The women who had been expelled from the Demon Lord's chamber with their walking orders gathered together in one place.
This was the temporary quarters Lapis was using as a base of operations. Document after document related to dungeon construction filled the room to the brim. The women looked utterly demoralized, like stragglers retreating from battle. Laura spoke in a tone of lament.
"There's no winning against Lord Barbatos. Not a single factor is in our favor. Unlike us, Lord Barbatos is a Supreme Demon Lord, so we're at a disadvantage in terms of standing. On top of that, our master is a hopeless pedophile, so we're behind in body type too……!"
Laura gazed down at her own chest with reproachful eyes.
"Why does my body keep getting more voluptuous as time passes? It's truly unjust! If only I could stay with the build I had the day I met the master — flat and childlike, forever and ever!"
"......"
"If Lord Barbatos heard that, he'd try to kill you," Jeremy offered with an awkward smile.
"It's hard to say for certain that His Highness Dantalion has a thing for children. Look at me, for instance."
"No. I'm certain of it. Sir Jeremy, look at that child."
Laura pointed to one side.
There, Daisy was sitting quietly, reading a philosophy book. The words *Philosophical Inquiries into the Essence of Human Freedom and Related Objects* were inscribed on the cover in elegant cursive. Daisy had already reached the level of devouring philosophy texts written in Ancient Imperial script.
"Just look at her — she's just as childish as Lord Barbatos, no, even more childish than His Excellency!"
"......I'd say it's less that she's 'childish' and more that she's simply a child."
"Our master clearly has a particular taste!"
Laura refused to listen to reason.
"Really, when he suddenly brought that child along claiming she was his adopted daughter, I nearly fainted on the spot. Oh dear. A girl is clearly needed for the master's bed. But eleven years old? Eleven! That's far too narrow!"
"Well, it's not like His Highness Dantalion took in Miss Daisy specifically to serve as a bed companion — she is his adopted daughter, after all, however nominal."
"It doesn't matter. Our master would be even more thrilled precisely because it's a father-daughter relationship."
Laura declared.
Chapter 76. The Dantalion Family's Sanity (2)
Jeremy had been here for only a short while, yet he was growing more acutely aware by the day just how bottomless Dantalion's reputation had become. There were probably few Demon Lords who were treated as such perverts by their own subordinates.
"...No. Rather, this might be a good thing," Lapis murmured.
"If Lord Barbatos holds the center, the women who recklessly approach Lord Dantalion will decrease. When it comes to stopping him from indiscriminately adding concubines, there's no better shield than Lord Barbatos."
"I see."
Laura nodded.
"It could be considered a kind of strategic move. Hmm. Setting aside other factors, we hold the advantage in the territorial dimension. Unlike Lord Barbatos, we can always stay by our master's side."
"Yes. It's a double-edged sword, though."
Lapis and Laura were discussing their next steps with the utmost seriousness on their faces.
Watching that scene, Jeremy thought.
*'These people are a little strange too.'*
In all the world, what lowly demon would refer to a Demon Lord as nothing more than a shield? Laura de Farnese, this human girl, even had a hobby of collecting the skulls of her own kind. And as for how strange Daisy was — that hardly warranted further discussion.
*'No. Are these people seriously thinking about having an actual love fight against Lord Barbatos right now? Really? Sincerely?'*
Their opponent was the eighth-ranked Demon Lord. They had to be out of their minds. Meanwhile, even in the midst of this battlefield of blood, Daisy quietly turned the pages of a philosophy book.
Suddenly, Jeremy came to a realization.
*'Could it be... that the most sane person here right now is... me?'*
She couldn't believe it.
*'Me — who spent centuries assassinating people and getting blood on my hands in the underworld... the most sane one here...?'*
What on earth was going on?
The Dantalion Demon Lord Army — commonly known as the Dantalion familia — was composed entirely of geniuses who were completely out of their minds. Both Lapis and Laura had only appeared normal at first glance; once you dug beneath the surface, they were every bit as terrifying as their liege.
