I Am Demon Lord In This Life
07 - Show Up

"What do you mean about us being attacked?" Exclaimed a Demon, raising his voice as he faced me in the meeting room.

"The last year we've been pretty safe and back in control. You may have mistakenly concluded Lord" Sahut Demon others.

In that meeting room, I just kept quiet and grabbed my chin. Pay attention and listen to all the ravings spoken by the Demon lords.

Since my father's death, not a few of them have tried to take my place as an heir. Chattering around looking for support in a cowardly way.

But, in the Styx there was nothing to hold on to other than the words spoken by my father, the only rule in the Styx. That's why the efforts of those who want to take my place will never work.

"We better open the gates again, Lord. Closing yourself so deeply never makes a situation good. We are starting to lack food for the population" Another noble Demon Chirps.

"Is that so? I don't know about that. After all, as long as I walked in the city there was not a single Demon reporting to me about us being all-starved. Ah, did I miss something" I said calmly then smiled faintly.

Ah, daddy. Why can't you stand working with people who don't know their place and job like this?

"Please forgive me, but the food situation even the others in the city are fine. Thanks to God's farming and raising strategies, our food has become more stable and more abundant than ever" Alvic explained.

I smiled, returning to my position along with the silence of the meeting room. Right, they're almost out of other ideas to convince me.

"I know business and economics are important. But since when can money be compared to safety? Aishh, I want to curse but can't."

"Listen to these nobles. I never intended to open the gate. Today was a meeting about the attack on the Demon race but there was not a single person who was firm about it. Disappointing to have to leave this country to a fool who does not know his duty" I said coldly, staring up at the pairs of eyes that were in the room.

"I'll take care of the attack. Go back to your homes and send me a relief force. I will protect the people and look for the culprits" I continued.

"But Lord, we also need protection-"

"Haha, what is protection for? You don't believe me and agree with me. Never mind, just send it. The attack was a mistake."

Yep, just short. The meeting room went back into silence after I said that sentence. They looked at each other with chaotic eyes. Until finally, they accepted my decision and agreed to cooperate. But on one condition, as long as they are also protected.

"God, you shameless bastard. Hahahaha" I laughed. Well, at least I laughed right after everyone came out of the meeting room instead of in front of their faces straight away.

...****************...

After that, the troops were directly directed to the investigation of the attack that caused the landslide the other day. While Anne's troops and the Goblins guard and repair the gate walls, Arce leads a special forces investigation.

"Arce has departed, Lord" Alvic reported as I took care of several tasks related to the repair of the gate wall.

After that Alvic just shut up and stood in his place. His face was cold and stiff as usual but there was certainly something else he wanted to say.

"What's wrong?" my many.

"Styx was quite muddled as rumors of an attack on the mountain were circulating, Lord"

I flinched, quite shocked by what Alvic mentioned. Of course rumors can come at any time, but such a situation will only worsen the condition. Earlier I had already announced to the higher-ups to keep it a secret but it didn't seem to be going well.

"Do you need to find the culprit, Lord?"

"No, forget the rumor mill. So, be honest and explain the situation in general. Please make the announcement and spread it all over Styx"

"It's okay, please just do it, Alvic" I smiled, firm with the decision.

Not without reason, not half the plans and strategies that I laid out to the Nobles even Alvic himself. My situation is pretty complicated right now, so it's hard to trust anyone.

This time it was only me, Arce and Anne who knew the exact situation. Until we find a bright spot and confirm it, we will only move on our own.

That straw hat man, Styx is in crisis, so I think he will appear again in the near future.

...****************...

"Lord, we found him" Arce returned after the investigation.

Immediately after getting the report, I hurried to follow Arce. On the slopes of the mountain, not far from where the Goblins lived. Arce finds a man from the Ogre race who is stalking Styx from a distance.

"Oh, wasn't he the gatekeeper of Ogre Village before?" I asked Arce, watching the Ogre.

"Yes, but the situation is pretty bad, Lord. Ogres have high self-esteem and uphold their race above others. Therefore, it is difficult to make him open his mouth" explained Arce.

"I understand. Then leave it to me. Thank you for your hard work, Arce."

After that, I went straight to meet the Ogre that Arce had captured earlier. Seeing that he was the Ogre I had met, some conjecture had already come to my mind. I'll use that to lure him.

"Oh, you..?" that Ogre said when he saw me. His face looks quite shocked.

"Right, it was me. We've met before. I'm Lucifer, leader of the Styx. Straight away, why did Ogre come all the way here?" I started interrogating him.

"... Ka-we just want to ascertain whether the Demon Styx that has already destroyed our village before" he replied hesitantly.

"Omong empty. Then, the landslide due to the explosion. Is that the Ogres?" I asked back.

But when I asked that, Ogre's face looked surprised. But, he held it in well.

"Is that also Ogre?"

"True" he replied resignedly and looked down as if there was no hope for him anymore.

I understand enough now. This Ogre answered the most sensitive question directly in front of me, Lord of Styx. He might come to be a scapegoat here. After all it was hard to believe if one Ogre came to threaten the Demon race.

So, it is likely that this Ogre also wants to ask for help. Seeing him get caught so easily when it hasn't even been a day of investigation, makes me even more convinced.

"That's enough, there's nothing to ask again when you admit it. Arce, take him" For now, I'll play first. I don't know if he came alone or not. Someone might be watching this Ogre with us or away from us.

In the meantime, I better figure out how to communicate with him. I also need help from Goblins. As for Ogre and Goblin, I believe the culprit is the same person.

One by one the layers that cover the clues, I will continue to peel them to completion.

Whatever kind of creature it is, it is not good to play around with blood.