Chapter 13: The Strongest Onmyoji, an Audience with the Demon King

As soon as we arrived at the village of Hishidaichi, we found our bed.

It’s because Risolera had just a little talk to the temple, and she was able to prepare a really splendid lodging.

I was curious about what kind of place the largest village of the divine demons was, but as expected, I didn’t feel like looking around in the middle of the night, and decided to sleep quietly with the two exhausted kings.

And the next day.

“Heh. So, daemons are like livestock for demons.”

“’If you compare it to human culture. However, in reality, they are like subordinates with different appearances. That’s why we call them kin and take responsibility for their lives, said the king”

The five of us got on the dragon and headed to the next town.

In the background where I am chatting with King Athos, King Fili Nair is persistently asking Risolera a question.

“Hey hey. Are there any interesting products lined up at your village market this year? 　I’m really looking forward to the magical tools of the divine demons. My uncle made a lot of money.”

“I want you to talk about that kind of thing with Remzenel…”

Risolera answered, looking a little fed up.

Perhaps because she was from a commercial race, King Fili Nair seemed to be very interested in business.

“Well, which race should I choose next?”

“Let’s head to the demon ogre village.”

When I muttered, Risolera leaned over her and answered.

“It’s the closest from here. If you’re going to other villages, you should go around from there.”

“A demon ogre huh…”

I grunted. The last thing I wanted to do if at all possible was to have a race of such people come to me.

Risolera raised her eyebrows and said to me who seemed reluctant.

“You look dissatisfied”

“I don’t mean that I’m dissatisfied, but I have the impression that …… they’re kind of rough, and I’m not comfortable with it.”

Neither the demon ogre that Mabel fought nor the representative who came to Rurumu’s village made any attempt to hide their belligerent temperament.

The demon ogres i know are only those two, but I can’t help but feel that the entire race is like that.

“That’s why I wanted to do it later if possible, but…”

“Are you okay?”

However, as if to dismiss my anxiety, Risolera said.

“Putting aside the other demon ogres—that’s not the case with their king.”

************

Around noon, we arrived at the demon ogre’s royal capital.

Hmm… it doesn’t feel like a ‘royal capital’.

Looking down from the dragon was a village-like settlement.

Houses made of mud walls, trees, and the bones of large monsters. All the structures are simple, and they are lined up almost chaotically.

The scale was fairly large, but it didn’t seem to be developing.

“Everywhere in the demon ogre village is like this.”

Risolera said while looking down like I did.

“They are a race that seeks value in battle, so they are not very interested in culture or art.

“But there is something wonderful about their singing and dancing,’ says the King.”

“I feel like it’s a waste of time and money.”

“Hmm, is that so?”

It seems that my impression was not so off the mark.

However, Risolera adds there.

“But please don’t say that to the king. He cares.”

“I know”

If you’re trying to get along with someone, you can’t say to your face that they’re savages.

But… the phrase “he cares” caught my eye.

What kind of king is he?

**********

The demon ogre’s royal palace was a castle… or rather, a fortress.

Using the cliffs behind it, it has a majestic appearance built with huge stones, and has the atmosphere of a stronghold of a band of thieves.

The direct dragon landing was the same as before, but the reaction of the guards was a little different.

“Hmm… it looks like a strange guest has arrived.”

“It’s been a long time since I’ve had an opponent to fight with. It seems a bit too much for me, i can’t say I have the luxury.”

There were only two guards at the fort.

Both of them are large-built ogres. They stood up quickly, each holding an axe and a greatsword.

Despite the fact that they were facing a dragon, they did not seem to panic.

That was fine, it was troublesome to be hostile.

I hurriedly said.

“Wait. I’m supposed to be the Demon King. I’ve come to see your king.”

The two demon ogres laughed fearlessly at my slightly awkward self-introduction.

“Kukuku, do you call yourself Demon King?”

“He’s quite an irreverent human being. Let’s confirm that power with us.”

The two gatekeepers didn’t seem to believe it at all, perhaps because the story of the Demon King hadn’t been conveyed to the end.

I still try to persuade them.

“Wait wait.”

“Shut up, no questions asked!”

“Don’t die!”

The two gatekeepers swung their weapons and attacked.

“I hold my head in my hand with a quizzical expression on my face.”

