The inside of the Demon Lord Palace was as splendid as one might judge by its exterior.
Its ceilings were high. It was also complete with all sorts of first-cla.s.s furnishings.
When we went inside, we were greeted by maids.
These girls weren’t human, they were Succubi.
I wonder why there were Succubi here.
Maybe they were being employed here to make use of their transfer magic.
“Woah, Oto-san. That vase’s really awesome!”
“I’m bored. There’s nothing here worth researching.”
The fox-eared girl, Tenko, was excited to look at every single thing in here while the silver-haired prep.u.b.escent girl, Elder Dwarf, was suppressing a yawn.
They may act like so but they never, not for an instant, dropped down their guard nor have they forgotten to be wary of their surroundings.
Marcho’s scolding was effective.
After we’ve walked a while, a remarkably splendid and huge gate stood before us.
We went over to the reception desk in front of the gate and in there, we were given some explanation; I could only take along up to three of my monsters. And so, I summoned a Skeleton from my [Storage].
It was the smartest among the Skeletons; the top Skeleton I’ve been secretly referring to as Ske-san.
The Succubi were round-eyed.
Well, it was only natural. And so, with that in mind, I could predict the way things would develop after this.
We were allowed to bring in three monsters, and naturally, it was to be a.s.sumed that those three would be the Demon Lord’s [Monsters of the Covenant].
In other words, this was the chance to show off one’s most trusted and most powerful allies.
So if one were to bring along in there a Skeleton which anybody could buy for a mere 20 DP, they would be laughed at.
But that was fine to me.
“Tenko, Elder Dwarf, I want everyone in there to drop their guard around us so please bear with being made fun of.”
I requested such to the two.
Tenko gave me a yeah and then cheerfully nodded while Elder dwarf bobbed her head.
And so, we entered inside the room.
◇
The room was filled by pa.s.sionate and beautiful music played by some humanoid monsters.
Food and drinks of the highest quality were served in abundance, each one to be relished.
The only ones in here were the Demon Lords and their subordinate monsters.
By the reactions of those around them, I generally knew whether they were a Demon Lord or a monster.
The Demon lords were very varied, ranging from those just like me to those who were beastmen and dragonewts.
However, what the Demon Lords all had in common was that they were all able to walk on two legs and could also use their hands for precise movements. In short, they were all humanoids.
I wonder, was this intended?
As I was thinking about it, all the Demon Lords shifted their focus onto me as soon as I took a step in.
After all, they could guess at the attribute the newcomer might have by looking at the monsters the newcomer had brought along.
They had to think of the approach they would take in trading for the newcomer’s medal depending on his attribute.
“Gyahahahahaha. That guy, he brought along something like a Skeleton.”
“His other monsters are around level 30 too; must be low rank monsters.”
“A Night fox and a Dwarf? Did he only owned B rank medals when he created them? And on top of that, he flopped.”
Half of the Demon Lords laughed at me.
The Night Fox and the Dwarf were both C rank monsters. The Demon Lords probably a.s.sumed I used two B rank medals on my [Synthesis], and then failed and only got C rank monsters.
These fellows were the small fries.
Demon Lords had the ability to see through a monster’s level. Rising in level would allow them to read an additional piece of information about the monster.
However, the higher the rank of the monster, the higher the level a Demon Lord had to be to be able to read any further information.
In other words, without being able to see through Tenko and Elder Dwarf’s powers, they have fallen for my bait which was the Skeleton. And if they looked down on me, they proved they were third-rate Demon Lords.
What I was afraid of were…
“Ohh, interesting.”
“What kind of trick could this be?”
“Things going to get amusing from now on.”
…the Demon Lords who could properly appraise Tenko and Elder Dwarf but chose to be cautious.
If those guys wouldn’t make contact with me, I would be outdone.
Casually, I looked around and saw that Marcho was deep in conversation with other Demon Lords.
She gave me a mean look and instantly returned to her conversation. I guess I wouldn’t receive any help from her and must strive on my own.
◇
I talked to various Demon Lords in the dance hall.
The small-fry Demon Lords who were looking down on me proposed deals between their imitation medals and my original medals.
They seemed to have decided that my medals were of lower value.
Although they took me lightly, I had also obtained some information.
On the other hand, while all the Demon Lords who were able to see through Tenko and Elder Dwarf’s powers were interested in me, they kept each other in check and wouldn’t readily come talk with me.
Just as when I thought it was getting irritating, an extraordinary kind of fool came.
