Snippet 1: Graviton
Disclaimer: I do not own the original setting.
Chapter 8: The Demon Lords
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- Altair -
I took a deep breath as I thought things through. Becoming a Baron would tie me to the kingdom, but those would just be political ties. If I really decided to separate myself from this kingdom, who could actually stop me? Ingrassia was strong, but it wasn't that strong. As long as I continued to grow steadily, before long I would be beyond the Kingdom of Ingrassia.
The resources I could get as a Baron could be useful. I'm sure there is a stipend the crown gives its nobles, so I wouldn't need to worry about money. I would have the political backing of the kingdom as well. It wouldn't interfere with my goal of making sure Rimuru ascends into a True Demon Lord. In fact, it could even be beneficial.
I would also get to hopefully learn some new Magics if the royal library had anything good. Despite having Wise Grimoire, it couldn't just create random new Magics out of its ass. It needed the foundational knowledge first. It could just expand upon that knowledge rather easily.
In the end, a Baron was one of the lowest-ranking nobles, so I wouldn't be that honor bound to help the Kingdom of Ingrassia in crisis. Plus, the Kingdom would continue to thrive. Even when canon comes around, it will still be a powerhouse in the West.
Now, what were the downsides? For one, I'd likely have to play politics to a certain extent, but in the end, I would just be a Baron. I don't think the higher-up nobles would care for a "lowborn" like me. The nobles of this world tended to be a bit deluded like that.
Another one was the king. Though he was acting nice, I could tell there was more behind it. He was most definitely trying to manipulate me, honestly if someone else were in my shoes it could have worked but I knew the tropes. But he wanted to use me, so I can use him as well.
My own reputation would also likely be tied to the Kingdom of Ingrassia's which wasn't really a bad thing since I knew the kingdom would continue to rise in the coming years.
In the end this was an opportunity, it was a risk, but I could afford to take risks now.
I took a deep breath. "I accept."
The weight of my decision settled in as the king clapped his hands together. "Excellent, Altair. With this, your potential will not only be nurtured but also recognized within the kingdom. A wise choice. I am sure the entire court will be pleased by your entrance into nobility." He said with a grandfatherly smile.
I leaned back slightly, a cautious smile on my face. "Thank you for the opportunity. I'll do my best to uphold the responsibilities."
Since I had accepted the role I'd do my best at it, I was only a Baron however and going by the duties he had outlined earlier I wouldn't really need to do much. I just needed to support the kingdom's interests. King Aegil made me a Baron solely to bind me closer to him and this kingdom I'm guessing. Even I was well aware that I was pretty strong within the bounds of the Western Nations. There were stronger of course but I was still somewhat up there, so wanting me to be an ally was only natural for a half competent king.
Shizu was already known to not be loyal to any one kingdom, so King Aegil perhaps also wanted a closer link to her through me. I may not have been that politically competent but reading tons of novels in my past life surprisingly made me feel at least somewhat well informed.
At least with the rank of Baron I'm giving off the image of bending the knee towards the king so I shouldn't be bothered as much, hopefully.
"Now that the formalities are out of the way, tell me, Altair. You mentioned earlier your focus on getting stronger and learning more about this world. What is it about this world that intrigues you most?"
I paused, chewing thoughtfully before answering. I decided to be somewhat honest about what I found fun about this world. "Honestly, it's magic. The possibilities seem endless. There's always something new to learn, some technique to master. It's like an endless frontier, and I want to see how far I can go."
Despite what laid ahead I still wanted to at least try and enjoy the journey. Magic and Battlewill were by far some of the most enjoyable things to learn more about. I felt some of the greatest exhilaration when I was recreating the Six Powers from One Piece, when I was fighting that dragon. Perhaps something inside of me just enjoyed the thrill of having power and using it. In the end I was a Human, and we were a rather chaotic race.
King Aegil nodded, his gaze intent. "An admirable pursuit. Perhaps you'll share some of what you discover with the kingdom. The knowledge of an experienced otherworlder often proves invaluable."
