Reincarnation as a Great Demon Lord - Chapter 27

Chapter 27: The Great Demon King Declares War

There was an odd premonition from the morning.

It was always like this when something was about to happen. A restlessness deep in my chest, a thrumming in the core of my being. My instincts as a Final Boss would send this warning: Never drop your guard.

...It was the same on the day my parents died, and when the scandal of me being stabbed by a high school girl during my political campaign broke. My intuition allowed me to deal with the situation. Specifically, it helped me prepare for the apology conference. Frankly admitting the truth can be surprisingly effective.

"Splendid, Seren. Your cooking is delicious again this morning."

"Yes, Your Majesty the Great Demon King! I am delighted!"

Pushing the premonition aside, I enjoyed Seren's breakfast in the throne room as usual. I've become quite used to this purple soup. And it really does taste excellent. Even when I aimed to be a politician in my past life, I often ate high-end cuisine, but Seren's cooking is several times better. It evokes a feeling, somehow, of a distant past. Before I aspired to be the Final Boss, before my parents died...

"Your Majesty? Is something the matter?"

"...No, I am just savoring it. As I always say, I am glad to have you."

Seren's face brightened at my words.

...Flattery aside, I am truly glad that Seren was my first vassal. Without her dedication, things would not have gone so smoothly, and I might have lost control and made a fool of myself after the fact of my transmigration.

...Or perhaps I still am. It's a lapse into uncharacteristic sentimentality, but perhaps because I recalled the past, my Final Boss-style positive thinking isn't working for once.

"Seren. You are my first vassal. So I would like to ask you one thing, if I may?"

"Yes, Your Majesty the Great Demon King. If it is something I can answer..."

"It's simple. Am I meeting your expectations—"

A moment of weakness slipped out. It's pathetic for a Final Boss, but my mental guard tends to drop whenever Seren is involved.

—BEEP! BEEP!

But before I could finish, a piercing warning sound saved me.

This sound was the alarm from the Great Demon King's Castle's early warning system, which Arcelia developed and recently put into operation, indicating the detection of a threat. It was implemented after we failed to notice the refugees approaching the other day, and it can detect threats within a 50-kilometer radius centered on the castle.

I immediately activated the castle's telescopic screen and visually confirmed the threat. What appeared there was—

"Your Majesty, this is...!"

Seren's surprise was understandable. Although I didn't let it show on my face, I was inwardly astonished too.

The screen displayed a massive army of monsters. Raising plumes of dust, they advanced toward us like a single, unified tsunami.

It was a military advance. It was clear to see. That army was undoubtedly heading for this castle with hostile intent.

The estimated total number was about 20,000. The sheer quantity was a threat, but it was clear that something more troublesome was at its center.

And through the early warning system, I detected a powerful presence at the heart of the army. Similar to the Hero of the Holy Sword, it was undoubtedly that of an epithet-bearing Hero.

"What was due has come, Seren."

"Then, that is..."

"The 'Monster Tamer.'"

Despite the crisis, my heart felt light and buoyant.

The Final Boss's spirit is roused by crisis. Now is the time for battle. I am ready.

---

Immediately after grasping the situation, I summoned the executives of the Great Demon King's Army to the throne room.

The strategy had already been planned in anticipation of this very situation. I gathered everyone for confirmation.

"—Everyone, you have heard the news."

Before me stood Egret, Arcelia, the Elder of the Rock Orcs, and the Hero of the Holy Sword.

Seren was positioned next to me to assist. I could manage the command and control alone, but everything goes better with her there.

Everyone present, except for the Hero of the Holy Sword, has a role in this operation. I called the Hero of the Holy Sword, despite her having no specific task, to show her exactly who we were about to fight.

"The enemy army is approaching us from the northwest. They have already entered the third line of defense."

Seren quickly provided the updated information. Since I, as the Final Boss, must be a man of few words, I would be in trouble without her in moments like this.

"Lady Arcelia. Have the defensive barriers been adjusted?"

"Yes. If the castle doesn't move, it can cover the city below. It was a rushed job, so the strength is slightly lower, but low-level monsters won't be able to break it. Well, I certainly didn't anticipate this number."

"Egret-dono. How is the defense force organized?"

"We are fully prepared, Your Majesty. The 200 trained troops are already in position. The numbers are small, but morale is high. They will vent their anger over having their homes stolen to the fullest."

