Story: I'm a Daemon, so what?
Disclaimer: I do not own the original setting.
Chapter 113: Death of a Clown
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- Felix -
"And that's pretty much everything." I said. I told Hinata and Luminous basically everything that I knew about the Eastern Empire that wasn't shared in the meeting.
Damrada just quietly listened in and gave his own two cents when he felt he could contribute to the conversation. I could tell he felt rather out of place, which was natural. He and I had only recently been acquainted; we weren't that comfortable with each other yet.
Plus he had just betrayed the man he was serving for centuries. I wasn't going to blame him for being out of it.
I told them about the military power that I knew of: the Single Digits and how they all had Ultimate Enchantments and were Saints. I told them about what those Ultimate Enchantments were capable of for the ones I did know.
I went into more detail about Rudra's situation and why Damrada had decided to serve me. I told them a bit more about the other significant threats from the Eastern Empire like Tatsuya Kondou and the Scorch Dragon Velgrynd.
I told them more about Michael, Lord of Justice. About how it was once Veldanava's Skill and was traded to Rudra for Uriel, Lord of Vows because Veldanava believed in Rudra's dream.
Of course I told them about Rudra's dream as well. About how he wished for a world where disputes could be settled with words rather than violence; a truly ideal world. I told them about how Guy said that Rudra was forced into reincarnation due to Michael fighting back against Rudra for some reason.
They had voiced out their suspicions about Michael being a Manas, and I was leaning towards that as well. No normal Ultimate Skill should have that level of autonomy.
"Indeed. If the Ultimate Skill: Michael, Lord of Justice is not yet a Manas, then I suspect that it is well on its way to becoming a Manas."
'That's what I thought as well.'
I went on to tell them about how after Velda and Lucia's death, Rudra had basically given up. He got depressed.
Both Hinata and Luminous were rather surprised to hear that a Spiritual Lifeform could actually get depressed. They went on to debate the kinds of effects that would have had on Rudra himself, since as Spiritual Lifeforms, the way we think about ourselves drastically influences us as individuals. We quite literally were who we believed we were. I was literally fueled by my massive ego which made my sense of self ironclad.
I told them about how I suspected that Rudra was slowly being corrupted, twisting his ideals. The effect of an Ultimate Skill/Manas in your soul fighting against you, plus continued reincarnation to counteract that Skill/Manas could not be underestimated. Either that or the simple wear of time had gotten to Rudra and warped his ideals.
The person that Guy told me about, the person that history spoke about always held Rudra in a rather positive light, and while Guy wasn't the best source of information, I think he knew Rudra better than any other.
Much of what we spoke about Guy didn't reveal in the meeting, so it was important that I shared it all.
I'd have to go tell Rimuru all of this afterwards as well, it was best to keep him in the loop.
Damrada had seemed rather upset at my suggestion about Rudra's corruption, but after giving it some thought he had said it could be possible.
He said that the change in Rudra was rather large compared to when Rudra first took over the Kingdom of Nasca. He always just thought that was time's wear on Rudra as his peaceful methods began to fail.
When I asked why Damrada didn't really seem to care about Rudra's change in mindset, he had said that while he was surprised at Rudra's change in methods, in the end, he believed it was for the best. He always believed that power was needed for Rudra's dream to be achieved. World peace could not be achieved through peaceful methods in Damrada's own words, ironically.
But a part of me was suspicious that Rudra may have altered Damrada's perception to think that way.
Alternative was a direct link into Damrada's soul. Othinus had said that it was definitely possible to make alterations to Damrada as an individual, especially since Damrada willingly accepted Alternative into him. Othinus said that she didn't detect anything concrete, but she had also said that there was a chance that something slipped by.
To me, Darmada seemed to be a genuinely decent person. He cared for the people close to him and those he was responsible for. He was loyal to those he believed in and would put his all into an objective he saw as worthwhile.
One did not receive Hero's Haki without having some of the qualifications for it. With my newfound connection with Damrada, I only further verified what I already knew. Damrada was a genuinely good person. Of course, being good and bad wasn't black and white.
Would someone like that be okay with his people being relegated to basically serf status? From what I've learned, Rudra seems to be willing to use any methods needed to win in his game against Guy. It's his obsession. He had no qualms about turning his own citizens into effectively serfs without much in the way of human rights, even willing to sacrifice them by the millions to suit his purposes.
I wasn't going to cast judgment on him, but those were the facts.
