A moment after Elvar finished trying on the mask, the looted mask from the dead merchant who had become food for his subordinates, Elvar immediately rested. He placed the new masks and books on the table beside his bed, then fell into a deep sleep.
The morning atmosphere in the Blackfix Kingdom was no different from the night. The sky outside his large bedroom window remained a dark gray, shrouded in thick, sulfur-scented clouds. In the morning, Elvar woke up and began his routine: putting on the Demon King Mask, eating breakfast (wild boar meat again), and then continuing with the plan he would carry out today.
Okay, breakfast is done. Now for an experiment.
What would happen if I wore this merchant mask in front of them?... oh no no, that's very dangerous...
Logically, my skill is Mask Actor. And if I use the merchant mask, then I'll just be myself and have good communication skills for trading.
And most likely, the demonic aura from me will disappear 100% and I'll have no great power. There's a high chance I'll be found out as an ordinary human.
So how do I test this mask?...
Alright, let's do this. I will make a plan for the smooth running of everything.
First, I have to take care of the construction. Give construction tasks to each pillar.
While waiting, I have to find supplies for my survival here.
By the way, I haven't bathed once since I moved to this world. Just imagine, there's no way I can bathe using a lava river, right? I'd obviously burn to death.
Since I'm human, maybe I can go disguised to the human continent to test the merchant mask. I can disguise myself as a merchant and find out what's happening on the human continent.
The problem is, can I leave here without an escort?... I'll ask Valeria in the throne room later.
Elvar pressed a small bell on his table. A humanoid demon servant entered and bowed.
"Summon Valeria. Tell her to meet me in the Throne Room. There's something I need to discuss."
After giving the order, Elvar walked to the Throne Room. The cold, dimly lit stone corridors felt deserted. He then sat in the most luxurious spot, the throne of a king.
Yeah, I still can't believe that I'm a demon king right now. Cool, isn't it? Yeaah, so cool.
The torches on the walls flickered, creating long shadows from the giant pillars. The silence of the palace was palpable.
Not long after Elvar sat on his throne, Valeria came to answer his summons. The black-haired adjutant strode gracefully and stopped in front of the throne, bowing respectfully.
"Is there something I can help you with, Lord?" she asked softly.
"I am going to the human continent. Without an escort, is it possible?" Elvar said firmly. "I will conduct an investigation and gather information about the human continent. Can you help me oversee the workers during the construction process later?"
Valeria's face looked anxious. "Isn't that dangerous, Lord? You are the Demon King of this kingdom. If something were to happen to you, we would not have a king again," she replied anxiously.
She's genuinely worried. But I have to do this.
"No need to worry," Elvar replied firmly, as if his strength was being underestimated by Valeria. "I am using a human form, so believe me, nothing will happen to me. You don't need to worry about me. If necessary, I will destroy the human continent without mercy."
Valeria flinched hearing that threat, and then her anxiety turned into awe. "Yes, Lord. Forgive me for doubting you. Please, return safely. I will take care of the construction while you are gone."
Before I go, I will assign what needs to be done by the citizens, and instruct Valeria to keep things running according to the plan.
Then I remembered about food. Are demons actually carnivorous, herbivorous, or what? Do they eat all sorts of things? Can they eat grass? Probably not, it seems.
"Valeria, what food do you like the most and dislike the most?" I asked her.
Valeria looked surprised, her cheeks flushing slightly. She looked flustered, feeling she was being given too much attention by Elvar's question. She hadn't expected the King to ask such a personal question. Her heart-tipped tail swished erratically behind her.
"Mmm... Lord..." Her voice was barely audible. "I will eat anything if I am hungry, Lord. So, you don't need to pay attention to that... it makes me embarrassed." Valeria replied, misinterpreting Elvar's question.
Heee?? Dih, just being asked about food makes her look so embarrassed...
But... wait. 'Eat anything if hungry'. The point is, she will eat anything if there is no food, right?
That's DANGEROUS!
"What is the food condition in our kingdom? And what about the food situation for the residents?" I asked her, my tone turning serious.
"Usually the residents hunt monsters, Lord. One of them is the two-headed wolf monster we encountered," Valeria explained. "But lately, they are very rarely found in our territory, so some residents look thin from not eating."
"And also, we are actually able to endure hunger for months. However, we will lose our minds if we are hungry for too long," she added.
