Welcome to the Impregnable Demon King Castle

141 – The First Stratum – The Watchdog’s and Hellfire’s Realm 3 Part 2

Understanding what he means, Scathach nods regretfully.

He has consumed a lot of Magical Energy, and he’s lost an ally. There’s also another that lost all his fingers and his Magic Tool.

They planned for them to be the central figure for the first stratum, but to insist on that considering the situation would be the height of folly.

Having gotten permission, Aerial nods once and shifts his sights to an empty space.

「Michelle.」

At his call, a pointy hat and robe-wearing woman holding a staff truly dressed as a wizard drew near.

Until Fenix appeared, she was the strongest fire elemental user known only as the Crimson Wizard.

Normally, she is a sisterly figure with a warm and snug air about her, but as soon as she enters battle…

「Is it okay? I’ll burn them~ I’ll burn them all~」

She becomes unusually high energy.

She cheerful waves her staff, and then it happened.

Several fireballs the size of a huge rock were created, and they were let loose upon the ground, aiming at nothing in particular.

She’s probably trying to flush out the Invisible Slaughterer.

Due to the damage he received prior, a direct hit from one of those would be enough to defeat him.

Perhaps being grazed by one of the fireballs, Gla-la let out a pained groan.

「You may be charged to defend this place, but we have business to attend to at the bottom. With the master of this castle.」

The Demon King Castle is an underground labyrinth. Stacked layer upon layer, the Adventurers head for the very bottom.

Should they finally reach the bottom, they aim for her Highness who awaits them in the eleventh stratum.

Aerial readies his two-handed Holy Sword overhead.

I suppose he was weaving through the fireballs to get closer to them, the burned Gla-la, who lost one wing, nevertheless resolutely swings his sharp claws at the Storm Hero.

「Your coordination was truly amazing.」

His downswing was faster than Gla-la’s claws.

In the next moment.

The Invisible Slaughterer Glasya-Labolas was split vertically, and behind him, all the way on the far off fake Demon King Castle, a fissure appeared as if it were cut.

The people in the video room, who were excited by the actions of the first stratum, are now looking at the screen stunned.

When Gla-la was defeated, the wasteland fell silent.

All the invisible Monsters that were on the Aerial party’s side were all defeated.

Fran was already rescued by Wraith.

「Hmph, we didn’t get to do anything.」

Said Herv, frowning.

「That’s the Demon King Castle for you. These party members can get through most of anything, but they’re coming up with plans that cost us extra time to get through each of them.」

As usual, Wraith makes remarks that seem beyond his years.

「Indeed. I feel bad for Scathach and team, but thanks to them, we got to see how they operate.」

「Right? They keep pushing us to come up with an Adventurer’s most optimal solution.」

It seems that Aerial and Wraith weren’t the only ones who noticed.

「Hah, that’s just perfect. A Hero crushes things head-on, right?」

Naturally, Herv would say that.　

「About that, let us leave that to the leading party of each stratum.」

Aerial concluded with that.

That statement sounded more like it was directed at the Monsters in the Demon King Castle.

As if to say, we’ve noticed that you guys realize what our plans are.

Without any particular objections, the sixteen people already resumed their march towards the fake Demon King Castle.

「So? What’s the plan? We gonna let the four of’em fight the Floor Boss?」

Scathach, who was subjected to a testing gaze from Herv, shook his head in denial.

「I can’t afford to lose any more allies. Wraith, Fran. Can you assist us?」

「Of course. If that is what it takes to win, I’ll do anything you need.」

Wraith smiled innocently, and Fran nods with nary an expression on her face.

Later.

The Floor Boss, the Watchdog of Hell Naberius, fought hard but he wasn’t able to defeat anyone.

If the Scathach party insisted on being the center of the Clear, they probably would have lost one or two more members.

However, they proved why they are the world’s 5th-ranked party.

They didn’t do something as foolish as putting their allies in danger for the sake of their pride.

There is perhaps another reason.

If only for Raid Battles, Floor Boss battles are at a disadvantage for the Dungeon side.

The Dungeon is divided into several sections.

The biggest section is the Dungeon. Referring to the whole thing.

Next is the stratum. Referring to each stratum starting from the first all the way to the deepest.

After that is Area. In the first stratum, there are two Areas, the wasteland Area, and the Floor Boss Area.

