In recent times, public opinion among the people residing in the Holy City of Igogodon towards the Igogodon Church has been exceptionally favorable, unparalleled in history.
This is because they abolished rigid religious rules, focusing solely on aiding the welfare of the people.
Moreover, they somehow managed to secure cooperation from the imperial family.
Using their influence, they alleviated the burdens of the heavily taxed serfs.
That’s not all—didn’t they recently distribute a rare chicken dish? And not just any dish, but fried chicken! Even if this was merely for their image, preparing such a large quantity of chicken must have been no easy feat.
Considering that no one has claimed their livestock was confiscated, it’s evident that they paid for the chickens fairly.
For the Church to use its funds to share meat with the poor and commoners was undoubtedly a challenging and significant decision.
Although it is said that the appearance of a saint inevitably heralds the rise of demons, even if that were true, the gains seem to outweigh the losses.
This sentiment reflected the opinion of the populace towards the Igogodon Church.
***
However, no matter how favorable the current Church might be, rumors about them allying with demons were something the people could not easily accept.
“Does it make any sense that they brought the Demon King here to form an alliance with the demons?”
“It must be a baseless rumor. The Saint herself would never do such a thing.”
“Besides, isn’t it said that merely meeting the Demon King’s gaze induces an inexplicable fear? It’s definitely nonsense.”
“But… the Church has indeed taken a unique path ever since the Saint appeared. And it’s strange for such rumors to spread without cause…”
“Perhaps there’s a grander purpose? Like, maybe she completely subdued the Demon King or something.”
Even within the Empire, where more direct knowledge of the situation had reached the retainers, opinions were no less divided.
“Your Majesty, making the Igodenkyo Church the state religion and tending to the people’s welfare is understandable. But demons? Do you not remember the hardships our Empire suffered at their hands?”
“Our family has fought demons for generations. And now, to ally with the Demon King? Even if it’s the Saint, such reasoning is outrageous. Please reconsider, Your Majesty!”
***
Eirene listened silently to the voices of her retainers.
In the past, she would have ignored such opinions and enforced her will.
After all, the Emperor’s authority in the Empire was absolute.
Who could dare to impose their opinions upon the Emperor?
However, things had changed.
‘The Divine wishes for dialogue, even with demons. How can I, who claims to follow the Divine, refuse to even converse with my retainers and instead crush their opinions with raw authority?’
Before she came to know the Divine, perhaps Eirene would have acted differently.
But as someone who now loved and revered the Divine, she refused to act like an “unripe fruit, spoiled and wasted.”
“I understand your concerns to some extent. I, too, take pride in the fact that our Empire has protected its people from the threats of demons over the years, paying with countless lives. But does clinging to the past and risking another tragic war like the one 200 years ago seem like the right course of action?”
“Does spilling blood again somehow prove the worthiness of humanity?”
“That… That is not what I meant…”
“If bloodshed can be avoided, then that is the most efficient path. Surely none among you disagree with this fundamental premise. If you do, feel free to raise your hand. This is not to pressure you but to allow you to voice your stance freely.”
At Eirene’s words, silence fell over the room.
Because, simply put, she was right.
Battling demons always came with losses, regardless of justification.
If bloodshed could truly be avoided, that would naturally be the best course of action.
Moreover, the retainers were not so foolish as to jeopardize the Empire’s prosperity without reason.
“Above all, the person spearheading all of this is none other than Saint Erin, chosen by the Divine Igogodon. I hope you all recognize by now that the Divine’s pure truth has never been wrong. And if this decision turns out to be mistaken—”
“I shall bear the consequences myself.”
To hear the Emperor herself declare she would take responsibility shocked most of the retainers present.
“What surprises you so? My throne, too, exists by the Divine’s will. And I do not wish to impose my decisions on you unilaterally. Surely you can accept this much, can you not?”
No one dared to respond. The Emperor’s willingness to bear responsibility for a decision, particularly in a system where absolute authority negated any such need, carried immense weight.
Additionally, the Empire’s powerful mages, many of whom were inclined toward the Church, saw the collaboration as practical.
The Church’s pragmatic support for research funding aligned well with their interests.
Furthermore, ever since the Church was established as the state religion, a form of “tax justice” had been implemented, bolstering Eirene’s popularity among the populace.
Who would risk opposing an Emperor now lauded for wisdom and compassion?
Some retainers still harbored unease, particularly those aligned with the third prince, Ares, who had been discreetly gathering supporters.
***
“What should we do, Count Schwarz?”
“The Emperor isn’t acting recklessly. She’s pursuing peace. And from the people’s perspective, avoiding bloodshed is undoubtedly the best option.”
“What about Prince Ares?”
“He remains secluded. If he had anything to convey, he would have summoned us already.”
“True. He’s always been steps ahead of others.”
“In any case, I doubt Prince Ares would want us to act unilaterally. The Emperor is on the right path now, is she not?”
“Let us not forget the purpose of our gathering: to ensure a world where people can live without fear or worry.”
“I understand that, but still…”
“Then let’s hope things work out. Whatever the Church and the Saint have planned, it seems they’ve made the right choices so far.”
***
Meanwhile, within the religious community, similar discussions were unfolding.
“If allying with demons is the will of Igogodon, then we must follow it.”
