Dungeon Defense (WN)

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“W-Wait a second. I don’t understand.”

“There is nothing to understand. Everything I have said is the truth.”

I spoke sincerely. I was being genuine. Someone who is strong and won’t betray you, is there anyone out there who could make for a better ally than this? It was surprising to know that someone as weird as Paimon has such a promising individual under her wing.

“I have fallen for Miss Sitri’s personality.”

“Ha……haa? My personality?”

“That is correct. That passion of yours that is willing to offer your entire body to save the person you have given your heart to. That loyalty of yours that makes sure to keep the promises you make. These two things alone are enough to make Miss Sitri have a better personality than every other Demon Lord.”

Was it because she was being showered with praise? Sitri started to fan her face with her hand. Her cheeks weren’t the only things that were red as it was her entire face now. Aha, it seems that Sitri is incredibly weak to compliments. Is she weak to praise because she’s pure-hearted……? That’s plausible.

I decided to use this opportunity to raise Sitri’s affection as much as possible.

“Of course, your personality is not the only thing that I have fallen for. Miss Sitri is also charming.”

“Huh……!?”

“Lovely hair and a voluptuous body that Barbatos cannot even compare to. Haha. To be honest, as a man, I cannot help but be charmed by it as well!”

Although she has a cannon attached down below.

“If a beautiful person such as yourself were to be with me, then that fact alone would naturally fill my shoulders with strength.”

It was around this time that I heard a bell.

「Demon Lord Sitri’s affection has risen by 6.」

Sitri lowered her head.

She mumbled as if she were talking to herself.

“Since when……since when have you thought this?”

“Naturally, since the moment I first saw you.”

When she ran into my quarters naked in order to beg for me to forgive Paimon. I found out later that she ran through the middle of the Crescent Alliance naked in order to come to me. She didn’t care about honor or whatever as she ran to my quarters.

There’s a little weird thing about me. I can’t help but have a soft spot for people who are pure-hearted or innocent. I end up restraining myself even though I could strip them of everything they have. If possible, I want to be their friend. It was like this for Jack Aland as well.

It’s probably because they are so different from me. Similar to how bugs yearn for light, I must subconsciously yearn for pure-hearted people. Even though I know that it’s foolish.

The type of people I hate the most are the ones who act pure but do all sorts of diabolical things behind-the-scenes. Paimon is a prime example of this. She’s a political woman who claims to purely love humans. Well, what am I saying? I’m also a prime example of this. One of the reasons why I dislike Paimon is probably partially due to me hating my own kind.

“Uuuh……this is a first for me…….”

Sitri couldn’t stay still as her fingers fidgeted. She was lowering her head, so I couldn’t see what sort of face she was making.

“I don’t have a good reputation, you know? ……I have sex with monsters and I’m often called dirty……. People rarely ever call me charming……. I-If it’s Big Sis Paimon, then sure, but me, charming? Impossible.”

“Pfft. Paimon?”

That woman is charming? Don’t make me laugh.

Even when I played <Dungeon Attack>, Paimon was one of the top two female characters that I disliked. Her position became a little better after she helped me at the end of the ceremonial speeches, but I still don’t have a favorable opinion of Paimon in my mind. Compared to her, Sitri was an angel.

Although she has a cannon attached below.

“I know that you hold Paimon in high regard. Forgive me for badmouthing her a bit. To me, you are a hundred times more splendid than Paimon.”

“Huaah?”

“If someone asked me to pick between Miss Sitri or Paimon to be together forever with, then ten out of ten times and a hundred out of a hundred times I would pick you, Miss Sitri. This is unquestionable!”

She’s a woman who struck her own kind on the back of their head for the sake of humankind. Why would I make her my comrade? An absolute majority of Demon Lords would probably choose Sitri as well.

Sitri spoke in a quiet and squeaky voice. Her voice was dipped in embarrassment at first, but it was now completely submerged.

