第７７０堀：次なる不安と対策 (Part1)
**Chapter 770: The Next Anxiety and Countermeasures**
**Side: Deryu**
*Ah, what a drag.*
While I thought that from the bottom of my heart, I continued to attend meetings and receive the various nobles from the If Continent alongside Yuki. Well, even if it is necessary for diplomacy, these kinds of banquets are just…
As I was thinking that, a man—a noble I didn’t recognize—approached me.
"Oh, you are truly beautiful."
"Flattery will get you nowhere."
"No, no, I speak from the heart. Might I have a moment of your time to speak?"
His objective was clear: he wanted to curry favor with me. During this intercontinental exchange, Weed had demonstrated its true power to the nations of all three continents. There were countless people who wanted to reap the benefits of that connection.
However, treating those who came to offer proper greetings with disdain would reflect poorly on Weed, and by extension, on Yuki.
"I don't mind. And forgive me—I was a princess once, so I speak in this manner. I hope you can overlook it."
I started by clarifying my peculiar way of speaking. It was true that I was a princess, but that was a long time ago. Now, I am simply Yuki’s wife. Well, considering people like Luna, Yuki’s standing is higher than most gods, so one could say my own position has risen as well, but I have no intention of using that as a shield.
"Yes. I heard as much from a friend in Rogari. That you were a princess of a fallen nation, the tyrannical Demon Lord, the Princess of Fresh Blood."
"Ho. You’ve done your research well. That is a nostalgic title."
These days, the dress that earned me the moniker "Princess of Fresh Blood" has been bleached pure white. And since coming to Weed, the title of "Demon Lord" has hardly been used. Or rather, to Yuki, a Demon Lord is no different from a common passerby.
"So, what is it you wish to ask?"
"Oh, you dislike beating around the bush? My apologies."
"Ah, no. Forgive me. When people mention 'Demon Lord' or 'Princess of Fresh Blood,' I tend to expect a certain kind of conversation. Whenever I was called by those names in the past, it always led to that sort of business."
"I see. Indeed. That was a lack of consideration on my part. I apologize for making you uncomfortable."
This man seemed to understand etiquette. He wasn't arrogant, nor did he stare rudely at my chest. Not everyone I’d met so far had been like that; many had looked at me with those kinds of eyes. Well, I suppose I can understand the urge, given that I am a beauty with a perfect figure, but I had grown tired of such impudent gazes.
The only one allowed to look at me with those eyes is Yuki, though he doesn't pounce unless he’s in the mood, and he’s never been one to be distracted by my physique alone… No, I suppose even if all his wives pressed him at once, he wouldn't easily lose his composure. Well, he’s quite intense at night, so that’s fine.
But, more importantly, I had to deal with this noble.
"No, it is fine. In your continent, the Demon Lord is a legend from the distant past, so I suppose there is a sense of novelty."
"Forget the Demon Lord; even monsters are rare there. I simply wanted to speak with someone who held the title of King of Demons. I heard that Queen Liliana of the Rogari Continent was once called a Demon Lord, but since she is a Queen now, I wondered what the difference was."
"I see."
We hadn't gone into the nitty-gritty details of that during this exchange. If we tried to explain the history of the continent, it wouldn't be over even after a month.
"I don't know how much you've heard, but a 'Demon' is simply a race that undergoes a sudden change when another race possesses high magical power."
"You mean… they were originally human?"
"Indeed. Well, your neighbor might suddenly change. For those with drastic transformations, even their skin color shifts entirely. To those close to them, it looks as if they’ve turned into a monster."
"I see. But, Lady Deryu, did you undergo such a change?"
"I am not actually a Demon. I was just called a Demon Lord by the public. A 'Demon Lord' isn't just a king of the Demon race; it is a special title."
It’s a bit late to say this, but I suppose I am an unconventional Demon Lord. Being a king of the Demon race is the more traditional definition. I am a rare case who became a Demon Lord while remaining human.
"I see. I had assumed you were a king of monsters. In the If Continent, there was a great war long ago..."
"I’ve heard of that. The story of the thirteen Holy Sword Users and the Demon Lord."
In fact, I hadn't just experienced that war; I had heard the story directly from the participants. Well, there were many things not recorded in history, like how Peace led the monsters and went on a rampage, earning the title of Demon Lord. Thanks to that, life became quite difficult for us.
"Ho. You are very well-informed about our affairs as well."
"My husband traveled through the If Continent, you see."
I had been waiting back in Weed during the early days due to childbirth and such, but I did live as a student at the Lancer Magic Academy with him. We even gained disciples like Amanda and Eoid. Come to think of it, I wonder if those two are here?
As I let my gaze wander, the noble followed my eyes.
"Now that you mention it, you traveled the If Continent with Lord Yuki. You were aware of our continent's circumstances?"
"To an extent. Now, though it is a bit late, may I ask your name?"
"My apologies for the oversight. I am a Marquis of the Zilba Empire. My name is Darbel."
"I see. Lord Darbel. You seem to know of me, but I shall introduce myself properly. Deryu le Cossel. I was the First Princess of the Kingdom of Cossel, which once existed in a corner of the region where the Gartz Kingdom now stands."
I often use this name at meetings and conferences. Not just the Gartz royal family, but all the great powers of the Rogari Continent have given me permission to use it. I suppose they want to show that I, a Demon Lord, am a military asset not just for Weed, but for all of Rogari.
And if this man is a Marquis, he must be a significant figure in Zilba. My surroundings are usually filled with people of the status of Dukes or princesses of entire nations, so standard titles tend to fade into the background, but a Marquis is still a central pillar of a nation—a position of blood relations or a trusted minister—so it is by no means a low rank.
The only one who stands out as a rarity among us is Mikos, the daughter of a Baron. Usually, one would be intimidated by such a lineup of titles, but Mikos is used to it through her association with Kagura.
"It might be rude to call it a fallen nation, but the fact that the great powers of the Rogari Continent still pay you such respect shows what a magnificent kingdom it must have been."
"Who knows? Perhaps they were simply afraid of the Demon Lord's power. Even now, I have rarely lost to anyone other than my husband."
"Haha. Surely, it is impossible to be afraid of a beautiful princess such as yourself, Lady Deryu."
Lord Darbel says that, but what I said is the truth. I was quite wild in the past. After my country was destroyed, I lost myself, destroyed the enemy nation, and then spent my time wandering. If I heard a bad rumor, I would investigate it, and if I judged that action was needed, I would wipe them out. Looking back on my actions now with a cool head, it was undoubtedly the work of a Demon Lord.