[Hm, the one who instructed that would certainly be me.]
[So it really is true, you must’ve tamed the monsters behind you the same way right?]
[That is correct. Then again, they will be released from being tamed after a certain amount of time passes. These dungeon monsters seem to be too unintelligent and could only do what they are told once I instructed them after taming them. It is still better to have them move by their own will.]
I saw how high-level the <monster training=""> skill of Zelvain, the demon in front of us, was, and thought that could be, and it seems to be correct. It’s because I thought it was impossible for them to go to the upper floors without any artificial reason.</monster>
[Are you going make those monsters go to the upper floor this time?]
[No no, that would be impossible. These floor’s undead are even more stupid. Because they will only move properly if I walk them around. That is why I am going to advance to a deeper floor. I will tame strong monsters by letting them fight with the tamed monsters. Repeating that over and over is how I will be capturing this dungeon after all.]
Zelvain’s curse can strengthen his follower monsters. He will be able to win if he strengthen them even they are weaker than its enemy. If he wins, he can tame the enemy, so a stronger monsters will become his subordinate. I see, that sure is quite an interesting way of capturing them.
[And my end goal is to take along an army of monsters from the lowest level of this dungeon to trample down this country!]
Ooh, I didn’t think he would even tell me about his goal. Really, conversing is important isn’t it?
[So, is that all of your questions? Now, it is your turn to answer mine.]
[Yeah, if I can answer them at least.]
No, I wasn’t acting like I was going to cut off the conversation just because the other side finished his talk you know. To put it simply, this is a fight with information at stake. In the sense of the winning side taking it all since the losing side will die.
[The location of the magic sword that Romarie had in her possession in Kastal. And while you’re at it, tell me who defeated Romarie if you know that as well.]
So asking about Romarie was an extra…? Judging from the way he speaks, is he someone related to the magic sword Eternal Pain?
Well, he answered my question honestly, so I have to answer honestly too. As I thought, sincerity ought to be returned with sincerity. Although I’m going to kill him after this.
[The answer to both questions would be “me”.]
I said and took out the magic sword Eternal Pain.
[The one who collected the magic sword was me, and the one who defeated Romarie and crushed her plans to collapse the country was also me.]
When I said that much, Zelvain began to shiver while being greatly perplexed.
[…Kukuku, kah kah kah! Wonderful! I was thinking it would be hard to regain my magic sword, but to think the magic sword would return to me this easily!]
Zelvain stared at the magic sword with bloodshot eyes as if overcome with emotion. Disgusting.
[So this magic sword was originally yours?]
[Of course! I was asked by His majesty the Demon king to lend it to Romarie after all! I was about to turn mad when I learned I lost one of my collection!]
[So you’re a magic sword collector? What a bad taste you’ve got.]
[Kuhahaha! I am not merely collecting them. I also research the effects of the magic swords. That lump of meat is also one of my subjects of experiment!]
So the lump, which I’m making sure not to look at as much as possible, was also the powers of a magic sword? Well, I’m doubting it because I don’t have something like that in my skills. Considering the history of the magic sword, the master blacksmith must have made it “I wanted to become one with my beloved one” or something like that.
[So, I’ll ask just in case, but do you know how to turn those adventurers back to normal?]
[No I don’t!]
Right~
[My collection will once again return to be 51. Woops, I have lent one to a vampire, so with this it will be 50 I suppose.]
It feels like another setting I didn’t ask for has been revealed.
[I probably have defeated that vampire too. The magic sword you’re talking about is this one?]
I took out the magic sword Blood Heart.
Zelvain’s tension suddenly dropped.
[…That too is mine. It seem whichever the case, I have no choice but to kill you. Just when I thought I can finally confirm whether the effects of the magic sword would be as the legends go, you seem to have ruined it.]
[Huh? The effect of this magic sword is to turn a human into a vampire you know? That Vampire used it.]
[That striped mosquito! I told him to call me when he would use it!!!]
Oh, so they had that kind of agreement. The vampire even used the magic sword in very high spirits for someone with that agreement.
[Enough of this! I’m going to kill you and take those magic swords back quickly! Go! Undead army!]
It seems the fight starts. The last part feels partly like getting angry at someone who would be angry at you though.
The whole army of 50 undead types rushed on. All of them crumbled down with their <undead> skill taken.</undead>
[Huh?]
Zelvain is showing a stupid face. Well, we have a way to defeat them easily, so there’s no .
[Are you done?]
[Wait wait wait! What did you just do!?]
[We’re already done questioning each other right? There’s no need to answer you.]
We ended the question phase and have moved to the combat phase, so I don’t have to answer him anymore. No, I don’t think I would have answered him even in the question phase either way though…
[Tch! It can’t be helped. My servants, rise up once more!]
He said, and once again around 50 undead monsters showed up.
[In truth they are my fighting power to capture the lower floors, but this does not seem to be the time to be stingy! Activate!]
