Develion Demon Kingdom.
A name that would one day surpass the Arcmenes Empire, the most influential power on the continent, and become the future.
The immense resonance of that name sent shivers down the spines of my subordinates.
“Ah… Lord Behirit! Ever since I swore my loyalty to you, I have been eagerly awaiting this moment…!”
“Do you like it, Raphaella?”
“Of course!”
Raphaella, the ruler of the Gremory County and the deputy lord of the Demon Tower, clasped her face with a look of ecstasy.
She was utterly overwhelmed with emotion, her eyes glistening with moisture and her voice trembling.
At that moment, a giant of a man adorned in gold and jewels burst into laughter.
“Hahaha! What a truly moving moment! I, too, have been waiting for this!”
“Is that so, Goldman? I’m delighted to hear you say that.”
“Hehe, I knew it with my merchant’s eye. That you, Lord Behirit, would rise higher than anyone else. By the way, did you like the golden path I prepared for you today?”
Goldman, with his gold and jewel-encrusted teeth, grinned widely.
I raised the corner of my mouth in response.
“Of course. Even the Emperor has never walked on such a luxurious path.”
“Hahaha! That’s the highest praise!”
A bit of exaggeration made Goldman’s face bloom with smiles.
The man who operated the largest trading company in the empire, the million-gold merchant, Goldman Rockefeller.
This was my first time meeting him in person, but he seemed like an honest man.
He expected to make money through me and didn’t hide it.
At first glance, he might seem overly greedy, but having read the original work, I knew his loyalty was genuine, so I didn’t dislike him.
“By the way, I see an adamantite here.”
“It’s a gift I prepared for you, my god.”
At the end of the golden path, a woman with white hair answered as she gazed at the orange gemstone.
Milinarize Whitewell, the highest-ranking priestess of the Palais Church.
With a figure that didn’t suit a clergywoman, she clasped her hands as if facing a god.
“I wanted to bring something more precious, but please blame me for only being able to prepare this.”
“Not at all. Thanks to you, I’ve seen something wonderful. With the gifts Goldman prepared and the adamantite, there’s no shortage in declaring the name of the Demon Kingdom.”
“Ah! You flatter me…!”
Milinarize tightened her hands in prayer at my praise, naturally pressing her arms together and causing the golden rosary to nestle between her breasts.
‘Rosario Fizzle…?’
Is this the grace of Palais?
It was a sight I wanted to keep looking at, but I couldn’t get an erection in front of my subordinates.
I lifted my gaze from her un-priestlike body to her snow-white hair and red eyes.
‘Mysterious.’
Milinarize was an albino woman.
Facing her in person, with her divine power added, she felt somewhat unreal.
“Ah, and the priest you sent was quite competent. Thanks to that, I was able to heal Lucy without any aftereffects.”
“I’m overjoyed that I could be of help to my god. But there’s one thing I’d like to ask…”
“Hmm?”
“Am I even worthy to ask this…?”
Milinarize hesitated, unable to speak easily.
What is it?
One of the most irritating things is when someone starts to speak and then stops.
I urged her on.
“Go ahead.”
“I heard that you requested a priest because Lucy was poisoned. And that you, Lord Behirit, took measures… Does that mean you had relations with her?”
“…!”
At Milinarize’s words, Raphaella’s eyes widened.
The tense atmosphere instantly cooled down, and I swallowed dryly.
‘…Damn it, why did I have to ask?’
Aside from the embarrassing question, Raphaella was making an intense expression.
Even Ludenburger and Goldman beside her were noticing the tension.
But one guy didn’t seem to care at all.
“Oh! Lord Behirit is mating! Does that mean we might see an heir soon?”
“Laplace… You need to shut up a bit.”
“Huh? Raphaella, why are you so angry? Lord Behirit reigns supreme over all! It’s only natural for him to have many females and mate with them!”
Laplace tilted his head, his white mask hiding his expression, but his confusion was palpable.
