Welcome to the Impregnable Demon King Castle

55 – The Lament of the Vampire Queen, Alone with the Demon of Love

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「I heard everything.」

Milla appears in the meeting room around the time I finished talking with Her Highness.

「Hm? Carmilla? What is it?」

「I shall go with Lord Lemegeton to the aforementioned Dungeon.」

As usual, her golden locks are beautiful today and her red pupils sparkled like gemstones.

「No, you’re not.」

Her Highness flatly refused her proposal.
However, Milla isn’t one to back down so easily.

「But why, Your Highness?! I should have paid vacations stored up! I shall use them all here! There needs to be someone there to tell them of Lord Lemegeton’s greatness!」

What I find amazing about her Highness is that she never mentions the things she was being asked about.
As expected of the Demon King, she doesn’t get fazed by trivial things.
Right? Probably not.

「My reasoning is simple, you are the Floor Boss of the third stratum.
High-ranking parties…particularly the top three ranked parties probably won’t come, but other Adventurers aren’t so naive as to let themselves be cut down like common rabble.
If we lack the Chief of Staff’s strategic planning capabilities, more Adventurers will break through the first stratum.」

「Then Sir Kimaris and Leraje will stop them in the second stratum! Thanks to Lord Lemegeton, his stock of ghosts have increased exponentially since that day!」

I’m glad that Frost Hero Bella’s ghost is extremely compatible with Kimaris.
In order to force Avatar’s to submit without damaging them, freezing comes in handy.
When Kimaris uses his Necromancy on frozen Avatars, he can add them as his subordinates with almost no damage to them.

If I were to pinpoint a weakness it would be the fact that the manipulation of the ghosts must be done by the practitioner, making it very difficult to give detailed orders to more than one ghost.
Also, the durability of these ghosts pales in comparison to the original Avatars.

Their attack power can match the real thing though, so they are a considerable threat.

「Carmilla.
One of my loyal Big Four.
If you truly think that going along with Lemegeton is in the best interest of the Demon King Castle, then go.」

「…Uh…」

「But, if you only wish to be with your dearest, then I ask you to cool your head.
I understand your feelings towards Lemegeton, but I have need of you as well.
Stay here.」

「…A, as you wish.
I beg your forgiveness, Your Highness.
I lost my composure.」

Even though she forced herself to say that, she seems to have understood that she can’t leave if she stops and thinks about it with a cool head.

I know that she treasures this place and her Highness, who so rightfully appreciates her.
All the more if I think about what happened to her two years prior.

I never doubted her, which is why I didn’t butt in.

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「Good, good.
The village isn’t that far, so you can visit him on your days off.
Or, Lemegeton could summon you with his ring.
Distance makes the heart grow fonder…at least, that is what I read in a book once.」

「Thank you very much, Your Highness.」

Milla flicked her eyes in my direction.

「Is this OK, Lem…?」

Her eyes were wet.

「Y-yeah.
The village is nearby, so I’ll drop by once in a while.
I just started working here so it isn’t good for me to be away for too long periods of time.」

When the previous Floor Boss of the tenth stratum quit, their subordinates either changed occupations or transferred to a different stratum.

Even if you were to call back the people stationed in the other strata, you have to consider their compatibility with me.
I don’t want them to work for me simply because the Demon King ordered them to.
I want them to work in a place they are comfortable with.

It doesn’t give a good impression for someone who was just inaugurated to not show his face in his place of work.

「Although I’m sure Lemegeton will be lonely on his own.
For now, you can bring one person, I don’t mind if you bring along Cashew.」

Flop, goes Milla as she crumples to her knees.

「O-of course, Cashew is Lord Lemegeton’s secretary, after all…It would be harsh to leave her at home.
Yes, I’m fine.
I’m fine.」

She so convinces herself as she slowly stands back up.

「I shall go and explain the situation to her family…is what I would like to say, but I shall leave it to Agares.
As you can see, my appearance would make things awkward…」

Naturally, Adventurers and even the ordinary person don’t know that her Highness is a little girl.
It’s possible that Cashew told her family about her Highness.
But even if that were the case, it will surely be weird to be told that your daughter is being sent on a business trip by a girl who is barely any different in age to that very daughter.

Albeit more recently, the man known as the last of the Big Four, the Time Demon Agares is probably suitable for the role.

Provided that he doesn’t get excited when seeing Maca and Mia.

「Also, my recommendation can get you as far as the reception desk with no issue, but to defend the Dungeon as a Human, while they have feelings about Humans…I have a hard time imagining the Demi-humans there welcoming the Black Sorcerer Lem from the bottom of their heart.」

Even if I was kicked out of a party, I’m still an Adventurer.
So of course, they won’t.

It’s more accurate to say that the people in this Dungeon are too open-minded.

「So it’s not only a matter of my abilities, huh?」

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「Indeed.
Coming to them while they are on the brink of closure and explaining that you are the Black Sorcerer Lemegeton, hailing from the Demon King Castle, I doubt many of them will welcome you with open arms.」

「I shall prepare myself for that.」

「One more thing, Lemegeton.
I believe you should bring along one more person.
As Carmilla said earlier, if you bring along a Monster who knows of your true strengths, things should go somewhat smoother.」

It’s a matter of trust.
This is something that needs to be accumulated and built up, I can’t just walk up to them and say「I beat Fenix’s party.」.
Sure it’s a big achievement, but it’s my only achievement.
Besides, it was a big achievement for all those involved.