"That is all quite something, Felix." Hinata said.
Luminous nodded. "Indeed, but it is all valuable information on our enemies." Luminous said with approval.
They had some questions about many things, but it didn't take long to share everything that I knew. It was safe to say that both were surprised at the sheer power the Eastern Empire had. Multiple individuals capable of fighting at the Ultimate Awakened level, a strong military force, and more.
Hinata nodded. "I will increase the training of the Holy Knights."
Luminous nodded. "Please do. I wish for them to be prepared should Ruberious itself be breached."
Hinata slowly rose out of her seat. "If this is all done, then I must leave. As much as I wish to speak more, there is more to be done with the recovery efforts." Hinata looked straight into my eyes. "Is it fine if I come to Azeroth to speak to you later?"
I nodded. "Yeah, you don't need to ask."
I had a feeling that I knew what Hinata wanted to speak about. Before the attack Hinata and I had arranged an exploratory date of sorts, one that we would talk about more after the attack itself. I was going to bring it up later since Hinata had a lot on her plate already, but if she wanted to bring it up first, that was fine as well.
Luminous smirked at me teasingly causing me to roll my eyes.
Luminous stood as well. "I will join you." Luminous said to Hinata before she looked at me.
I waved them off. "Do what you need to do. We can hang out later."
They both nodded and quickly vanished, leaving both Damrada and I alone in the meeting room.
I could see the tension drain from Damrada's shoulders. It seems even if he wasn't acting like it, he was being pressured from everything that had just occurred.
"What did you think?" I asked him.
Damrada looked at me. "I do not believe it is my place to say anything, but since you have asked I will respond." Damrada looked thoughtful for a moment before answering. "I believe that Demon Lord Guy Crimson is underestimating the forces of the Eastern Empire."
I nodded, gesturing for him to continue.
"The technological advancements the Eastern Empire has made under Emperor Rudra is rather impressive. Even Enlightened can be taken out by a well enough trained soldier with the proper gear."
My brows shot up. I had expected some impressive things like guns and magic swords that were enchanted to cast specific magic with ease and such, but to hear that it was enough to take on Enlightened was rather incredible.
A strong Enlightened could match Clayman, at least in the energy department. While Clayman wasn't anyone special, he was still once a Demon Lord. He was incredibly skilled in combat, making it difficult for even the strongest Enlightened to beat him.
But if they could create weapons capable of taking on Enlightened, then what else could the Eastern Empire have in store? Do they have magic nukes? What about holy bombs? Holy bombs could really mess my Daemon troops up, as most of them aren't strong enough to completely ignore the holy attribute.
Damrada also mentioned they've been working on genetic engineering. What could they make on that front? While Spiritual Lifeforms didn't really have genes in the normal sense, merging the genes of a bunch of strong Monsters and Majin could still create some troubling opponents.
Perhaps they'd end up with some abnormality like Vega, and Vega was someone that had the potential to match and surpass True Demon Lords if he was actually smart about his abilities. The ability to consume other beings and gain their properties could be rather absurd. A power that I had gained and already made use of to increase my durability, and some other traits, giving me toughness that could match that of a True Dragon's.
I sighed. In the end there wasn't too much use overthinking it; there was only so much I could learn. It wasn't like I could interrogate a higher up official of the Eastern Empire that could have more up to date information.
In the end, I'd just have to trust that the preparations I'd made would be enough. Adapter would likely be among the more useful abilities when it comes to dealing with any kind of surprise.
It costed a permanent amount of soul energy to adapt to something, so I hadn't used it much as there was no need to, but it was still always in my back pocket.
"Emperor Rudra would not make any moves for certain if he did not believe in his chances of victory." Damrada stated.
I nodded. "Got it."
That made sense. A guy who waited as long as Rudra did wouldn't make any reckless moves. If they decided to attack, it was because he had a plan that he thought would help him achieve victory.
Damrada nodded.
I rose out of my chair. "Now, I do believe that we have overstayed our welcome. Let's leave as well."
If Luminous and Hinata needed me then they could send me a message.
But first, I did have something that I wanted to do. I turned to Damrada. "There's some things that I need to do, so I'll send you back first."
Before I could teleport him, Damrada stopped me. "Would you be sending me to your territory?"
I nodded. "Is that a problem?"
Damrada shook his head. "No, but is it not prudent to give me some form of proof that I am serving you? I would like to avoid any misunderstandings if possible."
