Welcome to the Impregnable Demon King Castle

235 – My Love is My Enemy (Part 2)

It was a stare that could make a child wet himself.

「You’re strong as well.」

「I am. If you don’t know about me, maybe I’ll give you a lesson.」

「What a cute boy. I’m looking forward to it… which is what I wish to say, but first, I wish to ask about something that caught my interest.」

Her gaze turned from Wraith…to me.

The intensity of her stare was nothing like it was just now.

「…You are the Black Sorcerer Lem, correct? Why is it…that I can smell the scent of that man coming from you?」

「…」

I can only think of one man when she said that.

This is something only those who are familiar with her background would know.

Back when she was young and hadn’t yet made a name for herself, she worked for the Impregnable Demon King Castle.

That’s right, she knows him.

She interacted directly with my master.

A while ago, the 1st ranked Storm Hero Aerial did say…

That when he first met me, he felt the presence of the Demon King Lucifer.

I thought that if it was someone as powerful as him, he’d be able to sense the horn, that belonged to my master that he once fought, inside of me.

However, excluding that exception, even the best of the best would not be able to tell the difference.

I think my master did various things to make the horn take root within me.

『Aah, you’re talking about the horn in your body, right? A lot of nostalgic techniques and rituals were used, and it was cleverly disguised. He must really love you.』

The black chick Dark appeared and said.

『The people who do notice it are the exception. It’s kind of like a…sixth sense? His technique was immaculate, so nothing short of pure intuition could sense it. Take her for example. I have no idea what she means by scent.』

The Spirit has no interest in my everyday life, so it doesn’t make an appearance there, but the Spirit did appear during the preliminaries when there was a good fight to watch. From the timing of its appearance, the Spirit must have been watching the whole time.

Going so far as to use ancient techniques, he forced a Human to inherit his horn.

Can she sense a piece of my master through such things?

In Aerial’s case, he held on to his regret of being defeated by him in the Raid Battle to this very day.

If Aym is a former subordinate to my master, then the feelings that she holds close to her chest could be…fear or respect.

「Could it be…that you and he…」

She stopped there and shook her head.

「No, I’ll leave it at that. As they say, actions speak louder than words.」

Fortunately for me, she did not elaborate further.

Instead, I can feel her strong battle spirit rising.

「Let us fight. In the end, we will gently bury you in a sea of red flames.」

「Yeah, let’s fight. In the end, we will…will…er, I couldn’t think of anything as cool as that to say. Whatever, we’ll defeat you!」

Both our leaders’ words acted as a signal, and both sides made their first move.

◇

In front of me is a man who is about to be sucked dry.

With both of his arms cut off, my vampire bats suck all the Magical Energy out of him.

「You…damn…Vam…pire…」

「Indeed I am, Normal. And what of it?」

Dressed in my dress-like attire, I glance at the enemy, who resembled a dry, dead tree, scatter into Magical Energy particles, and I check the status of my pig…subordinates.

No, bad Milla, I can’t keep calling them that. One of them was entrusted to me by him, so I should refrain from calling them pigs altogether.

「Lady Carmilla, we have cleaned them up as you ordered.」

The Evil Eye Assassin Botis, a Lamia with her eyes covered in bandages.

Scales and long hair of the purest white. Even her skin is white.

She works under Lemegeton as his subordinate, but this time, I was given permission to add her to my party.

「Yes, well done.」

She splendidly snuck up behind the enemy and pierced through their hearts with her knife.

「Thank you.」

Usually, she doesn’t seem to be very good at talking to others, but in her Avatar state, she has no problems communicating, albeit with only a few words.

「Gr…I had a late start…! My queen! I, Haagenti, the servant of your love have just defeated the enemy…!」

It’s the Impaling Daughter Haagenti.

Different from how she usually talks, she is somewhat more polite in Avatar form.

But either way, her personality is the same.

An exemplary pig.

「I saw. So? Do you want me to praise you?」

I know that it is more effective to tease her first, so I do just that.

「………! N-no, ma’am! I don’t believe that it is at all appropriate for someone like me, who is content with being in second place, to receive praise!」

「Indeed. If you wish for a reward, then make a contribution to our final victory.」

「Yes…!」

My other subordinates came back a little later.

It’s not so easy to reach the 130th rank.

Taking full advantage of a Vampire’s physical ability, I created five one-on-one situations, aiming for each of them to be crushed individually.

While that did succeed, my subordinates, other than the three of us, have suffered some damage.

A Vampire’s regenerative abilities make them look like they have received no damage whatsoever, but it has its limits.

However, this is still within expectations and it poses no hindrance to the party’s movements.

「There are three parties remaining. The Wraith party and the Aym party have clashed, what shall we do?」

Said Haagenti.

If we intervene now, I know that I will desire to help that man.

However, I will not do that.

Right now, he is not the Chief of Staff, nor am I a Big Four.

He once told me.

That I am one of his rivals.

And right now, we are enemies.

Two people who desire to win.

In that case…

「We shall first hunt down the left-out party. After that, if they are still fighting, we shall make a daring interjection.」

「Understood. As you say, my queen.」

All of my subordinates bowed their heads.

「By the way, my queen, who do you think will win?」

I ignore Haagenti’s questions.

This caused her to shiver in pleasure.

What an absurd question.

But…if I must answer…

「…Today will be the second time I fight him.」

I mumble in a small voice that only I could hear.

The first time was when he was still with the Fenix party.

I, as the Floor Boss of the third stratum, felt the full terrifying force of his Black Magic with my own body.

I take pride in the fact that I am the one who values him the most in the world.

…For some reason, many names come to mind, such as the Flame Hero, or Silver Hero, or her Highness’s grandfather who I haven’t met, but I forcibly shut them out.

Yes, I am the person who values him the most in the world…!

Even so-no, purely because of that, I will fight seriously and aim for victory.

We are mutually aiming for the final battle, but only one party can move forward.

I will see just how much he wishes to fight his master because I will soon see him up close.

Nevertheless, I cannot do something as foolish as stay my hand.

That would be an insult to him, and we both desire a fight where we give our all.

He is my benefactor, companion, sleep buddy,…and my rival.

And only for today…my enemy.

In that case, I, the Vampire Queen Carmilla, have no choice but to fight with every fiber of my being.