Volume 3 prologue (1/2)

The war had finally begun.

Should I win, I would henceforth be able to permanently make the original medals of the defeated Demon Lords and also clear the quota of one war within the year that was imposed on us new Demon Lords. Not to mention, after this, I would be able to focus my undivided attention on developing my city and dungeon.

However, should I lose, my dungeon… my city of Avalon would be gone along with my important monsters.

Thanks to the Creator's kindness, we would be able to rebuild our dungeon after a year but such couldn't be said about the monsters, they were gone for good.

Even if I could make another, it won't be Kuina and the others anymore. It would be someone else entirely.

We were preparing for war until this moment.

My monsters were now ready and deployed, each with their weapon in hand.

And then, the sun rose. At that moment, my entire body was enveloped with magic power. It was an indication that I was being transferred. I then thought that the Creator should be the only one capable of pulling such a feat.

After that, my consciousness faded.

◇

When I came to, my surrounding was all white.

When I looked around, I saw my city of Avalon to my back and three dungeons to my front.

Starting from the left, these dungeons seemed like: a stylish stronghold; a tower with a suspicious atmosphere about it; and a limestone cave that smelled of saltwater.

I was certain these dungeons belonged to the three Demon Lords I was at war with this time.

If the rules from the last war applied to this one, this white space should serve as our staging ground against the enemy's dungeon. However, under that same assumption, any action within this white space aimed to hurt or hinder the other party would be forbidden.

”Is that them?”

After several seconds, three Demon Lords in the same generation as me were transferred.

A gentleman-looking man wearing a jacket only worn by humans, [Steel] Demon Lord Zagan.

An unattractive large man that looked like a bipedal frog, [Viscosity] Demon Lord Ronove.

A fiendish-looking man with the horns and wings of a demon, [Evil] Demon Lord Morax.

Representing them, Zagan walked toward me and spoke.

”I was growing tired of waiting for this day. Succumb to despair knowing you've lost everything you have as you regret turning down my offer.”

Zagan seemed like he was under the assumption that he would outright win.

It was understandable though since their side were the three on our three-on-one.

In addition to that, there was the time limit of 24 hours for this war. After that time limit had passed, the side with the most crystals would win.

Unless I make it pass their defense and break their crystal, they would win.

It didn't help that I had to spread my overwhelmingly fewer fighting force into both offense and defense against enemies that were fortifying their own defense.

Furthermore, the moment I attack and therefore have lesser troops on defense, the Demon Lords whose dungeons I didn't attack would attack me as well.

For that reason, I had decided to attack two dungeons at once with immense speed. Spreading my troops further might seem like an inane plan but attacking with my best troops would make it work. There was also the point that by attacking two dungeons, their offensive actions would lighten.

It was a tactic that I could do precisely because I had three S rank monsters.

”Why would I regret anything? After all, by the end of this war, aside from fulfilling my war quota, I stand to gain three original medals. I can't stop myself from smiling, if anything.”

I intentionally acted smug and said so.

”Tsk, nice bluff. There's no way the three of us would lose. We know about your tactics and weak points. You're a fool to show your power in your exhibition!”

With that, I was convinced. Convinced that though he acted like someone smart, he was nothing but an idiot.

”Oh, that is most impressive. But then, aren't you the fool for openly saying you know about your opponent's weak points and have measures against them?”

As I said so, Zagan burned red.

He was a fool, yes, but I was seriously outnumbered and that worried me so I thought it would be good if I could unsettle him even by just a little but I didn't imagine it would have this much of an effect on him.

Still though, him proudly announcing he had countermeasures planned, I wondered didn't he stop and think even for a second that I had taken that under consideration and had measures to counter his own counters as was natural?

◇

>

I heard the Creator's voice in my mind informing me that the war will begin in an hour.

As I had guessed, the rules were mostly the same as the last time.

My three opponents hurriedly retreated to their respective dungeons. A Demon Lord's life was important since dying would obviously equate to them losing. Thus, retreating to one's own dungeon would be the safest bet. If I had the numbers, I would also want to do that. However, being as outnumbered as I was, lazing about was something I could not afford to do.

We Demon Lords grow stronger by receiving some strength from our [Monsters of the Covenant]. I who had given names to two S ranks—Kuina the Celestial Fox and Rorono the Elder Dwarf—was as strong as any other S rank monster and was also able to use a fraction of the girls' powers[1].