“But……I’ve already given my body and devotion to Big Sis Paimon. A-Also, you have Barbatos!”

Mm. She’s right.

I’m not sure what was going to happen to Paimon from now on, but she’s still the head of the Mountain Faction. On the other hand, I’m one of the leading members of the Plains Faction. Being friendly with me would put a rather sizable political burden on Sitri. For starters, her relationship with Paimon might become bad. No, it definitely would become bad.

This would sadden Sitri. She would undoubtedly start to contemplate whether she was committing betrayal or not.

However, I’m not particularly trying to bring Sitri over to the Plains Faction. In the first place, I don’t have any reason to do more than necessary for the Plains Faction. As long as they can keep pace with me, I don’t care whether they’re from the Plains Faction or the Mountain Faction. I need to make this fact clear.

“Please do not misunderstand. I do not have a relationship with Barbatos. I am a single Demon Lord before being Barbatos’ close aide. I wish to form relationships with whomever I desire.”

Factions will most likely become less important now. They will descend into simply being figureheads or causes to follow.

The Habsburg Empire was done for. Or, at the very least, their central and northern regions will enter the Crescent Alliance’s grasp. Many Demon Lords will take hold of viscounties and earldoms as they situate themselves in the human world. Factions will split apart into territories.

Until now, Demon Lords have only cooperated for the sake of overthrowing humans regardless of whether they hated them or not. This was because there was a clear divide between Demon Lords and humans. However, what will happen if we obtain the northern and central regions of the Habsburg Empire?

For starters, the Mountain Faction will approach the human residents in a friendly manner. The Demon Lords of the Mountain Faction will probably think ‘The war is over! We finally got our hands on some human land so let’s have a good time!’.

The group that would normally oppose high-ranking Demon Lords if their land were to expand―in other words, humans―would no longer be present. Taking over a portion of the Habsburg Empire would be just enough. The high-ranking Demon Lords will be happy since they’ll be able to hold their ground while the others will be happy because they’ll be able to situate themselves within the affluent human world. This would be the best possible scenario for the Mountain Faction.

What about the Plains Faction? They will oppress the humans.

The Plains Faction will ultimately aim for conquering the entire continent. They’ll treat humans as annoying obstacles. Demon Lords will become nobles, demons will become commoners, and humans will become slaves in areas controlled by the Plains Faction. Naturally, all sorts of trouble will happen because of this.

Humans will gradually realize that they cannot group Demon Lords together as simply ‘Demon Lords’. They will cooperate with some and fight with others. Yesterday’s enemy will become today’s friend. We will arrive at an absolutely chaotic era…….

If this situation continues, then the Demon Lords will all walk their own respective paths in order to survive. For example, let’s say that there’s a Demon Lord from the Mountain Faction. What would they do if their land was directly next to the Plains Faction’s? Would they continue to rely on the Mountain Faction until the very end? Of course not. They would have no other choice but to compromise in order to survive.

If you compromise once, then you’ll do it again and again……until eventually, your personal survival becomes the most important. A portion of the Demon Lords from the Mountain Faction and the Plains Faction may even end up creating their own new faction. This is more than possible depending on the location.

It will quite literally become a turbulent age. 

An era comparable to the Thirty Years’ War in Europe is approaching.

“I ask you to please forget about Paimon right now. I too will forget about Barbatos. Please look at me as a fellow Demon Lord. I wish for you to determine with unbiased eyes whether you can trust me or not .”

“Ah, uh……uuuh?”

“Miss Sitri.”

In order to prepare for that future, I have to bring the Rank 12 Demon Lord over to my side.

「Demon Lord Sitri’s affection has risen by 11.」

Another notice window appeared. I was on a roll.

I clasped Sitri’s hand once more. Once I did, Sitri carefully raised her head. Her complexion was as red as an apple and the corners of her eyes were a little moist. Our eyes met and Sitri turned away in alarm. However, I could clearly see her sneaking glances at me out of the corner of her eyes.

