#1148 With Great Power Comes with Great Responsibility

I am Demon King Zedan.

I’m the ruler of the demon race, and my duty is to govern.
But oh, how difficult that duty can be.

It has been many years since I inherited the throne from my father.
There was hardly ever a time when things were easy.
During war, battles raged endlessly, and in times of peace, governance proved to be an even greater challenge.

Keeping the hard-won peace intact, reforming the old while searching for the new, and managing the ever-shifting tides of people's hearts, all of it has been an uphill battle.

Truly, an impossible task.

If I’ve made it this far without disaster, it’s thanks to my brilliant subordinates, my caring friends, and most importantly, my two wives and our children.

As the saying goes, peace is more difficult than war.
Rebuilding internal affairs after years of neglect during conflict, rooting out corrupt officials who thrived in my absence, revising outdated laws that no longer fit the times, and fostering a new generation of capable leaders. have all been arduous and patience-testing endeavors.

All of it had been grueling, demanding patience and persistence. But after tirelessly pushing forward, the results were finally beginning to show.

And with the passage of time, I find myself realizing something: I’m getting older.

Nothing makes that clearer than seeing the younger generation rise up.

***

That day, like many others, I was buried under an endless mountain of paperwork.

Just as I finished one pile, my Prime Minister, Lucife Focale, walked in carrying another stack.

"We require Your Majesty’s judgment on these matters."
"Mm."

I swallowed the urge to scream, "Again?!", and silently accepted the documents.
A ruler must never show weakness in front of his subordinates.

"We are in a time of great reform. The reorganization of our institutions is still in progress, and capable officials are still scarce. Naturally, the burden falls on the one at the top."
“M-Mm...!”

Apparently, my exhaustion showed more than I thought, because Lucife smoothly followed up with words of reassurance.
As expected of the renowned Prime Minister, no amount of effort could hide my fatigue from him.

"However, Your Majesty’s reforms are steadily changing the world. In ten years, the young talents we are cultivating now will blossom, and your burden will lighten."

Ten years...?!
That doesn’t feel like encouragement, it sounds more like a death sentence.

I glance at Lucife and notice even his usually sharp gaze seems a bit dull.
Looks like I’m not the only one suffering...

Maybe I should treat him to some good food or a drink later...

"On a brighter note, we’re already seeing promising developments. That young man from the Human Kingdom is quite the competent one, wouldn’t you say?"

Oh? He must be referring to Ritheseus, the new ruler of the Human Kingdom.

True, despite his youth, he’s doing remarkably well.
Having trained at the farm, studied under Lord Saint and Sensei, it’s no surprise he turned out competent.

Thanks to him, the Human Kingdom regained its autonomy, allowing us to withdraw our stationed forces, which is a massive relief on our resources.
Especially since we could recall Malvastos, our former governor-general.
That guy’s administrative skills outmatch even the Heavenly Four.

In a way, Ritheseus is the hero of our Demon Kingdom.

But why bring up Ritheseus now, of all times?
Lucife Focale—the Prime Minister who has supported the Demon Kingdom since the previous Demon King’s era, even earning the title “Foster Father of the Demon Kingdom”—isn’t the type to engage in idle chatter, especially not during such a chaotic time.

"Ritheseus has sent us a proposal."

I knew it. It was all just a lead-in to more work talk.
Seriously, this guy never wastes a single breath.

"A proposal, you say...?"

This is a first. He’s never reached out with suggestions before.

Looks like he’s finally settled into his role as a ruler. He’s managing things internally while also making his voice heard beyond our borders.
I gotta say, watching the younger generation grow is something else.

Now then, what kind of proposal has he brought to the table?
As his senior in governance, I suppose it’s my duty to give it a proper evaluation.

...Hm, let’s see.

"…A trade fair?"

His letter outlined plans for a large-scale event and requested our cooperation.
The objectives, expected benefits, and execution details were all neatly summarized.

"Very well-written! As expected, Ritheseus is quite skilled at drafting official documents."
"We should have our officials learn from him."

I-Indeed...!
I’ve been drowning in paperwork for so long that I couldn’t help but compare his to the usual mess I deal with.

Now, Prime Minister.
What are your thoughts on this proposal?

"It seems his nation will serve as the central hub."

Ah, Lord Saint’s country.

It’s true that, considering his country is set to become a major hub for international trade, making some kind of move now would be beneficial.

Hosting an event that brings together and showcases the finest goods from around the world is actually a pretty smart idea.

If this successfully implants the image that Lord Saint’s nation is the place where the world’s best products gather, it’ll serve as a powerful boost for whatever comes next.

"Perception may be intangible, but those who underestimate its power rarely succeed."

That’s also true.
No one can accomplish everything alone. Success always requires the help of others.
And to work together effectively, sharing a clear vision is crucial.

In that regard, I’ve gotta hand it to Riteuseus. Trying to solidify the image of Lord Saint’s nation this early on is a pretty clever move.

I can only look forward to what lies ahead of us.

"However…"

Lucife lowers his voice.

"A proposal wrapped in innocence… often hides sharp fangs beneath."

What do you mean?
Ritheseus isn’t the type to scheme.

"No matter how pure a leader seems, one cannot steer a nation without a certain level of cunning. He has no choice but to grow into that role."

Ugh… that hits close to home.

So, what hidden motive did you pick up from this proposal?

"Hmm… for example, Your Majesty, should our Demon Kingdom also take part in this trade fair?"

Hmm, yes, I’d very much like to.
It would be a great way to support Lord Saint’s country, and if famous products from all over the world are being showcased, it could serve as a good opportunity for international exchange.

"In that case, what should our nation contribute to the trade fair?"

Hmm?
Let’s see...
Maybe some delicious vegetables grown in our lands? Or perhaps some high-quality meat?

"Absolutely not! Something so ordinary would never do!"

...Why not?

"At a world-class trade fair, goods from all over the world will be gathered. If all we bring is common meat and vegetables, no one will pay attention. People will just walk past us."

Huh…?
I mean, that does make sense, but still…!

"To stand out in such a place, we need something unique, something one-of-a-kind in the entire world. If we can showcase multiple such items, it will indirectly demonstrate our nation's strength."

Wait, hold on…
Are you saying, Ritheseus wants to use this fair as a way to show off his country's power?

"The Human Kingdom has been making an impressive comeback under its new leadership. I hear that some of their lost specialties, ruined by the foolishness of the old royal family, have even started miraculously reappearing."

…That’s probably because Lord Saint is working behind the scenes, isn’t it?

I see now. Lucife Focale’s perspective is something I hadn’t considered, but it’s worth keeping in mind.

If Ritheseus is truly using this so-called "international exchange" as a way to flaunt his nation’s growth…

Then we’ll accept the challenge!
That’s what it means to be a great nation!!!

Gather our top officials at once!
Have them pitch every possible idea for our kingdom’s greatest specialty product! We shall select only the very best!!!

"Ahhh, here we go again… Another sudden project throwing off my entire schedule…!"

For some reason, Lucife Focale has his head in his hands.