Even as a Baron I wouldn't explicitly owe any of my magical accomplishments to the crown. If the king tried to push me into it, chances were other nobles would fight it, not for me of course but because it would set a bad precedent. A precedent that the king could demand whatever knowledge and power he wished to from each house.
I inclined my head, not committing but acknowledging his point. "If it benefits us both, I'd be open to it." I responded.
The king's smile shifted slightly, the edge of cunning showing through. "Of course. Collaboration is key, after all. And speaking of magic, have you had the chance to meet Rykard yet? He is always rather interested in discussing the arcane."
I shook my head. Shizu had mentioned Rykard when she was speaking about the kingdom, but I hadn't met him. All I knew was that he was a student of Razen, for that alone I was betting he was rather powerful.
"Not yet." I admitted. "But I would not be opposed to such a thing."
"He's an expert in his field." the king assured me. "And, as a Baron, you'll have access to not only his expertise but also to our kingdom's finest minds, to a certain extent, of course. You'll find that Ingrassia values its scholars and mages as much as its warriors."
With that the conversation thankfully shifted to lighter topics as we continued the meal. The king spoke of the history of Ingrassia, telling tales of its rise to power and the challenges it had faced. It was clear he was both proud of his kingdom and deeply invested in its future. I listened intently, not just out of politeness but to glean any useful information about the kingdom's structure and politics. It was pretty interesting as well since I didn't know the finer details of this kingdom's history. Who would have thought that a Champion was once born in this kingdom before dying to the Daemons of Guy Crimson.
- Shizu -
She carefully took a bite of the desert that she was served. Sitting across from her was Rykard, the court mage of the Kingdom of Ingrassia, a powerful Enlightened in his own right.
"It is a pleasure to see you once again, Shizu." Rykard began.
She nodded. "It has been quite some time, Rykard."
She had known Rykard for decades, back before he even became the court mage of this rising kingdom.
He was once a student of Razen, a man even she was wary of. Razen was capable of things even hordes of mages would fail to accomplish. His sheer magical knowhow was mind boggling even to her. She did not know from where he learned his craft, but he was a true master of magic. The only reason she did not admire him was due to his approval over otherworlder summonings. The Kingdom of Falmuth was known to summon otherworlders the moment their timer was up. They would enslave them and force them to do their bidding, and when they died they would just move on to the next batch.
Unfortunately she was far too weak to cause any actual change in the situation, weak in political and actual power, for even she could not get one of the strongest nations in the West to do something like stop otherworlder summonings all together. She could only do her best to help mitigate the effects of that deplorable practice.
Whenever she came to the Kingdom of Ingrassia in the past, Rykard would come to seek her out. Rykard's primary means of combat was through Fire Magic, something she was quite the expert in. And she saw no harm in answering some of his questions, while she could not answer everything she had more experience than Rykard and Ifrit's natural affinity for fire had strongly passed on to her giving her an instinctive understanding of many things related to fire.
Shizu watched Rykard as he sipped his tea, his movements calm and deliberate. Despite his composed demeanor, she could sense a faint tension in him, one that he masked well but couldn't entirely suppress. She wasn't sure if it stemmed from her presence or something else entirely.
"I was quite surprised when I heard you decided to take residence in the wonderful Kingdom of Ingrassia. I was led to believe that you were a forever wanderer." Rykard remarked, his tone polite but probing.
"I go where I am needed," Shizu replied simply, taking another small bite of her dessert. "The plight of otherworlders is not confined to any one kingdom. I help where I can. An old friend of mine invited me to teach at a new academy, one meant to educate those who were so wrongly brought into this world."
There were many injustices in this world, she was not hypocritical enough to not accept that, yet she related to the plight of otherworlders more, so it was only natural that she paid that cause far more of her attention, though she still tried to solve any injustice that heard her line of sight. But there was only so much that a single woman could do. She was not Chronoa, she could not hold the key to hidden secrets and find ways to help everyone who needed it.
Rykard smiled faintly, though there was a flicker of sadness in his eyes. "A noble endeavor, as always. But one that must weigh heavily on you." Rykard knew the plight of otherworlders well, while he was not an otherworlder that did not mean he could not empathize.
"It is my duty." Shizu said, her voice steady.
