Volume 10 Chapter 19 (2/2)

My monsters and golems then entered the containers, which was then carried by the Darkness Dragons toward the [Insect] Demon Lord's dungeon.

The only Demon Lords in the anti-Procell alliance that could produce A rank medals were the [Pig] Demon Lord—who we had already defeated—and the [Insect] Demon Lord. After this fight, the others should be nothing more than small fry Demon Lords.

Because the others only had B rank medals, they weren't able to make A rank monsters by themselves, which then meant that their war potential should be quite meager. Even if these other Demon Lords were able to work together, they shouldn't pose much threat to Avalon as it was at the moment.

After all, a B rank monster was something they would need their original medal to make, whereas it was just something being produced daily by my [Maelstroms].

They might pose no serious threat, but it was definitely better to crush them as soon as possible. If possible, I would like the anti-Procell alliance be taken care of within three months.

And for that, I prayed that Duke would take down the [Insect] Demon Lord quickly.

◇

After seeing Duke off, I headed toward the city.

As important as it was to defeat the enemy Demon Lords, there were other things to do. Such as preparing for the time after I become a full-pledged Demon Lord. Unless I have prepared enough for when the rule protecting me has expired, I could end up falling prey to other, more dangerous Demon Lords.

And so, I wrote to [Wind] Demon Lord Stolas and [Viscosity] Demon Lord Ronove, two fellow new Demon Lords, to call for a meeting.

When I arrived at my estate, the Mythological Fox working as the maid informed me that my guests had already arrived. Thus, I hurried to the reception room.

”Hey there, Procell. Been a while.”

”Sorry, I'm just nervous, w-What did you call us here for?”

”Welcome. I called you two to talk about our future. Soon, we won't be new Demon Lords anymore. …Marcho told me that ill-prepared new Demon Lords tend to become the prey of sly Demon Lords once they graduate and become adults. So, I say we prepare for it.”

Upon hearing of the ill-prepared's fate, Ronove gave a short shriek.

”I heard something similar from Astaroth-sama. According to him, there's generally two ways to defend against such a thing: joining a strong faction or simply becoming strong enough to repel the others even by yourself. Which will you be going for, Procell?”

[Dragon] Demon Lord Astaroth really doted on Stolas, as evidenced on the extensive amount of education he had given her.

”Both. And if you two agree, the three of us are. In the next [Evening Party], which shall take place exactly one year after we were born as well as when the rule protecting us expires, my plan is for us to announce that we have formed a Procell Alliance.”

In an [Evening Party], all Demon Lords would gather. And in the next one, us new Demon Lords would receive the blessing to become fully independent, while the Demon Lords at the end of their lifespan would have their life be celebrated before they were gone that same night.

Making an announcement at such an event made sense.

”But wouldn't that be dangerous? If we announce that we're forming a faction composed of only new Demon Lords and are not affiliated with any strong factions, wouldn't the others target us more?”

”That's why we'll be naming our faction after me. I have already defeated the [Pig] Demon Lord, and soon, the [Insect] Demon Lord as well. That's two older Demon Lords that have A rank medals. I think that's enough to attach some amount of wariness to my name. Moreover, it won't be just the three of us. In the next [Evening Party], Marcho and Dan… I mean, [Time] Demon Lord Dantalian, will also be announcing their support for with us.”

Those two were originally at the end of their lifespan. However, for Marcho, she was reborn as my monster through [Rebirth], and for Dan, he had been continuously extending his lifespan through his [Time] ability.

”If the others know that two of the strongest Demon Lords would not only live longer but also support us, they would likely not dare make a move. Well, those that have common sense, at least.”

”Oh, let me clarify something: while Marcho is going to be fully part of the faction, the [Time] Demon Lord is only going to be a collaborator.”

Frankly, I was surprised that Dan was even willing to support us.

According to him: I'm not doing this for you, Procell. I'm doing this because Marcho has become your monster. I'm only doing this to help keep her safe. Not to mention, Fel would be sad if you're gone.

A tsundere like always.

”That's still plenty amazing. That pretty much means we're going to be safe.”

Ronove's excitement was understandable. After all, their power really was overwhelming.

”Then, I approve of this plan. I'd like to add something though. In the [Evening Party], I want to announce that I have taken over [Dragon] Demon Lord Astaroth-sama's inheritance, and that they're my responsibility from that point on.”

”I approve of that as well.”

In order to take over Astaroth's inheritance to her, Stolas and Enlil were currently undergoing much hardships.

Once Ast's dragons have fully accepted them though, Stolas would likely all at once be named as one of the top Demon Lords. After all, a [Dragon Emperor] like Enlil commanding an army of dragons empowered by [Berserk] was a force to be reckoned with. If you couple that with Stolas's Omnipresence which could create a copy of each monster, then you have a nightmare made real.

Even my monsters might not come out unscathed if we were to fight such a Stolas.

”Procell, I've been wondering about something. Why didn't you call Belial to this meeting? Isn't he your new ally?”

”About that, well, the timing of him wanting to be an ally was just too suspicious. That said, most of my suspicions have been cleared the other day… but I've thought of something, and I'd like your cooperation on it.”

I then discussed my idea to them.

At this point, I was basically ready to trust Belial. To put a term on it, this idea of mine was just an insurance.

Once this was all over, I wanted to hold such a meeting again, but with Belial this time.

Oh, how I look forward to that day.

Stolas and Ronove then nodded to my plan.

All preliminary preparations were thus done.

After the meeting, Ronove consulted us about the dungeon he would make once he had a crystal again.

It won't be long before we're recognized as full-pledged Demon Lords.