The fire has gone out, Klem thought to herself.
She walked down the main street of the frontier city of Faltra, located in Lyferia’s western regions. Normally, the roads were bustling with people, so much so that it was hard to make your way through the crowd. But despite it being the middle of the day, the streets were as empty as if it were midnight.
“...What a bother.”
Klem was heading to her favorite restaurant in the northern sector, only to be met with a sign saying the place was temporarily closed. The owner probably fled the city, as Faltra’s citizens were all leaving.
Klem began making her way back to the 《Peace of Mind Inn》, and along the way, passed by the city gate.
The northern gate was recently rebuilt, and now a long column of carriages was lined up before it. The sound of wheels grinding against gravel reached her ears.
“Hmph...”
“Oh, is that you, Klem, meow?”
“Mm?”
Turning to face the voice, Klem’s gaze fell on Mei, the Peace of Mind Inn’s poster girl. She was a Pantherian girl who was looking after Klem and Edelgard. Having fought to defend the city from the Demon Overlord Modinaram, Klem had earned the townsfolk’s trust. And so, despite Klem being a Demon Lord herself, Mei treated her as a friend.
“Where were you off to, meow?”
“Appetissant.”
“Wow, that expensive restaurant in the northern district? I hear their lunches are famous!”
“Well... Except they were closed.”
“Oh, meow.” Mei placed a hand on her cheek in a bothered gesture.
“Where are they even running off to...?” Klem whispered to herself.
To the west was the Demon Lord’s Domain. It was part of Lyferia’s territory for a time, but when the Demon Overlord Modinaram marched his armies on Faltra, most of the Human strongholds there fell.
“Ahaha, meow...” Mei gave a forced smile and cocked her head. “They say the king died in battle. Rumor has it that if the Gelmed Empire marches west, Faltra will get caught up in the war.”
“Of course it will. And if Faltra falls, it’s only a matter of time before the nearby cities fall as well. The Fallen might not pay small villages any mind, but the races have a way of being thorough.”
The Gelmed Empire would seek out those villages and make use of any method possible to achieve their goal. They would round people up for labor, conscript them, or use them as material for Human experimentation...
Klem didn’t think this kingdom was a utopia by any means, but the way it was until now was better than the prospect of it being occupied by Gelmed. Klem peered at Mei, who was walking beside her.
Would I have been better off destroying this town? It would at least have spared them from a fate worse than death.
Mei beamed at Klem, unaware of the thoughts going through her mind.
“Klem, you know the Gelmed Empire?”
“I am a Demon Lord, after all.”
With the fragments of her soul that remained within Rem now returned to her, Klem’s memory was fully restored. She knew almost everything about this world, and many things about what existed outside this world, too.
Currently, there was no doubt that Klem was the complete, invincible Demon Lord Krebskulm, but something had changed about her. She’d grown fond of her life in Faltra. She loved the taste of biscuits, found the smiles of the people pleasant, and liked spending her time in the open-air café on the main street. And she loved chocolate, too.
Those were all emotions that exceeded her destructive impulses as a Demon Lord.
“The meals you serve aren’t bad, you know,” Klem told Mei.
“Hehe... Thank you, meow☆ If you haven’t had lunch, how about I fix you a little something to eat?”
“Mm!” Klem nodded, becoming cheerful at the offer. “Aren’t you going to run, though? I predict that within a month the Gelmed Empire will attack this place.”
Even Diablo wouldn’t be able to stop the Empire’s invasion. He’d likely take his comrades and flee to the Kingdom of Greenwood, or his personal fortress. Mei’s expression became somewhat troubled, though.
“Ahaha, meow... I’m scared, but I have my customers to consider.”
“What?”
“Like you and Edelgard. And I told Diablo he could always come back here. So for as long as I have customers, I have to protect the inn. It’s called the ‘Peace of Mind’ Inn because our customers can always be sure they have a place to come back to.” She finished her explanation with a strained smile.
She’s staying behind for her customers...? Klem felt an unusual emotion bubble up in her chest.
And while this was the first time she’d experienced anguish, Klem didn’t find it entirely disagreeable.
“...You’re doing it for this Demon Lord, you say?”
“Oh, but I’m sure Faltra will be fine! Our governor is really strong!”
“A strong governor? Oh, that man, Galford... Well, he’s quite high-leveled for one of the races, but he’s not much of a hero.”
If he was overwhelmed by the Demon Overlord, he would stand no chance against the Gelmed Empire’s Magimatic Sols.
“Meow...?” Mei scratched her cheek in confusion. “Klem, you know a hero?”
“I did fight one in my past life. I wouldn’t lose to one in a one-on-one fight, though.”
Individually, those of the races had their limits, and that was why Klem didn’t believe Diablo could stop the Gelmed Empire. He was overwhelmingly powerful, but he always fought alone, and the only one of his subordinates that was truly powerful was the Swordmaster Sasara.
And when Diablo loses, the Kingdom of Lyferia will fall apart, and the flames of war would encroach on Faltra.
And when they do, this girl will...
“Hmhm. It seems this Demon Lord finds that possibility unacceptable...”
“Meow?”
It was strange, truth be told. Those of the Fallen find pleasure in seeing the races die, and yet...
“Remain in Faltra,” Klem told Mei. “You will be safe here.”
“Huh?”
“But this Demon Lord will now embark on a journey.”
“Are you saying you’re...?” Mei’s expression clouded over with sorrow.
“Nay! I am not fleeing. I, Krebskulm, am the strongest of all Demon Lords! The races will never strike fear into me. But if this town becomes a battlefield, I will have nothing left to defend.”
“D-Defend...?”
Klem looked at Mei, whose expression was perplexed. The girl had grown emaciated.
“Those of the Gelmed Empire are members of the races, too, after all. But you won’t ask that this Demon Lord protects their lives, too, will you?”
“Ah, yes, of course not!”
“Mm, then leave it to me! You can make me lunch when I come back.”
“I-I’ll wait for you!” Mei nodded, her eyes moist with tears. “When you come back, Klem, I’ll make you an amaaaaazing lunch! And I’ll give you so many biscuits you won’t have room for them all!”
Klem’s lips softened to a smile.
“You would do well to prepare much for me!”
†