CH 269

Chapter 269 – Those Who Commit Treason(4)

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The sound of laughter shook the air.

“Huha, kuhu, huhahaha━kuhahahaha!”

It was like something that had been held back in his stomach for an extensive length of time had surged through his snake-like gullet and was coming out all at once.

“How long has it been since someone has said this to me!? Splendid! What a luxury!”

Madness. This unpleasant laughter seeped into the deepest part of the skull and shook around violently. The other Demon Lords stared at Baal with stupefied looks. The sound of laughter stopped as abruptly as it started.

“Indeed, it has truly been a long wait.”

Baal looked up longingly for a moment. A hint of kindness brushed across his usually solemn face like a breath of fresh air.

Dantalian also spoke gently.

“It seems it took longer than you expected.”

“How could I have known that I would have to wait 2,000 years after that day? Those doomed to perish must pay with time for their foolishness. The Gods do not forgive conceit.”

Baal stared at the other party sternly.

“An unexpected person and an unexpected result. Who would have thought that the one to end this comedy and raise the curtain to the next act would be you? This might also be retribution from the Gods.”

“I apologize that a humble individual like myself was the one to end Your Highness’ play.”

Dantalian said jokingly.

“However, does this not prove that there are still things in the world that Your Highness cannot predict? Pardon me, but I believe that this might actually be a blessing.”

“Indeed. I am basking in utter bliss.”

The two people conversed casually.

This scene was almost incomprehensible to the other Demon Lords. Didn’t this seem like old friends were having a casual chat?

“Who did Your Highness predict would put an end to your boredom?”

“If it is Paimon, I believed there was a high probability that she would figure it out. However, it was a flimsy hope.”

Baal nodded.

“Barbatos is someone who responds to the things that happen in front of her, but she has the habit of interpreting things emotionally, so she was hopeless. Marbas is the best at solving problems and controlling them, but he does not put much importance on the cause of the problem, so he was not appropriate. There is no need to mention the others.”

Baal glared at Vassago who was standing at the other side of the room with narrowed eyes.

“I officially created the ranking system with the goal of making the other Demon Lords upset. Why is my rank low? Why am I lower than this other person? I wanted to enflame their combative spirits with this, but…….”

“It ended up fixing everyone’s ranking in place.”

“Indeed.”

Baal let out a long sigh.

“The custom where low-ranking Demon Lords had to respect high-ranking Demon Lords became an established fact. People like Vassago appeared where they emphasized their position by using their rank. Pieces of garbage.”

Vassago flinched.

Dantalian paid him no mind as he spoke.

“If Your Highness revealed that you had done it from the beginning…….”

“A silly suggestion. Would that not turn this into a performance where I start and end it on my own?”

Baal furrowed one brow.

“I did not do this because I wanted a boring ending. I wish to die fighting someone stronger, wiser, and nobler than me. I was troubled because none of them were able to figure it out on their own!”

“Mm. Warriors determine their own value by the value of the one who kills them…….”

“Exactly.”

It was at that moment that a low voice rang out.

“……Don’t make me laugh.”

In a corner of the dark ballroom, Barbatos’ face was twisted with anger. Barbatos barely managed to hold back her anger as she spat out her words.

“Don’t make me laugh, old man……you’re the one who cut those damned supply lines……?”

“That is correct.”

Baal nodded.

Dantalian let out a sigh and took a few steps away from Baal. Once he did, Baal chuckled before he continued.

“I was the one who struck down the three Demon Lords who were in charge of the supply lines. I still clearly remember the trouble I went through trying to cover it up so that it looked like they were attacked by knights.”

“80,000 soldiers starved to death before they could even swing their swords once!”

Barbatos shouted with bloodshot eyes.

“Because of you, 80,000 soldiers……!”

“It is truly sad. It was a tragedy.”

Baal spoke.

“However, Barbatos, O pure warrior. I am asking this out of curiosity, but……if you are that sad and upset, then why are you not getting revenge against me right now?”

“……!”

At that moment, Barbatos dashed forward like an arrow.

Black liquid surged up from the shadows and erupted widely around Barbatos. Dozens of broadswords sprang out from the shadows that had spread out everywhere. The broadswords expanded outwards like large wings and poured down on Baal.

It was a battle that lasted a second.

Baal’s mantle fluttered as he did a slight rotation. Before long, he was holding a two-handed sword in his right hand. He swung his sword in a half-circle and sliced through the broadswords that were coming at him. The broadswords shattered as if they were made of glass.

Baal’s blade continued and severed Barbatos’ right arm.

“Kuuaaaagh━!”

Barbatos let out a scream as she used her remaining left arm to swing her battle scythe. However, Baal easily hit the scythe away as it had lost its momentum.

“Barbatos, this is something that I have always told you.”

Baal threw a strong punch toward Barbatos who had lost her balance.

His fist collided directly with the center of the small girl’s chest and pierced through it to the other side. Her red heart was held in his hand. Barbatos let out a choked sound.

“Kuh, hggugh……hggh!”

