Volume 7 Chapter 17 (2/2)

During these three days, we had been preparing for the [War] and bolstering our fighting force. Without being stingy, I used as much of my saved-up DP as needed. I was also using my [Creation] to create things that couldn't be easily procured in this world 'round the clock, even using our still-not-fully-replenished-stock of golden apple potions to increase my magic power recovery rate.

Anyway, today, I went to Marcho's dungeon. I was currently waiting in a special dungeon room for guests that Marcho's subordinates guided me to.

”Oto-san, it's been a while since we've been here!”

Kuina said so in a cheery voice while restlessly looking around.

”Sure has. I hope Marcho's well.”

Right after teaching me how to use [Awakening], Marcho left Avalon to return to her [Beast] dungeon.

We have been exchanging letters now and then, but it has been a while since we last saw each other in person. Because of that, I was a little tensed at the moment.

”Geez, Oto-san, you seem so excited to meet with her again.”

Kuina said so while puffing her face as though to suggest she was jealous.

By the way, she was currently not in her grown-up form. According to her, her young girl form consumed less energy and thus allowed her to save up more magic power in the furs of her tail. Saving up 9999 furs' worth of magic power so that she could evolve was a herculean task, so every bit of economizing helped.

”Yes, I am excited, but this kind of excitement isn't limited to Marcho, you know. I mean, if ever the two of us were apart for a long time, I'll feel just the same as I do now, if not more.”

”Kuina too!?”

When I answered her like that, Kuina's eyes brightened up and she jumped into an embrace.

As always, she was a very adorable girl.

While we were like that, I heard the sound of footsteps. When I looked at its direction, I saw an approaching woman with brown skin and white wolf ears & tail.

”Hey there, Procell. Been a while”

”Yeah. I've missed you, Marcho.”

I was glad she was fine. Aside from general concern for a close friend, I was worried that [Rebirth] might have some side effect on her.

”I'm glad to see you're well and lively. Perhaps a little too lively though, getting involved in all sort of things.”

”Well, you know.”

While smiling at my reply, Marcho extended her hand toward me. And when I took her hand in mine, I felt magic power and something else flow into me.

”'Kay, that's this month's earnings. Thankfully, adventurers have returned to my dungeon.”

”Thanks for this.”

The other thing I received was DP.

Through [Rebirth], Marcho had become my monster. Because of that, it wasn't against the rules anymore for her to give me DP.

We had decided that it was more convenient for her dungeon to remain independent from Avalon and still be under her full control. That being said, the both of us also decided that she would hand over DP—whatever was left to her after deducting any necessary expenses—to me once a month.

”For a new Demon Lord to earn as much DP as a top-class Demon Lord, my, you really are a cheat Demon Lord.”

”No comment.”

Just as she said, my DP income from both Avalon and her dungeon was comparable to a top-class Demon Lord even though I was still considered a new one.

Actually, DP wasn't the only thing I was getting from Marcho.

From time to time, we received corpses of adventurers that died in her dungeon. These were then resurrected by Duke's [Enhanced Resurrection]. Thanks to this, the graveyard dungeon room in my dungeon was very populated.

Furthermore, we sent golems which were rather subpar as war potential—such as Iron Golems, Silver Golems, and Gold Golems—to her dungeon's [Mine] to dig without rest for resources. I had a mine of my own, but since a mine scaled accordingly to the Demon Lord's level, hers offered far better resources.

Through all these things I gained from her dungeon, my fighting force and DP stock were increasing by the day.

”With this much DP, the world is practically your oyster, right?”

”Well, actually, this much isn't quite enough. I'll need huge amounts of DP to win against the [Black] Demon Lord, don't I? Right now, the priority is to do whatever I can to earn more DP.”

This was going to be a [War] against an old Demon Lord.

No amount of precaution would ever be enough. Even so, I needed to create the best possible defense I could using not only the DP I saved up until now, but also using the DP I was yet to earn.

”Hmm, then, how about using the DP I have saved up?”

”No, it's fine. There's no need to go that far.”

On the other hand, all the DP that I let her give me were just DP she gained after becoming my monster, nothing from before. It might seem suboptimal or even irrational, but it was my resolve to somehow manage without fully relying on Marcho.

”I like that determination of yours. It's kinda childish, but I like it.”

”I sorta have to. It's all over once I stop being determined, after all.”

”Well, I'm rooting for you, you hear?”

Having received the DP, my task here was done. That being said, it has been a while since I last met Marcho, so I decided to idly chat with her for a while.

Just as expected, I had a blast chatting with her.

But then, there was suddenly a pause in our conversation.

>

The interruption was caused by a voice in my mind. More specifically, the Creator's voice.

An important announcement? There should only be days left before our war begins. It's unheard of to have any changes this late in the game.

>

”Wha-”

I unconsciously let out a voice.

Such a thing was supposed to be impossible. Once a war has been started, no Demon Lord should be able to stop it.

Just what could have happened?

>

The [Black] Demon Lord has died? That tenacious and scheming [Black] Demon Lord?

”There's no way that's true! There's definitely something else going on here!”

He was a very crafty person who always had insurances to his insurances. There was no way he would be killed that easily.

And then, it dawned on me: this death was staged. It made perfect sense. He waged war on me so that I would not chase after him in our previous encounter. Under the assumption that it was impossible to pull out of a war, I thought we would clash against each other soon enough anyway, so there was little to no reason for me to chase him.

It was all conjecture at the moment, of course, but there was just no way he was dead. At least, not permanently.

”This is quite a mess, isn't it?”

”Yeah, sure is. But what I have to do doesn't change: make Avalon stronger. In a way, I guess I should be grateful. I earned some more time to make Avalon grow stronger. I'll just keep at it without slowing down.”

Time was my ally.

The growth rate of both myself and Avalon was much faster than any other Demon Lord's.

I'm going to make him regret stalling.

With that resolve in my heart, I returned to Avalon with Kuina.

There were countless things I should and must do to prepare and retaliate against his unforeseeable attack.