Chapter 21: Interlude: The Chairman’s Lament

"The Demon Lord still hasn’t returned today!?"

A roar laced with raw magical power thundered through the grand hall deep within the Castle of Terror, the Demon Lord’s fortress.

For lesser monsters, that one shout alone would have been enough to erase their very existence. The voice carried both fury and despair.

He wanted nothing more than to unleash his flames and scorch the hall—but with immense restraint, he held himself back. After all, he was a loyal servant of the Demon Lord. Damaging his master’s castle was unthinkable.

"The Chairman, your anger is understandable. However, the Demon Lord has delegated all routine governmental duties to you. From a legal standpoint under Imperial Law, there’s no issue," said a Lizardman legal officer from the side, trying to calm him down.

"I know that! Of course I know that!"

Smoke curled from the corners of his mouth, and faint tongues of flame danced between his teeth. He understood the logic—but emotionally, the fire of his wrath refused to die down.

The one addressed as “Chairman” was Zahhak, an ancient red dragon of the Elder lineage, towering over twenty meters in length.

By a twist of fate, his name matched that of a legendary evil dragon known throughout the western lands—the One Who Brings the End, the Crouching Flame of Wrath—a living myth from the dawn of creation. Zahhak was the last surviving dragon from that primordial age.

"Well, Zahhak-dono’s anger is understandable," said a languid voice. "But since our strict and proper Demon Lord has finally found something that interests him, I’d call that a good thing. Let him be for a while."

The speaker had a red-and-green striped mohawk, a skull for a face, and wore a double suit beneath a lab coat—an absurd outfit for a skeletal man. Reclining casually on one of the sofas, he spoke in defense of the Demon Lord.

His name was Heishil—the Empire’s Grand Magus, supervisor of the Magitech Bureau, and an active magical engineer responsible for developing new arcane technologies.

"I agree with Heishil-san," came a lilting, playful voice. "For that stiff-headed Demon Lord of ours to actually take interest in something? That’s the first time in decades!"

The speaker was Beelzebub, a voluptuous demoness dressed in a bunny-girl outfit, exhaling a graceful puff of smoke through a long pipe.

Though technically not part of the Empire, she had long served as the Demon Lord’s personal secretary under a direct contract. She’d been around so long that no one in the imperial core dared question her presence anymore.

"Well, Heishil and Beelzebub both have a point," said a young man with brown hair and an easygoing grin. "Might as well let the Demon Lord do what he wants for now, right, Zahhak?"

Despite his human appearance, his body was a fusion of adamantite bones and monster flesh, within which was sealed one of the highest-ranking spirit kings—Behemoth. Created through Heishil’s engineering and the Demon Lord’s supreme summoning magic, he served as the Empire’s strongest asset: a one-man Royal Guard Division charged with defending the capital—an absurd amount of power for a single being.

"You all seem to have forgotten your positions as high officials of the Magic Empire," Zahhak said sorrowfully, lowering his massive head.

"Well now," Beelzebub said, patting his enormous snout, "my dear nephew happens to be close to the Demon Lord. If anything happens, I’ll have him send word right away."

"I see. I’m counting on you, Beelzebub," Zahhak said, his tone softening slightly.

"Besides," Heishil added, blue flames flickering in his hollow eye sockets, "if something urgent comes up, the Demon Lord can return at once. There’s practically nothing only he can decide anyway. Frankly, I’m more worried about getting my bureau’s budget restored after those cuts."

"Hmph! You wasted far too much funding on those ridiculous vibrating rods of yours!" Zahhak snapped.

"What nonsense! That ‘Vibe’ is the crown jewel of my workshop!" Heishil said proudly, pulling a slender device from somewhere. "Do you have any idea how many ladies are delighted thanks to this masterpiece?"

Behemoth burst into laughter, chugging his drink. "He’s got a point, Zahhak. I get wanting to cut back, but come on—if there’s extra budget lying around, let him have a bit for his toys!"

"You too, Behemoth!? Taking the fool’s side now? Truly lamentable!" Flames burst uncontrollably from Zahhak’s jaws.

"Well, if Heishil-san manages to make something interesting, I’ll be happy to try it out myself ♥️," Beelzebub purred, wiggling her hips and winking.

Heishil nodded eagerly. "That would be an honor! After my valued client Lord Riet, you’ll be the next to receive a sample!"

"Riet, huh? What’s he up to these days?" Behemoth asked idly, shaking his empty bottle.

"Riet’s shut himself up in his detached palace," Zahhak said heavily. "Given the circumstances, it’s understandable."

"Eh, whatever. Once the Demon Lord gets bored of his new obsession, he’ll come back anyway," Behemoth muttered, as if it were no concern of his.