Intermission

▯Demon Lord of Benevolence, Rank 9th, Paimon Empire Calendar: Year 1506, Month 4, Day 3 Polles, Bruno Plains, Demon Lord Allied Forces

—This lady held her breath.

For a moment, the breaths of demons and humans were held indiscriminately. Though it was no longer than a mere moment, to me, it felt as long as an eternity.

This lady has come to the realization. That the time that had just brushed by this lady, that the time that had sc.r.a.ped and flowed through every mortal in these plains, was not simply a demanded time but a moment of history instead. From this day forth, every historical book to be written will have no other choice but to use an entire page for this moment. For a single moment in this place, history existed.

However.

“……What the f.u.c.k is that?”

Similar to everything else, since history is something that is also buried underneath time and flows by, it is something that cannot be seen once it has pa.s.sed. One individual at a time, the mouths of the Demon Lords, who had held their breaths because of something uncontrollable, opened. The words that came to their lips were not astonishment, admiration, or even imprecations, but.

“Why did Dantalian f.u.c.king hand the authority to give the speech to some human girl when we gave him that right? Did that idiot become mentally ill?”

Merely dissatisfaction.

That was it.

“Oi, old man Marbas. If my memory hasn’t turned to s.h.i.t, I’m pretty sure our right of speech has never been taken by a human before.”

“That is to my understanding as well…… Things have become troubling. Barbatos, I’m just asking this for caution’s sake, but did you perhaps allow Dantalian to commit such conduct?”

“Am I mad? Why would I give a lowly human b.i.t.c.h the sacred position of rallying the Crescent Army……? In any case, I wonder if it’s because Dantalian is a rookie since he sometimes doesn’t know what’s right and wrong. That kid doesn’t know circ.u.mstance.”

“Not only is the form of the speech a problem, but the content of the speech has many issues as well. Planting the seed of division into the humans is excellent, however, how could segregating humans and demons be wrong? Though it seems Dantalian had used a defector of human birth as his performer in order to shake the enemy army…… He has gone too far. It goes against what is right and goes against custom.”

“Yeah. She’s saying something nonsensical.”

Aah.

This lady’s head became hazy because of the conversation shared between Barbatos and Marbas. That did not remain as the reaction of merely those two Demon Lords. All the Demon Lords who had witnessed that speech were most likely thinking along those lines as well. Prejudice or ignorance, or rather, a sense of disdain that should just be called blindness flowed through the atmosphere. Feeling suffocated by that sensation, it became difficult for me to breathe……

Humans and demons are equal. Commoners and n.o.bles are equal. Therefore, as all the people, regardless of one’s race, should be in harmony, everyone should respect one another while disregarding one’s cla.s.s…… This simple and clear truth could not be seen by their blind eyes. They could not see it at all. This lady was barely able to open her lips.

“Everyone……”

“Hm?”

“Everyone, were you all unable to realize the meaning of that speech?”

“What are you talking about?”

Barbatos drew her brow together. A trivial body gesture such as that was more than enough to prove Barbatos’ natural ignorance. This lady gives up on trying to persuade her. It is impressive, Barbatos. You have the ability to repel this lady with the mere movement of your brow. I express my respect towards your ignorance.

“First, let’s punish Dantalian once the speech on the humans’ side is over.”

Punish? What do you mean by punishment?

This lady opened her eyes wide and gazed at Marbas. Beside Marbas, Barbatos was nodding her head as if it were obvious.

“If it had gone to only the mid-point, then we would have praised him, but since he has crawled at the absolute bottom, there is no other choice. We’re in a war, so for form’s sake, let’s just sentence him with confinement. And for that human, just whip her until she is nearly dead and pa.s.s it on adequately. If we really kill her then Dantalian would be pitiful……”

Confinement?

Whipping?

What sort of nonsense did they say just now?

……Barbatos has made Dantalian into her kept man. However, I am aware. I am aware that, by nature, Barbatos is not an individual who would share love with another. This lady had easily come to the conjecture that Barbatos was merely binding Dantalian with her body because he was necessary.

Regardless, to be able to do that so simply.

To be able to cast away the comrade and lover, who had saved her life and the lives of her army a month ago, like dirt.

“……”

Barbatos’ judgment may be correct in terms of political schemes. However, as that was not righteously correct, it was not politically correct either. This lady considers the rule that does not straightly seek justice and vastly ponders one’s reign, as something that is merely evil. Yes, without question, Barbatos is an evil woman.