In this Area, usually, the Floor Boss Area is made narrower than the previous Area.

The first stratum is a little hard to understand, but in contrast with the vast wasteland Area, there is the Area in front of the gate of the fake Demon King Castle.

The Floor Boss is the Watchdog of Hell Naberius.

In the second stratum, in contrast to the Area that evokes the image of an uninhabited city is a mausoleum on the edge of the city.

The Floor Boss is the Spirit Commanding General Kimaris.

In the third stratum, in contrast to the dark forest Area is a single room in an old building.

The Floor Boss is the Vampire Queen Carmilla.

In the fourth stratum, in contrast with the complex Area reminiscent of a mine is a space as big as a dance hall.

The Floor Boss is the Chief of the Werewolves Marchosias.

The journey to the Boss is long but the Boss fight itself is supposed to feel like a decisive battle.

Of course, the Floor Boss is a Monster who wields mighty strength, bringing along their subordinates to engage the Adventurers.

The Hero party are also strong people who will not be outdone.

But, in this Raid Battle, there are five abnormal Heroes in the first place.

There is a limit to the plans that can be used in a narrow space, and you can’t place countless numbers of subordinates.

What the audience expects from a Boss battle is a clashing of powers, after all.

The Adventurers, who overcame hardships, squares off against the Boss and crushes them.

In opposition to this, the Monster side has to respond in kind.

Dungeon Clears and Defenses are entertainment. We cannot ignore this.

The Scathach party replaces the defeated Caleena and the fingerless Theo with Wraith and Fran, maintaining a team of five.

It’s not surprising anymore. Wraith acts as the support and Fran serves as the vanguard. Basically, they endured the enemy’s attacks until Scathach’s Magical Energy recovered, each person will be bombarded with magic and skills at their own time.

This time, the Aerial and Hervor party served as outriders.

It was Scathach who dealt the final blow, cutting off all three of Naberius’s heads in one cut, ending the battle.

The Far-Reaching Swordsman Hamill lost his right arm and Fran received severe burn injuries, but not enough to defeat her.

The group of Adventurers, whose numbers were decreased to sixteen, Cleared the first stratum of the Demon King Castle.

They are determined to advance to the next stratum.

That day’s Clear is over.

「That boy… On TV he gave off the impression of a confident and selfish child, but he considers his surroundings carefully and makes appropriate decisions swiftly… He is not to be underestimated.」

I nod at Carmilla’s words.

「Yes.」

I wonder what people will say about this Clear.

There will most likely be a few harsh opinions about the Scathach party.

There is no shortage of people who make judgments based on easy-to-understand information rather than looking at the circumstance in detail.

He lost an ally in the first stratum and enlisted the help of a newcomer. There will be those who criticize them based on these facts alone.

However, overall, I think it will be exciting.

A never-before-seen Demon King Castle welcome, which the Adventurers barely got through.

The Scathach party turning a bad situation around and annihilating the enemy.

The Water Hero who backed them up, who claims that the Water Spirit who acknowledges him as a contractor is merely there as a spectator.

Looking at the results, despite one person being defeated, I think it turned out alright.

Gla-la’s power was a big help and the simple trap set by Hellhounds and Beast Masters was enough to make the Adventurers suffer and even managed to defeat one of them.

Showing that Monsters aren’t just there to be easily dispatched is a wonderful step forward, isn’t it?

Besides.

I feel bad for my allies, but I believe they will reach the tenth stratum.

Of course, I will cooperate with the intention of annihilating them before that and I do not doubt the strength of my allies.

But I know these Adventurers. I don’t know how many times I’ve watched their videos over and over again.

It wouldn’t be odd for each of these parties to challenge the Demon King Castle on their own.

Wraith and Fran are an unknown factor, but after seeing their actions today, they are by no means inferior.

…No, let’s not mince words.

In the end, It’s just a simple desire.

I, personally, want to confront them.

I, Lemegeton, just want to fight them.

◇

「You’re Lem, right? Oh, that’s right, I saw you in the Tag Tournament. You did a heck of a job.」

A few days after the Clear of the first stratum.

Aerial calls me out once again and…I froze.

Why? Because standing there, at the meeting spot, is the man I admired… None other than the Unyielding Hero, himself.