Chapter 64
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"......Thank you for the report, Romansa. Having you around helps me understand the inner workings of the Adventurer Guild."
'I'm honored to be of service to you, Cult Leader. If needed, I will spare no effort in assisting you.'
"Yes, I'm counting on you. However, since you hold the position of Deputy Guild Leader, be careful not to act in ways that might arouse suspicion from those around you, alright?"
'Understood. On the surface, I will fulfill my duties as Deputy Guild Leader.'
"Good. That's fine. Well then, let's wrap things up for today. See you later."
'Yes. I'll take my leave.'
After finishing the exchange of information with Romansa, Elquid, the Cult Leader of the Demon King Cult, leaves the dimly lit room where the communication Magical Tool is set up. He also discards the intricately designed black robe and settles into an armchair in the living room.
"......Even though I started this myself, maintaining the aura of a Cult Leader is a bit of a hassle. Well, it's also an amusing game in its own way."
Letting out a deep sigh, Elquid roughly tousles his gray hair that reaches down to his back. The neatly arranged hair becomes slightly disheveled, giving him a somewhat rugged impression.
Relaxing his shoulders, Elquid gazes out the window. The sun has already set, but the faint starlight reveals the trees in the garden.
His reflection appears on the window glass, a figure that could undoubtedly be described as a peerless beauty.
Elquid is already over two hundred years old, but as a long-lived Elf, his appearance remains youthful. He could pass for someone in their twenties. However, Elquid himself has no interest in romance or reproduction, so he doesn't get carried away by his beautiful looks.
Still, the appearance of a stunningly beautiful woman is useful as the Cult Leader of the Demon King Cult. There are quite a few who follow simply because the Cult Leader is a beauty.
Incidentally, the room Elquid is in isn't overtly a chamber of a secret organization. It's just an ordinary house within the Rivalt Kingdom. He has prepared more fitting locations as well, but he doesn't stay there all the time. On the surface, he blends in among common citizens as a mere apothecary.
"......That said, the Demon King who appeared after a hundred and fifty years seems quite different from the ones before. Not a saint who wouldn't harm a fly, but not exactly a villain who revels in conflict either...... The previous Demon King was much more fitting as a Demon King. Even before that, there hasn't been a Demon King like this one."
As far as properly recorded history goes, the number of Demon Kings that have appeared on this land is seven.
They emerge roughly every hundred to three hundred years, and their forms vary widely.
Some resemble humans, others are dragons, or beasts.
Though their appearances differ, they all share the trait of being ferocious beings.
They threaten humanity, aiming to destroy or dominate the world. They were clear embodiments of evil.
However, according to information from the Adventurer Guild and from cult members hiding in Rugimano, the current Demon King behaves entirely differently from past Demon Kings.
He has already killed tens of thousands of humans on two occasions. Yet, he doesn't seem to derive pleasure from killing or destroying the world.
It appears he killed out of necessity, not because he wanted to.
"......I've been preparing under the assumption that a ferocious Demon King would emerge, but it looks like I'll need to change plans."
If it were a ferocious Demon King, Elquid intended to simply incorporate him as a collaborator in destroying the world.
Even someone with a broken personality like Fia, if they were the Demon King, would have been joyfully accepted and made a comrade.
In other words, Fia was meant to be an offering to the Demon King.
For that purpose, Elquid pulled strings to bring Fia into the Cult. The death of Fia's family was a result of the Cult's machinations. Knowing she was a child with exceptional magical power, Elquid staged a scenario to bring her into the fold.
However, since it was unclear when the Demon King would appear, it wasn't certain whether Fia would fulfill her value as an offering. If the Demon King didn't emerge, Elquid thought he could simply use her as a powerful pawn.
Now that the Demon King has appeared, it turns out he dislikes Fia and hasn't accepted her. Observing the Demon King through the necklace Fia wears, Elquid is certain of this. As long as Fia remains as she is, she will likely never be accepted as a comrade.
"......If I'm to win him over, perhaps a different type of person would be better. Should I, myself, step in......? No, that Demon King seems to prefer naive individuals over those with hidden motives. Rubert sending Deena was likely a good choice. The Demon King would probably open his heart to an ordinary girl like her, who has no hidden agenda. In that case...... Fia might not be such a bad choice either. At the very least, she has no ulterior motives. The Demon King even helps out the town in various ways and seems to be quite caring. If I asked him to help reform Fia, he might do it, albeit with some exasperation."
Elquid thinks it's worth a try.
However.
"In the first place, if there's no need to win him over, then there isn't one. To dominate the world and dye it in darkness...... all I need to do is guide the Demon King to willingly destroy and dominate the world......"
The goal of the Demon King Cult is to dominate the world alongside the Demon King.
Elquid's goal isn't much different from that.
If anything, Elquid is doing this half for amusement.
He isn't trying to dominate the world out of some grand ideal or purpose.
At the core of it is an admiration for the Demon King he once witnessed.
An evil dragon that ravaged the world with overwhelming power.
Elquid admired it and wished to ravage the world as he pleased in the same way.
And now, he thinks about dominating the world alongside the Demon King. Devising plans and taking action for that purpose is enjoyable. It brings him more pleasure than anything else.
That's why he's trying to realize a childish fantasy like world domination.
Since that's Elquid's true nature, he isn't particular about the process of domination. There's no need for the Demon King and the Demon King Cult to share the same aspirations or fight as one.
As long as world domination is achieved, that's enough.
"That Demon King desires a peaceful life, yet he's surprisingly quick to anger. And the trigger for that is usually related to his comrades. In other words, if his comrades are killed, he'll go into a rage and destroy the world on his own...... The Adventurer Guild sent Deena, but that can be used to our advantage as well. Not to kill the Demon King, but to deliberately provoke him. If I can control the direction of the Demon King's wrath, he could become a convenient weapon for the Cult. If I have cult members kill one of the Demon King's comrades while posing as envoys of a certain country, the Demon King will likely go and destroy that country. In that case, I'd like the Demon King to have as many important things to protect as possible. While guiding Fia to be accepted by the Demon King, the Cult should proceed with various preparations......"
Elquid lets out a dark smile.
"......Demon King, let's dance together in this world and have some fun, shall we?"
Elquid feels a desire to meet the Demon King right now and embrace him. However, the time for that hasn't come yet. He can't afford to have his true intentions probed carelessly.
For now, he must endure a little longer.
"Well, shall I send a message to the Demon King soon?"
Using the necklace Fia wears, he can peek into the events around Fia and communicate with her.
It only functions one-on-one, so its versatility is limited, but being small and portable makes it a convenient item.
Fia. From now on, refrain from killing or destruction and respect the will of the Demon King. Also, convey the following words to the Demon King.
......Demon King. I apologize for the delayed response. I deeply regret the inconvenience caused by Fia, a high-ranking member of our Cult. I have ordered Fia to no longer engage in conflicts against your will. Now then......