#1091 Evil in the Shadows – Demon Race Version

My name is Dampahl.

I’ve been a bureaucrat serving the Demon Kingdom since ancient times.

My career is nothing short of dazzling as I’ve held every important post in every department, steadily climbing the ladder up.

It’s no exaggeration to say that the Demon Kingdom’s internal affairs run smoothly solely thanks to me!

And yet, the half-witted fools around me…

All I ever hear is Lucife Focale this, Lucife Focale that!

They only ever praise the Prime Minister’s name!

Is that guy really so almighty?!

Don’t they realize that running a country is never a one-man show?!

It’s not that I can’t concede that Lucife Focale goes down in our kingdom’s history as a truly outstanding Prime Minister.

But still! Managing a kingdom isn’t some sweet, easy job that one person can handle alone!

You can’t just ignore the countless other talented people making this place tick!

Talented people!

Like me, for instance!

I was stuck living this thankless day-to-day when at last I got my big break.

One day, for some mysterious reason, a huge number of babies were born simultaneously throughout the Demon Kingdom, forcing us to take immediate action.

At the royal council, various proposals were put forth.

Ideas like expanding the current Demon Capital, or developing untouched lands.

Mostly your standard, run-of-the-mill suggestions. Yet one truly groundbreaking idea emerged:

Moving the capital city entirely.

As a matter of fact, we’ve done that before. Our kingdom relocated its capital once hundreds of years ago.

And it was done out of sheer necessity, under very dire circumstances.

...Back in that era, the Demon King went utterly mad and turned himself into the ultimate undead being: a Lifeless King.

The old capital was plunged into death and chaos, and countless citizens escaped with their lives by the skin of their teeth.

The survivors who fled built our current capital.

Centuries passed, and things have changed dramatically since then.

Most importantly, the Lifeless King who ruled the old capital for centuries has finally perished.

Thanks to that, the old capital is now safe again, fertile land where people can live peacefully once more.

If that’s the case, why let that opportunity slip away?

The argument goes that since we’ve reclaimed our original heartland, it only makes sense to return home.

Starting from scratch there, we can build a much bigger capital to accommodate our growing population.

In other words, we can build a far more magnificent city than if we simply kept expanding the current capital.

I listened to the proposal as a council member, and it was like scales falling from my eyes.

Exactly right!

Think about our bitter past: long ago, we were driven from the center of our kingdom by that undead king’s madness.

Returning now would wipe away that old disgrace and restore our pride, lifting our demon race to even greater heights!

Killing two birds with one stone: we solve the population problem AND restore the demons’ pride. What a brilliant policy!

I’m all for the plan to move the capital!

I’m sure the Demon King will love it too!

“I object.”

Who dares throw cold water on this festive proposal?!

What?!

Lucife Focale?!

“If we actually carry out a full relocation and build a new capital from the ground up, the costs will be astronomical. We may have ended the wars and reduced our military expenses, but that doesn’t mean we can afford to throw money around. Keeping the treasury healthy must remain a priority.”

Throwing money?! How rude!

This is a grand undertaking to restore the demon race to their rightful home!

There’s nothing wasteful about it!!!

“Besides, just because the old capital’s free again doesn’t mean it makes sense to move back. Times have changed. Considering the newly discovered Demon Isle and our budding relations with the Mermaid Kingdom, our current capital closer to the sea is obviously more practical.”

Ugh…

Okay, maybe you have a point there…

But still, what about our pride…?

“The old capital was located near the Human Kingdom, which we once feared as a wartime threat. Today, we’re on friendly terms with the humans, so being close to them isn’t bad. But ignoring the Mermaid Kingdom and the Demon Isles just to prioritize proximity to the Human Kingdom? That’s foolish. Not to mention, we’ve already built separate trading hubs for human commerce, so there’s no real need to bring the capital closer to them.”

But…

Pride…

“I believe the best approach is to continue expanding the current capital and invest in the frontier development. …Demon King, I humbly request your judgment.”

Lucife Focale is now looking up at the Demon King seated above us, seeking final approval!

But it’s fine! The Demon King understands!

Surely the Demon King knows the value of restoring our centuries-old pride by moving the capital!

“…If we move the capital, the many people currently living here will be forced to relocate. They’ll have to leave their familiar homes and start fresh in an unfamiliar land, which would cause great confusion and expense.”

The Demon King speaks.

Um, well, that is…!

“I won’t endorse a capital relocation that puts such a heavy burden on our subjects. We’ll address the population issue as previously planned: by expanding the current capital and developing the frontiers. Everyone, see to it.”

With a single royal decree, that was that!

Later, Lucife Focare explained his reasoning:

— “If the old capital was truly such a superior location, then redevelopment would have started ages ago, without needing any grand debate. It would already be thriving as a city in its own right.”

— “Yet, in reality, no one’s bothered. It’s still just empty fields.”

— “This proves the old capital has absolutely no advantage in this era.”

— “Ignoring that and pushing for a capital move would be nothing but poor governance, recklessly draining the people’s precious tax money. The one who suggested it should really rethink their position.”

Ugh, that jerk!

He’s harping on something that’s already over, rubbing salt in my wounds!

Is he that pleased that the Demon King favored his position?

Lucife Focale… That hateful bastard.

As long as he’s strutting around as Prime Minister, this kingdom has no future!

If that’s the case, I’ll find a way to tarnish his reputation and leave a stain on his career, no matter what it takes!

But how…?

...Just as I was pondering that question, an opportunity sailed right into my hands.

A human bureaucrat appeared before me.

He had a plan of his own and wanted to sabotage the joint demon-human land development project at all costs.

He was quietly recruiting collaborators.

And then it hit me.

This land development was a signature policy backed by that meddling Prime Minister, Lucife Focale.

In fact, he’s pushing both the capital expansion and the frontier development in tandem, which makes me think, “What is that guy, some kind of monstrous workaholic?”

But anyway, if one of his key policies goes down in flames, that’ll at least put a dent in his record.

And here’s another crucial thought.

The land development is one of the twin pillars supporting our population strategy.

If one pillar falls, maybe the capital relocation plan could rise from the ashes!

I could shame Lucife Focale and resurrect the relocation idea.

That’s a delightful two-for-one scenario!

No way I’m missing out on this. I agreed to help sabotage the frontier development.

I cut off the information flow between demon and human cooperators in the development projects, synchronizing with the humans’ sabotage efforts.

If this works out, they might knock each other out!

Furthermore, I’ll keep Lucife Focale buried in the capital expansion tasks, ensuring he’s too busy to meddle in the frontier projects.

Hah, let him expand away.

Once the capital relocation is back on the table, all that expansion effort goes straight down the drain.

Meanwhile, I’ll quietly lay the groundwork for the relocation behind the scenes.

If I set the stage properly now, once the relocation plan truly takes off, we capital-relocation supporters can monopolize all the lucrative projects.

We can shut out any latecomers!

Of course, that includes Lucife Focare.

He’ll be left out in the cold as the leading voice of the opposition.

No place in the brand-new demon capital for him!

A Prime Minister with no seat in the shining new capital—when have you ever heard of such a thing?

We’d have to pick a fresh Prime Minister more suitable for the new era. Lucife Focale might just have to retire.

The “great Prime Minister” who made history will go out pathetically!

I was practically giddy imagining that future.

But then came the reports to my desk.

What?!

The project is going smoothly? Demon and human pioneers are banding together and getting along splendidly?!

And wait, what did you say…?

The Saint of the Farm has appeared?