Combatants Will Be Dispatched - Volume 5 - Chapter 1.4

4 

The next day. 

“Ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha! What those soldiers said made me a bit nervous, but it seems I still retain the highest confidence of Her Highness!” 

As our buggy zooms across the land, Snow is indulging in some gleeful cackling. 

To think she’d been locked in the dungeon by the castle’s soldiers while we were busy negotiating… 

“Listen up, Six. Now is the time to make use of my information. You brought my report, yes?” 

“The one saying the Demon Lord is greedy and arrogant, right? Yeah, I have it. I’m kinda skeptical now. If that was true, I don’t think negotiations would’ve begun so smoothly…” 

As I voice my suspicions in the passenger’s seat, Alice, driving the buggy, addresses me in Japanese. 

“<If the Demon Lord is exactly as the report says, this meeting is likely to be a trap. That’s probably why Tillis is sending Snow to represent the kingdom.>” 

“<…So she wanders into the Demon Lord’s Castle and immediately gets killed? If that’s how it is, aren’t we in danger, too?>” 

And for that matter, I still think it’s suspicious that Heine wasn’t sent as the emissary. 

As for the actual emissary, Camille, she’s gliding through the air in front of the buggy. 

“<If it’s a trap, we’ll just show our rivals what happens when you mess with Kisaragi. I mean, that’s why we brought Rose along. We’ll wreck the place.>” 

She says it so casually, but it wouldn’t be out of the question for the Demon Lord to be a mutant-level fighter. 

In the back seat of the buggy are Rose, looking happily at the passing landscape, and Grimm, who’s soundly asleep. 

Rose is obviously coming along because she has things to discuss with the Demon Lord, but I loaded Grimm into the back seat while she was sleeping because she cried when we left her behind last time. 

“<I mean, sure, we can’t let them underestimate us as an evil organization, but still… Are you sure we’ve got enough manpower here? You’ve at least got an exit plan, right?>” 

I glance up at Snow as she sticks her head out the sunroof and cackles. Suddenly, I’m worried about our party composition. 

“<It’s still possible we’re walking into a trap. The one thing we know for sure is that their recent defeat at the hands of Lady Lilith has them playing defensively. The negotiations might go smoother than you expect.>” 

While Lilith ordinarily contributes nothing but complications, would she be the one who gets the credit in this case? 

“<Besides, in the worst-case scenario, I can always self-destruct. Just leave that to me.>” 

“<Why do you always include self-destructing in your options?>” 

“You two need to stop yammering in your mother tongue! We’re almost close enough to see the Demon Lord’s Castle! You better not mess things up!” 

Redirecting my attention to Snow’s remark, I see the faint outlines of an enormous, fortified castle. 

The building has such a modern appearance that it makes the kingdom of Grace’s royal palace look like ancient ruins. I have no doubt that it’s a relic of the previous era. 

A while later, as we approach the Demon Lord’s castle, it’s clear there’s no city surrounding it. 

Sitting right in the middle of the wastelands, the Demon Lord’s Castle looks like an impenetrable fortress. 

“B-Boss, the gate opened by itself! There’s someone hiding in the shadow of the entrance! We need to watch out for an ambush!” 

“Heh, Rose, chill. That’s called an automatic door; it’s a convenience of technology that’s pretty common in our country. I doubt there’s anyone here.” 

As I explain how automatic doors work to a frazzled Rose, Camille lands near us. 

Looks like she’s going to be guiding us from this point on. 

Which means we’ll have to park the buggy here, I guess. 

As for Grimm, it’d be a hassle to wake her and explain the situation, so we’re gonna leave her behind. 

I mean, we brought her along this time, at least, so I don’t think she’s going to cry. 

Just then, Camille, who has been gazing intently at our buggy, confirms everyone other than Grimm has disembarked… 

“Very well, please come this way… Welcome to the Demon Lord’s Castle. If you step inside, abandon all hope of making it out alive—” 

“Showing your true colors, huh? Raaaaagh!” 

Before Camille finishes her line, I jump her! 

“No, it’s a misunderstanding! That was just a line we’re supposed to tell everyone who comes to the Demon Lord’s Castle!” 

Camille sobs her explanation as I keep her restrained. Snow, meanwhile, waves the blade of her magic sword in front of our guide. 

“You have some nerve to suddenly threaten me, the kingdom’s emissary…” 

“Please wait! It really is an old custom! I’m not lying! Please believe me!” 

While Snow refuses to hear Camille out, Alice and I each place a hand on the knight’s shoulders. 

“Hold on, Snow, she’s probably telling the truth. It likely is the custom to greet visitors to the Demon Lord’s Castle with that line.” 

“Six is right. I wouldn’t be surprised if our competitor had their own manual full of rules and guidelines.” 

As Alice and I nod in understanding, Camille and Snow widen their eyes. 

“Um, wow, I didn’t expect humans to understand a custom that even most demons find meaningless…” 

“Y-you two seriously think there’s a custom that’s this stupid?” 

Both Snow and Camille sound thoroughly surprised, but it’s common practice among evil organizations. 

After all, the Kisaragi manual dictates its own method of dealing with intruders. 

And of course, next to me, Rose, who is probably the most sympathetic to this sort of theatrical display, nods along. 

“…I don’t understand why, but it seems I’m the only one who doesn’t get it… Very well, I’ll let it slide this time, but try to avoid any confusing statements like that in the future.” 

“B-but there’s a customary greeting before you meet the Demon Lord… I’m sorry, I’ll skip it this time!” 

With Snow still brandishing her magic sword menacingly, Camille proceeds. 

I figured the Demon Lord’s Castle would be filled with demons, but oddly, the castle itself seems pretty empty. 

We occasionally run into some armored orcs, and Rose intimidates them each time by looking at them with the eyes of a starving predator. 

Considering where we are, I was expecting much creepier decor, but the interior is well lit, and the hallways are all spotless. 

Eventually, we begin climbing a seemingly endless flight of stairs. Just as my thoughts go to the fact that both Kisaragi Supreme Leaders and the Demon Lord were alike in preferring to live in high spaces— 

“Now, if you could all come this way. Beyond this door awaits the Demon Lord Viper.” 

Our guide, Camille, stops in front of a giant door. 

The Demon Lord is supposedly haughty and selfish. 

But apparently, he’s also committed to bringing glory and prosperity to demonkind. 

Snow had been babbling something about taking the population of the demon territory hostage to get an advantage in negotiations, but… 

…Wait, the Demon Lord’s name is Viper? 

I could’ve sworn it was Mailman or something. 

Just then, Snow moves from her spot near the door and circles behind me. 

“Well, let’s allow our commander the honor of going in first. We leave it to you to make a good first impression, sir!” 

“Screw that! Don’t only call me Commander when it’s convenient for you! What happened to all that enthusiasm you had on the way here? I don’t wanna go in first, either!” 

Ignoring our attempts to shove each other through first, Alice fearlessly opens the door. 

Inside the middle of the dimly lit room, we can see the outline of a person. 

And standing there is… 

“Welcome, brave yet foolhardy humans… In acknowledgment of the courage it took for you to appear before me, I shall grant you all swift and painless deaths…” 

…a beautiful, silver-haired young woman who looks nothing like the Demon Lord described in our briefings. Her face is beet-red as she delivers her address.