Dungeon manager 1 a litr.., p.15
Dungeon Manager 1: A LitRPG Isekai Adventure, page 15
The other subordinates who went to prepare were now armed and waiting in the throne room.
Our next task is simple: to crush the enemy’s will to fight. That’s all.
What’s needed for this is the overwhelming strength of the guardians and the reality that we are the weakest. If we can make the enemy aware of this, most will lose their fighting spirit. I’d lose mine immediately.
And then we need to instill the despair of facing numerous strong opponents. This is our objective. Since we're both demon lords, I’d prefer to win them over without a fight.
I want to resolve this as peacefully as possible. If they continue to resist and fight, we’ll have to annihilate them with all our guardians.
Defeating a demon lord would be a significant deterrent for the future, but it could also severely weaken cooperation with other demon lords. Therefore, this outcome must be avoided.
That’s why I hurriedly created the remaining guardians. No one can predict the future, so all we can do is hope for a fortunate result.
When I arrived in the throne room, all the guardians were lined up, fully armed.
However, "armed" doesn’t mean they were wearing heavy armor.
In fact, they have high resistance to attacks, so there’s no need for them to wear armor. Thus, none of them are dressed in anything new. "Armed" means they are prepared with the weapons they use in battle. While magical guardians are unarmed, some hold swords, axes, or scythes. Overall, more guardians are without weapons than with them.
Some, like Akagiri, create their weapons through magic.
"Sorry to keep you waiting. Let’s begin right away."
The timing was perfect.
When Rafaena was slightly pressured by Obaron, creating a small opening for the opponent, the guardians teleported to the 12th layer using the transfer ring and appeared before Oberon. It must have been a stunning sight. Even Demon Lord Oberon showed visible confusion.
Now, how will Demon Lord Obaron react?
Will he move toward the best possible outcome?
I watched and hoped.
Then, on the other side of the screen, Demon Lord Obaron quietly raised his hand.
At that moment, I let out a sigh of relief.
The signal of surrender was given by Obaron, finally bringing an end to this meaningless conflict.
But now comes the most crucial part. They will bring Demon Lord Oberon here, and the negotiations will begin. Whether Oberon will become an ally will be decided in this meeting. I can’t afford to make any mistakes. I don’t know how to win someone’s heart, but if I express my genuine feelings, it should work out somehow. Instead of overthinking it, I’ll focus on not making mistakes, or so I hope.
I took my seat on the throne and gathered the other subordinates to wait. By then, Akagiri had already been completely healed by Mari. She stood tall with a complete recovery.
Given that Mari’s magic could heal even such severe injuries, it seems my subordinates might never be defeated if she is around.
While contemplating this, I received a message from Altrius. It seems Demon Lord Obaron had entered the castle via the special transfer gate we had prepared. Harumena was leading, and Altrius was bringing up the rear.
At the same time, the other guardians who had gone to the 12th layer returned.
"Refaena, thank you for your hard work. Please let Mari tend to your wounds."
"Understood."
Rafaena immediately went to Mary, who healed her minor injuries.
Seeing Rafaena return to the lineup and all my subordinates gathered together, I felt a bit of excitement. What a beautiful sight it was!
After all, everyone there was stunning, enchanting, and adorable. If someone doesn’t feel excited seeing this, they must be ill. Even as a fellow woman, I was thrilled.
Finally, the doors of the throne room opened.
A tall man clad in heavy, rock-like armor and a battered, grotesque figure—Gespent—entered with three others. Upon entering, Harumena and Altrius walked over to my side and stood by me.
The moment he saw me, his face revealed clear surprise.
"Welcome. It is an honor to meet you, Demon Lord Obaron Libel Era Jilphanis. I am the administrator of this dungeon and, like you, a demon lord."
Chapter 25: The Conclusion of the Demon Lord Alliance
About an hour into the conversation with the Demon King Obaron Liber Era Jilphanis in the banquet hall, the meal was finished, and the discussion was about to move to the main topic.
We faced each other across the table.
The meal had been cleared, and only two glasses of wine and two portions of smoked beef remained on the table.
Obaron took a glass of wine, sniffed it, and slowly tasted it.
"This is from Vincent, isn't it? Do you have a particular fondness for this wine?"
"Not particularly. Why do you ask?"
"Vincent wine is something ordinary people rarely touch. Its acidity is quite unique, and few people like it. So it's only natural to wonder if you have a preference for it."
I see. Actually, I haven’t tried it yet. It was among the supplies I bought, but I’m not particularly fond of wine. What should I do?
"I see. Unfortunately, I have no particular attachment to this wine. It was purchased by one of my subordinates from a nearby town. Neither I nor my subordinates are very knowledgeable about such things, so it was just something we picked up. I apologize if it doesn’t suit your taste."
"I see. Well, I actually like Vincent wine, so there's no problem. I even thought you had chosen it to match my taste. But if that's the case, it seems you really have no knowledge of this world."
Oberon placed his glass down gently and looked at me with suspicion.