Rykard nodded thoughtfully, setting his teacup down with a soft clink. "You know, the situation with otherworlders in the West grows more complicated by the day. The Council's policies have shifted, now there are talk of standardizing summoning practices across the region. Some claim it's to 'protect the summoned' by creating standard procedures for them. Others…" He trailed off, his expression darkening.
Until now summoning otherworlders was declared "illegal" though many kingdoms still did it in secret anyway. If they legalized it however….
Shizu's gaze sharpened. "Others see it as an opportunity to exploit them further." She finished for him.
"Precisely." Rykard said. "The Kingdom of Falmuth's methods are well known, but they are far from the only offenders. Even here, in Ingrassia, there are whispers of nobles seeking to use summoning for their own gain, though no regular noble can amass the magic power needed to breach time and space to summon an otherworlder."
The mention of Ingrassia made Shizu frown. This kingdom had long prided itself on its stability and relatively humane governance. If even they were succumbing to such practices, the situation was worse than she had feared. She did not think the king would be involved, the king may not have been a benevolent man but he knew his limits. It was likely just nobles reaching for more power, mere paper dragons.
She tapped one of her fingers against the table repeatedly as she bit her lips. "That is still rather troublesome."
Rykard nodded. "Indeed." He sighed. "But now is not the time to discuss this, I have a feeling that discussion is better left for when we have more time on our hands."
She nodded.
Rykard slowly looked up at her. "I was rather surprised to hear you took on an apprentice. You had rejected many prodigious warriors and mages who requested to learn under you. What changed?"
A small but fond smile grew on her face as she thought back to Altair and Yuuki. Both were so different but both were truly wonderful young men.
She was sure Altair would be able to handle the king accordingly despite his nervousness.
- Altair -
As more snacks were brought out, I continued to listen to the king's words. He was careful with his phrasing. Every story he shared put Ingrassia in a good light, it was likely a subtle push toward loyalty. He emphasized the rewards those who did a good service received, as well as emphasized its fairness which almost made me roll my eyes.
"I'm curious." I said during a pause. "You mentioned scholars earlier. Does Ingrassia have records on lost magics or ancient techniques?" I asked. Shizu hadn't said much about the royal library and the kind of knowledge inside, likely because she hadn't visited herself. But I wasn't led to believe that Ingrassia was some pillar of magical society with tons of hidden knowledge, though then again almost every Western Nation was basically ignored in the Light Novel, so there was a chance that many did have many lost magics.
The king's eyes sparkled. "Indeed, our archives hold many treasures. Some knowledge dates back centuries. The royal library is open to you, within reason of course. For the more… ancient tomes you will unfortunately have to have merit to access. I hope you understand, I cannot show such blatant favoritism."
This piqued my interest. The library might hold the foundational knowledge I needed. Wise Grimoire could make leaps with even a small discovery. "Thank you, Your Majesty. I'll make use of that privilege wisely."
I wasn't expecting much from the library in the first place, even the so-called "ancient tomes" as King Aegil called them likely wouldn't give me anything too crazy.
I doubt it had even had the weakest of magics thrown around during tensura's end game. I was just a bit curious, if I could build up my magical foundation then all the better.
He chuckled, raising his glass. "I expect nothing less. You're an ambitious young man, Altair."
We continued to speak about various things until all the food on the table was finished.
The king set his glass down, his gaze settling on me with a curious gleam. "Now that we have finished, allow me to ask you this. Tell me, Altair, what do you think of the current state of the Western Nations? You've seen much, I imagine, in your travels with Shizu."
I leaned back slightly, considering his question. It was clear he wanted to gauge my perspective, perhaps to assess my loyalty or my knowledge. I did know quite a bit about the situation due to my knowledge of canon, but much of what I knew would not make sense to say now. For one it would be suspicious since I shouldn't know that much.
I decided to tread carefully and only share part of what I knew. "The Western Nations have a certain... balance, though fragile. Each kingdom plays its part, but there's always the undercurrent of rivalry. If one nation gains too much power they are inevitably beaten back down." I left out that there was a single man who was responsible for keeping the balance in the Western Nations. Well one man, and one woman. Both Granbell Rosso and Luminous Valentine were key to maintaining the relative peace the Western Nations have been enjoying.