This lady bit her lip and immediately went into calculating.

……If this lady’s faction could truly be able to obtain superiority in the situation where we go against both Barbatos and Marbas at the same time. If the other Demon Lords, who follow this lady, would truly agree to the decision obediently in the situation where I incorporate Dantalian into this lady’s Mountain Faction after having been hostile towards him all this time. All sorts of situations and hypotheses mixed together chaotically. In the center of that suffocating fog, a single sentence stood out naturally.

Just now,

I have seen for the first time in my life a person who had the same way of thought as I did.

“……”

This lady’s silence deepened. It is not the depth of an investigator who was heading down towards the bottom. It was the depth of a survivor who was sinking because there was no bottom or boundary. I have lost my path. It is suffocating.

……Paimon, you must not act out of emotions. Rationally, consider the political impact that would occur if you were to shelter Dantalian. Moreover, though I believe in the equality of commoners and n.o.bles, I also acknowledge the necessity of peasants. People of ign.o.ble birth exist everywhere. Witches are an example of that. However, Dantalian would most likely embrace even those peasants as well. Our way of thought is very slightly different. In short, there is no need to a.s.similate myself with Dantalian on an emotional level. Calm down. Emotions will only ruin you. Calm down. An opportunity will always come……

“Wait. Now that I think about it. Can’t we just drag Dantalian here right now?”

Barbatos had spoken.

“The orator is that human anyway, so we can leave her be and just bring Dantalian here to punish.”

“Indeed, that is a fair point. You bring him.”

……

Paimon.

You cannot.

Look back at yourself objectively. You are the leader of the Mountain Faction. You are in possession of the largest faction within the Demon Lord armies. If you determine your position on impulse, then that influence will be directly taken in by the other Demon Lords. Please. If you have lived for 500 years then you should be sensible. Is it not sufficient for the Demon Lord, who forever behaves like a child, to remain as solely Barbatos? That is right, Paimon. Calm down. The reason why you always feel suffocated is because you think that you are suffering from angina. If you inhale slowly, then everything will be alri……

“Hey, b.i.t.c.h.”

“Ah?”

“Why are you wordlessly blocking my f.u.c.king way, you b.i.t.c.h?”

Barbatos was looking up at my face from below. That vulgar face, which looked like it would spit right this instant, verified how Barbatos-like she was.

……Ara?

When did this lady walk here?

I do not recall having walked here. Clearly, I was standing at the other side a second ago. Right now, this lady was blocking Barbatos’ path towards Dantalian. This is strange. This is really strange. If I do not return quickly……

“You f.u.c.ker, try living while taking out some fat from your chest. Since you shove your stomach fat into your t.i.ts, a s.h.i.tty smell is coming off. Really, a f.u.c.king vomit-inducing scent is emanating since the smell of your t.i.ts and the smell of oil is mixed together.”

“……”

If I do not return quickly.

“Oh? You aren’t going to f.u.c.k off? What are you going to do if you glare at me? In any case, you really do live up to your name as the most ragged b.i.t.c.h among the succubi since even your gaze is fickle. There are countless numbers of demons who want to do it through your eye socket, and yet you’ve managed to live without becoming one-eyed yet? Do you want me to introduce you to someone? Or will you lower your eyes before I introduce you to them?”

“……”

Please.

Rationally.

Not emotionally.

“Hey. Hey. Move it. You aren’t going to move? Did this b.i.t.c.h go insane? f.u.c.k—.”

“Is the person who’s emanating the foul scent of b.r.e.a.s.t.s not you, Barbatos? I thought that I was unable to see you since you were so short, but after looking at it today, your b.r.e.a.s.t.s are also so small that I thought you were a man. How about putting a clear-cut indication somewhere on you in order to allow other people to know that you are a girl? That’s right. Such as writing the words “I am a wh.o.r.e” in red letters on your forehead, try something like that. Is it not good since it is so distinct?”

Ah.

Aaaaah.

I-I am not saying this!

I am not uttering these words because I want to!

My body, the body that had moved on its own a second ago, was now controlling my mouth and moving my tongue on its own volition. Yes. It is true. This is not my intention, but—.

“What nonsense are you saying? The wh.o.r.e is you, you ragged b.i.t.c.h. They say that the number of castaway demons, who went into your hole and weren’t able to find their way out, reaches nearly 200 people this year. Is that why your belly is so flabby since you have 200 people inside you? Wh.o.r.es go around saying that they ‘devour men’, but you must be quite well off since you literally go around eating men, huh?”

