Dungeon Defense (WN)

Oh, a message appeared saying that a boss battle had started. There was also a 「Warning!」 notification blinking in red letters. Was it trying to tell me the urgency of the situation?

An open area within a dimly lit cavern. A girl who was once the esteemed daughter of a duke and 20 adventurers were staring at each other on the path that had to be passed in order to reach Demon Lord Dantalian’s room. Logically, the girl should have been the side that was nervous, but…….

“Uu, uuu…….”

The adventurers were clenching their jaws and glaring at the girl.

They couldn’t hide the anxiety and concern within their gazes. The horrendous hobby of collecting skulls and the sword that had come out from the girl’s shadow, these things had lowered the adventurers’ morale. On the other hand, the girl was perfectly calm and composed. Twenty adult males were being pushed back by a single little girl.

Did he think it would be bad if he let the situation continue like this? Fabian smirked.

“But, to think that a lady who used to be the esteemed daughter of a duke would spread her legs to a Demon Lord. The world is quite the place.”

“……?”

Laura furrowed her brows. Fabian snickered once he saw her response.

“That thing that came out from your shadow just now isn’t yours, right? That was probably a reward from that Dantalian fellow or whatever. Aren’t you an impressive lass? How much did you beg? You must be quite skilled in bed if you’re able to win over a Demon Lord.”

“…….”

“Well, you do have a nice face. Although the inside of your head reeks of shit.”

Was he trying to taunt Laura? Certainly, there’s nothing more terrifying than a calm soldier. Trying to get the other party riled up so that they would make a mistake was a wise choice.

“Does a Demon Lord’s dick taste good? Do you feel good having sex with one when the rest of the continent is struggling to fight the Demon Lord army? If you had even the slightest bit of a conscience left in you, then you would’ve tried to assassinate the Demon Lord. You could’ve at least bit your tongue and committed suicide. And yet, you did nothing. You’re nothing more than a simple whore!”

Fabian laughed.

“If we are pieces of trash, then what are you? Betrayer of humanity, a girl who spreads her legs to anyone, even a Demon Lord, as long as they spare her life……. That’s right. You’re below trash. At least we don’t offer our asses to Demon Lords.”

“…….”

The expression on Laura’s face faded away. I could tell that she was genuinely upset. Laura was the type of person who became quiet when upset.

That wasn’t a bad taunt, but you’ve chosen the wrong person.

Laura muttered quietly.

“……Do you know what I cannot stand the most in the world?”

“Hm? What nonsense are you saying now?”

“Pigs that cry out while not knowing their place.”

Laura slowly raised her left hand.

“I was going to spare 5 of you, but I have changed my mind.”

The adventurers raised their shields in a hurry. They felt as if an attack was coming. However, a few seconds passed and nothing happened. Fabian smirked.

“You’re going to meet your end here anyway. You can stop bluffing…….”

It was at this point that the adventurers started to hear a weird sound come from all around them. The sound of hundreds of footsteps echoed throughout the cave. The growling unique to monsters resonated throughout the cavern as the source of the sound approached one step at a time.

“W-What!?”

The adventurers looked around in a panic. Goblins, a countless number of goblins were making their way out from the tunnels. The adventurers who immediately figured out they were in a trap turned around in order to flee.

– Kerururuk.

– Kiruk, kiruru.

But they were too late. There was a group of goblins coming from the tunnel they had just exited. The adventurers took a step back instinctually.

“……Uh, huh?”

The goblins started to create a large circle around the adventurers like spectators at a coliseum. From one layer to two layers, the wall of goblins eventually became 6 layers thick. It was probably impossible for a party of 20 to get through this wall.

The goblins were being strangely docile. They had slaughtered 150 adventurers. All of the monsters present surrendered themselves to Laura de Farnese’s grandeur. There wasn’t a single monster that allowed their beastly instincts to take over and rush in by themselves. Laura’s military authority had been established thoroughly.

“Damn it.”

“Fuck……what the hell is this?”

Other than Demon Lords, there has probably never been a human who could rule over monsters like this.

The adventurers could only curse. Their curse words were more similar to screaming. There were even a few people who dropped their weapons in fear.

“Hoo.”

Someone started to laugh.

“Haha, kuku…….”

Laura was laughing beyond the wall of monsters. It wasn’t her usual gentle and warm laugh. It was the same laugh that warriors would burst out into when mocking and ridiculing their enemies on a battlefield. That laugh felt strangely familiar to me.

“This young lady’s life is going to end here? This is where my curtains will fall?”

Laura scowled. Her smile vanished completely as it was replaced by a malicious grimace.

“Do not make me laugh, trash! There is no way this young lady, Demon Lord Dantalian’s deputy general will be hunted by the likes of you!”

She let out a voice that was surprisingly loud for her small body. Her roar caused the adventurers to flinch.

