Bachelory simply performed his duty as expected.
First and foremost, there were the paperwork, administrative duties, and much of the finances and controls of Deorum Regnum, as well as Titania itself.
In itself, even such monumental amounts of work, which would make the most diligent human go on strike after a couple of days unless they had the strongest of resolves, were nothing less than a fun and wonderful duty for the Doppelgänger, who calmly handled it with both hands.
He might have some trouble dealing with EVERYTHING on Titania and Deorum Regnum, but that's what subordinates were for, right?
Between Mimosa, Superbia, Quasimodon't, Titania's other NPCs, and the Mercenary NPCs, Bachelory had an incalculable amount of work less to do. It wasn't as if he minded having it all, but it was still better to be able to handle as much paperwork as quickly and efficiently as possible.
Not to have more free time, but to best serve the Supreme Lords.
If they wasted even one more nanosecond on something as trivial as that, they might well be severely punished, even if Bachelory was the one who should be punished.
Although, in addition to that, there were minor, albeit permanent, summons and even POPs that had their uses in that area. Elder Liches, Greater Devils, Wisdom Principalities, etc.
And even to that, there were the small additions the Supreme Ladies brought.
They weren't much at the end of the day. Dwarves who controlled a mountain range with about four cities and almost five. Lizardmen who relatively controlled a lake and its surroundings. A group of trained ex-criminals who controlled an area in the northeast.
And finally, the most important, at least, was the Golden Princess, Renner. She was weak. She couldn't even defeat a Level 10 POP. But at least she made up for her absolute weakness with competence and intelligence.
Bachelory couldn't deny that the human was extremely cunning and intelligent. If she had been given the power of queen five years before Titania's arrival, Re-Estize would have been 10 times better than she was. Although considering the incompetent nobles who would get in the way, perhaps only 4 or 5 times better.
Regardless, Bachelory could handle all that work. Even if an important task was added.
"Back away from this area. Set Level 1 and 2 traps in this forest so they're more careful with basic traps. Bombard that caravan with Level 3 and 4 fire spells, leaving survivors." Lady Dont-Say-My-Name's beautiful voice echoed across the remains of a coastal city as she scanned the map, gaining access to a vast array of informants, be they Shadow Demons or Eyesight's observations, as well as her own real-time intelligence from her newest addition. The most important one the Supremes had.
"At once, Lo- Ahem, Your Majesty." The Archdevil who had caused all the disaster in the Holy Kingdom nodded, bowing his head as he began to cast [Message] spells and mental commands at his summons throughout the formerly human territory.
Bachelory watched him silently, at least approving of the Archarchaeologist's ability in the most basic sense.
Lady Dont's summoning were intelligent, as well as somewhat powerful. He wasn't a level 100 being, but by devouring soul after soul of countless beings throughout the Holy Kingdom and the depths of the ocean, he had reached an incredible level 92 from level 30.
Certainly, what he must have devoured must have been a massive number of beings. Even going from level 70 to 71 required twice the experience required to go from level 69 to 70.
Of course, due to the summoning's almost nonexistent equipment, even a level 80 being, like a Cardinal Virtue, could defeat it. Or it wouldn't even be necessary to consider an Angel, who was the opposite of the Devil due to their opposing natures. Any proper level 80 summon could have defeated it.
Still, even then, it made a good impression in Bachelory's eyes, having climbed and survived this far.
He served as a minesweeper in the Holy Kingdom. And indeed, he found one.
Of course, then the Devil intervened in the Katze Plains, albeit on the apparent orders of Supreme Dont, though it incited the wrath of Lady Black Abyss.
It was certainly quite a puzzle, but the summon was earning its place as a useful piece.
After all, it was thanks to him that Titania had the Holy Kingdom basically at her mercy without having done anything, and they also had information about the existence of a certain eel.