"You mentioned earlier that you’ve only recently arrived in this world. It makes sense. What exactly are you doing in this dungeon? Despite being new, this castle seems quite luxurious. How did you manage to build it? Was it already here in the dungeon?"
"Let me explain everything from the beginning. I intend to form alliances with all the Demon Lords in the future. Therefore, I will share all my information openly."
To earn his trust, I revealed all my background details to him: my reincarnation from another world, the structure of this dungeon, and many other things. However, discussing the structure of this dungeon might have been dangerous. Revealing my one and only weakness to someone I was previously hostile to might have been a serious mistake. But if I didn't, it would create inconsistencies with the fact that I can’t leave the dungeon, which could affect my credibility. So, I felt I had to take the risk and convey it clearly. However, even if my weakness is exposed, my loyal subordinates' defenses should be strong enough to prevent easy infiltration. I hope it’s okay.
"I don’t doubt that you’re a reincarnated being. When Zerest’s old man died, the balance of power in the world shifted. It wouldn’t be surprising if a new demon lord like you was summoned."
"Does Lord Oberon know about the other Demon Lords?"
"Not all of them. But I know a fair amount."
"If possible, could you tell me about the other Demon Lords?"
"Why do you want to know?"
"I seek to request their cooperation. I need to survive in this world for a long time. Therefore, I want to fight against the hero alongside other Demon Lords."
"That’s strange. It’s natural to want to live a long, but why should they fight together with you? Why not defeat the hero together?"
Oberon picked up a piece of meat from his plate, drank his wine, and gave me a sharp look.
"Cooperation is impossible. As you can see, Demon Lords are rigid and only act out of self-interest. It’s unlikely you’ll be able to cooperate with them or even have a conversation with them. Give up."
"But I don’t think all Demon Lords are like that. After all, I’m able to talk with Lord Obaron. The possibility isn’t zero."
But it’s true that Demon Lords may be selfish. After all, I’m asking for their cooperation to ensure my own survival.
"Will you give up?"
"Of course not. If there is a possibility, I will cling to it."
I answered with a full smile.
Obaron’s sharp demeanor softened, and a smile appeared on his face.
"You’re quite a character. It is truly fitting for a demon lord. I understand your desire. However, your current situation makes it difficult. With this dungeon as your anchor, meeting other Demon Lords for cooperation will be nearly impossible. How do you plan to handle that?"
"At present, my subordinates are outside the dungeon, gathering information about the world. I plan to act based on the information they obtain about other Demon Lords and the hero. Since I can’t leave the dungeon myself, I have to rely on my subordinates as messengers, though I worry about whether the other Demon Lords will listen to them."
Obaron laughed triumphantly.
With my subordinates poised to attack, I fixed my gaze on him.
“I admit my defeat. It’s a complete loss. With your strength, it would be easy for you to gather information on your own and secure powerful allies rather than joining my ranks. Yet, you chose to remain my subordinate. Knowing all this, I have been thoroughly defeated.”
“So, you were testing me after all. You’re quite kind, Obaron-sama.”
“What are you saying? If I were testing you, I wouldn’t be kind. Anyway, let me make a formal proposal: add me to your ranks.”
Obaron made his request with a stern yet sincere expression.
I responded gently.
“I must refuse.”
Obaron looked at me in shock, unable to believe what he had heard.
“W-Why?!”
“I prefer an equal partnership rather than a subordinate relationship. How about we form an alliance instead?”
Obaron’s expression softened as he considered my proposal, and he agreed with a nod.
“Very well. I agree to the alliance. So, what are the terms of this alliance?”
“I seek a safe living environment. I would like to receive the necessary resources and information from you, Obaron-sama. In exchange, I will send you products produced in my city. Additionally, I will provide some military support during conflicts. However, since my city is still in its early stages, it will be some time before we can provide those products. How does that sound?”
“That’s not a bad deal. In fact, it’s quite advantageous for us. As someone who lost in the recent battle, it feels somewhat inequitable, but I can’t disregard the benefits you’re offering. I accept the terms of the alliance with gratitude.”
With that settled, a formal document was necessary. Humans always need proof for their agreements; without it, promises might be broken. I wanted to avoid that risk as much as possible.
As I was thinking this, Elrodea approached from the back, offering a piece of parchment.
“This is the document for the alliance. We just need both parties to sign it to finalize the agreement.”
Elrodea presented the prepared document and explained it to us.
“Thank you. I’ll go first,” I said, taking the document and handing it to him.
The names of Demon King Oberon and Demon King Mari were inscribed on the parchment, each with a blood seal next to their names.
This was my first time making a blood seal. It was a bit frightening, but I couldn’t let that show in front of my alliance partner. So, I did my best to endure it, though it was quite intense.
“This completes the alliance agreement,” Elrodea announced, holding up the document.
Both Obaron and I stood and shook hands.
It feels like I’ve stepped into an entirely different world. What am I even doing? My new life seems to be shaping up to be quite extraordinary.
“Now, let’s return to our earlier discussion.”
“You mentioned having a Demon King who might be willing to listen?”
“Yes.”
“Please, go ahead.”