I blinked. I hadn't thought of that, and Damrada was probably right. If someone of his level just showed up, then I'm sure everyone would panic quite a bit, but I didn't really have anything for that express purpose.
I held my palm out, creating a medallion with Brahma. One imbued with my Aura so that anyone he showed it to could tell the medallion came directly from me.
I tossed it to Damrada who quickly caught it. "Show this to anyone who tries to stop you. It should solve any misunderstandings."
Damrada nodded. And with that, I teleported him straight to my palace. I'm sure he'll enjoy meeting everyone.
With Damrada gone, I left the room. I still had one more thing to do in Ruberious. As I stepped out, I saw Gunther waiting for me.
"Lord Felix." He bowed.
I nodded. "Did you need something, Gunther?"
"Lady Luminous asked me to attend to you should you have decided to stay." Gunther said.
"I see. I'm not going to be here for much longer. I'm heading to the dungeons to pick Laplace up."
Gunther nodded. "Lady Luminous has already informed me that you are free to take him. I will guide you."
I shrugged. "Knock yourself out."
As we walked I could tell that Gunther wanted to say something.
I sighed. "Feel free to speak freely. I'm not going to throw a fit if you speak your mind."
Gunther froze for a moment before laughing. "I suppose it was foolish of me to think a man of your caliber could not see through me."
The silence continued for a few moments; only the sounds of our footsteps could be heard before Gunther spoke up. "It is about Lady Luminous. I have been serving her ever since she was a mere child. One who was eager to learn more about the world. One who was eager for Twilight's praise." Gunther said with a reminiscent smile.
"Luminous being a daddy's girl? Heh, who would have known?" I mused out loud. That only went to show how much Luminous' relationship with her father degraded, from wanting his praise to hating his guts and killing him. Time truly was the cruelest force in this world.
Gunther laughed. "Hohoho, indeed, she was an innocent little thing back then." He said with a fond smile. "She would run around and show off her spells to Twilight, to me, and to my siblings, always looking to improve and always looking for praise."
I laughed. "Luminous being innocent? She must have really changed then."
Gunther nodded. "She has changed, but not as much as you may think." Gunther said before pausing and continuing. "Please excuse my impudence. I wish to speak to you as a man who has watched Luminous grow from a young babe to a woman capable of shaking the very world." Gunther stated with certainty.
I raised a brow. Was I getting a version of the shovel talk? Well that's a new one.
The older man's expression turned more serious, his voice lowering slightly. "Lady Luminous... she has grown stronger, wiser, and more cunning than most could ever dream of. But in some ways, she is still that child, seeking connection, seeking understanding. And in her eyes, Lord Felix, you represent something important."
Ah, this was totally the dad talk. While Gunther wasn't Luminous's father, he did watch her grow up and has been by her side for a very, very long time. Perhaps he was her closest companion.
"Something important?" I repeated, crossing my arms.
Gunther nodded solemnly. "Yes. I cannot claim to know the depth of her feelings; she raised her walls far too high even for me., but I have seen enough to understand that she values your presence more than most." He met my gaze, his expression steady. "Lady Luminous has taken on burdens that few can imagine, and she rarely allows herself the vulnerability of companionship. You…, Hinata, and Chloe are exceptions."
I blinked, processing his words. Was this the part where he warned me not to hurt her or something? I didn't think anyone would pull that card on me, especially not someone like Gunther, but I could see his point of view.
Looking at myself from an outside perspective, I'd also be pretty suspicious. I was a guy with multiple lovers and a rather carefree and irresponsible personality. It was only natural to give such a guy the shovel talk. If I had a daughter I know I'd do at least that much, Gunther was only trying to look out for Luminous in his own way.
Gunther's serious demeanor remained as he paused, as though carefully weighing his next words. "Lady Luminous is strong, but strength does not mean she is invulnerable. Her heart, though well-guarded, is precious and fragile in ways she does not show. I only ask that you keep this in mind as you continue to stand by her side."
I couldn't help but smile at his concern. "You don't need to worry about me, Gunther. I know Luminous better than most, and I'm not the kind of guy to take her feelings lightly. I've made my choice, and I'll stand by her so long as that is what she wants, and she does the same for me."
The same went with any of my lovers, honestly. Early on I made sure they didn't feel like they were forced into being in a relationship with me due to this world's skewed cultural norms. I made sure each was genuinely interested in me as a person, and wished to move forward because that is what they actually wanted.
