The Strongest Demon Lord Reincarnated as a Commoner

The departure of the Grand Inquisitor was less a retreat and more a panicked rout. The news of what had happened—the destruction of the Grand Cathedral and the severing of the divine link, followed by Leo's declaration—spread through the continent's upper echelons with the speed of a thunderclap.

The world held its breath, waiting for the counter-attack. A declaration of war against the Theocratic Dominion should have resulted in legions of crusaders marching on Aethelgard.

But nothing happened.

The Dominion was silent. The "gods" were silent. They had been reminded of the power that had forced them into hiding once before, and they were terrified. To the outside world, their silence was baffling. To the powers-that-be, it was an admission of powerlessness.

Leo's declaration had created a new, terrifying political entity overnight: The Aethelgard Unaffiliated Free Territory. It was a territory with no official borders, no army, and no government. Its sole source of sovereignty was the will of one man. And for now, no one dared to challenge it.

Back at the academy, the atmosphere was electric. The students didn't understand the global politics, but they understood what they saw: their classmate had faced down the most powerful organization in the world and sent them fleeing in terror. Leo was no longer a legend or a king; he was their protector. A fierce, almost fanatical loyalty to him and to the "Free Territory" of Aethelgard began to bloom across the student body.

The first official meeting of this new de facto state took place in the Headmistress's office. The attendees were Leo and his "cabinet": Luna, Kaia, Elara, Lyra, Morgana, Evelyn, Anya, and Seraphiel herself.

Leo was slumped in a chair, looking as if he'd rather be anywhere else. "So," he began with a sigh. "Now that I've accidentally founded a nation-state, what's the first order of business?"

Princess Anya, who had been waiting for a moment like this her entire life, stepped forward. Her eyes shone with political fervor. "The first order of business is formalizing our position. We need to establish a structure. A council. We need to manage resources, establish defenses, and handle diplomacy. The Dominion's silence won't last forever. They will test us. Other nations will see this as a power vacuum."

"Defenses?" Kaia scoffed, grinning as she looked at Leo. "We have him. That's all the defense we need."

"A single person cannot be everywhere at once, no matter how powerful," Evelyn countered, her voice steady. She had fully embraced her role as the military mind of the group. "We need a standing defense force. A militia trained from the student body. I can oversee their training."

"And we shall need a new system of laws and education," Lyra added, her voice serene. "One based on the true history of the world, not the lies of the Usurper Gods. I will begin drafting a new curriculum."

"I can handle internal security and intelligence," Morgana purred. "Finding out who among the staff and students still holds loyalty to the old regime. My methods are very... persuasive."

Elara, after a moment of quiet thought, spoke up, her voice clear and confident. "My family, despite my great-uncle, has vast economic and political connections. I can manage our supply lines and establish trade agreements with neutral merchant guilds. A nation cannot survive without resources."

Luna, holding the Aqua Regis which now floated beside her like a loyal pet, added softly, "And I can use the city's old scrying pools and my own sensitivity to create a long-range detection network. We'll know if an army is marching on us days before they arrive."

Leo watched as they, without any prompting from him, began to build a government around him. The warrior, the general, the politician, the spymaster, the priestess, the economist, the intelligence officer. They had all found their roles.

He had wanted a quiet life. He had ended up with a royal council.

"Fine," he said, cutting through their excited planning. "Do what you want. Just keep the paperwork off my desk." He stood up to leave.

"My Lord, wait," Lyra said. "There is one more thing. A matter of title."

Leo stopped. "I already have a name."

"A territory needs a leader," Anya insisted. "The world needs to know what to call you. 'The Silent King' is a nickname. 'Lord Azeros' carries... baggage. We need an official title."

A debate instantly erupted.

"Supreme Commander!" Kaia suggested.

"Lord Protector," Evelyn offered.

"Archon," Elara proposed, using an old noble term for a sovereign ruler.

"The Oracle-King," Morgana purked.

"My Lord is sufficient," Lyra maintained.

