Chapter 10: The Demon King of Philanthropy

“Even with a free theme, it’s difficult without models.”

While Groomloc prepared the two workspaces,

Yaltarion summoned the models for the paintings.

More accurately, he summoned them.

“Come forth! This is a chance to see something interesting!”

Chirp chirp!

Gurgle gurgle.

Fire salamanders. Tropical fish. Tortoises. Sparrows.

Incarnations of elements mimicking the forms of living creatures.

They were lesser spirits contracted to Yaltarion.

“There needs to be a basis for comparison to clearly determine the winner and loser. I’ll give you four each, so don’t worry.”

“Okay.”

“The evaluation will be in a week. I’ll maintain the summoning until then.”

Maintaining summoned spirits for a week.
Just for a painting competition between children.

It was a subtle display of the Archmage’s power.

“Both of you, complete your paintings by then. Understand?”

“Okay.”

Emil, familiar with spirits, simply nodded.
They were faces she saw every day, so it would be unreasonable to expect her to be surprised.

But Chloe couldn’t be the same.
It was her first time seeing spirits.

“Cute… cough, ahem, you use spirit magic too.”

Chloe covered her blunder with a cough and asked.

Was he at the pinnacle of all arts, as befitting an Archmage?

“It wasn’t contracted through spirit affinity. Grandpa charmed them with his painting skills.”

The answer came in a prim girl’s voice.
It was Emil.

“Huh? You make contracts with spirits through painting?”

“Magic and spirit magic are basic knowledge for painters. Didn’t you know?”

“No.”

Actually, it wasn’t completely unknown.
There was a similar setting in the original.

A heroine and a great artist.
And a future Archmage.

As background to explain Noemillica’s strength.

‘Ah, there was a scene where Emil summoned spirits.’

It was just a faint impression, so I forgot.
Emil in the original only summoned them to light a bonfire.

As expected, the Archmage’s talent was undeniable, even at a young age.

Emil’s still-small hand.
A lesser water spirit was summoned above it.

“If you don’t know, I’ll tell you.”

With the spirit swimming in the air draped over her shoulder, Emil turned her back to Chloe.

“After I win.”

A spirit unbefitting her small body.
It was the intimidation of a future Archmage.

Perhaps overwhelmed by that spirit,
Chloe muttered without thinking.

“You summoned that fish to show off, right?”

“…No.”

“You summoned it to brag, even though you have nothing to make it do.”

“I said no.”

“You spun around on your heel and thought, ‘Nailed it. I’m so cool,’ right?”

“I’m leaving.”

“Be careful on your way back.”

“I’m going to paint.”

Emil didn’t brandish her precious brush like a fool.

Instead, she elegantly kicked her nemesis in the shin.

“Ouch!”

Chloe collapsed, tearing up slightly.
It was the price of teasing someone whose personality she knew from the original.

“It’s the first time I’ve seen her open up like that. It was good to bring her here.”

“Open up… Yes, I suppose so.”

Groomloc was quite wise.

Enough to discreetly distinguish between what to say and what not to say.

That’s how he was able to persuade Yaltarion.

“I understand your situation. Seeing this, I think we’ve spoiled Emil too much.”

Starting work as an apprentice until she grows up.

What could he do if that was the family’s wish?

The ones who know her talent best are her parents.

Groomloc nodded vigorously.

While nodding, he thought,

‘She has one month left until she enters the monastery, but… I absolutely shouldn’t mention that.’

He couldn’t even imagine Yaltarion’s reaction.

Would the situation get any more complicated than it already is?

‘Our Chloe will do well even if we leave her alone.’

Groomloc decided to enjoy this unexpected event.

If only to spite Oliver.

“Good luck, Chloe. Your uncle is rooting for you!”

“Yes.”

Since when did he become my uncle?
Chloe gave a wry smile to Groomloc, who clenched his iron-like fist.

Leonis Reinhardt was the Emperor of Fleurden.

But for the past few weeks,
Leonis felt the need to change his title.

‘Rather than Emperor, to ally of the Spirit King.’

His second princess.
Because she, a lady of breathtaking beauty, formed a contract with the Water Spirit King.

The Water Spirit King!

One of the four most noble Great Spirits.
An undeniably powerful ally.

Just having her by his side elevated the nation’s influence.

In 21st-century terms, it was like having a hydrogen bomb.

(Both are powerful water bombs, so it’s roughly similar.)

But then.

After actually forming the contract, he discovered something surprising.

The Spirit King’s abilities surpassed even tactical weapons.

“Spirit King! What is this?”

“Ah, this is a [canal]. I made it.”

“A canal!”

“Using canals speeds up logistics, lowers prices, simplifies national defense, and even allows for the absorption of rebellious noble factions’ assets.”

