“Master is...giving this...to Rose?” Rose’s shoulders trembled.
“It may not be of much value, but this item carries its share of memories.”
Maybe a Magimatic doll wouldn’t be able to understand the value such a thing held. It seemed he gave her the wrong gift. There it was again, his communication disorder rearing its ugly head... He couldn’t help but be disappointed in himself.
Any trace of anger left Rose’s face, and she returned to her mask-like expressionlessness.
“Thank you very much, Master... Forgive Rose for causing Master any concern. Rose will be fine now.”
“I see.”
Diablo sighed with relief. He never would have imagined he’d have to give a girl a present to quell her jealousy in a world based on Cross Reverie.
—This isn’t a dungeon crawling RPG, this is some sort of dating sim! The game balance is ruthless, too, just like the oldies...
Doing things he had no experience with exhausted him, but Rose seemed to be feeling better, if nothing else.
Changing gears, Diablo gave Rose the names of the items he needed for his new getup. Rose nodded wordlessly.
†
“Nnn...”
“Oh? Ah, you’re awake.”
Lumachina opened her eyes. Noticing Diablo, she hurried to her feet, but lost her balance and tripped. Diablo caught her, mildly forcing her to sit down.
“You shouldn’t move so soon. Even if it’s been dispelled, the fact remains you’ve been afflicted with the curse for days. It’s only natural you’d be exhausted. And I heard you used a great healing miracle, too... You reckless fool.”
—And you used it on a person that tried to kill you, too... You really are too kind for your own good.
Lumachina gave a little nod and sat atop the cloak, hugging her knees. There was something odd about the way she did it; maybe people in this country weren’t used to sitting on the ground? It probably wasn’t customary for girls to sit crossed-leg. She was sitting as if she were on a chair, with her buttocks lowered, hugging her knees with her arms.
Lumachina adjusted her disheveled clothes, hiding her exposed thighs, her cheeks flushed.
“Please forgive me. My conduct earlier was...shameless.”
“Not at all, it was a treat for the—”
“Huh?”
He was just about to let something indecent slip...
“Ahem!” Diablo coughed, trying to change the topic. “You needn’t worry about it, that was all because of the curse.”
“Thank you so much... Hearing you say that puts me at ease.”
“Just now I’ve shared items in this vault with Rem and the others, but you’re like Shera, no? The gear you have on is already quite remarkable.”
“Huh? You mean my clothes? Batutta prepared this outfit for me... I believe this is fitting for a High Priest, no?”
It appears it had some significant physical defense and magical defense to it, and was well-made and elegant, too. But there were better items with superior effects to what Lumachina was wearing in the vault, and since Lumachina’s level as a Healer exceeded 100, she should be able to equip them. But she had her position as a High Priest to consider, and the Priest’s Garb she was currently wearing would be ideal in that regard.
No matter how well enchanted it was, a revealing outfit that exposed her navel or cleavage would be unacceptable.
—For some reason, female outfits become more revealing the higher their level is...
Diablo presented the items he had prepared for her.
“There are bracelets and necklaces, too. Pick whatever suits your fancy. These will come in handy, should you intend to keep fighting to reform the Church.”
“There are so many... Thank you, Lord Diablo.”
Lumachina’s gaze wandered around restlessly.
“Hm? Is something bothering you?”
“No, but...where is everyone?”
It made sense that’d be the first thing she’d think about.
Diablo realized it was weird of him to bring up the gear before explaining where everyone else was. His bad habits as a loner were surfacing once again.
If he wasn’t role-playing as a Demon Lord, she would probably doubt his common sense. What a close one.
“They’re fine. They’re all pretty exhausted, so they’re resting in the Demon Lord’s Chamber.”
“Oh, that’s good to hear...” Lumachina said, her expression turning softer and kinder, but continued the discussion of items immediately after. “Hmm... There’s actually an item I would like for you to lend me.”
“Oh?”
Diablo was surprised. Judging from her personality, he assumed she wouldn’t ask for anything.
“Would you mind giving me the White Ox Statue?” she said, fixing her gaze on him. “There are still many people suffering from the Death Knell disease at Zircon Tower.”
“Ah, I see. That’s very much like you. As always, you put others over yourself.”
“I can only see myself as another, normal person... Is it really so odd?”
“It is. But you should stay that way. Should any hardship befall you for it, I’ll be there to drive it away. Never change, Lumachina.”
In a world where monsters roamed, racial discrimination ran rampant, and the Church was corrupt, Lumachina remained pure and unblemished... Diablo found that to be oh so very precious. He wanted to help her.
“I’m so glad...” Lumachina wiped a tear. “To hear such words from God himself...”
“No, uh...”
She believed Diablo was God. Taking the form of an adventurer claiming to be a Demon Lord, God had descended to this world... That was the story Lumachina convinced herself of. But since Diablo had seen her in her most...vulnerable state, she would have to marry him if he was just another member of the races! That was the logic Lumachina seemed to work under.
Lumachina was virtuous, beautiful and had quite a body, to boot. But someone as socially inept as him could never become a High Priest’s groom. Pigs would fly way before that would be possible.
