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The End of the Conference

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(POV switch – Farce)

“Ah, you’re late, Your Majesty.” (Nobunaga)

With those words, the momentum that should have tilted in our favor immediately swung toward the Demon King.

In my plan, the Border Baron was supposed to serve as the negotiator, making the Demon King think he was in charge. Then, we would suddenly bring in the Emperor to switch positions and take control of the situation, all while causing confusion. Even without confusion, the Emperor is skilled in negotiations, and his power far surpasses that of the Baron. I should have been able to position myself at the center of this conference. But the Demon King shattered that with a single sentence. He didn’t show any surprise at the Emperor’s appearance, responding as if he already knew the Emperor would be here.

I had thought that the Demon King was terrifying in terms of appearance and presence, but to show such confidence in negotiations as well… I wanted to escape that place as quickly as possible. Arriving late to a conference is considered rude and could be used as ammunition in negotiations.

Normally, even if the Emperor arrived a bit late, no noble would dare point it out, and it would end with some light sarcasm. However, that’s only within the Empire.
Where does the Demon King stand? He carries the title of king but has no nation. Yet, the Great Forest of Owa, which he controls, far surpasses the city-states scattered throughout the Nations. It is not called the largest forest on the continent for nothing.

In other words, while he has no nation, he has something that replaces it. Given that he commands other races, he can certainly be called a king. Externally, he can be seen as equivalent to the Emperor. If he is equal to the Emperor, then I can use his tardiness as leverage.

Just that alone would have been enough for me to lose a painful trump card, yet the Demon King acted as though he knew the Emperor would be here. Was that a bluff? Or did the Demon King’s intelligence network allow him to pick up on the Emperor’s presence? Until I understand this, any rash move will surely be countered swiftly.

The situation is at its worst. Anyone here who doesn’t understand that is fooling themselves… The Second Imperial Court Magician doesn’t seem to understand much. I’ll mark him as someone irrelevant.

“I just arrived a moment ago.” (Gilford)

“Is that so? I thought you were out looking around the city. Recently, I’ve been visiting dungeons myself. It’s important to check them out in person, isn’t it?” (Nobunaga)

The Emperor was trying to brush off his tardiness, but the Demon King wouldn’t let it slide. The Demon King’s attitude clearly showed that he didn’t believe for a second that the Emperor had just arrived. He was also trying to make the Emperor and himself appear as equals. Continuing like this would only result in a clear defeat. Furthermore, I didn’t want to stay in such a stifling environment for long, so I decided to take a break and leave the room for now.

“Excuse me. Nobunaga-dono, I’ve brought the Totsutotsu fruit, the sharp-pointed plant. How long should I have boiled it? I’m sorry, I forgot to ask.” (Claas)

The servant, who didn’t seem to know the name Totsutotsu, tilted their head for a moment, then quickly added a clarification. Once they understood, they assured me it was no problem, and said it was fine to bring it over. This was enough to stop the momentum from swinging further in the Demon King’s favor. From here on out, it was the Emperor and the Baron’s responsibility. I decided to take a break and pause the proceedings for now.

Afterward, I immediately left the room. The reason I was bringing the Totsutotsu fruit was just an excuse, but more importantly, I didn’t want to remain in that room any longer.

The boiled Totsutotsu fruit seemed to have lost a little color compared to before it was boiled. But that was all. I had no idea what this fruit was used for, nor how I was supposed to take it to the Demon King. Totsutotsu fruits are typically thrown. The fruit was the right size to be thrown, but if that’s the case, I could just throw stones. It didn’t seem to be a dye. The water was only slightly clouded, and it couldn’t be called colored. If it were to be used for dyeing, I would expect more than one fruit to be needed.

Since I didn’t know, I placed the fruit in a basket to carry it. Just in case, I also gathered some more from the town and boiled them in the same way. I quickly returned, gave the basket with the boiled Totsutotsu fruit to the Demon King, leaving the rest in a separate basket, which I handed over to the maid to wait in the hallway. Now, I just had to listen in and find the right moment to re-enter.