"I heard that His Excellency Barbatos is secretly a masochist. Using that tendency..."
"Yes. Laura, at some point, find an opportunity for the three of you to engage in sexual relations. At that moment, if Laura gains the upper hand, the problem will be solved. Officially, His Excellency Barbatos is the primary consort, but within the palace in practice..."
Something absolutely outrageous was being discussed!
The more Jeremy listened to their conversation, the wider his jaw dropped.
"H-Hold on. Hold on. Lapis. Laura. Surely you aren't suggesting that His Excellency Barbatos play the role of 'slave'... and that Laura, you would take on the role of master? Is that what you're saying?"
"In tactical terms, attacking the opponent's weak point is the most fundamental of fundamentals."
Laura nodded as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.
"His Excellency Barbatos is currently courting my lord, but is originally homosexual. I am embarrassed to say it, but this girl is confident that in terms of feminine beauty, she falls behind no one. I intend to use this body."
"Excuse me...?"
Laura declared with full confidence.
"This girl will become His Excellency Barbatos's lover and make him this girl's slave!"
"..."
"And since my lord, who is His Excellency Barbatos's concubine, will then become this girl's concubine's concubine. Positionally, the advantage shifts to this girl!"
This woman was insane.
Jeremy couldn't hide his horror as sweat dripped from his forehead. So the human girl planned to become Dantalion's primary consort by turning Barbatos into an S&M play partner. Even Jeremy, who had been through every conceivable ordeal, couldn't fathom what kind of mental structure could possibly produce such a conclusion.
"A brilliant strategy."
Yet another lunatic was defending Laura.
"I had thought Miss Laura was unskilled in politics, but tactically, I must say this is truly praiseworthy."
"Don't worry. Big Sister Lapis is this girl's eternal big sister. Even if this girl conquers His Excellency Barbatos, that fact won't change."
Jeremy gave up on thinking altogether.
One thing was certain. The Dantalion Familia was the most heinous gateway to hell in the entire world. Here, whether they were master or servant, only those with something broken inside them lived.
The problem was that they looked perfectly normal from the outside.
Demon Lord Dantalion was the very person who had led the Eighth Crescent Alliance Army to victory. Laura de Farnese was the rising star who had prevented the total annihilation of the demon army at the Battle of Austerlitz. Lapis Lazuli was the next great magnate, blazing a trail of success at the Kunkuska Trading Company.
Anyone looking in from the outside would have thought they were an incomparably talented bunch. In truth, it was nothing of the sort. They were freaks—nothing more than freaks pretending to be normal!
'I want out. I want to run with everything I've got. I don't want to spend the rest of my life entangled with these people.'
Her instincts, honed through a lifetime as an assassin, were screaming warnings. Getting mixed up with these people would end in nothing good. But there was no way out. As long as the Slave Brand was carved into her heart, she had to obey her client's orders even if it meant death...
"All who enter this place must abandon all hope."
The words inscribed at the dungeon's entrance were right. There were no dreams here, no hope—nothing at all...
That day.
The ruler, Dantalion, had declared he would bed every last female Demon Lord to defend his romantic freedom, while his retainers conspired to conquer Demon Lord Barbatos for no other reason than refusing to yield the position of official wife.
That was the caliber of the Dantalion Familia.
Demons had gathered at the Niflheim mayor's residence. It was already the third time I'd come here.
The first time, I was interrogated by Paimon at the hearing. Back then, I was a low-ranking Demon Lord with no status whatsoever. The second time, the Crescent Alliance Army expedition was decided. I participated as a member of the Plains Faction.
And the third time... I now stood at the core of the Plains Faction and held the highest staff position across the entire Crescent Alliance Army.
They say time flies, and that's a saying meant for exactly this kind of moment. Looking back, hadn't the past three years been nothing but a breathless sprint?
"Your Excellency Dantalion, welcome. Hehe. It is an honor to meet Your Excellency."