No…
Bachelory, with the majestic form of his own creator, stared in awe… This had been the plan from the beginning…
Lady Dont had summoned Betelgeuse to take care of minor matters, but she was always connected to him as his summoner. Everything that happened in the Holy Kingdom was planned, and when the Devil gained enough power to harm a level 100 being, she sent it to Katze in a perfect coordination that not only made everything about Komodo even more believable, but also caused the devastation of her main enemy at the time, Re-Estize…
Although Betelgeuse harmed Lady Black Abyss, she never fully attacked her or killed her… She only wasted mana, skills, and time… Lady Dont never intervened either… But… Why not do it with an NPC…?
Oh!
Bachelory had another revelation. Remembering how the Devil felt after learning who the Black Abyss Supreme was, he was completely downcast and depressed. For an NPC, that would have been far worse… It would have interfered with his duties on Titania and Deorum Regnum… An NPC would rather die than harm one of the Supremes… Therefore, they should have used something else…
By the Supremes… What level of brilliance did the Creators have…? Thinking so many steps ahead of everyone else… And he, who thought he was intelligent, was nothing more than an ant compared to the gigantic palace of intelligence that the two Supremes were…
Bachelory closed his eyes, humming with satisfaction at having deciphered such a marvelous plan.
It had certainly taken his time to think about it. What wonderful divine inspiration that came when he least expected it.
"Your Majesty, six of my level 50 summons died trying to attack the eel." The Arch-Archaeologist warned.
"Hm, if it was able to put up a fight, that's no surprise, but keep commanding whatever Demons there are. Prioritize the Infernal Protectors. The Supremes need the path to be smoother. Just stick to the plan. We have to weaken that thing for the climax~" He smiled maliciously.
After all, the future wasn't written. It was completely imprisoned by the Supremes~
…
An axe blade sliced through a Demon's sturdy red body from shoulder to waist, cleaving it in half like butter. At the same time, the same weapon slashed forward in another direction, piercing another Demon's chest with its spearhead in a violent thrust that exploded its back as the weapon exited.
Almost instantly, the weapon left that Demon and swung backward, catching the neck of another being attempting to attack the Holy Kingdom soldiers, or militia rather, with a sharp hook. And using the same sharp hook, the woman pulled back, severing the Demon's head.
Black Abyss wasn't really having any trouble, each monster ranged between levels 40 and 60, so they weren't a problem for a level 100 like her. Even if they were level 99, they would need at least 6 or 8 to defeat her due to the difference in equipment and combat experience. But that wasn't something the Holy Kingdom's militiamen knew, all they knew was that they were going to win, magnified by Titania's presence as their commander.
After all, the Deorum Regnum Army was being led by Miia, they wanted to give her experience leading the Guild's strongest NPC. Of course, not counting Hadeusdon, who was so strong that they didn't want anyone to know about him. After all, he was more valuable than a World Item, he alone could defeat the entire current Titania.
Black Abyss looked ahead, seeing a fireball being shot toward her by a Devil. The Paladin raised her hand, the magic attack colliding with her palm and exploding violently, but after the fire dissipated, she was standing there without a scratch.
"[Spear of the Saintess]!" The Paladin exclaimed, slashing at the magical attacker, causing a ghostly image of her halberd to sweep toward him, piercing him harmlessly but immobilizing him. A second later, it retracted, bringing the Devil with it into range. Black Abyss punched through the Demon's face, killing him instantly and knocking him to the side. "Is everyone alright?" The Paladin asked the militiamen back, who nodded and exclaimed, 'Yes~!' with genuine joy and high spirits. However, there was still one person who looked somewhat… Annoyed by Titania. Kelart remained silent, effortlessly removing the mace Titania had given him, having destroyed an Imp covered in rusty armor that had tried to attack her.
It turned out that the mace had the marvelous ability to instantly block and counterattack any critical hit, three times a day, according to Titania. Despite not really knowing what a "Critical Hit" was, it was simply explained as an attack that would cause more damage than normal, much more.