“I am not implying that I will throw Barbatos away. Miss Sitri, there is no reason for you to turn your back on Paimon either. I simply wish to establish that Barbatos is Barbatos and Paimon is Paimon. Furthermore…….”

“F-Furthermore……?”

“Miss Sitri is Miss Sitri, and I am myself.”

She looked at me blankly. She must have forgotten about her embarrassment as she stared straight into my eyes. I realized that this was the final impasse. I have to show her my sincerity here. Silently, I stared into her eyes while hoping for her to see my sincerity.

Fanfare rang in my ears.

「Demon Lord Sitri’s affection has risen by 8! The other party now trusts you.」

「The other party’s affection has reached 50. You can now persuade them to become your ally.」

Sitri mumbled with strangely hazy eyes.

“I’ll be……in your care…….”

I smiled brightly.

“Of course. I pray for a long union.”

Time was up so Sitri got up. An hour had already passed since she arrived at my Demon Lord Castle. The battlefield was still in an urgent situation.

Sitri looked fairly sad about having to leave. She was like this even though only a few minutes had passed since we became comrades. As expected of my discerning eyes. She was definitely the furthest away from the word betrayal compared to every other Demon Lord.

“I’ll go end the war quick!”

Sitri spoke while gripping a teleportation scroll in her hand.

“I’ll make sure to talk to Big Sis Paimon properly so she doesn’t misunderstand. Don’t worry. I’ll send you the money once the war is over and I’ll come over often……. No, maybe I should just move here…….”

“Haha. I will just take the thought for now. Let us have a more in-depth discussion later on when we have the time.”

“O-Okay. Sure.”

Sitri nodded her head energetically. This Demon Lord has a cute side to her.

Although she has a cannon attached below.

“Take care of yourself, master.”

“Please call me Dantalian, Sitri.”

Sitri’s eyes widened slightly.

A broad smile soon appeared on her face.

“All right! Dantalian!”

Her white teeth sparkled as she grinned.

The magic circle was activated. A yellow light wrapped around Sitri’s body. The glow filled the entire room. Shortly after, the glow faded away and the spot where Sitri was standing was now empty. Sitri was probably standing in her dreary tent now. I prayed for her to have a good fight.

“Hoo.”

I let out a satisfied sigh as I sat down. With this……I’ve acquired one ally. Should I call this an alliance? If I’m in danger, Sitri will help me, and I’ll help Sitri if she is in danger. A mutual profit.

“……”

I felt a gaze so I turned my head. Lapis was standing in a corner of the room. She guided Sitri here according to my order and stood in silence the entire time. A secret conversation between Demon Lords. Obviously, a mere succubus like herself wouldn’t dare to open her mouth in that situation.

“Aah, Lapis. Good work. Things were able to go well thanks to you.”

“……Your speaking prowess is as skilled as ever. I was moved.”

Hm? Why was Lapis complimenting me all of a sudden?

I guess that even from her perspective, I did an amazing job persuading Sitri. I felt strangely proud. I couldn’t help but feel strangely happy whenever Lapis acknowledged me.

I grinned.

“Well, it’s not the first time I’ve done something like this.”

“……Is that so? This is not the first time.”

“Despite my looks, I am quite the easy-going gentleman.”

In terms of eloquence, I’m probably one of the best among Demon Lords. This, I’m confident of.

“I did not know this. I am seeing you in a new light now, Sir Dantalian.”

Contrary to Lapis’ praise, her expression was cold.

Lapis continued to treat me coldly for the rest of the day.

……But why though?

***

TL Note: Thanks for reading the chapter. I wonder if this is an affection gaining speedrun. Really makes you think whether you should feel bad for Sitri or not. Welp, nothing else to really say. I guess I should say I’m feeling completely better now. Just going to be more careful with what I eat now.

I’ll see you guys in the next chapter.

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