Volume 8 - CH 20

The next day.

“Even if you ask me how many days you want me to stay…”

I was muttering to myself as I walked through the Demon King’s Castle in the morning sun.

Actually, there’s little point in staying here for a long time.

The situation won’t change no matter what I hear from them.

I would like to know a little more about demon society, but there is no need to ask the kings about that.

As long as I keep them at hand, I have to pay attention to their safety, and I feel like it’s better to return them to their respective royal palaces as soon as possible, but…

“……Hmm?”

Suddenly, when I approached the large room with the round table we were talking about yesterday, I heard voices coming from inside.

I opened the door to see what was going on.

“That’s why I’m saying that we need a good law. If you understand that disobeying the law is disadvantageous, everyone’s consciousness will naturally change. That’s what we ogre demons need first.”

“You don’t understand. People don’t move like that. Even if you can only understand the theory, it won’t mean anything if you can’t make it happen.”

It seemed that King Vill and King Plushe were arguing with each other.

There are other kings in the large room, and everyone is watching over the two with their own attitudes.

I asked King Athos, who was nearby.

“Um, what’s wrong, why is everyone gathered here?.”

“Ah…Googood morning Good morning,…”

King Athos said so and lowered his head.

It was just a greeting, but it might have been the first time I’d heard him speak properly.

King Athos then immediately whispered to the Silver Devil.

“’Everyone naturally gathered here,’ said the king.”

“Eh… why again?”

“’I’m sure they haven’t had enough to say yet,’ said the King.”

“That’s right, what do you think, Demon King-sama?”

King Vill suddenly turned to talk.

The eyes of the kings gathered on me, and I couldn’t help but bewildered.

“No, no, I can’t see the story even if you suddenly say it…”

“We were discussing what kind of government affairs we should hold..”

“It’s been a very heavy topic since morning.”

King Vill continues.

“I think that what the demon ogres first need is a correct law. In other words, a correct law is a norm that will naturally develop if you live according to it. Enlightenment through education takes time, so private struggle First of all, we need to correct such erroneous customs with the law. I think that society will be in a desirable shape by doing so. Isn’t it common sense that private fights are prohibited in a human country?”

“Hmph. Demon King, say it. People don’t move in that way.”

King Plushe snorted her nose and said.

“Struggle is the cultural foundation of the demon ogres. Unwanted laws are forced upon them, and who will obey them? No, in the first place, it’s even difficult to determine. You can’t rule the country as it is.”

“That’s why nothing will change if you only focus on court politics like you. Maou-sama, isn’t that right?”

“What do you think, Demon King!”

“Yeah, that’s right…”

I was perplexed by the heavy questions, but I managed to pull out some proverbs from my previous life that might serve as a reference.

“A long time ago, a human thinker left us these words: “A prince must be trusted, and then he must work for the good of his people. If you are not believed, you must be ashamed of yourself..”

“I-I’ve never heard of that language before…”

“It’s a language from a faraway country. The meaning of this is, “A respectable person must be trusted enough before he can make people follow him. If you try to make people follow you without enough trust, they will take it as you are trying to make them suffer. Confucius…well, it’s the name of this human, but I have a similar opinion to King Plusche.”

Hearing this, King Plushe puffed out her chest.

I continue.

“On the other hand, he also says, ‘Let the people follow this. Don’t let them know.’ ’ In line with this, enlightenment takes time, so first the law… seems like a correct methodology.”

King Vill made a proud face.

“Hey, did I tell you? Generally speaking, I don’t have a hard time with people who listen to me.”

“You don’t understand. Trust isn’t something that can be gained by preaching reasoning. Bribery, and above all, courtesy. There are many ways to make allies.”

“You’re really just like that…even though you made an ally, you didn’t do anything.”

“…But, it’s kind of interesting. I’ve never heard a human maxim.”

It was King Sigil who said that with admiration.

“Hey, do you have more?”

I think a little before answering.

“It was often quoted that ‘too much is too little’, which means ‘too much is as bad as too little.’”

“Oh, that’s right. That’s a nice thing to say, that Cosi guy!”

King Sigil seemed pleased, perhaps because he liked it.

Yuki whispered in my ear.

“Is it the Analects of Confucius?

The Analects, a record of the words and deeds of the ancient thinker Confucius, is like an aristocrat’s education.

I didn’t like him very much, but I used to tell my disciples that they should know this much.

I never thought I’d have the chance to teach something like this again…

“Hey, what else?”

“I also want to know more. I am interested in the ideas that humans have nurtured.”

“I don’t mind, but…”

I couldn’t think of any particular reason for refusing, so I nodded.

Apparently, the opportunity to teach has come again.

********************************

After that, I decided to do something like a class.

That said, I’m just picking out a few things from the Analects of Confucius and sutras that they might sympathize with.

I thought it was boring, but surprisingly not only King Vill, King Sigil, and King Athos, but also King Fili Nair, King Gauss, and King Plusche were listening with great interest.

“Fili, I always study hard. Tutoring is expensive.”

“I’m an idiot, so I have to study harder than anyone else!”

“Hmph… “Well, I don’t mind hearing that.”

The Kings themselves said something like this, but I was quite impressed.

Putting aside the study of spells, there were many disciples who seemed to find this kind of study boring…

“’That man, Cosi,’”

After receiving King Athos’s ear whispers, the demon attendant said.

“You have taken the nature of people to be good, have you not? It seems to me,’ says the king, ‘that there is a lot of language that expects the inner goodness of others.”

I smile lightly and reply to King Athos’s pointed remarks.

“Oh… that’s why I honestly didn’t like it very much.”

I had similar exchanges with my disciples several times.