Chapter 237 (1/2)

A Dungeon is a Mazoku’s defensive location as well as their interception location.

The many treasures that they stole from mankind are accumulated, and the master of it awaits at the innermost area of the labyrinth that has countless traps laid out──that is how the minstrels often sang about them.

On the other hand, from the Mazoku’s point of view, traps would need to be maintained so that they would work normally, and there would also be a need for personnel for the sake of keeping the treasure secure.

And speaking of what they would be doing after taking all of that time, they would just lie in wait at the end of the dungeon──Putting it plainly, they simply shut themselves in the back of a cave and do whatever they please.

This was the general reason why Majin who possessed dungeons were made fun of and called 「Cave Majin」.

In the Western area of the Zadark Kingdom where there was a particularly large amount of dungeons, there was a whole bunch of dungeon owners that were self-proclaimed Demon Kings, but they were annihilated by Nino when the Dark Continent was unified.

The proper Majins didn’t live in dungeons, the abandoned dungeons that lost their masters remained unused, and before long, they vanished from the people’s memories.

Within one of those abandoned dungeons, at the innermost area of the place that was called Meshram’s underground palace, there was a wide room.

What was inside of that room, was a single throne.

Sitting on the throne that had way too many decorations and ended up seeming to be in bad taste, a Mazoku was also wearing gaudy clothing.

Having an appearance as if Amoebas were gathered and forcibly made to take a humanoid shape, the man was the owner of this underground palace, a Majin called Meshram.

The ones kneeling in front of Meshram were a group of about 30 Mazokus that mainly consisted of Goblins and Beastia. Having his view set on them, Meshram raised a loud voice so as to make the throne room reverberate.

「……The current society is mistaken! I, the true Demon King, have been disregarded, and a fake is claiming to be the Demon King! Moreover, from what I have heard, his objective is to form a friendship with mankind……Unforgivable! With resolute determination, I condemn this!」

An applause broke out with Meshram’s speech.

Meshram watched over that feeling satisfied, and continued after waiting for them to settle down.

「However, you can be at ease! Our plan has finally moved onto the final stages! The day that the world will know of me, the true Demon King, is close at hand! And that time will become the true start of the age of the Mazoku!」

Once again, there was an outbreak of applause, cheers, and ovation.

As if waiting for that to come to a stop, a single applause that was a beat late resounded.

Searching for the one that made that applause with a displeased looking gaze, Meshram noticed that it was from someone who was standing in front of the throne room doors.

The one who was there was a young blue haired man that was expressing a friendly and gentle smile.

With a splendid black sword hanging on his waist, the young man, after stopping his applause, made a slight bow towards Meshram.

「You……Since when were you there. Who are you!?」

「I came in normally through the door not too long ago though. Since it seemed that you were engrossed in your speech, I waited here so that I wouldn’t get in the way of it.」

Seeing the young man say that as if it were only natural, Meshram kept completely silent. There should have been guards that were placed in front of the doors.

「So, what is your business here. Have you come to serve me, the true Demon King Meshram, or something?」

「Uwaah……So that’s what you come out with……I see, the true Demon King huh……」

After the young man muttered that seemingly completely repulsed, he shook his head sideways looking amazed.

「I see, I understand very well now. I hadn’t imagined that it would have been a defective product but……Well, it’s fine.」

「D, defective product!? You, what did you call me!」

「It doesn’t matter who or what. You, are you really Meshram-san?」

Hearing the young man’s query, Meshram made a dumbfounded looking face. However, after immediately changing to an expression that said he was looking down on the young man, he gave a command to his subordinate Mazoku.

「Haha, how absurd! So you were merely a fool! You all, tear this guy to pieces!」

Responding to those words, Meshram’s subordinates readied their weapons one after another.

However, the young man did show any signs of panicking even with that.

「Ahh, I am terribly sorry for being late with this. I am called Lumon. Well, I came to kill you all but……since you all seem intent on doing the same, please don’t hold a grudge against me.」

At the same time the young man──Lumon had drawn his sword, Meshram’s subordinate Mazoku also started running towards the young man.

「……Transform, Boomerang Blade.」

Magical power poured into the sword simultaneously with Lumon’s voice, and its form was greatly changed.

After an instant, it accomplished a transformation into a form like a bird had spread out both wings and became a gigantic black blade. Holding that aloft, Lumon threw it with all of his strength.

Making a *gou* sound, the flying black blade sliced through Meshram’s Mazoku subordinates, and approached Meshram as he was at his throne.

Seeing that approach while slicing up his subordinates along with their weapons, Meshram, after making a face that said he couldn’t understand what was going on for an instant, raised a scream.

「HIII! Waitwaitwaitwait! Oi, don’t you understand who I really am! I, I am the true -hiii!」