The Demon Lord’s Domain is Close to a Utopia
1147 Words
Giant bees are large magical creatures, roughly half the height of a human... at least, that’s how humans classify them. Humans tend to categorize all non-human creatures as magical beasts.
However, in the Demon Lord’s Domain, the inhabitants distinguish between creatures with intelligence, which they call magical beings, and those without intelligence, which they call beasts. There are no strict taboos regarding these terms—getting them wrong wouldn’t upset anyone—but the distinction makes communication easier.
Ira rode on horseback alongside the Blackflame Headless Knight. Since Ira still hadn't learned to ride, the knight was the one handling the reins.
After picking up the still-drowsy Satania, Ira, Satania, and Shilina visited the leaders of the Insectoid Tribe and the Headless Knights. They then gathered troops from the Demon Lord’s army.
How should one describe this process?
Hmm…
It was almost completely free of bureaucratic hurdles.
Ira simply explained the situation to the two leaders, and they decided for themselves how many soldiers to bring. Even before they knew it was Satania’s will, they acted with remarkable freedom and efficiency.
If Ira had harbored ill intentions, they would have been guilty of leading the Demon Lord’s army to ruin. But since Ira was trustworthy, this method of mobilization became synonymous with "quick" and "decisive."
It was almost unbelievable—just a simple “Bring your people to help me” was enough to mobilize part of the army. The sheer ease of it raised concerns about security.
Yet, it was precisely because of such systems that the Empire suffered repeated defeats against magical beings before the emergence of the Governors.
It’s worth mentioning that nearly every magical being in the Demon Lord’s Domain possesses combat capabilities. However, the primary forces of the Demon Lord’s army consist of three groups: the Headless Knights (cavalry), the Black Knights (infantry), and the Insectoids (land and aerial units).
That said, neither the Black Knights nor the Headless Knights were well-suited for battles in dense forests. The Headless Knights were mainly included in this operation to transport the Insectoid warriors.
Upon arrival at the battlefield, the Headless Knights would surround the target area while the Insectoids launched their attack.
Among the Insectoids, the most common warriors resembled humanoid beetles, clad in natural exoskeletal armor. Other prominent members of the tribe included spider, centipede, and scorpion variants. Technically,
they weren’t all insects; rather, they belonged to the broader category of arthropods. However, the Insectoids were often referred to as the "Exoskeletal Tribe," which might have been a more fitting name.
Ira recalled that during his time on the battlefield, aside from the precious and carefully rationed power of the Crimson Dragon, the Insectoids’ abilities were among his most relied-upon assets.
The Fourth Wing of the Insectoids was particularly useful—it could transform at will into a staff-like weapon. If possible, Ira wanted to obtain some Insectoid mana and request the tribe leader to create one for him.
But then…
Ira turned his gaze toward the Blackflame Headless Knight riding in front of him. A sudden thought struck him—
The Second Wing of the Headless Knights was incredibly useful. It allowed them to summon autonomous, magically enhanced warhorses similar to their own headless steeds.
As he pondered this, the knight in front of him—her voice possessing a mature, commanding tone—spoke to him from within her armor.
“Ira, the flesh and bones of the giant bees—neither you nor the Insectoids have much use for them, correct?”
“None at all,” Ira replied.
“We don’t either,” answered the Insectoid leader, who was riding behind another Headless Knight.
“Same here,” added the little fairy perched on Ira’s shoulder.
“In that case, this slaughter will be perfect for creating new Headless Knights. I’ll bring it up during the morning assembly to see if anyone else needs the materials. But at the very least, Little Black will need new bodies. For the undead, battle and slaughter are the essence of existence.”
The Blackflame Headless Knight’s words were unsurprising to Ira. After all, both the Headless Knights and Black Knights were undead beings—the former formed from warriors’ souls and the latter from their undying bodies.
A perfect cycle of utilization.
“Of course, that’s just the usual practice,” she continued. “If a Governor like you appears on the battlefield, then that kind of war cycle is best avoided.”
Indeed, although many magical beings could sustain themselves through endless battles, even their replenishment speed might not keep up with the devastation caused by a Governor.
Precision, efficiency, elegance, and ruthlessness—these were the defining traits of a Governor. Unlike other professions, which had broader purposes, the Governor’s sole function was efficient extermination. Designed from the outset to slaughter magical beings, they were unmatched in their effectiveness on such battlefields.
As Ira contemplated this, a small voice interrupted his thoughts—
“Ira, about what you said this morning…”
Satania, who had been holding onto Shilina’s waist as they rode, asked her question hesitantly.
If this were the Empire, someone would already be questioning Ira’s earlier remarks—words that could be seen as treasonous or rebellious.
If this were the Empire, Ira would likely be detained and interrogated, constantly fearing the Emperor’s wrath.
But here?
Ira was certain that no one would question him.
Satania wasn’t about to reprimand him for his disrespect toward the monarchy—she simply wanted to understand.
“Hm?”
Ira made a questioning sound, giving Satania room to continue.
Yes, this Demon Lord was the kind of person who would pause her question halfway through, just in case Ira didn’t feel like answering.
“The country where you said you could live in satisfaction… what would it be like?”
“…”
As Satania looked at him with curiosity, as did Shilina and the others—
Even the Blackflame Headless Knight and the Insectoid leader turned their heads slightly, which made Ira internally groan—
Focus on riding the damn horses, will you?!
Suppressing his amusement, Ira took a moment to organize his thoughts before answering.
“A nation so strong that no one dares wage war against it. So peaceful that it has no reason to start wars of its own. A place where everyone has enough to eat, where survival isn’t a desperate struggle. A land without oppression, where no one needs to rely on deception or flattery to be happy…
There are many more ideals I could list, but that’s the general idea.”
“…”
That vision sounded strangely familiar.
“But… isn’t the Demon Lord’s Domain already close to that?”
Satania’s puzzled voice rang out.
“…”
Yes—aside from absolute strength and guaranteed survival, it was already nearly there.
- Writer
