Chapter 140: Burdens Shared, Bonds Forged
He had thought Illiya had come to him with some matter to discuss. But after asking, he received the explanation above.
Anos was both amused and helpless, but he didn’t stop Illiya—in fact, he became even more proactive.
He enthusiastically introduced everything about the Demon Realm to Illiya and even picked out some harmless tasks to explain in detail to the silent golden-haired elf trailing behind him.
Anos said, "Actually, the work of a Demon King is quite similar to that of a human king on the continent. But there are still differences here in the Demon Realm. Perhaps because demons are born with deep reverence for the Demon King, the frequency and volume of petitions submitted are unusually high. They range from major diplomatic affairs between cities to trivial complaints like two demon friends dividing food, with one getting a sliver more the size of a fingernail. Though minor ones like that never actually reach me. I only found out about that one while bored and flipping through the petitions on Sebastian’s desk."
"Although I haven’t been in power long, ever since I ascended the throne, I’ve come to realize that the Demon King is more than just a ruler of the demons — he’s an important symbol, a spiritual emblem, really. I’m not sure if you can understand this, Illiya, but while the Demon King governs the demon race, his true role is more symbolic in nature."
"The Demon King means a lot to the demons — so much, in fact, that I found it hard to comprehend at first. It felt ridiculous to carry such immense expectations on one person’s shoulders. But later, I began to face it seriously. I figured that since I became the Demon King, I ought to bear that responsibility properly."
"But I’m still scared — no matter how much time passes."