as an independent nation and wants to arrange a political marriage.”
Rashid’s smile concealed a hint of confusion.
He might be surprised by the sudden mention of independence.
Still, I wonder what Shifa was thinking when he sent an emissary to push for the independence of Dukedom.
”Independence for the Dukedom… That was Rashid’s long-held dream, wasn’t it? I’m glad for you. Is the condition for independence the defeat of Gertroud?”
The independence of the Dukedom had been a secret agreement between Rashid and me since we endorsed Shifa as the Demon Lord, and it seemed that it was about to become a reality through Shifa’s actions.
”Lord Gwain is indeed sharp. His Majesty Shifa is currently besieged in the Capital City. The Black Dragon army has also failed to defeat Gertroud. I hear the Capital City is under siege by 50 thousand soldiers. His Majesty is gathering and organizing 20 thousand soldiers from the South District army and surrounding nobles. The overall General is His Majesty himself, and the overall commander is Lord Gwain’s younger brother, Lord Arbalest.”
It seems Rashid deliberately kept me isolated from combat information by confining me.
Sven is likely under heavy surveillance as well, which is why he can’t approach.
”A siege, huh… If reinforcements don’t arrive, it’s going to be a slow decline… Has Arbalest grown old? No, perhaps this independence talk is intended for that purpose… The same proposal is probably being discussed in the Black Dragon Dukedom.”
The Dukedom was originally a semi-independent nation with tax exemptions, so perhaps they’re just officially recognizing a well-known fact as a Kingdom.
”Does Rashid want to participate in the fight? Gertroud’s army is a monstrous group, you know?”
Rashid raises the corner of his mouth and narrows his eyes, intensifying his smile.
”My army lacks a competent commander… The Magic Corps is strong, but… I myself lack confidence in commanding a major war. Therefore, I wish to entrust one of ten thousand soldiers from True Demon Dukedom to Lord Gwain.”
”You want me to lead? I’m the one who destroyed 50 thousand!”
Rashid came to ask me to lead the Dukedom soldiers, but I hesitated to take command because of the recent memory of the defeat.
”Lord Gwain, will you accept this proposition?”
”What does Rashid want? Should Gertroud be destroyed?”
”Gertroud is a madman, so I believe he should be destroyed. However, I don’t want to cause too much damage.”
”Then, you should fight yourself. If I lead, we’ll go all out, expecting annihilation. I have nothing left to lose.”
Rashid finally changed his expression here.
”Aren’t there still your wife and Sir Shifa’s wife and their children in the Capital City?”
”They’re incompetent. I can’t even control Shifa without me.”
Estelle and the others are probably being treated as outcasts and barely given enough to eat even in the Capital City.
I decided to abandon my incompetent family.
After all, I had no affection for them, who were nothing but tools.
And my loyalty to the Kingdom, which had lost its power base, had vanished from me.
”Rashid! Do you aspire to be King?”
”Lord Gwain? I am already King, aren’t I?”
”The King I’m talking about is the Demon Lord, the ruler of the Demon Continent. I’m asking if you aspire to that.”
Rashid’s expression became serious.
”Does that mean destroying the Kingdom?”
”If it comes to that, I think I’d be fine with it. If we destroy Gertroud, we can also destroy the Kingdom. After Shifa’s death, whoever controls the Capital City becomes the Demon Lord.”
After defeating Gertroud, I decided to plot a coup against Shifa.
The figurehead I chose was Rashid, who was right in front of me.
”…I will do it. I want to become the Demon Lord. Therefore, I will give Lord Gwain 10,000 soldiers and appoint you as the Chancellor of the Dukedom.”
”Then, first return Sven. I can’t do anything without information.”
”Understood. I will obey Lord Gwain.”
Rashid snapped his fingers, and Sven appeared.
”Hmph! My confinement and Rashid’s summons were your idea, weren’t they?”
”Oh, you saw through it… I didn’t think you’d notice. I thought a harsh treatment was necessary for a master who had lost his spirit. I consulted Lord Rashid about it.”
Sven, as usual, was deeply covered in his Robe, making it impossible to discern his expression, but I could hear a voice that sounded slightly pleased.
”Hmph! Well, whatever. By the way, how is the Northern Fortress?”
”Five thousand soldiers are stationed there, and about 2 thousand female soldiers are imprisoned as prisoners of war. Actually, it’s more like a comfort station for the Demon God Emperor’s country rather than a detention center. Discipline is extremely lax.”
”Rashid! I will first liberate the Northern Fortress, rescue the prisoners, and increase my forces. This time, I will gather troops from my territory in the north and challenge Gertroud to a rematch.”
I started planning to defeat Gertroud, then use the same blade to launch a coup against Shifa, seize the Capital City, and make Rashid king.
To start with, I decided to capture the Northern Fortress, which had become the site of a defeat, in order to increase my forces.
After leaving Rashid’s place and returning to the mansion, I issued Instructions to Georgia, Liya, and Ria to prepare for battle.
The Succubi were delighted by my revival.
All 3 of them ran towards the barracks where the Royal Guard was stationed.
~New Character~
Lyla
- Race/Clan: Dream Demon Clan
- Age: 30
- Gender: Female
- Height: 158 cm
- Weight: 52 kg
- Measurements: B88 / W56 / H86 (F cup)
- Hair Color: Chestnut
- Eye Color: Blue
- Skin Tone: Dark
- Hairstyle: Short Bob
- Refers to herself as: 私 (Watashi)
- Calls Gwain: マスター (Master)
—
- Lyla is a succubus, ranked 7th, and owned by Gwain.
- She was given to him by the Dream Demon Assassination Group when he visited their village.
- She works as his servant and often acts as a bodyguard on the battlefield.
- Skilled in Assassin and Scout techniques.
- Master of Stealth Magic and Mental Magic.
- In combat, she uses sneak attacks and mental spells to confuse enemies, setting them up for her sister’s finishing blows.
- Always fights alongside her twin sister.
—
Lyla’s Younger Sister
- Also a succubus, ranked 8th, and owned by Gwain.
- Given to Gwain along with Lyla as a servant.
- Specializes in Assassination and Sword Techniques.
- Delivers the final blow after her sister has confused the enemy with magic.
—
~New Magic~
Gravity Hole
- Construction Phrase:
”Gathered magic element (mana), become a heavy gravity and crush everything!”
- Attribute: Earth
- Effect:
Creates a gravity sphere with a diameter of 30 meters, up to 200 meters away from the caster.
Everything inside is crushed by ultra-gravity.
Powerful enough to instantly crush steel armor and swords.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.
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