—This dog bone-like girl.

Does she want to die?

“Why is this child, who could not satisfy the appet.i.te of even a goblin if one were to twist and sever off her limbs, throwing an epileptic fit and trying to start a fight with this lady while not knowing of her place? Hm? Since their chest is already flat, should we shave their hair and make their head flat as well? It seems that they have yet to learn how to fix their dog-like antics from their childhood and is coming at me again, despite the fact that I had already once shaved their head 300 years ago when they went insane. If they understand that their chest is ugly, then they should at least rip their mouth out and attach it to their nipple and pretend to have b.r.e.a.s.t.s. You seem to be living quite well despite having such a shameful washboard attached to you. Well, since your subordinates are corpses that had come back to life, they most likely do not have anything down there. Your subordinates do not have anything below, and you do not have anything above, so your mutual settlement is quite marvelous. Though I am only saying this because the sight of you getting along with your corpses is so pretty, since you are playing with dead corpses anyway, can you not die a little as well?”

“Aaaaaaang–?”

“What will you do by glaring at me?”

Barbatos and I glared at each other ferociously. Do you think someone does not swear because they do not know how to? Because they have dignity and rationality, they are restraining themselves. They are an existence that is completely different from you who lacks both face and sense.

In that moment, the sound of footsteps could be heard. It was Dantalian. Having discovered us making a ruckus, Dantalian carefully approached us.

“I apologize. The speeches on both sides have yet to come to an end, so if Barbatos and Miss Paimon can be quiet for a moment……”

“Hey, Dantalian. You came at a good time.”

Barbatos got on her tiptoes and looked at Dantalian. She most likely intends to grab Dantalian like this and punish him. Though they had stated that it was going to be nothing more than a punishment for formality’s sake, formality is where punishment starts from. Do you think this lady will leave it be?

“Why are you doing the speech so poorly like that? Get hit by me a bit. For now, go inside a cage and repent on your life—.”

“Be quiet, Barbatos.”

“……What?”

“I said to be quiet.”

This lady stretched out her right arm and put it between Barbatos and Dantalian. Yes, I obstructed her. In the end, I blocked her.

Rationality? Political calculations? Put all those things away. Since long ago, this lady has lived based on her emotions. Despite doing so, this lady was able to form the greatest faction within the army of Demon Lords. Thus meaning, the more this lady acts according to her emotions, the more fortune comes rolling to her feet. Verification is complete. I will not accept any counter-arguments.

For now, if I am able to witness the sight of this child in front of me contorting her face, I will be satisfied with that.

“Henceforth, Dantalian is no longer the ally of the Plains Faction, but instead, is a Demon Lord who is supported by the Mountain Faction led by myself, Paimon. If you wish to punish Dantalian, then either obtain the consent of the Mountain Faction or proceed through a formal ballot during a Walpurgis Night.”

“……Ha?”

“Oh dear. Now that I think about it, the procedure of holding a Walpurgis Night during a war is incredibly complex and intricate. How unfortunate, Barbatos. Since you will have to return bitterly while holding onto that bitter chest, after all.”

“You…… Paimon. What are you saying?”

“Do you still not understand?”

This lady smirked. In truth, this lady was speaking in accordance to however her tongue moved while a lot of blood had rushed to her head. I am unable to even properly register what I am currently saying. It is this lady’s nature to become like this whenever she becomes mad.

“That man is not your property.”

This lady pointed towards Dantalian with the edge of her fan.

“He is now mine.”

“…………”

Barbatos’ face slowly started to distort.

That is right. This is it. If this lady is able to see this face, then she is able to endure both torture and abuse. Aah, truly. My entire insides feel refreshed. Why would one go against this lady with what little ability they have, and brazenly display their own stupidity, ignorance, and imprudence to the entire world? Truly, for Barbatos to understand……

…………Ara?

I looked around. For some reason, the Demon Lords around me were all frozen like statues. It felt as if even the air had frozen.

………What did this lady say just now?

FIN.

TL Note: We have now arrived at the end of volume 3 of Dungeon Defense. There’s the afterword next, but a majority of you guys usually skip or skim through that. Anyway, now that I’ve caught up to all the released volumes for now, I’ll be able to get some proper rest without having to stress over the fact that I should be translating.

I’ll be leaving a longer “TL’er Afterword” underneath the author’s, so you guys can read the rest there.

Anyway, thank you all for reading Dungeon Defense, and I hope to see you guys when volume 4 is released!