Dungeon Defense (WN)

dience she has to conquer to achieve that important goal.

And finally, what she must do to raise her position.

In only a few minutes, within the short time frame she had after the start of my speech, Elizabeth von Habsburg managed to find a way to achieve all three of these things and she carried it out.

A genius.

She was truly a genius.
She was born an empress and raised as a supreme ruler.
It wasn’t only because of the hero that the Demon Lord army lost in .
It was because the protagonist had the imperial princess.
Imperial Princess Elizabeth was undoubtedly the worst, ultimate, and greatest enemy.

– Clap, clap, clap.

The sound of clapping echoed throughout the plains.
It was a sharp and clear sound.

People turned to look at the source of the sound.
There was a man who was applauding with an expression that looked as if he were truly moved.
Well, there’s no reason for me to hide it.

It was me.

“Amazing.
As expected of Elizabeth von Habsburg.
So this is the final hero born by the empire.”

“……If you intend to ridicule me, then it is pointless, Demon Lord.
Our resolve is firm.”

“Ridicule!?”

I truly was awed by Imperial Princess Elizabeth.
I’m being honest here.

If I were in her position, then I wouldn’t have been able to give a speech like that.
I would either panic and stutter or embarrass myself in front of 200,000 people.
The reason why I was able to talk for so long was due to my speech being written on a hologram window in front of me.
On the other hand, the imperial princess didn’t need any sort of help as she gave her speech on the spot.
She was impressive.

This is unfortunate, Imperial Princess Elizabeth.

If I weren’t the one standing here, then you would have seized all of the glory for yourself.

I smiled.

“That was not my intention, Sister Elize.”

“Sister……?”

She furrowed her brows.

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“How impertinent of you.
Do you intend to mock me?”

Oh dear.
It seems she doesn’t remember.

But that doesn’t mean all hope is lost.
Her memory is impressive enough to remember the entire history of the continent.
She should be able to remember if I give her a little hint.

“There was a boy who used to call you Sister Elize a long time ago.
……Do you still not remember?”

“……!?”

Her eyes opened wide.
As I expected, she didn’t betray my expectations.
I was delighted, so I proceeded to imitate a young boy’s face and voice.

“Sister Elize, where will we go play today? The Black Hunting Grounds? Wow, I’m so excited! Would I be able to ride a horse as well? No? But I was looking forward to it…….
If it’s like that, then I won’t complain.
How come big brother Rudolf won’t play with us?”

“What…….”

The imperial princess’ eyes started to tremble.
It was like watching an impregnable fortress fall apart slowly.
Gradually, her fortified persona was being stripped away.
If I were to make a personal remark, the mere fact that a shocked cry didn’t slip out from her pretty lips was something to be praised.

This heroine who looks as if she wouldn’t have even a single weakness.
The one and only memory she has that has remained as a trauma―was when she murdered her biological brothers with her own two hands when she was little.
Among the two brothers that were murdered, her biological little brother, the 4th imperial prince, was killed due to his political threat despite his young age and innocence.

You are unable to escape from this guilt even when you reach your thirties.
You most likely woke up in a cold sweat this very morning because you were being tortured by a nightmare where your little brother appeared.
It is on the day you become 29-years-old, when the protagonist sleeps next to you, that you spend your first night ever without nightmares.

In this world, I am the one and only person who knows this weakness of hers.

“Huh, sis? That isn’t the way to the hunting ground.
Eh? You found a new hunting ground? Wow! What can you find there? Boars? Don’t tell me there are unicorns! Okay.
Let’s hurry up and go! ……How was that? Do you still not remember?”

The imperial princess’ face was evidently pale now.

I could see it.
Not with my eyes, but I could clearly see it in my mind.
The soldiers of the human army are most likely looking up at the imperial princess with puzzled looks.
Not only the soldiers, but the nobles were probably shaken as well.

