Dungeon Defense (WN)

‘W-Wait a second. Lass, even I can’t handle Agares on my own!’

‘You do not have to be modest now.’

Laura was all smiles.

‘Are you not a person who is so impressive that you can freely disregard a mere deputy commander? Compared to that, Agares may be powerful, but she is working under Brittany as a guest. She would be no match for you.’

‘…….’

‘Or……perhaps, did you complain about my ability to command despite not being confident in your own strength to face the enemy’s guest?’

Brother Beleth was sweating profusely.

– Swish.

He turned his head. He had turned to give me a pleading look. Referentially, I had already turned away a long time ago because I predicted this would happen. Sheesh, this tent was created with quite the luxurious leather……. I wonder how expensive it is……?

Brother Beleth turned to face Barbatos this time, but Barbatos wasn’t a girl who’d relent because someone looked at her. She was humming while staring at the ground.

I feel bad for him, but Barbatos and I both know how narrowminded Laura can be at times. She would normally overlook things, but when people are like this, they are more likely to be vicious when someone crosses their line. For example, she was incredibly hard on Barbatos when she disappeared the day after they had sex. Since ancient times, wise men would avoid women like that when they got upset.

Brother Beleth’s expression soon changed to that of despair. He had been abandoned by his brother and lord. It looked like there was no hope.

‘Uhm, Laura~.’

If an angel didn’t exist in the Demon Lord army, that is.

‘Yes, Big Sister Sitri?’

‘I admit that that old man Beleth is annoying, but it’s still impossible to face Agares alone. That would be a waste of manpower. Show him some mercy this time.’

Sitri put her hands together and did a cute wink.

The other Demon Lords were surprised. Sitri was the hardliner of the Mountain Faction while Beleth was the hardliner of the Plains Faction. These two have always been at each other’s throats. If the people here had to pick who was the least likely among them to support Beleth, then they would naturally pick Sitri.

Despite this, Sitri put aside her personal feelings. She was speaking solely for the sake of our army as a whole.

‘……Big Sister Sitri is right.’

Laura let out a sigh. None other than Sitri had spoken up, so Laura had to stop being stubborn.

‘Demon Lord Agares is a powerful enemy. General Beleth is also powerful, but putting him up against her alone would be pointless. We shall discuss countermeasures against her at a later date.’

‘T-Thank you, Deputy Commander.’

Brother Beleth stood up straight and bowed. He was brought back from the dead. His body was radiating with this feeling. Laura received the apology half-heartedly.

‘There is nothing to be grateful about. I believe you know where you should be facing.’

‘…….’

‘I will adjourn the meeting here. Be wary of the enemy’s movement.’

Laura stood up. The other Demon Lords seated at the table stood up at the same time. The Demon Lords saluted as they saw Laura off. At this moment, the deputy commander’s authority was firmly established once again.

‘Ehem, ehem. Uhm, Sitri.’

Brother Beleth carefully approached Sitri. Sitri tilted her head.

‘What, you clumsy hog?’

‘……Thanks for earlier.’

Sitri furrowed her brows.

‘Don’t misunderstand. I didn’t say that to help you. From start to finish, all you do is oink stupidly.’

‘W-What?’

‘You would’ve dropped dead like a dog to a single swing of Agares’ halberd if you tried to face her alone anyway. I heard you lost your right arm after pompously rushing at Agares last time. That’s understandable for a clumsy hog.’

Sitri stuck her tongue out at him. A vein popped in Brother Beleth’s forehead.

‘It wasn’t a single swing……I endured at least twenty blows.’

‘Sure. The Demon Lords who will face Agares have probably already been determined. You, me, and probably a few others. It would ultimately make things easier for me if you can endure twenty blows. That’s why I asked her to overlook you. Dream on. It wasn’t for your sake, you eunuch.’

Sitri laughed as she left the tent. The other Mountain Faction Demon Lords chuckled under their breaths as they followed Sitri out.

Brother Beleth lowered his head. His shoulders were trembling intensely. I quickly blended in with the other Demon Lords and left the tent. Sure enough, Brother Beleth’s roar echoed from behind my back.

‘Kuaaaaaagh! I’ll cut you down one day, you harlot!’

This was basically a weekly event throughout the 15 days.

Laura was also organizing the internal affairs while figuring out the location of the enemy’s provisions. In other words, she made our goal clear and gathered the necessary strength required to accomplish the goal to one side.

Both the inside and the outside were crucial. The fall of one side would lead to losing the war. In that regard, Laura absolutely didn’t waste her time during those 15 days.

“In regard to Brother Beleth, do you not think that you were a bit mean to him?”

“That was a necessary matter. I do not want a fool who rebels against their higher-ups. It does not matter how strong that soldier is.”

Laura responded coldly.

“Her Excellency Barbatos, Paimon, and Marbas are all supporting this young lady, but the other Demon Lords are not. They have their doubts about my ability to command. Why should we listen to a human? I do not doubt that some of them are even harboring these kinds of thoughts.”

“Well, I cannot deny that.”

I smiled bitterly.

Demon Lords were all piles of pride. They wouldn’t obey a human girl’s orders even if the leaders of the factions accepted her. There has been a thousand years of killing between demons and humans. The deep scar between the two races was deeper than one might expect…….

