The Demon King's Ideal...

If it wasn’t about ruling the entire world, then what could it be?

Sophia was lost.

Her tail stopped swaying; her ears ceased trembling.

She stood frozen in place.

What followed was an overwhelming wave of loss and self-reproach.

So, everything she’d done with such passion all this time…

Everything she’d hidden from His Majesty the Demon King, hoping to surprise him…

Was it all meaningless?

Had she never truly understood His Majesty?

Was she… inferior to her sisters?

Question after question crashed down on Sophia’s heart like falling rocks.

Leaving her unsteady, the corners of her eyes shifting from pale red to deep crimson, then to a wet sheen soaked with tears.

But just then.

His Majesty the Demon King’s gentle hand stroked the top of Sophia’s head.

Filling her with sudden, immense warmth.

The woman tilted her head slightly, her dull gaze gradually reflecting the young man’s figure.

Not tall, yet reliable.

Not overbearing, yet dignified.

Not blaming her—but praising…

Praise?

Sophia froze.

W-was she seeing things?

After all, everything she’d done was futile, against His Majesty’s wishes.

Yet why did she now read a trace of admiration in his eyes!?

His Majesty was notoriously strict with subordinates.

Only a rare few earned his praise.

Now…

Had she become one of them!?

Thump-thump! Thump-thump!

Sophia’s heart pounded violently, the vibration strong enough for Roy to feel through his hand on her head.

What was this, “bone conduction”?

Roy smiled faintly.

“I’ve never said I’d blame you, Sophia.”

“The fact you did this for me with such devotion deserves reward.”

The young man patted his thigh lightly.

Sophia flustered, then realized something—pink steam burst from her head.

“…Y-yes, Your Majesty!”

Under Roy’s gaze, she slowly stood, patting her slightly reddened knees.

Then she pressed them against the throne’s edge, beside his thigh.

Carefully, first one knee.

Holding the armrest, she knelt with the other.

Now Sophia knelt upright above Roy, heart racing.

But she dared not sit further.

She glanced up timidly with a fawning, humble gaze.

Afraid of even the slightest overstep.

Her ample bosom trembled before Roy.

The young man wrapped an arm around her slender waist, gently caressing the exquisite feel of her white stockings and skin.

A silent permission.

Sophia’s anxiety melted as she straddled the young Demon King’s waist.

The moment she settled, a nightingale-like moan escaped her.

“Mmm~”

“Stop fidgeting.”

“…O-okay.”

Sophia couldn’t help it—Succubus nature ran deep.

Especially around someone she liked.

“If you want to move, I’ll do it.”

“!?”

Just as Sophia braced for His Majesty’s “wild strokes,”

Roy simply held her waist with one hand, picking up Eoliel intelligence with the other, reading intently.

As if the one who’d just said those “flirty words” wasn’t him.

Sophia deflated slightly.

But she knew—it was her charm’s fault.

Still… the distance to His Majesty had leaped forward.

She wasn’t disheartened. From confusion, she now saw her goal’s direction and distance!

As Roy might say from a life before his last:

“No matter how strong the boss, if they show their health bar, I’ll kill them for you!”

For Sophia: “No matter how hard to flirt with the Demon King, if he shows his affection meter, I’ll flirt with him for you!”

Her dejection vanished, replaced by honor at sitting on His Majesty’s lap.

She carefully massaged his shoulders.

Roy glanced up lightly, not refusing.

Sophia served him more devotedly.

“Is this pressure… okay?”

Roy nodded.

Her slender tail instantly wagged happily.

After a while, Roy finished reading all intelligence from Dreamland Village—on Eoliel’s nobles, the Church, and the Seventh Fortress Demon Generals.

He sighed deeply.

Truly, Sophia’s ambition stood alone among Succubus princesses.

Far better than slackers.

She’d maximized Dreamland Village as a “money-making tool” and “intelligence agency.”

Now even devising the “Demon Group-Buy” scheme to corrupt the kingdom’s bureaucracy.

If this didn’t warrant reward,

wouldn’t it chill loyal hearts?

He set down the papers, both hands pulling her waist closer.

Their pose made it seem Roy buried his face in her bosom.

“D-Demon King Your Majesty!”

“Sophia, what reward do you desire?”

“Serving Your Majesty faithfully is my greatest reward!”

Roy patted her perky butt, causing a ripple-like tremble.

“Eep!”

“Cut the demon talk.”

“R-reward… I want Your Majesty’s essence!”

“And… if you don’t mind, could you tell me…”

“Your Majesty, what is your true ideal?”

“…”

His true ideal.

Roy’s gaze turned deep, fixed on the present yet seeing distant shadows.

Distant figures, rights and wrongs.

Once, he’d burned with an ideal—to reform the Demonfolk.

Boastfully, to bring universal harmony.

But it all shattered with their arrival.

He didn’t blame them. Didn’t blame Aisha.

He just couldn’t accept his failure.

At life’s end, he’d clenched his heart—if only he could redo it…

This time, he’d accomplish everything.

Including saving them all.

………………

“I believe I’m now on the path to realizing my ideal.”

“Eh…”

Sophia couldn’t grasp it.

Perhaps her level was too low to match His Majesty’s thoughts.

Roy then leisurely mentioned her first request.

“Besides, Sophia, you really are bold~”

“Daring to ask for this Demon King’s essence…”

“Eeep!!”

“But it’s not impossible.”

“!!!”