I deliberately used the word ‘big brother Rudolf’.
The only boy who could refer to Imperial Princess Elizabeth as sister and Crown Prince Rudolf as brother met a mysterious death 4 years ago in a forest.
The nobles who were aware of this situation should be feeling something from the imperial princess’ behavior.

I smiled gently.

“Oh dear.
It seems you still do not remember.
Very well, then.
I will be merciful.
……Elizabeth.
This happened 4 years ago.
Do you remember? It was when you were still 13-years-old.
It was a warm spring day.
You suggested going horseback riding in a forest with a boy.”

The boy trusted his sister more than anyone else.
He followed her into the forest without even a sliver of doubt.

“However, your goal was not actually to go hunting.
Hm? Is this not so? No, maybe you could call it a type of hunting.
Your goal was to hunt something in the end, after all.
Also, in terms of prey, nothing could possibly compare to this.”

“……Stop.”

“It was a beautiful forest of cherry blossoms.”

The imperial princess’ face hardened.

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“The boy got off the horse and let out a sound of awe.
Sister! It’s so beautiful! You brought me here to show me this, huh? Wow, this is my first time seeing something so beautiful!”

“Stop……I will not stand idly by as you mock me…….”

“Listen to me!”

I let out a shout.
The imperial princess flinched.

“The boy turned around slowly.
Do you remember? You are obligated to remember.
Did you not say so proudly during your speech earlier? That you will remember forever.
Ha, is this not something which you must remember forever? It is a sight which only you know, after all!”

“Ah, ah…….”

“That is right, the boy turned around slowly and his eyes became wide.
……Sis? What are you doing? A look of disbelief filled the boy’s eyes.
Regardless of this, you strengthened your grip.
You gripped tightly with both hands.
This was not enough―as you even used your aura! The same blue aura that the boy would always praise as being amazing and beautiful!”

The imperial princess shut her ears and lowered her head.
Her shoulders continued to tremble.
At that moment, the three-dimensional image that was floating above the plains turned off.
I wonder if the mages from the human side canceled their magic on their own.

It didn’t matter.
You most likely wish to end it here, but I don’t.
This is war.
You can’t quit simply because you want to.

“The boy asked you! With a voice that sounded as if he had to strain his words because his throat was shut, he spoke while barely managing to let out a breath! It hurts―sis, it hurts―why―why…….
Why?”

I waited 5 seconds before speaking dejectedly.

“That was the boy’s final breath.
Why? He did not pour rage or resentment towards the person who killed him…….
He simply asked why.
The boy truly did not understand why his beloved sister would kill him.
The boy had sincerely loved his sister.”

Do you understand, Elizabeth von Habsburg?

“You are a filthy, disgusting, murdering piece of trash.”

Silence.

The plains became silent once again.
There were no longer any humans cheering or giving the imperial princess an ovation.
They were only filled with confusion and bewilderment now.

With this, Imperial Princess Elizabeth’s political position should’ve plummeted greatly.
In other words, this meant that one of the barriers blocking my survival has become weaker.
I went through a lot of strenuous effort until now to weaken the humans, but I contrarily ended up empowering the imperial princess during this process.
If the opportunity presents itself, it’s best to stomp down the sprouts even if I have to somewhat force myself.
It’s rather unfortunate since I’m one of the people who liked her in ……but, well, let’s just think of this as also fate.

I spoke to the human army with a solemn face.

“O humankind, the people.
Do you now realize? That is the bare face of the noble you had cheered for.
They force you onto the battlefield and kill their biological brothers in the back.”

My voice settled alone atop of Bruno Plains. 

“An unpardonable atrocity against mankind.
Even slaves love their parents and animals cherish their children.
How could a brute that slays their own kin speak of mankind……?”

***

TL Note: Thanks for reading the chapter.
It’s sort of disappointing to see the Imperial Princess get shaken this badly compared to her stoic demeanor in the LN, but it’s also enjoyable to see Dantalian overwhelm her completely.
I guess I’m fine with both styles. 

Uh, nothing more to say, see you guys in the next chapter.