Welcome to the Impregnable Demon King Castle - Chapter 216-2

216 – The All-Heaven Festival Games (Part 2)

「A-ahem. M-my, this dress is quite tight around my chest…」

Said Milla in a somewhat deliberate tone.

However, my attention focuses on the area of herself that she mentioned.

I quickly try to avert my eyes, but the sight of Carmilla’s suggestive attire was already burned into memory.

She was playfully pulling on the belt that was supporting her breasts to…no, this isn’t the time to think about such things.

「There is a time and place, Vampire.」

「Wha-? But, I…gr, I have no excuses…!」

Agares fixed a cold gaze on Carmilla as her face turned red with regret.

「I must later punish my student who so stares at his master’s buttocks with wicked thoughts.」

Furcus’s stare pierces right through me.

「Huh? …No…I…Uh…I’m sorry.」

「Kidding. I don’t mind.」

「Hey, Le-…Chief of Staff. You can look at me, too. I’m outstandingly cute today as well.」

Sitri’s Monster outfit takes the form of a maid outfit due to the unique concept of the fifth stratum, a Dream Demon maid cafe.

Speaking of maids, the Hunter Kei, who is a Centaur in service to the Elementary Level – Beginner’s Dungeon, fits the maid image perfectly.

Sitri’s maid outfit is different. How should I put this? It was remodeled to maximize cuteness? Decorated with ribbons and hearts, her skin can be seen here and there in…deliberately placed gaps in the costume.

Today, as usual, she has her long pink hair done up in gently cascading twin-tails.

From the center of her lace-decorated Alice band, a tuft of hair was curled in the shape of a heart as well as cat-like creature hair ornaments decorated that area.

Of course, the horns, wings, and tail appropriate to a Dream Demon race are going strong.

「Hmph. Please do not tease Lord Lemegeton so, you two.」

「Same to you.」

「Agares, please be quiet for a bit.」

Carmilla’s cheek twitched, and Cashew looked somewhat dejected.

Speaking of attire, I tell her「Your clothes look very nice today.」

As we were going to an event, Cashew wore new clothes.

「T-thank you very much…!」

When I saw Cashew’s beaming face, I put a hand to my chest and breathed a sigh of relief.

A smile truly does suit Cashew better.

Her Highness watched our exchanges and her worried expression up to that point turned into bright laughter.

「Heh…Hahaha! I expected nothing less of my subordinates. You all aren’t the least bit perturbed by such a foe before us. I am proud of everyone here.」

「Ma’am…! Your words shall not go to waste!」

Agares got down to one knee and looked down, but everyone else continued walking, including her Highness.

「You are exaggerating, Agares. Now, come.」

「As you wish!」

Agares uses Spatial Mobility to teleport one step behind her Highness.

「Lemegeton.」

「Yes.」

「You know what to do, right?」

「! …Yes.」

She saw through me. I suppose that is to be expected of her Highness.

My head isn’t in the right place at all.

This isn’t the first time I’ve seen Furcus wear that.

Neither Carmilla nor Sitri.

If I turn on my combat focus, I wouldn’t be phased even if the opponent were to strip butt naked. If it were an opponent, I would instead calmly think about their intentions and advantages.

Her Highness referred to the people on stage as foes.

That’s right.

I should treat them as foes.

The peak that every Adventurer strives for, Adventurers who are all still active including the Aerial party.

Legendary Adventurers, including the Altreed party, who I would enjoy with my eyes glued to the TV or Terminal screen.

The same goes for the Monsters in their respective Dungeons or when they used to be active.

I have no problem with thinking of them as enemies or treating them as opponents.

I am both an Adventurer and a Monster.

But…I’ll admit.

To me, my master isn’t someone I can include in such a framework.

Of course, I am aware that he is the strongest Demon King. I saw the footage of him driving back powerful foes, including Aerial, in the first stratum during the Raid Battle.

But to me, my master is just…my master.

It’s different from how I am with Furcus, who is my co-worker and who taught me the ways of the blade.

He is a man I owe a great debt of gratitude towards because he trained me, taught me Black Sorcery, and gave me one of his horns.

I was aiming to be the world’s 1st ranked. Of course, I also imagined traversing the Demon King Castle.

But, honestly, this wasn’t the only thing.

I have never once had the wild idea of fighting him and winning.

I can’t say that I know him better than anyone else, but I can say that I have studied under him closer than anyone else.

It might actually be wholesome to think about surpassing one’s master. In some industries, it is said that achieving things greater than your master is a form of repayment.

But…

「Think about what everyone on that stage is searching for. That is all.」

「…!」

Her Highness’s words took me by surprise.

She’s right.

This is my master we’re talking about.

He wouldn’t come to any old event that he had no interest in.

Not just him. The same goes for everyone who has made an appearance on that stage.

What they are searching for…is to have a fierce battle with a strong foe and prove who is the strongest.

Master isn’t the type to confirm the obvious. He wouldn’t come all this way and take the time to crush weaklings.

So, he’s here because…

He thinks that there is, in fact, a foe with which he has to prove who is the strongest.

My mouth is agape.

A fire had been lit in my heart.

I don’t know who it is, but I don’t want to lose.

If I can defeat that person, then…I could become the foe my master seeks?

「Now that’s the face of someone who’s got their head in the game.」

Her Highness sounded satisfied.

「I’ll be sure to hide it with my mask.」

I calmed down enough to joke around.

「Heh.」

Her Highness gave a little chuckle, then put on an air of seriousness.

「No matter what the plan is, now that it has come to this, there is no way that I cannot take part in this. If they wish to decide who the strongest is, then it is only the Demon King Army that shall stand on top.」

All of us walking behind our King agreed in our hearts. I know that we all share the same feeling.

「…Let’s go.」

We walked to the wing of the stage without anyone getting in our way.

Even the people working backstage all made way for us, almost as if they knew we were coming.

I wonder if Fellow gave them such orders.

Cashew can only go this far.

She clasped her hands in front of her chest, mouthing「Good luck…!」in support.

I gave her a quick pat on the head and then headed toward the stage.

It seems that they are still in the middle of explaining the rules.

No other group has appeared other than the first three.

『This All-Heaven Festival Match will surely… Hm?! Right now, some unexpected guests seem to have made their appearance…!』

Apparently, this grand event of the century is the All-Heaven Festival Match.

I wonder if Festival is a metaphor for something… If it’s not, then it might be a form of ceremony that is dedicated to the God that informs us of our Jobs.

Either way, I am eternally grateful.

Grateful to have every powerful individual I have worked with and even those that I have not, gathered in one place.

Such an opportunity is beyond rare.

Even if this is yet another step in Fellow’s plan to abolish Dungeon Clears…

I’ll simply win and find a way to ensure the continuation of Dungeon Clears.

『It’s…The Holy Sword Breaker, the Demon King Lucifa! Following behind her are the current Demon King Army Big Four and the Chief of Staff…! Wh-what an amazing turn of events! Just what will happen at this festival?!』

Maggie’s really getting into it.

We all appeared in the Raid Battle, so there are many who know of us.

The venue erupted into an even bigger uproar.

My master is nearby.

I haven’t met him since I left the village when I was thirteen, so it’s been seven years since last I saw him.

I’m sure that the various reactions of everyone in the audience will flood out into the world as soon as they leave the venue.

Topping them all will undoubtedly be my master’s missing right horn.

I can imagine speculation after speculation flying around the Net about who inherited it.

If a disciple surpassing the master is a form of repayment…

Then disappointing one’s master is a betrayal of the highest order.

I absolutely must not make him think of me, the one who inherited the horn of the strongest Demon King, as a failure.