Dungeon Defense (WN)

* * *

“Thank you for your work yesterday, Saintess Longwy.”

“Please do not speak to me like we are friends.”

The saintess with curly, scarlet hair, Jacqueline Longwy may have responded coldly, but she was feeling anxious on the inside.

She was dispatched to this imperial capital from Brittany the other day. She gave speeches in the plaza and talked nobly about the continent’s peace. The people’s response was rather good, but Longwy’s unease came from Dantalian who was seated across from her.

Dantalian spoke.

“Did you not receive quite the enthusiastic response? That shows you how much the people want peace and how horrendous the current situation in the continent is. You should be proud since you are giving speeches in the people’s stead.”

“You talk well for being the culprit who caused this horrendous situation to begin with…….”

Longwy stopped herself from thoughtlessly saying criticism. Dantalian was beaming brightly in front of her.

The more she criticized someone, the more her self-worth diminished as she cooperated with that very person. In other words, she was spitting on her own face. This was probably why Dantalian was smiling, too. Longwy felt like a spider was crawling up her arm.

“Haa. I will take my leave.”

She got up. She had visited Dantalian’s estate under the pretext of discussing the future of demonkind and humankind. However, she didn’t want to be here for even a second longer.

“Wait a moment, Saintess Longwy. It would be troubling if you were to leave already.”

“Do I not have the right to even leave this place?”

“That is not what I am saying.”

Dantalian smiled wryly as if he were troubled.

“You are here to have a discussion with me. At the very least, this is what the public has been told. In this situation, what do you think would happen if people saw that you left after only ten minutes? What kind of rumors do you think would start to spread?”

“…….”

“The discussion went badly. It was an unpleasant meeting. These sorts of rumors would start to circulate. It may be uncomfortable, but I ask that you endure for at least 2 hours.”

Was he speaking the truth? Saintess Longwy carefully examined Dantalian’s expression. It didn’t look like he was lying.

Saintess Longwy was displeased, but she sat back down anyway. She then turned away from Dantalian.

“Would you like some tea? I also have some wine.”

“…….”

“This is troubling.”

Dantalian let out a small sigh.

“It does not matter if you hate me. If anything, I am glad that you are being honest. However, regardless of our personal emotions, we will be working together from now on. Any form of cooperation will be impossible if you are not willing to converse with me.”

Dantalian took out his pipe as he spoke. His tone made it sound like he was speaking down to a child. Saintess Longwy flew into anger as she snapped back.

“I am asking you to not speak to me as if we were friends. There is no reason for me to be friendly to you when discussing business.”

“But that is extremely inefficient.”

Hoo, Dantalian took a deep puff from his pipe.

“I wonder how well business talks will go when even a simple greeting cannot be performed between the two parties. I would actually be surprised if there were no problems. Is this perhaps Brittany’s way of forming bonds?”

“…….”

“Saintess Jacqueline Longwy, I am currently seated here as the Count Palatine representing the Habsburg Empire. You are also in a similar position. Please shove your personal emotions in a dog’s food bowl.”

Saintess Longwy glared daggers at Dantalian.

“You executed every single one of the soldiers I was leading. You showed no mercy to even the soldiers who had surrendered!”

“Are you saying that I am the one responsible for the deaths of your soldiers? How interesting.”

Dantalian chuckled.

“Very well, then. Saintess Longwy, it is true that I let your soldiers die. However, you are an accomplice.”

Saintess Longwy’s gaze became sharper, but Danatlian paid her no mind.

“The soldiers who stayed behind to defend Parisiorum consisted entirely of old soldiers and untrained soldiers. They would not have lasted long even if we had carried out a siege. Why did the Brittan army leave such flimsy soldiers to defend Parisiorum?”

“That…….”

“Anyone could tell that you were throwing them away.”

Dantalian continued firmly before Saintess Longwy could answer.

“A meat shield to stall for time while your queen ran away. They were nothing more and nothing less than this. Do not try to feign ignorance, Jacqueline Longwy. Those soldiers fell to their demise because your queen ordered it. Furthermore, you went along with this order…….”

“…….”

“You and the Queen cosigned an order that took the lives of four thousand soldiers. Am I wrong?”

Longwy couldn’t answer.

A mocking laugh hung low as it filled the reception room.

“Putting the blame on someone else even though you were the ones who sacrificed your men. You have quite the nerve. I am jealous. How did a human like you become a saintess? Was there perhaps a mix-up?”

“W-What would a Demon Lord like you……!”

The Saintess’ shoulders shook in anger.

The ends of Dantalian’s mouth raised up.

“You would have never become a saintess if you were in our empire. Rather than a temple, you are far more suited to work in a brothel.”

Slap, a sharp sound resonated throughout the air. The Saintess couldn’t hold back any longer and had slapped Dantalian’s right cheek. Her eyes were teary and her face was contorted with anger.

“I know, I know better than anyone else that I am no better than trash! However, at the very least, you of all people do not have the right to mock me!”

“…….”

“No one, there is not a single soul out there who is wicked enough to be mocked by you!”

Dantalian stared at the Saintess silently. He then prudently nodded his head after a while.

