The Villainous Son Loves His Mother - Chapter 34

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“Grrrrrr!! That Sharki! Acting on her own initiative!!”

The enraged Demon Dragon Yggdra slammed his tail against the rocky wall in frustration.
This was the main stronghold of the Former Demon King’s Western Army, the pitch-black fortress “Dalkheim,” located on the Maristel Continent beyond the Abyss Sea, “Nezasia Sea.”
Due to his immense size, Yggdra couldn’t enter the fortress. Instead, he had made his lair in a nearby cave.
Yggdra’s fury was well-justified. Sharki, another Division Commander, had committed the foolish act of acting on her own initiative.
The Western Army’s objective was the fall of the Gaines Empire across the Nezasia Sea, but progress had been slow.

The Hero, humanity’s greatest military asset, had died in a mutual kill with the Demon King, the Demon’s greatest force. However, while the Hero was merely a powerful assassin to humanity, the Demon King had been a true “king.”
As a result, the morale of the Demon plummeted, leading to widespread desertions across the land.
Yet they refused to raise the white flag to humanity. This was because the four kings who ruled over the various Demon tribes, along with a handful of high-ranking demons serving them, still refused to give up.
But why hadn’t they given up?
The answer lay in—

—Calm yourself, Yggdra.

A voice echoed in Yggdra’s mind, strangely watery and gurgling.

“Ah! Demon King! …But—!”

—I won’t say it twice.

The voice, addressed as Demon Lord, cut him off sharply. Yggdra swallowed his protest and fell silent.

—In any case, my voice never reached her. That means she was weak.

Yggdra knew this to be true.
The Human-Dragon Sharki had indeed been a Division Commander of equal rank to Yggdra. But rank alone didn’t make them biological equals.
Yggdra believed there was an insurmountable gap between Full Dragons and Human-Dragons.
The Demon King’s voice was proof of this.
Even though the Demon King’s physical body had been destroyed, his spirit remained intact.
However, only a select few could hear his voice.
Among the demons, only those with immense power—Yggdra was one of them.
Furthermore, considering that Ormund, a Full Dragon, had been effortlessly slaughtered, Yggdra couldn’t help but think, “Someone like Sharki…”

—Then let it be. In any case, the one who unleashed that light—the Hero—cannot be defeated. More importantly, I’ve located the owner of the dark soul I sensed in the Imperial Capital.

“Oh! What kind of…”

Yggdra exclaimed eagerly.
But when the Demon King revealed the name, the usually valiant dragon wore a rare, blank expression of bewilderment.
His name was—

–‘ Emperor of the Gaines Empire, Valfried’

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Emperor Valfried of the Gaines Empire was never meant to ascend the throne.
His rise to power was, in a sense, a cruel twist of fate.
Originally, his elder brother Leonard—a man who shone like the sun—should have inherited the imperial seat.
But Leonard succumbed to a devastating epidemic.
When Valfried finally ascended the throne, his predecessor’s overwhelming competence proved to be his undoing.
The people mourned Leonard’s death, their eyes turning cold toward the surviving Valfried.
Yet this was hardly unprecedented.

History is filled with countless similar cases.
Nor was Valfried entirely incompetent. He simply stood too deeply in his brother’s shadow.
In the chaotic aftermath of the Human-Demon War, the people’s anxieties only deepened.
From nobles to commoners, the refrain “If it were Lord Leonardo…” never ceased.
Amidst this, Valfried tirelessly devoted himself to rebuilding the nation.
However, half-hearted efforts were insufficient to salvage a kingdom already teetering on the brink.
The people’s discontent only deepened, rather than fading.
They interpreted this as irrefutable proof of Valfried’s incompetence.
One day, staring into the void, Valfried muttered to himself,

“What am I even doing?”

From that day onward, Valfried became profoundly listless.
He performed only the bare minimum of his imperial duties, nothing more.
Yet, the Gaines Empire remained unshaken.
This stability stemmed from Valfried’s lifelong dedication to reconstruction, as well as the demise of the Demon King who had once threatened the world’s peace.
Furthermore, the Prime Minister Digitalis, who assists the Emperor, has demonstrated her exceptional talent by managing state affairs with remarkable precision.
Prime Minister Digitalis Ira Malicia, Countess Malicia, is widely regarded as the most brilliant woman in the Gaines Empire.
Even in her youth, she gained renown for her extraordinary intellect.
While her origins before being adopted into House Malicia remain shrouded in mystery, it is said that by the age of ten, she was already fluent in multiple languages and possessed astonishing insights into finance and military strategy.

The fact that a girl of unknown lineage became the adopted heir of the prestigious House Malicia initially drew considerable skepticism.
However, she silenced all doubts through her undeniable talent and accomplishments.
Since assuming the position of Prime Minister, many of her policies have sparked controversy.
The “Racial Hierarchy Act,” in particular, ignited fierce opposition.
This law placed humans at the apex of society, relegating subhuman races such as the Elfen to subordinate status. Noble families with subhuman bl00d, like House Eldenbloom, have staunchly resisted the act.
Yet, Digitalis’s capabilities were undeniable.

She boldly slashed military spending, particularly downsizing the traditional Imperial Guard.
She overhauled academic budgets, drastically curbing investment in magical research.
With the freed-up funds, she increased rewards for powerful nobles.
For the commoners, she established the “Wise Commoner Recruitment System.”
This system recruited talented commoners as bureaucrats, suppressing noble opposition while simultaneously garnering popular support.
Through the “Joint Granary System,” she established food reserves across the land, alleviating public anxiety during crop failures.
Moreover, Digitalis’s talents extended beyond political administration…

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Digitalis visited the Emperor’s bedchamber late at night.
A soft knock echoed, and a maid ushered her inside.
As the maids withdrew, Digitalis slowly removed her garments one by one.
Valfried sat on the bed, watching intently.
At that moment, Valfried wasn’t wearing even a single nightgown.
His body, bloated from overindulgence, hung limply, devoid of any sense of strength.
Yet within this flabby mass, one part alone asserted its virile presence.
When Digitalis finally stood naked before him, Valfried rose abruptly from the bed, his breath coming in ragged gasps.
Afterward, Valfried lay on the bed, cradling Digitalis’s waist, utterly absorbed in savoring the feel of her smooth skin.
As he did so, Digitalis whispered something in his ear, her breath carrying a sweet fragrance.
Valfried offered no resistance.

“Do as you please…”

With those words, he pinned Digitalis beneath him once more, succumbing to his bestial desires.
The next day, several crucial bills passed swiftly and smoothly into law, without any debate.
Some noble houses grew even wealthier, while others vanished entirely.