“—For that reason, the number of nobles has decreased, and the nobles and royalty who surrendered were given titles like Duke and made part of the Empire. That is why I make frequent visits. It’s not impossible for them to betray the Empire, join the Confederation of Nations, and declare independence. I must keep my eyes open.” (Gilford)

It seems they are talking about the previous war and related matters. This means it would be fine for me to enter.

“Excuse me. Demon King-sama, I’ve brought the boiled Totsutotsu fruit you requested.” (Claas)

After knocking, I entered and immediately handed the basket to the Demon King.

“Thank you. Hmm, just as I thought. …So, where’s the knife?” (Nobunaga)

He examined the fruit, turning it around as if checking something. Once satisfied, he asked for a knife. It seems that the fruit is edible. It doesn’t look like it could be eaten at all. As expected, I was prepared, so I immediately handed over a dining knife.

“Ah, right. This one. I wanted to peel it, but… don’t you have a kitchen knife or something?” (Nobunaga)

I hadn’t anticipated that. In fact, I had judged that bringing a knife into the conference room could be dangerous, so I hadn’t brought one.

For a moment, the Captain of the Imperial Guard seemed ready to take something out of his pocket, but I stopped him with a glance. This might be a trap from the Demon King. I couldn’t afford to fall for it.

With no choice, the Demon King used a knife to cut the fruit. Inside was a yellow cross-section. He scooped it out with the knife and took a bite. Whether or not he has teeth, it seemed like he was chewing as if savoring it. Then, for some reason, he nodded, and with the other half of the fruit, he repeated the same action.

“Try it.” (Nobunaga)

He handed it to me… Could this be a test for poison? Unfortunately, everyone in the room, including the Emperor, the Border Baron, the Captain of the Imperial Guard, and the Second Imperial Court Magician, had a higher status than me and were all supposed to be present in the Empire. I never thought I’d end up being the poison tester for the Border Baron’s butler.

“Thank you.” (Claas)

With a smile, I steeled myself and threw it into my mouth. As I chewed, the bitterness spread through my mouth, but gradually, the bitterness turned into sweetness.

“It’s more bitter than I expected, isn’t it? It’s edible, though.” (Claas)

“It is bitter, yes. But it seems that the bitterness enhances the sweetness.” (Nobunaga)

I had no idea there was a way to prepare Totsutotsu like this. In fact, I didn’t even know that Totsutotsu had fruit inside. The Demon King broke open the remaining fruit and fed it to both the Arachne and the Lizard Commander.

“Ah, I should have given it to them as well. I originally only brought it to confirm, so I didn’t bring multiples.” (Nobunaga)

“If that’s the case, don’t worry. We’ve prepared some here. Please, bring them in.” (Claas)

I signaled for the maid, who had been waiting outside, to enter. While they came in, I distributed knives to everyone.

“Truly impressive, Claas. But, I could tell it was edible, but is this really the Totsutotsu?” (Gilford)

“Thank you, Your Majesty. When you break open a Totsutotsu, there are usually two fruits inside. This is the boiled version, as per the Maou-sama’s instructions.” (Claas)

“Hmm, I see. It seems interesting.” (Gilford)

The Emperor said, observing the fruit with intrigue, and then took a knife to it.

Compared to what the Emperor is eating, this may be inferior, but it’s a rare taste, so it’s probably not bad.

“This must grow in the Empire, right? How enviable.” (Nobunaga)

The Demon King’s words, as he ate the Totsutotsu fruit, made me realize that this Totsutotsu was a trap.

The Empire has very little fertile land and suffers from chronic food insecurity. Even the Emperor has been unable to implement friendly policies for this issue. However, with this Totsutotsu fruit and its method of preparation, things could be greatly improved.

Totsutotsu is commonly thrown to repel monsters and demons, and merchants, children, and others often carry it in large quantities. Even poor families sometimes store it to sell to merchants. If all of this could be used as food, cultivating Totsutotsu would be a great benefit to the Empire.

The Demon King had hidden this as a trump card, cutting it carefully so no one would notice. When I realized it, I had learned the method of preparing Totsutotsu fruit and had incurred a great debt.

