I'm the Evil Lord of an Intergalactic Empire! - Book 13: Chapter 1: True Demon Lord

-At the bridge of the super-dreadnought class battleship Argos-

I, [Liam Sera Banfield], am currently returning to our home planet, accompanied by my elite fleet of soldiers.

While we’re at it, we’ve been destroying enemy guerrilla fleets and supply fleets.

By striking the enemy’s guerrilla fleets, we can prevent them from sending reinforcements to the subjugation force, and by destroying their supply fleets, we can leave the Imperial Army to dry in enemy territory.

For soldiers on the front line, there’s nothing as terrifying as having their supply lines cut off.

Knowing that their provisions will eventually run out would add significant pressure, wearing them out mentally.

It may not seem like much, but I’m sure our harassment is working.

“Having their supply lines cut off would be especially devastating for larger fleets. They won’t be able to maintain order within the army, potentially leading to self-destruction.”

I’m sitting on a luxurious seat that’s been prepared for me as I speak to my secretary, [Eulisia Moriselle], who’s standing next to me.

We’re currently in the midst of a discussion about the Imperial Army, which is collapsing on its own as it gradually runs out of supplies.

Eulisia, however, doesn’t seem to share my opinion on the subject matter.

“It’s a miracle that we were able to corner the enemies this far. I envisioned our fleet being crushed in the face of an overwhelming number of enemies.”

“A miracle? No, this was inevitable.”

As someone who has received the Guide’s blessings, there’s no way I’d lose in a war that’s as trivial as this one.

There’s also the fact that I was very much prepared for battle.

It’s a lesson I learned from my previous life.

Being weak is a sin in and of itself. Might makes right.

That’s why I always strive to become stronger.

“I see that you’re as confident as ever. Well, we’re winning, and I guess that’s all that matters.”

“–You should be more respectful towards me.”

Eulisia’s attitude bothers me, but there’s no denying that she’s a capable secretary.

Anyone can replace her, but it won’t be easy finding someone who can take over her responsibilities.

Not to mention, she has connections with the Imperial Army.

Cutting her off won’t be to my benefit, which is why I’m willing to overlook minor breaches in her behavior.

Eulisia seems to have noticed my dissatisfaction with her, but it appears she has no intention of changing the way she treats me.

“With all due respect, I believe I’ve done my part by remaining loyal to the Banfield Family even when the situation has deteriorated this far.”

Naturally, there were some people who betrayed me when they realized we were at a disadvantage.

Some of them even fled from the battlefield. Despite all the complaints she’s thrown, it’s true that she didn’t switch sides.

Even so, I don’t feel enough reverence coming from her.

“If it had been anyone else, I would’ve had them demoted.”

As my secretary, Eulisia holds the rank of Brigadier General, which gives her the right to be called “Her Excellency”.

I had to confer her an adequate rank that befits her role, or else people would’ve begun questioning my authority.

In other words, it’s all for show.

She probably knows that I can’t demote her easily, which is why she refuses to change her attitude.

“If that’s what pleases you, then by all means.”

“You really aren’t cute at all.”

I’m unhappy with her attitude, but it’s not something that warrants a punishment, which is why I get up from my seat and start walking towards the exit of the bridge.

Eulisia calls out to me.

“Where are you going?”

Turning only my upper body, I respond to her question.

“I’ll be toying with the enemies for a bit. Have Avid ready to move out.”

“Huh? We’ve yet to detect any enemies though?”

Confused, she asks for clarification.

Just then, the operator reports that they’ve confirmed the presence of an enemy fleet.

“Enemy fleet detected! Number, six thousand! They don’t seem to have noticed us yet.”

Immediately, everyone on the bridge gets to work, and soldiers begin preparing for battle.

Just as I’m about to leave the bridge, I hear Eulisia’s voice.

“You noticed the enemies before our equipment could! Lord Liam, are you really human?”

I feel smug hearing how surprised she sounds, but the second half of the sentence leaves me speechless.

What else could I be?

“Of course I’m human!”

◇

With Liam joining the battlefield, the Banfield Family’s elite fleet was making short work of the enemies.

Eulisia, who was watching everything unfold from the bridge, broke out in a cold sweat at Avid’s ridiculous performance.

Her expression was slightly tense, but it was out of awe, not fear.

Liam’s voice could be heard from the communication device on the bridge.

[They might have state-of-the-art battleships and mobile knights, but they’re all trash compared to Avid.]

In the modern era, 18-meter class mobile knights were the norm.

Avid, a black mobile knight that stood at 24 meters in height, could be classified as larger than usual.

However, the strength of a mobile knight wasn’t determined solely by its size.

Several factors had to be considered, including but not limited to the environment it was being operated in, the skill of the pilot, and the intrinsic performance of the aircraft.

Having said that, Avid was on another level.

Using its energy field, it was capable of blocking high-output lasers fired from the main cannons of enemy ships.

