The Demon King spent most of their time with the Emperor until the day the proclamation was prepared and implemented.
This was because the unprecedented historical endeavor of uniting humans and demons required extensive discussions.
After each discussion, the Demon King would lie on Eirene’s thick thighs, basking in the sunlight streaming through the window.
In truth, this was the most relaxing moment for the Demon King.
At the church, they spent time with a group of holy knights, primarily correcting their misunderstandings about demons.
Once the knights realized that demons were not inherently hateful towards humans, they were tasked with collaborating with the Guodun Church to diligently convey this understanding to the public.
***
[Hm? Is something the matter? Do you have something to say to me?]
The Demon King observed the rabbit sleeping atop Ophel’s head.
Despite its precarious position, the rabbit never fell, even as Ophel moved around, its balance uncanny.
The overwhelming aura the rabbit exuded, even in slumber, made it impossible not to feel tense.
Fortunately, the rabbit seemed content merely enjoying its nap without revealing its power.
It was truly a peculiar sight.
The thought of such a formidable divine beast, capable of easily challenging even the Demon King and their kin, advocating for dialogue was astonishing.
While correcting misunderstandings about demons, the Demon King also dispelled a longstanding misconception among their people, passed down from previous Demon Kings: “All humans are inherently belligerent.”
During this time, they also met with subjects who wished to speak with the Demon King.
Most of these meetings were with vassals whose territories contained dungeon entrances.
For those who had converted to the Guodun Church, conversations proceeded swiftly and effortlessly, but with those who had not, discussions took significantly longer.
“Are you certain this won’t harm our bodies? There’s a lot of talk about ‘magical influence causing terrible physical side effects’…”
“Yes, I can assure you of that. I swear it in the name of the Demon King.”
Crunch. Crunch.
The Demon King nodded solemnly while munching on cookies the vassal had prepared.
“Understood. Would you like some more?”
“That would be appreciated.”
“Just a moment.”
Normally, a maid would have quickly prepared refreshments, but for some reason, the vassal insisted on personally serving the Demon King.
“Here you go. Let me know if you’d like more. There’s plenty.”
“Thank you. Humans do make delicious treats.”
With that, the Demon King bit into another cookie.
Their eyes sparkled momentarily.
“Since this is about saving lives, I’ll assist as much as I can. That said, I might need additional support in the long term. The world doesn’t run purely on goodwill, after all…”
“I understand. I know what you’re trying to say.”
“Really? Do I not need to simplify it further?”
“Of course not. What do you take me for?”
“The Demon King.”
“Hm. Glad you know.”
Several similar meetings followed.
Though these discussions were inherently political, every vassal who met the Demon King ended up cooperating, their guard completely down.
Seeing the tiny figure munching on cookies while making chirping noises provided a strangely calming image for the vassals, helping them clear their complicated thoughts.
Finally, the day of the proclamation arrived.
It was time for the Demon King to return to the dungeon to report the situation.
“I owe you much, Emperor.”
“Not at all, Demon King. Visit anytime, alright?”
“Understood. Maintaining amicable exchanges can only be beneficial.”
After shaking Eirene’s hand with their small one, the Demon King approached Linnea, who had been waiting to guide them.
“Sorry to keep you waiting, Linnea.”
“…No, it’s fine.”
Linnea von Einsberg.
For some reason, she was the one most wary of the Demon King in the palace.
Her younger brother, Ares, was a recluse, and her older sister, Yuria, was friendly with the Demon King but preferred leisurely activities like strolls or flower-viewing rather than political engagements.
‘This little child is the Demon King?’
The more Linnea saw, the harder it was to believe.
‘Could it be the will of the divine to manifest the Demon King as a girl?’
Because she appeared as an adorable child, discussions with the demons progressed surprisingly smoothly.
In Linnea’s understanding, the divine’s will seemed to have paved the way for easier dialogue between humans and demons.
Although the Saintess, Luca, and Ophel believed, “The divine’s will must lead to the right path,” Linnea wasn’t so sure.
Dialogue was good, but was it truly okay to join hands with the demons like this?
“Nom, nom.”
Linnea glanced at the small figure holding her hand, making chirping sounds while munching on cookies—likely a gift from a vassal.
‘Are we supposed to trust this adorable creature without suspicion just because of its appearance?’
While pondering this, the Demon King’s voice broke through her thoughts.
“You still don’t trust me, do you?”
“That’s…!”
“Don’t be alarmed. I can sense a vigilance in you that I don’t feel from other humans. But I’m not saying this to scold or blame you.”
Linnea didn’t respond.
The Demon King took her silence as a cue to continue.
“Your name is Linnea, correct?”
“Yes.”
“You’re very beautiful. You must take after your mother.”
“With respect, the current Emperor is not my birth mother.”
“Really?”
“Yes. She is my mother’s younger sister.”
“I see. You resemble her greatly… Well, it’s not unusual for children of siblings to look alike.”
It was true; Linnea resembled her aunt Eirene more than her own mother.
The eldest daughter, Yuria, had also resembled a younger Eirene before converting to the Guodun Church.
Among the three siblings, the youngest, Ares, bore the strongest resemblance to their mother, Aisha.
“Regardless, this might not be a fitting topic for me to comment on, but… Linnea, do you—”
Fear God?
“I wonder if that’s why you don’t trust me. Because you’re afraid of your god?”