I had resolved that I wouldn't take the feelings of those close to me for granted. If someone decided to open their heart to me, it was my responsibility to treat it with the care it deserved.
In fact Megumin and I still hadn't even taken the next step in our relationship. She was happy with just having fun together, getting to know one another, and going on dates. If that's what she wanted, then I was fine with it.
Though she also got off on our fights, so maybe that was her own way of being intimate.
Gunther studied me for a moment, his sharp eyes searching mine as if gauging the sincerity of my words. Then, slowly, he nodded. "I see. If that is truly how you feel, then I have no reason to doubt you, Lord Felix."
His expression softened, and a faint smile touched his lips. "I suppose I see it as my duty, as someone who has watched over her for so long, to pass the torch of trust to someone who can share her burdens in ways I cannot. I hope you do not mind my presumptuousness." He said, returning to his formal butler tone.
I nodded, appreciating the sincerity behind his words. "I understand. You're just looking out for her. I'd expect nothing less from someone who cares about her as much as you do."
Gunther inclined his head slightly, his respect evident. "Thank you, Lord Felix. I am relieved to know that she has someone who values her as deeply as she deserves."
I gave him a light pat on the back. "No need to put yourself down, you're plenty strong."
Gunther raised one of his aged brows. "Truly, what has become of me that a child needs to comfort me." He huffed.
As we made our way down the halls, I spoke up. "Any more funny and embarrassing stories of Luminous you had?"
The more material I had to mercilessly tease her, the better.
Gunther let out a hearty laugh; the sound echoing faintly in the grand hallway. "Ah, Lord Felix, you truly have a mischievous streak. Very well, if you insist, I shall indulge you with another tale. I hope that Lady Luminous does not flay me alive."
I laughed with him. "If she tries, I'll save you."
"I appreciate the thought." Gunther huffed.
He folded his hands behind his back, his posture straight despite the hint of amusement in his eyes. "Did she ever tell you about the time she attempted to disguise herself as a mortal to mingle among humans? She was quite determined to experience life as 'ordinary folk'. Mind you, Lady Luminous had done her research, or so she claimed."
I smirked, already sensing where this was going. "Let me guess, it didn't go as planned?"
Gunther chuckled. "That would be putting it lightly. She decided to blend in at a village festival. She dressed in what she thought was a commoner's attire but ended up wearing the most ostentatious cloak I've ever seen, embroidered with silver thread and embedded with tiny gemstones. When I pointed out the... obvious contradiction, she huffed and said, 'It's a modest piece! Just like the villagers wear!'"
I burst out laughing, imagining Luminous in such a ridiculous outfit, strutting about with complete confidence. "Let me guess, the villagers thought she was some sort of royal in disguise?"
"Precisely." Gunther nodded, his eyes gleaming with mirth. "She tried her best to 'blend in' by participating in their games and traditions. However, her competitive streak got the better of her. She challenged the village champion to an arm-wrestling match and shattered the table in one go. The poor fellow was left with a bruised ego and splinters."
I shook my head, grinning. "Who would have thought that Luminous back then was so goofy? She have fun at least?"
"Oh, she did." Gunther admitted with a soft smile. "Despite the mishaps, she genuinely laughed and danced with the villagers. For all her grandiosity, she does have moments of pure, unguarded joy."
"That's good to hear." I paused, imagining her flustered if I brought this up later. "And what did she do when she found out her 'disguise' was a complete failure?"
"She doubled down, of course." Gunther smirked. "She declared herself an ambassador of goodwill and left the village with a dramatic flourish. The villagers adored her, none the wiser to her true identity. To this day, they likely tell stories of the mysterious, eccentric noblewoman who graced their festival."
I shook my head, chuckling. It seems that Luminous has changed quite a bit since she was a child, but her pride and overall attitude remained. I could see her acting out in a similar way even in the present time if she let some of her inhibitions go.
Gunther and I continued talking. As we continued through the winding halls of the cathedral, Gunther led me down a narrow staircase lit with pale, flickering lights. The air grew colder; the walls damp and heavy with the smell of stone and mildew.
Gunther led the way, his heavy boots clicking against the polished floor as we descended deeper. I had no illusions about the security measures in place.
At the bottom of the staircase, we reached a set of heavy, reinforced doors guarded by two vampires who immediately stepped aside upon seeing Gunther.
"This is the entrance to the dungeon where Laplace is being held." Gunther explained. He gestured toward the guards. "They have been instructed to allow you entry."