Lost in reverie as I gazed at the palace's main gate, an old woman greeted me. Her face was familiar. She was the very same witch who had come to welcome me during my first visit years ago.
"Humbaba, isn't it? It's been a while."
"Hoho? Did this humble one ever inform Your Excellency of her lowly name?"
The old woman squeaked like a mouse as she spoke. That voice, which I once found grating, now felt oddly comfortable. I had once peeked at the witch's stats and despaired—'If even one attacked, everything would be wiped out.' But now things were different. I had the Death Knights.
I smiled leisurely.
"As a Demon Lord, it is only natural that one comes to know the names of one's subjects without effort."
"Indeed, Your Excellency Dantalion, keke. As befits one who commands such renown in the Demon Realm. Now. Allow me to escort you to the palace."
The old woman took the lead.
This was also different from the old days. Back then, it wasn't the old woman but her familiar who had guided me. I was newly struck by how far I had risen. It had truly been an immense struggle to reach this position.
Truly.
So much so that it couldn't be captured in just a word or two.
"Rank 71! The Inner Demon Lord, His Excellency Dantalion, arrives!"
The guard announced in a loud voice to the ballroom. The guards bowed to me with extremely courteous attitudes, and I walked through the center of them, my black cloak fluttering. I had unified everything from my boots to my cloak in black.
The Demon Lord of the Black Death, some whispered about me. There were still many who associated me with the plague. They said the color black evoked it. The more they did, the more I proudly donned my black attire.
For there was no Demon Lord left who would dare question me with such petty accusations anymore.
The other Demon Lords watched me from afar. No one dared to approach. Indeed, looking around, the Demon Lords of the Plains Faction had not yet appeared. The majority were of the Mountain Faction. From their perspective, Demon Lord Dantalion was nothing more than the nightmare who had decapitated their leader. They wouldn't want to exchange pleasantries.
The era when the Mountain Faction had controlled the Demon Lord Army was over. The continental situation was clearly being dominated by the Plains Faction. I was said to be the architect of that reversal. It was somewhat amusing.
While a subtle war of nerves played out between me and the Mountain Faction Demon Lords, there was one person who cut into the silence as if it didn't matter at all.
"It's been a while, Dantalion!"
"...Yes, it has. Sitri."
The only one in the Demon Lord Army whose heart hadn't been corrupted. Sitri, ranked 12th.
As soon as Sitri saw me, she crossed her arms and approached. Murders of shock mixed with murmurs came from the surroundings. With Paimon's fall, Sitri was now the person leading the Mountain Faction. That Demon Lord was now approaching the bane of the Mountain Faction with familiarity.
"What have you been up to all this time? There was no contact for so long, I thought you were dead!"
"Haha. My life is exceptionally long. You don't need to worry."
"You already have plenty of people who hate Dantalion, so you'd better watch out."
Sitri puffed out her cheeks and glared at me. I could tell she was genuinely worried about me.
A bitter smile escaped my lips. Good grief, this lady. Did she have any idea how politically seismic the act she just committed was? Probably none at all. That was precisely what made her Sitri.
Meanwhile, there were people in this world who raised roughly two hundred cobras under their disguise.
"Hehe. Hello, Dantalion? Long time no see!"
Gamigin, the fourth-ranked Demon Lord.
She had been embroiled in territorial disputes with Barbatos, and she was the party I had to negotiate with today as the representative of the Plains Faction.
Gamigin strutted toward me with a swaying gait, flaunting her voluminous blonde hair. She was beaming brightly. At a glance, she looked as innocent as Sitri. Of course, I knew all too well how ruthless her true nature was.
"It's been a while, Lady Gamigin. I trust you've been well."
"Yep. Thanks to Barbatos, I haven't had a single boring day!"
Gamigin flashed a wide smile.
"Be nice to me today, Dantalion? If you push me too hard, I'm gonna get upset~"
"I'm counting on you as well. Haha."
We shook hands and exchanged smiles.