Dungeon Defense (WN)

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“Never in all of history……have Demon Lords ever pointed their swords at the demon world.”

The Kakola Archduke could tell that his voice was dry.

He poured some wine from the bottle that was on the table in a leisurely manner to make it seem as if Dantalian’s words were just interesting to him. ‘I am not panicking. This conversation is like a side dish you’d have with some wine.’ This was the impression that he wanted to give.

The Archduke was desperate.

“Will unrest not settle upon demonkind because of this unprecedented act? This may contrarily cause the chaos to spread to the Crescent Alliance. The plan to bring stability to the Crescent Alliance’s rear may end up having the opposite effect.”

“Oh? You seem rather worried about the Crescent Alliance.”

Dantalian commented sarcastically. The Kakola Archduke’s expression remained unchanged as he bowed his head politely.

“This humble one may be lowly, but I am still a member of demonkind.”

“It does not matter if it becomes somewhat chaotic. That is why we will defeat the human army thoroughly for that sake. His Highness Baal’s army is still fully intact. That is more than enough to conquer the demon world.”

That’s right. Baal’s army is the greatest in the entire world. Baal is also the most revered by demonkind. What would happen if he attacked with a decent pretext……for example, the liberation of the demon world?

The Kakola Archduke took a sip of his wine. This cannot be allowed to happen. The archdukes would undoubtedly lose. Demons have always complained about the way the archdukes ruled with an iron fist. The demon world would be overflowing with people cheering the Rank 1 Demon Lord on.

Demons are unable to resist Demon Lords in the first place. Even if they resisted with everything they had, it’s doubtful whether they’d be able to last for a long time or not. At best, they could probably endure for 2 or 3 years. The demon world will be unified under the Demon Lords. The Kakola Archduke became more desperate once he thought this far.

“Well, do not be too disappointed. We Demon Lords will govern over the demons. Is this not a natural course of action? The demon world should have always belonged to the Demon Lords. We simply left it under the care of you archdukes temporarily. You are simply returning something back to its original owners. If you think of it like this, then there is nothing to feel sad about.”

Dantalian laughed pleasantly.

‘How dare this weakest being.’

The Kakola Archduke’s anger rose. What do you mean by returning something back to its original owner!?

The demon world doesn’t belong to anyone. It is nothing more than a desolate, barren land. It was hard to get even 2 or 3 grains of wheat after planting a seed and wells were impossible to create no matter how much you dug.

Demons despised their homeland and thus referred to it as hell.

The Demon Lords had abandoned this land. They put this world behind them. They left for the sake of going to more fertile land. Many demons followed behind them. The monsters currently spread throughout the continent are the descendants of these immigrants.

On the other hand, there were those who stayed. They did whatever they could to get accustomed to this hell. It was a survival of the fittest where the winner took everything. This cruel cogwheel spun for an unbearably long time that it almost felt like an eternity. The archdukes were the ones who were able to escape from this cogwheel.

Now you want to take the demon world back? It was originally yours so it’s only natural for you to take it back?

The Kakola Archduke screamed in his mind.

“Don’t mess with me!’

How dare the people who pointlessly wasted lives in the human world for something idiotic like the Crescent Alliance deny the true owners of the demon world who had devoted their flesh and bones to survive these wastelands?

Baal’s army? Fine. Come at us. I’ll gladly fall into ruin. But know that we have a couple of tricks up our sleeves. I will curse you all until the end of the world. I’ll turn the entire world into hell…….

The Kakola Archduke prepared for the worst-case scenario in his mind while maintaining his casual demeanor.

However, there was something he had to confirm before he began to fight back desperately. It was Dantalian’s goal. The other party genuinely had the power to conquer the demon world. They had a reason to do so as well. Despite this, instead of attacking immediately, Dantalian came here to talk to him, an archduke of hell.

Why? The best-case scenario would be if the other party intended to make a compromise. The worst-case scenario would be if he only came here to deliver the ultimatum……if it was this, then the Archduke would have no other choice but to either fall into ruin or surrender.

Dantalian chatted away.

“Oh dear. Archduke, the mood has become much too stiff. Relax.”

