Defending the Dungeon! #4
However, nothing is ever accomplished by giving in to fear. A female knight? Our forces are sufficient. Now that the enemies know nothing of us, if we fight, we can win.
"Sharan. Tell the kids that since the humans are nearby, they should prepare for battle."
"Yes, my Demon King."
"For now, just stand by for orders. Tell them to stay ready. And tell them not to worry too much."
"Shaa. Got it. I'll tell them well."
"Hehehe, that's right. Our Sharan is so pretty."
"Shaa-sha-sha."
As I stroked her hair, she flapped her ears in delight. With that, Sharan headed straight for the monster barracks.
"Demon King. What should I do?"
"Just prepare to fight as usual. Oh, and keep Reika in tow."
"Same as usual, then. I'll do that. Reika? Follow me."
"What the...!"
Lumika grabbed Reika by the wrist and dragged her along.
"Serineu. You take the pixies and rest for now. Once the humans arrive, we'll be using that three-stage shooting drill we practiced, right? Make sure they've mastered that."
"Mm... okay."
"You have to keep your wits about you to win."
"Wh-who doesn't know that? We know it's dangerous too."
"Right. I'm counting on you all."
After issuing the orders, I went into my private room alone to think calmly.
First, I would judge the situation with a cool head, think it through, and then set my policy. Then, I would issue the commands.
"Alright, then."
Let's plan the operation.
First of all, the humans don't know of our existence. Therefore, we must not reveal ourselves recklessly. We should limit the exposure of our true nature to the moment the battle begins.
So... should I set traps all over the jungle like the Viet Cong?
No.
I won't.
I can't control the outside. If humans see traps, they'll assume someone set them, and only humans would set such things. They might think it's a band of bandits and turn back, only to return with a subjugation force.
Therefore, I cannot scatter traps over a wide area outside.
The very act of scattering traps is proof that reveals our identity. I might hurt one or two, but if reinforcements come, it's over.
"Then I'll have to set them inside the dungeon."
This is different from the Barghest or Satyr incidents. Since humans are the target, I have to be careful and meticulous.
"In the end, it means we have to fight inside the dungeon."
If we fight on our own turf, we can win. If we fight, we must lure them into the dungeon. It would be best if they passed by without knowing, but if they discover a monster's den, they'll surely come inside to check it out at least once.
"I'll aim for that."
The enemy's strength consists of three adventurers, two nuns, and one female knight. Let's set traps inside the dungeon. The moment even one of them gets caught in a trap, if we unleash a volley of fire and have the phalanx advance, they won't stand a chance.
If they are hit with such a tactical attack without any prior information, they will have no choice but to fall.
Oh.
Should I try using the pixies' fairy dust? When they enter the dungeon, it would be good to deploy the fairies I have waiting outside to sprinkle the powder at the entrance.
If not that, I could use the imps as a detachment. I could hide kindling somewhere outside, have the imps wait there, and then order the imp-monkey to set fire to the entrance once the humans enter the dungeon.
Taking advantage of their panic, if we advance the phalanx and pour on the firepower, we should be able to dispose of such a small unit without any problems.
Perhaps they'll suffer even greater losses by pushing themselves too hard to protect the nuns?
"There's a lot I can do."
As the size of my unit has increased, there's more I can do. The more I think about the operation, the more my confidence grows.
I planned the operation in that manner.
Oh. Should I ask Reika about the knight?
"Sister Reika. Humans might be coming."
"So what?"
"Do you happen to know anything about knights?"
"Knights?"
"Yes. According to Serineu's report, there is a female knight with black hair."
"A black-haired female knight...?"
At those words, Reika reacted as if she knew something.
"Do you know who it is?"
"I don't know?"
Playing dumb, are we?
"Hey. Don't be like that. This is important. Help me out."
"Ha. Are you asking me to fight humans now? Do you think I'd help you?"
"Are you really going to be like this? Between you and me, Sister Reika?"
"Ugh, get lost. Go die by a blade of justice."
Reika even mocked me, making a gesture of slicing her own throat with her hand. What an impudent woman!
"Please! Sister Reika! I beg you! I need the information, Sister Reika!"
As punishment, I immediately grabbed Reika and hugged her tight!
"Kyaa♥ No! G-get off! You bastard! Ah, damn it! Get lost!"
Reika, held in my arms, reacted violently, trying to push me away. But I already know the truth. The fact that this woman cannot reject me.
After all, she isn't even putting any strength into her hands, is she?
"If things go on like this, both I and you, Sister, are in danger! We could both die!"
"Let us all die! D-do you think I'm afraid of dying?"
I pinned Reika down with my weight and whispered while gently licking her neck. Reika is very weak to this kind of physical attack.
"Ah, aah. Don't lick there...!"
"Sister Reika. I don't want to see you get hurt."
"What kind of nonsense is this bastard spouting...!"
"You'll get hurt too. How painful would that be? I don't want that."
"Just, damn it!"
This won't do.
As I reached to grab her chest,
"Get off! I'll tell you!"
"Wow! Thank you!"
That did it.
I immediately sat down, getting off Reika.
"Now, explain. About the knight."
"Hoo... did you say a black-haired knight?"
"Yes."
"Vanessa."
"Huh? Vanessa?"
"She's a female knight working under the Baron."
So she really was a female knight.
"Do you know her?"
Could she be close with Reika?
Is that why she's searching?
"Not really... she said she had a connection with our convent in the past."
