Dungeon Defense (WN)

The Archduke of Kakola had heard a rumor recently.

‘The man named Dantalian. He is the lowest-ranking Demon Lord at rank 71……but he seems to be in high spirits.’

Recently, Dantalian had started to meet the archdukes of hell one by one. There was nothing of interest if this was all you looked at, but the archdukes who met Dantalian became strangely careful afterward.

I heard that you met that Dantalian from the rumors. How was he in real life? All of the archdukes remained silent even when they were asked this. They didn’t want to talk about it. They didn’t want to remember it. This was the impression they gave off.

True to their name, the archdukes of hell were at the highest of the power structure when it came to ruling demonkind. Despite this, these people didn’t want to talk about it. This wasn’t normal.

‘Interesting.’

The Archduke of Kakola became even more curious as he kept trying to get more information from the other archdukes. Once he did, the other archdukes remained silent for a long time before saying one thing. They didn’t all say the exact same thing, but it could be summarized by this one line:

Don’t underestimate him.

Honestly, the Archduke of Kakola lost interest once he heard this. It wasn’t Dantalian who he had lost interest in. Don’t underestimate him―in other words, the other archdukes had underestimated Dantalian at first.

Did they lower their guards since his rank was 71? If anything, they should have been even more resilient since he managed to rise to a key position within the Crescent Alliance despite being only rank 71. The other archdukes didn’t even think of this? What a bunch of disappointments.

The Kakola Archduke thought to himself. I won’t underestimate Dantalian. He definitely has a trick up his sleeves.

The Archduke didn’t have a way of figuring out what that trick was at the moment, so he was going to have to keep his guard up as much as possible until he managed to figure it out.

Now then, let us see what the other party is capable of.

“Let us hold the grandest of balls.”

The other archdukes most likely shared a private conversation with Dantalian. They were fools. Demon Lords can read the emotions of demons. If you face him alone, then your mental state will be as clear as day to him. You have to prepare as many people as possible. You have to make it so that he cannot focus on your emotions.

“Invite all of the noble daughters who have made a name for themselves here in Kakola.”

From tiger people, cat people, deer people, to elves, the Kakola Archduke has numerous earls and viscounts under his wing. Out of the daughters of these individuals, he was going to gather those who were rumored to be beauties. He wasn’t expecting Dantalian to be someone who gets swayed by beautiful women, but men are fundamentally weak to women.

Beautiful women will be chatting all around him. Will he be able to maintain his composure in a situation like that? Even if he is, an opening will definitely appear. The Archduke will make use of that opening fully.

“Gather the most talented musicians, chefs, and jesters.”

I will paralyze his sense of hearing, taste, and vision. Every single one of his senses. In the end, the mind is influenced by the body. If your body relaxes, then your mind will relax as well.

The Kakola Archduke spent 5,000 gold preparing this ball. The Archduke personally saw to the preparations. There was no need to mention how the people under the Archduke behaved. Every personnel under the Archduke devoted themselves to setting up the ball as well.

All 5,000 gold was used to set up this single trap. The saying about lions putting in their all even when hunting a rabbit was most likely appropriate for this situation.

The day of the ball had arrived. The influential demons all throughout Kakola gathered.

‘A meeting to gather the funding necessary for the Crescent Alliance’, was the pretext for the ball, and Demon Lord Dantalian was going to be here as the representative of the Crescent Alliance.

“It has been a long time, Your Highness. Have you been doing well?”

“Oh, Earl Rombach. Thank you for coming to this ball.”

“Your Highness! It is highly fortunate to see that you are healthy.”

“I cannot help but be jealous as you grow more handsome by each passing day, Viscount Baruch.”

Tiresome greetings and empty exchanges.

As the Kakola Archduke watched over the participants who seemed excited by the grand ball, which was an infrequent event, he laughed coldly on the inside. They didn’t know the true goal behind this ball. There was most likely an incredibly small number of people who were going to try to look good in front of Dantalian.

The demon world and the continent were basically two separate worlds. The Crescent Alliance is practically irrelevant to the aristocrat demons who wish to gain more authority in the demon world. This is what they most likely think…….

