Ch.37Coronation (1)

Amidst the repeated conflicts and alliances under the joy of victory, Durin headed to the monster farm.

He went to see the nest that had finally begun normal operations after placing hundreds of trainers under the castle’s command. While undead soldiers who fought without fear constituted a major pillar of the Demon Lord’s Castle, monster beasts provided the solid foundation that created time and environment for them to fight.

When the White Wings attempted to change the tide of battle by deploying paladins, the Demon Lord’s Castle needed to respond quickly, and monster beasts filled that crucial gap. Without their physical defense, demons would have to face devastating charges with their bare bodies.

That’s how important they were.

“Starting today, once the queen begins laying eggs, we can produce combat-ready monster beasts in three days at the latest. They’re only low-grade for now, but within a month, we can place high-grade ones capable of fighting paladins in the external womb.”

The farm’s chief supervisor approached and reported to him.

The peculiar insect-type demon with eight spider legs couldn’t hide his excitement as he clicked his mandibles. Durin looked at the countless eggs attached to the floor and ceiling and asked.

“You said three days for low-grade. Then when can high-grade ones be deployed?”

“High-grade monster beasts that have completed training require at least a month. If we rashly put them into the legion before that, they could become uncontrollable and pose a great threat on the battlefield.”

“Hmm.”

A month.

Longer than expected.

High-grade monster beasts like Minotaurs or giant lizard Sauruses weren’t just meat shields to stop paladin charges but good cards that could tear through angel formations. If possible, he wanted to deploy them in the coming war to increase the cards hidden in his hand, but it was unrealistic.

Everything had to be finished before the angels captured the Demon Lord.

“Then focus on cultivating low-grade monster beasts to supplement our numbers. They just need to be capable of stopping a paladin charge once.”

“That won’t be difficult, Your Excellency. I’ll arrange it immediately.”

The spider demon bowed his head and received the order. Durin nodded and immediately moved on.

There was no time to rest for the reorganization of the army. His next destination was the cavalry training ground near the monster farm.

As soon as he left the gloomy, musty cave, an open sky came into view, revealing a vast plain.

On both sides, walls formed by the prison holding the hero and the reception room where high noble children were held hostage. Between them, riders mounted on wolves were marching in step.

“Cavalry is one unit! Never separate! If you break formation, I’ll cut off your head and turn you into a Durahan!”

“Do you want to become ghost knights too? Then break ranks first! I’ll kill every last one of you!”

“You idiots! Southern barbarians would listen better than you! What are those red horns on your head for? Tear them off and boil them for medicine!”

Rough shouts erupted continuously.

The Demon Lord’s Castle, which had a formation centered on heavy infantry, was finally reorganizing its regular cavalry, rebuilding from the basics. It wasn’t that there had been no cavalry before, but the central demon army had been fighting angels non-stop, creating an extreme demand for cavalry.

The sight of them melting away after a single clash with paladins was a humiliating statistic that shocked even Demon Lords ranked among the great commanders.

The Demon Lord’s Castle eventually moved toward hiring cavalry from the North rather than training them directly. Those who grew up with monster beasts in the winter lands had been riders since birth, making them a very convenient source of supply if there were resources.

But now the situation was different.

Durin dreamed of a powerful legion. Demons sharing the same dream under one demon realm.

They had relied on adequate quantities and the advantages of demon realm terrain to drive out heaven, but that wasn’t enough.

They needed bonds. The legion had to embrace the duty of protection as one body to defeat the angels.

Angels, unified for ages under the name of the God of Light, were so powerful that demons dared not venture outside the demon realm. That was why demons, without a god, were bound to be pushed back. They had to fight with nothing but survival instinct and fighting spirit.

That’s why they needed a Demon Lord. The only being who gave demons the glory of dying for someone.

“Your Excellency! Coming here without notice! I apologize for not greeting you first!”

A voice woke Durin from his contemplation.

The Durahan Guard Captain, who had approached without notice, paid his respects to the regent. With a single gesture indicating it was fine, Durin turned his attention back to the cavalry.

“Are all those riders volunteers?”

“Yes. They consist of some guards with previous cavalry service experience and those who wanted to join the new branch.”

“Have you set the qualification requirement to be undead for all?”

“Considering attrition against angels, I thought undead who could be resummoned anytime would be better, so I set that restriction for now.”

“Good. Plan to cultivate two thousand for now. When the time comes, I’ll give further orders.”

“I will follow your command.”

This is just the beginning. For now, they still had to crouch with heavy infantry to face incoming enemies, but someday it would be different.

One day, demon knights cutting through enemy lines would appear on the battlefield.

“I will certainly rebuild the legion Your Excellency desires.”

The Guard Captain pledged, kneeling.

Looking down at him, Durin nodded.

“I’ll be waiting.”

It was slow, but steadily progressing.

If they could overcome the coming greatest crisis, they could take one more step toward reclaiming past glory.

……

“Your Excellency. We have been waiting for you as well.”

Wanting to take that step forward, but it wasn’t easy. Military system reform was accelerating and could function on its own without Durin’s direct influence. But the festering abscess inside still stubbornly held its place.

Returning to the king’s hall, a chilly atmosphere had settled. This was surely evidence of a power struggle between two demons. The faint demonic energy drifting around was proof.

