#862 A Job Well Done

I am Malvastos.

A commissioned officer in the Demon King’s Army, Malvastos.

In terms of rank, I’m a senior general, a position just below the elite Heavenly Four.

My promotion, I suppose, was due to the heavy responsibilities that came with this role.

I was appointed the Governor-General of the Human Kingdom’s Occupation Government.

This great task fell to me under the command of our young and illustrious Demon King Zedan, who swiftly and decisively defeated our sworn human enemies in a lightning-fast surprise attack. 

He put an end to the centuries-long, perhaps even millennia-old, war between humans and demons.

Such a feat alone would secure a place in history, but Lord Zedan’s greatness didn’t stop there.

After the occupation, he ordered our forces to protect the local human population.

This policy met with dissent from many generals.

After all, humans have been our archenemies for centuries.

There were those who passionately argued that there was no reason to extend a hand to them now, not after so many years of bitter enmity, and that extermination was the logical conclusion of our victory.

However, Lord Zedan dismissed all these arguments, saying, “We must not carry the grudges of war beyond its end,” and forbade revenge, even among the foot soldiers.

My selection as the supreme commander of the occupation forces in the Human Kingdom was likely due to my suitability for this policy.

I was known in the military for valuing reason over impulse, deemed fit for delicate situations where even a single mistake was not permissible.

The effective control of the Human Kingdom required navigating thin ice, a task ill-suited for a headstrong, impetuous warrior.

I accepted this assignment with due respect, leaving my familiar homeland in the Demon Kingdom to settle in the Human Kingdom.

The former enemy territory, likely still harboring many rebels.

Assassinations and plots were a real threat, making it a perilous mission.

Despite the war’s end, the task of governing these occupied lands, where conflict was still a possibility, was, frankly, not the most sought-after job.

Many who came here probably felt they had drawn the short straw.

Thirty years in the military.

Rising from a mere foot soldier to a senior general, my career in the army was somewhat unorthodox.

Usually, such a meteoric rise would attract attention from the noble holy sword bloodlines, leading to a potential appointment among the Heavenly Four.

In the past, there were many such instances, and it was considered appropriate for promising young officers to be plucked early and integrated into powerful families.

For those of humble birth with no prestigious family background, this was even more the case. In fact, being noticed and approached by a noble was regarded as the fundamental path to career advancement. It was even said that without such attention, one couldn’t hope to succeed.

Indeed, the current Heavenly Four, Lords Belphgamilia and Mamoru, were adopted into their positions. At the same time, the previous Malicious Heavenly One, Lady Glasya, came from a lower branch of the authentic Malicious-Holy Sword Fünfviolett lineage.

Her connections and capabilities elevated her to a Heavenly One and eventually to the honor of being the Demon King’s consort.

Thus, in the Demon King’s Army, advancement depended on both merit and ties to the Heavenly Four.

Being of common birth and without connections, my career had a ceiling unless I married into one of the Heavenly One’s families.

So, what did I do?

I ended up not marrying into any such family.

If you ask why, there was no particular reason.

If anything, there just weren’t suitable women of the right age from any of the Heavenly Four’s families. 

Even if there were, they were likely already betrothed, leaving no opportunity for me...

Meanwhile, I met my current wife, and somehow, we ended up together.

It was an arranged marriage, by the way.

My colleagues called it a “hasty decision,” but I still managed to climb the ranks without significant issues, eventually reaching the position of a senior general.

That must be the highest rank one could achieve without tying the knot with a Heavenly One.

I earned a reputation as “the man who rose through sheer talent” and “the Fifth Heavenly One,” becoming an indispensable part of the Demon King’s Army, both in name and deed.

It was precisely because of my unique standing that I was needed in the Human Kingdom.

With the army poised for major reforms, the Heavenly Four were essential. In parallel to that, only someone with the highest capabilities and achievements could manage the occupation and governance of the Human Kingdom, a task equivalent to managing the homeland.

Thus, the role fell to me – not a Heavenly One, yet their equal in standing.

Resolved, I crossed into this foreign land.

After several years of diligent work, the task proved less daunting than I imagined.

