When I Was Reincarnated into the World of an Ultra-Difficult Game, I Ended Up As the Sole Subordinate of the Ridiculously Strong yet Incompetent Demon Lord, Tasked with Creating a Dungeon
「Lord Rey, is there anything we can assist you with?」
「I’m fine over here.」
You’re really dedicated to your work.
But right now, I don’t need any help with creating the dungeon.
Maybe someday I’ll need to learn about the ecology of the elves, but I don’t plan on expanding the dungeon anytime soon.
「If you need help changing, we’re here to assist you, Lord Rey.」
「I can manage on my own…」
Is that it? Do the Dark Elves treat someone like me, who’s younger, as if I’m a child or even an infant because of their long lifespans?
Just as they don’t know my age, perhaps they assume I’m young enough to need such care.
「If it’s about meals, we can fetch them from Magirema-sama and bring them to you.」
「I can order for myself…」
This isn’t good.
At this rate, I’ll end up being raised by the Dark Elves.
「Lord Rey.」
「Actually, I’m supposed to be Lord Rey’s attendant…」
I was just thinking I had to do something when Ipiletis interjected, cutting off the Dark Elf’s words.
Good job. As expected of my attendant.
Unlike the Dark Elves, Ipiletis doesn’t fuss over every little thing about me, but occasionally helps me out like this.
Come to think of it, she’s quite efficient and does her job well without overstepping.
「Lord Rey is my Lord Rey, you know~」
She hugged me and pressed her cheek against mine… A bit too much physical contact, if you ask me.
Whether it’s Fiona -sama or Ipiletis, I wish these cute girls would show more restraint.
I’m not composed enough to stay calm after being clung to like this every time.
…Or should I say, I’m not mature enough as a demon?
「W-we didn’t mean to intrude on Ipiletis-sama’s position…」
「To begin with, I belong to Fiona -sama, not Ipiletis.」
「Of course, I’m not reckless or foolish enough to step into that territory.」
After all, I’m the Demon King’s property, and making a claim like that would obviously be inappropriate.
「Then, shall I say that I’m Lord Rey’s instead?」
Don’t whisper that in my ear.
That’s exactly what I’m talking about, Ipiletis.
「A-ah… We’ve disturbed you…」
「Exactly. I have to take care of Lord Rey now, so no interruptions, okay? We’re going to bathe together, and I’ll wash his body~」
「Stop telling outrageous lies.」
Perhaps for someone of high status, it’s normal to have attendants take care of daily tasks, but I’m not used to it.
If Ipiletis were to join me in the bath, I doubt I could stay calm.
「It’s fine between Lord Rey and me!」
「Absolutely not.」
「Eh~…」
What made you think it’d be okay in the first place?
「Well, anyway, Lord Rey’s needs are already taken care of~. Don’t you think you’re trying to get close to the wrong person?」
Get close to…?
Ah, so that’s what this is about. Now I understand.
The Dark Elves, being newcomers, don’t fully know who holds the most power around here.
So, they must have tried to ingratiate themselves with me since I was the one they spoke to directly back then.
How unfortunate.
As Ipiletis said, they’re trying to win over the wrong person.
Pandering to someone like me won’t give them any backing or support—it’ll all be for nothing.
The Dark Elves simply don’t understand this yet.
「This is the Demon Army. Naturally, the strongest authority belongs to the Demon King.」
…Now that I think about it, the Dark Elves haven’t met Fiona -sama yet.
During our first encounter, to conceal the existence of the prominent figures in the Demon Army, Rigma pretended to be the Demon King using a clone.
◇
「Don’t you think it’d be better to meet the Dark Elves once?」
「Eh~… It might be troublesome, or dangerous.」
You almost said “troublesome,” didn’t you, Your Majesty?
Besides, if they posed a real danger capable of threatening the Demon King, I’d already be dead.
「Pilkaya. What do you think ？」
「I agree with Rey’s opinion. They don’t seem to be communicating with other races, nor do they appear to be plotting harm against us.」
「I was foolish to ask Pilkaya!」
「Ah, you wanted an excuse to slack off, huh? Sorry. I’m a hard worker, you see .」
Someone who works as hard as Pilkaya wouldn’t understand Fiona -sama’s desire to slack off.
Still, I need to be careful here—I don’t want to get scolded by Terapheia .
「On the contrary, the persecution of other races hasn’t completely ended, and it seems the Dark Elves are still living under difficult conditions.」
「My opinion is being ignored! Even though I’m the Demon King!」
Primilla agreed with Pilkaya as if nothing happened, acting as though Fiona -sama’s objections didn’t exist.
