Demon Lords
Demon Lord Clayman was in an unprecedented state of panic.
The result was supposed to be a bloodbath of a battle, filled with suffering and tragedy which his soul would reap and relish.
He couldn’t believe it, but the recent report confirmed it.
A fight between monsters and humans that would lead Clayman into awakening as a True Demon Lord.
But he now lost connection with her. Moreover, her curse had been released and she was now free.
This fact only added to his anxiety.
But only that much was hardly a matter for concern.
Thus, he had forced Frey to schedule a Subjugation Council–Walpurgis Banquet.
Because marching his troops in the direction of human cities is strictly forbidden.
While trampling every country along the way, of course.
Were it a few days ago, he could have crushed them all himself, but due to their master’s evolution, they all became devils and acquired greater power.
Well, he only had to rule over whoever remained after Milim was done with them.
But…
And strangely, he was given permission really quickly.
Which caused all of Clayman’s plans to fall apart.
Nor could he run away from it.
“What to do? What should I do?”
Clayman desperately sought a way out of this predicament.
This desperation was observed by Frey who was smirking.
Things were proceeding faster than she expected.
She looked at the expressionless Milim standing across from her,
At her eyes, which suddenly looked elsewhere. At Frey.
(Yes, that’s right. I understand, Milim)
And…
Frey was secretly confirming theupcoming plan.
In an unknown land, in the innermost burial chamber,
Stood a being, themselves nude, beholding the coffin with a suspicious gaze.
Observing and adoring the coffin girl was this being’s secret pastime.
Her heterochromatic eyes glistened with a bizarre red and blue light.
But perhaps what garnered the most attention…
When her small lips parted, they revealed a set of pure white fangs.
Demon Lord Ruminas Valentine.
Even she, a vampire possessing the immense power of a demon lord, could not break the ice coffin.
So even touching the coffin would leave burn like marks on her body.
Without any regard to this, she clung to the ice coffin.
An invitation to attend Walpurgis Banquet reached this girl.
Thus, she currently lacked the power to make them her enemies.
(Wait for me…)
And gathering a vast amount of magical energy, she submerged the chamber in darkness.
Two men were in the middle of a conversation.
The other was slovenly lying down, without a hint of dignity.
However, as this was his usual appearance, the former paid it no mind.
「So, how long will you be staying here?
「No clue~. What a pain. Nothing excites me anymore~」
To the large man’s question, he replied without any motivation.
But whichever…
「But surely you have no choice but to participate in Walpurgis Banquet?
So you might as well start considering what you will do afterwards」
The large man concluded.
Minutes passed silently between them,
「Hey, Dagrule, do your sons feel like becoming a demon lord?
I can take them under my care, if you’d like?」
The delicate man said as if he just remembered this idea.
One of the Giants, this demon lord is often referred to as “Continent’s Wrath”.
His power greatly increases when angered so he’s a demon lord treated with utmost care.
To the delicate man’s words,
「Nah, they resemble me when I was young.
They would look down even on you, Dino」
He replied.
But, he possess magical energy of such quantity that no human could possibly match.
But he too is a demon lord. Called “The Wandering King” or “King of the Sleeping Forest”.
And having used up all of his strength during the journey, he ended up in the care of his best friend Dagrule.
In response to Dagrule’s words,
「Ah, I don’t mind. My worth wouldn’t diminish from such a thing.
You have three sons, so I can bring one of them in my name?」
He said.
Dagruel thought a bit on these words.
And,
「Can I ask this of you? If they act foolish and die without coming to know true power, then that’s that.
So showing them true strength would be an excellent lesson」
He nodded.
Agreeing to bring them, they continued the conversation with this in mind.
After all, both of them were particularly bad at careful planning.
In a land covered by ice where fierce blizzards reigned,
Its vicinity was covered in a barrier of ice, with temperatures of minus 120° Celsius such that nothing could live there.
Its presence testified to an unimaginable amounts of magical energy–truly a castle of the highest demon.
And it was ruled by Demon Lord Guy Crimson.