Chapter 26: The Arena for Stress Relief
As I resumed my seat, Obaron began discussing the demon lord he had in mind.
“The place is quite far, but there's a demon lord named Hisent Ren Paroas who governs a cold region called Gisas. She’s a female demon lord who would surely be willing to listen. She has a knack for being intrigued by new and interesting things. Even if you send an envoy, she’s likely to respond favorably.”
“Then, I’ll speak with Hisent-sama next. If it’s not too much trouble, could you assist with directions?”
“Sure. Do you have any subordinates who are particularly fast on their feet? The only one I can lend as a guide is the swift and reliable ‘Assassin Bull’ Centaur, Bilun. How about it?”
When it comes to speed, my logistics team has three members who should be sufficiently quick.
“Keena, Rorona.”
As soon as I uttered their names, the two appeared instantly.
“Yes, Lady Mari?”
“Thank you for coming. I believe the two of you are quick enough. I’m considering sending you as envoys. It’s not final yet, though.”
Obaron looked skeptically at the two, who seemed like mere children compared to his imposing figure, but he soon nodded in agreement.
“Very well. I’ll assign Bilun, the ‘Assassin Bull,’ to accompany them.”
“Thank you.”
I turned to the two and briefed them briefly before they eagerly accepted the task and vanished. I instructed them to wait for further details, which I would provide later.
“Is there anything else? If there’s anything you need for city building that I can provide, just let me know.”
What could I possibly need?
Since this is my first time dealing with city-building, I’m not sure what’s necessary. I lack knowledge of construction, so it would be ideal to have experts in that field. We also need merchants to facilitate the flow of goods. We’re short on various kinds of talent, so any help in that area would be greatly appreciated.
“Do you have any advice on city-building, Obaron-sama?”
“Unfortunately, I don’t possess such knowledge. My residence is within the Hizubaya Mountains, far removed from city planning. I have no expertise in that area, but I can provide rare minerals that might be useful. Mining these minerals in the Hizubaya Mountains is prohibited, and attempting to steal them without my permission would lead to death by my subordinates. There are rare minerals available only in those mountains that I can supply to you.”
Rare minerals, huh? They might be useful for equipment. That would be extremely helpful.
“Thank you. I’ll manage the construction on our end. I’ll work diligently to provide the agreed-upon resources as quickly as possible.”
Obaron smiled at my words.
“Quite the commendable effort. I wonder if there are any other peaceful alliances like this.”
“Is that so? This is my first time doing something like this, so I wouldn’t know.”
“I thought as much. Well, then, there’s not much more I can do, so let’s call it a day. Should I leave Bullman here as a guide?”
“No, I’ll make my way to you when the time comes. You can return.”
“Understood. I’ll take my leave now. However, before I go, there’s a small favor I’d like to ask.”
As Obaron stood up and prepared to leave, he turned to me.
“What kind of favor?”
Obaron’s request was not difficult. In fact, it was more about atonement or cleanup—planting seeds for future endeavors.
I led him to the 12th floor of the dungeon, where Oberon’s injured subordinates were standing, clearly exhausted. When Obaron appeared, they mustered their strength to approach him. Despite their fearsome and grotesque appearances, the sight of them battered and loyal to their master was strangely heart-wrenching.
“Obaron-sama!”
As his subordinates cried out, I turned to Mary, who had accompanied me.
“Please take care of this.”
“Understood.”
Mary, the tree fairy, cast her area-healing spell.
[Blessing Rain: Gefallens Ray]
Emerald-green raindrops of light poured into the dungeon. This mysterious rain, which did not wet or stain, rapidly healed the wounds of those touched by it. When the healing rain ceased after a few minutes, Obaron’s forces were fully restored.
“Sorry about that. I’m grateful for your help.”
“There is no need to apologize. It’s only natural for a fellow demon lord to assist. I’m glad it was you I met first. I look forward to our future cooperation.”
I generated a special exit gate to the dungeon using the management board and saw Obaron off.
The meeting with Demon Lord Obaron had passed quickly.
Meeting another demon lord was very enlightening. Not only that, but we had also established an alliance. Things were going smoothly.
When I returned to the 12th floor, the guardians and other subordinates had gathered.
“Um, Lady Mari...”
Ciel, the mimic liquid with a pleading look, spoke up.
“What is it?”
“Can I eat this?”
Ciel pointed to the remains of the defeated demonic creatures from Oberon’s army.
Oh, I remember discussing this earlier.
Since Obaron has left, it should be fine.
“Go ahead.”
“Yay! Then I’ll dig in!!”
Ciel, who had taken on a cute, girl-like form, quickly transformed into a translucent liquid. This was her true form. Although she usually took on a humanoid appearance, she reverted to her original form only when feeding.
Her appearance was exactly like the slime you’d imagine.
I marveled at how Ciel devoured the remains like a vacuum cleaner.
In no time, the 12th floor was cleaned up. However, the floors, walls, and ceiling damaged in the battle had not been repaired. I wondered how to handle that.
I would consult Elrodea later.
For now, securing an alliance with another demon lord has resolved a significant issue.
