Published: March 21, 2026
"Hey, Onii-san, got a minute?"
That night, as I went up to the deck to confirm the route to the Demon King's Castle that I’d obtained in the deal with the Master — just like I said I would earlier — Lattice Nail was waiting there.
"......"
"Come on, don't look so displeased~. Night's long, you could spare me a little time, couldn't you?"
Whether the night was long or short, Amelia would happily get some of it, but everyone else could be declined.
Her tone was light, but Lattice Nail's face was all seriousness. I reluctantly stood beside her and stared out at the pitch-black sea. It was an unfortunate new moon, and the Demon Clan territory on the opposite side was just dark rock faces with the faint glow of distant streetlights, so no matter where I looked everything looked the same.
"Get to the point."
"Aww, you're killing the mood. Hey, wait! I'm kidding! Since it's so dark I thought I'd at least try to brighten the atmosphere, you know!"
She puffed her cheeks, and I tried to head down to the Demon Clan side to disembark, but she hurriedly stopped me.
"I'm not exactly free here, you know?"
"Okay, okay! We're heading to the Demon King's Castle tomorrow, right? Which means, barring anything weird, we'll be meeting the demon king the day after. And I want to ask you a favor then."
The Demon Clan territory, blown into a crescent shape with its northern half gone, was smaller than other domains. From the coastal areas where airships mostly travel to the central Demon King's Castle, you could reach it in a day or two. With carriages it would be faster, but we're walking. So I wanted to confirm the route and rest.
"Fine. I'll listen."
I urged the roundabout Lattice Nail to hurry up and speak.
"When I talk to my father, I want you to be on my side."
"On your side?"
"I left the Demon King's Castle because everybody around my father was a yes-man, even if they offered opinions. I wanted someone inside the castle who was on my side. Well, most of the reason was that I wanted to run away and see the world, though~"
"...The Demon Clan — no, the ten demon lords' council — are fully in favor of the demon king's plan?"
I hadn't expected anyone to agree with that ridiculous plan to use other humans as sacrifices to revive his wife. I assumed the majority didn't know and only those close to the demon king, like Mahiro or Aurum, had been told.
"Yep. Well, from the Demon Clan's point of view it's beneficial if you only look at the good parts. Also, any demon who might oppose was expelled from the castle with some excuse when my father assumed the throne."
As she grumbled, I quietly understood.
Master No.7 was probably one of those exiles. No wonder Morte had a shop in such an out-of-the-way place. There are drinking establishments in the main street, but a former castle elite opening a place didn't fit the atmosphere.
"How are they managing to rule the Demon Clan...?"
"Well, the Demon Clan's population is small. They also tend to have long lifespans and patience. If it were the Human territory, things would be different."
Has any ruler who surrounded themselves with people who never disagreed actually governed well? They're not exactly oppressing, so perhaps they can keep order. The demons walking the bustling side of Morte didn't look starving. If anything, the shadowed parts of Reytis country's castle town felt closer to Morte's slum district.
"Wait. You said it's beneficial for the Demon Clan?"
"Ah—yeah, well…"
Could genocide be beneficial? I asked, but Lattice Nail looked uneasy and cast her gaze over the dark sea.
"As you know, the Demon Clan has been hated in this world. Pushed to this continent unsuitable for humans since before myth. So over long lives, we've been watching for chances for revenge and to raise the Demon Clan's status."
In the still night, where not even the sound of waves reached us, only her words echoed.
"If Mother's revival succeeds, the sacrifices will erase all species except demons living in this world. Then the rich lands that the humans and Beastmen have—lands we could never obtain—will become the Demon Clan's. The people who hate us and spread rumors will be gone. ...If it goes well, we might gain your world's technology and territories too."