Dungeon Defense (WN)

* * *

Problems occurred elsewhere.

Barbatos listened to my advice, but it wasn’t like every Demon Lord was under my control. Especially a certain Demon Lord whom I had a rocky relationship with at the moment due to a previous argument.

“A republican representative meeting?”

Early winter. I was surprised after receiving a particular official document.

The contents of the document were simple. It was an invitation to every politician, scholar, and artist who represented the continent’s republicanism. They were being invited to a meeting that would be held in the capital of Batavia. Naturally, this kind of meeting was unprecedented.

I muttered begrudgingly.

“What kind of nonsense…….”

Ivar added from my side.

Currently, Ivar, Daisy, and I were the only three people in the office. Ivar brought this notice to me while the other executives were out.

“I also looked into this personally and discovered that all of the archdukes were sent invitations as well.”

“Even the archdukes…….”

Then it wouldn’t be a surprise if this invitation was also sent to every free city. It was most likely sent out regardless of race. The scale of this meeting was absurd.

The 13 Committee Members of Batavia were written as the invitation senders. They were known as the big shots that ruled the republic nation, but if you peel a layer away, you’ll discover that they’re Paimon’s puppets. I was certain. This was Paimon’s doing.

I crumpled the invitation in one hand.

“Damn it……this is way too soon!”

Paimon’s intentions were as clear as day.

A wave of republicanism was currently sweeping through the continent.

The Habsburg Republic was born and the Frankia Empire was being reorganized under the rule of a republican party. Free cities that were close to being republican since their inception were also popping up here and there.

Furthermore, Brittany, the representative of royalists, had been defeated……. Putting it simply, republicanism probably looked like a rising star to the general public.

Let’s use this momentum to keep going forward. This was probably Paimon’s mindset.

“No. This isn’t the right time to reveal a transnational alliance…….”

Once I muttered this, Ivar tilted her head.

“Your Highness, is this not simply a meeting being held? Is there a reason for this much concern?”

“This is not simply a meeting. Demons and humans are going to be seen together. This is the main point.”

Until now, humans have very rarely ever gotten in contact with figures from the demon world.

From the perspective of humans, they immediately think of Demon Lords when they are told to picture the rulers of demons. They’re not entirely wrong, but demon society is also ruled by archdukes and civilian representatives as well. They’re the de facto ruling class.

I let out an annoyed sigh.

“This will debut the ruling class of the demon world to the political world of the continent. Adding to this, this meeting is being referred to as a republican representative meeting……. How do you think the human rulers will perceive this event?”

“…….I see. There is a chance they might misunderstand and assume that the entire demon world follows republicanism.”

Ivar’s purple eyes glowed.

When it comes to politics and diplomacy, Ivar is the most capable out of all my vassals. Lapis and Jeremi are decent, but they are lacking in some places. Ivar assisted me sufficiently when it came to these topics.

“The rulers are probably gleeful about Brittany’s defeat, but they are also watching with unease. A competitor falling out of the race is definitely a good thing, but it must be concerning that royalists had lost.”

“Indeed. Now imagine what would happen if a republican representative meeting were to be held during a time like this…….. They’ll get worked up for no reason.”

Ivar nodded.

“The rulers will assume that the Demon Lord Army is actually trying to spread republicanism throughout the continent.”

The issue was the fact that this wasn’t an unfounded assumption.

It was none other than me, Demon Lord Dantalian, who gave the speech about republicanism on Bruno Plains. There is a coalition of elves and dwarves in the center of the continent. Tribalism was close to republicanism as well. Moreover, the Demon Lord Army had also sided with the Republic of Batavia during the last war…….

No matter how you looked at it, the Demon Lord Army had taken actions that clearly favored republicanism. One suspicion leads to another. I was getting a headache.

“The royalists will react to this by also gathering on a large scale……. Damn it. Ivar, Daisy, get ready to head out. We will be going to Paimon’s Demon Lord Castle.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

We have to at least stop humanity from uniting.

Paimon. I understand your desire to spread republicanism throughout the continent as soon as possible.

But this isn’t the right time. I sincerely hope you’ll understand this…….

* * *

Demon Lord Castle <Sky Garden>.

It was quite literally a Demon Lord Castle that went against gravity and floated in the sky. It received its name as Sky Garden due to its beautiful scenery.

The floating Demon Lord Castle in itself was a natural fortress. In the game, the hero and his group had to use griffins in order to invade this impregnable fortress. Paimon would have her heart pieced by the hero and fall…… along with her Demon Lord Castle and her lofty ideals.

I originally hated Paimon.

After finding out the truth, I now have a newfound respect for her. It was fine to call her a hypocrite. If hypocrisy didn’t exist, then what else could possibly make life so radiant? I admired Paimon and didn’t want her to meet the same tragic fate as the one in the game.

We were guided by spirits wearing servant outfits. We arrived at a lake after a somewhat long walk. Paimon was sitting near the lake drinking tea.

“Ivar, Daisy. Wait here.”

I made the two people who came with me wait on standby as I walked to Paimon with brisk steps.

“Paimon.”

Paimon continued to silently stare at the lake even though I had approached her.

There was a tranquil atmosphere wrapped around her. If I were a little more refined, then even I might have gotten swept up by it.

I got down on one knee and lightly kissed the back of Paimon’s hand. As usual, her skin was soft and fair. I didn’t get back up. I spoke while staying down on my knee.

“You must know why I am here today. I will get straight to the point, Paimon. The time is not yet ripe.”

“…….”