‘That is why you guys will stay as earls and viscounts forever.’

How many greetings had he received? Finally, the name he had been waiting for was called out by the doorman.

“Rank 71! His Highness Demon Lord Dantalian has arrived!”

Everyone’s attention focused on the entrance of the ballroom. A man wearing a black suit was making his entrance. A woman wearing a red dress was escorting him. Pink hair. Was she the succubus that was Dantalian’s aide?

‘To think he would come here with a low-class demon.’

The Kakola Archduke quickly churned his head. This was a ball for high-ranking individuals. It went against common sense and courtesy to bring a lowly succubus with no title or ranking as a partner. There must be some sort of motive behind this……. The Kakola Archduke smiled brightly.

“Your Highness Dantalian.”

He bowed as far as he could in greeting.

“It honors me greatly that you would step foot in this one’s humble ball.”

“It seems I have misunderstood the meaning of the word humble all this time.”

Dantalian smiled back.

“The entrance alone was quite fancy, so I could not help but be awed, Archduke! I am sincerely honored that you would invite me to this occasion.”

“The honor is mine.”

How should I say it, the Kakola Archduke thought to himself.

‘He’s a lot more normal than I expected.’

He was lacking in dignity as a Demon Lord, he looked unreliable, his narrow shoulders gave him an undependable appearance, the way his back bent slightly was unsightly, and it was quite obvious that he wasn’t used to any sort of noble courtesy.

……A person like this is the new rising star in the Crescent Alliance?

The Kakola Archduke snorted in his mind.

‘I see. So this is why everyone advised me to not underestimate him.’

His appearance was so shabby, that you would automatically start to underestimate him. The other archdukes most likely lowered their guards because of Dantalian’s appearance and wound up getting overwhelmed. It was a pathetic story. Don’t be deceived by outer appearances and be careful about what’s on the inside. Is this not the most basic rule of politics?

The Kakola Archduke’s eyes had a dark glow.

‘You will not be able to deceive me, Demon Lord.’

He skillfully managed his expression as he spoke.

“Your Highness, please enjoy the ball to your heart’s content.”

“I thank you for your hospitality.”

Dantalian smiled slightly.

“Let’s have fun, then.”

* * *

4 hours had passed since the ball had started.

The Kakola Archduke was lost in his thoughts. He turned to look at a section of the ballroom. Dantalian was there laughing while surrounded by women. The young ladies laughed loudly as if they had just been told some funny joke.

‘That man……is he really that impressive?’

Dantalian had genuinely been enjoying himself for the past 4 hours. He had his first dance with his succubus partner before inviting each of the young ladies one by one to dance. His partner kept changing. He didn’t dance with a single partner continuously. He was a man with no principles.

‘How long does he intend to play around with women!?’

There was a limit to being a lecher.

There were multiple influential people currently present here in the ballroom. If you were a normal Demon Lord, then you would be trying to talk with them and not the women. Despite this, Dantalian was completely engrossed in talking to the women and didn’t approach the influential people of the demon world at all.

With how things were, the men were unable to approach Dantalian.

He looked as if he was actually enjoying the ball…….

‘No.’

The Kakola Archduke shook his head.

‘That is also a ploy. A strategy to make me lower my guard……. I will not be fooled so easily.’

The Kakola Archduke waited patiently. He believed that Dantalian would slip away from the women and come his way.

6 hours had passed since the start of the ball and Dantalian hadn’t moved an inch.

‘Damn it! He isn’t acting!’

The Kakola Archduke gnashed his teeth. It was almost time to end the ball. The nobles and the young women were all tired now. There definitely wasn’t enough time for Dantalian to try to pull something now.

“Pardon me.”

In the end, the Kakola Archduke had no other choice but to act first. He pardoned himself from the group of nobles he was with and walked towards Dantalian. The young ladies quickly noticed his approach and curtseyed. Dantalian noticed the Kakola Archduke a little later.

“Oh. This is truly a splendid ball, Archduke.”

“Thank you very much. I hope that I am not interfering with anything, Your Highness.”

“Of course not. Please have a seat.”

The Archduke smiled. You idiot! Do you think I came here to chat with some greenhorn ladies?

