Volume 3 Chapter 1 (2/2)

Said Ancient Elf before she smiled.

I had decided that if she could prove herself in this war, I was going to name her.

By doing so, I would have completed my [Monsters of the Covenant] and I was excited for that.

”Okay, let's go over our strategy one last time.”

Only five minutes remained until the fighting begins. I decided it was better for us to review our strategy just to be sure.

”Kuina, you will be taking the first platoon and assault the limestone cave. That cave is probably the dungeon belonging to the [Viscosity] Demon Lord. Go in there and cause as much ruckus as possible.”

”Yeah, we're gonna blow things up. By drawing as much as attention as possible, we will be making Wight's duties a little bit lighter. Oto-san, I'll show you what a Celestial Fox is capable of in a war.”

It seemed my intention was properly transmitted.

The more they were able to force the enemy Demon Lord to focus on defense, the less his offense would become. The number of enemies Kuina and her platoon would face would increase but with their speed, they would be able to outrun most enemies resulting in fewer battles.

”Ancient Elf, as soon as the war begins, we will be heading to the tower dungeon with full haste. I believe that belongs to the devil-looking [Evil] Demon Lord but it doesn't really matter if I'm wrong. Dwarf Smiths, you two will be riding on the back of the griffon corps.”

Ancient Elf nodded and the Dwarf Smiths prepared to ride the flying monsters.

With this, the slow-footedness of the Dwarf Smith would no longer be an issue.

”Now, everyone, to [War]!”

Right when I announced such, a voice resounded in my head.

>

And thus, we flew out of our own dungeon.

For us to not lose, we had to conquer at least two dungeons as Wight held on. It was a race against time.

◇

~From [Steel] Demon Lord Zagan's point of view~

”Damn, that bastard, how dare he look down on me”

[Steel] Demon Lord Zagan had retreated back to his own crystal room and shouted thus.

It wasn't enough to calm his rage though so he pounded on the walls.

In his assumptions, [Creation] should have been cowering in fear but the enemy was calm and was even provoking him.

And with that, he was enraged.

”Damn, damn, damn, he's facing three Demon Lords and yet why does he act like he has the advantage? Why do I have to be mocked by that guy? Is it because I can only make B rank medals!?”

That had become a sore spot for the [Steel] Demon Lord. His high pride could not forgive the fact that he was inferior right from the moment he was born.

From the moment his parent told him that he would be able to create another's original medal if he was somehow able to break that Demon Lord's crystal, the thought had always been in his mind. So back when he proposed an alliance with [Wind] Demon Lord Stolas, it wasn't only out of gaining a powerful ally but to also gain a chance of tricking her and snatching away her [Wind] medal.

But alas, Stolas turned down his offer. In his mind, it wasn't because she sensed his ill intentions but because she was falling in love for Procell.

Finding even his charms being outdone by Procell wounded his pride all over again.

”Getting carried away just because you've got a good medal out of pure chance while I had to rely on my own ingenuity, hard work and connections. I'll make this lucky bastard realize what real strength is. With my flawless strategy, that bastard will be crushed instantly.”

With hazy eyes, he stared at the monster standing beside his crystal.

It was a demon being lent by the [Evil] Demon Lord.

Its form was that of a cross between a goat and a human. It was capable of communicating via telepathy with its fellow quadruplets no matter how far away they were from one another.

By making use of this monster, he was able to get in touch with the Demon Lords on his side at any time.

”Fufufu, come attack and we'll end you.”

Their strategy was exceedingly simple.

First, they gathered more than half of their troops on the very first room of each of their dungeons. Procell who would lose if he doesn't attack was forced to split his troops between attacking and defending.

And the troops he would send to their dungeons were bound to be of poor quality, Zagan thought. If so, those monsters would be crushed by the fighting force they assembled at any of their dungeons. At the same time as that assault, the goat demons would communicate with their twins and the Demon Lords not under attack would join together and launch their own offensive against Procell's dungeon to tear it apart.

They did not fear his defenses either even if it had annihilated Stolas's monsters. The golems and the mysterious weapons were the only threat it had but they found a way to counter it. And that countermeasure lied within the overwhelmingly high resistance to physical attacks of a Monster of the Covenant of [Viscosity]. That and the useful subordinates of [Evil].

”There's our trump card too.”

In addition to those mentioned above was a trick that seemed almost like cheating. In the final room of each of their dungeons were A rank monsters that had grown up to their maximum levels. These monsters were given by their parents that deemed Procell to be dangerous.

A parent was allowed to give to their young Demon Lord only three original medals and a few DP but nothing else. However, that restriction only applied on a parent and their ward which meant [Steel]'s parent giving [Evil] the ownership of a powerful monster was allowed. And so, [Viscosity]'s parent also gave a monster to [Steel] while [Evil]'s parent gave one to [Viscosity].

Of course, these monsters had to be returned upon the war's conclusion but still, it was reassuring. Even if a monster somehow made it to the innermost part of their dungeons, there was no way it could win against an A rank monster at its strongest state. These loaned monsters would turn the tables on the unsuspecting invaders, never letting the crystal be broken.

”Procell, before my resourcefulness, you're but a fool unknowingly dancing to my tune. Now that I think about it, I feel quite sorry for you, fuhahaha! I wonder what I'll do after I break your crystal. Shall I make you beg for your life only to kill you soon after? No, I've got a better one. How about before breaking your crystal, I tell you to transfer your monsters over to me? I'll tell you something like they won't vanish if I control them. Knowing how big of a fool you are, you'll probably even be happy to hand them over, won't you? Hmm, your monsters are pretty so how about right after I have control over them, I show you how I'll appreciate them? Fuhahaha.”

The [Steel] Demon Lord laughed out loud. The [War] was going to start soon but he couldn't help look forward to what kind of face that awful [Creation] Demon Lord Procell would make upon being defeated by his ingenuity.

Time passed quickly as he was lost in his thoughts and then the [War] had begun.

TL note: 羊 usually defaults to sheep in dictionaries. Goat just seems more fitting for a demon, isn't it? And yes, demon (悪魔/akuma) is used. Whether there is a difference with monsters or it's just because it originates from Evil, we'll have to wait and see.