Ira’s Dream
1279 Words
“I need to see Satanya.”
Ira announced, and almost the instant his words left his lips, the two rows of Black Knights guarding the Demon Lord’s bedchamber silently parted, opening a path for Ira and Vira to pass through.
Why?
Why was it so easy?
“You guys… No, never mind.”
Ira had the urge to question them but quickly dismissed the thought. Instead, he simply led Vira and the tiny fairy perched on his shoulder through the grand doors of the Demon Lord’s chamber.
Knock, knock, knock~
Ira gently tapped on the beautifully ornamented doors before him. The intricate patterns and imposing presence of the entrance certainly exuded authority, but neither he nor Vira seemed particularly impressed. In fact… compared to what they were used to, this door was relatively modest.
After all, the Emperor’s personal quarters in the Empire were an entire palace unto themselves, whereas Satanya’s sleeping chamber was merely a lavishly decorated room within a castle. No matter how extravagant it might be, it was still just a room.
To put it bluntly, it could even be called a bedroom.
“…”
Ira waited for a response, but none came. Logically speaking, Satanya’s personal maid, Shirina, should be inside with her, along with a whole team of attendants.
“Should we just break in?”
Vira suggested casually, only to be met with synchronized eye-rolls from both Ira and the fairy.
“What kind of looks are those? I was just joking…”
Before their banter could continue, the doors creaked open, revealing Shirina, immaculately dressed and poised as ever. She nodded politely toward them and greeted, “Good morning, Lord Ira, Lady Vira, and our fairy guest.”
“Good morning.”
Ira returned the courtesy, despite having rushed over without even stopping for breakfast. He still maintained a level of politeness, saying, “It’s another bright and sunny day, and the wind is still—”
Vira, looking exasperated, wasted no time in cutting him off and getting straight to the point. She gestured toward the fairy and explained, “A group of wild fairies have come seeking help. Their home near the Demon Lord’s territory has been taken over by a swarm of giant bees, and they hope we can assist.”
She kept the explanation brief but clear.
Though the details were still scarce, at least Shirina now understood the gist of the situation. However—
“I see. This sounds like a good opportunity to supplement our labor force…” Shirina mused before turning her gaze back to Ira and Vira with a slightly puzzled expression. “So, are you planning to bring the Demon Lord along to observe the battle? Do you need me to wake her up?”
It seemed yesterday’s barbecue feast had lasted quite late, and for a child like Satanya, staying up too long was bound to take its toll.
“Actually, I came to request Satanya’s permission,” Ira stated firmly.
Seeing Shirina and Vira’s helpless expressions, Ira let out a resigned sigh and added, “I know you both think there’s no need to ask, but I genuinely don’t understand—if I don’t get her orders, how am I supposed to mobilize the troops to wipe out the giant bees?”
Yes, Ira didn’t understand.
No matter how long he spent in the Demon Lord’s territory, he simply couldn’t wrap his head around how things worked here. Was it really possible to command the Black Knights, Headless Horsemen, or the Insectoid warriors without an official decree?
“It’s actually quite simple. Just go to the different district leaders, find the people you’re familiar with, and explain the situation to them,” Shirina said with a small smile. “If it’s something beneficial to the Demon Lord’s realm, no one would refuse your request, would they? You should try it and see for yourself. So… do you still need me to wake up the Demon Lord?”
“I… but…”
Ira was at a loss for words.
Once again, he found himself struggling to adjust to the bizarre reality of this place—where colleagues operated on trust, where official reports were often unnecessary, and where the ruler had no interest in micromanaging her subordinates.
In just a few days at the Demon Lord’s domain, Ira had heard the same phrases over and over again: “Oh, just go ahead and do it.” “Alright, no need to ask me.”
It was as if…
Satanya truly didn’t need to know what was happening in her own realm.
Satanya was fine with, “X happened, what should we do?” and would discuss possible solutions in morning meetings. But she seemed to prefer, “X happened, so I did Y, which led to Z.” She treated governance like a series of progress reports rather than a monarchy requiring constant oversight.
She had none of the airs of a ruler.
None of the rigid protocols required to run a kingdom.
None of the expected sense of duty.
She was just… unbearably adorable.
What kind of ruler was this?
“Seriously, what is Satanya even thinking…?”
Ira muttered to himself, shaking his head.
And yet, despite his complaints, a smile unknowingly spread across his face.
A genuine smile.
One filled with an unfamiliar kind of joy.
“Haha… In that case, Shirina, please wake up Satanya. She still needs to experience live combat.”
“…”
Shirina narrowed her eyes at Ira for a moment before her lips curled into an amused smile.
“I understand, Lord Ira. I’ll wake the Demon Lord at once.”
As Shirina disappeared into the chamber, Ira let out a long breath.
“Hah…”
“…”
“Ira, what were you just thinking about?”
Vira asked, frowning slightly. “The mana around you just now… it was trembling, almost like it was cheering for you. What happened?”
Ira turned to her and, with a grin, replied, “I realized something.”
He locked eyes with Vira, his gaze filled with newfound clarity.
“I realized what I can do, what I can’t do, and how different I am here compared to when I was in the Empire.”
Under the curious stares of the Black Knights, Vira and the others listened intently.
“What is it?” Vira pressed.
“I can do anything.”
Ira declared, his voice brimming with conviction.
He had finally understood.
Here, there was no need to seek a ruler’s permission.
No need to consider royal dignity.
No need to maintain political power balances.
No need to hold back for the sake of stability.
“Everything is permitted. I am allowed to be myself, to do whatever I desire. I don’t have to suppress myself. I don’t have to care—”
“Because Satanya doesn’t care.”
Ira spoke words that would have been scandalous in the Empire.
But here?
No one objected.
The joy in his expression was unmistakable.
“This trust… it may not be as deep as Isabella’s, but it’s far purer.”
“It is trust untainted by politics or expectations.”
Vira’s expression changed.
She understood now.
And as a proud smile crept onto her face, Ira continued,
“In that case—”
“I will finally achieve the dream I’ve spent my entire life pursuing!”
“Not in the Empire.”
“But here—in the Demon Lord’s domain!”
“I will build the nation I can truly call home!”
- Writer
