The Presence of Terror
Nahen's office. Today, Rin El Laza had come to visit. With Seere's workload having increased, she had returned military authority to Nahen, which meant Rin now had to report directly to him.
Nahen flipped through the report and selection exam results Rin had submitted and spoke.
"For the reorganization... assign fifteen thousand to the 6th Legion and five thousand to the 7th Legion."
"Understood."
"I'll place Lexion and Murciela as officers in the 6th Legion, and Celestia and Erina in the 7th Legion."
According to the selection exam results, Celestia had taken first place, Lexion the high orc had come in second, and Erina and Murciela had placed third and fourth respectively.
After hearing Nahen's words, Rin asked him,
"Is there a reason you're dividing them this way? The numbers assigned to each legion are quite different as well."
"The officers I named for the 7th Legion were all soldiers under your command, weren't they?"
"Yes, that is correct."
Celestia and Erina. Both had been elite soldiers of the 4th Legion. Each had held positions just below Rin and Baruna within the 4th Legion—third and fourth in strength, respectively.
"I want to turn the 7th Legion into an elite force like yours."
"Ah."
"Since they've served in the 4th Legion for so long, they should know exactly how to train soldiers."
"If it's Celestia and Erina, they'll manage just fine. They're capable in every regard."
"Hearing you say that makes me trust them even more. Then we'll proceed with that assignment... and fill any vacancies in the 4th Legion with suitable talent later. It's not as though we're short on manpower right now, is it?"
"Understood."
Nahen fell silent for a moment. Was he pondering something? Rin waited calmly for his next words.
After a short while, Nahen spoke again.
"Commander Rin."
"Yes, Lord Nahen."
"As acting military authority, I give this order."
"Yes."
Nahen issued a command to Rin.
"Determine the patrol schedules of the soldiers guarding the border regions of the 67th floor."
"The patrol times, you say?"
"That's right."
"Yes, understood."
Though she accepted the order, Rin felt puzzled inside. Why suddenly ask about the patrol schedules of the 67th floor's soldiers? She tried to reason it out on her own, but...
'...There doesn't seem to be any obvious reason.'
Considering the current situation of Seere's forces, there was no plausible explanation. She couldn't guess what Nahen was thinking, but she had no intention of ignoring his command. Nahen's plans had always produced results bordering on success. Anticipating what he might show against Belial, the Demon King of the 67th floor, Rin bowed her head.
"I will determine it as quickly as possible."
"Good."
After Rin left the office, Nahen pressed his index finger firmly against his brow. Trying to devise schemes when he wasn't a strategist gave him quite the headache. If this were a game, he could simply choose from the options presented, but...
'There's no one here offering me those choices...'
He had no choice but to rely on the experience accumulated over dozens of playthroughs. Still, he thought the plan he'd come up with was fairly solid.
'Why don't I have one of those status windows that always appear when someone possesses a game character?'
Feeling a slight sense of unfairness, Nahen let out a sigh. Then he released a trace of his mana. Black mist gathered behind him, and a small white whale emerged from it.
The tiny white whale tilted its head and looked at Nahen.
"Ppu?"
"I need you to do some work."
Nahen's plan was none other than using Leviathan. However, unlike what he'd done on the 68th floor, he had no intention of letting Leviathan devour everything.
"This time, we'll eat in moderation."
He intended to swallow only what was necessary.
#
Sitri, who had come to the 69th floor, looked slightly bewildered.
"Teacher, how is the aroma? I brought some new tea leaves that just came out."
"Mm, it's good."
Nahen wasn't doing any work at all. He was simply drinking tea with Seere. Sitri had come to discuss the conquest of the 67th floor, so seeing this scene left her somewhat flustered.
"Ah, welcome, Your Majesty Sitri."
"Hello, Lady Sitri."
The leisurely atmosphere somehow suited him, which oddly irritated her. Sitri stared at him for a moment before speaking with an incredulous expression.
"So, how exactly do you plan to carry out that 'instilling terror' operation?"
"Ah, that. We'll have to wait a little longer."
"What?"
"I need Commander Rin's report before we can begin."
"What are you trying to do?"
Nahen gestured for her to take a seat. As Sitri plopped down, Seere instructed Secily, who had been waiting nearby, to pour tea. Once Sitri's cup was filled, Nahen offered it to her.
"Drink first."
"Why are you dodging the question?"
"I'll explain everything, so don't worry."
"...Fine."
Sitri lifted the teacup and took a sip. Nahen smiled faintly and asked,
"How does it taste?"
"...It's good. But you—do you want something from me? Why are you being so nice?"
"Oh, you're quick to notice."
"What is it? Don't tell me you want to borrow my name again."
"It's not that. This time, I'd like you to keep a secret."
"A secret?"
Instead of answering, Nahen showed her directly. When he released a trace of mana, Sitri flinched and exclaimed,
"Wh-why are you suddenly releasing mana? Are you telling me to train even now!?"
"Pardon? No. I need to show you something, don't I?"
As Nahen spoke, black mist rippled behind him. Then a pure white whale began to appear.
"Uh... uhh...!?"
"You've seen it once before, haven't you?"
The massive white whale slowly revealed itself before suddenly shrinking with a pop, becoming doll-sized. The miniature whale climbed onto the table and looked back and forth between Seere and Sitri, turning its head this way and that.
"This child is cute, Teacher."
"Is that so?"
"It looks just like the doll you gave me."
"Now that you mention it, it does."
Unlike Seere, who found the small whale adorable, Sitri could not. She already had rather unpleasant memories associated with this whale. Recalling her first encounter with Nahen, Sitri trembled slightly.