“But historically, whenever a Saint appeared, they rallied everyone to wage war against demons. Well, since the past is burnt away, perhaps it no longer matters.”
“Well, the old records are all gone.”
“That’s right. Everything old is bad.”
“The Saint and Igogodon can’t possibly be wrong!”
Whether fortunate or not, the religious records detailing fierce battles against demons had all been burned and lost.
This naturally led to the consensus that it was more important to move toward a “new” future rather than clinging to the “old” past.
Thanks to this, Erin surprisingly found no need to persuade others individually, as they smoothly accepted the current situation.
After all, the Saint’s existence was absolute within the religious community, and her appearance significantly boosted the Church’s position.
***
As various reactions unfolded across different sectors, the long-awaited day of the dialogue between the Demon King and humanity finally arrived.
On the day of the meeting.
“Demon King, it’s Erin.”
From beyond the door, a soft knocking sound could be heard as the door opened.
From below eye level, a young girl’s voice called out.
“Come in.”
The Demon King had claimed one of the many vacant rooms left unused in the Igogodon Cathedral after old relics had been disposed of.
Who would have thought that the Demon King, whom the Church feared above all else, would end up staying at the heart of its holiest cathedral?
“How are you feeling today?”
“Thanks to your care, I am in excellent condition. But more importantly, has my magic troubled you?”
“No, it hasn’t caused any significant issues.”
“Is that so?”
The Demon King exuded overwhelming magic just by existing.
While magic was a vital source of life for demons, humans typically felt suffocated or oppressed by its sheer intensity.
Yet, seeing Erin unaffected, it was evident that magic had no impact on her.
The Demon King could only assume this was another part of the Divine’s “simple truth.”
“By the way, I’m grateful for the delicious food you’ve been bringing. You call it ‘chicken,’ correct? It made me realize how impressive human cuisine can be.”
“I’m glad it suited your taste. That dish is also a gift from our Divine.”
“Is that so? Your Divine seems far more attentive to details than I initially thought.”
Erin bowed her head humbly but then spoke:
“My Divine, Demon King? That’s not entirely accurate.”
“What do you mean?”
“The Divine watches over you as well, Demon King.”
The Demon King cautiously placed a hand on their own fragile, soft body.
This frail form… it was part of the Divine’s solution to achieving peace through dialogue.
Although the Demon King doubted how such weakness could aid in negotiations, if it was part of the Divine’s “simple truth,” there must surely be a reason.
“Now, Demon King, the speech is ready. Please follow me.”
“Understood.”
The Demon King’s small steps echoed with soft, squeaky noises as they followed Erin’s larger strides.
***
The plaza in front of the Igogodon Cathedral.
This was the historic site where Erin first received the Divine’s revelation and was appointed as Saint.
A modest podium had been set up for the speech.
Beside it stood a mage prepared to amplify voices with magic, an individual sent by the Mage Tower at the Church’s request.
High priests and the Imperial Knights formed a tight security perimeter, while citizens of the capital and a few noble retainers chatted as they waited.
“Isn’t there supposed to be an announcement from the Saint today?”
“Do you think it’s true that they’ve allied with the Demon King?”
“Let’s wait and see. The Saint has never once caused us harm.”
After a few moments, someone exclaimed:
“The Saint is coming!”
At the priests’ call, the murmuring crowd quickly fell silent.
Soon, Erin, adorned in her Saintly robes, walked out from beyond the cathedral.
“There she is… The Saint…!”
“Let us all pray for the Saint.”
Her flawless beauty resembled a sculpted masterpiece.
Her presence exuded overwhelming divinity, the very embodiment of Igogodon’s will.
Just her arrival inspired the people to bow their heads in prayer.
Even those who didn’t follow the Church found themselves instinctively lowering their heads under her aura.
As Erin walked toward the podium, she paused mid-way, silently offered a prayer, and then stepped aside.
***
“Who’s that little girl…?”
It was only then that the small figure, previously hidden behind Erin, came into view.
She was an ordinary-looking, cute girl, except for the peculiar horns on her head.
The crowd murmured, wondering if she was a puppet-show performer, but their curiosity grew as a faint squeaking sound accompanied her steps.
Squeak, squeak, squeak.
At the sound of her steps, all eyes focused on her. Suddenly—
Thud!
The girl stumbled forward and fell flat on the ground.
Erin immediately rushed to help her up.
The little girl trembled silently for a moment, biting her lips and staring down with glimmering eyes.
Then, with determination, she dusted off her tiny knees and marched forward again.
***
After finally reaching the podium, she faced a new obstacle.
“What’s this…?”
“I can’t see her face. Just the horns…”
The podium was too tall, obscuring her entirely except for her horns.
Blushing deeply, the girl looked around in embarrassment.
A few priests hurriedly brought a wooden box to serve as a step.
Satisfied, the girl climbed up onto the box, squeaking with every move.
Finally, her face peeked over the podium, still flushed from the earlier incident.
She cleared her throat awkwardly and, with the mage’s magical amplification, began speaking in a high-pitched, unassuming voice:
“Humans, I am the origin and pinnacle of the demons, the supreme being you fear— the Demon King.”
The crowd fell into stunned silence at her unexpected introduction.