Dealing with those who feared me was always the most delicate matter. Power inspires awe, yes—but unchecked fear corrodes trust. And trust… is what holds a kingdom together.
Before me, the rabbitmen trembled so hard that some couldn't even lift their heads.
"T-Today… a-an honor to be invited—"
Their chief's voice cracked like a brittle branch.
He was so nervous that even speaking seemed like a battle.
"It's fine. I permit you to meet with our ruler, the great Demon Lord Atem-sama. Please raise your head!" Rigurd spoke with his usual commanding yet warm tone.
But the rabbitman representative didn't respond. His forehead pressed to the ground. He didn't move an inch. Even as I sat upon the ceremonial dais—my presence calm yet heavy—he dared not look at me.
I let out a quiet breath through my nose. His reaction wasn't unexpected.
My power wasn't something they could ignore.
To them, I must have been an overwhelming contradiction—a ruler who didn't shout, yet whose silence pressed like iron.
I didn't want this relationship to be built on fear. My rule was absolute, yes, but I was not a tyrant. Yet to these weaker tribes, their instincts screamed louder than my intentions ever could.
Convincing them would take more than words. It would take time.
When Eterna was first united, I had faced this same kind of fear from the halfling and kobold tribes. At first, they had avoided me, flinched at my presence. But when I allowed them to travel freely, to trade, to grow without being crushed under the heel of the strong… trust had taken root. Now, Kobe, the kobold representative, was a firm ally.
That same path was what I would offer the rabbitmen.
In my Eterna, strength would not decide worth. All tribes would be equal beneath my rule. I would not follow the old, rotting way of other demon lords—the way of "might makes right."
I narrowed my eyes slightly as the rabbitmen kept their foreheads pressed to the ground.
"There's no need to be afraid," Rigurd continued, stepping forward. His voice carried across the gathering. "Atem-sama is a ruler of dignity and balance. All who are willing to pledge loyalty shall stand as equals beneath his throne. You may raise your head without fear."
The rabbitman representative hesitated, his long ears twitching nervously. Then, slowly, he lifted his face.
He was young—handsome even—but exhaustion clung to him like a shadow. Deep dark circles sat beneath his eyes. Whether from sleepless worry or the weight of this meeting, it was clear he had carried this fear for a long time.
"G-Great Demon Lord Atem-sama," he finally stammered, "please grant us, the rabbitmen, the honor to pledge our loyalty to you—"
I inclined my head slightly, letting my golden gaze settle on him. "...Granted."
That single word broke the tension like a blade cutting through glass. The young chief's shoulders fell as if a mountain had rolled off them.
"I've told you," I said, my tone firm yet calm, "there's no need to be so nervous."
"Y-Yes, my lord! I-In fact…" He gulped hard, his voice cracking again. "I brought my daughter with me. She was… a little too excited to see the city and I—I lost her somewhere after entering…"
Rigurd stifled a small chuckle, while I raised a brow.
A missing daughter in the middle of a celebration wasn't ideal, but his panic wasn't about offending me. It was about a father's fear for his child. That alone softened the edge in my voice.
"Hah," I exhaled with a faint smile. "Eterna is alive with festivity right now. She's a child—her curiosity is only natural."
"Ahh… this is so embarrassing." The chief covered his face briefly, ears flicking down. "She's always been this way. Always running off whenever I let my guard down. I feared she might be an eyesore before your Majesty Atem, so I almost left her behind. But she insisted on coming…"
So it wasn't me he feared most—it was the thought of his people being unworthy. That, at least, was something I could mend.
And a rabbitman girl, curious and bold… intriguing.
"Since she's curious," I said slowly, "then she will adapt well to changing times. People like that grow strong. I see promise in her."
The chief's eyes widened. My words struck him deeper than I expected. To receive praise directly from the ruler of Eterna was no small thing. He lowered his head again, this time not from fear—but gratitude.
"Your Majesty Atem… thank you for your gracious kindness. If the chance allows… I would be honored to introduce my daughter Flamaire to you."
"Then I'll look forward to it," I replied.
Rigurd stepped in again, explaining the procedures, the expectations, and the structure of how Eterna welcomed new tribes into its fold. The rabbitmen listened intently, their shoulders gradually relaxing.
The chief bowed several more times, his voice steadier now. Then, he and his people turned to leave.