The king chuckled, nodding. "A keen observation. That balance has been our lifeline for decades, yet it remains a delicate dance. Ingrassia prides itself on being the heart of diplomacy, but even we must tread carefully."
I nodded along as what he said, while some of what he said likely wasn't true or at least an exaggeration, it was still important to note everything down.
"And what of the Demon Lords?" King Aegil asked.
I blinked. "Ah? The Demon Lords? You want to know what I think of them?"
King Aegil nodded. "Indeed, hearing out the opinions of others is key if one wishes to be a truly worthy king." A mysterious smile formed on the king's face. "And I feel like you may have an interesting perspective."
I slowly nodded as I quickly determined what I would say. I obviously wasn't going to tell the whole truth. I'm not sure how the king would react if I said that Milim Nava could be tamed by some honey or other good sweets.
Actually… I need to gather a bunch of sweets and store them in my pocket dimension. You never know when you may encounter a wild Milim Nava, a bag full of sweets could be the difference between life and death for me.
"The Demon Lords are a… precarious sort." I said carefully.
The king raised a brow. "Oh?"
"Some of them are rather important to human society." I began.
Without the Demon Lords to keep the balance the world would be vastly different than it was now. Demon Lords were the beings who kept the Majin in check, they kept them from running amok and attacking cities and kingdoms left and right. Without the Demon Lords lots of them would act as they pleased, and many Majin did not see Humanity in a good light.
Then there was the fact that the Demon Lords played an active part in defending against the Angels every 500 years. At least when the Angels attacked their kingdoms. That alone dealt with a significant portion of the attacking force.
Not to mention that whether the Demon Lords knew it or not, they were defending the West from the Eastern Empire and Emperor Rudra. The entire Demon Lord Council served as Guy Crimson's pieces against Rudra, so they were yet another layer of protection against Michael and Feldway.
Safe to say the world was better off with the Demon Lords still around.
"For one, without Guy Crimson to keep them under control, the Daemons on the Ice Continent would instantly invade the Magic Continent." I said. I obviously wasn't going to tell the whole truth, but bits and pieces that were basically common sense were fine.
King Aegil nodded. "That is true, but we have the Guardian of the West to protect us."
The Guardian of the West… Razul. He was an absolute beast. An Insectar with an extremely powerful exoskeleton, one that basically made him impervious to most magics.
From what I recall Insectars were a race of bug-type Majin from another dimension. I never got to the part of the Light Novel where they were explained in detail, but I did look them up at one point so I know a little bit about them.
Insectars are a race of Demi-Spiritual Majin originating from another universe. They're basically super evolved versions of bugs, with the most powerful of them possessing immense power equivalent to that of a True Demon Lord.
Insectars are a powerful race born for combat. I remember reading that they possess immense physical strength and speed, while their bodies are often clad in night-unbreakable exoskeletons that basically no-sell 99% of magic.
They were a pretty heavy counter to Daemons since most Daemons were spell casters and relied on magic as their primary means of attack.
I remember hearing that Zegion, one of Rimuru's strongest Generals, was an Insectar and he was basically unmatched under the True Dragon tier.
I was getting sidetracked in my head though. Razul was an Insectar, a strong one too as I recall reading that he was firmly in the Awakened tier, meaning he could fight and even defeat full on Saints.
Razul was also a subordinate/friend of Granbell's, if Granbell ordered it then Razul would abandon his station in guarding the Western Nations from the Ice Continent in a heartbeat. It definitely wasn't a good idea to leave it all in the hands of Razul. While Granbell wouldn't do anything like that for now, who knows what the future will be like.
Granbell was another threat I needed to worry about, though thankfully I was far off his radar, and should remain like that forever if not for a long time. Mariabell was also someone that I felt would become a pain, right now she should already have been born, she's probably about 1-2 years old so I don't need to worry about her for now. It was better to focus on increasing my power rather than worrying about Mariabell at this point.