Durin could immediately guess who the two parties were.

“Serphin. Why haven’t you left yet?”

“I was contemplating the weight I should feel as a king. It’s the duty I’ll soon shoulder.”

“A good mindset. Then Killahal. Why are you here?”

“To fulfill my duties as a member of the Council of Elders.”

Killahal, leader of the Red Horn Council of Elders and servant to three Demon Lords, chuckled while stroking his white beard, which was as white as the Chief Justice’s.

“Your Excellency. As you’ve seen on your way here, volunteer armies are gathering from all over the country. All are determined to fight against angels.”

“I saw. Indeed, their spirit seems ready for immediate deployment to the battlefield.”

“It’s truly good to see the castle growing, but swallowing too much at once can cause problems. For this reason, our Council of Elders has stepped forward. We will classify all of them into legions to prepare for war.”

Killahal made his proposal with proper courtesy.

At first glance, it seemed reasonable. But Durin had something to say to him.

“If you had such strength, it would have been nice if you had lent a hand during the southern rebellion.”

“It was an emergency situation then. Now that we’ve emerged from the chaos, please forgive us.”

“If you seek forgiveness, you must fulfill a great duty.”

“I will do anything.”

The answer was good as expected. He appeared full of confidence.

Uncomfortable with this, a green-horned demon in the hall cleared his throat.

“Ahem! Words are easy, but shouldn’t we gather ourselves a bit more first? We’ve just won a civil war and are reorganizing the army. It seems better to entrust the volunteer army to the regent for a definite transformation.”

“Oh my.”

Immediately, a rebuttal came from the Red Horns.

“Do you know how much work His Excellency is doing? He’s essentially shouldering all the castle’s affairs. Despite this, he has filled the void of lost authority with his own strength and achieved victory in every war, which is truly remarkable.”

A young demon who appeared to be Killahal’s aide stepped forward in his place.

“The military forces gathered through this war are numerous. If we add all the troops gathered for the council of lords, we might be looking at 100,000 or more.”

“Hmm.”

“Has there been such a gathering since the Celestial War 100 years ago? It’s almost twice as many as then! No one would think our demon realm is declining. And all these achievements were accomplished by the regent.”

“That… is correct. I admit there’s nothing wrong with what you say.”

“Thank you for acknowledging. So aren’t we comrades in the same boat now? We should join forces to help the regent. We must integrate those volunteer armies into one legion. That is the duty we should rightfully fulfill.”

The words flowing like water left the Green Horns speechless.

There was certainly a reason for praising the regent and putting him at the forefront like that. They probably wanted to share the benefits under his shadow. But there was no justification to object.

The demon realm where matters are settled by strength according to survival of the fittest?

That was just a story for warriors. In the world of high-ranking demons who fed among themselves according to laws and power, there was nothing to pick at, so they all just cleared their throats and turned their heads.

The experience of nearly suffering a major defeat in the Northern War had left them speechless.

Watching this, Killahal smiled and stepped forward.

“Now, now. Things have gotten too heated. How can we officials just talk among ourselves when His Excellency is here?”

The old demon took control of the hall’s atmosphere. Then he looked at Durin, who had been quietly observing the scene.

“Please make a judgment. We can discuss among ourselves, but this is not a matter we can decide.”

Killahal knelt and paid his respects to Durin.

“I pray we move in a direction that will help in the war against angels.”

The treatment of volunteer armies.

It was a power struggle over the command of the army where Red Horn warriors had gathered. As the supreme commander, Durin would be positioned at the top, but they were striving to divide the detailed command authority below him.

Red Horns and Green Horns.

Those who had already given up the throne but wouldn’t yield, and those who wanted to reclaim the past glory of the throne.

Durin cursed inwardly. People fighting even in this situation. They weren’t prepared to fulfill their true duty.

Therefore, he wouldn’t play along with them.

“We’ll discuss that later. Let’s revisit this after the central army’s reorganization is complete.”

“Your Excellency. But there are over fifty thousand troops clamoring outside. Unless we send them back, that commotion will provoke heaven.”

“What’s the problem with a war that’s coming anyway?”

“Shouldn’t we prepare to meet it at the time we’re ready and desire?”

Killahal raised his head. He met the regent’s eyes.

“Please consider carefully.”

“Unnecessary. Stop talking nonsense and leave.”

Durin was adamant. He glared at Killahal with an intensity suggesting he would cut him down immediately if he said another word. Heavy demonic energy spread throughout the hall. Other high-ranking demons who had been dazed were startled and slowly backed away.

“……”

Killahal, being a long-lived demon, withstood that energy. But that was all.

He was completely suppressed by Durin and couldn’t move. In the end, he could only listen to the regent’s orders with his head bowed to the ground again.

The hall became quiet. The atmosphere was just right.

Durin rose from his seat at the opportune moment.

“As you say, the number of volunteer armies outside is absurdly large. I wonder if our army can control them.”

“Y-yes, that is so.”

“But we can simply use this to our advantage. We are about to enter a new era, so I will hold a grand coronation ceremony.”

Coronation.

The chilled air was ventilated. Durin’s aura was now insignificant. The conversation circulating among the nobles changed.

Durin declared to them:

“Summon all the lords immediately this evening. We will enter into discussions for the election of a Demon Lord.”