Dungeon Defense (WN)

Ο * * * Ο

The next day, a ball to celebrate our victory was held at the palace.

When interpreting this war, the humans focused on Laura de Farnese as the central figure. The war was initiated so that the Emperor’s deputy general could regain her honor. That was the general perspective.

On the other hand, the demons had a completely different stance. Their focus was surprisingly more aimed towards the Helvetica Union.

Until now, the Demon Lord Army had suffered failure after failure. Two hundred years ago, when it became clear that the Demon Lord Army lacked the determination and capability to conquer the continent, other races like elves and dwarves resolutely withdrew their support from the Demon Lord Army. They did so by declaring permanent neutrality, claiming that they would no longer participate in any more Crescent Alliance expeditions…….

The Helvetica Union was a gathering of those other races. Therefore, the Helvetica Union was nothing more than a group of vulgar cowards to most demons.

The Helvetica Union then vowed to serve the Demon Lord Army again. In order to prove their loyalty, they ‘fought in the stead of the Demon Lord Army’ during this war.

Now the Helvetica Union’s loyalty has been proven. The demons that were once separated into many marginal groups had once again rallied under a single banner. —This was how the demons viewed this war.

What did this interpretation mean?

Last year spring. Rank 1 Demon Lord Baal was killed.

Last year autumn. Rank 2 Demon Lord Agares was executed.

This year spring. Three Demon Lords and eleven archdukes were purged.

This year autumn. The Helvetica Union vowed to serve the reformed Demon Lord Army.

Massive occurrences happened in succession within the span of only two years. There was undoubtedly a certain torrent sweeping through. It was the torrent of the times, a meticulously planned and executed performance, and one that, unless you avoided or hid from it, could never be avoided.

The New Demon Lord Army was clearly uniting as one.

Most demons didn’t know who was behind all this. As usual, they simply showered praises on Barbatos and her immortal army, the noble and beautiful Paimon, and the just Marbas…….

However, there was an extreme minority of demons who knew the truth.

Fortunately or unfortunately, the archdukes of the demon world were a part of that tiny minority.

“M-My apologies, Your Highness, but this humble one is struggling to understand.”

“It is fine. I understand your position fully.”

“In that case, could you repeat what you said, Your Highness?”

The Archduke in charge of the Utpala Hell in the demon world carefully gulped.

Currently, Demon Lord Dantalian was seated before the Archduke. Dantalian took a casual sip from his wine cup as he gazed at the Archduke.

“I’ve instructed you to abolish slavery within your duchy as soon as you are able.”

“Y-Your Highness…….”

The Utpala Archduke wiped the sweat off his brows without pause. Due to his rather plump physique, this archduke unfortunately had a lot of sweat in him. However, this was actually his first time sweating this profusely.

“If this humble one has ever been disloyal to Your Highness, please tell me. I will rectify it immediately……. I am always prepared to do Your Highness’ bidding.”

“There is only one thing I want from you. The abolishment of your slave system.”

Abolish the slave system? What was he saying all of a sudden? The Archduke couldn’t figure out the intent behind it. The Archduke believed that Demon Lord Dantalian was scheming something to purge him. However, Dantalian’s expression was serious.

“I have no intention of deceiving you. My purpose is to restore the balance of authority within the demon world, which has become excessively skewed. Archdukes like yourself control vast territories and thousands of enslaved beings. Meanwhile, there exist countless demons with nothing but their own bodies.”

“…….”

“I will be direct, Archduke. I will not forgive any power class excluding Demon Lords. Everyone must be equal underneath Demon Lords.”

The Archduke was at a loss for words due to Dantalian’s honesty.

Dantalian had just bluntly told him that ‘I want to weaken your side’. He was like a person threatening to beat another person up and actually doing it. Was it possible to give a reasonable response to this person?

“The slave system is an honored tradition that has been around since the era of our ancestors. I was deeply moved when Your Highness abolished the rank system; however, I am of the belief that not all remnants of the past are inherently negative.”

“Relics of the past, is it?”

Dantalian chuckled.

“I will personally tell you what things of the past are good and bad. The loyalty exhibited by the 15 Archdukes who obediently followed and refrained from rebelling against the new Demon Lord Army is a positive facet. Conversely, the 11 Archdukes who engaged in rebellion, plotted an uprising, and even conspired for an assassination are bad relics of the past.”

“…….”

“You do not decide what is good and evil, Archduke of Utpala.”

Dantalian leaned his upper body forward. He then continued from this closer angle.

“That is decided by us Demon Lords. Fortunately, the standard for good is incredibly clear. Servitude is good, while resistance is evil. I advise you to choose your side wisely.”

“T-this will cause a rebellion……!”

The Utpala Archduke yelled out.

“The archdukes are not the sole possessors of slaves within the demon realm! Numerous nobles have also amassed a multitude of slaves. If you were to command them to relinquish the wealth they’ve amassed over centuries in a single night, they would undoubtedly burst into a rebellion!

Dantalian grinned.

“Let them burst.”

“Pardon me?”

“You are surprisingly innocent. Is the slavery system something that can be abolished without starting one or two rebellions? Do I look like a fool who believes in that kind of miracle in your eyes? Archduke of Utpala, rebellions will obviously occur. Not once, but dozens. It may even last for over a hundred years.”

