Having absorbed Velgrynd, the reconstruction began.
It had already reached it’s maximum speed, cruising at speeds beyond that of sound.
I thought it best to deal with problems swiftly.
Considering the fierce battle that had just taken place aboard this vessel, it’s a miracle it could still fly in its sorry state.
Any remnants of battle couldn’t be seen at a glance. The damages sustained had been beautifully healed, showing their usual, beautiful splendor.
Perhaps an after-effect of completing a forced evolution, the slight magic turbulence they had was now in perfect control.
Above all everyone’s all right, I felt relieved.
「Good work! It’s great that everyone’s all right.」
We, as commanded by Rimuru sama, have survived and acquired strength!」
The demons that brought up these words bowed their heads in unison.
To survive and become stronger, what are they, some battle race?!
I was shocked that they thought of me as a master who would give that kind of ridiculous command.
「Ah, Yeah. In any case, above all, I’m glad you’re all safe……」
The Demons looked happy from receiving my compliments.
I should probably pay more attention from here on out, but we were in fact currently in an emergency situation. I decided to reflect on it later.
I changed my mindset, and proceeded to confirmed the situation.
「What’s the current situation of the “Rat”?」
「Kufufufufu. It seems the “Rat” has just arrived at the transfer device.」
Hmm.
If I wanted to stop it, now would be the time.
I considered killing the “Rat” then and there, and extracting his memory.
And as for those in possession of Ultimate Skills, it’d fail without a doubt.
This was evident from the fact he managed to steal a portion of Military Uniform’s abilities. (EN: refers to Kondo. Rimuru refers to him as this.)
Even so to be able to break through a section of the Spatial Interference Barrier set up by the 600 Greater Demons, he, without a doubt, wielded some sort of troublesome ability.
As initially planned, the strategy was to lure out the puppeteer behind the scenes with the Emperor as bait.
The promise to release Emperor Rudra must, of course, definitely be achieved.
「I shouldn’t have to worry about him escaping right?」
「Kufufufu. There is no problem!」
Good.
Let’s clean this mess up quickly.
−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−
The “Rat”, taking the form of the man Gradim, Vega, pretended to protect Emperor Rudra while he activated the transfer device.
Nodding towards the small number of Elite Mages and Major General Xam’d staying behind to guard,
「I’ll be going on ahead. You guys quickly make your escape too!」
Leaving behind these insincere words, Vega transferred, and escaped.
After arriving at the transfer facility room within the deepest part of the Imperial palace of the Capital, Vega destroyed the transfer device.
With this, connection between the Airships’ transfer devices and the Imperial Capital had been severed. The demons would no longer be able to pursue Vega.
Vega took a breath, and a fearless, broad grin surfaced.
Vega had immense self-confidence in his powers.
Beast King Gradim was a strong individual who surpassed the average Demon Lords.
However, those monsters easily surpassed Vega who had reached the upper limits of human strength as a Sage.
Although his head was fuming to the point he felt welled up with seething wrath, having suppressed his anger, he had brought the Emperor to the designated location as initially commanded.
「You sure took your time, Vega. Is Emperor Rudra alright? 」
On the throne;
He called out to Vega, who had just arrived, with a light-hearted tone.
He was someone who should have been exterminated by Kondo, Kagurazaka Yuuki. (TN: That’s one F***er I didn’t miss.) (EN: I don’t get the Yuuki hate, he’s an awesome villain~)
But contrary to her appearance, she was the strongest Hero, Chloe O’bell.
Acting per her contract, she left an impression of indifference.
「He’s okay. Although his head had a few screws loose.
By the way, are things all right here?
So you’re alright?」
I was in some serious shit over here you know?
Thanks to that I barely made it alive, but I actually did die.
It’s all that Kondo and Damrada’s fault.
Be it Damrada or Kondo, them hiding their true strength was seriously annoying. 」
Yuuki explained to Vega with exaggerated gestures.
While he continued on with his tale, suddenly, he fixated his gaze on Vega,
「Ah~man, Vega. Dude, you’re being tracked aren’t you?」
While letting out a sigh, he lamented.
And then, holding his hand over Vega’s back,
「Eraser Shot!」
With a single hit, he eliminated Moss’s clone who was performing reconnaissance on Vega.
The tiny fist-sized demon, forcefully split in half, was destroyed without being able to resist.
「That was a close one. A little more and they would have arrived at this place in hot pursuit.
We got careless for a bit there didn’t we? Vega, get your act together. 」
「Y-yeah. I got careless there, my bad……」
Yuuki shrugged his shoulders.
In fact, he didn’t notice it at the time since he was so wrapped up, but he felt his pride was trampled all over, he was furious to his very core. There was no room for reflecting.