“Haha. My apologies. I could not help but be surprised after being met with such unexpected news.”

“There is not only bad news for you guys.”

Is this the main part? The Kakola Archduke prepared himself.

“……What does Your Highness mean by that?”

“Did I not tell you already? As you know very well, the Demon Lord army is split into multiple factions. While there are people who believe that we should show the residents of the demon world their place, there are those who wish to only give a warning.”

“……!”

The Kakola Archduke felt his vision become clearer.

There were certainly Demon Lords who favored the demon world considerably. Barbatos would be a prime example of that. Coincidentally, the man in front of him was Barbatos’ close aide.

‘Is that it? So it was like that!’

The Archduke instantly understood the full story. The high-ranking Demon Lords came to a type of alliance. The reason was simple: to deal with the archdukes who plotted for the Crescent Alliance’s defeat in secret. However, there must have been much debate about how exactly they would deal with these criminals.

“What…… is Your Highness’ opinion?”

“Our opinion is rather moderate.”

Dantalian uttered the word ‘our’ again. The Archduke could tell that this word was different from the word mentioned before. In other words, this was the opinion of the Plains Faction. Barbatos’ opinion.

“Would it not be fine as long as you archdukes show proof of your absolute loyalty to the Demon Lords? This is what I think.”

Dantalian smiled. His eyes were cold.

“I believe that you know what this means.”

“I pray for the Crescent Alliance’s success and will donate 1,000,000 gold.”

The Archduke immediately responded.

“Not only now, but I will devote myself whenever the opportunity presents itself to assist Your Highness. If it is Your Highness, then I believe that you will undoubtedly handle 1,000,000 gold wisely.”

The Kakola Archduke made sure to emphasize the enunciation of ‘Your Highness’. I will leave 1,000,000 gold in your hands alone. You can take as much as you want from it as the middleman. I will not get involved. This was what he was implying.

Dantalian showed a vague smile. He raised his flask and moistened his lips.

The Kakola Archduke struggled to figure out what Dantalian’s gesture meant. Was that enough? Or was that not enough? He couldn’t see the bottom of the man before him.

“You are just filled with worries, Archduke. We are not here to wring you guys dry of your money. There is no reason for a vassal to pledge their allegiance to their lord every day. Is that not so?”

Thus, this was going to be the last bribe.

The Kakola Archduke churned his brain quickly. As expected, the high-ranking Demon Lords are wise. They knew that the effectiveness of threats will diminish the more they pile on top of each other.

Even the archdukes of hell couldn’t spit out a massive sum like 1,000,000 gold infinitely. The money they have to offer will quickly become an incredible burden to them. Even if the archdukes are obedient on the outside, they will gradually become filled with grievances. A revolt will happen. They will burst like a dam.

‘Would it be……fine to say that he is genuinely trying to cooperate with us?’

If they truly intended to slaughter all of the archdukes, then they would have just kept asking for money. They would have deliberately made the archdukes go past their boiling points. They could’ve invaded the many hells under the pretext of suppressing rebels. Instead of doing that, he asked for them to swear their loyalty once…….

Dantalian can’t be trusted. Baal can’t be believed either.

But if it’s Barbatos, the Kakola Archduke thought. If it’s the Demon Lord who has yearned for the domination of the human world all her life, that Demon Lord was trustworthy. She must’ve felt very displeased when the others were debating about bringing stability to the rear and punishing the archdukes.

They finally obtained an opportunity to conquer the human world. This isn’t the time to be fighting among ourselves……If it’s Demon Lord Barbatos, then there is a good chance that she thinks this. Thus, she dispatched her aide, Dantalian.

“I will add an additional 1,000,000 gold.”

“Excellent.”

Dantalian finally smiled broadly.

“But Your Highness, 2,000,000 gold is quite a large sum for this humble one as well.”

“Hm? Do not tell me that you think it would be a shame to hand over that much.”

“Of course not. However, if there is one thing that this humble one has learned throughout his 400 years of life, then it is the fact that there is nothing wrong with being sure of things.”

The Kakola Archduke lowered his glass of wine.

“If Your Highness is satisfied by this humble one’s loyalty, then, if I may dare ask, could Your Highness also show some proof?”