If Valeria says that, then a food crisis is also impacting this kingdom. She explained they can endure hunger for a very long time, which means that food is not always available every day.
Ah, God! Why is there so much work for me as a king? It's not like in the comics, where the king just sits quietly and manages war strategies. Whereas me, forget about war strategies, even food and housing are in a critical state.
Oh well, just have to deal with it. I will go to the human continent to find information about food and find a solution for the food problem.
And also, there's no currency here, not even anything that can be sold. So I have to take care of the economy too. I feel like crying.
"Valeria, do those who work inside the palace not receive any reward?" I asked her.
"No, Lord. They work for free as a form of loyalty to this kingdom," she explained.
This is really bad. Even the workers here don't get any reward at all. Financial rules need to be implemented to make it run properly.
"Valeria, what if I create a currency in this kingdom? Would that be beneficial?" I asked her.
"Of course, Lord. However, we demons cannot produce money. That is why there is no financial system in our kingdom," Valeria explained.
There she goes with that kind of answer again. What are these demons actually capable of? Eating humans and warring? Huh....
"Very well, I will take care of everything one by one," I replied with dignity. "Now, follow me."
"Yes, Lord." Valeria followed Elvar by his side.
Elvar walked towards the palace gate. The guards opened the heavy door. He exited the palace and walked to the middle of the gently swaying suspension bridge. The wind blowing from the chasm carried the heat from the lava river below.
From here, he could see his entire kingdom's "settlement." The dark cave mouths, the hollows in the cliffs, and the giant trees across the way.
Elvar looked at the position of the residents' caves and the lava river. The distance from the cave to the river was about 5 meters.
"Are there any demons here who can control earth magic?" I asked Valeria.
"There are, Lord. One of our pillars named Terrax, the Shield. And several of his followers in the defense guard," she answered.
Actually, sometimes I'm confused. Every demon carrying a shield I call 'the Shield'. What's actually correct? Grakthos was also carrying a shield yesterday. Ah, whatever, maybe that's just their style.
"Summon Terrax here," I commanded Valeria.
"Yes, Lord." Valeria hurried off to find Terrax.
While waiting, I finalized my plan. It seems I will make a bridge over that lava, and create activity on top of that bridge. Maybe I'll make something like a 'gutter' for the lava river underground. You could call it lava irrigation, not water irrigation.
So extreme... I need heat-resistant materials.
Before long, Terrax the Bull Demon and Valeria returned to Elvar. Terrax immediately bowed his large head.
"You summoned me, Lord? Is there something I can help you with, Lord?" Terrax asked Elvar, his voice deep.
"Can you create stone? Using earth magic?" I asked Terrax.
"I cannot create stone, Lord. But I can control any type of stone in the environment with magic," Terrax explained.
Okay, it's actually easier if there's magic like that. Why didn't they build a bridge like I'm thinking of long ago? Even though they can control magic...
Maybe because they can't 'build'. In the sense, they really can't imagine things about construction? It's possible it's like that.
I pointed towards the rocks on the cliff where the caves were, their color jet-black.
"Look, at that cave wall. Do you know what type of stone that is? Can you control that stone wall with magic?" I asked Terrax.
"That is a solid volcanic rock wall, Lord. It's difficult to control, but that doesn't mean it's impossible or can't be done," Terrax answered.
Solid Volcanic Rock?? That's perfect for making a lava river wall. Its strength can withstand heat up to 1000 degrees. And the lava flowing from the mountain's mouth is quite far, most likely the lava that reaches here has already dropped in temperature drastically.
"How many demons can control earth magic like you?" I asked Terrax.
"From my troops, there are 10 to 20, Lord," he answered.
Okay, that's enough.
"Terrax, I have an important task for you. Do it well."
"Yes, Lord! What is it?" he replied back, sounding enthusiastic.
I pointed to that solid volcanic rock wall, right at the mouth of the residents' caves. "Gather the troops who can use earth magic. Make the walls from the residents' caves below wider, and the depth expanded as well."
"Then, every four to five meters, leave a pillar to support the wall. Don't clear it all out. Understand?" I added.
Silence.
Terrax was speechless. His large eyes blinked.
Silence.
"Lord," Valeria whispered. "Terrax seems to be processing your order in his brain. Or his brain might have short-circuited. Please give him the order and the visual too, Lord."
Ahh, damn it! Just an explanation like that and his brain already short-circuited... I feel like crying.