Dungeon Defense (WN)

simply at the level of being able to ‘trick amateurs’.
He doesn’t always go on the offensive even if he has the chance to do so.
He knows that not attacking is occasionally more effective.

If Dantalian denied the archduke’s words just now, then the archduke could’ve mentioned the names of the low-ranking Demon Lords who devoted their lives fighting for the Crescent Alliance throughout history.

This would have broken Dantalian’s point apart.
Or, at the very least, it would have ruined his momentum.
However, Dantalian simply acknowledged this in an off-handed manner.

“It is true.
Even if you only look at the 2nd Crescent Alliance…….”

“Do you intend to give me a boring lesson on history? You can stop.
I only wish to talk about the current Crescent Alliance with you.”

Like this, the archduke was unable to avert the direction of the conversation.

The Kakola Archduke’s palms became sweaty.

“This is not an issue for only the low-ranking Demon Lords.
The archdukes ruling the demon world……if the human world is united under the Demon Lords, then this would be a problem for you guys as well.
The Demon Lords have stayed in the human world until now under the pretext of conquering the continent.
However, what would happen if the humans are wiped out?”

“…….”

“The Demon Lords will naturally turn their line of sight toward the demon world.
Soon after, your rule will come to an end.
Am I right?”

“If Your Highness thinks that way, then…….”

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The Archduke shut his mouth slowly.

This was the only response he could give.
If the Archduke agreed, then he would give space for the Demon Lord to intervene in the affairs of his territory.
If he disagreed, then he would be committing treason against the Demon Lords.
He was caught between a rock and a hard place.
This idiom came to the Kakola Archduke’s mind.

“Both the low-ranking Demon Lords and the influential people of the demon world do not wish for the domination of the human world.
It makes sense that the Demon Lord army had struggled this much for the past 2,000 years.
It is quite pathetic.”

Dantalian shrugged.

“However, the high-ranking Demon Lords are not idiots, so if the same scenario repeats itself over and over again for 2,000 years, then it is only natural that they would piece things together.
They will realize that a group had been acting against the Crescent Alliance in secret.”

“…….”

“Well, I will not mention the identity of that group.
Not only do I only speak the truth, but I am also magnanimous.
My throat is feeling parched.”

Dantalian took out a flask of water from his person and drank from it.
He brought a flask with him even though he knew he was coming to a ball.
This meant that he was always cautious of being poisoned.

Furthermore, he displayed his flask now of all times.
What did this mean? His action showed that he suspected the possibility of the Archduke trying to poison him.
He was wordlessly denouncing the archdukes for aggravating the Crescent Alliance’s constant defeat.

The Kakola Archduke felt the back of his throat become dry.
This is a lecherous man? There’s a limit to nonsense.
This man is a warrior, a warrior who places a sword next to his headrest even when he sleeps at home.

“That is why we came to a decision.
We will push the assault on the human world aside for now.
Let us first clean house.”

After saying that much, Dantalian broke out into a laugh as if he couldn’t hold it back.

“Is this not hilarious? Even though we split into factions when faced against humans, our common enemy, we joined forces when faced against our fellow Demon Lords and demons.
Surely, even the Goddess knows how to make jokes sometimes.”

“……Your Highness has been saying ‘we’ for a while now, but who exactly are you referring to?”

The Kakola Archduke couldn’t hold back his curiosity as he decided to ask this.
He felt as if this was a question he shouldn’t have asked, but he couldn’t help himself.

Dantalian met the Archduke’s eyes directly.
The Archduke felt a chill go down his spine.

“Baal, Barbatos, Paimon, Marbas, and Gamigin.
These are probably the most significant cooperators.”

The Archduke gasped.

This cannot be possible! Are you telling me the Rank 1 Demon Lord, the leaders of the Plains Faction, the Mountain Faction, and the Neutral Faction, and the highest-ranking unaffiliated Demon Lord―are you telling me that they are all working together!?

This meant that the big shots from each respective group participated in this discussion.
In other words, a majority of the high-ranking Demon Lords had formed an alliance!

“What? Does this sound unbelievable?”

Dantalian smiled bitterly.

“That is understandable.
They fought so desperately until now, after all.
But think about it.
How angry do you think we were when we found out that the reason we fought so desperately was because of some completely unrelated third-party?”

The Kakola Archduke refused this with all he had in his mind.
This is a lie.
He has no proof.
This is nothing more than a threat.

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“Do you think that I have no proof?”

“……!”

Dantalian grinned.

“You most likely heard about how Paimon lost all of her magic in order to save me half a year ago.
The leader of the Mountain Faction sacrificed herself to save a low-ranking Demon Lord of the Plains Faction.
Have you never thought that that was strange?”

“That’s…….”

“Why do you think the factions that worked separately until now had gathered at the Habsburg Empire? In order to keep the Mountain Faction in check? And yet, the Mountain Faction did not receive any sort of punishment.
Do you still not understand why Barbatos, the person who despises the Mountain Faction more than anyone else, conceded?”

Dantalian smirked.

“How soft.
O Archduke of Kakola, you are utterly soft.
You do not even know the reason why the Rank 1 Great Demon Lord, Baal, has yet to fully participate in the Crescent Alliance.”

The Kakola Archduke couldn’t hide his anxiety now.
What was he talking about? Great Demon Lord Baal should be taking care of the Frankish Empire.
He wasn’t going to move until the pathway known as the Habsburg Empire was cleaned up sufficiently.

However, if you think about it……Francia’s imperial army is currently participating in the battle within Habsburg.
It wouldn’t be strange if Baal moved.
Was there some sort of motive hidden under this? An intent that even the archdukes of hell failed to notice?

Dantalian’s words fell like a bolt of lightning on the panicked Kakola Archduke.

“It is for the sake of preserving our forces.
Our forces to subjugate you―the archdukes who rule the demon world.”

The subjugation of the demon world.

They have to clean up their inner rooms before they can conquer the continent.
Baal was preparing for this sake.
It wasn’t only Baal.
Once a section of Habsburg is dealt with, the Plains Faction, Mountain Faction, Neutral Faction, and the unaffiliated Demon Lords will also participate―.

‘This was not an empty bluff……!’

The high-ranking Demon Lords were genuinely preparing to conquer the demon world.

– Do not underestimate him.

The Kakola Archduke finally realized what the other archdukes were warning him about.
The other archdukes did not lower their guards.
They made the same amount of preparations as he did.
And yet, they were still played with.
No, they were hunted.

This wasn’t an issue of lowering your guard or not.
A predator and a prey……the other party had already finished all of their preparations to tear this side apart.
Don’t underestimate him.
Do not even think for a second that you are on the same level as the other party.
This was what the other archdukes were warning him about!

The Kakola Archduke felt his vision become hazy.

***

TL Note: Thanks for reading the chapter.
This came out pretty quick and I couldn’t think of anything to say here, so uh, I hope you guys are having a good April.

I’ll see you guys in the next chapter? Oh no this might be the shortest TL note.