Reincarnation as a Great Demon Lord - Chapter 5

Chapter 5: The Great Demon Lord Seeks His Subordinates

The “Demon King’s Castle,” now officially the “Great Demon Lord’s Sky Fortress,” floated in the sky, sustained by my magic. Our current altitude was about five thousand meters—roughly the upper layers of clouds if measured by Earth standards.

They say every man dreams of ruling a domain, but few can truly claim to float their own castle in the sky. This was the pinnacle of a Final Boss’s indulgence. The literal omnipotence of seeing the entire world below you—truly, the ultimate thrill of the Final Boss profession.

Flying above the clouds also brought a stark reminder: this world had two moons. A large full moon and a smaller crescent moon hung together in the sky, casting their light.

Such a sight made the reality of being in another world unavoidable. And it reminded me that I had died once and been reincarnated.

It was slightly lonely, yes, but I had become the Great Demon Lord. My remaining concern for people was minimal; my family was gone, and friends and acquaintances would recover on their own. My focus now was clear: how to dominate this world.

Reflecting on my past life, my biggest mistake had been trying to do everything alone. My direct cause of death was a heart attack at 25, but that heart attack was a consequence of overwork. I had attempted to handle everything on my own.

I was a one-man Final Boss. While maintaining the facade of an up-and-coming entrepreneur and philanthropist, secretly orchestrating schemes like a villain—it was fun, yes, but I overdid it. Black-ops maneuvers were exhilarating, but dying because of it was counterproductive. Delegation was a lesson my past self learned too late.

Now, as the Great Demon Lord, I seemed all-powerful, but that very strength was a trap. If I tried to do everything again, I would repeat my past life’s mistake. Overwork at a critical moment was unacceptable.

Moreover, the original “Demon King” hadn’t exactly excelled at organizational management. Streamlining the army and creating a capable structure would instantly prove that I was far superior to that brute.

My unique Trait strengthened with the number of subordinates loyal to me. Currently, only my maid, Selen, had pledged loyalty—and my only trait gained was “Phantom Cloak of Illumination.”

Arcelia, one of the former four commanders, had agreed to cooperate after seeing the castle fly—but the lack of an added Trait indicated she hadn’t sworn loyalty yet. Still, her ambitious gleam was clear; she intended to use me for her own purposes.

Traits were important, but managing ambitious subordinates was key to being a proper Final Boss. Arcelia was also a technology expert in this world—a valuable asset, especially early on.

But three subordinates were far from enough. According to Selen, remnants of the old Demon Army were scattered across the Demon Realm, so recruiting them would be the first task.

In the original game, the Demon King did have a powerful subordinate called the “Shadow of the King,” a charismatic mid-boss-level demon. I wanted him as an ally, but information was scarce. Recruiting the scattered remnants was the immediate priority.

For that, a mobile castle was perfect. I could travel to each location with ease. But—

“—Flying the castle is fine, but nothing else will work.”

Arcelia’s voice snapped me back. I had proposed using the castle, and she flatly rejected anything else.

In the throne room, Selen served tea that smelled wonderful. It was blue, but the taste was excellent—extracted from plants of the Demon Realm, though I didn’t ask for specifics.

“What do you mean by ‘won’t work’?”

“They’re all broken. The cultivation chambers for food, the smelting furnace for weapons—they’re useless.”

“But why? The power supply is running.”

The castle was powered entirely by me, functioning as a human reactor. There was no way the output would fall short. My magic was literally infinite. My intuition told me everything should run smoothly.

Arcelia explained that even with sufficient power, broken machinery was useless. Materials to repair them were not in the castle. I tested flowing magic to systems beyond propulsion, but the circuits were interrupted. Broken conduits, it seemed. The castle could not function properly.

“The last battle—between the old Demon King and the Hero—destroyed my castle,” Arcelia said, full of resentment. I understood; she saw it as her creation defiled.

However, having most of the castle's functions offline was a major problem. A good workplace was essential for recruiting talent. Priorities might need to shift.

“What’s needed for repairs? Where can we find it?”

“We’re short on rare ores for general materials, but the most critical is the power reactor itself.”