I nodded in response to King Aegil's statement about Razul. "That's true, but leaving it all in the hands of one man is rather dangerous."
King Aegil nodded. "I concede to you that point."
I nodded in thanks. "And that's Guy Crimson alone, there are nine others that each can be problematic in the right scenarios. Milim Nava is said to be a chaotic sort, trying to predict her generally ends in failure. She has not shown herself in any kingdom since her ascension into Demon Lordhood, but she is still out there."
King Aegil stroked his beard. "Indeed. You are right." I could tell that the king already knew much of what I was saying. He seemed to want to still hear me out though. Maybe to hear my perspective? The questions he has asked me so far have been very delebriate, much of them are about my political standings, my viewpoint on many issues and such.
I think he was trying to figure out where I stood, if I would wholeheartedly support him or not.
"Then Fairy Queen Ramiris. Not much is known about her fall but she can also pose a threat to Humanity with all the Elementals she retains command over." I said as if I didn't know that the current incarnation of Ramiris was barely as strong as a Greater Majin. Though what I said about her Elementals still applies. It was never shown in the light novel, but she was the Fairy Queen, and the Spirits seemed to obey her. So couldn't she freely command all the Elementals under her? Even the Elemental Lords?
Each Elemental Lord was at the Awakened level, that alone made Ramiris someone not to be messed with, and that was completely excluding Guy and Milim's overprotective attitude about her.
"The Earthquake, Dagruel is rather isolated, his territory is barren and unattractive to most human nations, but if he decides to do so he can also pose a threat to the Western Nations. His large population of Giant races can be deadly if properly commanded."
Dagruel rules the barren lands, the Holy Void of Damargania was the lands that Milim Nava and Guy Crimson fought on. Their Aura corrupted the lands to such an extent that life was almost completely nonexistent, yet Dagruel still chose to settle his people there.
I was curious about this in the past and researched it, apparently the Heaven Tower was located there, it was one of Veldanava's artifacts that Dagruel guarded. I wasn't able to learn much more than that.
"The Bloody Lord, Roy Valentine is a Demon Lord who carries much influence as well." I said thoughtfully. Roy was basically a substitute Demon Lord for Luminous. He was one of her subordinates. She had him take her place as a Demon Lord so she can operate in the background.
From what I remembered Roy was half of one of the True Ancestors, Roy and his twin who served as the Pope of Luminism, Louis, were once a single being and were one of the True Ancestors of the Vampire race that populated the world today. They were split by Luminous, likely through her Unique Skill: Lust that allowed her to mess with souls to a certain extent because they were a bit too rowdy. Even when split in half both Roy and Louis were strong individually. Strong enough to be good enough as a substitute Demon Lord.
Roy played the role as the flagship enemy of Ruberious, someone for Luminous to unite the Humans under her against.
His main territory's location was unknown, unlike most of the Demon Lords who made their territories common knowledge. Though I knew that the home of the Vampires was actually under the capital city of Ruberious, Lune.
"Then there is the Sleeping Ruler, Dino." Publicly not much was known about him so I couldn't reveal much. "He has no territory and is thought to be a wanderer, not much else is known about him. But seeing as he has not caused much trouble for Humanity I believe he is a passive sort."
King Aegil nodded thoughtfully.
"Demon Lord Carrion is a notable threat, despite being one of the newer Demon Lords, only a few centuries old, he has become the Beast King and commands every beastman giving him an impressive amount of military might."
Beastmen could be rather troublesome foes, they could assume a hybrid human-beast form and that would elevate their power exponentially. Carrion could reach the level of a Saint when going all out even though his base power was only about ⅓ of that level.
Carrion and Frey both ascended into Demon Lords during the last Tenma War. From what I understood the old Demon Lord Council had a bit of a culling due to the Tenma War, many could not survive the onslaught of Angels which cut down the numbers of the Demon Lord Council drastically, giving Carrion and Frey the chance to join.
"Then Demon Lord Frey…" Frey was a bit of an underdog, both in this world and in the light novel. She wasn't played up as someone that strong, but in reality from what I understood she was very strong. Her Magic Jamming could potentially cripple me, and she had centuries of combat experience. "She has a cunning mind that has allowed her to take advantage of many opportunities that have been presented to her."