"Appreciated." I replied, stepping forward. The guards pulled the doors open with a deep, groaning creak, revealing a dimly lit corridor lined with cells.
Gunther gestured for me to proceed, but as I stepped through, he called out one final time. "Lord Felix?"
I turned back, raising an eyebrow. "Yeah?"
Gunther's smile was faint but genuine. "Thank you, for giving her something to hold onto."
I nodded, understanding what he meant, even though he was being super dramatic. I then descended into the depths of the dungeon.
I felt as though that brief conversation with Gunther told me a lot more about him as a person than every interaction and story I had heard about him had.
I shook my head as I continued to make my way down to the dungeon Luminous kept. Luminous had seemingly already keyed me into the various seals and barriers, allowing me to pass through harmlessly.
This area wasn't for the normal criminals that Ruberious and Luminous kept. It was basically a fortress meant to contain Luminous's most troublesome and dangerous enemies.
I could feel Laplace's aura immediately; wild, chaotic, and unmistakably unbroken. Even in confinement, his presence was as sharp and irreverent as ever. Luminous had seemingly awoken him from the coma she put him in.
From what I understood she had tortured him a bit before quickly getting bored of him. She really wasn't all that upset since everything worked out in the end, and whatever issues she did have she quickly worked out with some good ol' torture. She was a Demon Lord, after all. Despite how she acted with me and those close to her, she wasn't really a good person.
It didn't take long before I heard the familiar sound of his voice echoing through the hall. "Oi, oi, oi! What's this? Did someone finally come to spring ol' Laplace? Took ya long enough!"
He sounded rather jovial for someone that was forced to sell out all his friends. Though, I imagined that he didn't yet know that all his friends were… you know… dead. Maybe Luminous told him about Yuuki since that happened some time ago, but Tear and Kagali's deaths were recent.
I turned the corner to see the trickster clown strapped to a platform angled slightly upward, his arms and legs held in place by glowing restraints that shimmered with the unmistakable light of holy energy. The restraints had clearly been crafted specifically for him; their intricate designs ensuring no chance of escape. He had long since been stripped of his mask allowing me to see his crimson locks and elven features.
Still, despite the restraints suppressing his magic, he radiated an unsettling confidence.
"Well, isn't this cozy?" I muttered, stepping into the room.
Laplace's head lolled to the side, and his glowing eyes narrowed as he saw me. "Oh, great. Not you again." His voice was raspy, but his sarcasm was still intact.
I rolled my eyes as I approached him.
"Long time no see, Laplace." I said, stepping closer. I snapped my fingers, releasing his limbs from the latches that held him. Laplace lightly flexed his arms as he stood up. He didn't even bother trying to escape, seemingly knowing that it would be a futile effort.
"What are you here for?" Laplace said as he continued to stretch.
"I'm here to get you out." I said simply.
Laplace stilled for a moment before continuing his stretches. "Well I wasn't expectin that! So what's the catch?" Laplace's expression slowly twisted. "Don't need me to give you more information since you could just mind control me for that." He snarled.
I raised my hands in surrender. "Hey man, I'm sure being mind controlled sucked and all, but you attacked first, and then you lost. That's all on you."
Laplace closed his eyes as he took a deep breath. "Ha! You're right about that! But that doesn't mean I can't be a hypocrite does it?"
I shook my head. "I suppose it doesn't."
Laplace tilted his head. "So what brings ya here? After that lady got bored of me, I'm pretty sure I've been in a coma. I don't even know how long it's been! Would you mind telling me how long it's been?" Laplace asked with a laugh.
He was acting way different than I expected. Last time we spoke he straight up hated me. In fact, through Lover, I could tell that his hatred had only grown. He just got better at hiding it. Perhaps he was looking for some sort of opportunity? That, or he likely believed that acting as he was would benefit him the most in the long term.
Oh well, I didn't really care. In the end Laplace's consent was optional. I'd be bringing the Hero Sarion back no matter what. I held no good will for Laplace despite how amusing his personality was.
While he may not have actually completely killed Hinata, that didn't change that he almost did. If not for a miracle, she would have been gone. For that I wouldn't forgive Laplace. I doubt Luminous had either. She just likely thought he was a waste of time at this point.
Though I wouldn't be needlessly cruel to him at this point. I'm sure I could get close to breaking him if I told him and brutally described Kagali and Tear's fates to him. They were the last of his family. I'm sure that would hurt, but I just didn't care enough to do that at this point.
