「No, no, Yuuki-sama. We are your servants. There is no need for you to worry about us.」
「Hahaha, Damrada is stiff as usual.」
「So, Damrada. What is the situation in the Monster’s Country Tempest? How is the transition of the forces and the progress of technological development going?」 「Ha! Their forces are increasing day by day. That country is already capable of supporting 200.000 people, it’s likely that their internal development is complete. The formation on each corps is also progressing, and there is a relationship with the committee, which is the council, and the new organization. It could be said that the foundation of the Monster’s Country Tempest has been stretched to include the other side of the Jura Great Forest. The current number of organized forces is not below 50.000. Their number is not a threat to the Empire, but their individual force is high, and their cooperation is good as well. It’s not possible to make light of it. In addition, the still increasing number of mercenaries and other forces should be factored in. Their total number seems to reach 120.000~150.000.
「Yes. It seems they don’t intend to conceal their forces. It’s greatly distributed and seems to have become two corps. The First Corps is lead by General Gobuta, while the Second Corps is lead by General Gerudo. Their official main force seems to be the Second Corps. However, this corps seems to be skilled in a certain aspect, and is called the construction corps. As expected their main force was the First Corps. It’s a high-speed task force that is a gathering of many people with the high firepower flame ability. While the Second Corps maintains the front, I believe they plan to have the First Corps trample the enemy.」 「High-speed movement? Do they move by using horses or something else?」 「No, I only observed the military exercise by using a magic tool from a distance... From the starting position where they were facing each other, the whole force moved at an impossible speed the moment the starting signal was given. From a distance, their speed seems to be beyond a horse’s speed.」 「Hee... You were interrupted by interference magic when you used magic for observation, right? It seems like it’s going to be difficult to grasp the situation in Tempest from now. The information that you have brought back is valuable. But, I don’t believe that is all there is to their forces...」 「Ah, that reminds me... Regarding that country’s satellite town, the Labyrinth city. There is a complicated building called a Dungeon, and the city built surrounding it. There is a rumor circulating that says there is a city inside the Dungeon.」 「A city inside the Dungeon...」 「Yes. There might be a technological development base inside that city.」 「―― Indeed. Possibly, no......it’s certain when I think about it.」 Yuuki thought as much when he heard Damrada’s report. Their number of forces might really be that amount. However, some doubt still remained in the details. Judging from the thought process of a Demon Lord like Rimuru, he felt that having just two corps was too few. Besides, in that country, several abnormally strong devils existed. Benimaru, Diablo, Shion, Gobuta. These people were called the Shitennou (Four Heavenly Kings). A corps being left under General Gobuta, who was assumed to be the weakest among the Shitennou, was suspicious. No, if you said it was suspicious, all the devils of that country were suspicious too... It was suspicious how people with strength equal to the members of the former Ten Great Demon Lords were under the rule of a single Demon Lord.
Yuuki was just crossing his arms while listening to the report, and then he questioned one of the bosses of Cerberus. Vega, the boss that symbolized the “Power” of Cerberus. Vega nodded solemnly,
He answered full of confidence while smiling broadly. (This guy, his power is great, but his head is bad――or rather it’s too bad―― you see.) Yuuki released a sigh in his mind, but he judged that idea to be acceptable as well. Certainly, if he wanted to conquer the troublesome Dungeon, he should check its current state.
The last boss of Cerberus, the “Woman”, Miranda who governed over beauty. She looked like a young girl, but also like a mature woman. She was a woman who emitted a bewitching charm.
「Is that so... If the enemy Demon Lord has a gender, we don’t need to worry about such a troublesome thing... A plan to gather information on the technological development cannot be made since the place where it is being developed is unknown. There is no one in charge who seems weak to a woman or a technician with loose-lips. It’s very unlikely that it will be useful to you in the war, although it’s okay if you leave it to me to investigate...」 「No, I will investigate it sequentially. That Demon Lord appears to be full of gaps, but he’s unexpectedly cautious. He will not neglect to be cautious towards a stranger. You stand out too much Miranda.」 「Ah, is that so?」 「Yes, then I’m going to rely on you, Miranda, as the Commander of the Armored Corps.」 「Will I do the same as always, infiltrate the Magic Beast Corps and wait for orders?」 「I ask you, Vega. Do not kill the Corps Commander since it’s no good, ok?」 「I understood. I will put a great effort not to. 「Yuuki-sama, if allowed, how many people under you control may I borrow?」 「Ah, it’s okay. Then, how about you choose at your own discretion from the 100 people?」 「Yes, I would be my pleasure.」
And then the two laughed wickedly. Their objective was not the victory of the Empire. Yuuki’s intention and the Empire’s interest matched, but their relationship was only that. It shouldn’t be misunderstood, but Yuuki felt that he didn’t hold any responsibility towards the Empire’s victory. It was just that he thought that an investigation of the inside the dungeon was necessary. It was certain that there were traps and devices in there, but running into them in the labyrinth was an insignificant issue when it came to the destruction of the world. An investigation should be done to find an opening for conquest, though it was only a simple idea... In the end, because of that idea, the underground labyrinth capture group would bring back an unexpected report, but that wasn’t something that Yuki knew.