As they disappeared into the bustling crowd of Eterna, I could already imagine the whispers that would follow—their fear would turn into stories of a king who did not crush them, but accepted them.
After the previous group had been guided out, the next wave of visitors approached.
I shifted my gaze toward the monsters kneeling before me, their heads bowed low as they waited to be granted an audience. Among them, I immediately recognized a familiar face—the lizardman tribe's leader… Abil, Gabil's father.
But the man I saw before me wasn't quite the same as the one I'd met in the past.
Abil now stood tall, the vigor of a warrior in his prime radiating from him. His once rugged features were sharper, and his presence carried a quiet strength. Naming him had changed everything—he had evolved into a Dragonewt, closer to human in form. It was a striking transformation. Gabil, of course, hadn't changed as drastically, though his sister Souka had gained a more human form too. Perhaps it had something to do with the strength of one's will.
"Long time no see… Atem-sama." Abil's deep voice rang out with weight. "It is truly an honor to stand before you. Now that you've ascended as a Demon Lord, this moment—this era itself—is worthy of celebration. I… No, we all…"
His body stiffened, shoulders rigid with nervous reverence. Just as Gabil had once mentioned—demon lords were entities feared by both man and monster. Even knowing my nature, Abil couldn't suppress that instinct.
I let out a quiet exhale. I didn't need his trembling. What I needed was his strength.
"Abil," I said evenly, my tone calm yet firm, "there's no need to tremble before me. We are allies in the same Federation. Titles may change, but the bond we've forged doesn't."
A brief pause followed. Benimaru cracked a small, awkward smile. Shuna sighed softly, probably already used to how I handled these situations. I ignored both of them.
Abil lowered his head even more. "No… Atem-sama has become a Demon Lord. Things are different. You now stand as the dominator of the Jura Great Forest itself. Reverence is the least we can offer."
I stared down at him, voice deepening with quiet authority. "Titles don't dictate the worth of an ally. Your strength does. And Abil, I have no interest in building a kingdom where allies must cower to breathe."
A ripple ran through the air. Even though my voice was calm, the weight behind it was undeniable.
"Chief," I continued, letting my gaze harden ever so slightly, "your son, Gabil, has been serving under me with diligence. He's grown—more than you probably realize. His efforts now play a vital role in the advancement of Eterna."
I deliberately emphasized his son's name. Abil's expression flickered. Even if they'd severed ties publicly, the blood bond between them was still there—undeniable.
"Ha… that fool of a son…" Abil muttered with a faint, restrained smile. "Has my Gabil been of use to you, Atem-sama?"
"He has," I replied without hesitation. "He leads our research division. He's reckless sometimes—but his resolve is real."
"Y-Yeah…!" Gabil's startled voice cut in from the side. He'd been standing there the whole time, stiff as a statue, his tail practically wrapped around his leg from nerves. His voice jumped a pitch when I called him out.
Abil sighed. "This silly boy…"
The moment was light for a heartbeat—but then I let my presence shift. A fraction of my power leaked into the room. A dense, suffocating pressure swept over the gathered monsters, making the air itself heavy.
"Abil," I said slowly, voice carrying the weight of command, "as leader of the Lizardman Tribe, I ask you not just as your Demon Lord—but as the one who stands at the helm of this Federation. Will you lend me your strength and your loyalty?"
Without hesitation, Abil dropped to one knee, head lowered, his voice echoing through the hall with unwavering conviction.
"Understood! I, Abil, swear upon my name to pledge eternal loyalty to Atem-sama!"
His words thundered like a warrior's vow, and I gave him a single approving nod. My gaze then shifted to Gabil.
The poor fool froze again. My look was more than enough to tell him what I expected. But as usual… Gabil didn't get it.
"—Huh?" he blurted out.
Rigurd, ever the sharp one, leaned toward him and whispered urgently, "Atem-sama wants you to mend the bond between you and your father. This is the best chance you'll ever have. If you let it slip away now… you may never have it again. And more importantly—Abil-dono would be in a difficult position if he remains estranged from one of Eterna's key executives."
Gabil's eyes widened as the words sank in. Rigurd understood me almost instinctively—better than most.
Finally snapping out of his daze, Gabil bowed deeply, stepping forward to follow Abil. Father and son left side by side, disappearing through the grand archway.
I leaned back on the throne slightly, watching their figures go. This was how loyalty should be forged—not through fear, but through bonds that couldn't be broken.
Step by step, Eterna would rise.