And truthfully, Kelart wasn't sure whether to despise the powerful tool Titania could so easily give her, or thank her for the weapon that could have very well saved her life.
She looked around her surroundings…
They were in Lerinsha, the closest city to Kalinsha from the north.
Therefore, they were only kilometers from the place where the Holy Queen died, and where Remedios Custodio, her sister, had disappeared as a person. For the time being, of course.
And speaking of her twin…
"… Miss Titania." The priestess called out with a slight growl, born of irritation, even if it was involuntary.
"Yes? Are you all right?" Titania asked, turning to her, a cloth wiping the three edges of her shining halberd.
"... Yes. Thank you." She murmured, feeling a slight bitter taste in her mouth at saying that, no matter how true it was. "This weapon you gave me is... Certainly impressive." She hated to admit it.
"It is, one of the best I currently have. It wouldn't be a good idea for it not to be used in such a dangerous place." She explained with a gentle smile, resting her halberd against her shoulder, which seemed to be her strongest weapon.
"... I see." She said dryly. Then she looked to the side, in one direction.
"You're worried about that group your... Sister was with, aren't you?" The Paladin presumed to guess.
"... Are you confident Lady Nyx and that small squad can handle a large group of Demons...?" She asked, evidently doubting the Duchess's abilities.
"They're an elite group. I trained them, they could fight me for a long time. Demons like these won't be much for them. What worries me are the larger Demons… Like the one I killed in Katze, presumably the one that started all this destruction… There could be more." Titania explained more seriously, rubbing her chin.
Kelart pursed her lips… There were only a couple of monsters she could think of when Titania said 'Larger Demons.' One was that Demon with armor and a sword who defeated her sister. And two… The Demon that Remedios, Kelart, the Holy Queen, and the Color Pink almost died against just to make it flee.
"In case we find one, you'll have to take your people to a safe place. I'll stall it and try to defeat it, or defeat them… I don't know exactly what's here, but I feel like there must be one or two like that in your Kingdom." She murmured, sighing a little. "And don't worry about your sister, we'll find her~"
The priestess clenched her fists, looking at the ground with concern and irritation… But still…
"… Thank you…" She admitted.
Even if she didn't remember her... Kelart still loved Remedios. No matter how stupid she was, no matter how loud she was... She was still her sister.
"Miss Titania, Demons are coming from the east." A knight warned.
"The east?" She blinked.
"Y-Yes... There are far fewer of them than usual, and they were heading north until they seemed to notice the commotion here... As if they were..."
"Those who stayed behind..." Titania finished the sentence.
Kelart's eyes widened.
"... Nyx and Baraja went to a forest east of here where you had taken refuge, didn't they?" Titania asked seriously of the priestess.
"... Yes."
"Something very strange is going on..." Titania blurted out seriously, taking her halberd in both hands. "I'll have to use my talent…" She exclaimed, her body glowing, covered in a beautiful white dress and armor, now sporting a ponytail. And while she said that for roleplaying, it was only her primary equipment, it didn't cost her any energy or mana to put it on. "U-Ugh!"
Titania grunted as a black arrow collided with her shoulder.
Both Kelart and the Paladin looked in the direction the arrow must have come from…
"ROOOAAAAAAAHHH!" A disgusting shriek came from a group of Dark Demons covered in black cloth, as if mimicking some sort of bandit, plunderer… Or assassin.
The Demon was peeking out of a hole in the ground… And then, Kelart felt her foot fall, quickly retreating, seeing sharp claws emerge from a hole where she had been standing a few moments ago, grabbing her ankle and pulling it.
"G-Ghu!" The priestess growled, grabbing her mace and slamming it down with all her might.
The Demon in the hole squealed unpleasantly as its hand let out sounds of breaking bones and crunching flesh, withdrawing its claws and disappearing into the hole.
"AMBUSH!" Titania growled.