Aligning herself with Milim ensured her survival and influence while also granting her the ability to move without too much suspicion. I wasn't sure if Frey had already begun forming that alliance, but it was worth keeping an eye on. That act alone was as good an act of cunning as any. Milim Nava was one of the best allies you could have, if not the best ally you could have if she genuinely liked you. She would raze hell and earth for her friends.
King Aegil seemed satisfied with my assessment so far, nodding occasionally as I laid out my thoughts. His eyes held a gleam of curiosity, though I wasn't sure if it was directed toward the Demon Lords or me. "And the others? Leon Cromwell, Clayman, and any others you might have thoughts on?" He prompted.
"Leon Cromwell, the Platinum Devil, is perhaps the most enigmatic of the Demon Lords. His motives are hard to pin down, but his actions suggest he is more focused on his own goals than causing widespread destruction. He has established a kingdom, El Dorado, which is relatively stable for a Demon Lord's territory. However, his fixation on summoning individuals from other worlds is noteworthy."
I didn't make my disapproval over his actions of summoning otherworlders known. I was not sure what King Aegil's stance on such a thing was. If the king was fine and even endorsed summoning otherworlders then that would isolate myself from him which was detrimental at this point in time since I would have to rely on King Aegil to a certain extent for now.
I knew far more about Leon than what I said of course. I knew his motives for basically everything he had done since he appeared in the Cardinal World.
His goal was to reunite with his childhood friend, Chloe Aubert who was brought to this world alongside him, yet vanished in front of him. They were both incredibly young when it happened so it's safe to say that that memory likely left a scar on Leon's psyche. Spiritual Lifeforms can have trauma just as any other Material Lifeform.
Leon's entire journey was not spoken about much in the light novel, but that didn't apply to the real world. There were plenty of stories about him.
In order to accomplish his goal he set out on a journey of sorts. He traveled the Cardinal World as a Hero. To this day there were many tales told about his adventures, though now they were looked at with mostly disappointment.
His time as a Hero was marked by some rather incredible feats that I couldn't even dream of accomplishing, and even failures, but with my perspective it was easy to tell that it was all just a means to an end to him. He wasn't a malicious person, I'm sure he was happy that he saved lives but in the end that brocon was only focused on one thing.
Each step he took, every decision he made, was singularly focused on his ultimate goal, to master the intricacies of summoning magic and manipulate the fabric of reality itself to bring forth people from other dimensions.
Leon got it into his head that Chloe's vanishing meant she was sent to some random world out there, completely alone and helpless. Since they were both summoned together and Leon saw Chloe vanish in front of him it made sense why he'd think that way.
It was normal to panic and jump to conclusions when a loved one was whisked away in front of your eyes, and in a world with magic, practically anything was possible.
His dedication to this pursuit eventually led him to seek the title of Demon Lord. It was a decision that baffled many who had once revered him. Some viewed it as a betrayal, while others speculated that he had succumbed to the temptations of power. But the truth, as I understood it, was more simple. Becoming a Demon Lord was merely a means to an end, a way to gather the immense magical resources and influence he needed to continue his search for Chloe.
It was pretty funny, he didn't even want to become a Demon Lord at first, but Kazalim in his or rather her idiocy attacked him because Leon was too handsome. Leon one shot Kazalim and the Demon Lord's army before basically shrugging and took over Kazalim's territory and became a Demon Lord due to having more freedom in that role.
Even now, Leon's actions as a Demon Lord seemed guided by a cold, calculated pragmatism. El Dorado, his kingdom, was more than a display of his power, it was a sanctuary of sorts, a place where he could control his environment and conduct his experiments without interference. His kingdom had more otherworlders in it than not.
Though Leon's execution of reuniting with Chloe was pretty messed up, he didn't directly cause harm, but the amount of pain and heartbreak he was responsible for indirectly due to spreading the otherworlder summoning ritual could not be measured.
