Welcome to the Impregnable Demon King Castle

104 – Reproduction! The ____ Clear of the Impregnable Demon King Castle.

「Good morning, Lem. Breakfast is ready.」

「Morning…」

I wake up to the sound of Milla’s voice.

Her golden hair glistening as bright as the moon and her eyes as beautiful as gemstones. Her ample bosom swayed to and fro as she shook me awake.

「Ufufu, look who has bed hair. Come come, you can fix it while washing your face.」

「Yeah…」

I head towards the washroom.  A dull man with lame bed hair.

「How is it? Good?」

「gulp Yeah. It’s delicious.」

I’m eating my meal at the table.

「I’m glad. Ah, that time that you unleashed the horn in the Beginner’s Dungeon was on the news again.」

「Mm, well we kinda broke all the cameras that time with Fenix…」

I vacantly stare at the TV.

Nicola and party submitted that Clear video.

There are parties who submit even failed Clear videos if it was still a good scene or if there was something discovered in there that was newsworthy. There are also parties who submit failed Clear videos just to get back as much Clear attempt expenses as possible.

This probably wasn’t her intent, although it might definitely have been Philip’s, but this ultimately made their party’s popularity go up instantly.

There are several reasons.

「Fufufu, everyone is obsessed over Lord Lemegeton.」

The first is, this is the first time that the image of me releasing the horn was captured on video.

Although the form my horn took was extremely exceptional, it is not an entirely uncommon case according to the experts who appeared on TV.

It’s not the case of transplanting it onto a person.

They say that there are Majins who, by birth, are unable to grow a horn properly.

But that is not to say that they do not have horns, they just did not grow.

In other words, it is a case where the horn is within the body.

Upon its release, it comes out of the body.

I was judged as that type of Majin.

Maybe that’s why my master decided to transplant it into me.

Perhaps he thought that if Majins with an in-horn condition live their lives without any issue, then maybe that could be applied to Humans. And in fact, it was a success.

「I wonder. I feel like everyone’s watching Nicola.」

The other reason is…

Nicola’s appearance is beautiful, but very strong.

She fought a fierce battle with the One Horned Dark Sorcerer Lemegeton, who tormented the Fenix party, and even made him unleash his horn.

The Silver Prince breaking out of her shell was also a shocking moment to her fans.

Through their actions in the tournament the other day, the Diamond Hero Philip, the Holy Paladin Mark and Orobas from the Monster side gathered a lot of attention.

「We-…well she certainly is beautiful…A-anyway, that Dungeon is now at peace.」

It was clear that the Beginner’s Dungeon’s difficulty was not at an Elementary Level. But at the same time, a great number of newbie parties were confirmed to be getting paid well by the Clear reward system.

In other words, this wasn’t a difficulty scam but a hidden element…which gave rise to the theory that it might be an All Level Dungeon. Accompanying that, parties who grasped the situation shared their information one after another. It’s credibility was solidifying.

The participation of the Demon King Army’s Chief of Staff and one of the Big Four remains as it’s biggest mystery.

Just that video created lots of topics to talk about.

Topics that you can’t exhaust in just one or two days.

「Yeah. Looks like I was worried over nothing.」

「Oh Lem…you really do care about your childhood friend, don’t you?」

I thought about something that made me a little uneasy.

If 5 was the maximum limit of unleashing the horn, I’d say unleashing the horn when I fought Nicola is a 1 or a 2.

That time with Fenix was a 5 out of 5.

In the first place, I didn’t have enough Magical Energy to unleash a 3 or more during the one-on-one fight with Nicola, but the audience doesn’t know that.

Which is why…I was worried that people would think that Fenix lost to my 1. I didn’t want that.

But he’s the world’s 4th ranked. Both the experts and the fans knew that well.

I should be happy that a Majin is a famous Demi-Human to begin with.

It was good that the camera managed to capture Fenix’s battle in the tenth stratum annihilation.

A Majin’s horns stores Magical Energy. Like a savings account, if you will.

If you imagine the time I fought Fenix as me almost emptying my savings completely, what I showed the Silver Prince was me making a quick withdrawal of the savings I’ve been rebuilding.

That is exactly the correct answer.

「Please stop…」

「Ufufu, I’m jealous.」

It’s just that we’ve known each other too long to say it doesn’t matter. 

「Lem, it looks like it’s going to rain today.」

After the meal, I put on the jacket she brought over.

「Thank you. I’ll take the umbrella with me.」

「Sure. Well then, I shall see you again at work.」

I’m going to pick up Cashew. I bid farewell to her for now.

「According to a theory, whether or not one kisses before leaving appears to affect the risk of encountering careless accidents. For the sake of accident prevention, shall we test it out?」

For a moment, I stare at her glossy lips.

「…Ahaha, I’ll be off now.」

「Aw. Feel free to do it whenever you’re ready, Lem.」

Milla looked unabashedly disappointed, but chuckled. She probably didn’t think I would respond either.

Milla…I think you’re getting too familiar with my apartment.

After leaving the dormitory, I thought for the first time about how surprisingly accepting I was about living with her.

I don’t dislike it. In fact, she’s a lifesaver. Although there were many moments where I had to avert my eyes.

…

……

Embarrassingly, I have never dated anyone before.

I guess because…I was so focused on my training and my work?

Fenix and Lark are popular with the girls and Alba is always on the prowl. Lily’s eyes would turn cold if that topic was ever brought up so I never asked. I wonder…I just don’t know.