“Yes. You are right about that.”

Dantalian admitted it so flatly and without any hesitation that the Saintess was the one who ended up perplexed. Toward the Saintess who furrowed her brows because she didn’t know what sort of expression to make, Dantalian spoke calmly in an emotionless tone.

“Allow me to ask you something out of pure curiosity, then. Does that not also mean that you do not have the right to disregard and belittle me?”

“…….”

“Well, humans are complicated beings. Emotions are such a confusing and profound concept that there are bound to be moments where you are unable to control them rationally.”

Dantalian shrugged.

“Let us return to the topic of business. A month from now, an event will be held in Batavia. There is something you and I must do there.”

“Does…… it not bother you?”

Saintess Longwy just had to ask.

“How could you be so carefree despite knowing the wrongness of all your actions……?”

“Saintess Jacqueline Longwy.”

Dantalian smiled.

“Please refrain from personal questions. That is also a domain which you should not be putting your foot in.”

* * *

The winter diplomatic battle came to an end with the Empire’s complete victory.

While the saintesses were divided and busy arguing with each other, I hastily went around and became allies with various nations.

In the end, out of the twelve nations of the continent, eight of them supported the Habsburg Empire while four supported the Habsburg Republic. It should be fine to call this a landslide victory.

Once the short but intense diplomatic battle ended after about a month’s time, the republican representative meeting was held in Batavia almost immediately after. I headed to the capital city of Batavia, Amstel, with a more relaxed mindset.

The Republic Government House.

There was a garden here hidden from humans. Once I made my way there, sure enough, I found Paimon seated in a white chair. She most likely felt my approach. Regardless, Paimon didn’t turn to look at me.

“Paimon. It is still not too late. This is your final chance.”

Paimon didn’t answer.

“The Habsburg Empire has formed an alliance with multiple nations. Even if you talk about republicanism now, these nations will not be hostile to our Empire and will instead cooperate with us. The Plains Faction’s Empire will not become isolated even if you start an uprising now.”

“…….”

No response again. Is that so? Have you fully resolved yourself now……?

I closed my eyes tightly for a moment before opening them again.

“I will be participating in this conference as the Empire’s representative. I do not intend to stand by idly as the Plains Faction and the Mountain Faction fight. I will warn you now, Paimon. Do not expect things to proceed as you want them to.”

This was probably the end.

Right as I was about to leave the garden after turning around, Paimon spoke out to me.

“Dantalian, the Habsburg Republic will also be participating.”

“……So what? Do you think the amateur delegates from the Republic can do something to me?”

“It might be possible if it is the person you have always referred to as being a genius.”

I stopped in my tracks.

“Don’t tell me…….”

“Elizabeth von Habsburg, she notified us that she will be attending as the Republic’s representative. Although it will only be for two days.”

My body had frozen solid.

“That is ridiculous. Why would a nation’s ruler……. Paimon, did you tell the Consul the reason behind this conference!?”

“……I did not tell anyone. Except for you.”

I immediately opened Paimon’s status window and checked her mental state. It was true. She wasn’t lying.

Did Elizabeth figure out what was going on behind the scenes of the conference on her own? That’s ridiculous! Something like that is impossible. Even the Plains Faction isn’t taking this meeting seriously. Hold a meeting if you want, that was the general consensus among them. No one could’ve leaked the information to Elizabeth…….

Did she notice that a divide was forming on our side? No way. Something like that hasn’t been displayed publicly yet. Nor has anything occurred. We are getting along well under the banner of the Habsburg Empire…….

……I see. The Habsburg Empire wasn’t the problem, it was the Batavia Republic.

The Batavia Republic ultimately supported the Habsburg Empire, but it was done a little late. Before that point, I had used Brittany’s saintess and not Batavia’s. Did she notice that this was a sign of our divide……?

A chill went through my entire body. It was only a single misstep.

A trivial misstep that no one in the world should’ve noticed. That one gap was enough for Elizabeth to see through us. No, she saw through us because she’s Elizabeth…….

Nonetheless, there was no time to be wavering. If anything, this was a good thing. She may be a terrifying individual, but it wasn’t like I didn’t have any countermeasures.

“Very well, then. I wish you good health.”

I said my farewell to Paimon before leaving the building.

This city was probably being protected intensively right now. The security will most likely be stricter than any other time since another nation’s ruler was going to be participating.

Although I want to use this opportunity of Elizabeth coming here of her own volition to assassinate her, Batavia is, unfortunately, being uncooperative at the moment. I guess assassination is off the table for now. In that case, I have to find a different method…….

Elizabeth von Habsburg. I am sure that we will face each other.

This was going to be different from the speeches on Bruno Plains. I was aware of Elizabeth at that time, but she wasn’t aware of me. Now we are aware of each other. This won’t be easy…….

***

TL Note: Thanks for reading the chapter. Another Dantalian and Elizabeth confrontation soon? Well, I guess it was sort of expected with how Elizabeth’s chapter ended.

In any case, I’m back to suffering at work. I still have more Chinese stuff to do, but now there are no more holidays until next year. This is going to be a great 3 months… End my suffering.

I’ll see you guys in the next chapter.

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