And just like that, Diablo couldn’t deny her claims to him being God.
—Lumachina’s smart, though... She would see through my lie, wouldn’t she?
Diablo gazed at her and she gazed back, not daring to blink.
—She’s cute.
She was incredibly cute...but Diablo, who couldn’t stand feeling people’s gazes upon him, broke eye contact first. He felt like her gaze would see right through him.
“Hm, my Lord...” Lumachina parted her pink lips to speak. “Could I receive the White Ox Statue now?”
“Huh? O-Oh, that. Of course, you may take it... Wait, no. It’s pretty heavy, you’ll need a wagon to carry it...”
“Oh, I could not ask for more of you. I will do all I can to carry it back myself. I want to deliver it to the town as soon as possible.”
“...We would love to help you.”
A voice spoke suddenly behind them, prompting Diablo to turn around.
It was Rem, a wry smile on her face.
“...You always go to the craziest lengths to help others, Lumachina.”
“Oh my, Rem...and everyone else is here, too...”
“You’re all better now, Lumachina! I’m so happy!” Shera exclaimed, running up to her.
Shera threw her arms around Lumachina in a hug. Lumachina happily returned the hug.
“Oh, thank you so much... You were such a huge help to me earlier, Shera.”
“No biggie! Companions are all about helping each other!”
“Companions... It makes me so happy to know you consider me to be your companion.”
“That’s bordering on blasphemy, Shera.” Rem shrugged. “Calling someone as important as the High Priest a mere companion... Oh, that’s right... You’re royalty, aren’t you?”
“Oh, who cares about titles? You, Lumachina, Horn...and Diablo and Rose, too! You’re all my companions!”
Shera’s words
made Rem blush, while Horn seemed shocked.
“Me, too? Really!? Ah, you mean only until we get out of here, right...?”
“No, silly. We’ll always be companions! We worked so hard together on this adventure, after all!”
“Rose didn’t participate in any adventure...” Rose said with a slightly displeased expression, standing a short ways away.
“Then how about we go on one now?”
“No...” Rose said, visibly baffled by Shera’s words. “Master put Rose in charge of the thirteenth floor...”
A thought crossed Diablo’s mind.
“Are Magimatic Maids unable to leave their stations?”
“Rose does not know. Rose has never left this dungeon.”
“I see... In that case, it’s worth checking if you can. We will be heading back to Zircon Tower soon. Lumachina wishes for us to bring the White Ox Statue to the afflicted townspeople.”
It was hard imagining a Demon Lord working hard to save others. That said, he was at odds with that image from the moment he began cooperating with a High Priest...
But Diablo’s honest feelings were, if it was possible to save those in need, he should do so. Diablo was, at his core, an ordinary person raised in a country that valued helping others.
“Zircon Tower, you say...” Rose said, knitting her brows. “Rose doubts carrying the statue over now would do them any good.”
“What? What do you mean?”
Could it be the Death Knell disease progressed faster than they expected?
Lumachina held her breath in fear, and the other girls’ expressions hardened.
Rose answered his question in a plain, matter-of-factly tone:
“Because the Demon Lord’s army is marching on Zircon Tower right now.”
Interlude 2
Lyferian Calendar: Month 7, Day 27, Year 164, afternoon—
Aboard a sand ship’s deck, on an elevated throne, sat Laminitus, her gaze fixed on the horizon.
A soldier rushed to her side.
“A report, m’lady! The evacuation of the civilians is halfway complete!”
“Only half... It’s taking too long.”
“My apologies! Due to the Paladin Captain’s absence, our coordination with the Church is difficult. Evacuation of the sick and wounded is taking—”
“Did We not order you to take care of that sooner?”
Lashing out at the messenger wouldn’t do anyone any good right now, but Laminitus couldn’t suppress her anger. She’d predicted this would happen ever since the day the Demon Lord’s Army’s Commander-in-Chief, Varakness, had appeared before her. She had made many preparations for when he would attack on the next full moon.
—But the full moon is still three days away!
Laminitus clicked her tongue bitterly. She disliked men who were sticklers for little details, but she hated men who outright lied even more.
Another messenger rushed to her side.
“The Demon Lord’s Army is 5,000 melds away! Our scouts have confirmed it! They number roughly 300, and we’ve detected large-class magical beasts as well!”
—300, huh.
If it were the races, a group of 300 would be meaningless in battles of this scale, and one sand ship’s worth of soldiers would be enough to take care of them.
Over the short period of time they had to prepare, Laminitus scraped together a force of 40,000 soldiers and adventurers, and their fleet consisted of 200 sand ships of various sizes. She had an impressive, large scale force...
But it still wouldn’t be enough.
They were up against the Demon Lord’s army, a mixed force of Fallen and magical beasts. Each and every one of them far exceeded a single one of Laminitus’s soldiers in terms of strength. Even with the odds of 40,000 against 300, they were still no match.
That was all that occupied her mind.
“We need intel on their formation, on the double!” Laminitus began giving her orders. “The enemy has species capable of flight, so keep your eyes to the sky! If so much as a bird draws near the fleet, gun it down!”
