7th Demon Prince Jilbagias’ Chronicle of Demon Kingdom Toppling

１２４． Village of the Territory

Half a day had passed since the start of the journey from the Demon King Castle, with a few hours' break in between――

「Ah, we're entering Reiju's territory.」

Sofia, who had been reading leisurely, said this as she raised her head.

The landmarks that had been created along the highway with magical power quickly disappeared.

These landmarks were installed along the highways of the Demon Kingdom. They were sturdy and enchanted with magical power, making them resistant to weathering. Additionally, there was a special mark sealed in them to allow the skeleton horse to recognize their destination.

This was something I learned after taking necromancy lessons from Enma. The reason the skeleton horse, whose intelligence and ego had been lowered to the same level as a normal horse, could move almost automatically along the main road was thanks to that mark.

I had also learned a little about the code to insert into the skeleton horse, just in case it might be useful someday…

『Nevertheless, a highway reinforced with magic and landmarks enchanted with magic… Truly something that only a race with strong magical power can create…』

『Oho~~~』

The scenery that I saw while patting Ante in her phantom form changed as we ventured deeper into Reiju's territory.

Up until now, the landscape within the territory directly ruled by the Demon King had been desolate, with occasional ruined fortresses, human cities, beastfolk settlements, or withering highlands.

Reiju's territory, on the other hand, was truly 『civilized』, with many settlements and uniformly designed houses or plots of land that were evenly divided.

――Reiju's territory had a feature that no other demon race's territory had.

And that was the fact that there were many humans in their territory.

It was only after we made a quick stop to rest that I fully realized the extent of this.

And the way humans were treated in those settlements was――

「Welcome, Archduchess-sama.」

The one who welcomed us upon our arrival in the settlement—or should I call it a simple fortress since it was surrounded by a high wooden wall—was a beastfolk from the white tiger tribe. ṘÅɴȪꞖËş

The fact that he had already prepared warm food and beverages in the form of a simple outdoor tea party meant that he knew beforehand that we would be making a quick stop in this area.

「Come to think of it, this must be the first time you've seen a ranch, Jilbagias.」

Said Platy as if she just remembered that fact, standing and sipping tea from her cup.

… Ranch.

「As far as I know, Reiju's territory produces the most humans in the Demon Kingdom.」

Yes… producing…

「Yes, there are numerous ranches across the territory that breed and raise humans in the most effective way.」

Breeding… And raising…

『… CALM DOWN, ALEX!』

What are you talking about, Ante?

I'm… Really calm right now…

Isn't that pretty obvious from the very beginning?

「… What's the matter, Jilbagias? You've been trembling non-stop for a while now.」

Asked Platy as she looked at my face with a puzzled expression.

Woops.

「Well… My body just feels stiff from sitting for too long.」

Even now, I fully realized that my smile was forced.

「Your entire body is trembling.」

「Y-Yeah…」

Great, I managed to deceive her somehow.

「Well, this will be a good experience for you, who will stand above all the demon race in the future. Let's have a simple inspection for a change of pace.」

「Ooh, it’s the highest honor for us to welcome the personal inspection by His Highness himself. Well then, I’ll prepare them to greet Your Highness in a while――」

Thus, with no way to escape, I had no choice but to go along with the story and conduct the inspection.

――Plaza in the center of the settlement.

The humans were prostrating obediently despite having to do so at midnight.

Their number was around 200 to 300… And there were nothing but women, children, and teenagers.

Or rather, the one who was prostrating in the frontmost position was the only old man.

Without exception, every single one of them wore the same outdated-looking dull blue clothes. It looked like a prison uniform―― Or worse, in this case.

The high wall surrounding the settlement seemed intended to keep monsters in a cage.

That was a fact since its tips were sharpened and pointed inward.

「They're well disciplined.」

Platy sang a praise, noting that despite the sudden midnight inspection, everyone gathered in no time.

「… How many people are in this settlement?」

Since it would be strange if I said nothing at all, I tried to ask a safe question.

「The villagers? There are fifty of us.」

The beastfolk in charge of this place replied to me… Seriously? Even though there were at least 200 humans here?