The Paladin pointed her halberd downward, slashing down hard and burying it in the ground. It then pulled out sharply, and along with the hook, it struck a Demon, spinning and shooting it to the side like a bullet. The creature was torn apart by the weapon. Still, screams rang out from the militia lines.
"Kelart!" Titania shouted at it, as she did the same thing again.
"Y-Yes!" The Keeper nodded, approaching a soldier and pushing him away before he fell through a hole in the ground. "Attack towards the ground!" She ordered, with the militiamen still in shape grabbing their spears, axes, or whatever they could find as weapons, using them to strike at the Demons trying to take their comrades. Several didn't make it, though... Being swallowed by the earth toward... Who knows where...
Kelart reached out her hand, beginning to summon Angels to help.
She was supposed to save her mana for Kalinsha, but... It wouldn't do any good if they didn't make it there alive.
She only managed to summon a Principality of Peace and an Archangel of Flames before her mace responded automatically, blocking a black arrow heading for his throat.
She looked toward the Demon who shot her, who was beginning to hide.
She gritted her teeth in fury. She wasn't going to die here.
With a mental warning, the Archangel of Flames warned her of something behind her.
The Principality of Peace swung its spear-like weapon, piercing the shoulder of the Demon that had tried to attack Kelart from behind.
The sacred weapon made the abomination squeal in pain as a sound of burning flesh issued from the wound.
Kelart spun around, and using momentum, swung down with her mace… Shattering the Demon's skull…
She gasped as adrenaline overwhelmed her at having managed to kill one of these things…
But she recovered.
Because she wouldn't die here.
She glanced at Titania, who was floating in the sky on wings made of light, the product of her talent, firing spears of sacred elements at the ground. She couldn't tell if accurately or blindly, but it didn't matter.
Even so, a violent explosion occurred where Titania was standing, with an impact hitting a building. Looking towards it, Titania was rising from the rubble, looking down at Kelart.
"It's one of the greats. Go somewhere safe, take care of them." She exclaimed seriously to the Keeper.
"..." The priestess silently watched Titania, while the Principality of Peace blocked a pair of arrows, and the Archangel of Flames lost an arm hunting one of the Demons, although saving a paladin. "I trust you'll return." She blurted out.
Titania smiled at her, floating back into the air.
"Consider it, then~" She said, giving her a thumbs up.
Kelart said nothing. Instead, she looked toward the group of Paladins.
"RETREAT!" She roared, beginning to command her summons to help her evacuate.
She didn't like how Deorum Regnum surpassed the Holy Kingdom in every possible way, and everything they fought over was a piece of cake for them. But she trusted its power. There was no doubt about that. And she trusted Titania's power.
…
Dont certainly didn't like being away from the Black Abyss.
Whatever the context, it was unpleasant. She felt empty, cold.
Of course, she tolerated it. It wasn't something that instantly caused depression, despair, and made her run back to cling to it like a tick.
Still, she preferred being with her, like a tick.
Therefore, having to separate to accompany Baraja to rejoin the group of survivors was... Well, something that had to be done. Although she wasn't going to lie, she liked the girl in the end.
"So we have to go through the forest?" She asked back.
"Y-Yes..." Neia muttered under her breath, somewhat uneasy at the idea of forcing a duchess into the bushes.
"Very well… Let's go then~ I'm not much for forests~ And neither are these~ So you'll have to lead the way, my dear~" Nyx hummed, pointing toward the Fairy Knights Titania had assigned to protect them.
"Y-Yes!" Repeating the same stutter, but more animated, Neia nodded seriously, holding the bowstring she'd been given, strapped to her back.
Dont, of course, had some degree of contact to know how the operation was going. She was on one side, but she had to know what was happening on the other.
Therefore, after confirming her suspicions, she took a step forward.
Neia froze as she looked around with a frown, before seeing Nyx, where she was about to pass, and her eyes widened in horror.
