Dungeon Defense (WN)

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Continental force, early April 1513.

I lost one of my legs and summoned the preemptive Demon Kings the next day. There was only one reason, and from now on, all-out war was more likely to start.

Elizabeth was not a great person to miss her chance. She obtained information that Rudolf von Habsburg was the corpse of a puppet. I couldn't help but use this. I'm sure I'll pursue a proper cause to inflict diplomatic aggression...

Then the story becomes simple. One step ahead of me was enough.

I arrived first and waited for the Demon Kings to arrive. Touch the cane with both hands. This was a much smaller room than the Great War, perfect for meeting with a handful of high ranking Demon Kings.

It was practically a closed-room meeting. Unlike the battle, there were only ten chairs. I waited for a while, but first I bargained into the conference room. The bartender looks around the room and frowns.

“Where did the guards go?" There's no one here. ”

“I don't need a guard here today. Never leak information. ”

“…… Isn't it a bit excessive to have no servants? If you get thirsty during a meeting, you should be thirsty. ”

I pointed to a bottle of wine on the table. I told him to drink it himself. I bargained and kicked my tongue as if I was tired, and sat in the chair farthest away from where I was sitting.

There are still 30 minutes left for the conference room to take place. There was a silence that settled between us. But it wasn't awkward. It was because there were many such cases.

Whether to be surprised or impressed, he was a person who kept his promise of time thoroughly. I arrived exactly 30 minutes early every time a meeting was held. He was the earliest of all the Demon Kings to come to the meeting with me. By the way, the late Demon King for the meeting was Barbatos…….

“Yesterday's execution of the Plains Demon Kings revolted heavily. ”

“That was quick work. ”

I said in the grave.

Has the aftermath been so severe as to call it rebellion already? The other day, when the Unsubordinated Demon Kings were purged, they reacted quite differently. At that time, the rebels were trapped in the Democratic Castle and collapsed halfway through their destruction.

However, the plains' army was executed and upheld in just one day. It was almost convincingly quick. It's only right to think you've been prepared before. From the moment the Phantom Demon Kings were captured, the rebels were already on the verge of rebellion…….

It was an elite army familiar with war. It was different from the armies of Unsubordinated Demon Kings who lived in peace.

“You don't seem surprised. ”

I was cheap and looked at my face.

“It was as if 20,000 rebels were happening simultaneously. Why don't you make a surprised or hasty face? ”

“I'm impressed to see you. ”

I put my cane at an angle on the chair's chin, and pulled the tobacco cane out of my chest. I said, lighting a cigarette.

“When the Unsubordinated Demon Kings were purged, their armies chose to settle in their strongholds. It was a mass suicide. There is only one reason why they are isolated from the Democratic City. It's hard to resist the Demon King's dominion if you start a rebellion. ”

Even if the rebels were to march with 10,000 troops and 20,000 troops, they had a decisive weakness. There was no Demon King to command them.

On the other hand, there were more Demon Kings on this side of the fence than there were any other rebels. Marvas and Gamegin, for example, simply ordered the two of them to 'stop the attack immediately’ and the insurgents' combat strength dropped sharply. We won't be able to fight.

That's why the Demon Kings' rebels chose a path of honor. I didn't have a clue if it was wise or stupid. Rebellion was a very difficult choice for the Horsemen who lost their monarch that much.

“Nevertheless, the legions of the Plains revolted. I was unable to wage an all-out war, but I was able to mount a massive insurgency…… That is, I'm not aiming an all-out war, I'm aiming for a full-scale war. The rebels will send small squads to every corner of the empire to do their part for a long time. ”

“ ……. ”

The bartender looked at me. It seemed like a ridiculous face, and I was bored somehow.

“You. Have you received any information about the rebellion's uprising? ”

“That's the first I've heard of it. ”

“That's what you came up with as soon as you heard yourself? ”

I put a pipe in my mouth. The fragrant smell filled my mouth. Now, I wanted to enjoy the lotus grass lightly, so I rolled the scent slowly in my mouth without taking a deep inhale. This was good because it had its own flavor.

“Yes, is there a problem? ”

“ ……. ”

“Better than that, a 20,000-gauge offensive force. This is gonna be a real pain in the ass. Today's meeting will be longer than I expected. ”

He bargained and muttered as he kicked his tongue again. I couldn't hear what he was saying because his voice was too small. It was just a voice full of complaints.

As the meeting approached, the Phantom Kings arrived one or two at a time. In turn, Garmigin, Citri, and Marvas entered the conference room and sat down, choosing the chair as they pleased. Citri sat right next to me as if it were natural.

