Chapter 565 In a Certain Labyrinth
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
(Three-Face’s Perspective)
”Shinji’s son──Hiroya got his hands on God-Slayer…what?”
At my question, the scout demon in front of me nods.
”Yes. But please be at ease. …Lady Gargantua is currently in Great Labyrinth Raetia. It’s on the First Floor, but afterwards, I will escort you to the 20th Floor…to support you in your confrontation with Hiroya.”
This scout demon, skilled in teleportation magic, could certainly do that.
”I heard Gargantua reconciled with Shinji and Elberhardt, though? While we regret her absence from our ranks, do you really think she can cut down Hiroya now?”
I turn my gaze to the Purple Flame Demon Princess (Purple Flame), who is sitting at the table listening to the scout demon’s report, and she shakes her head slightly.
”That’s because, under Sir Azradelius’s command, Lady Gargantua is being forced into a situation where she *must* slay Hiroya.”
The faceless demon’s expression is unreadable, but its tone sounds almost like a smirk.
”…Another dirty trick…”
The Purple Flame Demon Princess (Purple Flame) spits out the words with disdain.
”It’s all for the Demon King’s complete revival. Sir Azradelius only acts with that goal in mind.”
”Hmph. Whatever.”
”Well then… I’ll return to Great Labyrinth Raetia. Look forward to good news.”
Leaving behind the Purple Flame Demon Princess, who radiates a quiet fury, the scout demon vanished from the room in an instant.
”What do you think, Three-Face?”
The Purple Flame Demon Princess poured wine into a glass for me, urging me to take a seat.
”I must meet Koichi, the reincarnation of the Demon King… I still can’t grasp his true intentions.”
”Since I arrived here, I have yet to meet him, and I can’t shake the suspicion that everything is unfolding just as Azradelius desires.”
While I can’t deny Azradelius’s goal of freeing Lady Lilith, who is trapped in the Welnia Labyrinth, and aiding the complete revival of the Demon King…
”It’s Azradelius we’re talking about. I think it’s fair to suspect that his true intentions lie elsewhere.”
I downed the glass presented to me, staring at its empty bottom.
”I’ve heard that it was Azradelius who sealed the two gods in the Great Labyrinth. What is he planning?”
”Where did you hear that?”
”From a part of Lady Lilith, who is using Yamikirimaru as a vessel. ──It’s what Lady Lilith herself, the one who was sealed, said. It must be true.”
If what the Purple Flame Demon Princess says is correct, then what Azradelius is doing now is the complete opposite of what he did before.
”Hmm. What is he scheming…”
I placed the empty glass on the table and stood up.
”What will you do?”
”First, I’ll search for Doll, who has been missing lately. I suspect she’s been imprisoned by Azradelius.”
”She was also in friendly contact with Hiroya and the others. Well, I can understand that.”
”But you were in contact with him as a part of yourself too… So, what do you think? Is he truly a trustworthy man?”
The Purple Flame Demon Princess looked up at me, a rare smile gracing her lips.
”Mmm. A likable, agreeable fellow. That goes for Hiroya and the others around him too. As for me, our goal is the same──Lady Lilith’s liberation──and I’d rather help them than Azradelius. …Well, it’s all according to Demon King’s plan, of course.”
”…I should chat with him properly sometime.”
I recall the time, 2 years ago, when I raided Shinji’s village and brought back Demon King.
(If I hadn’t stopped him, it would have ended in a mutual destruction, but without a doubt, he would’ve killed Azradelius. ──A truly terrifying man.)
As the Purple Flame Demon Princess says, co-operating with them seems like the best course of action.
After all, our goal is the same: Lady Lilith’s liberation.
Just…
(What does Demon King think? What will he do after he’s fully recovered and regained his power…)
Just like the Purple Flame Demon Princess is acting for Lady Lilith, Demon King is everything to me.
…Well, I don’t know about Goliath.
(Azradelius… He couldn’t possibly be planning to make Demon King his puppet, could he…)
The suspicion that’s been gnawing at me.
I should clear it up soon.
* * *
Doll, who had disappeared for days, was found immediately.
”Trapped in the depths of this labyrinth…?”
A room right next to Azradelius’ study, at the very bottom of the labyrinth.
When I opened the sturdy door, Doll was there, chained to the wall, her limbs bound, and looking quite weak.
”Three-Face? …Ha ha… If I had told Sir Azradelius… This is what it’s come to…”
”That’s a terrible state. …What happened?”
I cut the chains and scooped Doll up, carefully seating her on the floor.
”In order to bring Gargantua under control… that person used the ‘Star of Thunder.’ They’ve got it hovering right above the Oni-kin settlement… and that’s how they’re threatening Gargantua. Ngh—!”
It must be the chains cutting into their wrists that caused the pain.
A closer look reveals deep, nasty wounds.
”I told them. ‘Don’t threaten a fighter as straightforward as that.’ Even if you force them to obey, it won’t do Sir Azradelius or the Demon King any good…”
(The ‘Star of Thunder’… if I remember right, it’s one of those so-called ‘ancient civilization relics’ they found in the deepest part of this labyrinth…)
If they use that, even a small village like Balthoga would be blown away in one strike.
”Azradelius… still using such filthy tactics…”
I cast ‘Healing’ on Doll’s wounds.
”Well, with Megumi gone… I was suspected for a while. And now this… I’m sorry… It’s a little better now”
”You… go to the Purple Flame Demon Princess for now. ──Are you alright on your own?”
”I’ll manage. …And what about you?”
I lend a hand to Doll, who staggered as she tried to get up.
”…First, I’ll destroy the ‘Star of Thunder’ control device. ──I won’t let him get away with it.”
”Be careful… I sense something different about Sir Azradelius’s aura… and his power. If you fight him, even you might be in trouble.”
Doll was right.
I could feel it too.
Ever since he moved his base here, the power emanating from him has increased.
And the fact that he wasn’t even bothered by Megumi’s disappearance was strange.
The old him would have been furious.
”First, I have to remove the shackles from Gargantua’s feet. And then I have to meet with Demon King and… hear his true intentions.”
”…Meeting Hiroya’s brother… will be difficult. I don’t even know where he is.”
Not even Doll’s sensing abilities can pick him up?
”Then… I will confront Azradelius.”
”…Just don’t do anything reckless, okay?”
After confirming that Doll could somehow walk on her own, I decided to first search for the control device of the ‘Star of Thunder.’
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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