Volume 10 Chapter 16 (2/2)

The White Bow was capable of hitting its targets just fine even from such a distance, but the data link with the Black Armor improved its accuracy even more.

”Ahahaha, wow, amazing! More than 200 monsters, gone, just like that.”

”Yeah, but like this, there's no need to bring the Darkness Dragons, is there? Never mind gathering and containing the enemies, the three knights themselves are going to wipe all the enemies out.”

According to what we saw in the crystal, there should be about 300 enemy monsters. About 200 of which have entered the Grassland area, but there were now only a few of them left.

Which wasn't surprising at all.

After all, no C rank monster could ever hope of defeating the three knights.

The three knights were having such an easy time that they didn't even need to use their [Burst Drive].

Back when the three knights haven't evolved yet, [Burst Drive] put significant stress on their cores. That meant that the Burst Drive could only be used for a short time and that the cores performed way lower than normal afterward.

Now though, they could use their [Burst Drive] for a longer period of time. There was still a limit, but thanks to their highly advanced artificial brains, they could correctly judge when to stop it, thus allowing them to still function after.

”Procell-sama, look, the enemies are pulling back from the Grassland and using Transfer to escape! We-we've won! Ahh, I'm so glad I have you as an ally. I won't forget about this fight for the rest of my life, I promise you.”

Belial said so with a huge grin on his face.

…well, he still hasn't done anything against me, I guess.

”Belial, once there are almost no more enemy monsters remaining, send some of your monsters to destroy those Transfer arrays. It's possible that the enemy side would come back with reinforcements, so until we're sure it's over, I'll stay in your dungeon.”

”Wow, Procell-sama, you're completely vigilant. Alright, I'll make someone go as soon as possible.”

Belial then relayed the instructions to his monsters.

”Also, I'd like to contact Avalon. Where can I make a Transfer array?”

”Oh, just make one here then.”

”…are you serious?”

”Of course. You're Procell-sama, after all!”

Letting another Demon Lord make a Transfer array in one's crystal room was preposterous. I for one wouldn't let even Stolas do that.

That said, if he was allowing me, I wasn't going to complain.

And so, Tiro made the array. After a while, an Abyss Howl arrived from the other side. This one wore a collar that had a blue gem in it. When I grabbed the gem and then opened my hand, an image of Duke was projected into the air.

>

If I brought along my main force and left Avalon defenseless, and if they were then allowed to attack me, it was only natural they would do so before I and my forces come back.

”Oh no, is that because of me!? Quickly, Procell-sama, you must return at once. Don't worry about us anymore, we'll be fine.”

Belial spoke with a voice that seemed truly concerned, one which made it hard to imagine he was planning anything against me.

”It's fine; everything's under control. We have expected as much, so we've made the necessary precautions before departing.”

In order to protect the citizens of Avalon, we spread the warning that a large group of monsters were approaching the city, closed the outer walls, prohibited exit, and then moved the city floor via [Floor Swap] somewhere deep in my dungeon.

To make it more believable, we placed the expendable among the undead raised by Duke's [Enhanced Resurrection] near the outer walls, and then make the Mithril Golems attack them later on.

As long as we could prevent the citizens from going beyond the outer wall, they would remain unaware of the fact that they weren't above ground anymore.

Meanwhile, in place of the city floor was a dungeon floor designed by the Dwarf Smiths to stall for an absurd amount of time. It wouldn't take down as much enemies as placing golems with heavy machineguns in narrow, straight path, but its stalling capabilities was beyond compare. So much so that if we returned now, it should still be stalling the enemies by the time we arrive.

I had complete trust with the subordinates I left to defend, but just in case, Marcho and ten of her best monsters who were in her [Storage] were also on standby in Avalon.

”But didn't he say there's over a thousand monsters!?”

”Belial, calm down. There's no need to panic. Avalon's safe.”

I have known Duke for a long time. I could tell the general situation just from the look on his face.

And in the message just now, there was no trace of worry on his facial expressions. I took that to mean that nothing outside of our expectations has happened.

This blue gem was only a playback device. By itself, it had no capabilities of sending a message. So, even if I wanted to, I couldn't ask for what happened next. Thankfully, Duke recorded another message.

'as my punishment to the naughty children who chose to break the rules, I am confiscating all the monsters they used in the transgression. That is all.' As of the moment, we see no signs of enemy reinforcements. Also, thanks to my lord's defense floor, there is zero damage on our side. Moreover, we were able to verify the usefulness of the defense floor.>>

This is the fate of those who violate the rule protecting us new Demon Lords?

I expected the punishment to be harsh, but not to the point that all dispatched monsters would be confiscated.

As for why I was still being protected by the rule, it was simply because the three knights were not under my control. In other words, I didn't attack the Demon Lords that were attacking Belial.

That didn't mean I transferred the right of control of the three knights to anyone though.

If one had the right of control over a monster or golem, there would be a link between the two parties. It was subtle, but if someone was sensitive enough to the flow of magic power, they would feel the magic power flowing between the owner and the one under control.

If I gave the right of control of the knights to anyone and Belial sensed magic power that didn't belong to me or Rorono, he would grow suspicious.

Moreover, normal golems were nothing but dolls that move according to their master's commands. So, the very idea of a golem not having a master was totally inconceivable.

Using these two points together, I was able to set my trap.

If Belial was an enemy and he wanted harm done to me, he should fall right into my trap. There should be no way he could hide his frustration at this turn of events.

And so, I looked at his face.

…what?

Belial was smiling. He looked in pain, but he was smiling nonetheless.

His smile seemed to suggest he was genuinely happy at hearing Duke's report.

That expression lasted for one short moment, and was gone the next. He returned to his usual self, only this time he seemed to be panicking.

I must know what that expression meant.

My intuition was telling me that Belial wasn't a complete enemy, but he also wasn't completely a friend.

He then asked why the enemy Demon Lords were still being punished despite the knights attacking their other monsters.

I proceeded to tell him while trying to get a look at the true face under his mask.