The human subjects, not as fiercely resistant as expected, even welcomed us.

Perhaps their dissatisfaction with their former rulers – the royal family and the Religious Order – was stronger than anticipated.

Although I left my family back in the Demon Realm, frequent trips home were easy thanks to teleportation magic, especially after the war’s end relaxed the related restrictions.

The actual duties were different from what I had imagined...

Supporting festival events in human domains, sometimes even participating.

Overseeing reforestation projects in the Elven Forest.

Gathering talented youths from various regions.

Many orders were surprisingly peaceful and rather eccentric.

Thanks to that, I navigated my duties without danger...

And finally, the time came to complete all assignments.

Having recovered from the exhaustion of the late wartime period, the former Human Kingdom was deemed capable of managing its own national affairs.

Our occupation government, having fulfilled its duty, was to be dissolved and withdrawn back to our homeland.

I, too, would relinquish my position as Governor-General.

It was a time that seemed long yet fleeting.

When I first arrived, I was prepared to lay my bones in this land, but the swift return of sovereignty was perhaps a testament to the industrious nature of the human race.

Many of the humans I met as Governor-General were courteous, logical in thought, and always acted with their hometown and companions in mind.

Thanks to everyone’s efforts, the reconstruction progressed rapidly, and soon our assistance became superfluous.

The Demon King had numerous discussions with the new human government’s representatives to pinpoint the perfect moment to return their sovereignty.

What moved me deeply was that the human representative was a young man I recognized.

There was a time when we gathered boys and girls from across the nation for a new talent development initiative, and he was one of them.

Seeing that child from back then grow into someone capable of leading a nation filled me with a sense of the passage of time and a deeper appreciation for the Demon King’s successful talent development policy.

I was confident that the Human Kingdom would be in good hands with these young people.

That’s when I realized there was no longer a place for this old soldier.

After the occupation force’s withdrawal was complete, my departure was marked by a farewell ceremony from the humans, complete with a bouquet of flowers.

I couldn’t help but shed tears.

No matter how much we dressed it up, we were occupiers.

We were invaders who had conquered them in war and imposed our rule without consent. I had braced myself for resentment, not gratitude, regardless of our benevolent governance.

It was a moment when everything we had done seemed to have been truly rewarded.

On my way home, I had already decided to retire from the Demon King’s Army.

Times were changing rapidly.

With the war ending and its primary mission accomplished, the army underwent mandatory reforms and downsizing.

Many soldiers had already left the service, finding new jobs or settling into retirement.

Where would a veteran like me fit in such a scenario?

It seemed I was now redundant in both the Human Kingdom and my homeland.

Upon returning, I immediately went to the Demon King’s palace, as previously arranged, to report to Demon King Zedan.

Kneeling in the throne room, I reported to my lord.

“I have completed all assigned tasks in the human nations without issue, Your Majesty.”

“You have done well.”

I felt fortunate to have served under him.

I had been a military man since the days of the previous Demon King Baal, but the fulfillment from my service reached new heights under Lord Zedan.

Retiring during his reign might be the greatest joy of my military career.

As I was about to announce my retirement after fulfilling my duties...

“Malvastos, I wish to discuss your new assignment.”

“But Your Majesty, I was about to...”

Just as I was about to request my retirement, he proposed a new mission.

Talk about cutting me off at the pass.

“I understand what you’re about to say. You’ve worked tirelessly as governor for the reconstruction of the Human Kingdom, a fitting end to your illustrious career. However, I still have need of a diligent man like you.”

“Your Majesty...?!”

“Mamoru is struggling to manage Belphgamilia alone. And we’re about to establish a full-fledged diplomatic department with the Human Republic. Having someone well-versed in their affairs would be invaluable. For now, could you retire officially but stay on as a part-time advisor, consulting both our military headquarters and assisting the new diplomatic department?”

So, this means juggling two roles...!

Well, there goes my plan for an easy retirement. It looks like I’m about to embark on the busiest phase of my life.

Just when I thought I had reached the peak of happiness by completing a major task...

It seems true happiness might be in being needed and valued even after you’ve accomplished everything.