“Yes, ma’am!”
The reports came in one after another. The Demon Lord’s army was fast approaching, maintaining its speed. The middle-sized magical beasts formed their vanguard, and at the center of their formation, what appeared to be their commander was riding on the back of a large, turtle-like magical beast.
Varakness. The handsome youth with batlike wings.
The enemy’s army had drawn close enough that Laminitus could see them with her own eyes. A skilled marksman could snipe them with a Magi Gun from this distance, but a shot or two would do nothing to halt their advance. If anything, they would need to solidify their position and try to draw out the battle for as long as they could.
They needed to finish evacuating Zircon Tower...
Have as many civilians as we can get away from the fighting. Make sure to lose as few troops as possible. And we have to survive this battle, no matter what...
She had no chance of winning with her forces. Zircon Tower would, in all likelihood, fall. But so long as they could minimize their losses, there was still a chance of staging a retaliation.
A scout, who had been surveying the enemy’s movements with a pair of binoculars, raised his voice.
“The large magical beast in the center of their forces is breaking formation and coming this way! The enemy commander is on its back!”
“What?”
According to even the most basics of warfare theories, the commander would always be either in the middle or the rear of a formation. No fool would ever move the King out of the safety of the back lines in a game of chess.
Yet the enemy did exactly that.
Laminitus hesitated. This must have been some attempt at provocation. She could issue orders to fire at will, but rumors of how Varakness infiltrated Zircon Tower had already spread among the soldiers.
—If we pull back now, the soldiers’ morale would plummet.
The soldiers would believe their commander, Laminitus, was afraid of the Fallen, and maintaining the front line would become impossible.
She clicked her tongue in frustration.
—To think a Fallen would employ psychological warfare like this...
“Captain!” Laminitus raised her voice. “Sail the 《Gallcarius》 forward! There’s no need for any escort ships!”
Answering the taunt, Laminitus ordered the craft she was on, the Gallcarius, to sail forward alone to meet the enemy commander. The ship’s captain was a seasoned veteran, but even he hesitated to challenge the Demon Lord’s army with just one ship.
Despite his doubts, the captain loyally obeyed his order.
“Deploy cannons three and four! Forward at half-speed!”
The ship’s enchanted sails spread, pushed by the wind. The large sand ship sailed onward, leaving the rest of the fleet behind.
Laminitus could tell her unit’s troops were becoming more anxious by the second.
The enemy was drawing near. They were no longer just within range for a gunshot or bowshot; they were within earshot.
†
Just around where the two armies met—
Varakness and Laminitus glared at each other, the former sitting on the shell of a giant magical beast, and the latter aboard a sand ship.
Varakness was dressed in a tuxedo, just like when he appeared a few nights ago. His outfit seemed better suited for a night party in a ballroom than a skirmish on a battlefield. Four women, some with lizard tails or raven wings, doted on him.
—He did say something about a “harem,” didn’t he?
“Bringing women to a battlefield!? You make light of Us!” Laminitus shouted angrily. “We shall bury you with your foolish pride!”
“Heh heh heh... These beautiful flowers are my beloved wives, as well as officers of the Demon Lord’s army. And...they will also be your wedded sisters, Fanis.”
“What!?” Laminitus shouted, her gaze growing sharper. “What do you mean
, ‘wedded sisters’?”
“I mean that, once I admit you into my harem, they will be your sisters.” Varakness smiled and spread out his arms. “Do play well with them... I absolutely dread it when women fight over me, after all.”
There was a silver ring on his finger, and the four women around him all displayed their matching rings proudly.
“We will never accept Fallen as husband or sister, you disgusting knave!” Laminitus spat bitterly.
“But I’ve prepared a ring for you, as well. I’ve made sure it’s just your size. Oh, how I cannot wait to put it on you...and make passionate love with you.”
“You miserable cretin... We just so happen to have prepared a little gift for you, as well.”
“Oh my, what a pleasant surprise!” Varakness once again spread out his arms.
Laminitus grabbed a Magi Gun that sat beside her, a large rifle that matched her in height.
“Take this, you nauseating lout!”
She bent down, supporting the rifle with both hands; her wounded right shoulder had already recovered.
“Get the hell out of my territory, you monsters! 《Lightning Shot》!”
She charged the shot with magic, increasing its firepower, and squeezed the trigger. The bullet was also laced and reinforced by several layers of enchantments.
Just around where the two armies met, the battle’s first gunshot echoed loudly.
The bullet pierced Varakness’s left breast.
The shock wave spread out as a large hole opened in the opponent’s chest.
Varakness looked down at his wound. “Spectacular...”
Uttering that single word, he crumpled, falling on his back. A roar of excitement rose from the races’ army.
“King! King! King!” some chanted, singing their praises.
Laminitus smirked, savoring the feeling of decisively striking her opponent. This would no doubt shake the enemy’s chain of command and give them a chance to win.
One of the wives ran over to Varakness’ side in a hurry. No, running wasn’t the right way of putting it, since while her upper half was human, her lower half was that of a fish. As soon as the fish woman touched the body—
How NOT to Summon a Demon Lord: Volume 5 Page 15