His summoning of otherworlders, though controversial, was not random. Each individual was reached out to on the brink of death, Leon offered them a chance, and as most on the cusp of death, they agreed which is why I don't think Leon is inherently malicious. He didn't summon otherworlders who were just living their lives, he summoned only the ones that were in rather dire situations, he modified the otherworlder summoning ritual to be like that.
From what I recall, Leon had even studied under the True Ancestor of the Elves, becoming acquainted with the Divine Empress Elmesia who rules over the Sorcerous Dynasty of Sarion.
King Aegil nodded. "To him otherworlders are not people, they are pieces of a puzzle. A necessary sacrifice to increase his kingdom's power, or at least that is what the Council of the West believes." The king stated.
"Perhaps that is the case." I responded carefully, not committing too strongly to one perspective. "As for Clayman…"
I paused for a moment, choosing my words with care. Clayman, was known as the Marionette Master, he was a far different figure than Leon Cromwell, or any of the other Demon Lords really.
Clayman was one of the few who actively sought more power among the Demon Lord Council, even Frey was content with her place, intelligent enough to know not to push too far, but Clayman didn't see things the same.
From what I knew about him, he was a schemer, a manipulator, and rather power hungry. Thanks to my light novel knowledge I did know that he was currently under the control of the Captain of the Single Digits, Tatsuya Kondou, I wasn't going to think about that monster right now.
Clayman's goal was to reunite with his master, Kazalim who was currently inside of Yuuki. I wasn't sure if Yuuki had made contact with the Moderate Harlequin Alliance yet but that was something to consider. Basically all of Clayman's acts in canon were due to his power hungry nature, Kondou's control, and his desire to impress and reunite with Kazalim. In essence he was a mommy's boy who wanted to be praised.
Of course I wouldn't say that outloud, instead I just said what was commonly believed about him.
"Clayman is a puppet master in every sense of the word." I began. "He thrives on deceit and control, viewing individuals as nothing more than pawns for him to make use of. His goals are unknown, but he seems to be seeking more and more power going by his vast financial and political power that he has accumulated over the centuries."
Clayman was the only Demon Lord to actively make alliances and deals with the Western Nations, he is publicly considered to be the richest Demon Lord, though I doubt that's true. Guy Crimson likely had litters of Legend and maybe even God Grade Equipment lying around in his castle.
But that didn't change how Clayman's nature was clearly shown due to his actions.
King Aegil smiled faintly, his expression inscrutable. "You've given me much to consider. Your perspective is… insightful, especially for someone so new to court. Tell me, what drove you to seek such knowledge?"
I froze for a moment, realizing the subtle shift in his questioning. This wasn't just about the Demon Lords anymore. He was trying to get to know more about me just as he was earlier. I could see why many people got tired of this whole politics thing. Having to watch every word I'm saying is getting tiring.
"I believe knowledge is the foundation of survival." I said carefully. "Understanding the forces at play in the world allows one to navigate them effectively. My goal is to serve and protect the kingdom as best as I can. To do so, I must be informed."
The king raised an amused brow before huffing. Finally, he chuckled, the sound low and rich. "A wise answer. I must say, I find you quite intriguing. Perhaps we'll speak again soon."
I decided to ask a question of my own. I tilted my head, intrigued. "Do you think that balance will hold in the coming years? There are... forces that could disrupt it."
There were really only a couple things stopping the Western Nations from going into all out civil war. Without Luminous and Granbell holding the leash, I imagine that each kingdom would only be in it for themselves which was only natural.
While King Aegil likely didn't know about what was going on in the background, he must still have some idea that things weren't as they seemed.
His smile faltered, just for a moment, before he quickly masked it. "Ah? Are you referring to the Demon Lords and Angels."
I shrugged, giving a noncommittal hum.
The Demon Lords honestly weren't going to be much of a problem. Despite each of them being monstrously strong, even the weakest of them would be a challenge for me.
My Unique Skill: Graviton gave me an extremely high magic output and overall destructive potential. I could feel that I could create a black hole, it would just suck me dry to do so. I don't think either Clayman, Frey, or Carrion could do much in the face of a spatial rupture like a black hole, so I wasn't entirely helpless, at least in theory.
