Dungeon Defense (WN)

Chapter 346: In the Depths of the Empire (6)

Chapter 346: In the Depths of the Empire (6)

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“When is Dantalian coming back!?”

Gamigin stormed into the palace and shouted.

The end of her ancient empire-style toga was dragged across the ground. The maids who had been on standby were alarmed by the Demon Lord’s sudden visit. Elven guards desperately followed after Gamigin.

“Y-Your Highness Duchess! Barging in like this will only trouble the servants!”

“The Count Palatine is currently absent as they had urgent matters to attend to at the frontier…….”

Gamigin’s head quickly turned.

“Refer to me as Your Highness Demon Lord, children.”

“……!”

A total of ten demons including the guards got down on their knees. They didn’t do so of their own volition. A degree of control that made even their brains shudder was being used on them. The demons trembled as if they were being crushed under the pressure of gravity that was several times stronger than normal.

“Dantalian is also a Demon Lord and not a Count Palatine. Have children these days forgotten this simple fact?”

“M-My apologies, O Great Being.”

Gamigin brushed her hair back.

“I know that Dantalian returned yesterday. Call him here right this instant.”

The beastman maid’s teeth chattered.

As Gamigin stated, the Count Palatine had indeed returned to the palace the previous day. However, a strict order was given to keep this a secret for the time being. From a person with a higher rank than the Count Palatine.

If she submits to the Gamigin here, then she would be killed.

“Your Highness……with all due respect…….”

“Since when,”

Magic power emanated from Gamigin’s golden eyes.

“Has a mere servant been allowed to talk back to a Demon Lord?”

“Ah, ah, ahhh…….”

“Apologize.”

The head maid grabbed her own neck with her two hands.

She let out a cough as she struggled and gasped for air.

The head maid did whatever she could to get her own hands away, but they refused to listen to her. Her slender neck was strangled with the strength of a beastman. Shortly after, her breathing stopped and she fell on top of the cold marble floor.

“Hoo.”

A satisfied smile appeared on Gamigin’s lips. Her expression was so soft that you wouldn’t believe that she had pushed someone to commit suicide a second ago. She turned her head to find her next target.

It was at that moment that the pressure that was suppressing the demons disappeared in an instant. The demons panted as if they had just resurfaced from a pool of water.

“Unbelievable. How could you be so barbaric……!?”

A Demon Lord stepped out into the hall.

“Gamigin!”

It was the red-haired Paimon.

Did she happen to be resting in one of the guest rooms? She must have rushed out in a hurry because her clothes were a mess. No, it went beyond being a mess as she only had a thin blanket wrapped around her naked body.

“Oh? Did I wake you up from your beauty sleep?”

Gamigin was all smiles.

“Do you understand what you have just done!?”

“Did I do something? I simply showed a rude child her place.”

Paimon’s face contorted in anger.

“You murdered a completely innocent maid!”

“The crime of daring to refer to a Demon Lord by a human position and the crime of going against a Demon Lord’s order despite being a demon. That’s already two crimes.”

“This childish murderer……!”

This is good timing, Gamigin thought to herself.

She never liked the bitch in front of her. It was none other than Paimon who first spread the weird ideology that Demon Lords are nothing more than public servants for the people. An innumerable amount of demons supported Paimon because of that lip service.

It was expected of a slut from the vulgar succubi race. She spread her legs without reserve for the sake of popularity. Gamigin reached the position of Rank 4 solely through her own efforts and schemes, so, to her, Paimon was simply a harlot who got lucky.

However, what bothered her the most was the fact that this harlot was also one of Dantalian’s lovers.

‘Even though you tried to kill him at first.’

She must’ve quickly offered her body once she was at a disadvantage. It was obvious.

Gamigin’s heart burned with rage. The man who had taken her affection wasn’t satisfied with her alone and was reaching his hand out to other women. From Gamigin’s perspective, this was something that lowered her value greatly.

It probably wouldn’t be bad to teach her a lesson once.

Gamigin smiled brightly.

“So? Are you going to punish me?”

“I will follow the laws of the Empire and report you!”

“Wow, I’m so scared. The laws of the Empire? A feeble Demon Lord like myself cannot possibly control herself properly under such terror.”

Gamigin raised her right arm. A golden magic circle appeared in the air.

“But you know what, Miss Righteous Paimon?”

She snapped her fingers.

A guard’s head exploded. It was the man who had referred to Gamigin as a duchess earlier.

“Kyahhhh!”

The maids screamed. Blood scattered everywhere. The headless corpse stumbled for a moment before it soon collapsed. Some of the demons fell to the ground in terror.

The others promptly tried to run away. It was probably because of their excellent survival instincts, but, in this case, they were unlucky. Their heads also exploded the moment they were about to leave the hall.

“…….”

Paimon’s mouth fell open in shock.

It didn’t take long for that shock to turn into anger.

“What have you done……!?”

“Hm? I was simply acting in accordance with the laws of the Empire.”

Gamigin pressed her finger against her cheek.

“In order to accuse someone above the rank of count, then you need three witnesses who are at least semi-nobles. You may be able to fill out one spot, but what about the other two?”

Paimon’s face became pale.

Due to the sudden death of four people, there were now only six people left in the hallway. The maids and guards could be treated as semi-nobles since they work in the palace, but the reason Gamigin was bringing up this law…….

“It’d be nice if you can protect all six of them.”