“In the end, it’s the same as before…”

《Wood Phase――――Juroho Jutsu》

A golden mass of water produced from the Hitogata directly hit the two demon ogres.

“Buhaa! What is this…!”

“Nuuu, , can’t move…”

The demon ogres who fell on their back struggled, but their bodies were covered in golden liquid, and they seemed unable to even stand up.

Sooner or later they’ll be completely unable to move.

The paste in the rosin matsuya will harden if left unattended.

“It’s a completely warlike race.”

In contrast to me, who was worried about the future, the kings were excited on their own.

“Aha, what is this~. Interesting magic~”

“The King says, ‘You are truly powerful, Demon King-sama.’”

“Somehow, Seika is also belligerent. He beats the guards every time.”

“No, I’m not doing it because I like it.”

Well… I couldn’t say that there wasn’t a reason, even for me, who always descends directly to the royal palace by dragon.

*****************

After that, the two gatekeepers politely admitted their defeat and offered to guide us inside the fort.

I wondered if it would be okay for them to be gatekeepers, but… it might be that kind of race. It can be said that it is naive in a sense.

That’s how I was led to this room.

“Oh my God… I can’t believe that the Demon King will visit this village directly.”

A room large enough to accommodate 100 soldiers, with a ceiling so high you can look up.

At the center of it, lying on a huge bed, was a demon ogre woman.

She’s probably the biggest demon ogre I’ve ever seen.

She’s probably twice as tall as I am. It’s almost as if you would believe it if someone said she was a small giant.

I don’t know her age, but from the way she speaks and her atmosphere, I don’t think she’s young.

“Besides, demons and beastmen… even the King of the Divine Demons.”

“It’s been a while, Merdeva. I’m glad you’re doing well.”

Risolera takes a step forward and says without changing her expression.

“But I’m not the king.”

“Yes, I thought you would say that. But you’re the only one who thinks so.”

Then the demon ogre woman looks at me.

“You wanted to know more about the inner workings of the demon ogre tribe. Demon King-sama.”

“Ah”

“As you can see, I’m too ill to leave here. But I’ll help you as much as I can. I’ll tell you what I know. Is that okay?” ”

“…then there’s something I want to ask you right away.”

I look at the demon ogre woman and say.

“I came here to see the king of the demon ogre. You are the king, is that correct?”

After a brief silence, the demon ogre woman slowly shook her head.

“No… but I would be the better person to talk to you.”

“Why”

“The king is still inexperienced. Although he has a vessel, he doesn’t know the world enough to entrust the fate of the demon ogre. Even now, I’m in charge of all government affairs. Is there something lacking?”

Just as I was about to open my mouth, I heard an argument coming from outside the room.

“Please wait, Your Majesty. Right now, the Empress Dowager is speaking.”

“Your Majesty!”

“Please move away! Demon King-sama came to see me, didn’t he!? Then I should meet him!”

At the same time as the door opened vigorously, voices of quarrels rushed in.

I look back involuntarily.

There was a demon ogre boy wearing glasses.

“You are… Demon King…!”

The demon ogre boy opened his eyes behind his glasses.

He was a large boy, but he had a somewhat intelligent atmosphere. His thick fingers were gripping a thick book, as if he had come in a hurry in the middle of reading.

“Ha… Nice to meet you, Demon King. I’m Vildamund. I’m the King of the Demon Ogres…!”

The ogre boy’s eyes sparkle as he says his name.

He seemed to have been waiting for the visit of the Demon King for a long time.

“Please call me Vill. All those close to me call me that. ……”

“Your Majesty.”

As if to pour cold water on the boy’s excitement, the demon ogre woman said.

“Right now, we are discussing something important.”

“mother!”

The boy shouts.

“Why! The demon king came to see me, the king! And yet, you didn’t let me meet him, you didn’t even tell him…!”

“Your Majesty…”

“Not only that, but it seems that the gatekeeper hired by mother attacked them without hesitation! What the hell are you doing! What would you do if this was a weak guest! Because of this, people of my race…!”

“Your Majesty, we are in the presence of a guest. If you are so upset like that, they will see through you.”

The demon ogre woman shook her head in disgust.

“I’m sorry, Demon King-sama. Although the king is good at studying, he still hasn’t acquired the behavior suitable for that position. I will serve as your partner.”

