Dungeon Defense (WN)

A much-awaited gathering between Demon Lords was held on the continent. There was a rather special meaning to this event.

Whether it be for political meetings or simple banquets, the Demon Lords would always meet in the neutral city of the demon world. It was always the leader of the Neutral Faction who would host these gatherings. A meeting between high-ranking and low-ranking Demon Lords as equal rulers on neutral land……. This was the powerful meaning behind these meetings.

Even Baal had never broken this implicit promise. However, after the death of that very Great Demon Lord, this old custom was disregarded.

The inside of a shaking carriage.

“For how long do you intend to overlook ‘that individual’s’ vile actions?”

A bald man with dark skin asked with a sharp tone.

It was Rank 6, no, ex-Rank 6 Demon Lord Valefor. He was displeased since the carriage was shaking more than he expected it would. This wasn’t the only reason he was displeased.

“I do not care about the deaths of Baal or Agares, but what about our authority? Where have the traditions behind our meetings vanished?”

“Hm. The meaning behind our past authority disappeared the moment Baal and Agares died.”

“Fish are bound to run rampant in the ocean the moment the net disappears. A natural form of authority will inevitably take the place of where artificial authority once stood.”

“……I didn’t know you were interested in political philosophy, Gamigin. What does that mean?”

“The winner takes all. Is that not the natural right of us demons?”

Valefor’s dark face turned into a scowl.

“You’re calling that scarecrow the winner!? I will acknowledge his eloquence, but he is nothing more than a louse that is going wild while borrowing Barbatos’ power.”

“Yup, yup. He really is annoying~.”

Gamigin went along with Valefor.

She found the man in front of her both comical and pitiful. Even now, to this very day, a majority of the Demon Lords weren’t aware of Dantalian’s true ability. Or they did know, but were desperately trying to ignore it.

To the public, Dantalian was most known as Barbatos’ splendid partner. That was leagues better than his previous reputation as a second-rate underling in the Plains Faction. Nonetheless, that still wasn’t enough…….

People considered Dantalian as the spokesperson for the Plains Faction, Mountain Faction, and Neutral Faction. Like a type of publicity manager.

“I do not get it. Putting Barbatos aside, Paimon, well, she does have a debt to pay, but why is someone like Marbas also supporting Dantalian?”

“Do you think I would know their personal circumstances?”

“Damn it.”

The premise was wrong.

Dantalian wasn’t simply the face of the newly established Demon Lord Army. The new Demon Lord Army itself was an instrument that moved according to Dantalian’s will.

However, if you asked if Dantalian was the leader of the Demon Lord Army, Gamigin could only tilt her head.

If Dantalian was the leader, then he should’ve been the one to benefit the most from the previous war. Yet, Dantalian gained nothing whatsoever.

He didn’t obtain more land or any loot from the plundering. Only his political fame had gone up. The Demon Lords of the various factions were the ones who actually benefited.

It’s not like Dantalian is some sort of greedless saint.

‘……That is impossible.’

Gamigin felt silly even thinking that. In any case, the situation was weird.

It was because of situations like these that made many people belittle Dantalian. They believed that he was nothing more than the figurehead and that the high-ranking Demon Lords were the ones actually moving the army…….

This was made apparent from the current conversation.

“So what are we discussing in this meeting? I was not told anything.”

“Sorry, but I don’t know anything as well.”

“Hah. He did not even tell you? What an indicent man!”

Gamigin snickered in her mind.

‘I’m not even on your side.’

She skillfully managed her facial expression as she stared outside the carriage window.

The carriage was traveling quickly through a village as if it were simply a coincidence that a village happened to be here. The carriage was being escorted by cavalrymen and the village kids were escaping to the sides of the road in order to avoid the carriage.

The kids watched persistently as the cavalrymen marched through the village even though they were also afraid of the hooves getting close to them. One of the kids even saluted a flag. A mounted soldier gave a salute back, but, to an extent, that was still a salute to the flag.

The flag fluttered in the wind as if it knew with certainty where it was going, or as if it was promising to take everyone to its destination.

Either way, the flag quickly passed through the village and disappeared in the distance. A small cloud of dust was the only thing left behind. The kids ran around as if they were swimming through the dust.

‘But in the end.’

Gamigin watched the shadow play that was unfolding in the dust cloud with emotionless eyes.

‘Dantalian is not on anyone’s side.’

* * *

“Her Highness Gamigin and His Highness Valefor have arrived!”

A beastman attendant shouted loudly. The edge of Valefor’s mouth twitched.

The two Demon Lords set foot inside the imperial palace of the Habsburg Empire. This was actually a humiliating act for independent Demon Lords like themselves.

The Mountain Faction, Neutral Faction, and Plains Faction were the actual ones in charge of the Empire. Most of the independent Demon Lords have no connections here. The imperial palace was leagues away from being considered neutral ground.

Despite this, Dantalian decided to hold the gathering here on his own initiative.

There was a clear intent hiding behind this rude decision.

– You can decide whether you will defy or obey the new Demon Lord Army.

The decision was being forced upon them in a provocative way.

Of course, every Demon Lord had already bowed their heads to this new Demon Lord Army. However, Dantalian was ordering them to make their subservience clear and official.