"Th-that wasn't an illusion?"
"An illusion? No, it's real."
"R-real? That monster...?"
"It's the creature I keep with me. I plan to use it for this operation. Therefore, Your Majesty must not speak of it to anyone."
Sitri swallowed hard, tension gripping her. Though it appeared small and cute, the immense mana and terrifying presence emanating from this whale were not something even Sitri—who had met many powerful beings as a former high-ranking Demon King—could take lightly.
'Just what is this guy...?'
Nahen's true identity grew increasingly mysterious. Sitri regarded him with a hint of wariness. He merely smiled lightly and said,
"Why are you looking at me like that? Do you think I'd devour you?"
The problem was that it seemed entirely possible.
"Don't worry. I have no intention of breaking our alliance first. As long as Your Majesty doesn't stab me in the back, that is."
"Wh-why would I do that?"
"That's why I'm telling you to relax. In any case, I'll be using this creature for the operation."
"...How?"
In response to Sitri's question, Nahen explained simply.
"Didn't you say we needed to lower the soldiers' morale?"
"...Yeah, I did."
"I plan to have this creature devour the patrolling soldiers. Commander Rin is currently investigating the border patrol schedules on the 67th floor."
"Wait, then Belial will figure out whose doing this is!"
"How would he figure it out?"
"What? Because it'll obviously eat them and return here."
"Then it simply won't return."
Sitri blinked. Nahen stroked the white whale—Leviathan—now perched on the table and continued,
"This creature is far stronger than it looks. Surviving alone on the 67th floor is well within its capabilities."
"...Then why not just conquer the floor with it?"
"I considered that, but there's one major problem."
From using its power on the 68th floor, Nahen had learned that conquering a floor with Leviathan left nothing behind. All the soldiers on the 68th floor had been swept away, and even now that the floor was conquered, the land Leviathan had passed through remained devastated and unusable.
"So I'll only use it to sow confusion and reduce their forces somewhat. The actual conquest will be done through war."
"...Yeah, got it."
"Once Commander Rin's report arrives, the operation will begin. In the meantime, Your Majesty should train your troops and prepare for war."
Sitri nodded, then moved to discuss compensation.
"If we conquer the 67th floor, how will we divide it?"
"This time, we'll take the Demon King's castle."
"Right. I didn't expect you to give that up."
"Just like on the 70th floor, I'll give you half the floor. Resources and soldiers will be split fifty-fifty as well."
Sitri looked slightly surprised. Nahen's proposal was quite generous.
"Are you sure that's okay?"
"Think of it as maintaining our future alliance. It's an investment for the future. Your Majesty will eventually regain your strength, after all. At that time, you'll be a great help to us, won't you?"
When Nahen flattered her, Sitri let out a pleased snort and laughed.
"Heh, you think so?"
"In exchange, Your Majesty must prepare properly as well. A bloodless occupation like on the 70th floor won't be possible this time."
"I know. I'm prepared for that much. It's Belial's army we're talking about—even if their morale drops, they won't be easy opponents."
At that moment, Seere glanced briefly at Sitri. Then she gave a slight nod and spoke to her.
"Please take care of it, Lady Sitri."
"Yes?... Ah, yes. Of course, Lady Seere."
Sitri was quite startled. Ever since Seere had grown somewhat, she had never initiated conversation like this. Today felt different.
'Has something... changed?'
Though she didn't know the details, it was good news for Sitri. It meant she wouldn't have to endure that uncomfortably burdensome gaze anymore. Seeing Seere greet her so politely reminded her of years past. It felt as though she'd caught a glimpse of the adorable Seere from back then, and Sitri smiled in satisfaction as she stood up.
"Well then, I have my own preparations to make, so I'll be going. The tea was lovely."
"Where are you going?"
"Hm?"
"Since you're here, why not finish the training you missed?"
"Huh...?"
With those words, Nahen's mana enveloped the area. Of course, he'd taken measures to ensure Seere and Secily remained unaffected. As a result, only Sitri collapsed to the floor.
Thud!
"You...!!"
"Now, let's see if you can walk."
#
Border Region A of the 67th floor. From early dawn, three of Belial's soldiers had been patrolling the area in formation. Despite the early hour, they remained alert and focused on their patrol without showing any signs of fatigue.
"...Hm?"
"What's wrong, Duke?"
"No..."
The soldier called Duke turned around as if sensing something strange. It was still early dawn, and darkness lingered in places the sunlight hadn't yet reached.
"Is something over there?"
"I felt a strange presence."
"Let's check it out."
It could be an enemy soldier who had infiltrated the border region, or perhaps a spy. The valiant soldiers drew their swords and stepped into the darkness without hesitation.
And immediately, they regretted it.
"...Huh?"
As they stepped into the darkness, they found a whale waiting there. A pure white whale. The moment they saw it, their bodies stiffened completely.
"Wh-what is that..."
The instant they laid eyes on it, primal terror seized control of their bodies. Though they were well-trained soldiers of Belial, fear filled their minds regardless. Their bodies froze against their will, as if they had become prey facing a predator.
"M-my body... won't move......"
The Beast of the Apocalypse, Leviathan. One of the most powerful mythical beasts even in Hell. The moment they saw it, it was only natural for living creatures to feel that primal fear. Though the soldiers couldn't rationally understand why they were terrified, they couldn't take a single step.
The whale slowly opened its mouth. The creature, which had been small in size, gradually grew larger until it was big enough to swallow all three soldiers at once.
And it devoured them with terrifying ease.
The dark mist cleared. All that remained in its place were the soldiers' helmets.