"Ah, you don't know her well, you just know that?"
"Right. She must know the Mother Superior. She probably came to help with the search after finding out I went missing."
Reika looked troubled as she said that.
"I've only seen her face a few times."
"Hmm... I see. Then can I assume this is a search party sent by the Baron?"
"I don't know about that. But if the Baron had sent her, wouldn't an army have come?"
That's true.
Why did she come with adventurers?
"If it's not an army, she must have come to help with the search on her own, taking leave or something. In fact, a lord wouldn't move an army just because one nun went missing. Especially in times like these."
"What do you mean by 'times like these'?"
"What? You didn't even know this?"
"Yes?"
"Hoo... forget it. It's natural you wouldn't know."
"Please tell me quickly! Before I kiss you!"
"Ah, damn it! We're in a critical situation right now! It's a state where they might or might not be having a territorial war, so it's hard to pull out troops!"
"Territorial war?!"
The explanation was as follows.
It seems they are in a situation where a territorial war could break out, so they can't easily pull out troops. Reika speculated that because of such a situation, there would be various restrictions.
It's important information, but it's not useful right now. But in such a situation, can a knight take leave?
"This... I don't know. It doesn't seem like the time to be hearing about this."
"Then why the hell did you ask!"
"I'm sorry. Anyway, how strong is that female knight, Vanessa?"
"Stronger than me, I'd guess."
"Gasp!"
"Stronger than me even when I've fully recovered my divine power."
Reika's strength.
It's not just her inherent swordsmanship or physical stamina; her superhuman power comes entirely from her divine power. Healing wounds, exerting immense strength, emitting shockwaves—it's all the power of divine energy.
"Knights have mana."
But they say knights have a power called mana.
Mana, like divine power, grants superhuman strength, but it's different from divine power, which has utility like healing or shockwaves.
A knight's mana strengthens their physical abilities.
"And she must have trained her swordsmanship harder than I did. She's rumored to be quite strong. I don't know how strong she really is. Well, it's a frontier barony anyway. She wouldn't be as strong as the powerhouses of the kingdom."
Reika added that explanation while glaring at me.
"Anyway, to summarize, it means she's strong, but not an impossibly strong superhuman."
"Right."
That means we can deal with her.
"Thank you for the information. As expected of Sister Reika. You've truly become my ally."
"...Bullshit."
"Then, would you like to 'bull' some 'shit'?"
"Get lost!"
—Whoosh.
Reika pushed me away.
"I'll say it again, helping you is entirely because of these horns! Because I can't go back!"
And with that, she turned around and left the room.
"Hehehe, she's becoming more cooperative by the day."
Thank you for the kind explanation.
Now, let's get to work.
If she's not an absurd superhuman, we can win somehow with the power of numbers. Even the Barghest was a very strong beast. But we overcame it with the power of friendship.
Even if she's a superhuman, she can't do everything alone.
If she enters the dungeon, she'll have no choice but to be eaten by me.
"Serineu. Bring the fairies."
"Are you going to make the fairies fight too?"
"I have to. First, I'll explain the operation."
—Thwack.
I pointed straight at the ceiling.
"I intend to make a small space in the ceiling. I'll hide the fairies there. When I give the signal, the fairies hidden inside will all sprinkle their powder at once. Then what will happen?"
"Ah! The humans who entered will suddenly fall into a trance! If we hide them in a small gap, they won't even know the fairies are there!"
"Right. That's it. So bring as many fairies as you can. And make a gap in the ceiling."
"Okay!"
In other words, a hypnotic powder shower. They've made it halfway in, and suddenly powder falls from the ceiling?
"They'll have to take it with their eyes wide open."
The dungeon is dark to begin with. And the walls and ceiling are covered in tree roots, making it easy to obscure their vision.
"And Imp-monkey. You have an important mission to carry out."
"Kruk... Demon King! Leave it to me!"
"Hehehe, you rascal. You're full of spirit."
I explained the operation to the Imp-monkey as well. I'll have them build a pit outside and have the imps wait there. And I'll have plenty of kindling prepared.
"Once the humans have gone deep into the dungeon, secretly block the entrance with the kindling. And when I give the signal, set it on fire."
"Kruup...! Then the Demon King will be in danger too!"
"We have the path leading down to the underground valley in the back. Even if something happens, it's safe to go that way. Imp-monkey. Can you do it?"
"I can do it well! Demon King! Leave it to me!"
"Good! I'm counting on you, Imp-monkey!"
"Kru-ru-ru-ruk!"
I continued issuing the operational orders.
"Buril! You make ankle traps at the locations I've pointed out!"
"Understood! Keruk!"
I prepared for the dungeon defense battle in that manner.
Whether the humans discover our dungeon or not. That is not yet a certainty. Perhaps they won't find it. But they are nearby. Then, being prepared is the only way to survive.
"Come, humans."
I shall make you my offerings.
While preparing, I sent pixies to scout and grasp the humans' movements.
"Demon King! The humans are coming toward the dungeon!"
The day had finally arrived.
"Right. Well done. Now go to your positions."
—Voom!
The pixie went inside the dungeon.
"Demon King... are you okay?"
"Yeah. I'm fine. I've finished all the preparations. Just do as you're told."
"Keruk! Understood!"
They carefully avoided the traps and entered the dungeon. I also attached a pixie to the Imp-monkey's side. I can just trust and leave that side to them.
"Alright! Prepare for battle! We shall be victorious!"