Barbatos miserably fell to the ground. She blocked the hole in her chest with her left hand as she groaned. The sudden wave of pain made Barbatos’ body shudder like a bug. A puddle of blood gradually grew larger around her.

“You are much too emotional when it comes to your subordinates. If you truly care about your subordinates, then you must contrarily be cold to them. This is because…….”

Baal casually crushed the heart in his hand. It made a wet sound as it fell from his hand after having become red mush and blood.

“Your subordinates become frenzied when their leader is injured.”

Beleth and Zepar charged from their positions at the same time.

Beleth let out a roar as he swung his ax down while Zepar silently swung his spear. Baal kicked away Barbatos who was on the ground near him. Once Barbatos let out a pained scream and was sent into the air, Beleth and Zepar’s gazes stopped for a moment.

“You can also be used as a rather effective hostage.”

Baal didn’t miss this opportunity to rush at Beleth.

Beleth figured out what Baal was doing and tried to twist his body, but Baal’s sword had already pierced into his shoulder. Beleth’s arm was severed from the shoulder.

On the other hand, Zepar reacted wisely. He immediately moved away as soon as he saw Baal approach Beleth. Zepar quickly retreated after catching Barbatos before she could hit the floor.

Baal let out a sound of awe as he cut Beleth’s remaining left arm.

“So your goal was to rescue Barbatos from the start. Splendid. You did not change your goal even though I had left my back wide open.”

“…….”

Zepar glared at Baal with cold eyes. Zepar took off his mantle and carefully covered Barbatos with it. Barbatos continued to groan in pain as she was covered by the red mantle.

“Hmm.”

Baal shook the blood off of his sword. He spoke to Dantalian.

“Pardon me, Dantalian. There was some noisy barking, so I had to take care of it for a moment. I believe that you will forgive my rudeness.”

“……Of course.”

Dantalian smiled wryly.

“I knew that you were powerful, but this goes beyond my imagination. Is that not the Sword of the Demon Destroyer?”

“Oh? Do you know of this weapon’s identity?”

Dantalian let out a sigh.

“A weapon that was enchanted with every ancient spell from the eleven dragon tribes of the Scarlet Dragon. It also includes the White Dragon’s ancient spell that forcefully sends back summons. You could say that it is the perfect weapon to use against Barbatos.”

“You seem to actually have quite the profound knowledge. How did you learn about this weapon which has been forgotten by time?”

Dantalian shook his head.

“Out of every soldier currently surrounding the ballroom, Barbatos’ summons are the most dangerous……. Therefore, you taunted Barbatos first and lured her in. By doing so, you also neutralized her summons.”

“I am not confident in carrying out open battles like Agares, after all.”

Baal smiled in a friendly manner.

While this battle was unfolding, the other Demon Lords created an encirclement around Baal. The Plains Faction, Neutral Faction, and the unaffiliated Demon Lords, almost all of them were standing in formation and glaring at Baal nervously.

Baal turned to face Paimon.

“Paimon, it is as you heard.”

“…….”

“I wished for you to achieve a powerful nation that would have even won over the human world. This is why I spared no expense to support you.”

“……There is essentially no difference between humans and demons.”

Paimon coldly glared at Baal.

“The person who said this to this lady was none other than you. Was it all a lie?”

“A lie? That makes me sad to hear. I simply arranged a motive for you. However, it seems a part of you was still weak.”

Baal looked disappointed.

“I thought you were finally going to accomplish something great during the last Crescent Alliance, but you lost your magic and fell……. I was disappointed. You amounted to only that much in the end.”

“Baal. You said that you would leave the mediation of each faction to me.”

Marbas spoke impassively.

“For the sake of a united Demon Lord army. For the sake of becoming one and advancing together. Was this not the intent of your request?”

“My old friend, I am sorry, but you are wrong. If that were my intent, then I would have given your Neutral Faction more power.”

“……Although factions exist, I prevented any of them from becoming excessively weak because of intense power struggles. By doing so, a force that can eventually go against you would be put in reserve.”

Baal nodded.

“As expected, you are wise. However, wise people tend to be faithful to the task given to them and fail to see the situation around them. That is your flaw, Marbas.”

“……Thank you, for the advice.”

Baal looked around slowly before returning his gaze to Dantalian.

“This is undeniably a great present. Dantalian, I acknowledge you as my rival. However, do you think you can kill me here?”

“I believe that there might be a possibility, but.”

Dantalian shrugged.

“It does not appear like it will be easy. I am starting to suspect the mantle that Your Highness has on right now. I speculate that it is a special mantle with a very powerful anti-magic spell cast on it.”

“An accurate speculation. There were rumors about you having the ability of foresight at one point, but it seems those rumors were true.”

“This is the worst-case scenario.”

Dantalian spoke as he walked away from Baal.

“This does not mean I can simply see Your Highness out. What I hate most in the world is thoughtlessly letting prey go and getting struck on the back later on.”

He raised his right hand.

“You will have to die here, Your Highness.”