"I'm going to be killing you as an individual, Laplace." I said with a shrug. I had told Othinus to get rid of Laplace's memories in general. If I didn't then I wasn't sure where the individual Laplace would end and Sarion would begin.
It would be a shame if Laplace and Sarion became a single person, carrying over Laplace's feelings about me, Rimuru, and Luminous. No, it was safer to just give him an overall reset, restoring Sarion as he was just before he died.
Some might say who was I to do something like that? But I was the guy who was bringing Sarion back. If there was a chance that it could backfire on me then I'd make sure that chance becomes null. I'm sure Sarion's wife, Sylvia, wouldn't mind. Same with Elmesia. They just wanted their husband and father back respectively. Laplace wasn't part of that equation.
Laplace blinked in confusion. "So it's finally time then, huh?" He said with melancholy in his voice. "So how's it going to be? Gonna run me through with something?" He asked with detached curiosity.
It seems he had already accepted the hopelessness of the situation.
I shook my head. "I won't be killing you in the traditional way per say." Laplace was already a dead man, might as well do him the honor of knowing how he was going to die.
Laplace raised a brow. "Ho?"
"I'll be replacing your ego with Sarion's." I said simply.
Laplace stifled a laugh. "If that was possible then Kagali would have already done it."
I nodded. I was aware that Kagali had attempted to restore Laplace's memories as Sarion, but Kagali's efforts couldn't be compared to what Othinus and I could do with Brahma, Lord of Creation.
I shrugged. "Believe it or don't, it's going to happen anyway." I said as I approached him. Laplace didn't bother getting into a defensive stance, he knew full well that it was hopeless.
It seems the way I easily dispatched him in the past left a bit of a scar on Laplace's psyche. I did sort of beat him without even trying. Just appeared next to him, grabbed him by the neck, tortured him slightly and then sealed off his abilities and threw him into Infinity Space.
Once I was standing directly in front of Laplace he sighed, accepting his inevitable death. "Would you mind telling me what happened to my friends?" Laplace asked.
"They're all dead." He asked, and I saw no reason not to answer.
Laplace closed his eyes. "I hate you, ya know that?"
I nodded. I could feel his emotions through Lover, it was a mess. There was grief, sadness, pain, heartbreak, but overpowering them all was hatred.
"I know. Now goodbye." I said as I placed my hand on his shoulder, sucking him up into Infinity Space without resistance.
Othinus immediately got to work on restoring Sarion's memories. The process was pretty dangerous as Othinus basically had to do some deep dive surgery into his soul, but with Brahma the risk was low.
I could do it on my own with my computational power and understanding, but I had things to do in the real world.
There was Saeko and Raiden who were still recovering in my Infinity Space. After both of their breakthroughs, I'm sure they'll want to test out their power against someone as well.
The two of them might just be ready for a Life Reconstruction. Sukuna and Kurumi were getting close as well. While neither of the two gained new Unique Skills, they had both still been training consistently for a long time.
Their egos had only grown more powerful with time, leading me to believe that they could resist the influx of emotions from the souls used in Life Reconstruction, but that was for later.
Though Sukuna was the weird one, his ego seemed to be a bit… divided.
But for now, I should probably head to Tempest and update Rimuru on what Guy talked about and what I learned from Damrada.
- Shinji Tanamura -
Shinji adjusted his satchel as the group descended further into the depths of the labyrinth. The 50th floor had been a challenging milestone, but the spoils they'd collected were more than enough to motivate them to keep going. Mark's grin had barely faded since acquiring the Unique Grade axe, and Shin's curiosity about the weird sword hadn't waned.
Still, the unease gnawed at Shinji. It wasn't just the traps or the strength of the monsters. It was something else, but Shinji had no idea what. He shook his head. He was probably just imagining things.
So far nothing had given the indication that they had been made as spies from the Eastern Empire. They had followed all procedures that they could.
"Stay sharp." Shinji muttered as they crossed into the 51st floor. The walls shimmered with a faint, ethereal light, casting long shadows in the wide corridor.
Mark swung his axe experimentally, the metallic hum echoing down the hall. "Man, I can't get over this thing. It's so balanced. Makes me wonder what other treasures we're gonna find deeper in."
Shin nodded, his expression thoughtful. "The quality of the loot so far has been extraordinary. It makes me question the intention behind it. Why would Rimuru Tempest, or whoever is behind this Dungeon, offer such powerful items so freely?"