In the first place even Clayman wasn't interested in doing such a thing like attacking Humanity, at least not yet. And he was the most likely of the bunch to do such a thing in my opinion. I could only see him doing it to awaken as a True Demon Lord. Both Carrion and Frey don't really care for Humanity much, and the rest aren't explicitly hostile to Humanity at all.
And if all else failed, then Demon Lord Guy Crimson would take care of any threat since it was his duty to do so as the Mediator.
Ironically, the largest threat to Humanity was the Angels, and the Demon Lords were the best defense against them.
They would attack Humanity every 5 centuries just to dumb down the overall technological level of the Western Nations because Rudra was a little shit who wanted Humanity to be at its weakest so they were ripe for conquering. Eventually Humans in the Western Nations got the hint that the more technologically advanced nations were targeted and started doing some internal pruning, keeping the technological level low so that they weren't targeted.
And if everything went well, I'd have to deal with them. Or I could just leave things to Rimuru, I'll probably do that after being reassured that Rimuru actually exists and ascends into a True Demon Lord.
As long as he becomes a True Demon Lord a significant amount of bad ends are taken care of, though I don't doubt that something can still go wrong somewhere down the line. But baby steps, I can consider all that after I get past this first obstacle.
King Aegis smiled. "It depends. Those forces you speak of are not unknown to us. As with all things, preparation is key. That's why we value individuals like yourself, strong, resourceful, and forward-thinking."
So, he was aware of the undercurrents. The Western Nations were not as oblivious as they sometimes seemed to be in the light novel. It made me wonder just how much of the world's hidden dangers this kingdom had prepared for, or how much they thought they could control.
"I see." I said, meeting his gaze. "Well, I can't promise to uphold the balance, but I can promise to grow stronger. That, at least, is within my control."
The king smiled again, this time more genuine. "Strength is a currency all its own. Use it wisely, and you'll find doors open where others see walls."
I nodded, silently agreeing. Power was the one thing that transcended politics and diplomacy in this world. It was a universal language. Who would say no to someone like Guy Crimson when he wanted anything. Literally no one would. Despite Humanity's hatred for the first Demon Lord, despite them constantly preaching that he was evil, most would bend if he approached and demanded something. Hell, I couldn't guarantee that I wouldn't bend against a guy like that.
The conversation shifted as the king began speaking of the kingdom's economy, its trade routes, and its ties with neighboring nations. I listened attentively, occasionally asking questions to keep him talking. It was clear that while he enjoyed the sound of his own voice, he was also testing me, evaluating whether I was a worthy investment.
"I must say." the king said after a while. "It's refreshing to speak with someone who isn't entrenched in the politics of nobility. You bring a unique perspective, Altair."
"Sometimes an outsider's view is what's needed." I replied, offering a small, plastered smile.
"Indeed." He studied me for a moment, then leaned forward slightly, lowering his voice. "But be wary, young Baron. If you would allow me to do so, let me offer you some advice. As a noble now, you will likely be involved in some of the court's politics no matter what. The court is a battlefield of its own, one where swords are replaced by words and alliances. Tread carefully."
"I'll keep that in mind." I said, my tone neutral. "Thank you for the advice, Your Majesty."
The meal began to wind down, the king's demeanor softening as the weightier topics were set aside. He spoke of lighter things, anecdotes from his younger years, stories of Ingrassia's festivals, and the traditions that had endured through the ages. I added in my own thoughts when I could, but my mind was already elsewhere as I considered the implications of our conversation, going over what was said.
As the conversation drew to a close, the king rose, signaling the end of the formalities. "Altair, it has been a pleasure. I look forward to seeing what you accomplish as a Baron of Ingrassia."
"Thank you, Your Majesty." I said, bowing slightly. "I'll strive to meet your expectations."
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Author's Note:
Sup everyone, back with another chapter of Graviton. This chapter the king and Altair have some further discussion with the king trying to get a better understanding of Altair as a person.
Altair explains some of his view points on the current Demon Lords and the actions they would make in the future as well as some of his own plans.
Then a short little shizu pov to wrap things up.
Thanks for reading, peace.
Thanks to @Salante and @Flowerman for beta'ing this chapter.