“I-In that case, why?”

Dantalian shook his head.

“Did I not tell you that you should choose your side wisely?”

“……!”

“We will not be asking for your permissions. We will not be asking for favors either. This is simply an order. Of course, since you and the others are not slaves, you are free to retaliate. However, if you choose to do so, you must do so with the resolve to be buried in a grave with that freedom in your chest.”

A curtain of silence fell over the room.

The faint sound of laughter could be heard from the ball. They were currently in a distant room from the ballroom. This was a room created to have private talks. Although the Archduke had resolved himself to remain firm no matter what was asked of him the moment Dantalian invited him to this room, it was a pointless resolve…….

The Archduke painstakingly opened his mouth.

“Your Highness, it is not like all demons are absolutely loyal to Demon Lords. Some of the archdukes will resist by any means necessary.”

“Hah, by any means necessary, you say? Are you saying that you will use assassins with slave seals on their hearts?”

Dantalian chortled.

“Go ahead. How many assassins like that will you be able to gather? Two hundred? Two thousand? Ohh, an army of assassins that fulfills their duties while not submitting to the will of Demon Lords! I am so terrified that I might piss myself.”

“…….”

“There was a time the Archduke of Atata hired assassins to ambush me. Are you aware of this?”

The Utpala Archduke nodded carefully.

It was a well-known event between the archdukes. The Archduke of Atata had foolishly attempted to assassinate Datalian and paid the price by being slaughtered by death knights…….

The Archduke of Atata’s palace was brought to complete ruin, and the two hundred nobles who resided in the same palace were decapitated and impaled on stakes. Demon Lord Dantalian carved a single line on each and every one of the heads with a knife.

Know thyself.

“I advise you to know thyself, Archduke. We have an army that numbers in the hundreds of thousands. You do not. I can step on you whenever I desire. You cannot.”

“If the slave system is abolished…….”

The Archduke spoke cautiously.

“What will we receive in return?”

“Your lives.”

Dantalian grinned.

“Furthermore, by gifting us your devoted loyalty, we will no longer carry out policies in this oppressive way again.”

“I-Is that all? All we get in return for losing thousands of slaves is our safety?”

“Archduke.”

Dantalian stared the Archduke of Utpala in the eyes. The Archduke felt a chill run down his spine. It was almost like the temperature in the room had dropped by a couple dozen degrees.

“The thing about life is that it is incredibly precious.”

“…….”

“People in power easily forget how heavy lives are. Furthermore, I struggle to respect those who are oblivious to this weight.”

That night.

The 15 archdukes who came to congratulate the victory were all given the same notice by Dantalian.

It was late in the night by the time the entire reception was over. Dantalian sat in a chair and quietly got some rest. At that moment, the door to his room opened and Paimon entered. Dantalian didn’t even bother to look at her as he muttered.

“I have notified all of the archdukes. We should get a response within the next few weeks.”

“……Dantalian.”

“Barbatos and Marbas both agreed. A Walpurgis Night will be held in a week and this matter will be brought up as a formal agenda.”

Dantalian fiddled with a wine glass in his right hand. The cup was completely empty.

“Barbatos is always going on about wiping out the humans, while you are constantly making a commotion about spreading republicanism. I crushed the Kingdom of Sardinia in order to please Barbatos. And now, here I am threatening archdukes immediately after my return in order to please you……. Do you not think you two are being too hard on me?”

Dantalian chuckled weakly. Paimon felt a heart-wrenching pain seeing Dantalian in this state.

“Dantalian, this lady just…….”

“I know. I just wanted to complain a little. It is like the two of you are trying to prove that you used to be lovers with how similarly impatient you two are.”

Dantalian turned his head to look at Paimon. His face looked a little lifeless, but there was a nasty smirk on his lips.

“Truly, the only one among my lovers who does not expect anything out of me is Sitri. Barbatos always wants to kill the humans, you always want to save the humans, and Gamigin……. Well, for her, it sort of feels like she won’t be satisfied until she can take all my limbs and store them in some exclusive storage.”

“Fufu.”

Paimon giggled.

She was relieved. The same Dantalian was before her. The sarcastic and smirking Dantalian who shrugs his shoulders, saying ‘It can’t be helped’. This was the man that Paimon liked.

“Everyone is greedy. Do you not think that maybe you are the one who has the most greed considering that you are trying to monopolize these greedy individuals?”

“Oh dear, so is it all my fault in the end? I wonder what sort of sin I must have committed in my past life to end up like this. I pray that I am able to only date women like Sitri in my next life.”

Paimon removed her clothes, letting her ball dress slip to the floor. She then approached Dantalian and wrapped her arms around his shoulders.

“Do you intend to have several lovers in your next life too?”

“Just like you said, I am greedy after all.”

Dantalian kissed Paimon.

For a period, only the heated sound of breathing could be heard from the room.

***

TL Note: Thanks for reading the chapter. I’m keeping this short. I got sick with the flu this week, so I’m not feeling too great. I’m mostly okay now, but I still have a runny nose and now I’m starting to cough. I’ll just try to rest this weekend.