Chapter 11: The Great Demon Lord's First Battle
The moment our strategy meeting ended, Arcelia flew straight back to the Great Demon Lord’s Castle. I had tried to persuade her to relax in the hot springs since she’d come all this way, but she turned me down flat.
Apparently, she’d had a brilliant idea for an invention—one that might even lead to a cure for the 'Ancestral Regression.' That was worth being excited about. To inspire not only motivation but innovation in one’s subordinates... truly, I am the ideal Final Boss.
And so, while Arcelia worked on perfecting her treatment method, Selen, Eagret, and I began preparing for our operation against the giant dragon.
First, we mapped out the underground chamber that would serve as the dragon’s holding site. Next came verifying the path to lure the beast there, briefing the villagers on the plan, and hunting those massive Gigant Worms for food supplies. There was a mountain of work to do.
But the most crucial task was mental healthcare for my subordinates. Ensuring that everyone can act at full capacity is the duty of a leader—and of a Final Boss.
On the morning of the third day of preparations, Selen and I stood atop a small hill overlooking the Dragonfolk village. Officially, we were checking the villagers’ evacuation route; in truth, I was there to talk with the recently moody Selen.
The reason was obvious: jealousy. Like a child who feared being neglected after a younger sibling’s birth, Selen was insecure ever since Eagret joined my retinue. She feared she was no longer needed.
A small emotional issue, yes—but leaving such emotions to fester is a mistake. And I, the ever-considerate Final Boss, had the luxury to address it now.
“—Selen. Tell me, when you look upon this view, what do you feel?” I asked her quietly, my gaze fixed on the village below.
“...It feels... a little brighter, I think.” Selen answered, swallowing her jealousy. Her heart might have been heavy with uncertainty, yet as a servant, she performed flawlessly.
She was right. Compared to when we first arrived, the village was lively now. The villagers were out in force, helping prepare for the dragon operation. We’d explained the risk, yet they chose to stay and cooperate willingly.
“And why do you think that is?”
“............Perhaps because their meals are more plentiful now?”
“That is part of it. Your cooking is delicious. And good food gives vitality. That is to your credit.”
“...Yes.”
When I praised her, Selen’s expression softened briefly, before she hurriedly composed herself. Such transparent, adorable reactions. I barely managed to keep my own expression to a faint, knowing smirk befitting a demon lord.
“And your meals have given them hope. Do you understand? That is harder than slaying any enemy. Neither a mere king nor a knight could achieve that.”
“Hope...”
The villagers stayed not simply for the food. This was their home, and they held hope here—the hope that the Red Scale King, now a mindless dragon, might return to his true self. But to embrace hope, they first needed basic survival. And satisfying their need for food was something only Selen could provide.
“Do you see now, Selen? It was not I, nor Eagret, who saved this village—it was you. Well done, My Attendant.”
“...Great... Demon Lord-sama...”
When I turned to her, Selen’s eyes glistened before she quickly looked down, hiding her tears out of professional discipline. Still, my words had reached her heart.
As they should. I am the type of Final Boss who wins allies not through lies, but by speaking heartfelt truths that subtly steer the listener’s will.
Heh. I can almost hear the hero’s party shouting, "That's brainwashing!"
“You’ve already achieved much, Seren. You have no reason to feel insecure.”
I gently touched her cheek, letting my hand speak as much as my words. She leaned into my palm, pressing her face against it. Her skin was like the finest silk.
...No good. Seren is far too alluring. Even this brief contact was enough to erode my reason. Were I not the Final Boss, I might have lost control.
“In time, I shall gain many subordinates. But Seren, know this—you were my first retainer. You alone are my Attendant. Remember that.”
“...Yes, Great Demon Lord-sama. I am yours, forever and always.”
Her gaze turned up to me, filled with a complex, rapturous devotion. It reminded me of the unstable girl who stabbed me on Valentine's Day long ago. But Seren's loyalty is genuine, and she's not an emotionally volatile high school student, so I was safe.
Besides, her jealousy should now be soothed. The most important thing now is the success of the dragon neutralization operation.
“Then, let’s begin. Assume battle has started and start leading the villagers to—”
—DOOM—
The sound tore through the air—like a thunderclap of a titanic wingbeat.
“Great Demon Lord-sama! Look—!”
Selen screamed, pointing behind us, toward Blue Flame Mountain.
I spun around instantly. What I saw shocked even a Final Boss like me.
The giant dragon was spreading its wings—vast enough to blot out the sky.
Can that thing even fly at that size!? Why now of all times!?
Pointless questions flashed through my mind. In the blink of an eye, the dragon took flight, and a hurricane-force gust, carrying volcanic ash and heat, roared toward us from the crater.
“Selen!”
I instinctively pulled her into my arms, turned my back to the mountain, and unleashed the Protective Barrier spell Arcelia had taught me. The blast slammed into the barrier, reducing my vision to zero.
The wind was strong enough to flip houses, but thanks to my infinite mana, the barrier was the most formidable in existence.
After several seconds, the haze cleared. Above us, the colossal dragon—easily over 100 meters long—was hovering.
...Completely unexpected. Not only was it flying, but I never anticipated the giant dragon would move.
Where is it going...? No—that's not the point. If I let it escape here, our goal will fail.
“Selen!”
“Y-Yes, Great Demon Lord-sama!? Wh-What was that just now—!?”
“Focus! Go to the village—start the evacuation! Find Eagret and tell her this: The operation begins now!”
Stunned at first, Selen quickly understood. I then quickly applied a Protective Barrier to her. Success. A subordinate is an extension of the Demon Lord's dominion; casting a spell on them is simple.
“Can you run, Selen? I’m counting on you.”
“Yes! Leave it to me, My Lord!”
She ran off toward the village. I turned my back to her and faced Blue Flame Mountain.
High above, the red giant dragon hovered, its massive eyes gleaming as they locked onto me. It had recognized me as an enemy.
Fine then. Unexpected or not, I will execute the plan as devised.
The Great Demon Lord’s first battle shall end in glorious victory!
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