Chapter 260: The Restoration of Times Kingdom
The brief respite in the hot springs didn’t last long. Drained of all my energy by Oracle, I was left limp as she carried me toward the Times Square Military Port.
「Takeru, pull yourself together! You can be sloppy now, but when we reach the capital, you’ll have to keep up appearances in front of the vassals.」
「You’re the one who sucked me dry… and now you’re lecturing me?」
Well, it wasn’t entirely Oracle’s fault.
Once she started, the others, including Queen Dareda, joined in and I had a rough time.
Everyone kept saying, ‘Just a little bit’ while completely ignoring how exhausted I was.
「Nation’s Father, here.」
「Thanks.」
As we flew eastward, Kaara handed me some meat, which I chewed on. It wasn’t the time to complain about a lack of appetite.
The roasted meat dripped with juices, and I tore into it. It had a wild, earthy flavor—the taste of buffalo from the wilderness. It tasted like life itself. I had to consume it to restore my strength if I wanted to face what was coming.
While flying alongside me, Kaara diligently fed me, gave me drinks, and even wiped my mouth with a napkin.
She had been amazing this time, not just setting up the outdoor bath but also hunting and cooking. However, let’s not forget that she, too, had joined in draining my energy earlier.
At this point, I deserved to be pampered like this. Honestly, demons never let their guard down.
「Well, things are looking bright.」
Said Hydra, smiling cheerfully.
Unlike others, Hydra didn’t know flight magic, so she was being carried by the Dragon Maids. Used to riding beasts, she didn’t seem fazed at all.
Apparently, along the way, Kaara had shared her plan to establish a new demon nation, with my son Orakeru as its Demon King. Hydra, ever eager, declared she’d become one of his aides.
For demons, becoming a close aide to the Demon King carried special significance, and ever since hearing the plan, her voice had been filled with excitement, her eyes sparkling.
Orakeru’s only one year old though, so building a nation is a far-off dream. I didn’t want to ruin her enthusiasm, so I kept quiet.
「We’re busy figuring out what to do about that Great Demon God.」
「I wasn’t able to stop it, but I’m sure you can handle it, King General-sama.」
She said it so casually.
The truth was, even if the Great Demon God destroyed the goddess Asama, it probably wouldn’t bother her or the others.
For the demons of the Abyss Continent, what happens to a human kingdom on a distant continent is none of their concern.
Hydra, who immediately joined me when she realized the Great Demon King Ifriil wasn’t worth serving, was tough and pragmatic.
Even if Asama and the entire Eura Continent were to be destroyed, she and Kaara would likely team up, raise Orakeru as the new Demon King, and build a new demon nation.
While I’m glad my son’s future looks bright, as the King’s General of Silesie, I have to do everything I can to prevent that outcome.
「Takeru, we’re nearing the capital of Times.」
「Yeah, just drop me off at the barracks for now.」
「Nation’s Father, based on the movements of the Great Demon King, I don’t believe the city of Times will be attacked.」
「Well, that’s some good news, at least.」
The Great Demon King Ifriil’s goal was to destroy the goddess Asama. Though the demon city Laurentite had been wiped out on his way, it didn’t seem like he would take the time to detour here and destroy this city as well.
In that sense, it was almost fortunate that the Great Demon God was being controlled. A creature of chaos with no clear target would be far more terrifying.
In the northern reaches of the Eura Continent, the Kingdom of Demons had already collapsed because of such unpredictability.
But, surprisingly, despite the recent war, the capital of Times below us appeared calm, almost peaceful.
At least, for now, it was a relief that this city wasn’t destined for the same fate as the demon capital.
※※※
At Times Square Port, repairs on the fleet were proceeding at a rapid pace. According to Lyle-sensei’s plan, we had to return to the Eura Continent before the Great Demon God arrived, so time was of the essence.
However, after the long voyage and continuous battles, repairing the heavily damaged ships was no easy task. While the outer hulls of the Black Cedar warships were resilient, the decks and frameworks had suffered significant damage.
Even though makeshift repairs would take time, the three Black Cedar warships, which were the backbone of our fleet, had to be made operational at all costs. As I was surveying the scene, I spotted Admiral Drake standing by one of the Black Cedar warships, which had been lifted into a dry dock.
Drake, a natural-born sailor who had been on ships since the day he was born, seemed unable to stay away from the vessels, even after coming ashore.
「King General, this ship’s been through quite a lot, going back and forth across the Great Sea. But hey, thanks to it, I’ve become the best sailor in the world.」
Said Admiral Drake, dark circles under his eyes.
Apparently, he had reunited with Dragon Maid Asatte last night, and she had drained him considerably. No matter how great a sailor he was, age had to be catching up with him.
「Drake, take it easy and rest while the ships are being repaired.」
「I’d like to, but…」
At the entrance to the cabin, Asatte was waving him over, but I decided to pretend I didn’t see her. It seemed Drake wouldn’t be getting much rest while ashore.
Maybe I should have some tonics delivered to him later. Though I know from personal experience that being forcibly invigorated by medicine is exhausting, it’s a necessary evil when dealing with Dragon Maids.
Anyway, enough about the ships…
Just as I thought that, Lyle-sensei appeared at the dry dock and called out to me.