“You guys are not the ones hunting. That may have been the case in other Demon Lord castles, but that is not the case here. Absolutely not! This is a hunting ground that was created solely to slaughter trash like you. Do you think this young lady would get hunted by trash?!”

Laura raised her dagger.

“I will engrave into your bones how pathetic and weak you are. Adventurers who were blinded by a bounty and dared to bare their arms within this dungeon, you will all be slaughtered here today.”

One of the adventurers’ legs must have lost their strength as the adventurer collapsed on the ground. Well, he might have gotten on his knees deliberately.

“Guh, s-spare me! Please forgive me!”

“You bastard!? Get up! Get up right this instant!”

Fabian shouted in a panic. However, Fabian was only a temporary leader anyway. It was impossible for him to have any control in a situation like this. If anything, once a person got on his knees first, the others soon followed suit.

“P-Please forgive us!”

“I……I was blinded by greed!”

They dropped all of their weapons. The sound of metal clattering echoed loudly as shields and spears were dropped.

The adventurers’ morale had collapsed completely. Before long, there were only three of us still standing. Fabian, Jeremi, and I were the only ones with our legs straight.

“Now we are on the same level.”

Laura showed a content smile. She narrowed her eyes and stared at Fabian.

“Although I do see a dog who still does not know his place.”

“…….”

Fabian slowly got down on his knees. His face was twisted with shame.

Jeremi and I were now the only two left standing. The adventurers glanced at us while begging for forgiveness. They were reprimanding me with their intense gazes. Why aren’t you getting down on your knees!? Do you intend to get us all killed!? This was what their gazes were saying.

They were afraid that I was going to make Laura upset.

“Hu.”

I chuckled. Laura is doing rather well, isn’t she?

She may be talented, but I thought that she would still be a little green when it came to mind games. As I thought, I have a good eye for people. Lions are still lions even when they’re young. There’s no way that the Iron Chancellor, Laura de Farnese, the person who held her chin up high even in front of the hero, would fail at pressuring mere D rank adventurers.

I slowly began to walk. My direction was forward. Straight to Laura.

“T-That crazy bastard!”

“You son of a bitch, what are you doing!?”

I heard the sound of shock behind me.

However, once the wall of goblins split apart like when Moses parted the Red Sea, the sounds of shock changed to confusion. Huh? Huh? The adventurers were at a loss for words. I stopped in front of Laura.

Laura smiled brightly as she looked up at me. Her eyes were sparkling. She was like a pet that was waiting to be praised. I unconsciously patted the top of her head.

“Good work, Laura.”

“Mm. It was nothing.”

Laura responded modestly. But, honestly, only her words were modest. Her tone made it as clear as day that she was actually saying ‘I did well! I did well, right!?’. Laura was definitely a kid when it came to this side of her. She might be treating me like a father figure instead of as her lord.

“Your Lordship also did well. It must have been hard to lower yourself to the level of adventurers.”

“Nonsense, it was nothing for me as well. It was actually surprisingly fun.”

It was exciting since it felt like I had gone back to when I was still a human and was playing as an adventurer. I’ve also gained a lot from this beta test.

“On another note, I see that you are able to make a face like that when I am not around. You are also good at mind games. I was surprised. I feel like you could even be a match for Barbatos if she were to come.”

“Fufu, you are overpraising me. This young lady learned from Your Lordship’s example.”

We chuckled together.

“Dear me. People might misunderstand if you say something like that. I am more sincere and diligent than anyone else and do not have a hobby of collecting skulls.”

“In the first place, Your Lordship needs to become a little more Demon Lord-like. This hobby is practical as well. Imagine thousands of skulls piled up in front of the Demon Lord room. Would it not be rather effective in lowering the enemy’s morale?”

“Lowering morale, huh? I see, so they can also be used like that…….”

I nodded my head. The adventurers were watching us with blank expressions.

“Oh right, Lord. I have captured the female adventurers separately.”

“Hm? Why would you do something as bothersome as that?”

“It is my way of showing Your Lordship consideration so you can relieve your lust whenever you want.”

Eeh, I let out a disgusted sound as I furrowed my brows.

“Sex slaves? Why would I need them when I have you?”

“Because it is hard for this young lady to endure by herself, Your Lordship who is in heat at all times.”

Laura flicked my forehead.

“This young lady was hoping that Big Sis Lapis would take over a bit, but there was no news after several months. It is clear what Your Lordship is going to do once tomorrow arrives. You probably intend to violate this young lady’s body due to the lust that had piled up during your trip to Frankia.”

“…….”

This girl definitely knows how to read minds.

I went around trying to make Laura’s authority and the traditions of the villages compatible as soon as I arrived from Frankia. Honestly, I worked too hard. After getting rid of the adventurers, I was going to stick to Laura, saying something like ‘You were able to save face thanks to me. I am expecting a reward!’…….

Laura let out a snort.

“You were probably going to say that we were able to solve the village issue thanks to you and that I should repay you with my body. It’s obvious.”

“Kuh……!”