There was a being leisurely walking though the castle.
Skin so white that it was almost transparent.
Demon Lord Leon Cromwell. The one called the Blond Demon.
Ahead of him was a door with beautiful carved decorations. It led to the audience chamber of the lord of the castle.
Leon stood in front of the door, and the two large attendant demons opened it.
And,
「Demon Lord Leon Cromwell-sama has arrived!」
A female-like demon announced the coming of Leon from above.
Each was a named demon so greatly surpassed the power of a normal greater demon.
Named Greater Demons differ from normal ones as they possess a corporeal body in this world.
In other words, the room had 200 beings of a rank easily surpassing A.
At the end of the room, before the throne of Demon Lord Guy Crimson stood six demons of terrifying power.
They battle power was surpassed any devil. These were pseudo-demon lord level demons.
These six demon generals prevented any excessive word from going unpunished.
Having become “Demon Officer” these two women serve as the Demon Lord’s spokesmen.
“Demon Officer” Mizari and “Demon Officer” Hirari.
And that’s where Mizari and Hirari kneeled, and
「「Leon-sama, it has been a long time」」
At the same time they greeted Leon with a beautiful voice.
Only the two demon lords now had the right to move within the room.
「It’s been a while, my friend Leon. Have you been in good health?
Let me thank you for coming over when I called you!」
A beautiful, projecting voice, deep crimson eyes which overshadowed the beauty of stars, hair flowing like fire, with a deeper red than the color of blood.
Where Leon is as beautiful as a woman, Guy’s beauty was more neutral.
While calling out to him, he stood up from the throne and walked up to Leon.
And without any hesitation, he placed his hand on Leon’s face and kissed him.
Leon pulled away with a scowl,
「Stop it. I’m not interested in dating men. How many times have I told you this already?」
He told him, treating it as a bother.
「A haha. Heartless as always.
Ah whatever, let’s move to a different room」
He said, and without waiting started walking.
He was exposing a lot of skin while dressing in a kimono in this frigid land.
And he started to work his tongue around his red lips….
Being androgynous, he could become a man or a woman at will.
The Lord of the Castle and the oldest Demon Lord.
Guy proceeded onward showing Leon the way.
Until both of them left the audience chamber, not a single being had moved.
With their heads bowed low, they waited until their master and guest had left.
And,
「Disperse!」
They ordered their subordinates.
Among the highest beings of the castle, the job of these “Demon Officials” was nothing more than to care for Demon Lord Guy Crimson.
So as to not earn the displeasure of their lord, they quickly got to work…
Leon followed Guy to the Ice Terrace on the highest floor.
The environment is optimized for life.
Though Guy normally looks down on any stranger, for his friends he spends both effort or expense.
Though the chair he sat on was made of ice, he did not feel the cold.
That too, was the routine.
「So? Why have you called me?」
Forcefully flopping into the chair, Leon asked.
Mizari silently stood at the entrance to the terrace.
They stood as to not intrude upon Guy’s conversation, and so, did not address Leon.
Since they had nothing to do with this conversation, they were not permitted to even show an expression unless ordered to do so.
In fact, even if Leon attacked Guy, they would not move.
Thus, ignoring their existence, they continued their discussion.
「Ah. You do know about the upcoming Walpurgis Banquet?
「Huh? You know I hate these gatherings?
「Oh? Good, then. I had planned on having you make a clone and attend that way.
「I don’t take men for partners. Even among women I only go for the one I desire.
「What’s with that? Tell me that earlier… If you wish for it, I’ll become a woman for you.
Why did you decide to participate this time?」
「Ah…」
Leon made a brief pause, but then continued talking.
「This time the banquet is hosted by Clayman. Small fry.
And Karion’s death is also suspicious.
In other words, it’s all connected.
「Oh. So you believe Rimuru has the qualifications to be a demon lord, huh?
As for Milim, she’s probably just playing around. No use trying to figure out what she’s thinking.
So it’s fine to ignore the opinion of someone like Clayman; Ramiris’ opinion, on the other hand, seems promising.