This is no longer a matter of simply accepting the trade proposal from the Demon King unconditionally. Trade benefits both parties. The method of preparing Totsutotsu fruit is only beneficial for us, so if we are to repay the debt, we must return the benefit to the Demon King. What could that benefit be? How does Emperor Gilford intend to handle this? It is terrifying, even though I cannot speak during the conference.

“Thanks to Maou-dono, this conference looks like it will be quite pleasant. I would like to proceed casually… Ah, I forgot to introduce myself while discussing the Empire. I am Gilford Gilua Gilbard, Emperor of the Empire. It may sound arrogant, but that is indeed the case. The two behind me are the Captain of the Imperial Guard, Ban Baralam, and the Second in command Imperial Court Magician, Flune Helbert.” (Gilford)

At the mention of ‘Second’, Flune slightly moved, but I hoped he would stop. We are in a situation where we don’t know what could trigger anything.

“Since I started first, I forgot. I am Nobunaga, Demon King of the Great Forest of Owa. The one behind me is the Arachnid, Ran, and the Lizard Commander, Rin. However, Helbert, that name sounds familiar.” (Nobunaga)

“You’ll probably figure that out if you look at the paper in front of you.” (Gilford)

On the Demon King’s desk is a contract, which lists both the Demon King’s name and the names of the slaves, Ifrina Helbert and Selmina Helbert.

“Is this acceptable? Aren’t you siblings?” (Nobunaga)

Even the Demon King seemed surprised by this. I was also surprised at first. After all…

“I don’t care.” (Flune)

It was as if they were strangers, or rather, treated even worse than that.

Well, I might have done the same if my relatives were alive. It seems that the Demon King sensed something from Flune’s attitude, as he made a thoughtful gesture.

“I promise I won’t treat them harshly.” (Nobunaga)

“I don’t care.” (Flune)

Which one is the Demon King here?

Still, thanks to this, I was able to grasp the Demon King’s personality a little. He didn’t get angry at Flune’s words, and he guaranteed the safety of the slaves. This was quite different from what I had heard about the Demon King, he could be considered gentle.

“Hahaha, this one doesn’t seem to care about becoming the Chief Imperial Court Magician at all. Well, it’s impossible unless he understands politics and can quickly handle administrative work.” (Gilford)

While Flune was astonished, as if hearing this for the first time, Emperor Gilford and the Demon King quickly moved from small talk to the actual conference.

“Maou-dono, do you wish to trade? From what I can see, both the Wari fruit and the Arachnid thread are fine products. The Border Baron would be pleased to accept them. There are a few things I’d like to ask, though. Do you wish to trade only with the Border Baron’s territory, or with the entire Empire?” (Gilford)

“Only with the Border Baron’s domain. I’m not sure if my subordinates can properly understand trade, and since this is a first attempt, I want to proceed cautiously. I also don’t want to bring too many humans close to the dungeon area. There’s also the issue of how much demand there is. I doubt the demand will ever catch up, so there are many reasons for this.” (Demon King)

Have I failed to earn any favor? If Emperor Gilford uses his power, establishing trade routes throughout the Empire would be easy. I will need to repay my debt with favors, or things could get dangerous.

However, the Demon King is not to be underestimated. If he had followed the Emperor’s sweet words, the supply would have been insufficient, resulting in penalties or even causing the Great Forest of Owa to be stripped bare to increase the supply. If that happened, it would have been easy for the Empire to defeat the Demon King.

“I see, I understand. One more thing, though. Let’s talk about Andal. As you know, Andal is a city of adventurers. Most adventurers, as you know, make their living by entering the Great Forest of Owa. Will you allow them to continue entering the Great Forest of Owa?” (Gilford)

“…I refuse. As I said earlier, I don’t want to bring humans close to the dungeon area. There’s also the possibility of them attacking my subordinates. Will the Empire take responsibility for that? I highly doubt it, so it’s not something I can allow. However, if you want materials from the Great Forest of Owa, give me some documents and a catalog. I will include them in the trade.” (Nobunaga)

“Responsibility, huh? As a nation, we cannot take responsibility. But then, there’s the issue of employment.” (Gilford)

“Employment is your problem. But, well, if it’s a technical job like carpentry, I would be willing to accept them. It would be preferable if they could speak the language of the demons.” (Nobunaga)

Seeing the slight opening from the Demon King, Emperor Gilford gave a quick glance, and I immediately nodded in agreement.