Leo listened to them argue, a massive headache forming behind his eyes. He held up a hand, and they instantly fell silent.

He looked at the Headmistress. "What's the highest position in this academy?"

Seraphiel blinked, surprised by the question. "Well... technically, my title is Headmistress, but the ultimate authority, the one who holds the founding charter, is the Chancellor."

"Fine," Leo said. "That's my title. Chancellor Leo Vance. It sounds boring and bureaucratic. I like it."

And so it was decided. The most powerful being on the continent, the leader of the world's newest and most dangerous superpower, had given himself the title of a university administrator. It was so perfectly, absurdly him that no one could argue.

With the immediate crisis handled, a new routine began. The "Chancellor's Council" met regularly, handling the logistics of their new reality. Aethelgard became an island of tense tranquility in a sea of global uncertainty.

The first real test came a month later. An envoy arrived, not from the Dominion, but from the Northern Federation—a coalition of warrior tribes and clans. Their leader, a grizzled old warlord, demanded an audience with the new "Chancellor."

The council gathered in the grand hall to receive him. The Warlord strode in, flanked by his champions, his eyes scanning the room. He saw the powerful women of the council, but his gaze dismissed them, searching for the true power.

He finally saw Leo, who was sitting off to the side of the main "Chancellor's" throne, which he had refused to sit in, leaving it empty.

"You are the one they call Vance?" the Warlord boomed. "I am Warlord Borin of the Ironfang Clan. My people do not bow to southern gods or golden-haired kings. We bow only to strength. I have come to test yours. If you are as strong as the whispers say, my people will honor your territory. If not, we will burn it to the ground as a lesson to all pretenders."

He drew a massive, rune-etched battle-axe. "Face me in a duel of strength!"

Before Leo could sigh, Kaia Ironhand stepped forward, a fierce grin on her face. "You want to test the strength of Aethelgard, old man? Then you'll have to go through me first."

Her father had been a rival of Warlord Borin. This was a matter of tribal pride.

Borin laughed. "I will not waste my time with a child."

"Then you are a coward," Kaia retorted, drawing her own sword.

Leo watched, a flicker of interest in his eyes. He looked at Evelyn, who gave a subtle, almost imperceptible nod. 'She's ready,' the nod said.

"Very well," Leo said, his voice carrying across the hall. "The Warlord wishes to test our strength. Kaia Ironhand will be our champion. The duel will be the test."

He had delegated. He had sanctioned the duel, giving it his authority.

Kaia's grin widened. Her King had just given her his blessing to fight in his name. This was the greatest honor she could imagine.

The duel was short and brutal. Warlord Borin was powerful, a veteran of a hundred battles. But Kaia was different now. She had been trained by Evelyn Blade and, more importantly, she had been inspired by Leo. She fought not just with strength, but with the "unmoving" efficiency she had learned from watching him. She didn't waste a single motion.

She disarmed the Warlord in under a minute, the tip of her sword resting gently against his throat.

The Warlord stared in stunned disbelief, not at his defeat, but at the sheer, impossible skill of the young woman who had bested him.

Kaia leaned in. "Our Chancellor's strength is not for you to test," she whispered, her voice fierce. "We, his vanguard, are more than enough to handle the likes of you."

Warlord Borin looked from Kaia to the boy sitting casually on the side, who hadn't even bothered to stand up. He finally understood. The strength of this new territory was not just one man. It was the strength he cultivated in his followers.

He dropped to one knee. "I am convinced," he boomed, his voice filled with newfound respect. "The Northern Federation recognizes the authority of Chancellor Vance. We are... impressed."

Leo had won his first diplomatic victory and secured his northern border without taking a single step. He had proven that his people were a reflection of his power.

And as the Warlord and his champions left, the women of his council looked at him with a new light in their eyes. He wasn't just a protector. He was a leader who trusted them, empowered them, and allowed them to fight his battles for him.

And that, they realized, was a far more intoxicating and binding form of loyalty than any fear or awe could ever inspire.