“But wouldn’t the Great Demon Lord-sama be enough?” Selen asked. True, I could operate the castle, but Arcelia meant that leaving the castle unmanned was risky.

“Exactly. The castle would be useless without a proper heart of power when you leave. Currently, no one else can operate it.”

“So, where do we get it?”

“The core… only the ‘Heart of Glinting Radiance’ will suffice. It can supply power to the entire castle.”

Ah, a magic-storing gem. A classic item, even if absent from the original story. The Dragonfolk’s Red Scale King might own it—a member of the old Demon King’s four great generals. This is getting interesting.

“Your Highness… I suggest we visit the Dragonfolk. The ruler of Blue Flame Mountain, the Red Scale King, should gladly assist the Great Demon Lord,” Selen proposed, kneeling. Wise counsel.

The Red Scale King was a noble warrior and one of the strongest in the original game. A Final Boss and a fan both wanted this meeting.

Arcelia nodded in agreement. This would secure both a powerful subordinate and a resource.

“Very well, to Blue Flame Mountain. Arcelia, how far?”

“Half a day by castle… but if we—”

“Time is short. Three hours is the goal,” I interrupted. I increased magic flow to the anti-gravity system, accelerating the castle. The raw power was exhilarating, just as planned.

“Seren, land the castle in a concealed spot. You will accompany me to the village.”

“Yes, my lord!” Selen beamed.

She added something curious about the mountain’s hot springs, blushing as she spoke. I realized why—she meant to bathe me. Appreciated, but I needed to stay professional. Emotional entanglements were a major weakness in evil organizations; romantic distraction could lead to disaster. I had firsthand experience.

As I contemplated this, the castle’s sensors revealed a strange sight on the horizon: a colossal active volcano, and coiling around its crater, a giant dragon with red scales and snake-like eyes, glaring directly at us.

Hostile intent. I activated my trait.

“—Phantom Cloak.”

The castle vanished in a magical veil. The dragon, confused, lifted its head, then averted its gaze. Seren’s “Phantom Cloak” should only affect my body, but the castle, connected to me, counted as part of me.

Had I been slower, the dragon could have destroyed the castle. A fine play, indeed.

“Is… that a dream demon’s illusion…? Covering the entire castle? Fascinating,” Arcelia stammered.

The holographic display of the dragon left Selen speechless, while Arcelia began her analysis.

“The dragon is absorbing energy from the volcano. Likely the ley lines. The nearby land is dead. The village is probably gone. The Red Scale King… likely dead.”

Both Arcelia and Selen advised retreat. A reasonable, rational decision.

Yet, as the Great Demon Lord, I did not prioritize reason over style. Final bosses act freely; obstacles cannot deter me.

“No. We will approach the Dragonfolk village. The Great Demon Lord does not flee.”

“Do you intend to destroy my castle again?” Arcelia demanded.

“Not at all. The castle is my base, and I will not damage it. We will advance under the illusion spell, land in the mountains’ shadow, and approach the village on foot.”

“Why bother? The village is likely destroyed. It’s pointless,” she argued.

“Arcelia. Your logic is sound. But that is why I must go. Because I am the Great Demon Lord.”

A single statement, concise, mysterious, commanding—true to the Final Boss persona.

There was also a pragmatic reason: a weakened opponent is easier to recruit and gain loyalty from. Seventy percent of my motive was strategic. But saying that aloud would ruin my aura. A Final Boss never reveals such calculations.

“Great Demon Lord… I understand. You are saying you cannot abandon the people in their plight!” Selen exclaimed.

“The duty of a King, I suppose... At least he’s better than the previous Demon King... Though I still don't understand it.” Arcelia sighed.

“Oh, good. The two of them provided a perfectly fitting explanation in their heads.”

Well, whether it’s truly my duty or not, it’s a fact that if a King abandons the people he is meant to rule right from the start, no one will follow him. If I ran away here, my path to domination would be crushed before it even began.

Even if framed as responsibility, escaping would undermine my conquest before it began. Final Bosses do not fear risk; they claim freedom through victory.

---

← Previous Chapter | Index | Next Chapter →

---