“In other words, proof that I am truly on Barbatos’ side.”

“……Yes, Your Highness.”

The Archduke already lost count of how many times a chill had gone down his spine today. The man before him kept jumping straight to the point. He kept seeing through the archduke as if he could read him like an open book. Rank 71, but the true advisor of the Plains Faction. Is this the real Dantalian?

“Well, that’s fine.”

Dantalian readily agreed. He then pulled something out from his pocket and placed it on the table. The Kakola Archduke could tell that it was a magic artifact.

“This is?”

“It is an artifact with the Memoria spell cast on it. You can confirm whether this is fake or not. You probably know one or two verification spells.”

“As you command.”

The Kakola Archduke was not a mage; however, he had many mage subordinates. Among the rings fitted on his right hand, he brought forward the artifact on his ring finger. The Archduke muttered the activation spell. Once he did, a green light came out from the ring.

“…….”

There was no response. No magical traces could be found on the Memoria artifact. The Archduke wasn’t sure what sort of recording was on the artifact, but it should be fine to believe in its authenticity. The Kakola Archduke ended the spell on his ring.

“Pardon me, Your Highness. It has undoubtedly not been tampered with.”

Dantalian chuckled jokingly.

“Are you certain? The contents of the recording are rather stimulating. I recommend you confirm it again so that you do not get surprised later.”

“Haha. Your Highness is piquing this one’s curiosity.”

The Kakola Archduke smiled.

“I appreciate the suggestion, but this is a tool that was created by one of the few Eight Circle mages in the demon world. I do not wish to waste more of Your Highness’ time.”

“All right, then. Do enjoy yourself.”

“Understood.”

The Archduke activated the artifact. The artifact started to vibrate. Dantalian spoke up right before the recording was about to start playing.

“Do not say that I did not warn you.”

A video started to play in the private room. The Kakola Archduke readied himself as he wondered what the recording could possibly be to make Dantalian warn him this much. Finally, the first sound came out from the video.

– Ah, hkkk!

“…….”

The Kakola Archduke’s expression fell apart unintentionally. The composure he was able to maintain before Dantalian all this time broke apart powerlessly in this single moment. It’s only natural.

– Hkk! Stop! No! Please, hkk! Stop……!

– Shut up, you dirty sow. When did I allow you to say words? Pigs should oink like a pig should.

The recording contained a sex scene, after all.

The Archduke panicked as he turned to look at Dantalian.

“Y-Your Highness, what is this?”

“Be quiet.”

Dantalian’s face looked extremely cold. I’m not joking, so pay attention. This was what his expression was saying.

The Kakola Archduke quickly came back to his senses. That’s right. There’s no way that Dantalian would ridicule him after coming this far. This recording must contain some sort of meaning. What was it? The moaning from the artifact bothered him, but the Kakola Archduke did his best to concentrate on the video.

– Oink……oink, ooink…….

– Good. That’s it, you dirty sow! You’re the lowliest and most worthless meat slave in the world. Do you understand, you sow? You’re nothing more than a piece of meat that was born to roll around on the ground.

The Kakola Archduke immediately realized something shocking.

The image of a man and a girl was being displayed in the video. The identity of the man was the person right in front of him, Dantalian. He was acting like a tyrant as he reigned over the girl. Lick my toes, masturbate, and call yourself a sow. He kept making unreasonable demands.

And the girl―.

– All right. What am I, you dirty sow? Even you, a pig with a gaping bottom hole, should have a mouth of your own. Try saying it with that obscene tongue of yours. What am I to you?

– Master……Dantalian is, hhk, the master of this sow, Barbatos.

It was the Rank 8 Demon Lord and the leader of the Plains Faction, Barbatos.

***

Author’s Afterword

That’s how the two of them play.

It’s incredibly warm and cozy.

***

TL Note: Thanks for reading the chapter. The adult video has a different purpose here, huh. Well, I guess it’s sort of the same purpose since the video is being used to convince someone. In the LN it was Marbas, but it’s the archdukes here. 

In any case, I still can’t remember what I wanted to say before, so I’ll see you guys in the next chapter.

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