「… Ramiris, huh? I’m no good with her. From the very moment we met.
But since she mentioned it, I might as well go and see」
「Right. And I don’t want to die yet. If you come at me, I see no chances for victory」
「Then that’s no good. I’m only interested in fights that I can win」
Having a chance to kill me means that you’re strong. Have some confidence」
「Hmph. I am confident. Against anyone other than you, that is.」
That’s where their conversation stopped,
And without a moment passing,
「Ara ara. Has your conversation finished?
Leon-sama, I extend my humblest welcome」
A voice like ice.
Pure white skin, with cold and bewitching Blue Diamond colored eyes.
A girl walking around without Guy’s permission.
“Ice Empress” she was called, but is more known by her name “Ice Dragon Velzado”.
Though rather than calling her a subordinate, it may be more appropriate to call her a partner.
An existence far different than the tools.
「My oh my, Velzatto. Beautiful as always」
「Ara? Even if it’s only flattery, your words have made me happy」
A brief polite exchange.
That revealed none of their real feelings.
「Hmph. You guys are on bad terms as always」
Guy as well was vexed at their animosity.
But this time, Velzatto changed the topic.
「Right, right. My “brother” has awakened」
She suddenly declared.
「Awakened? The sealed “Storm Dragon Valdora”?
「Yes. He had quieted down before disappearing, so I thought to help him out…
He was trapped in an isolated space made by the hero that could not be influenced by the outside.
「Oh… interesting.
Unique skill “Eternal Prison”, other than by other heroes, could not be dispelled by a normal skill.
Well, we had planned to release him sooner or later.
「Yes. He has. The response I am getting from him is strangely weak.
His very being is made around the concept of violence, after all.」
If you want to make him yours, do as you wish.
「You are leaving already?」
「Ah, wait a second. No need to rush.
「… Not yet.
It’s just, according to my sources, this one might be messing with my summoning tests」
「Yeah. So I want to at least see him once.
「Just curious, but who’s this informant?」
When I summon, since I try to narrow down the criteria as much as possible, the interval becomes much longer.
But since I need to narrow down the criteria even more, my next summoning attempt will be in ninety-nine years.
「How timid of you」
「Is this matter that important?」
「I see. In that case, I won’t say anything.
「Trust? No way. But he does have some use」
「That’s not like you, Guy. But, I’ll accept the warning.
Thanks. Now then, let’s meet at Walpurgis Banquet」
Leaving these words, Leon left,
Seeing this,
「What an impatient man. Well, that’s just like him」
Guy muttered while grimacing.
「But, he has created a dangerous opening.
This unknown “assistant”… should I crush him?」
Velzatto asked with a cold voice,
「Don’t. Unnecessary actions will only earn Leon’s displeasure.
I have no desire to be hated by a friend」
Guy answered, unworried.
Moreover, he simply knew how powerful Leon’s abilities were.
「When he comes asking, we’ll help him」
「Understood」
And that conversation ended.
Guy as well had ignored the summons a few times, but could not remember why.
Thus, after a long time, all the demon lords will gather.
「This banquet seems promising, will you come?」
I have no interest in demon lords」
「Yes. I’ll make the necessary preparations」
Velzatto left after uttering these words.
Guy, left behind, observed the aura of the icy continent, while thinking about the upcoming Walpurgis Banquet.
A crafty demon lord prowling around.
A shut in friend who finally took action–Guy found this point interesting.
And, the birth of a new demon lord.
How amusing. He had felt the loud beating of his heart for the first time in many hundreds of years.
Perhaps he could look forward to the upcoming one.
When was the last time he had felt one…
Leon ran away without fighting, claiming that the hero was strangely strong.
So it wouldn’t be strange if it could extend its lifespan.
Guy had never been able to meet the hero, but would have wanted to try fighting it once.
It may not involve only monsters, but have the saints and the humans mixed in, resulting in a great calamity.
So perhaps even a hero will appear.
At this point, Guy had completely forgotten about the new demon lord.
He desired to meet a hero. That thought brought a smile to his face.