She figured everything out, huh!? This is why geniuses are annoying!

This was bad. How pretty could female adventurers be? They were all tough and rough-looking people who went through dungeons like men did. They couldn’t compare to Laura’s radiant beauty. I hastily tried to give an excuse.

“Laura, I am not simply a sex-starved beast. I get excited because you are my partner. I also have pride as a man. I do not want to embrace anyone other than Laura.”

“Hm? I am happy to hear that. However, despite your sweet words, did you not have a rather magnificent time in Frankia?”

The corners of Laura’s mouth went up.

“Your Lordship, I heard that you had quite the fun at an opera.”

“Jeremiiiii!”

I shouted at Jeremi who was standing right next to me. When did she spill the beans!?

Jeremi shrugged her shoulders casually.

“Dear me. I don’t know anything about this.”

“Who else could it have been except for you!?”

“I wonder. Maybe your conscience had confessed in secret, Sir Dantalian? If you have any conscience left, that is.”

Jeremi chuckled. Damn it, I don’t have a single trustworthy vassal.

Laura spoke up.

“In the end, Your Lordship is able to do it with anyone with at least average looks. Do not worry. This young lady also has standards. I only spared the female adventurers with especially nice looks, so they should be more than enough to satisfy Your Lordship’s lower body.”

“That’s……not…….”

“You do not have to make any more excuses. This young lady understands everything.”

Laura patted my back.

She was smiling. It was a smile that you would expect from a middle-aged man. My sex life was being consoled by a girl who was going to be 18 years old soon…….

“W-What are you saying……!?”

It was at that moment, someone shouted from the group of kneeling adventurers.

“Don’t mess with me! What are you……!?”

It was Fabian. He gripped his shield and sword tightly and stood up. His eyes were burning with rage.

“Your Lordship? Dantalian? ……Are you telling me that you’re Demon Lord Dantalian!?”

“Oh. That is exactly the case, Mr. Fabian.”

I grinned as I applauded him.

“I am the 72 rank of the Demon Lord army. The Demon Lord of Many Faces. The top advisor of the Crescent Alliance and an executive of the Plains Faction. I am also called ‘The Limp’, ‘The Insulter’, and ‘Slaughterer of Bruno’ by a few other people. I am that Demon Lord Dantalian.”

The adventurers were looking at me with dumbfounded faces.

“Oh right. You all did very well. Of course, 5,000 gold is no small sum, but to think that you would all act in such a predictable way! I am truly grateful. Thank you for your work. I was able to completely wash away the frustration I felt at Frankia thanks to you all!”

I let out a loud laugh. I was genuinely grateful to them. I was able to completely relieve the stress that had piled up because of Queen Henrietta.

My laughter spread to Laura and Jeremi as they laughed with me. The three of us pointed at each other as we laughed louder. The adventurers continued to watch us with absolutely confused expressions.

“Kuh. You devoted yourselves to us this much, so I must reward you. Laura, I will accept your proposal of using the female adventurers as sex slaves. However, in return, I would like you to leave the fate of these individuals to me.”

“Hmm.”

I may be her lord, but she was the one who contributed the most in this battle. There was naturally a need to respect that. Laura pondered for a moment before nodding her head.

“Very well, then. It would only be appropriate to give them a cruel punishment for having belittled this young lady and Your Lordship, but if Your Lordship insists, then I will hand the decision over to Your Lordship.”

“Ooh, I appreciate it.”

I spread my arms out to the adventurers.

“Now then, everyone. Do you wish to survive? You are all people who kill others and act like delinquents because of money, but the desire to live is something shared by even nobles and kings. I understand your desire perfectly.”

So, I continued.

“I would like to give you all an opportunity.”

“An opportunity?”

“Yes. An opportunity to get out of here alive. Are we not comrades who had traveled together for several hours? I am also rather weak when it comes to the affection of humans.”

I responded to Fabian’s question. A nervous hope started to appear in the adventurers’ eyes. There were even people who were bowing and thanking me already.

Well, don’t get too ahead of yourselves. I still have more to say.

“You all must kill each other.”

“What……?”

“A duel. Do you know what gladiators are? Kill each other until there is only one person left standing. I will do absolutely nothing to the last human who survives. No matter what.”

I continued with a bright smile.

“I am not lying. Honestly, I have never told a lie before in my entire life. I promise on my name. Now then, you may begin.”

I am truly a generous man.

***

TL Note: Thanks for reading the chapter. Well, this was a good chapter. I enjoyed every bit of translating it. On an unrelated note, I’m going to be busy for the rest of the day. My brother is getting married and the parents are doing like a formal meeting today. I’m getting dragged along for some reason. Normally, this would be like one afternoon, but the place the meeting is being held is 2 hours away, so I probably won’t be home until the evening. Uuugh, I really don’t want to go.

Welp, I’ll see you guys in the next chapter. It might come out a day sooner depending on how the meeting today goes.

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