Shinji nodded as that had been bugging him as well. "For them to give such high grade equipment out like candy, it likely means that Tempest, as a nation, has a very large supply of such high level weapons."
Shin nodded. "That's what I suspect as well." He said with a sigh. "The General will want to know about this."
Shinji nodded. Calgurio was among those that wished to invade the most. He saw Tempest and Azeroth as weak nations that had been bloated with reputation. He wanted to take their treasures before moving on. Calgurio was also eager for more status. Calgurio was a strong Enlightened, but wished for more. He fully underestimated the kingdoms of two Demon Lords.
The corridor ended in a massive chamber; its floor a checkerboard of glowing tiles. At the center stood a stone pedestal with a glowing orb hovering above it. Shinji's instincts screamed danger, and he held up a hand to stop the group.
"Another trap?" Mark asked, gripping his axe.
"Not sure." Shinji replied, his eyes narrowing as he examined the orb. "Shin, can you sense anything?"
Shin closed his eyes, his energy radiating outward as he focused. After a moment, he opened them, his expression grim. "It's a magic trap, all right. The orb's radiating an energy signature, but it's unstable. I can't pinpoint exactly what it does, but triggering it would be... unwise."
Mark sighed, lowering his axe. "So, what do we do? Leave it?"
"No." Shinji said firmly. After all that they had discovered, he wanted to go as deep as he could to learn more information. For all he knew, if they brought back enough information, they could get a nice vacation.
Shinji still was not sure if he wished to abandon the Empire completely. The Eastern Empire was a shitty place to call home, but Shinji would be lying if he said he wasn't afraid of the consequences of going rogue.
The sheer power of the Eastern Empire had been drilled into his head ever since he was summoned. He was afraid of crossing them, but this was too good of an opportunity to let go of.
Part of why he was so insistent to push deeper is because it would distract him from his treasonous thoughts. Just like any Human, he wished to push his problems off onto future him.
"The trap is part of The Dungeon. For all we know, it could be key to progressing further. We should at least try to disarm it or safely trigger it before giving up." Shinji stated.
Both Mark and Shin nodded. The three of them approached cautiously, with Shinji studying the patterns of the pedestal carefully. It looked like there were runes of some kind etched onto the stone. Shinji was no runic expert, but he was still fairly well learned, and the runes looked unfamiliar to him.
"Let me try something." Shin said, as he stepped forwards. He placed his hand near the pedestal as he carefully allowed his energy to flow outwards. Shinji could tell that Shin was probing the enchantments.
Shinji had a feeling that this would take a while. He felt a chill travel down his spine which he quickly brushed off, if for his own sanity.
Seconds stretched into minutes as Shin worked, sweat forming on his brow. Finally, the glow of the orb dimmed slightly, and Shin stepped back. "I've neutralized part of it, but it's still active. We'll need to solve the rest manually."
Shinji scanned the room, his gaze falling on the glowing tiles. "It's a puzzle." He realized. "The tiles are part of the mechanism. We need to step on the correct sequence to deactivate it."
Shinji held back a laugh as he realized how this all seemed like a children's game. The Demon Lord that ruled over this territory really was an odd one. It gave Shinji some hope that maybe he could be reasoned with and they could negotiate to reside in Tempest.
Mark groaned. "Great. A brain teaser. This is where you shine, Shinji."
Shinji smiled. "Let's hope I do." He mumbled as he stepped forward.
He examined the pattern of the glowing tiles, noticing subtle variations in their light. Carefully, he stepped onto the first tile, holding his breath. It lit up brightly, and the orb's glow diminished further. Though what confused Shinji was the tone that played right after he stepped onto the tile. Was it some sort of music game?
"So far so good." Shinji muttered as he studied the patterns before stepping onto the next tile. It really was like a children's game.
As Shinji continued going from tile to tile, he couldn't help the amused smile that formed on his face. He could recognize the opening theme of Super Mario Bros anywhere. When he stepped on the incorrect tile he had to quickly dodge out of the way as a fireball shot at him from one of the walls.
When he reached the final tile, the orb's glow extinguished completely, and the pedestal sank into the floor. A low rumble filled the chamber, and a hidden door slid open on the far wall.
"Nice work!" Mark said, clapping Shinji on the back.
Shinji exhaled in relief. "Let's move before something else activates."
- Chloe Aubert -
"Hehe, they're so funny!" Chloe giggled.