“…”

I silently turned on my heel.

Then, i walk up to the boy who is the king of the ogre demons.

“Huh……?”

I smiled in front of him who was confused and took his big hand.

“Let’s go, King Vill. I’ve come to pick you up.”

**************

“You came out peacefully…”

One minute later.

Risolera was whispering above the dragon.

“I didn’t have the right time to tell you to smash it to pieces with a dragon…”

“I Don’t have to, you know. Why do you look a little disappointed?”

I glanced at Risolera lightly, and then looked at the demon ogre king, Vildamund.

The boy, like all the kings, gazed at the scenery below him, but when he noticed my gaze, he adjusted his glasses and turned around.

“That’s amazing, Maou-sama…! Taming a dragon is something no demon lord has ever accomplished.”

“Ah, yes. There’s a trick to it.”

I continue,

“I’m sorry. I took you out like that.”

That giant demon ogre woman named Merdeva—is she the king’s mother?

Although she was the queen dowager, unexpectedly, she obediently consented to the king’s going out.

However, whether it was me or King Vill, the image of her would have deteriorated considerably.

I thought it was fine, but since Merdeva holds the real power in politics, it would be difficult for him to do as king in the future…

“It’s okay. I’d rather appreciate it.”

King Vill said so with a refreshing expression.

“My mother and I haven’t been able to agree on ideas for a long time, and this isn’t the first time we’ve had an argument. I’m glad you took me. I’ve always wanted to talk to the Demon King, who grew up in the land of humans. So I was glad to hear you say that.”

“Yes, that would be nice”

Even for me, I’m not good with people like the Queen Dowager, so my wishes come true.

I ask lightly.

“King Vill, are you interested in the human country?”

“yes”

King Vil nods.

“I think they have a wonderful culture and technology. If we say it to our compatriots, they will laugh at us, but there are many things we should learn from them. … Of course, I know it’s impossible, so I collect a lot of books instead.”

Seeing my expression, King Vill added with a troubled smile.

To be called the King of the Demon Ogres, he was quite soft-spoken and intelligent.

He must be floating in that fort.

“By the way, Demon King-sama. Since King Athos, King Fili Nair, and Lady Risolera are also here… do you intend to collect all the kings?”

“That’s right. That’s what the Demon King wants.”

“I didn’t mean to do that at first, but because of this girl, it turned out that way.”

“I see. Even though it’s a matter of course, it’s quite an important event to have the kings of all races together with the demon king. I’m honored to be able to participate in this place.”

Athos and Fili Nair reacted to King Vill’s deep emotion.

“Let’s go together, said the king.”

“Vildamund is still not like a demon ogre. If he had been the previous king, I think he would have challenged the Demon King to a test of strength.” Fili said.

“Thank you, King Athos. And also King Fili Nair. I’m proud that I’m not such a brutal monarch.”

It seems that King Vill is also acquainted with the other kings. He speaks quickly and is helpful.

I mutter while looking at the position of the sun.

“I think I can go to one more place today. Where would be good?”

“Next we’re going to the giant’s village.”

Risolera immediately reacted.

It seems that it was decided from the beginning.

“From here, you can only make it there. If you go to the royal capital of the Three-eyed Tria or the Dark Elves of the Black Forest, it will be night.”

“Then it can’t be helped, but it’s a giant…”

I groan involuntarily. Another race that I wanted to postpone has come.

Risolera raises her eyebrows and says.

“You look dissatisfied again.”

“No, I’m not dissatisfied, but… I wonder if they can ride this guy.”

The representative who came to Rurumu’s village had a gigantic body approaching  6 meters.

There are already six people on board at the moment. If a man that big rides additionally, there is a possibility that even a dragon will not like it.

That’s why I was thinking of carrying only the Giant King at the very end…

“it’s okay”

But once again Risolera said as if to brush off my anxiety.

“The king is small for a giant. A little bigger than King Vill.”

“Ah, that much should be fine.”

“but”

I was beginning to be optimistic, but Risolera said something that made me a little uneasy.

“For a giant, he’s a bit violent. I just want you to be careful about that.”

___________________________________

※Art of wax bubbles

A method of fixing with rosin glue. Turpentine, one of the main components, evaporates, solidifying the rosin resin and exerting an adhesive effect.

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