Chapter 167

167 – A Speech Right Before Entering the Tenth Stratum, Redux

There, in the eleventh stratum – the completely lifeless realm at the edge of the world.

There is no end to the Adventurers’ battle. There is no end to this conflict.

For the king of demons will never lose.

No Adventurer has ever set foot in that realm that promises eternal struggle.

Because they shall know the taste of defeat before they even reach there.

I don’t think me visiting this place as the Demon King Army’s Chief of Staff counts.

There is someone sitting on the true throne, different from the one that is set in my stratum.

Our King.

This space was constructed to look like an audience chamber.

There is a throne from which a long set of stairs stretches down and at the end of those stairs, all the way to the door is a blood-red carpet.

「Once again, Adventurers are have come to invade the tenth stratum.」

A childish body and a childish voice. She looks and sounds the same as ever, yet…

Her usual friendly demeanor is nowhere to be found, all that’s left was a pressure that made it feel like gravity was ten times stronger than normal.

It feels as if the air itself was shaking.

She is a true descendant of the Demon King. A direct bloodline from my master. Her aura alone is enough to kill a man.

「But I feel neither fear nor dissatisfaction. For I know that they shall never trample upon my realm for all eternity. Isn’t that so…Lemegeton?」

「Yes, Your Highness.」

Under the steps leading from her throne, gathered her subordinates who are appointed as Floor Bosses.

In addition to them, including my direct three subordinates, all the Monsters who are to take part in the defense can be seen.

Despite being collaborators, the Undefeated Hero Ellie and her party cannot enter here. Even the leader Ellie, herself, said「I would refuse to go as well. We wish to unveil the most delicious part of this Dungeon ourselves.」and laughed.

In a similar fashion, Fenix, Lily, and Nicola aren’t here.

「They shall all follow the same fate as the Flame Hero lot.」

「It is good to hear that from you. Now, is there anything you have to say to them as well?」

I gave a single nod and turned my back to the Demon King.

In other words, I turned towards my allies.

「You all have done well thus far. The intruders’ numbers have been whittled down to half. And that is on top of them already using their four revival rights. This is a great advantage for us.」

None of my subordinates said a word. They silently lent an ear to Lemegeton’s voice.

「I will not order you to obey me.」

Previously, I had said that If there is a slim chance that victory can be achieved, it is necessary that my allies obey my orders.

But this time is different.

「You have all evolved just as our tenth stratum has. Even my command has changed.」

I say that while looking at each and every one of them.

「Do as you wish. Trample all the enemies beneath your might. Destroy them, and prove your worth.」

I pause for a moment and then declare.

「…We cannot allow anyone to Clear the Demon King Castle!」

They started to roar.

Even her Highness stood up from her chair and waved her arm.

「Now go forth, my beloved Monsters.」

To say that every Monster of the Demon King Castle loves and respects her Highness is no exaggeration.

The Vampire Queen Carmilla was treated coldly in her previous Dungeon and even her road to reemployment was barred. However, she was hired by her Highness, who flies in the face of convention.

The Demon of Love Sitri loves to be in the form of a Dream Demon, but nobody wanted to employ one. But she really wanted to work in a Dungeon in her desired form. It was her Highness who offered her hand.

The Time Demon Agares, as well, mentions that he had his heart rescued by her Highness and he decided to work for her.

The same goes for the One Horned Dark Sorcerer Lemegeton.

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Milla was the one who invited me. She is still my benefactor.

Even so, no Dungeon Boss other than Luci would have approved of such a thing. They wouldn’t even have entertained an interview.

Her Highness was different. Even if she was urged on by Milla, she still considered the idea of welcoming the talked-about Black Sorcerer, who was kicked out of the 4th ranked party for being incompetent, into the Demon King Army.

Our tiny, young Demon King is worthy of our servitude.

We will not allow anyone to set foot on the eleventh stratum where she resides.

For that is the only thing that we can truly do to repay her kindness.

The Watchdog of Hell Naberius, the Invisible Slaughterer Glasya-Labolas, the  Spirit Commanding General Kimaris, the Black Wound Hunter Leraje, the Vampire Queen Carmilla, the Impaling Daughter Haagenti, the Chief of the Werewolves Marchosias, the Demon of Love Sitri, the Ruler of the Waters Vepar, the Eloquent Thrush Lord Caim, the Phantom Thief Crow Raum, the Reaper Knight Furcus, the Time Demon Agares, the One-Horned Poet Amduscias, the Evil Eye Assassin Botis, the Black Explorer Foras, and all the other allies of the Demon King Castle feel the same way.

The Sea Monster Forneus can’t be here due to his sheer size and ecology, but he feels the same way.

The two that came from the Elementary Level –  Beginner’s Dungeon, the Orc Thor, who is now the Magnanimous Sage Ronove, and the Centaur Kei, who is now the Horseless Archer Orobas, are filled with determination. [1. TL Note: It’s time for another Demon lesson, kids! Ronove is another demon from the Goetia. He is a marquis and Great Earl of Hell that teaches art, rhetoric, and language.]

There were those whose expressions showed that they were fired up. Some simply understood and looked more serious.

As for me, I’m not really a guts and determination kinda guy. I don’t really believe that simply working hard is enough.

All you need is the right amount of effort and a sense of purpose to be able to do it. If there are people and words there to support you, you can work all the harder.

Just as how being touched by the kindness of others gives you a warm and fuzzy feeling.

Someone’s actions and words can affect their state of mind.

We are being watched by the Dungeon Boss we respect, who doesn’t doubt our victory.

That fact sets my heart ablaze.

That alone makes gathering here before the battle worth it.

「All ready to go, Len?」

There is currently only one person who calls me that.

Using the Recording Stone to teleport directly to the tenth stratum, I was greeted by the Undefeated Hero Ellie.

The silver gray-haired and almond-shaped-eyed 95th ranked Hero.

If you think about how there are tens of thousands of official parties that she has surpassed, it shows how outstanding she is.

She and her allies are collaborating with us for only this Raid Battle.

「I have long been ready.」

Ellie laughed, amused.

「How wonderful. No offense to you all, but I look forward to when it is our turn to go out.」

Before the Adventurers get to fight us, they have to defeat a lot of enemies.

That is how the reborn tenth stratum is set up.

「When that time comes, work to your fullest.」

「Indeed, I can’t wait.」

I heard Ellie mutter「Not only do I get to fight them, but I get to go all out…」and so on.

She looked up at me with a fierce-looking smile on her beautiful face.

「Well then, O Great Chief of Staff Sir, have a pleasant journey.」

She says in a joking, flattering voice.

I nod and head towards the first area of the tenth stratum.

Before long, the Adventurers arrived.

The Storm Hero Aerial, the Gale Hero Ewan, the Hero of the Cursed Sword Hervor, the Thunder Hero Scathach, the Far-Reaching Swordsman Hamill, the Faceless Archer Suuri, the Water Hero Wraith, and the Destroyer Fran.

Eight Adventurers in total. Out of the starting seventeen, only these remain.

I met eyes with Aerial.

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「Oh? Are you going to be our opponent out of the blue like this?」

「Of course not… To my side.」

I flow Magical Energy into the ring.

Those who I have made Contracts with…appear.

The final battle begins. I will make it the final battle for I will not let them fight the Demon King.