"LOOK OUT!" She blurted out, practically ramming into the duchess as she almost tripped over a barely visible thin thread tied to two trees.
"Ow!" The rope let go, though it didn't actually take any damage, allowing itself to be pushed by the girl.
Still, the rope had already been touched, so something had been triggered.
Nyx looked back to where she'd been as she listened to the sound of something digging into wood, watching as a blade had emerged from a crossbow between some branches, hidden by leaves.
It was pointed directly at where Nyx would have been if she hadn't been pushed.
Of course, while Dont wasn't an expert on traps, even at level 100, she didn't really have any trap detection classes or skills, she still had the base levels for a Rogue assassin, so she could see and detect the most basic and simple ones. So even a level 4 or 5 concealment spell could overwhelm her detection capabilities. And traps above level 30 as well, unless Dont spends enough time checking for traps to find one that's level 50 at most.
Therefore, she had detected such a simple trap instantly simply because of her passive detection skills, which were usually useless most of the time, since a trap she could detect wasn't a danger to a level 100 like her.
But that didn't mean she didn't have to act surprised.
"A-Ah... T-Thank you..." The noblewoman stammered, staring in mock horror at the blade stuck deep in the tree.
"I-It was nothing... Thank goodness I managed to notice it in time... Ah!" The blonde gasped in relief, quickly getting up. "M-My apologies, Lady Nyx... I..."
"Nothing to apologize for... You saved me." The duchess dismissed, carefully getting up in mild shock as she looked around the forest. "...It seems to be riddled with traps... Your doing?" She asked.
"N-No... There were no traps when we left... Perhaps my father set them up..." Neia theorized, still unsure. "But… If I could detect it… Maybe he expected me to notice it…?" The ranger questioned, doubtful.
She knew that such a trap might well be the simplest her father could set… But that meant she was on the defensive, even against survivors who wanted to enter the forest…
She wasn't sure what to think…
"I see… Thank goodness we have you, then." The duchess sighed in relief. "Then we'll fully trust you to guide us, my dear~" Nyx smiled, sweating a little.
The blonde opened her eyes, opened her mouth, and closed it like a fish… But she couldn't say anything…
After all, it made perfect sense…
Neia was able to detect the trap and save Nyx in time…
She saved Lady Nyx.
She swallowed and looked back at the forest.
…This would be complicated…
…
For Pabel Baraja, the situation wasn't pleasant.
"Tch. [Trap Detection]." He chanted, an invisible wave emanating from him, detecting the armed trunks ready to split and rain rusty shrapnel down on anyone who passed by.
He dodged the arrow that tried to hit him as he switched branches.
A knife approached him, and he countered it with his own.
The pair of weapons clashed, and the Color Black of the Holy Kingdom glared lethally at the murderous Demon, leaping to avoid another arrow.
He sensed the attack coming at his blind spot thanks to a martial art, and took advantage, ducking to avoid the slash to the back of his neck, and instead, grabbing the monster's arm, throwing it against a branch.
It snapped, activating the simple mechanism and causing rusty shrapnel to tear its way out from within a tree at high power, riddling the Demon and leaving it gurgling and dying on the ground.
He drew his bow after dodging another arrow, throwing a decoy at one of the shooters. It took him a second to avoid the projectile. This was enough time for Pabel to time the Demons' attacks, avoiding a stab and placing the attacker in front of him, using him as a shield for the arrow, which took an instant longer to fire due to the distraction.
He threw the agile Demon to the side, leaping to avoid another arrow.
He threw a throwing knife at a tree to the side, severing a thin thread and triggering its trap, causing two tied and carved tree trunks to be released from their waiting points.
No one was actually hurt by these, even when they collided with each other with a rumble that would crush a person to a pulp.
However, the approach of one of those logs made a Demon stop to avoid it, enough for Pabel to shoot it in the eye, causing it to writhe in pain while losing half its sight.