Quite the annoyance, it seems one must not be careless with Rimuru’s subordinates.
Yuuki moved to a different location.
At the Capital’s outskirts, this was where corpses were organized.
The fires of purgatory that wouldn’t clear up no matter what, after some time, had began to weaken, and had just finally extinguished.
The royal knights No.11 and below that remained in the imperial capital, had been prepared as the raw materials for Armageddon (summoning the Angel Army).
Although, generally since summoned greater demons were “A-“ rank, they were sufficiently threatening to a human country.
But, that’s only considering the case of facing a human nation.
Therefore this time, for the first time, Yuuki decided to try and incarnate the Angels using Emperor Rudra.
The living and the dead, in order to determine the difference, both have been prepared.
This place also clicked well with Yuuki’s objectives.
Vega comprehended Yuuki’s actions, and just as he was thinking that,
「What is this place? What happened to the battle……?」
Emperor Rudra, who was in a dazed state up until now, opened his mouth.
Although a bit earlier than planned, Yuuki decided to move his plan to the next phase.
Yuuki gave Vega a wink, as he and Chloe hid themselves.
This was one of several pre-determined patterns.
While accidents piled up, this was still within expectations.
This was Vega’s predetermined role.
Yuuki was relieved that Vega understood.
Contrary to his beliefs, Vega too had been equipped with the thing called “brains”.
In any case, he heaved a sigh of seeing that the strategy was going well.
Vega, didn’t actually listened to Yuuki’s speculations in detail.
In regards to Vega’s role in the series of battles of the coup d’état, it was the actualization of their ultimate goal, making Emperor Rudra successfully use Armageddon.
If Yuuki died, then Vega would be the one to execute it.
In the original plan, they’d finish subjugating Ruminas, and execute it before the final clash with Guy, but due to several unforeseen incidents, the plan was pushed forward.
「Your Majesty, you’re alright! This Gradim was so worried!」
While acting as Gradim, Vega explained the situation to the Emperor.
While Velgrynd stalled for time, he somehow escaped with the Emperor; he recited the thought out scenario.
「What did you say!? Are you saying Damrada and Velgrynd are still fighting?」
「――Is that so. Then, before it’s too late, we must rescue them.
「But, your Majesty……!!」
Without letting it show, a smile surfaced on the face under that helmet.
‘Just a little more, and it’s over’ he thought, a natural smile broke through his façade.
But, that though was simply too naïve.
「Oh my? That would be troublesome. ――Besides, there’s no need to rescue them.
After all, those two are already dead.」
A beautiful voice resounded in Vega’s ears.
But, as if ridiculing his actions,
「Hey, you. You dare ruin Your’s truly’s fun?
So kindly cry out in pain and agony to sooth my heart.」
As if out of nowhere, somebody suddenly appeared behind his back.
Despite there being a helmet over his head, for some reason he clearly felt it.
「W-wait!」
「Repent as you’re trapped in fear! “Resentment Fear (Cursed Prison of Resentment and Fear)”」
With even his soul devoured, he faced endless torture by the ghoul horde.
The pistol, large and crude in the hands of a lady, was fired.
The effects of the magic sealed within the bullets shot from the large pistol was released in the interior of Vega’s skull.
With a single hit, Vega’s flesh was corroded by the curse; His soul, becoming prisoner to endless agony.
−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−
Uo……
As expect of Carrera.
Or rather, putting the gentlemanly Diablo aside, the ones like Testarossa and Carrera are pretty scary huh.
It’s hard to believe she’s a Demon.
She probably has all lot of influence.
(TN: the raw also uses 魔王 here, but since this one’s obviously not referring to the Demon Nobles or the Octagram members, I translated it as demon king instead to avoid confusion.)
This is no good.
They had requested to allow them to end the Emperor and the “Rat”, and I’d given them permission, but the result was this.
Ultima was fired up about killing the emperor, and came over to me, wishing to do it.
and Thus, my opponent would be the mastermind.
「Oy, stop hiding and come out. You’re there aren’t you? Yuuki!」
I asked facing the darkness,
「Good grief, was I exposed? Can’t expect less of Rimuru-san.」
Yuuki said as he came out.
But I can’t leave him alone. He’s too dangerous.
「I guess. It’s good that you’re doing well.
「Ahahahaha. Straight to the point eh, Rimuru san. But you think I die so easily?」
But, if you don’t do anymore than this, we could settle with just sealing you……
「Naïve, still too naïve. You haven’t changed at all, still a goodie too-shoes……
But, it’s best you stop thinking you’ve won! 」
it was impossible as expected huh.
However, there’s the matter of freeing Chloe, and him making some strange Wish (Command) of her would only cause the situation to take a turn for the worse.
We faced each other, and quietly prepared ourselves.