“It is not as if I do not understand. However, something like understanding is unnecessary in war.”

Laura looked forward with her blue eyes.

“What is important is one’s performance. To kill more, to kill more efficiently, and to kill more calmly. We must root out any potential threat that can interfere with this slaughter.”

“Is that why you deliberately made Brother Beleth burst in anger partially?”

“Indeed.”

Laura intentionally didn’t explain her plan to the generals. Why weren’t they doing anything when their supply routes were being pillaged? Why were we preparing for a long-term battle when we need a short battle? And why were we building rafts while also creating a fort……?

The generals didn’t understand. They were probably frustrated. Brother Beleth, whose personality is like that of a volcano, exploded first. This wasn’t a complaint that came out accidentally. Laura orchestrated it so that it would come out.

“How clean, Laura. When did you learn how to perform such a wicked scheme?”

“The man I serve happens to be a professional in this field. I naturally learned a thing or two while being at his side. He is a splendidly wicked lord.”

Dear me, I can’t beat her in banter either……. This is quite sad.

The day I win against my vassal will probably never come. On that night, when her fate was changed. The girl who got upset by my light taunting and tried to bite her own tongue was now gone. There was only a 20-year-old commander in control of 50,000 soldiers standing next to me now.

At that moment, I felt something grab my right hand. I looked down to see Laura’s left hand.

“I am not impressive.”

Laura spoke, her face still looking forward.

“I was born in a ducal household and spent 15 years confined in a small room. The only thing I was granted was a prison called a library. I discussed philosophy and history with myself and found solace in this world that I created.”

The night sky suddenly became bright. The mages from Brittany’s side had shot balls of light into the air. This was probably to light up the battlefield. Brittany’s approaching army shined brightly like a vast wave.

“I was already a sex slave when I left the house for the first time. Is it not funny? I was confined in the house when I was a noble. When I thought I was finally free from that prison, I left as a slave. I believed that that was simply this young lady’s fate and that I was not allowed to have freedom.”

For Brittany! Glory to Her Highness the Queen!

The sound of soldiers shouting echoed throughout the sky. The pounding of hooves made the earth tremble. The cavalry started their charge while holding abnormally long lances. The legion commanders on our side calmly gave orders to their troops. The orcs threw their javelins.

“Did you know? My life became enlightened the moment I met Your Lordship.”

The javelins pierced through the bodies of the knights. Their bodies folded like pieces of paper as they fell to the ground. The bodies that fell to the ground were crushed mercilessly under the hooves of the other warhorses that followed after. The knights continued their charge while paying no mind to their fallen comrades.

“It does not matter if the world denounces you. A wicked clown, a contemner, or a piece of trash, no matter what people call you, you will always be this young lady’s lord.”

“…….”

“Until the day I draw my last breath, my honor will be your honor and everything I accomplish will be the things you accomplish.”

I didn’t say anything back. I instead strengthened my grip on her left hand.

I stared at the distant battlefield.

“Laura, I want victory.”

“If that is what you desire, then I will give you a hundred victories.”

She immediately answered.

“I want to see Queen Henrietta fall into despair.”

“The Black Lily will be torn apart and will leave no traces behind as it dies.”

“I wish for Agares to die.”

“Mm, I hope that you can at least gift her skull to me.”

“Pfft.”

A laugh slipped out from my lips. I felt once more that I got my hands on quite the ridiculous vassal. She’s really like a cheat key.

Both armies collided. Lances and spears slammed into each other.

The cavalry charge was not very effective. This was because we had dug trenches and were defending from them. We were like hedgehogs with the way our spears stuck out from the trenches. The knights were unable to get a good angle on us, so they were unable to move at full strength.

Vassago was the one who dug the trenches around our river crossing point.

Vassago used a spirit king to secretly dig trenches while we were having a face-off with the enemy army for 15 days. He grumbled about how we were making the ex-rank 3 Demon Lord, who even controls spirit kings, dig trenches for us.

Despite this, that old man unexpectedly did his work well whenever we made him do something. He complained, but still did his work properly. It was probably because he knew how risky his situation was. What a good boy. This is why people need to know their place.

The knights attempted to charge three times, but all they did was waste their lances with no other result.

Soldiers continued to fall off their horses as they got pierced by javelins. Our trenches and javelins managed to almost perfectly block the enemy’s advance.

Queen Henrietta was probably feeling impatient. Even now, our army was still crossing the river with our rafts and floating bridges. If we finish crossing the river, then all of the enemy’s efforts would end up futile. They most likely want to avoid that the most.

And Queen Henrietta did actually have a trump card.

“Here she comes.”

“I see it as well.”

Even though it was in the middle of the night, there was a blazing red aura that was as clear as day. A one-man army holding a halberd approached while riding on the back of a large wolf—.

Demon Lord Agares was approaching.

***

TL Note: Thanks for reading the chapter. Another nice moment between Dant and Laura. Although I sort of wish we could see Lapis more, it really wouldn’t make any sense for her to be here. But yeah, I pumped this chapter out sooner since I was a day late with the last chapter, and I had no excuse.

On a side note, it’s been raining recently and I’m sort of worried now about my brother’s wedding. It’s supposed to be an outdoor wedding, but it seems like we’re entering rain/storm season. I can only pray for the best.

See you guys next chapter.

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