The Dwarf Survey Team Rescue (1)
One hour before Cadistella appeared at the Demon Lord Castle, Neromeltia was handling official business in her private quarters. Two towering stacks of documents concerning the development plans for Caboni Forest and its surrounding areas loomed like mountains, while another pile—reports on the reconstruction of the Demon Lord Castle and its ongoing management—rose like a tower on its own. Pressing a hand to her throbbing temple, Neromeltia kept her pen moving without pause, the sheer volume of work threatening to sever her connection to reality.
“At this rate, I’ll burn through every sheet of paper I’ve stockpiled… Should I really set up a paper production line… Hehehehe…”
All the paper currently used in the Demon Lord Castle came from the reserves stored in Neromeltia’s Dimensional Storage. She had always kept an abundance of supplies on hand so that nothing would ever be lacking, no matter where or when she traveled. That foresight from a thousand years ago still proved invaluable in countless ways today: the occasional delicious meals and desserts she shared with her loved ones, the spellbooks used as teaching materials in Hestinia’s magic research institute, the soap that remained a popular daily necessity whose production could never keep up with demand, and now paper—nearly impossible to manufacture due to the shortage of timber.
In truth, she had stockpiled enough paper to build a ten-story castle, yet the daily accumulation of documents made her worry that even that vast reserve would soon run dry.
“Eee, Your Majesty~ Are you in?”
“Yes. I am.”
The voice drifted in from outside without its owner showing herself, but the sticky, languid tone was so distinctive that Neromeltia recognized its owner at once. She responded with the same indifferent attitude she never showed anyone else, her eyes never leaving the documents.
“You could at least pretend to welcome me. You’re always so sweet when the secretary visits.”
“…Why would I give any encouragement to an ero-witch who would drag me straight to bed the moment I show the slightest favor?”
The one who entered Neromeltia’s quarters was Hestinia. Having already identified her from the voice alone, Neromeltia made no effort to even glance her way. Hestinia, as if hurt by the Demon Lord’s coldness, brought up Lusteria and demanded proper hospitality. Still, Neromeltia kept her gaze fixed on the papers, doing her best to ignore her.
Hestinia pouted at the cold reception, then quietly studied Neromeltia’s expression. Seeing that the Demon Lord continued staring at the documents despite being watched, Hestinia’s eyes slowly traveled downward—from the crimson, glossy lips, to the soft cheeks, the slender neckline, the sharp collarbones—until they settled on the full, alluring swell of her breasts. Even from a distance, they seemed to radiate warmth and a sweet, milky scent. Their softness and plushness were palpable through sight alone. Whenever Neromeltia shifted to reach for the next document, the plump upper curves rippled with an enchanting sway.
“This is exactly why I have to stay on guard around you.”
“Eek!”
Perhaps because she had been staring for too long, Neromeltia had turned to look at Hestinia while the witch remained completely absorbed in her chest. With a slight frown, the Demon Lord offered a gentle rebuke. Though it had been a calm and quiet warning, Hestinia—who had been lost in a trance—jolted in surprise.
“You startled me…”
“I’m the one who was startled. I thought it was strange when you suddenly went quiet, so I looked over and found you staring holes into someone else’s chest.”
“Eee, but Your Majesty is always sneaking glances at women’s chests too!”
“Ugh!! I don’t do it so openly!!!”
“Oh come on, just the other day during the construction site inspection, you were only admiring Nella’s chest and hips. I saw everything!”
“You… seriously…”
“And the day before that, when we all bathed together at the Under Barkus hot springs, you looked so pleased watching Lusteria cling to Beatrice. Their two chests were pressing and rubbing against each other…”
“Are you stalking me?!”
The exchange between two women who both enjoyed ogling other women’s chests ended with Neromeltia’s indignant outburst. Hestinia acted as though she didn’t care how she was insulted, her only goal being to drag Neromeltia down to her own level. Neromeltia had started by pointing out Hestinia’s behavior, but the rapid-fire revelations left her reeling and speechless. In the end, those with something to protect could never win against those with nothing to lose.
“Hehehe. Time flies when I’m talking with Your Majesty. It’s so much fun.”
“…Then try having a normal conversation for once…”
Hestinia smiled brightly, looking thoroughly satisfied as though they had just shared a warm, friendly chat. Neromeltia had many things she wanted to point out, but she gave up on most of them and simply sighed. The short remark she did let slip carried the weight of her heartfelt wish.
Hestinia’s lips curved into a gentle smile at Neromeltia’s dejected reaction before she finally steered the conversation to its main point.
“There’s still so much more I’d like to say, but I’ll save the rest of the fun for next time. I have urgent news to deliver to Your Majesty.”
“…For something so urgent, you sure took your time bringing it up.”
