"A new Hero? Oh, oh, so Humans actually know how to keep the economy moving, huh?"
For some reason, Lich had been forced to make this report to the Demon King. He couldn't make sense of it at all. But the Demon King was his patron, after all—and, worse, she seemed to know something about his past.
Not *him*, exactly, but Lich from before. Which meant it was better not to sour her mood, and maybe even necessary to keep checking in from time to time, just to stay on her good side.
So, with that unspoken necessity gnawing at him, Lich had trudged straight from the battlefield to the audience chamber.
Upon that throne, far too large for any one body, lounged a young woman with brown skin, horns curving from her temples, and snow-white hair spilling over what could only be called a swimsuit masquerading as royal attire.
The horns and claws glimmered under elaborate decorations; even from ten steps away the shine pricked at his eyes like a glitter storm he couldn't escape.
"Back before any of us even held titles, they used to say, 'war only exhausts the economy,' y'know? But turns out it really depends on population and scale of conflict. These days it's the opposite—like, if there isn't a war, the whole system just won't turn. It's become routine, practically a daily event in itself."
"Lich does not understand the economy."
"Right? Exactly! ...Well, anyway. The point is, I'm happy Humans still wanna keep the war going. Demonkin are packed with hotheaded types, y'know? If there's no war, they'd start civil wars instead, and when civil war burns us out, we'd just kick off fighting Humans all over again. So isn't it just better to keep that endless war rolling with Humans? It's nice, right?"
"Lich does not understand."
"Okay, then let's bring it back to something you *do* care about. Honestly? The more casualties, the more money you make, don't you think? Since like, most of your income is straight-up medical expenses."
"..."
"So yeah. Probably Alice—panicking about Leila's food bill—pushed you into it, but if you wanna profit, the best thing for you is to intensify the war. You get that, right?"
"I see."
"Good. Then the real topic—"
"Yes."
"You killed Leila, didn't you?"
"Yes."
On the way back from battle, he had staged it like an accident. He had killed her. For money.
"Leila's existence was valuable for the war in all kinds of ways, so I'd like you to bring her back, okay?"
"But she ate so much that Lich's money—"
"That's why I said it! If she lives, you profit more in the long run! Geez, if it's money you should just consult me first! Why do you always rush ahead alone? Let's work together, yeah?"
And yet Lich shrank from these visits to his patron. The thought—*this person holds my researcher's life in her hands*—made him lose all sense of what to say.
Strictly speaking, it wasn't as if she truly controlled his finances, since the medical innovations left behind by the *past* Lich were what kept the money flowing. Still, the fact that he had left the management in her care meant she might as well be the one holding the purse strings.
"But wait. Lich did indeed kill Leila. Still, why must Lich be the one to pay her food bills? She is Giant Warlord now. Giants should provide for their own. And as Warlord, the supreme commander—Demon King—should be the one responsible."
"You're the one who picked her up, weren't you?"
"Lich gave her life, and she followed on her own."
"I mean, sure, I *could* take care of her. But she's kinda...annoying, don't you think?"
"...Nooooot at aaaall."
What emerged was a falsetto so shrill it shocked even him. Lich was a terrible liar.
"...Well, I don't mind either way. But politically, if I took her under *my* management, then killing her or reviving her would just get messy, wouldn't it?"
"Why?"
"Want me to spell it out?"
"...Enough. Lich will take care of her."
Politics were the worst. Lich didn't want to hear about things he hated: money, daily life expenses, or gossip like, "Hey, did you know that guy's in the Hero's Party but still doesn't have a girlfriend at his age?" He just wanted to keep his head down, buried in research.
"Okay, so we'll leave it at that. Oh, but like I said at the start—"
"?"
"If you want money, you gotta stir the war up."
"How?"
"There are tons of ways. For you, maybe lending a hand at each front. Or killing the aces of stable battlefields."
"If Lich killed the Humans' aces, Demonkin would gain the advantage and the war would end. Even Lich can understand that."
"What did you just say? The Humans' what?"
"..."
"If both sides lost their aces at the fronts, the deadlock would break. Battles would get fiercer, casualties would rise. See? I *am* the Demon King, so of course Demonkin winning is a plus, but what's good for me as Demon King and what's good for me personally aren't always the same, right?"
"What is Demon King's true objective?"
"As 'Demon King'? That's obvious. To bring Demonkin to victory in war."
"......"
"But who cares about all that? I mean, I could explain it if you wanted, but you hate that kind of talk, don't you?"
"What kind?"
"Money talk."
"...Yes. Lich hates it."
"See! Totally fine. I just want everyone happy anyway. Like, if we could all hang out and party on weekends, that'd be the best. That's the kind of thing I'm aiming for. But, y'know, appearances and all, so keep this off the record."
"Lich understood nothing of what was just said."
"And *that* right there—that's why we get along, isn't it?"
"Still, remember this much."
"What?"
"To Lich, money is not heavier than life. Because life is a resource directly needed for research, while money cannot be treated with the same awareness."
"...Yeah, yeah. I like that bit—'cannot be treated with the same awareness.' It shows you know it's necessary but you're still distant from it."
"A world where it isn't necessary would be best."
"Sure, sure. But to live, to play, to keep up hobbies and activity—you need money. I get it. And since I deal with it that way, I won't do you wrong. You're scary when you're mad, so I'll stay your ally. Got it?"
"Lich does not put so much trust in the word 'ally.' To Lich, it means: 'someone not betraying for now,' 'someone not treated lightly,' and 'a word to display externally as comrades.' Nothing more."
"Someone betray you before?"
"Lich was thrown away."
"Hmm. Well, I don't know everything about you. All of you—ha! So funny! Anyway, take good care of Leila, okay? Make sure you revive her. If you need money, ask me. I'll even point you to a good front."
"...Understood."
"Alright then, I've got more work waiting. Later! Byeee!"
"Byee."
Lich gave a small wave and left the audience chamber. Speaking with a patron always tied his guts in knots. But maybe it wasn't just because she held his research life hostage.
Maybe it was that all patrons carried that same uncomfortable aura—like there was always something lurking just beneath their skin.
Yes. In the end, skin and fleshless bones were the best of all.