An arrow managed to graze Pabel's shoulder in that instant, causing him to hiss as the wound, tinged with demonic energy, burned more painfully than a normal arrow.
Still, he endured it and leaped again, avoiding, once again, having an arrow lodged in his body.
He whispered a martial art, allowing him to dodge the next blow, just in time for his body to react against natural laws, and he moved to the side despite being in midair, avoiding the stab of the one-eyed Demon, who became a blind Demon upon receiving a knife in his other eye, causing him to squeal unpleasantly.
He grabbed his blade from his belt and used it to deal with another arrow.
Blocking it wasn't efficient, as each arrow had a very good amount of power, so he simply deflected it while grabbing an arrow from his quiver and plunging it into the throat of the blind Demon, who thought he could attack him from his blind spot without him noticing.
He certainly had to praise these Demons' other senses; even without eyes, that attack could have landed in his lung despite the margin of error due to blindness.
He flipped to the side.
Only two remained.
He dove behind a tree, allowing himself a breather.
"[Hearing Wind]" He chanted, greatly enhancing his hearing...
He heard the rustling of the leaves in the trees, the sound of the howling wind... Demons had a way of suppressing the sound of their footsteps... But...
He aimed his bow to the side and fired.
The Demon, not expecting to be detected, writhed with an arrow in its throat, falling like a brick to the ground.
Although its footsteps were soundless, Pabel could distinguish between the sound of leaves rustling in the wind, and the leaves moving because something was passing through them, as well as the branches creaking very slightly from the weight, however light, of the beings.
He heard a sound coming from the bush in front of him, and saw an Imp emerging with knives in its hands like an arrow headed toward him.
But Pabel was faster than any arrow.
He moved to the side, avoiding the sharp weapons gutting him like a fish, and instead, plunged his blade into the back of the hooded Imp's neck.
He sighed in relief, finally...
His eyes widened. The Imp wasn't the Archer Demon.
He turned, hearing the movement of the earth, and narrowly managed to grab the Demon's arm, leaving the tip of his dagger a hair's breadth from his jugular.
However, the Demon's strength was remarkable, and Pabel was at a disadvantage, pinned to the ground as the Demon used his weight and strength to bring the weapon closer.
Of course, Pabel was ultimately stronger than the Demon, who was primarily agile and didn't weigh much. But the Demon's long, thin tail slid out, knocking one of the throwing knives off Pabel's belt, wrapping itself around it like a third hand, and the tail proceeded to stab toward Pabel...
And an arrow pierced the Demon's temple and exited the other side, knocking him to the side from the power of the shot, leaving Pabel gasping in surprise.
He looked in the direction of the shot...
And saw...
"N-Neia!?" He gasped.
"Dad…" She blurted out, mortified. Seeing her father nearly die certainly struck a chord with her.
But Pabel paid no attention to it, or to the bow he was holding, or anything.
He just stood up and ran to his daughter, catching her in a hug.
"You came back…"
"Y-Yes…" She nodded a little in shock, and then blushed in embarrassment at the next words from a third party.
"So this is the legendary Color Black~" Nyx hummed, as the Rogue tried to reach for his bow, but since he was lying farther back, he reached for his knife…
"N-No, dad! T-They came to help us!" Neia reacted in time, grabbing Pabel's wrist and explaining.
The man breathed heavily, exhausted from the recent fight.
He looked at the unknown woman... She certainly looked human... And her clothes were... Very luxurious...
He peered behind her, slightly overwhelmed by the various clinking of metal against metal...
He thought they were paladins, but... They were knights, clearly foreigners from the Holy Kingdom...
The Color Black fell silent, assessing the woman and the knights.
"... They're from..." He couldn't finish the sentence, more to verify and not assume anything.
Nyx smiled slightly, pleasantly, and nodded.
"Yes~ Deorum Regnum~ We came to help you~" She hummed.
.
.
.