“That is a charming offer, but, Your Highness, there is something that I wish to tell you. If it would not be so rude, I wish to guide you to a more interesting place…….”

“Is that so? Hm. It cannot be helped then.”

Dantalian gave a playful nod to the women.

“Ladies. It was fun. If you ever happen to find yourself on the continent, then please visit my Demon Lord Castle. I will grant you a wondrous night.”

The young ladies giggled shyly before saying their farewells to Dantalian. The archduke felt his insides turning as he watched this. He wanted to believe that it wasn’t true, but he started having his doubts about whether Dantalian had brought a succubus as a partner for ‘that’ reason.

The Kakola Archduke guided Dantalian to a private room. The room was approximately 10 meters wide on all sides. It only had a wooden table and chairs for furniture. The room was sealed with soundproofing magic, so it was perfect for having secret conversations.

“I apologize for the humble room.”

“No. I have also been wanting a break.”

The two of them sat across from each other.

“Your Highness, I believe that we will receive more than 6,000 gold in donations through tonight’s ball.”

“That is good. I will make good use of the funds that you are all so generously putting together.”

“…….”

Is that it?

Does he have nothing more to say to one of the highest authority figures of the demon world?

The Kakola Archduke couldn’t hold back any longer as he decided to go on the offense.

“Your Highness seems rather uninterested in the nobles of the demon world. You spent your entire time with only the ladies during the ball……haha. Many of the aristocrats around me were saddened by this. They were looking forward to sharing a word with Your Highness.”

“Oh, is that so?”

Dantalian responded in an apologetic tone.

“But I have no interest in you all. You are all going to die anyway.”

“……Pardon me?”

Dantalian wiped his neck with a handkerchief as he spoke. He was speaking in such a casual tone, that the Kakola Archduke unconsciously asked back. Dantalian smiled.

“I said that you are all fated to die anyway, Archduke.”

At that moment, the Kakola Archduke felt the air become cold in an instant.

It was completely different from before. His smile was the same. His tone was still calm and relaxed. Despite this, the quality of the air around them had changed. The Kakola Archduke didn’t have time to be surprised as he managed his face.

“Fated to die……? Well, demons are indeed fated to eventually die. Even those with long life spans look like mere mortals before Demon Lords.”

Dantalian grinned.

“Are you feigning ignorance or do you truly not know? Well, it does not matter to me.”

He kept wiping his neck. He didn’t say anything more after that.

The Kakola Archduke whispered to himself on the inside.

‘Calm down.’

It’s a bluff. A threat. There’s nothing dangerous here. It has simply been confirmed that Dantalian was indeed acting during the ball. This truth has been revealed. That’s all. ―But what does he mean by being fated to die?

“Your Highness, if you are upset at me about something, then please tell me. I will apologize.”

“Do you know how the Crescent Alliance is currently going, Archduke?”

A sudden question. The Kakola Archduke didn’t panic.

“I had the honor of hearing that our Demon Lord army is currently at an advantage. I give you my congratulations.”

“You are half right and half wrong.”

“Pardon?”

Dantalian smiled. This time, it was a clear, cold smirk.

“The Demon Lord army is winning. However, what do you mean by ‘our’? What do you mean by this? What are you congratulating us for?”

“I apologize……this humble one is lacking, so I do not understand what Your Highness is trying to say.”

“I am saying that the Demon Lord army is not on your side, Archduke.”

Dantalian glowered at the Kakola Archduke briefly.

“Do you know where the Demon Lord army will go after they have conquered the continent? The demon world. By conquering the demon world, the Demon Lord army will make it clear that only Demon Lords should be the rulers of the world. Is it not funny for someone who is going to be subjugated first to say ‘our’?”

“……!”

The Archduke’s heart became stiff.

***

TL Note: Thanks for reading the chapter. There was like a day delay with this one because I had to go to my grandpa’s 88th birthday. My brother couldn’t make it, so I had to go by myself. In any case, this segment (I still don’t know what I should refer to these parts as) is starting off strong with schemes. I already know how it plays out cause of the early access chapters, so you guys can look forward to see how he cooks these archdukes alive :^).

I’ll see you guys in the next release.

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