“Woooow! This [canal] is amazing!”

Canal development connecting inland areas.

“Spirit King! What is this?”

“Ah, this is a [water purifier]. I made it.”

“A water purifier!”

“Using water purifiers reduces the spread of disease, making it easier to curb the church’s tyranny, and even improves the taste of bread.”

“Woooow! This [water purifier] is amazing!”

Nationwide water quality improvement through spirits.

“Spirit King! What is this?”

“Ah, this is [rain]. I made it.”

“Rain!”

“Using rain easily increases crop yields, leading to rapid population growth and increased loyalty among the people.”

“Woooow! This [rain] is amazing!”

“…Are you going to keep up this ridiculous skit?”

“No, but creating rain is truly amazing.”

Agricultural development using artificial rain and rainfall control.

Naturally, the Emperor wasn’t a fool.

He knew about canals and water purifiers, let alone rain.

Even Luntraval had those concepts.

However.

Implementing and applying all of the above in just a few weeks?

Across a land spanning 50 million hectares?

It was a miracle that would make even the scientifically advanced countries of the 21st century yell, “, stop cheating in real life!”

“Kyaa-! Barkeep, another glass of wine!”

“Your Majesty is a hero!”

“See?, our loyal faction believed in you!”

Naturally, the Emperor’s authority soared, soared, soared!

The noble faction and the church, which were like skin diseases, weakened.

The people’s loyalty rose rapidly.

The endless upward trend made the Emperor’s brain melt with happiness.

It was only natural that his view of the Second Princess changed.

“Our daughter! Do whatever you want!”
“I’m honored.”

It was the biological father who had forgotten his daughter’s name.

The Second Princess wasn’t truly impressed.

Elaine wasn’t quite pleased with that.

“Are you really sure about this?”

“About what?”

“What do you mean? Even though I’m the one performing the works (construction), you’re the one who conceived and planned it all.”

Golden irises, befitting Fleurden royalty.
Breathtaking beauty, even at the young age of 11.

And the Second Princess, possessing wisdom beyond her appearance, shook her head.

“Intellect is also power. If you can’t use it, it’s the same as not having it. Moreover.”

“Moreover?”

“My immediate priority isn’t clearing my name. Am I wrong, Elaine?”

Elaine nodded with a serious expression.
She was right.

“How did it go? The people who contacted him.”

“…It was a failure.”

That was when, For the first time, the Second Princess’s face hardened with tension.

“It’s still a complete mystery. The investigation regarding the ‘Philanthropic Demon King’…”

It was a conversation that would make Chloe blink.

Asking if there was another Demon King besides the Seven Demon Kings.

Of course, needless to say, his Philanthropic Demon King was the alias of a certain demon.

The Great Demon Synthia.

In other words, Chloe’s alias.

‘The name Synthia is obviously an alias.’

What crazy demon would go around announcing their true name?

It was a reasonable suspicion.

It was also undeniably correct.

It was a real alias.

Elaine recalled the recent intelligence report.

“Didn’t the Painter’s Guild Leader make a move?”

“He did. But the Philanthropic Demon King disappeared before the Guild Leader could make contact.”

The Painter’s Guild Leader’s contact.
It was the story of the competition invitation Chloe had kicked away.

“Did she notice us?”

But Elaine and the Second Princess didn’t know the truth.

It was inevitable that they were tense.

“No. If she had, she would have already changed her identity.”

“That’s a relief… but she’s quick-witted.”

“Truly. How did she not get caught?”

The Second Princess groaned, unlike a girl her age.

“We lured a third party to approach her, making sure our identities remained hidden.”

The unknown Great Demon, the Philanthropic Demon King.
An alliance formed to investigate and subdue her.

That summarized the relationship between the Second Princess and Elaine.

That’s why, Elaine clicked her tongue.

‘To think she’d organize the empire’s governance in a week, gain authority, and use that authority to dispatch investigators while concealing her identity…’

Such an intelligent princess.
Elaine could assert that there was no better contractor.

That’s why it was even more frightening.

Synthia’s wisdom, which even surpassed the princess’s strategies.

And the ‘philanthropy’ that
would spread with that wisdom.

‘She’s not to be trifled with. Truly.’

Just as Elaine’s worries were about to deepen,

The Second Princess’s golden irises suddenly gleamed.

“Perhaps, she’s not interested in human society…”

“What?”

“Doesn’t it seem like her goal is to simply spread her paintings while concealing her identity? Like the actions of ‘philanthropy’…”

“…She has no intention of elevating her social standing?”

“Yes.”

It was certainly plausible.

But why?

Human society values individual authority.
That was why Elaine formed a contract with the Second Princess.

‘Strange. Demons who infiltrate human society usually contract with noble families or possess them.’