Live ammunition was likewise brought to their knees before Avid, which was made entirely of rare metals.

Equipped with its iconic twin shields, Avid was essentially a mobile fortress.

Not only did it have an outstanding defense, but it also came equipped with equally amazing destructive capabilities.

[The small fries are getting in the way. Deploy space magic — blow them away!]

Hundreds of magic circles were deployed around avid, each about 30 meters in diameter.

Weapons that had been stored using space magic appeared one after another.

Gatling guns, missiles, beams, and lasers barely scratched the surface. Sometimes, mysterious weapons thought to have been developed by the Seventh Weapons Factory emerged.

Once Avid locked onto the enemy aircraft, they were all fired simultaneously.

Avid’s attack boasted unbelievable firepower, and it left hundreds of enemy aircraft in ruins.

Unlike before, Eulisia showed great admiration for Liam, whose brave figure was being displayed on the bridge’s monitor.

“He’s completely overwhelming them.”

Being a soldier herself, she knew that what Liam and Avid were doing was incredible.

Normally, a pilot was considered an ace if they could shoot down five enemies in a single battle.

However, that was nothing before Liam’s dazzling performance.

He was like the heroes found in fairy tales, his accomplishments comparable to those passed down in legends and myths.

Personally witnessing his battle had her heart pounding.

Eulisia usually treated Liam quite casually, but that didn’t mean she looked down on him.

If she did, she would’ve left Liam a long time ago.

She was content with her life in the Banfield Family, and more than anything, she held a deep respect for Liam’s way of life.

“He isn’t afraid to jump into battles to protect his people — truly like the heroes in fairy tales,” she muttered, looking dazed.

There was a small smile on her face.

One of the officers nearby heard this and commented.

“Indeed. If he didn’t have such a foul mouth, he would’ve been the perfect Lord to serve.”

If Liam had a flaw, it was probably his usual behavior. He would proudly call himself an evil lord and act in an arrogant manner.

However, none of the soldiers seemed to have a problem with this.

Eulisia turned her gaze to the officer who spoke to her.

“Do you wish to serve someone that’s perfect?”

“Of course not. Everyone has flaws, and that’s what makes us human. I’d feel uncomfortable serving a flawless master. Besides, it wouldn’t be Lord Liam if he didn’t have his foul mouth.”

“You’re right.”

Eulisia watched on with a bitter smile as the monitor showed Liam laughing out loud amidst the chaos.

[None of you are getting past me and Avid!]

◇

-Somewhere far away from the Algrand Empire-

In a different world, the hero and his four companions were laying siege to the Demon Lord’s castle.

The group of five advanced through the decaying castle, defeating countless monsters as they arrived at the throne room.

With his holy sword drawn, the hero prepared to strike down the Demon Lord.

“This is the end of the line for you, Demon Lord!”

The hero was a handsome young man who seemed to have come straight out of a painting. Carrying a sword and clad in armor, the young man with blond hair and azure eyes had come to the Demon Lord’s castle to fulfill his duty as the hero.

He had but one goal in mind – defeat the Demon Lord and restore peace to the world.

The Demon Lord was sitting upon his throne with no one tending to him.

Seeing that the Demon Lord was alone in such a large room, a female wizard in the hero’s party offered a sarcastic remark.

“No wonder the castle was filled with only unintelligent monsters. He doesn’t have any allies. What a lonely king. He has no one but himself.”

A male warrior who was carrying an axe warned the female wizard to remain vigilant.

“This isn’t the time or place to be making fun of our enemy. He may be alone, but he’s still the Demon Lord. We shouldn’t underestimate his strength.”

The remaining two members of the group were also on high alert, their weapons pointed towards the Demon Lord.

It was worth noting that their attire was entirely medieval, and the hero didn’t have any weapons resembling a gun or a laser.

The Demon Lord slowly rose from his throne, picking up the helmet that had been placed on his armrest.

His appearance was that of a skeleton.

In other words, he was an undead, and the armor he wore emitted a black ominous aura.

He then grabbed his sword that was nearby and put on his helmet to mask his skeletal appearance.

The Demon Lord was three meters in height, and seeing him pick up his weapon, the magician began casting buffs on her allies.

“[Reduced Physical Damage], [Enhanced Magic Resistance], [Enhanced Physique]–”

A faint light enveloped the hero and his allies as the magic was cast.

The Demon Lord watched on, seemingly waiting for them to finish their preparations.

The hero felt uneasy when he realized this, but to protect his hometown and his country, he lunged at the Demon Lord.

“Let’s put an end to this battle, here and now!”

“Ou!”

The hero and the warrior launched a simultaneous attack on the Demon Lord.

They closed the distance in an instant and swung down their weapons made of orichalcum.

Not only were they using sacred weapons, but their strength had also been buffed.

An undead should’ve been reduced to dust by the slightest touch from them.

However, the Demon Lord received their attacks without so much as attempting to block them.

He merely stood there, taking blow after blow.