“A republican representative meeting? And you are also inviting individuals from both the human and demon sides? This is far too risky. The more we group together, the more our enemies will become warry and group together as well. Humanity’s current potential is still a threat.”

I remained on my knee as I insisted. Paimon wasn’t the type of person to maintain her brazen silence if I came forward like this. Her light pink lips moved while her eyes remained fixated on the lake.

“Then how long am I supposed to wait?”

Her voice was rather lifeless, but she gave a surprisingly favorable response. Good. This meant that Paimon was willing to talk with me. I felt a wave of relief wash over me as I answered her.

“Sixty, no, fifty years will be enough. The people are gradually becoming agitated due to the ongoing plague and frequent wars. For the next fifty years, the human rulers will have to pour their resources into suppressing the uprising of the masses.”

“…….”

“Frankia’s new government will have also stabilized a fair degree by then. We would be getting our hands on a formidable ally in the form of Frankia. Paimon, fifty years is nothing to us. Please wait a while longer.”

There was a long pause for several minutes.

As we were basking in the radiant, early winter sun, a hawk glided over the lake. The sound of water splashing could be heard. I wonder if it was because of the overflowing mana common to Demon Lord Castles. The foliage here was green despite it being early winter.

Paimon turned her head and met my gaze.

Her eyes were dark, but also clear. A sense of unease spread throughout my body. Those weren’t the eyes of someone who wanted to talk.

“Dantalian, allow me to ask one question. ……What will Barbatos’ Plains Faction do after those fifty years?”

“……That’s.”

I couldn’t answer.

Barbatos was naturally going to go on a conquest. She was going to lead the Demon Lord Army to turn the human and demon world into one absolute nation. This wasn’t only the Plains Faction’s goal. The future proposed by Barbatos is currently the most supported goal in demon society.

“We are not the only ones who will be gathering our strength during those fifty years. The Plains Faction will most likely do the same. Dantalian, just as you said, the human world will definitely become weak in fifty years. Will demonkind be able to resist with such weak and appetizing prey in front of them?”

“…….”

That was impossible.

A balance between humans and demons must be created in order to establish a republican government. If demons have too much power, then humans would be treated as second-class citizens. There would be open discrimination.

Paimon despises that kind of discrimination.

“This is our chance now that Baal and Agares are gone. The Demon Lord Army and the humans have both been dealt a blow. We must put peace forward as a cause to unite the continent.”

“……The risks are far too large. I cannot possibly agree to this as the Demon Lord Army’s advisor.”

I was getting impatient.

Paimon currently saw the Plains Faction as a rival group. This was dangerous. The humans are our enemy and the Demon Lord Army is our ally. If this fact gets mixed up, then a divide will immediately appear within our ranks.

“Paimon, we must unite. Please calm down and think about it! We have always experienced defeat whenever we were divided. Victory always followed whenever we united.”

“I do not agree.”

Paimon shook her head. Her movement was firm.

“Dantalian, who do you think lost the Puppet War?”

“Of course, the Queen of Brittany and the royalists of the continent.”

“Incorrect.”

Paimon’s gaze became sharp.

“It was the masses who were dragged into the war of lunatics and killed off without reason. Dantalian, they were the true losers.”

“…….”

“We must not mistake this. The reason we look like we won is due to the fact that we are on the side that won. Wait fifty years? Wait until the rulers lose their strength trying to suppress the people for fifty years?”

Paimon smiled.

“Feign ignorance when people are being killed off irrationally? I cannot allow that.”

“…….”

“Dantalian. I do not blame you. You have your own way of doing things. This lady can vaguely tell that there are morals behind your actions.”

However, Paimon continued with a gentle voice.

“I am sorry, but I am a woman who can only live this way.”

“……Paimon.”

This was horrible. What kind of face was I making right now?

Previously, when Paimon reprimanded me for being evil, I refuted her by saying that it was something I had to do to thoroughly remain on the side of evil. The same logic was being applied here, but the other way around. Paimon had decided to remain on the side of good until the very end. Therefore, she couldn’t overlook the pointless deaths of the people.

If I advised Paimon here to ‘leave these sacrifices be for the sake of victory’, I would be telling her to be a hypocrite. I couldn’t do something like that…….

There was a faint smile on Paimons lips as she spoke.

“Dantalian, when the day I have to face Barbatos finally arrives, would you be able to pick my side?”

I couldn’t answer her.

With that, our conversation came to an end.

Paimon didn’t say anything more after that, and I didn’t as well. I turned around and distanced myself from the lake. I felt terrible.

“Your Highness, are you all right?”

Ivar asked worriedly as soon as she saw my face. I shook my head.

“It is nothing. We are going to Barbatos’ Demon Lord Castle immediately. There is much to be done.”

Barbatos and Paimon will clash at this rate. The human rulers will most likely applaud in joy as they watch that unfold. I won’t let something like that happen.

Barbatos and Paimon. I will save them both. That’s my decision. But was it actually possible? Was it possible for everyone to have a happy ending? I wasn’t confident…….

I looked up at the pale, early winter sky. A sigh flowed out of my mouth.

“We will be very busy. This is going to be a long winter…….”

***

TL Note: Thanks for reading the chapter. I should’ve uploaded this chapter as soon as I got home from work, but it slipped my mind. I sorta wanted to relax after work. I don’t got much to say this time around since I already did my work rant on the last chapter. My throat still feeling gloopy cause of post-covid symptoms, but I’m mostly fine now. Uuh, my weekdays have sort of felt empty lately cause of work. I want to do something, but I feel tired after work and end up doing nothing. Sort of feels like I’m wasting my free time. Meh.

I’ll see you guys in the next chapter.

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