"And, Elder-dono. Do you have any opinion? Yes, I understand, I will pass it on. Your Majesty, all the Rock Orcs are on standby in the mine shafts. They are ready to move at any command."

I nodded grandly at Seren's report. Everything was functioning according to the prior plan. The proverb says: 'Where there is precaution, there is no trouble.'

The counter-measures plan against the 'Monster Tamer' is extremely simple and efficient.

The 50-kilometer radius around the fortress city is divided into three defensive lines, with roles assigned to defend each sector. The second and first lines will be defended by the strike force led by Egret engaging in skirmishes, and if they are breached, the defensive barrier will stop the enemy. And the outermost, the third defensive line, will be defended by me.

Now, I would like to launch a preemptive strike, but I cannot do that just yet.

I must, at least, listen to the opponent's side of the story. Especially in a war, the fact that we were the ones who followed protocol is important.

"Then, as planned, I will begin the bombardment once negotiations with them break down. Open the line."

"As you command, Great Demon King."

Seren operated a terminal, using the castle's functions to send only our voices to the distance. The transmission target was the coordinates where the 'Monster Tamer' was located.

Stop.

Seren's voice echoed. We could pick up their voices and visuals through the barrier, so communication was possible.

Indeed, the army of monsters halted their advance.

This point forward is our King's territory. You are not permitted to set foot here without permission.

Seren continued with the warning. We have no legal basis for this, but I am the Great Demon King. If I declare this place my territory, then it is.

State your name and purpose. Our King brings grace to those who comply and judgment upon those who defy him.

This was also a canned statement. Of course, I did not entertain the slightest possibility that this massive army was seeking aid like the refugees from the other day.

I simply cannot afford to earn the ignominious reputation of being a leader who just fires shots without listening. I don't mind being called cruel and atrocious, but such atrocities require a good reason. Otherwise, my dignity will suffer.

Who are you? Respond quickly.

Seren urged them, but there was no reply from the Monster Tamer's side.

Well, not answering is an answer in itself. If they refuse to engage, we will match their intent.

—I'm surprised, demons giving an ultimatum.

But just as the charging of the cannon began, a voice cut in as if perfectly timed. A voice that was neither clearly male nor female. The person who stepped forward was completely covered by a hood; neither his build nor his face was visible.

But even through the video feed, the person was emitting a sinister, intense magical power. It was black and stagnant, like a pool of tar.

Who are you? If you do not answer, we will consider you an enemy.

Me? I'm a Hero. In that sense, you could call me your enemy, but I have no intention of opposing you this time.

"Trust me," the 'Monster Tamer' said, shrugging his shoulders. Despite the playful gesture, he had an untrustworthy aura, even discounting the fact that he was a mass murderer.

My objective is the humans. You know, that crowd of humans that ran away here? I want you to hand them over.

The 'Hero' spoke with a cold tone. I shifted my gaze to the throne room, where the expression of our 'Hero' had frozen.

Well, that's expected. It's difficult not to be shocked when someone who also calls themselves a Hero is treating 4,000 humans as mere objects.

They are leftovers. It's a pain, but my orders from above are to dispose of every last one of them. So, if you hand them over, I won't attack you. I'll just leave quietly. Isn't that a good deal?

Hand over the refugees, and neither the castle nor the fortress city will be attacked.

Indeed, it may not be a bad deal. Especially for a typical demon, the lives of humans, whether 4,000 or 400,000, are equally worthless. If their own safety is secured by handing them over, they would do so without any hesitation.

It is a good deal. This Hero's proposal would be acceptable to anyone among the demon race. Yes. Anyone except this Great Demon King.

—Then, Hero. Receive my answer.

I declared this in my own voice and activated the castle's expansion function. I opened the flow of infinite magical power to the magical cannons installed on the castle's front, beginning a rapid charge. We only managed to prepare three cannons in one month, but for now, that is enough.

The castle's current position and the cannons' angle of fire cannot directly aim at the 'enemy,' but I accounted for that. Arcelia, in cooperation with the Rock Orcs, manufactured gigantic magic crystal lenses—'Reflectors'—and positioned them in the airspace around the castle. By reflecting the blasts off them, I can launch a full-power magical cannon blast at any desired coordinate.

—I see. That's eccentric.

The sky above the 'Monster Tamer Hero' on the screen began to glow.

And what rained down was the Light of Destruction. This is my answer.

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