Chapter 150: City or Graveyard

7th Demon Prince Jilbagias’ Chronicle of Demon Kingdom Toppling

Most of the demon race's buildings were made by the Corvut clan.

Thanks to their lineage magic, 【Concreta(Stone Manipulation Curse)】, they could reshape and control stone materials with ease, like children molding clay, allowing them to create houses and castles effortlessly.

As a result of the fusion of the demon race's aversion to excessive decoration and the earnest nature of the Corvut clan, buildings constructed with 【Concreta】 tend to be seamless, flat, and characterized by a rugged, straight-lined design.

Therefore, the capital of the Reiju Territory had a cityscape that, in a positive light, could be called functional, but in a more negative sense, it appeared somewhat monotonous.

However, the same couldn't be said for the old town.

You could even say that it was a familiar sight to me―― Over there, the city still retains the appearance of a human settlement. Streets paved with mosaic-patterned stone tiles. Houses built by combining cut stone materials and bricks.

These are buildings constructed by human hands, without the ease of molding or attaching stones. They follow a rather old architectural style. It seems that the cityscape around here had largely remained unchanged since the kingdom was annexed.

Some of the buildings hadn't been well maintained, with stone walls missing chunks, cracked, or even leaning. In stark contrast to the lively atmosphere of the center of the city, there was a sense of gloom hanging in the air.

「…」

The bustle of the main streets felt distant, almost as if it was from another world. I couldn't help but feel like I was an out-of-place presence.

I stuffed an extremely sugary baked sweet into my mouth while looking at the spectacle――

「The atmosphere in this part is completely different.」

Lyla was looking around with a mix of curiosity and anxiety on her face before she spoke.

「… indeed.」

I agreed with her.

It was more like a 『Desolate』 place rather than a place with a bad atmosphere. There weren't that many people around, and it feels like it lacks vitality.

『It's not just your imagination.』

Ante spoke up from inside.

『In the center of the city, there are numerous individuals with immense magical power, with you at the forefront. But this area is different.』

… I see. so it lacks the pressure of magical power――

『There are very few. The sense of emptiness comes from the fact that there aren't many powerful demons around this place.』

I see, so that was the reason. I caressed my horns lightly.

I thought I had gotten used to a body where magical power was vividly perceptible, but in moments like this, I realized that I’m still clinging to human senses. Should I be glad about this, or lament it?

Even so, the lack of magical power's pressure in this place was striking. Wasn't this area still part of the territory where demons lived? I remember hearing that the residences of the night elves and beastmen servants are further out, on the outskirts of the city.

「What is this area?」

「The old town.」

When I asked Vigne about it, she gave a serious answer. Yeah, I already knew that.

「… I wanted to know more details about this area, though.」

「I'm joking, though.」

Don't lie, you were answering seriously just now. Weren’t you getting elbowed by the night elf colleague next to you?

「――When the Reiju clan conquered this land, I heard that the area around the current clan patriarch's residence was severely damaged, and a new cityscape was formed by the Corvut clan.」 Ｒ𝐀ɴỌВĚṢ

Vigne began explaining with a nonchalant expression. That would be what you call the new district, the center of the city.

「Naturally, the buildings made with Concreta are superior both physically and mentally, so the influential people all moved in. As for the old city, which was simply repaired by the human slaves from back then… That's where the remaining residents lived.――」

Vigne spoke carefully with her choice of words.

I see now, so the stronger ones got to secure houses in the shiny, pristine center, while the weaker ones were left with the leftovers.

In short, the descendants of the weaker members of the Reiju clan live in this old city. I couldn't hide my surprise seeing such disparity――

Nevertheless 『The human slaves from back then』 remarks reignited my anger after seeing the human ranch.

Considering the current racial demographics within the territory, it was easy to imagine the fate that befell the human slaves who were once used there.

They must have been filled with regret―― From that perspective, the dilapidated streets of this old town suddenly seemed like grave markers for the people who once lived here. And yet, the ones shamelessly residing here now were not humans but demons. Parasites, all of them…

「… Huff.」

I took a breath to calm my rage. If it were just me, I could rage as much as I wanted.

「Let's go.」

I took a deep breath and smiled at Lyla, who walked beside me. It’d be unfair to her if I kept getting all worked up, especially when we were in the middle of an outing.

『Did you forget that I'm with you too?』

I did not, you're always with me 24/7, after all.

『Humph, as long as you understand…』

I grabbed Lyla's hand and started walking. She didn't say anything, just offering a slightly lonely smile, but gently gripped my hand with her own hand. The faint pressure in her fingers felt as though she was silently trying to support me.――

Alright, let’s quickly get out of this gloomy area. With that thought in mind, I quickened my pace, but――

「Ah, Your Highness!」

I ran into a familiar face at the corner.

「If it isn't Alvar.」

It was Alvar Auril. He was carrying his spear, making me wonder what he was doing in this place.

「Good day. What are you doing here… Your Highness?」

「Right back at you.」

「Well, I actually live around this area…」

He what? This parasite wa―― Well, that matter aside.

I see. So the reason he was unfairly seen as "just another underwhelming young talent" despite his skills and determination might have something to do with his family's background…

…Damn it, I ended up asking Vigne about the situation, so now it felt awkward and hard to answer.

「I see… I am just strolling around the town. Since this is my first homecoming, I’ve been so caught up in training that I haven’t had much chance to explore this place.」

I carefully told him my situation, making sure not to speak too quickly. Then, I casually draped my arm over Lyla's shoulder.

「That and… I want Lyla to fly in the sky since it's too suffocating for her to stay in the human form. We're about to head to the forest in the outskirt.」

I wanted to create an excuse to end the conversation, but――

「Oh, Your Highness is heading into the forest, too! What a coincidence; I am planning to go hunting as well! I'll accompany you part of the way!」

Alvar flashed a bright smile. There wasn’t the slightest trace of sarcasm, just a pure, 100% display of goodwill and loyalty…

「O-Ou…」

Since I couldn't brush him off, he ended up tagging along with us.

「This way is a shortcut. That road looks like it goes straight, but it actually turns right at the bottom of the hill, taking you away from the forest.」

As expected from a local, Alvar's directions were spot-on. He guided us smoothly along paths I likely wouldn't have ventured down on my own without getting lost along the way.

However, occasionally, he would pick up or kick away bits of trash that had been left at the edges of the path, as if trying to keep them out of my sight. That little gesture left a strong impression on me.

I would catch a glimpse of the old town's residents every once in a while, but they were demons dressed in shabby clothes, nothing like the people from the center of the city. I was honestly surprised. Were there poor demons, too? Weren’t they supposed to be from the privileged class in this country…?

Nope, think carefully, there was noble in name only, even in the alliance.

「…This area has a lot of poor people. Honestly, it’s not really a place someone like Your Highness should be visiting.」

Alvar suddenly murmured those words just when we were about to leave the old town.

His eyes were fixed straight ahead, towards the road, but… I felt like his attention was actually directed at me.

「Your Highness… What do you think about that situation?」

Alvar asked with a somewhat cautious tone.

「About those weak and poor demons?」

――Unlike the usually upbeat Alvar, the current him asked the question with a serious tone in his voice.

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My first CN project, why waifu though? Well, coz the main heroine's job is buying soy sauce till the end of act 1

New Project:

Harem, Hero, Demon King, Seven Deadly Sin, Seven Virtue, Sacred Beast, Sword and Magic, Dystopian Future, DESTINY PROJECT HAD IT REALIZED!, Dungeon, Dragon, 72 Demons, Reincarnations