And well…there’s also the fact that Black Sorcerers are hopelessly unpopular with the ladies.

In any case, I don’t really know much about love.

That said, I know that Milla’s feelings toward me go beyond the support of a fan.

I’ve been thinking about it.

But I’m hopelessly lacking in experience, and I’ve been wondering what to do about it.

「Hmm…」

My troubles were compounded by a problem that arose after leaving for work that day.

◇

「Teehee…」

Cashew’s ears and tail waggled happily.

Due to the tournament, we weren’t together for quite a while so it seems she was lonely.

We left for work, hand in hand. I feel like she’s walking somewhat closer than usual.

But as long as she’s happy, that’s all that matters.

Today she’s wearing a raincoat over her clothes.

The hood has parts to fit in her dog ears.

「So what’s on the agenda today, secretary?」

「Right. Today uhm…first is an assembly in the meeting room. The participants are all of the Big Four, Lem, and the Demon King!」

「Wow, I wonder if a strong party made an appointment.」

「The topic of discussion is…unknown…」

「I see. No, that’s fine.」

We talk about silly things while we head to the Demon King Castle.

◇

「Curse him…!」

Shouted her Highness.

She looks like a little girl, but she is most definitely our boss. Like my master and Fellow, she has crimson hair and eyes. Black horns growing from the sides of her head.

「Your highness, you shouldn’t address your father in such a way.」

「Silence, Agares. Or I won’t let you escort me during lunch break.」

「Yes, My apologies…!」

Your Highness, Agares, are you sure that conversation is okay? I…guess it is. No one’s pointing it out.

The Time Demon Agares calls himself the guardian of young children. So I guess all is well.

「It might be tough for Sitri’s floor. Maybe. It’s narrow and when there are more targets it’s a little…」

A cat-like young lady with pink hair done up in twintails. She takes the form of a Dream Demon but she’s actually a leopard Demi-Beast. My colleague and friend who likes cute forms.

「It’s fine if it were just one party, but it is difficult dealing with multiple parties with our current strength…」

Milla also looked troubled.

Incidentally, Furcus is silent. Probably asleep.

「But we cannot run away. In spite of that man pulling out almost all the staff when he handed the Dungeon over to me, possibly knowing that Lemegeton doesn’t have enough Magical Energy…he set up a raid! And the announcement of the application is all over TV! There is no escaping it! And we certainly do not plan to!」

Her Highness is livid.

Her Highness likes all out clashes. In that vicinity, she has gathered like-minded staff members.

But Fellow seems like the type to achieve his goal by exploiting weaknesses.

Rather than the coming fight itself, she dislikes her father’s ulterior motives.

This time, he has commenced a joint Clear with several parties…a raid.

A raid was once assembled during the time my master was the Demon King, and they were all annihilated in the end. There has been no such incident since.

「What the hell is this「Reproduction!! The Raid Clear of the Impregnable Demon King Castle.」…?!」

If you think about Fellow’s goals, it is quite a simple plan.

The Impregnable Demon King Castle. The Dungeon where the strongest Demon King reigns.

In fact, it has never been fully Cleared.

It is the ultimate goal of all Adventurers.

Fellow wants to eliminate Dungeon Clears. After that, he plans to reuse Dungeons for games.

For that purpose, the complete Clear of the Demon King Castle is a sound strategy.

To society, the purpose of Adventurers has been fulfilled, giving the impression that Dungeon Clears are over.

In actuality, the Clearing of the Demon King Castle does not mean the end of the industry, but it could lay the groundwork for him to carry it to a new direction.

This one time wouldn’t be the end of it, but he will create the situation as such.

「The participants are amazing as well.」

Perhaps because I was smiling, everyone looked at me with a piercing gaze.

There are four parties to participate.

The 5th ranked party in the world, led by the Thunderclap Hero Scathach. [1. TL Note: Scathach (pronounced ska-hack) is a Gaellic warrior maiden from the Ulster Cycle of Gaelic Mythology.]

The 3rd ranked party in the world, led by the Hero of the Cursed Sword Hervor.

The 1st ranked party in the world, led by the Storm Hero Aerial.

And lastly, the Hero who just formed a contract with the Spirit the other day, for the first time in sixty years, the Water Hero Wraith and his assembled Adventurers.

You don’t necessarily have to attend an Adventurer Training institute.

I didn’t.

The idea that you have to be trained immediately after discovering your Job is certainly pervasive, but there have been people who started doing things immediately instead.

Fellow even gave his permission, so he can’t be just a hot topic.

「What is so amusing, Lemegeton.」

「Hm?…oh, sorry. I’m just looking forward to it.」

「Looking forward to it…?」

「We’re going to fight them, right? It’s fun thinking about how to win against them with everyone’s help.」

To be able to fight the Adventurers that stand at the peak, along with the newly formed Four Great Spirits contractor.

Everyone’s mouth was agape at my words.

Soon, each of them started to giggle. Of course, excluding Furcus, who was asleep.

「Fu…fufu, HAHAHA! You are exactly right! Just like that day, it is just a matter of crushing whatever they have planned! I am counting on you this time as well! Along with everyone!」

However, everyone’s concerns are reasonable.

Excluding the party with unknown abilities mixed in, the rest are a force to be reckoned with.

Everyone at the Demon King castle is dependable, but as her Highness said, the reality is that many personnel were once pulled out of the castle.

I was able to fool the audience with my summoning magic in the tenth stratum, but I’m actually the only one on that floor.

I have to gather allies.

And also…what am I going to do about my lacking Magical Energy?