The condition that they must speak the demon language is quite difficult, but this is a golden opportunity to slip into the Demon King’s favor. I cannot miss this chance. Once the conference ends, I will immediately present candidates, and if they cannot speak the demon language, I will teach them. It will also be necessary to procure materials on the demon language.

“I would be grateful if you could do that. Now, the Great Forest of Owa will trade only with the Border Baron’s domain, and the Great Forest of Owa will be off-limits to anyone except those involved in trade. Is there anything else to add?” (Gilford)

“…No. By the way, I’m glad to have you, Emperor. Actually, there’s something I would like to ask, something I thought would be difficult in the Border Baron’s case.” (Nobunaga)

Just when I thought the conference was nearing its end and was about to prepare the parchment, the Demon King’s words made my face tense up. I knew he would ask to repay the favor I had incurred. However, I didn’t expect it to come so soon.

“Is it something difficult in the Border Baron’s case? I can’t give an immediate response, but I will hear you out.” (Gilford)

“I would like you to hold military exercises. Preferably near the borders of the nations.” (Nobunaga)

Military exercises… those were cursed memories remaining from the previous era. But why does the Demon King want that? Is he subtly trying to uncover our plans? If it’s near the borders, it would draw the attention of the neighboring nations, and we would end up revealing our strategy to them.

“I see, military exercises. May I ask why you seek this?” (Gilford)

“I just want to buy some time and keep them in check. I plan to take action during that period.” (Nobunaga)

He is probably intentionally being vague, but I can understand. The mention of military exercises followed by the word “nations.” What does ‘buying time and keeping in check’ mean? As I think about it, the price of preserved food has been rising recently.

At first, I thought it was just a bit of a price increase before the harvest, which would be expected, but if this is actually preparation to move the military… And if the Demon King is already preparing countermeasures, then he must be focusing on the Great Forest of Owa. If military exercises are held as the Demon King suggests, countries aligned with the Empire in the neighboring nations will keep their armies nearby. They won’t head towards the Great Forest of Owa.

If the soldiers are reduced, other countries will have to take over, and the situation will become chaotic. Though the Duchy claims to be the leader, it has no real influence. The Demon King’s suggestion would effectively buy time. By accepting this request, the Demon King would be able to deal with the coalition forces of the neighboring nations, or so he believes.

There are two options, Choose the enemy of the Empire, the nations. Or choose the enemy of humans, the Demon King.

“How large a scale are you expecting for these military exercises?” (Gilford)

“Just the troops the Border Baron has will be fine. The fact that the exercises are held is all I need. If possible, I would prefer to do it soon.” (Nobunaga)

“Hmm, the Border Baron won’t mind? I will accept your request.” (Gilford)

There was no need to think about it. The neighboring nations are the traditional enemies, and the Demon King standing before me is the one I just met, he is a friendly Demon King. The increase in expenses is painful, but…

“Then, I will leave the military exercises to the Border Baron. As for the trade, the details, such as prices and dates, can be decided later, correct?” (Gilford)

“I would appreciate it if you could do that. This was my first conference, so I was nervous.” (Nobunaga)

From the sound of his voice, he was likely saying this cheerfully, but his expression made it hard to tell. Additionally, none of the demons behind him seemed to be nervous at all.

Later, I offered dinner, but it was declined. Apparently, the Demon King didn’t want to leave the dungeon unguarded. However…

“Can I show you the town? I want to see what it’s like.” (Nobunaga)

At the very last moment, the Demon King gave me a big task.

“If Maou-dono wants to see it, I will also go and take a look. It would be a good opportunity to understand the governance of the Border Baron.” (Gilford)

It truly became a big task.

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