Why would she need to hide her power so much? For what reason?

Elaine, lost in thought, flinched.

“…Perhaps.”

“Elaine?”

“Is she aiming for spirits or demons to react to her paintings? Only spiritual beings with discerning eyes can recognize her paintings!”

“…Ah!”

Inducing a reaction from the target while concealing her identity.

Exactly what the Second Princess did.
The only difference was that the target wasn’t human.

The reason why she easily saw through this side’s lure was also the same.

Because Philanthropy was acting with the same purpose.

Then why would she seek out spirits or demons?

This was an easier question to answer.

The Philanthropic Demon King.

Her goal was probably…

“To force contracts with spirits and steal their power…!”

“I think so too.”

Spirits and spirit summoners.
Demons and demon worshippers.

Overturning the cooperation and hierarchy inherent in contracts.

To go beyond borrowing power, to be able to steal it.

Unfair deals with the weak.

An uprising that reverses the roles of master and servant in a contract.

Both were actions befitting a high-ranking demon.

Classic, with an air of cruel elegance.

“It was a trap. Spreading her paintings in Yaltesance.”

Gnash.

Elaine gritted her teeth in displeasure.

“Only powerful spirits confident enough to challenge her after recognizing her identity are her targets? How arrogant.”

“It was wise of her not to attack rashly.”

“I know. There’s little chance of winning by jumping into a trap, and if I lose, it’s all over.”

Her opponent was a Great Demon.
Presumed to be at least Demon King level.

If such a powerful being stole Elaine’s power?

There would be no way to recover.

“Let’s organize our deductions.”

Clap!

The princess changed the mood with a clap.

“One. The Philanthropic Demon King has the ability to force contracts or steal the power of spirits.

Two. She is leaking clues about herself for this purpose.

Three. She will set out to achieve her goal once she has secured enough power.”

And four.

Philanthropy’s ‘goal’ is most likely driven by malice.

Thus concluded the elaborate conspiracy theory, intricate enough to fool even the Philanthropic Demon King Turing (8 years old) into thinking, ‘Huh? Was that it?’

Perhaps because of that, the princess groaned.

“Can we tell when a spirit is kidnapped?”

“Difficult. Even human emperors can’t keep track of every citizen. It’s the same for us.”

All spirits are free.

Because their king is a benevolent ruler who reigns but doesn’t control.

Moreover, the category of ‘spirit’ is too broad.

It’s roughly equivalent to the category of ‘human.’

‘In that case, elves and goblins are also of the same kin.’

The reality is that even Spirit Kings don’t know what other Spirit Kings are doing.
And there aren’t even kings besides the Four Great Spirits.

“That’s enough. At least they follow your commands, Elaine, right?”

“As long as there are no contractors with deeper bonds than me.”

In other words,

If a spirit contracted to a human is captured,
The Great Demon Synthia would gain a weapon to unleash disaster upon the world.

The comrades who shared the same understanding exchanged glances.
And they nodded.

“We can’t afford to stand idly by. Let’s hurry.”

“I’ll reiterate my orders to my subordinate spirits. To find the other Spirit Kings quickly. What will you do?”

“I will crack the whip.”

“Crack the whip?”

The princess smiled mischievously.

“I’m a bad girl. I can overwork innocent people, even if they’re my subjects.”

There wasn’t a single flaw in her smiling face, but Elaine could see it.

The princess’s hands on the table.
Her small fists trembling with fear and guilt.

Even mature and wise, she was only 12 years old.

This fight was a heavy burden for the Second Princess as well.

Perhaps because of that, Elaine smiled confidently.

So that she could at least alleviate her contractor’s fear.

“Don’t worry. We’re different from those vile demons.”

It wasn’t just empty words of comfort.
There was conviction in Elaine’s voice.

“Even if they’re captured and tortured, there isn’t a single spirit who would succumb to a demon.”

Immense pride.

It was a smile filled with the dignity of a Spirit King.

After the duel with Emil was officially set,
and after finishing the painting to be used for it,

I faced a completely unexpected situation.

Screeech!

Chirp!

The spirits Yaltarion provided.
In other words, the models for this competition started screaming and fleeing as soon as they saw Clicker’s painting.

“D-don’t you like the painting…?”

Glancing at the caricature Clicker drew,
I was taken aback by the spirits’ sensitivity.

“Is it that bad? I think it’s cute…”

[I agree! 😆]

Don’t agree.

It makes me anxious.

The spirits looked at me, who found this painting cute, as if I were crazy.

Then they finally banged their heads on the ground and cried out.

I’ll burn anything! Just spare me!

I will serve you as my new master!

The Water Spirit King’s dwelling is to the north!

Hmm.

I guess I don’t have spirit affinity.
Since the cries of the spirits sound like nonsense to me.