Demon Lords were only allowed to have at most fifteen bodyguards. They were invited to the imperial capital of the Empire while practically naked. Although it was incredibly unlikely, there was no guarantee that they wouldn’t get assassinated in the imperial capital.

The Demon Lords with no affiliation gnashed their teeth.

“Do we have to be treated this way simply because we are bowing to them for the moment?”

“They’re just playing make-believe with their factions……!”

“We must work together as well.”

They were originally individuals who refused to join factions because of their hatred for politics. However, they had no choice but to cooperate even if they didn’t like it because of the threat that was approaching in front of them.

The Demon Lord who naturally became the center of this gathering was Gamigin.

“Oh, Miss Gamigin. You’re here?”

“Your beauty is in full bloom as usual.”

Several of the Demon Lords who had arrived earlier pretended to be friendly as they approached Gamigin. Gamigin maintained her bright smile as she greeted them.

Dantalian had deliberately made it so that the Demon Lords would misunderstand. For example, when he openly praised Barbatos instead of Gamigin during a ball, and how he left the detached troops under Gamigin’s independent operational authority during the Puppet War.

On the surface, it appeared like Dantalian and Gamigin had a deep relationship, but that relationship was actually constantly on the verge of collapsing.

Why was Dantalian acting as if there were discord between him and Gamigin?

‘This is probably his way of telling me to manage the independent Demon Lords.’

Gamigin thought to herself as she laughed.

At first, she was deeply enraged because she thought Dantalian was simply treating Barbatos better than her. However, she came to a realization as the unaffiliated Demon Lords gradually gathered around her.

—This was his goal.

There were a fair number of independent Demon Lords who were upset at Dantalian like Valefor. Those individuals naturally aggregated around Gamigin. There were only about six to seven of them, but it wasn’t a group that could be ignored.

‘What Dantalian fears the most isn’t entire groups but the unexpected actions of individual Demon Lords.’

The very fact that you are a part of a group is enough to restrict your actions.

A promise between individuals can easily be broken; however, a treaty between groups cannot be broken that easily. Dantalian wanted the independent Demon Lords to form a group with Gamigin as their representative.

Gamigin smiled.

‘He really isn’t sane.’

Intentionally making the people hostile to him group together wasn’t something that a sane person would do.

Only someone with the utmost confidence would do something as crazy as this. The confidence to manage the people hostile to him no matter how much they grouped together.

Only an extremely small minority of the independent Demon Lords had noticed this.

One of them was ex-Rank 3 Demon Lord Vassago. Despite being the strongest independent Demon Lord, he has constantly refused to join their group. He smirked at the other Demon Lords as if he were looking down at foolish bugs.

“I have no desire to voluntarily become a doll.”

This was the one and only piece of advice that Vassago had offered.

The other individual was the ex-Rank 7 Demon Lord Amon. She thoroughly maintained her stance as a bystander as she distanced herself from her comrades. The independent Demon Lords criticized these two for being selfish and irresponsible, but to those who understood the situation, they had made the best decisions.

Even now, Vassago was standing by himself at the other side of the hall. Vassago and Gamigin met eyes for a moment, which prompted Vassago to raise the corners of his mouth. Gamigin felt disgusted, but she didn’t let that show.

“The supreme ruler of the Habsburg Empire, His Excellency the Emperor has arrived!”

Once all of the Demon Lords had arrived, an attendant declared the Emperor’s arrival as if they had been waiting to do so this entire time.

Emperor Rudolf arrived wearing an elaborate golden outfit and proceeded to sit on the throne. Barbatos and Dantalian naturally stood at his sides.

A few of the Demon Lords grumbled.

“What’s with all the formality for a mere puppet emperor……?”

“More importantly, I do not understand why a human emperor is taking part in our gathering.”

“Has he gone mad!?”

The positional structure of this gathering was unpleasant. The throne was obviously in a slightly elevated area, so Barbatos and Dantalian were looking down at everyone. This went against the tradition that put an emphasis on equality between Demon Lords.

Dantalian calmly spoke whether he could hear the other Demon Lords talking or not.

“The reason everyone has gathered here today is for the thorough distribution of honors.”

“Distribution of honors?”

Vassago furrowed his brows.

“Was that matter not handled back in Niflheim?”

“That was the distribution of honors in the demon world as Demon Lords. The share that you must naturally receive as members of the Empire still remains.”

“……I do not recall becoming a member of the Empire.”

Vassago had a somewhat doubtful expression on his face.

Dantalian shook his head.

“From this point on, the Demon Lord Army and the Habsburg Empire must work together. Therefore, we intend to thoroughly organize the merits and demerits to establish a rank among everyone here within the Empire.”

“…….”

Vassago became speechless.

Re-establish the ranks.

To the independent Demon Lords who made no contributions compared to any of the factions, this was like a bolt from the blue.

***

TL Note: Thanks for reading the chapter. Welp, we’re in 2023 now. God pray that my workload lessens this week, but I don’t have my hopes up. Do people still make New Year’s resolutions? If so, I have none. Actually, maybe I’ll try to upgrade my PC this year. Well, I’m just rambling cause I don’t have anything else to say. I hope this year is good for you guys!

I’ll see you guys in the next chapter.

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