Hestinia spoke with obvious reluctance, trying to shift the atmosphere, then casually fanned herself with her feathered fan as she approached without answering the perfectly reasonable complaint. As Hestinia drew closer, Neromeltia caught the strong scent of roses filling her senses. Others might have found the heavy perfume intriguing and offered their own rapturous descriptions, but to Neromeltia it was all too familiar and stirred no particular emotion. Hestinia changed her perfume frequently, so it wasn’t the specific fragrance that was familiar—only the heavy application itself. As a witch who was constantly researching, she often handled chemicals whose acrid odors clung to her. She simply wore strong perfume to mask them.
In the brief moment Neromeltia was lost in these private thoughts, Hestinia reached her and opened her fan. Leaning down toward the seated Demon Lord, she shielded the side of her face with the fan as if wary of eavesdroppers and spoke in a hushed voice.
“The dwarves are being chased by the Humians.”
“Wh-what?”
The shocking news left Neromeltia unable to form a proper question. Her mind spun with countless questions, all tangled and rising in disorder.
“Haven’t the dwarves stayed inside their mining city for the past few hundred years?”
“Oh my, you remember that?”
“So they’ve come out now? Or did the Humians only just discover the mine’s location?”
Either way, it was an extremely urgent matter. Those captured by the Humians always met tragic ends, and sometimes they were executed on the spot before they could even be taken. If they were merely captured, rescue was still possible—though troublesome—but if they died in the process, nothing could be done.
“It seems the cause is the lifting of the barrier that protected Taego Forest. The dwarves occasionally send out miniature flying golems from the mine to scout the surroundings. When the desolate forest full of nothing but dead trees suddenly transformed into a thriving natural woodland, they couldn’t help but investigate.”
“You should have told me something this important sooner…”
“That the dwarves developed miniature flying golems?”
“No, that they’ve been scouting the area! If I’d known, I would have prepared countermeasures long ago!”
If Neromeltia had known the dwarves were keeping watch on their surroundings, she would certainly have made appropriate preparations. Their city, the Mackenzie Mine, lay to the south of Taego Forest according to maps, yet in reality it was so far away that it would take days of flight to reach. That was why she had assumed the dwarves would never leave the mine unless she personally went to fetch them, and that they would remain safe in the meantime. But the fact that they had been steadily scouting such a distant location was an unexpected variable. Regardless of the living conditions inside the Mackenzie Mine, anyone would covet a forest where nature still thrived in this ruined world. The problem was that large hordes of zombies roamed the plains near Caboni Forest and Taego Forest, and the Humians had erected barriers to keep them at bay. The Humians were constantly on high alert, watching for any undead that might cross into their territory. If the dwarves wandered about conducting investigations right in front of them, they would inevitably become targets.
Neromeltia waved her hand through the air.
“Crawford. Are you busy?”
“Ah, my lord! Give your command!”
A circular space appeared where Neromeltia had waved. Through it, Crawford could be seen, busy with his duties. The communication magic Remote Conversation had been cast, allowing them to speak face-to-face despite the distance. Though surprised by the sudden spell, Crawford showed no panic; this magic was nothing new to him.
“I’m heading south immediately to find the dwarves. It’s urgent, so I’ll explain later. While I’m gone, maintain heightened vigilance along the borders.”
“As you command!”
After delivering the information and orders concisely, Neromeltia ended the Remote Conversation. Rising from her seat without delay, she gave instructions to Hestinia as well.
“I haven’t visited the Mackenzie Mine since my resurrection, so you’ll have to transport me. You understand, don’t you?”
To reach a distant location in an instant, spatial magic was essential. Neromeltia herself could use it, but the problem was her lack of geographical knowledge. If she teleported to what she thought was open ground only to find a boulder had been placed there in her absence, the result would be catastrophic. While the mana wave of spatial magic would push away minor obstacles like dust, leaves, insects, or small birds, larger objects like rocks or trees that couldn’t be displaced would merge with her body. A Demon Lord of her caliber could regenerate from severe physical damage, but an attack during such a vulnerable moment would mean certain death. Using Gate would avoid such disasters, but since the surroundings might contain unknown enemies or dangers, it was best to have someone familiar with the terrain cast it.
“Hehe. I’ll escort you comfortably, my guest.”
Crack!!!
A sharp sound like thick glass shattering rang out. Hestinia swung her fan as if striking something in the air, and the space where the fan passed fractured and broke away. It wasn’t any named spell—just mana wrapped around the fan striking the space itself—yet the rupture created a dimensional rift. When it came to dimensions and space, no one could match Hestinia. She could traverse dimensions that even the Twelve Gods hesitated to cross with casual ease. She was truly beyond comprehension.
“I’ve opened a passage right in front of the fleeing dwarves. Please follow me.”