She was telling Paimon to try and stop her.

With a flick of her wrist, one of the maids who was on the ground was decapitated. Gamigin tilted her head cutely.

“Or was it five? Hehe.”

“…….”

Paimon gnashed her teeth. She didn’t bring any magic medicine with her because she was in a hurry. That was a mistake. She never thought that the other party would respond so drastically.

She stepped forward and stood between the demons and Gamigin. There was nothing else she could do, after all.

“You’ve already lost all of your amazing magic circles. With what gall are you trying to teach me a lesson? Hm, Paimon? I’m genuinely curious.”

“…….”

“To think that the only way you can punish me is through legal means. Don’t you feel embarrassed?”

Gamigin snapped her fingers.

A sharp wind blade was sent flying to a maid. Right before the maid’s head could be split into eight pieces, Paimon raised her right hand. The wind went straight into her forearm.

“Huh?”

Gamigin unconsciously let out a baffled sound.

Blood scattered in the air. The arm that was strengthened by magic wasn’t cut off, but the wound was deep as if it had been cut by a blade. Paimon shut her mouth tightly as her body was racked with pain.

“Don’t tell me……you’re just going to endure it with your body?”

“…….”

Paimon glared at Gamigin silently. A level of resolve lingered behind her red eyes. Gamigin couldn’t help herself once she saw this.

“Aha, hahaha! Amazing! This is a masterpiece!”

“…….”

“The great Paimon! The Demon Lord who once puppeteered the Demon Lord Army! She’s fallen so far that she has to block magic with her own body in order to protect a few maids! Ahahaha!”

Gamigin held her stomach as she laughed.

The anger that had been clenching her heart was washed away. She was filled with a refreshing feeling of satisfaction. Gamigin struggled to remember the last time she felt this satisfied. The stress she had unknowingly built up this entire time had been washed away in an instant.

She must’ve laughed too loudly as Gamigin somehow achieved her original goal.

“Dear me, did something entertaining happen?”

Dantalian had walked over from the other side of the hall after hearing her voice.

Dantalian stopped midway as he glanced around the hall. There were five headless corpses scattered on the ground and Paimon’s right arm was a mess. Dantalian nodded.

“This is not an appropriate place for ladies to scuffle.”

“Aha, haha…… This is all because you came out late, Dantalian.”

Gamigin raised her back as she gazed at Dantalian.

“It would’ve been much better if you had come out sooner.”

“It seems I cannot be alone for even a moment. After only just returning from the frontline of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth with our armies, people have come to visit since last night. Woe is me.”

Dantalian shrugged.

Gamigin’s brow twitched when she heard those words.

“……Since last night?”

“Yes. Barbatos and Paimon arrived one by one. It is so troubling.”

Gamigin’s heart instantly went cold.

She turned her head to stare at Paimon. Paimon was not properly clothed. Gamigin thought that Paimon had simply run here urgently after waking up from her slumber.

What if Paimon was together with Dantalian last night?

What if that was the reason why she came here only with a blanket wrapped around her?

“…….”

The anger that had settled was slowly crawling back up.

Barbatos, she could understand. Dantalian grew in the Plains Faction and was able to succeed thanks to them. He’s most likely obligated to be loyal to Barbatos.

However, she couldn’t forgive Paimon.

She couldn’t possibly—let that whore get ahead of her.

“Even though you never told me you were back.”

Gamigin muttered.

“……Mm.”

Dantalian sensed the seriousness in her voice and furrowed his brows.

“You didn’t tell me you were back yesterday, and yet, Barbatos and this bitch knew? How? Why?”

“Gamigin, calm down. There were simply things I had to take care of first.”

“Sleeping with this whore must’ve been on that list of things to take care of, huh?”

Gamigin snickered coldly.

Dantalian let out a sigh.

“Gamigin, look. Let us not be childish. You have a tendency of blowing a fuse too easily. I was simply a little busy. I did not deliberately ignore you.”

“You did, though!”

Gamigin pointed at Paimon.

“That bitch knew, but I didn’t! I would’ve still been waiting like an idiot if I hadn’t planted eyes in the palace! How can you try to feign ignorance when it’s so blatantly—.”

“Yes.”

Paimon cut into the conversation. She had an unpleasant smile on her face.

“I was told beforehand by Dantalian.”

“Wait, Paimon. What are you saying right now?”

Dantalian panicked as he tried to stop her.

However, Paimon approached Dantalian and leaned her body against his arm. Paimon deliberately raised a corner of her mouth as if she were taunting Gamigin.

“We also had a deep conversation all throughout the night. Can you imagine where I woke up in the morning?”

“You……!”

“I am different from you, Gamigin. I do not have to latch on to him.”

She was miles from having any rational thought now.

Gamigin shot out a series of wind blades.

Toward Paimon’s head.

***

TL Note: Thanks for reading the chapter. I did another oopsie again and forgot to upload this chapter sooner. I feel like this is going to be a weird cycle. Welp, I hope this doesn’t bother you guys too much. In any case, half of this chapter was actually re-translated because the latter half was lost. I’m not sure what happened, but like 800 words were missing when I uploaded it to the early access. I didn’t notice until someone mentioned it after I released the chapter after it since they obviously didn’t link together well with the missing segment. So yeah, the latter half wasn’t edited/proofread that well, so I apologize if there might be weird parts.

At any rate, I’ll see you guys in the next chapter.