And yet he showed no signs of having received any damage.

“We can’t break through his armor!” the hero exclaimed through clenched teeth, commenting on the hardness of the Demon Lord’s armor.

Just in time, the magician and the monk unleashed their spells.

“Then we’ll tear him apart with magic! Firestorm!!”

“Holy Light!”

A column of fire enveloped the Demon Lord, and holy light poured down on him.

Attacks that involved fire and light should have been the bane of any undead, but the Demon Lord came out of it unscathed, after which he let out a small sigh.

“–How boring,” he murmured.

The hero was shocked when he heard this.

“What!?”

“I said it’s boring. It was entertaining to watch as you and your party struggled to reach here, but I’m getting no excitement out of this fight. Oh, how I wish to fight a stronger hero.”

In the blink of an eye, the Demon Lord diced up the hero and the warrior.

Their bodies proceeded to fall to the ground, leaving the surviving members of the group dumbstruck.

The Demon Lord then approached the three remaining members of the hero’s party and blew away the monk along with the archer. They were slammed against the wall, and before they could process what had happened, they were dead.

All that remained was the female wizard who had made fun of the Demon Lord.

Before the Demon Lord’s overwhelming strength, the female wizard began begging for mercy with tears in her eyes.

“P-please spare me. I-I apologize for what I said.”

As she lamented her previous action, the Demon Lord began to laugh, as if he found her amusing.

“You misunderstand. I’m not angry at you.”

“You aren’t?”

“No. In fact, you had the guts to mock me in my presence. Out of the five of you, you stood out the most. In human terms, you’re my favorite.”

“T-then will I be spared?”

She desperately held onto the faint hope that she’d be spared, but her hope soon turned into despair.

“No, but I shall grant you the honor of serving me for all of eternity by allowing you to join my immortal army.”

And with that, the Demon Lord placed his hand on the wizard’s head.

“No, stop! GYAAAAAAAA!!”

The wizard cried out as her body gradually morphed.

Before long, her skin began to crack, the whites of her eyes turned black, and her iris was stained red.

Her resistance slowly weakened, and soon enough, she was no longer able to move according to her will.

By the time her transformation was complete, she was completely under the control of the Demon Lord, and she fell to her knees, her head bowed.

“I swear… eternal allegiance… to the Demon Lord.”

Hearing this, the Demon Lord gave a slight nod.

“Umu. Continue to work hard as my vassal.”

The Demon Lord’s immortal army, which was made of people he had placed under his control, appeared before him.

What was noteworthy was their appearance.

Some were wearing armor and holding swords, while others were in powered suits, clearly having come from the future.

There were even warriors from the distant past, indicating they weren’t from the same era.

Sinking his sword into the floor, the Demon Lord contemplated what to do next.

“I’ve traveled to various worlds in search of strong people, but only a handful of them could barely meet my criteria. Is there anyone out there that could satisfy me?”

As the Demon Lord sat on this question, he sensed a presence that sent shivers down his spine.

“What was that? Where did it come from? Who was it?”

The Demon Lord extended his left hand, creating a space that traversed countless worlds.

A black mist spread out before him, and the rampaging figure of Avid was reflected within it.

“!?”

The Demon Lord marveled at the presence of Avid and Liam standing undefeated against waves of enemies.

The image of Avid destroying nearby aircraft one after another was exactly what the Demon Lord pictured a hero would be like.

The Demon Lord picked up his great sword with his right hand.

“I had no idea such a strong person existed in the world. I shall take you down and add you to my immortal army.”

The Demon Lord wasn’t intimidated by the sight of a world where intergalactic nations, mobile knights, and spaceships existed.

As for why–

“Let’s see what you’re made of…”

Immediately after, the Demon Lord’s castle was blown away by a spaceship that had suddenly appeared in the sky, covering it in its entirety.

This was the Demon Lord’s pride and joy, his immortal fleet.

He had what it took to participate in wars of intergalactic nations.

“I’ll go welcome you myself, Liam Sera Banfield!”

*****

Brian (´;ω;｀): “–Why does Lord Liam keep attracting the attention of strange creatures? I’m worried about his safety, it’s painful.”

Wakagi-chan (°∀°): “It’s not limited to the enemies. Many of his allies are strange as well.”

Wakagi-chan (o´艸`): “Time for more advertisement! Mob Seka now has a spin-off, and it’s called ‘That World of Otome Games is Tough for Us’! The ‘Marie Route’ has been made into a book, with significant additions to the story!”

Brian ( *¯ ꒳¯*): “It’s a spin-off where readers can enjoy the main story from the ‘IF’ route’. On the other hand, you can enjoy the main story of ‘I’m the Evil Lord of an Intergalactic Empire!’ through the lens of [Emma Rodman] in ‘I’m the Heroic Knight of an Intergalactic Empire!’”

Wakagi-chan (´Д｀ι): “–Both spin-offs will be released this month alongside their main stories.”