When Yuuki had decided on the underground labyrinth’s capture, similar information was given about the Monster’s Country Tempest to the Empire’s Intelligence Bureau. Yuuki’s subordinates had begun to move towards Tempest as well. First Lieutenant[5] Kondou, who received the information, was a taciturn person. 「Is that so? Good work.」
With his trimmed short black hair, he emitted a tense atmosphere. His expressionless eyes gleamed with a sharp light, like they could see through everything, and pierced the other party. He was a young man. His youthfulness could be seen as he still in his early 20s. However, there was no gentle light in his eyes, and a cunning intellect could be felt from him. It was no wonder. Kondou Tatsuya, also known as First Lieutenant Kondou’s, age did not match his appearance.
Tatsuya life was saved by that good fortune. Then he swore to devote the life he had once thrown away to the Emperor. So around 70 years had passed, but he had not aged. He had decided not to appear on the front stage, and lurked in the Empire’s shadow. Inside the Information Generalization Headquarters, since his figure remained eternally young. The magician who had saved him was dead. He took Tatsuya as his disciple, taught him all his magic, and then he departed from this world. Now Tatsuya was managing the people. Thus, only several of his trusted subordinates and the Emperor knew of his existence. The Mysterious man obsessed with information. A Lurker in the Empire’s shadow. A human, subduer of demons.
His rank as First Lieutenant was not actually accurate. In reality, he was given a high-ranking position by His Majesty the Emperor. But, he was the “First Lieutenant”. Because he doesn’t want to forget the memories of his subordinates that fell together with him in his previous life――or rather, in his former world――so he remained a First Lieutenant. The existence of First Lieutenant Kondou, who was the director of the Empire’s Intelligence Bureau, couldn’t be disregarded, even by the Corps Commanders. However, as his true character was unknown, he was a feared person.
The investigations on the other Corps Commanders were not as interesting as Yuuki’s. The system of the Empire is『Power is everything』. Therefore, there is no one who criticized Yuuki openly. There were few people who could complain about Yuuki, who had reached one of the tops of the Empire. So the First Lieutenant Kondou thought. (You are dangerous, Kagurazaka Yuuki. You are an existence that should be removed) It was better if it was in another army, but it was a problem if the people who belonged to the Imperial Guard’s Army that ought to protect His Majesty, the Emperor, had already sworn their loyalty to another person. This matter couldn’t be brought to light yet. But, the moment Yuuki showed an unnatural movement, that was when he would die. Because First Lieutenant Kondou, a lurker in the Empire’s shadow, never forgives a traitor. 「You should become as cocky as you could. Since your life is already in my hands.」
In response to Yuuki’s command, three people were selected. From amongst Yuuki’s 100 subordinates, the chosen people were required to be from the Mixed Corps. It was said that only coming from another world would get you a high position in the Corps, the Empire was not naïve. But the 100 people whom Yuuki had chosen only possessed Unique Skills that excelled in combat ability. Therefore, they hid in each corps, living while concealing their fangs. They had all received Yuuki’s order to revolt together, and to seize each other’s corps. Now that Yuuki had seized the Mixed Corps, everyone thought that the day was near.
The three people, Tanimura Shinji Mark Lauren Zhen Liu Xing[6] Flared up at Damrada’s unexpected order. 「Hey,hey, Ossan. We were called for the Labyrinth Capture (Athletics).... Don’t joke around! Or rather, you are making fun of us?」 「Well just wait, Mark. Yuuki-san may have some kind of plan? Please tell us what you know, Damrada-san.」
(No, Yuuki-sama actually seemed to have another intention. That’s not something that should guess. I better not say something careless.) Shinji decided that it was unnecessary to daringly ask about everything and Damrada finished his explanation. However, the explanation of Demon Lord Rimuru’s dreadfulness and wariness was intentionally repeated many times. The labyrinth was created, by that Demon Lord in full confidence. As far as Damrada was concerned, he hadn’t heard any stories of it having been captured yet. It was only a rumor, but the Hero Masayuki had broken through to the 30th floor. 「Please don’t neglect to be cautious.」