They reminded her of the stories Rimuru had told her about him and his friends in his old world. About how Rimuru and his friends would play video games, the general atmosphere, and such.
The three seemed to be good friends, all three seemed to be enjoying themselves as well.
It was a shame that she would have to ruin that fun. Veldora and her had come up with a plan to capture the three spies from the Eastern Empire. While she wanted to have some more casual fun with them, she knew that Rimuru would be upset if she didn't apprehended them. She couldn't afford to have her fun with the looming threat of the Eastern Empire over her shoulder.
They were currently located on Veldora's Floor, observing everything going on through a projection of the three spies.
She raised an impressed brow as one of the three managed to actually solve the puzzle.
"They've got skills." She mused softly.
Veldora who was standing beside her looked over from the manga he was reading. "Oh? They've made it that far, huh?" He said as he put his manga away. "It's time for the fun now, right!?" Veldora said with a grin.
She found herself matching his grin. They wouldn't be doing anything crazy or anything as fun as she wanted to do, but it would still be pretty funny to watch.
They had many options when it came to capturing the three spies. They could do it themselves rather easily, but that was no fun.
They already placed quite a few amusing traps in the spies' ways, though they managed to safely get through all of them. It was still pretty funny. One time a slime even landed on the big guy, Mark his name was, and disintegrated his hair.
His scream of absolute terror was hilarious, though he managed to regenerate his hair shortly afterwards.
Veldora and her had decided to use a rather unique monster to capture the three. It was actually Felix-nii's Avatar, he called it a Shadow Dancer, a one of a kind monster that Felix-nii used as an Avatar when he wished to mess around in The Dungeon.
Though it could also act independently of Felix-nii as well. The Avatar's were rather weak when they were first created according to Rimuru, but Felix-nii's Avatar had been playing around in The Dungeon ever since it was created, so it managed to grow a bit.
It still didn't have even half of the weakest of the three spies' EP. But if she knew one thing about Felix-nii, it was that he didn't need to rely on raw power to secure a victory. She hoped his Avatar was the same on that front.
She had a lot of more fun plans like having the three enter a Floor filled with Slimes, or a Floor filled with dumb, stupid traps, but Beretta ruined them all.
She heard a weary sigh from behind her. "It is finally time then?" Beretta asked.
Beretta had managed to find out about the three through The Dungeon's surveillance system, it was hard not to notice the three after all. The Dungeon scanned the EP of everyone who entered, and they were all Enlightened. Not just that, they were strong Enlightened as well.
Beretta came to them to see if they knew anything, and Chloe didn't want to lie to Beretta, so she was forced to spill the truth. Beretta wished to capture the three for interrogation immediately, but both she and Veldora managed to convince Beretta to let them have their fun first, but they still had to compromise.
Still, she was looking forward to seeing the Shadow Dancer take the three Enlightened down. She heard from Rimuru that Felix modeled the Shadow Dancer after a certain aspect of his abilities, so she was eager to observe to see if she could learn a bit more about his overall abilities since they would be sparring sooner or later.
"It's going to be so funny watching them deal with Felix-nii's Shadow Dancer." She murmured out loud, a mischievous glint in her eyes.
Veldora nodded with a boisterous laugh. "Indeed! At first I didn't know where those abilities came from, but now I understand that he used Sukuna's abilities as inspiration for his Shadow Dancer! And if the Shadow Dancer has even a fraction of Sukuna's capabilities, then those guys are done for."
Veldora had praised Sukuna and Zegion to her multiple times, more Zegion than Sukuna but that was to be expected since Zegion was Veldora's direct student, whereas Sukuna, in Veldora's own words, was Zegion's shounen rival.
"Lady Ramiris wishes to observe. She is on her way." Beretta added.
Veldora nodded. A moment later, Veldora released the Shadow Dancer onto the floor of the three spies. She could only pity them now, even if she was half the reason they were in that situation.
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I am highly motivated by your guys' reviews and likes, so do that! I'll probably keep writing or something.
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Author's Note: Hey there, back with another chapter of Daemon! Luminous and Hinata are caught up about everything, just as Rimuru soon will be. Then a bit of a bonding moment between Gunther and Felix where a bit more Luminous lore is revealed. Then of course Lapalce is finally dealt with, I had trouble writing that interaction so hopefully it conveyed what I wanted it to convey.
Anyways, thanks for reading, peace.
Thanks to @Salante and @Flowerman for beta'ing this chapter.
Last bit of editing -Omnax
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