Linnea froze.
The Demon King’s chirping noises ceased, and an eerie stillness filled the air.
“You don’t need to worry so much. Your god… the One you call Guodun is a warm and loving presence. I can feel how deeply they care for you humans.”
The story begins with Linnea hesitating.
She had plenty of things she could say, such as:
[I know as well.]
[I don’t think that way.]
Yet, for some reason, Linnea didn’t want to brush the question aside casually.
Instead, she wanted to seek advice—even from the Demon King.
Despite her cute appearance as a young girl, the Demon King might still offer a meaningful answer.
“Do you think it’s alright… as long as the outcome is good?” Linnea asked.
“What do you mean?” the Demon King replied.
“I agree that the doctrines of the Guodun Church and the guidance of Guodun seek the path of benefit for all. Ever since the Saint descended, corruption and misconduct in the religious community have been eradicated. Even my mother, once consumed by political struggles, repented and began walking the path of a righteous ruler. But… ever since experiencing what they call the ‘Pure Fact’ through the Saint, she’s been acting like a completely different person. And that… scares me.”
This fear was the reason Linnea remained wary of the Demon King, the only member of the group of holy knights who avoided speaking the term “Pure Fact.”
It stemmed from an instinctive fear of the divine—an overwhelming power beyond human comprehension that could intervene without warning.
The Demon King sighed softly, chirping quietly as they resumed walking.
Since their hand was holding Linnea’s, she had no choice but to move as well.
“You don’t need to fear so much. The divine will never harm you.”
“How can you be sure of that?” Linnea asked.
“I am the proof, am I not?” the Demon King said, looking up at her with a gentle smile.
“The divine shaped me this way to protect you, not us.”
“Thanks to this, I’ve been able to converse with humans. I am deeply grateful to your god for granting this opportunity.”
***
Linnea walked in silence, accompanying the Demon King to the dungeon.
Her thoughts repeated the Demon King’s words: “The divine reshaped the demons for our sake.”
‘Is that out of love… or merely the whim of a capricious god?’
Ironically, Linnea, the one most wary of the divine, seemed to be the only one among the holy knights—or even the entire royal and religious factions—approaching an understanding of its true nature.
After parting ways with Linnea, the Demon King arrived at Cherry Side Dungeon, the closest one to the holy capital of Guodun.
They took a moment to steady their nerves.
Of course, they were nervous—it was essentially a “Day of Liberation” for their kind.
‘Even I can’t suppress this trembling excitement.’
Today, the long-held dream of securing territory for the demons was finally within reach.
The Demon King stepped forward confidently, eager to deliver the news to their comrades.
Chirp, chirp, chirp, chirp.
Just then, a voice called out from beyond the dungeon.
“Is… is that you, Demon King?!”
The Demon King froze at the unfamiliar voice.
However, since they had been addressed as “Demon King,” it seemed unlikely that the speaker was an enemy.
The voice might belong to one of their kin, though it was odd—they couldn’t recall any of their kind possessing such a delicate and melodious tone.
“What is it?” the Demon King asked.
“The overwhelming energy… it must be you, Demon King! Ah, um… would you please come over here for a moment?”
Following the voice, the Demon King chirped as they walked, eventually arriving at the source.
There stood a human woman, visibly flustered, attempting to cover herself with her hands.
‘Why is a human here?’ the Demon King thought, their mind racing.
‘Could it be that during my absence, there was a minor conflict, and a human woman was captured and brought here?’
But no…
She called me “Demon King,” and humans don’t wander around unclothed like this.
Demons don’t view human nudity as anything particularly special, so there’s no reason to confiscate their clothes.
‘Does this mean she entered the dungeon in this state?’
The Demon King quickly dismissed these thoughts.
‘This is no time to panic.’
With the proclamation just announced, any minor incident could topple everything they’d built.
The Demon King had to calm the human quickly.
Fortunately, she didn’t appear to be injured.
Perhaps she was simply lost.
Addressing her in the most dignified tone possible, the Demon King asked, “Who are you? Why have you come here, human?”
“Surely, the magical aura here has been challenging for you.”
“If my comrades brought you here, there must have been a misunderstanding.”
“Explain the situation to me, and I will resolve it.”
“N-no! That’s not it! I’m not human!” the woman stammered.
“What?”
The Demon King studied her again.
She had long, purple hair partially covering one eye, giving her an air of mystery.
Although the panicked expression on her face somewhat undermined that impression.
Her pale skin was almost translucent, as if she’d never stood under the sun.
Her exposed chest was ample enough that one hand couldn’t fully cover it.
Having spent time in the holy capital, the Demon King recalled that the Guodun Church revered large breasts.
By their standards, her size might even impress Saint Erin herself.
Still, the Demon King, having recently seen Eirene, didn’t find it too remarkable.
From her figure and speech, she was unmistakably human.
Yet—
“I tried to reach your room, but when the light burst out, I lost consciousness. When I woke up… my body had changed into this…”
“…Huh?”
Light burst out?
The Demon King’s mind raced.
‘Could it be… when I gained this human form?’
The Demon King had a habit of maintaining a strict guard while thinking.
Anyone who could approach them unnoticed in their sanctum—
The Demon King, breaking into a cold sweat, asked in disbelief, “Y-you… could you be Ballas?”