「Ah, if you’re asking about the number of human stock, there are a total of 500 if we include the babies.」

Stock…

『CALM DOWN!!』

… I took a deep breath in and out to calm my rage.

「Does that mean 50 are you guys?」

「Yes.」

「How did you manage to reign over a population ten times larger than yours?」

「Yes. Because there are nothing but obedient stock in this place. Rebellious individuals were eliminated more than a hundred years ago.」

The beastfolk in charge replied proudly while touching his whiskers.

More than a hundred years ago… My head felt dizzy just hearing that.

The territory of the Reiju clan came from the territories of annexed small kingdoms. And this was the future of the descendants―― Of the citizens of those kingdoms――

The humans here were prostrating without even twitching a little, as if they were afraid of standing out. Even the children, who were still in single digits!

「So many years must have passed since the last time you had to use the whip, huh?」

The beastfolk in charge explained without even waiting for me to ask.

According to him, the males for breeding were rotated to another village every half-year. This was to prevent insurrection and keep blood ties from becoming too close within a settlement.

Basically, they chose the men who could move very well as studs and used the rest as substitutes for transpose curses. The women were used for breeding and raising children at a rapid pace. When a stud met the quota imposed on him, they would make good use of him without transferring him to another place even if he was old, but most studs were transferred before reaching a certain age.

Only slightly older old men were allowed to live as mediators of the settlement.

「We had a lot of old men a long time ago, but we used them as substitutes for transpose curses since they weren't efficient to use. Thus, after careful consideration, we gradually reduced their number.」

I saw the back of the old man prostrating in front of the other humans twitch a bit upon hearing Platy's remark.

――The citizens of the human ranch were apparently made to work in the fields outside the time of breeding. You could say they were self-sufficient. 「You can think of them as excellent livestock who can make their own food,」 said the beastfolk in charge of this ranch.

By the way, the farming tools and clothes were apparently made by the humans from another ranch. They were the so-called craftsmen who inherited the craftsmanship passed down from their homeland, something like upper-rank slaves―― People who were allowed to retain some of their dignity and live like humans.

It was a stark contrast to the condition in this place, but…

「Be careful~l.」

We departed again, being seen off by the beastfolk.

「How was it, Jilbagias?」

Platy, who sat beside me, smiled as she looked at me.

「It's a really wonderful reference.」

I could give such a reply without a hitch since, at this point, my heart was already numb.

「It's a really useful reference… When thinking about the government of the Demon Kingdom after this.」

「That's a relief.」

Platy nodded in satisfaction.

Yeah… It was a really useful reference.

Extremely useful.

And then, after maintaining that stiff smile for a few more hours inside the swaying carriage――

We finally arrived in Reiju clan territory.

This place might have been the royal capital of a human kingdom. It was a clean and civilized area with stone houses lined up in a row.

Though I could see many people who looked like employees, such as beastfolk or night elves, the number of demon race individuals was staggering.

I've never seen this many demon race members at once outside the Demon King Castle――

「They're the people of your clan.」

And then, the carriage finally stopped in front of the mansion at the center of the city.

Platy placed her hand on the door of the carriage and looked at me over her shoulder with a grin on her face.

「Are you ready, Jilbagias?」

「――Yes.」

Now then, time to see what kind of people the members of the Reiju clan are.

Bring your toughest and most annoying fellows here.

Now that I can beat them without reservation, let me see what you made of, demon race――

I descended from the carriage with a murky, dark feeling swirling in my heart.

「Ooooh!」

「That must be young master!!」

「GUYS, DO IT!」

Thereupon, the youth of the demon races, already holding poles, leaped toward me.

And they were so damn fast!!

I put my guard up―― Only to see those youths suddenly part to both sides and raise the poles in their hands.

The sudden turn of events left me completely dumbfounded.

A cloth fastened to the tip of their poles――

There, written in huge white letters was――

『WELCOME YOUR HIGHNESS JILBAGIAS!!』

In demon race script. The youths who raised their poles had bright smiles on their faces.

… It turned out to be a horizontal welcome banner.

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