He said, and a black aura began to build up from the undead-type monsters. It resembles the combination skill <god of="" war=""> that Saladin used. Their status rose across the board and rivals <god of="" war="">. I see, this is a curse which is able to freely give <god of="" war=""> to subordinates if I have to say it. I think it’s quite a powerful ability depending on the situation though…]</god></god></god>
[I don’t know what you have done, but this won’t go just like before. Time to die!]
In any case, he sure is in the wrong place.
Of course, the 50 undeads had their <undead> skill taken and crumbled down like it was natural.</undead>
No, even if he raised their statuses, it won’t increase their skillpoints, so the results will be the same right?
[…]
[…]
Both Zelvain and I were silent.
[Are you done?]
*nod*
Zelvain nodded.
[However, the ones you’ve taken down are only the undead monsters! Seeing that its effect did not reach me, I now see that your trick only applies to undeads! Now that it has come to this, I won’t care about my appearance!
[Well, you are my slave now though…]
[Ugh…, but that you truly hid the slave crest is…]
[I’m surprised. Because I haven’t heard about it before.]
[I think Alta told you before, but don’t reveal our circumstances alright? This is an order.]
I’ll forbid them from revealing us.
[Oh right. I wanted to ask something on that subject, but what will become of our treatment from now on? I understood that we are slaves. I understood we can’t disobey Alta-sama either. Also that we cannot disobey Jin…sama either. But I am still royalty. I understand that I’m not one at a level where things will come around when saying that, but you cannot possibly say in public that you have turned an imperial princess of another country into your slave can you?]
Rouge’s right, it’s not really a subject that can be made public. Though I say that, already have made the royalty (women) of 3 other countries my subordinate, though in secret.
[It’s already settled. Continue your explorer work like nothing has happened. Keep the fact you are my slave in secret too.]
[Eh? What do you mean by…?]
[It means you’ll be acting just like before until we make our move. I also don’t mind you distributing the items through illegal channels either.]
[Is that fine with you? it will only strengthen the Crimson Empire though…]
[That amount won’t change anything. I’ll also give back your equipment too.]
[You are really out-of-standard…]
Rouge sighed as if she had given up.
[In exchange, you will get the minimum amount of support from me. I will have you report to Alta one by one, but basically we will work with hardly any point of contact apart from that.]
[…Alright. There is one more thing I want to know, but what will you do after heading to the empire in the end? You’ve said that you would hate it if it turns into a war, but my brother did not accept my persuasion you know?]
[Oh, about that… First I’m going to wait & see, but I guess it’s basically decided that I will persuade him.]
[Master’s coercive persuasion isn’t it . It is powerful.]
Mio nodded “Uh-huh” as if in agreement.
[And if that is no good either, then we will make sure to change heads I guess…]
[…]
The Crimson Empire group became speechless.
[Because I don’t intend to show mercy if they plan to put their hands on this country. When that time comes, Rouge, I’m going to make you the empress.]
[…I see. I hope my brother will respond to your persuasion. I don’t have ability to be an empress at all. By the way, what will become of my future treatment after my brother responds to your persuasion or I become empress?]
[It won’t change much. I’ll have you live normally and listen to my orders at important times.]
The same with Sakuya and Cattleya. That said, I haven’t given them any special orders even now.
[So it means I’m free while not being free …Well, if I can’t escape no matter how I struggle, then I have no choice but to give up and take allegiance with you. Jin…sama, I will obey.]
[You sound terribly reluctant.]
[There is no other way. Since birth, I haven’t adhered under anyone nor shown respect towards anyone other my family.]
[And you didn’t use honorifics. Even though you are slave now.]
[T-That is… Alta-sama allowed me to do somehow. I don’t understand how to use it, because I’ve never used it in the first place. I’ve been told to study it as my task, so I’d like you to wait for a while.]
She is quite the selfish princess. That and Alta’s amazing to be able to make her listen to what she says.
[Alright. If Alta says it’s okay, then I’ll be patient for a while.]
[I’m sorry.]
[Jin-sama, we are Rouge-sama’s subordinates, but… What should we do from now on…?]
Minerva stepped forward that time.
[Right. You can be the same as Rouge. Just stay as Rouge’s subordinates and listen to what I tell you to do.]
[Understood. Err, this might be little selfish, but you give us an order that Rouge-sama can do and us too, then could you give priority to giving orders to us only? We can’t bring ourselves to see only Rouge-sama working…]
[You girls…]
Rouge was deeply moved by Minerva’s line. A beautiful master-subject love isn’t it. Is it the same as Maria’s loyalty? Amazing! I won’t lose to you!
[Understood. I’ll take that into account.]
[Thank you very much.]
Well, there is nothing left I want to ask, so I guess I’ll call it a night soon.
[Then, I’ve heard what I wanted to hear for now, so we’ll break up today. I will send you back to dungeon, make an innocent face and go back with a transfer stone afterwards.]
[Understood. And err… what about our clothes?]
Come to think of it, these girls have been naked the whole time.