Volume 6 Chapter 20 (1/2)
Before the [Blade] Demon Lord passed away, he used his own blood to write the word [Black].
Like that, I was finally able to confirm that the [Black] Demon Lord was the one behind all of these.
The [Blade] Demon Lord was most likely aware of my connection with the [Black] Demon Lord, so it was hard to imagine he would serve me up to the one that caused his death. I therefore believed that there was no need to doubt this clue.
The method employed this time by the [Black] Demon Lord was very clever, I must admit.
The [Black] Demon Lord had [Blade] challenge [Oni]. Under the pretense of attacking the [Oni] Demon Lord as well, he was able to provide support without being penalized for helping a newly born Demon Lord.
After the fight, the [Blade] Demon Lord took away the [Oni] Demon Lord's monsters. Like this, the [Black] Demon Lord was able to give the [Blade] Demon Lord monsters without being penalized this time as well. Which in turn allowed him to interfere indirectly between the war of fellow new Demon Lords.
And then, there was that thing that stopped [Blade] blade from leaking information to me. It was just a guess, but either it was an attack somehow made by one of his monsters or it was woven somehow into his agreement with the [Black] Demon Lord. If it was the latter, the [Black] Demon Lord would once again be free of penalties even when he had harmed a new Demon Lord.
”Geez, this guy's really pushing the envelope when it comes to loopholes. I can't help but think that this is some hobby of his.”
As far as I saw it, the [Black] Demon Lord was bending rules just for the sake of bending rules.
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Some time later, we had ended the [War].
The victory conditions for this [War] were for either Stolas or [Blade] to surrender, or have either one's crystal be broken. Unfortunately, their opponent's death wasn't one.
Having lost their Demon Lord and their leader, the monsters, especially the [Oni] ones, didn't put much of a resistance. Thanks to that, we were able to break the crystal easily.
I had entrusted the task of actually breaking of the crystal to one of Stolas's monsters.
After all, this was her war and she had won it by her own. To break the [Blade] Demon Lord's crystal and take his medal for my own was something my conscience would not allow.
A few minutes after the crystal was broken, the voice of the Creator resounded in my mind.
>
After that message, the Transfer of the dungeon and its inhabitants to normal space began.
With this, I have fulfilled my role.
In my case, the Creator was pleased with my war against the three Demon Lords who received support from their parent Demon Lords. So much so that the Creator decided to give me a special reward.
I still haven't used that reward. Or rather, I was too scared to use it.
At any rate, much like my war, the odds were stacked against Stolas, so I was expecting for her to receive some kind of special reward as well.
It would seem, however, that I was off in my prediction. Perhaps it had something to do with my cooperation.
”Well, I'm just glad you won. Congratulations in crossing that dangerous bridge.”
I said so to the girl sleeping in my arms.
Yes, the star of the show still hasn't woken up.
Now that the war was over, we headed to a vast dungeon room that Stolas and her monsters were using for their strategy meetings.
Once there, her worried monsters surrounded her.
Closest of all was Enlil the Bahamut.
It should be noted that he had somehow become the size of a cat. It was an adorable transformation. He was totally like a stuffed toy. I almost unconsciously petted him, but thankfully, I was able to control myself. Though he looked like so on the outside, he was still the same within.
At any rate, evidently, much like how Duke could transform into his dragonewt form, Enlil was able to become small like this. Perhaps it was a choice he and Stolas made during Synthesis so that they could be together easily.
Back to the topic at hand, despite their victory, Stolas's monsters looked sad and gloomy. Their worry for their still-sleeping master far outweighed the joy of winning.
As of the moment, Aura was doing an examination on Stolas. Due to that, all the eyes around her were watching her every action.
”Master, it's quite bad. She's in an even worse condition than you are. Natural self-healing will not suffice. If left alone, her magic power and Demon Lord power might not return all her life. No, actually, if left untreated, she might even remain in this comatose state forever.”
Aura reported so and the surrounding became noisy.
For the monsters that love her, such was one of the grimmest news. As such, Enlil issued out a sorrowful cry.
It can't be helped
”You're gonna owe me one, Stolas… Rozelitte”
”What is it, Procell-sama?”
”Until Stolas awakens, I will regard you as the [Wind] Demon Lord's representative. As such, let me ask you a question: will you trust in me and have Avalon take care of Stolas? A few days ago, I was in a similar state as her, but now, my strength is in the process of returning. It might take some time, but in an environment like Avalon's and with Aura's powers, Stolas should recover. Aura, how long do you think it would take for her to recover fully?”
”I can't answer accurately without more in-depth examinations and more time to observe her, but I fear it'll take about a month. But, is that fine though? I mean, our supply of golden apples isn't exactly a lot.”
Other than for my recovery, the golden apples were also being used for the wine being sent to the [Time] Demon Lord. Considering those factors, our rate of gathering golden apples were quite slow.
I had thought that once my recovery was finished, we could once again gather golden apples in earnest, but it would appear we would have to use some for Stolas as well.
”It's no problem. My friend's recovery takes priority over the replenishment of our stocks.”
”Certainly. I'll also think up of ways to increase our production.”
”Thanks. There you have it, Rozelitte. Will you entrust Stolas to me and have her stay in Avalon for a month?”
It was a difficult choice.