Just having someone who already has trust in me come along, should change their impression of me considerably.

「In that case, please at least let it be a man, Your Highness.
I give a special exception to Sitri.」

「I have already asked Furcus.」

One of the Big Four, the black knight Furcus who is given the title of Reaper Knight.

「But she’s a woman…!」

「Calm yourself, Carmilla.
While it is a pleasant breath of fresh air to see you flustered so, it is hard for me to continue the conversation.」

With Milla holding back her laments on the sidelines, her Highness continues the conversation while giving a concerned glance at Milla.

「Ahem.
As explained earlier, I have many young people employed under me.
The only one who is famous in the Monster world is Furcus.
Or rather, her predecessor is the one that made a name for himself.」

The Reaper Knight Furcus is a second-generation who inherited the alias, Dungeon Name, and spear from her predecessor.

Even so, the weight of that name is immense.
Furcus is also a gifted individual who should not be made light of.

「Kh…that much is true…」

Milla reluctantly agrees with her Highness’s words.

「And besides, Carmilla, Furcus is only interested in strength and food.
You have nothing to worry about.」

「You’re wrong, Your Highness.
One cannot predict when one might fall in love.
For even I once foolishly looked down on the Black Sorcerer Lem.
Simply spending more time together thoroughly raises the possibility of something happening.
We also don’t know what manner of insect would flock to Lord Lemegeton on the other side.」

「Is…is that so? Hm, I suppose so.
If that’s the case…uhm…aha! Let us task Cashew with surveillance duty! If Lemegeton does anything strange, she’ll report back.」

Wait.

「A splendid idea! I expected nothing less of you, Your Highness.」

What?

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「And then you can deal with any problem that arises on your days off, right?」

「Indeed, I don’t have the slightest hint of doubt that Lord Lemegeton will cause an issue, but it’s possible an annoying insect might attach itself to him.」

The conversation seems to have resolved itself.

…Well, I guess it’s fine if it eases Milla’s worries.

On top of bringing Cashew along, I will also act as her guardian while she continues to facilitate as my secretary.

I don’t believe I will leave her behind and go gallivanting with women at any point, but if I ever do, I suppose it can’t be helped that it will be reported.

「Then it’s decided.
You may both leave now.」

We bow to her Highness and leave the meeting room.

◇

「Oh, Le~m.」

It was lunch break.

Perhaps to further explain to her about her surveillance duties, Cashew was taken somewhere by Milla, so I was heading to the cafeteria by myself.

There, I was called out to by one of the Big Four, the Demon of Love Sitri.

Incidentally, Sitri became one of the people who know about the horn in these two weeks.
Her Highness convinced me to at least allow the Big Four to know about it because it wouldn’t be good for her Majesty’s allies to be out of the loop.

Originally, the other three knew that I was the disciple of my master because they were there during the interview.
Information that she would have known too had she been in that room at the time.
I was hesitant to tell her, so Her Highness told her in my stead.

I wonder if this is safe, master… But they are your granddaughter’s trusted subordinates after all, so perhaps you’ll forgive me…

If we were to meet again, he might just bonk me on the head without a word.

I once sent a letter to him detailing my new place of work, but he never replied.
How very like my master.

I just can’t imagine him sitting down and writing a letter to me.
Or rather, he wouldn’t even write a letter.
He’d probably send a familiar.
No, he’d probably come directly.
He just doesn’t strike me as someone who would write.

「Good day to you, Sitri.」

Sitri is a cat-like girl.
From her eyes to her mannerisms to her fickle mood.
Her small build, child-like face, and hair that’s tied up in two low points all give off a childish impression.

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She has the Dream Demon-like characteristics of horns, wings, and a tail but they’ve always felt out of place to me.
I just can’t put my finger on why I feel that way.

「I heard you were suddenly assigned to a business trip.
Sounds rough.」

「Did Milla tell you about it?」

「Fufu, Milly’s really feeling down.
She’s really fallen for you.」[1.
TL Note: “Milly” is Sitri’s nickname for Milla]

「Ahaha…」

「I wonder what Lem thinks of her…?」

「I think she is a wonderful woman.」

「Oh my, what a quick response.
Could it be that you’re unexpectedly comfortable with girls?」

She stares at me, measuring me from head to toe.

「Not at all, she makes my heart race every time.」

「I see, I see.
How adorable.」

We were walking side by side for a while, but suddenly Sitri grabs my arm.

「I told you before that we’d have a little chat, right?」

「Yes, I remember.
At the welcome party.」

「That’s right.
I thought I’d talk to you before you go on your trip.
If you form a contract with me, you can summon me whenever you’re in trouble on your trip, right?」

If I remember correctly, she promised to form a contract with me if we talked and came to an agreement.

「Yes, I suppose so.」

「In that case, come here.」

She brought me to the supply room.

Besides us, there was no one else in here.

「If you manage to keep a straight face at what I’m about to do, then I’ll form a contract with you.」

And in the next moment, Sitri’s body began to…