「Takeru-dono, there you are.」
「Sensei, I was just about to head your way.」
Now that the enemy’s movements were clearer, we needed to discuss our next steps.
「Come quickly to the castle.」
「The castle…? There’s a castle in this city?」
We walked toward the city center together. Times was a bustling military port, but during the war, everything had been so chaotic that I hadn’t had a chance to properly explore the city.
「This region has been under the control of the Great Demon King Ifriil, and the castle has been used as the governor’s residence. However, before that, this was the capital of the Times Kingdom, so of course, there’s a castle.」
「Is there still a king?」
「Unfortunately, no. The royal family sided with the Great Demon King in the last war and was wiped out. It’s a shame, really. If they’d joined us, we could have installed them as puppet rulers.」
Lyle-sensei’s remarks were as dark as ever.
「So, without a king, what will happen to this country?」
「That’s what I wanted to discuss with you.」
Lyle-sensei said as we continued down the stone-paved road. Eventually, a large castle came into view.
Like the immense Square Fortress, the castle was made of solid stone, a testament to the region’s rich supply of building materials.
In front of the imposing stone gates, a crowd of soldiers and citizens had gathered, creating a lively atmosphere. Among them, I spotted Admiral Damons waiting for us.
「Damons.」 I acknowledged.
「King General, it is a relief to see you return safely.」
He said, kneeling before me with a retinue of soldiers. He was dressed in elaborate ceremonial attire, gleaming like a monarch.
Ah, so that’s how it is.
「Takeru-dono, I intend to make Damons the new king of Times.」
「I see. That sounds like a fine plan.」
Times Square was still in turmoil after the recent battles. The second major clash had taken place within the city itself, with factions aligned either with the Demon Kingdom or the Silesie Kingdom.
The former king of this land had sided with the Demon Kingdom and perished, leaving the country without a clear ruler. In light of the situation, it seemed fitting for Admiral Damons to take charge of the kingdom.
「You decided quickly, didn’t you? This is a pretty significant choice, but it seems you’ve gained the decisiveness of a true ruler, Takeru-dono. Damons Korang may not be of royal blood, but he is descended from the ‘Sea Emperor Korang’, a noble demon lineage that once ruled over these lands. I believe he’s worthy of being accepted as king.」
If Lyle-sensei thinks so, I have no objections. Frankly, dealing with the Great Demon God is more than enough to handle on my own. I’ve been wanting to delegate matters concerning this kingdom to someone else.
As long as a trustworthy individual governs, I’m fine with whoever it is.
Besides, Damons’ wife was human, and their child is a half-blood, part human, part demon. As a symbol of harmony between humans and demons, it couldn’t be more appropriate for the future cooperation we aim to build.
「It was none other than Admiral Damons who reclaimed the city of Times from the Great Demon King Ifriil. I believe Damons is the right choice for king.」
「Then I humbly accept the honor of becoming king.」
Damons replied without hesitation, already prepared for the responsibility.
Lyle-sensei produced the crown of Times, a symbol of kingship passed down through the land.
「In that case, Takeru-dono, please crown Damons as the King of Times.」
The crown was an ornate design with crystal-adorned horns—a fitting feature, given that many demon species have horns.
I placed the crown on Damons’s head, and it fit perfectly over his buffalo-like horns, as if it had been crafted specifically for him.
「Damons is now king.」
「I humbly accept this crown from you, Your Majesty King General. As King of this land, I will fulfill my duties with honor and excellence!」
Now that he had become king, he didn’t need to kneel anymore. As I thought this, Lyle-sensei quietly muttered beside me.
「Damons becoming king is thanks to the military power of the Silesie Kingdom. Since you were the one to crown him, Takeru-dono, it would be perfectly reasonable for you to declare yourself emperor and have King Damons serve under you…」
Of course, with the current balance of power, that would make sense. Lyle-sensei’s mind always gravitates toward pragmatic, if slightly dark, conclusions.
However, I had no intention of setting up a puppet king.
I took Damons’s hand and helped him to his feet, then gripped his hand firmly and declared aloud:
「Damons—no, King Damons Korang. From now on, let us cooperate not as ruler and subject, but as equals and friends!」
「Ha! It is an honor far beyond my station!」
As I spoke, the soldiers behind us erupted in cheers, raising their hands and shouting, ‘Long live King Damons!’ Their cries spread quickly to the citizens gathered nearby, creating a wave of celebration throughout the square.
Yes, this is how it should be. I felt a bit sorry for Lyle-sensei, who had tried to push the puppet king idea, but this was the right path.
「I knew you’d say that, Takeru-dono. After Times, we still have the task of rebuilding the Abysspania Queendom. Like the nations on the Eura Continent, we’ll form a unified alliance on the Abyss continent, based on equality.」
「I’m glad to hear you say that, sensei.」
「And of course, the leader of that alliance, spanning both continents, will be none other than our Silesie Kingdom.」
I couldn’t help but chuckle. Regardless of the titles, Lyle-sensei always knew how to secure the practical benefits.
The scars of war run deep, and while the newly founded Kingdom of Times will face many challenges in the future, for now, we should celebrate the victory of reclaiming this land from the Great Demon King Ifriil.
The birth of a new king and kingdom was celebrated with great joy, and for three days and nights, the city of Times was enveloped in a grand festival.