“Dantalian. Would you mind taking a little more rest?" ”

Marvas poured the wine into his glass. I took it politely.

“Thank you for your concern. But I think it's more important how the empire will respond than the discomfort of my entire life. The sooner we deal with this, the better. ”

“But you still don't know where Barbatos was taken. If we don't know where we're going, we'll have to narrow our options. ”

I poured wine into Marvas' glass with both hands. Marvas sighs and looks drunk. A total of five of our top Demon Kings, including myself, lightly slashed their necks.

“I don't know if you've heard, but what's left of the Plains has sparked an army. You've made an excuse to avenge the wrongful death of your lords. Why don't you focus on defeating the Rebels and see where Barbatos is headed? ”

Marvas gives you a small nod from the other preemptive Demon Kings. Either way, now there was too little information. I couldn't decide whether to save Barbato or let him go, unless I knew where he was taken.

In that sense, Marvas' proposal was close. Marvas' preference for sound strategy and tactics has always been reflected in places like this.

But that way we'll be late for the repulsion.

You have no idea who Elizabeth is. Elizabeth surpasses what she can handle with just a stone. One step ahead of everyone else, two steps ahead of everyone else, and we can barely outrun Elizabeth.

I opened my mouth.

“Barbato is in the Habsburg Republic. ”

Eyes on the left were focused.

“Shame my adopted daughter knows all the details of our empire. We also know which countries we need to evacuate to have a critical impact on the Empire. ”

I continued to talk in a more comfortable atmosphere than usual. The five gathered here were political chiefs with complicated relationships, but there was also a more comfortable corner.

In less than a decade, 72 Demon Kings have fallen to 16. There was also a degree of decline in population.

These are the Demon Kings that survived the fierce slaughter competition. Among them, they were the ones who ultimately maintained their peak. Somehow, the outside recognized each other's abilities. I didn't have to use my mind for useless neurowarfare.

“Well, why Habsburg, then? ”

“It's because of Rudolf. When Barbatos dies, Rudolph, who lost his master, naturally dies. And the most profitable country in the event of the Emperor's death is the Habsburg Republic. ”

Marvas groans as he narrows his eyes.

“Indeed……. By the way, the monarch of the Republic is definitely King Rudolf's sister. You're the only qualified to succeed Rudolph. ”

I was also comfortable because I had fast ears. I nodded.

“Yes, the president of the Republic has a very favorable hand. If we're lucky enough to see the benefits of killing Barbatos, we'll be able to capture evidence that our Demon Lord has manipulated him and expose him to the world. Our empire quickly becomes a public enemy. ”

The bartender snores. I felt like he was mocking me.

“You have a remarkable human species as your adoptive daughter, Dantalian. I thought you said bugs were supposed to be used in the heart of lions. I can't believe you're so thorough in everything that you've put a crack in the girl of the human race. ”

“…… I don't have the courage to say anything. ”

I bowed my head gently.

This was also a cheap and good plan. By reprimanding me, I naturally obtained the highest authority among the Demon Kings gathered here today. so that the atmosphere won't be focused on Marvas even though Marvas is leading the meeting.

“Hey. Shouldn't we be done talking about the traitor? ”

And as promised, Gamekin succeeded.

“From now on, I was in a position to decide how to respond. I don't like making a fuss about meetings, so I hope you can move on quickly. ”

“Yes, I'll take it back. ”

I drenched my tongue with wine.

“If my guess is correct, the Habsburg Republic will soon send an emissary. You can make excuses all you want. You don't want to trade more, you want friendship, you talk as much as you want. ”

There must be a real purpose to the mission.

“And I'm sure the Mission will ask you to meet with Emperor Rudolf in person. We'll see if the other person is really a living human or a resurrected corpse. Secretly bring such verifiable artifacts. ”

“Hmm."

Marvas nods.

“In short, if you send an emissary from the Republics, that should prove your guess. ”

“Yes, I'm sure. We first need to prepare for the Emperor's succession. ”

“Hmmm. Then I guess I'll just have to use a doll. ”

Gamekin interrupts the conversation.

“You were supposed to replace the emperor with a doll. Don't you think that's enough to fool the emissaries? ”

“Yes, replacing the doll will fool the eye of the envoy. But there's a better way. ”

Originally, we were going to kill Barbato and replace him with Ivar's puppet. The puppet that Ivar had made with great care did not distinguish it from the real humans. However, there was an unfortunate corner to take out this hand immediately.

I leaned low and whispered.

“Let the envoy verify the corpse of the emperor at will. ”