「Why doesn’t Rigma meet them again~？」
「That won’t do. This time, we’re not dealing with captured members of other races—we’ve accepted the entire race’s declaration of subordination. The Demon King needs to show some authority.」
「Something fitting for me… Gasha?」
「The Dark Elves might rebel.」
「Do you think so too, Rey?! Clearly, I’m not suited to act like a proper Demon King!」
「Please don’t twist things to suit your convenience…」
Still… this feels different from Fiona -sama’s usual laziness.
She’s shown a dignified front as the Demon King to various races before—people like Tokito, Karl, and Lopes.
So why is she suddenly reluctant now?
「Well… the queen of the Dark Elves has lived for a long time, right? I’m worried she might know about me from before I became the Demon King. If I act all high and mighty now, wouldn’t she think, ‘Who does this guy think he is?’」
「Don’t worry, Fiona -sama. You’re a splendid Demon King.」
「Rey… You believe in me that much…」
What else could that overwhelming stat-based power represent if not the Demon King?
Even if we were talking about gods or something higher, it wouldn’t surprise me.
…Though mentioning gods makes me think of that goddess, which might actually be insulting.
「Alright! If Rey believes in me as the Demon King, I’ll try my best to live up to that role!」
Good. So it was just a lack of confidence after all.
The Dark Elves seem skilled in magic, so sensing Fiona -sama’s mana should be enough to convince them.
◇
「Sorry, but the Demon King you first met was a body double.」
Summoned alongside several others as representatives of the Dark Elves, I heard words that made me question my ears.
No wonder… I barely sensed any mana from him, and I couldn’t find any sign of strength.
「But the fact that you’re telling us this means you trust us, right?」
「Well, provisionally, yes. If you continue to work hard like this, I think we can trust you.」
Still only “provisionally”…
There’s no helping it. We’ll just have to keep building trust steadily.
And Rey-sama would be the best person to do that.
Especially since the Demon King prefers to remain hidden behind a body double.
Perhaps he’s still recovering from wounds sustained during his battle with the hero.
He might fear being looked down upon if he shows any weakness.
「You’re about to meet the real Demon King, so don’t get any funny ideas.」
「Of course. Even if your power isn’t at its peak, our desire to serve the Demon King remains unchanged.」
Satisfied with our response, Rey-sama led us to the room where the Demon King awaited.
It seemed to be the same room where we first met the body double and Rey-sama…
「My Lord, I’ve brought them.」
I bowed deeply, making sure not to be rude.
With great effort, I managed to force my body to move just enough to bow.
What… What is this mana…?
Weak? Hiding behind a body double?
What nonsense… If this is considered weak, humans could never stand a chance against demons.
Even now, without a doubt, they couldn’t match us.
「Raise your head.」
I lifted my head at the Demon King’s command, enduring the oppressive pressure.
And then, I froze.
It wasn’t just the overwhelming amount of mana flooding over me.
That alone might’ve been manageable.
The reason I froze was because I recognized the face before me.
Not as an acquaintance.
I only knew her unilaterally, from a distant past memory.
Of course, she wouldn’t remember someone like me…
「Fiona … Silverna…」
The Fiona I knew… wasn’t the Demon King.
Then, was I right?
The Demon King is merely a figurehead, while the true leader of the Demon Army is Rey-sama.
For our survival, maintaining a relationship with Rey-sama is the most important…
「When you speak of subordination, do you mean it in such equal terms that you’d address me so casually?」
「F-forgive me! I… I called you by name because I knew of you from before, but…」
What a blunder.
I should’ve kept that thought to myself instead of letting it slip out.
It’s understandable that His Majesty would feel displeased…
And this pressure… this suffocating weight of mana…
No. Stop it, Clara.
Enough with the escapism.
Not only my life but the lives of my entire clan are at stake here.
Acknowledge it. There’s no doubt Rey-sama is an important figure.
But everything else I believed was wrong.
The one standing before me is truly the Demon King…
This is the ruler of the Demon Army.
「I don’t like talking about the past. I don’t know what you know, but I hope you can keep your mouth shut.」
「Y-yes! My deepest apologies!」
Long ago, I only saw her from afar, but has the girl from back then changed so much…? No wonder I’ve grown old.
But it’s best not to bring up the past.
Even if I knew her, it’s not a topic I should touch upon, given I only heard stories and never truly interacted.
The person before me now is the Demon King.
Knowing her from before doesn’t matter.
We must serve both Rey-sama and this Demon King.
Still, something lingers in my mind.
The distant past… How old was I back then…?
How long have they, have she , been alive?