“You, are you the one who brought along weak monsters? I pity you so this future great Demon Lord, Stolas-sama of the [Wind], shall give you some charity.”
She was a green haired young lady.
The moment she said [Wind], our surroundings riled up.
I recalled Marcho’s story about it. Among the four great elements, [Earth], [Fire], [Wind], and [Water]; only a Demon Lord having the [Wind] medal hasn’t appeared all this time.
On top of being powerful, the versatility of the four great elements were extremely high. And without any exception, they were all medals of A rank, making the owners of these medals the target of envy by many others.
That’s why it wasn’t amusing if even the girl born with the [Wind] attribute herself thought she was some kind of chosen individual.
“Charity?”
“Yes. I’ll give you my [Wind]. It’s only an imitation but it’s a B rank. So, make a slightly better monster.”
The girl threw her [Wind] imitation medal in the air and I caught it.
I was thankful for the imitation, no, the [Wind] medal I now held but my pride wouldn’t allow me to simply take it.
I was fine with strategically making them let their guard down but receiving charity was another issue.
“Thank you. Then, I’ll give you this.”
I threw to her the [Flame] imitation medal I had prepared for trading.
Considering [Flame], [Person], [Earth], and [Creation], all of which were A rank, would certainly be in demand, I had prepared imitations of them beforehand.
“What’s this?”
“An exchange. I’m also a Demon Lord born just this year so we’re rivals. Just me receiving things doesn’t sit well to me. These medals are of the same rank, right?”
Something I said got on the green-haired Demon Lord’s nerves and she went mad.
“Rivals? Someone like you who can make nothing but monsters of that quality dares to consider me, a Demon Lord having an A rank medal, to be his rival? Don’t make me laugh.”
“That quality? I should be asking you that instead. How could someone who brought along monsters “of that quality” make fun of mine? If they fought, yours wouldn’t last a minute.”
Stolas brought along three monsters.
A wind weasel, a winged horse, and an angel-like monster.
I could only see detailed information of D rank monsters and below so for these three, their levels were all I could determine.
However, one of them was just level 69. The others were around the 60s. It was impossible for a monster that could grow to level up this much in this short of a timespan. Then, supposing that was the case, one of them would be an A rank monster and the other two would be B ranks. (Note: Procell here made a little jump in his explanation but remember that static level monsters are born with a level according to their rank.)
“I-I won’t allow anyone to make fun of my [Monsters of the Covernant]! You, what’s your name?”
“I am the [Creation] Demon Lord Procell.”
“As for me, I am the [Wind] Demon Lord Stolas. I’ll soon make you regret picking a fight with me.”
Our surroundings were noisy.
The small-fry Demon Lords looked at me and began spouting things like go die or you’ll regret this.
On the other hand, the powerful Demon Lords looked at us with great interest.
Well, I guess our fighting force were equal to each other.
Tenko and Elder Dwarf were S rank monsters but they were still at a low level. We were at a disadvantage to the A rank monster born with a static level on the other party when judged solely by their status. But due to our side’s superior special abilities and overwhelming weapons, both sides were almost equal to each other.
However, after 10 or so more levels, our side would most likely overtake them and further down the line, just simply overpower them.
◇
Some time had pa.s.sed.
During that interval, I had exchanged a few of my imitation medals for the other party’s but was still yet to obtain an original medal.
I have to obtain some with the time left.
If I exchanged [Creation] to the powerful Demon Lords, perhaps then I could obtain some but unless it was a Demon Lordd that could keep a secret and not have any ill intentions towards me, it would only do me more harm than good.
As I was thinking so, my consciousness suddenly drifted away.
When I came to, I was on a stage.
There were nine others with me. And one of them was Stolas whom I got into a quarrel earlier.
All the other Demon Lords’ gaze were focused on the ten of us.
“Children of the stars. These are newly born children to join the ranks. ”
A voice was heard when we were brought here.
“Now then, let us celebrate our new found radiance.”
The Demon Lords raised their cups.
And before I realized it, there was also a cup in my hands.
“Kampai!”
I, almost unconsciously, drank from the cup in my hand.
It was delicious, so very delicious. What was this alcohol and the strange heat it boils up within me? I felt as though a new power had sprouted.
“And now, I shall convey to everyone what I have decided upon. Normally, new Demon Lords are prohibited to construct their own Dungeon until they can stand on their own.”
I had heard something similar.
After a year of studying, I heard we were to move out and make our own Dungeon.