“Tch… Damn necrophiliac…”
Raphaella muttered under her breath, her voice filled with disdain. Fortunately, it seemed only I heard it, as Laplace didn’t notice.
Wait, this guy… does he really do it with corpses?
In the original work, it was just described as him loving corpses, but… is he really doing it?
I almost asked Laplace directly but decided against it.
“My god, so did you have relations with her?”
Meanwhile, Milinarize persistently asked.
With a resigned heart, I nodded slightly.
But Milinarize unexpectedly seemed pleased.
“Ah! What a wonderful thing!”
“Why?”
“Because I might have a chance someday too! I don’t even aspire to be a concubine. If I can just receive your seed, I would be happy.”
Milinarize smiled sweetly at me after spouting such nonsense.
Is she really okay with that?
Well, I wouldn’t mind, but…
Raphaella didn’t seem to like the fact that I had relations with Lucy at all.
“Tch, that fox-like woman. I should have seen through her innocent act…”
Raphaella bit her nails in frustration.
Did she forget that Lucy was poisoned?
Meanwhile, Ludenburger, who had been quietly observing me, spoke up.
“You’ve grown stronger, Lord Behirit.”
“Did you notice?”
“Of course. I sensed it yesterday when you visited Orvieto, but seeing you now, it’s clear. It’s like… you’ve become an absolute being.”
Could he see through my changes?
Looking around at my other subordinates, they all seemed to agree.
“I can feel it too. Your mana has increased significantly.”
“Not just that! I feel an indescribable power, something I’ve never felt before!”
“Hoho, truly worthy of worship.”
Is it that much?
Even if the others feel that way, Milinarize is overreacting.
Well, it’s not bad.
My subordinates, who trust me absolutely.
With them, I feel like I can do anything.
I looked at them with a sparkling gaze and spoke.
“Listen well. I called you here today to inform you of our future plans. This will surely be the first step in establishing the Develion Demon Kingdom.”
“Please tell us. If it’s your command, Lord Behirit, we’re ready to jump into hell.”
“I feel the same. What is it that we must do?”
“In one month, at the Sword and Magic Festival, we will eliminate the Second Prince.”
“…!”
It seemed they had been waiting for this.
Ludenburger and the others’ faces lit up with excitement.
Especially Laplace, who was so excited he couldn’t keep still.
“You seem happy.”
“Ah! Does it show?”
“Yes, you’re thrilled at the thought of taking revenge on the Second Prince, aren’t you?”
According to the original work, Laplace’s family, the Diepoff Count, had a deep grudge against the Second Prince.
When I asked, Laplace grinned broadly and spread his arms.
“Of course! I can’t wait to show him my collection of dolls!”
“I, too, look forward to that moment. I’m sure Albireo will be pleased as well.”
I smiled at Laplace, who was making exaggerated gestures, and then turned to Ludenburger.
“Have the materials collected from Orbit been organized?”
“Yes. We plan to expose the Second Prince and his faction’s crimes across the empire starting from the Sword and Magic Festival. That should shake them.”
“Good.”
Albireo is a villain who deserves to die, but his position as a prince and the surrounding factions protect him.
Dealing with him won’t be easy.
We need to shake his support base and remove him from the line of succession.
By the way, the Sword and Magic Festival is only a month away.
The Sword and Magic Festival, held annually in the capital of the Arcmenes Empire, is a grand event where strong individuals from across the empire, as well as academy students, gather.
In the original work, major events occurred around the festival, so I’m excited to see all the characters gathered in one place.
But I must not get too carried away.
Albireo will try to put the protagonist and heroines in danger.
To prevent things from going his way, I will do what I can.
“We don’t have much time, so let’s hurry with the preparations. Mistakes will not be tolerated.”
“Yes! Everything is for the supreme one.”
The voices echoing through the mansion, each different, yet united.
With the abyss deep enough to swallow even darkness, I moved forward.