“However, I have decided that that is such a long time spent idling. Therefore, on this occasion, I am giving them the privilege to build their own Dungeon.”
All of the Demon Lords erupted with chatter.
And from among them, Marcho raised her hand.
“[Beast] Demon Lord Marchosias? I permit you to speak.”
“Yes, Creator. I am against this. They are still much too young and don’t yet fully comprehend the world. Their crystals will be broken in the blink of an eye, losing their powers in the process.”
That would definitely happen.
After all, our military might were still far from being satisfactory. Our DP was the same.
The one year time period we were given was supposedly for gaining knowledge, earning DP, and building up our military might.
As were right now, the Dungeon we would build would do nothing but entice humans and the other Demon Lords to attack us.
“You are a kind child, Marchosias. But your worry is a needless one. Up until a year after their independence, I am prohibiting the other Demon Lords in attacking the new Demon Lords’ Dungeons.”
That was a great help.
I might be able to defend myself but that was only against a fellow new Demon Lord.
The problem now, however, were the beings called Heroes but it seemed like unless there was a threat against mankind, they would not bare their fangs against me.
“In addition, should they lose their Dungeon before gaining their independence, I shall give them a new crystal a year after they’ve stood on their own.”
The new Demon Lords became excited.
That was a wonderful fallback.
However, it by no means meant that losing one’s crystal was alright.
After all, the DP one could earn would decrease during the time the Dungeon was down.
And, a gap with the other Demon Lords would be made.
What’s more was what Marcho had said; if the crystal was broken, the Demon Lord would lose all of his powers.
Medal [Discharge], monster creation, and exchanging things for DP, all of these couldn’t be done until a new crystal was given.
Also…… there was a chance wherein all the monsters the Demon Lord had created thus far would all be gone, never to return even after getting hold of a new crystal.
“However, giving you too much and not having any tension left is also troubling. New Demon Lords, fight with each other and obtain the other’s power. Conquer another’s Dungeon and s.n.a.t.c.h away their powers. In fact, I am requiring you to fight one war before being independent.”
So that’s how things were.
This G.o.d seemed like he really wanted us to fight each other.
Either way, since we were going to get a new crystal by the time we were independent, I should not hesitate at breaking another Demon Lord’s crystal and gaining their power.
The others were thinking the same. This had become a gruesome meeting, hadn’t it?
“New Demon Lords, I hope you’ll borrow from the older Demon Lords their knowledge and make a labyrinth of your own. That is all… no, actually, let’s do a show.”
The new Demon Lords let out a voice of surprise.
Something hot was in our hands. In mine was a [Creation] medal. Ignoring the once a month limit, there it was.
“This medal is my gift to you, free of charge. And only to the first ones to volunteer, I offer them the chance to take part in a simplified [War] right here, right now. They will be tasked to build an instant Dungeon and shatter the other’s [Pseudo-crystal]! Win and get the other’s medal; or lose and have your own medal be taken away!”
The new Demon Lords were confused.
If one won, they would be able to get the other Demon Lord’s medal which was huge.
However, this being a show and all, the scope of their own power would be exposed to everybody in this place. And on top of that, they had to hand over their original medal should they lose.
But on the other hand, not partic.i.p.ating would allow them to bring home a free medal.
So, was it necessary to take the risk?
I understood these but I would not waver. I had no choice but to fight here.
The question now was whom do I fight? At a certain point in the party, I had collected information regarding what kind of medal the new Demon Lords possessed.
But I didn’t have much time to dwell on it; the chance was only offered to the first ones to volunteer.
From the group, there was someone to make the first move.
It was the [Wind] Demon Lord Stolas.
She was definitely glaring my way, trying to open her mouth.
I see, was this revenge for the embarra.s.sment I did to her?
My little mischievious heart was excited.
“[Creation]”
“[Wind] Demon Lord Stolas, I challenge you to a war!”
“And so, this is our show. [Creation] Demon Lord Procell and [Wind] Demon Lord Stolas, these two shall go to war!”
I interrupted her and declared war myself.
She planned to look cool but having her honor suddenly crushed, Stolas shook and trembled.
I flashed a grin, adding more fuel to the fire.
She flared up right away. It looked like she was an enemy who was easy to deal with.
If I won against her, I would be able to obtain an A rank original medal and I would then be able make another [Monster of the Covenant] candidate.
Now then, time for my first confrontation against a fellow Demon Lord. What kind of battle would unfold, I wonder?