Chapter 160: Concern And Suggestion
「… Can you explain the reason for your request?」
The Demon King coked his head when I told him something along the lines of "Papa, lend me an empty plot of land!".
「I’m thinking of building a necromancy research lab outside the Demon King’s castle.」
「Uhm?」
I double-check the soundproof barrier again.
「By the way, Father, do the undead like Enma actively interact with the demon race?」
「Nope, as far as I know, she doesn't actively interact with anyone aside from you.」
The Demon King shook his head and glanced toward the devil butler standing along the wall, as if seeking confirmation.
「As far as I know, there's no one.」
The said butler shook his goat head to the side.「I see… However, when I went to greet Enma earlier, it seems she had caught wind of the fact that I broke a fellow kin’s horn. She's not to be underestimated.」
The Demon King's eyebrows twitched the moment he heard that.
At that moment, a question flashed in my head――『From where did she hear that news then?』. The demons generally looked down on intelligent undead. I couldn't imagine anyone other than myself having tea with Enma on friendly terms.
And yet, she still managed to know the news among the demon race in spite of that means that she――
「――Her ears are within the castle… And you wish to research necromancy without Enma’s faction catching wind of it…But what are you trying to accomplish by going that far?」
This was the most crucial moment. With a solemn expression, I continue speaking.
「Enma has been generously teaching me the knowledge about necromancy without hesitation— But that is likely a reflection of her confidence. The more I learn, the more I realize just how powerful and troublesome she really is. If, for any reason, Enma was to become an enemy, I’m afraid that we won't be able to defeat her――」
That was almost my true, unfiltered sentiment. I had no clue how to defeat them if I could only use the darkling..
「Is she really that much of a threat? I think my flame is enough to burn her.」
The Demon King asked while stroking his beard, voicing his doubt.
「As you have likely already guessed, Father, the Enma that walks around outside is not her true body.」
「Yeah.」
Yup, even the Demon King was aware of this fact.
「Her true body appears to be heavily guarded in her underground stronghold. I've visited several times, but I still fail to pinpoint its exact location.」
「…However, even if it’s just an avatar, it still possesses consciousness. Doesn't that mean a curse will be effective against her?」
「Apparently, Enma erected numerous wards of all kinds to protect the soul in her shell, it's so strong that no amount of curse can interfere or meddle with it.」
That was the tricky part. She erected multiple layers of wards that surpass even holy and light magic, which was supposed to be highly effective against the undead. There was no way dark magic or curses alone could easily break through such wards.
Overwhelming her with Demon King's ridiculous firepower was one option, but if she managed to buy time even for a moment, Enma wouldn't hesitate to abandon her shell and escape immediately.
「――And if we fail to take her down in a single swoop, she will simply transfer to a new shell. Resulting in an endless cycle.」
「Grrn….」
The Demon King's expression turned grimmer. Until now, he had likely considered Enma an insignificant opponent—someone he could wipe out in a single breath if he wished. But realizing just how tenacious she really was must have sparked a sense of urgency within him.
The troublesome thing about the lich(NO Life King) was the fact that they could stay hidden while sending out an army of the dead to fight in their place.
Moreover, in the Demon Kingdom, undead-based tools—like the skeleton carriage— Had become increasingly common. Nowaday, the undead were even being used as laborers for minor construction projects that didn’t require the Corvut clan, as well as for nighttime farming tasks.
「Not to mention that she, is still researching the way to resist sunlight, and I hear that she can endure sunlight for up to five seconds just now.」
Do you know what this means, Demon King?
Up until now, exposure to sunlight would instantly ignite her, reducing them to ash in a second. But if she could endure the sunlight for five seconds, that would be more than enough time to escape into the shade or retreat underground, depending on the location.
She was a monster that was already uncontrollable to begin with.
Furthermore, she was trying to break free of her restraints.――
Even if I wasn't a hero but a true-born prince of the demon race, I’d still feel a sense of crisis in this situation.
「I see, the situation is that bad huh.」
The Demon King, who shared my concerns, placed a hand on his chin, deep in thought.
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My first CN project, why waifu though? Well, coz the main heroine's job is buying soy sauce till the end of act 1
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Right now, relations with the undead are good. But who knows what the future holds? Unlike the Demon King, who had a finite lifespan, the No Life King had an unlimited amount of time. A catastrophe may come one day, or perhaps the demon race would grow arrogant much sooner.
Moreover, as time passes, the undead would infiltrate and advance within the Demon Kingdom even further.
「—I feet that we must establish a method, whether it be a way to nullify the Shell spell or a means to destroy her soul itself while it is in the process of transferring to a new body.」
There was no problem in using the immortal monster.
However, it was under the premise that we had to be able to kill the said monster.
I quietly stated my case… A theory that would undoubtedly appeal to the demons.
「I get your point.」
Sure enough, the Demon King nodded in agreement, just as I had intended.
「I acknowledge the validity of your concerns and the necessity of this research. And as it stands, you are the foremost expert in necromancy among us, the demons… Given the nature of this research, we should proceed as discreetly as possible.」
The Demon King spoke, resting his chin on his hand against the armrest.
「You said a remote location would be best. What kind of setting do you have in mind?」
―― He got baited.
It was true that I wanted to research countermeasures against Enma.
But more than that, I also needed a place free from Platy’s and her attendants’ watchful eyes. Whether it was to prepare for Liliana’s escape from the Demon Kingdom, to research holy-attribute magic as countermeasures against both the Demon King and Enma, or simply to hide my personal enchanted item…
In any case, it would give me even more options.
「Lets see… A place that is deserted and difficult to reach should be fine.」
Suppressing my eagerness, I feigned deep contemplation before speaking.
「I will be using a dragon for transportation, so an isolated landlocked location is fine. In fact, that would be preferable.」
「Dragon, is it? Can you trust them? In my opinion, they're no different from those undead.」
「Ah, as for that… I'll be using one of my own dragons.」
The Demon King realized what I meant as soon as I said those words.
「……Surely, you’re not referring to the daughter of the White Dragon you killed, are you?」
「I am referring to the very daughter.」
「！？」
The Demon King was utterly stunned, as if to say, "What the hell are you talking about!?".
「Are you going to ride on her back!? Not even the Dark God can save you if you get dropped from a high altitude!」
「Uhm, actually, I've been riding on her back for a few already. Up to about the height where I can literally touch the clouds.」
「！？」
The Demon King was at a loss for words, as if to say, "You’ve got to be kidding me!" After all, the person himself hadn’t ridden a dragon even once since ascending to the throne, just to avoid the risk of the dragon’s retaliation. His shock was only natural.
「… So you've got Platy's permission.」
「She's against it, but big sis Gori… My grandmother is a user of a lineage magic that detects hostility. She assured me that she had no ill intent toward me.」
「What the… Come to think of it, she had the 【Echtra(Penetrating Eyes)】.」
「Yes. Well, besides that, she and I have also built a good relationship.」
With that one sentence, the Demon King seemed to understand. The way he looked at me now was a mix of exasperation and a certain kind of respect.
「… I see, do as you wish then. So?」
「We've gone off track. For the research facility, size isn't a major concern. At worst, even a simple shack is sufficient. However, since I'll do experiments creating and destroying undead, the more indoor space available, the greater the flexibility of my experiment. In addition, I’ll need storage space for various materials and books.」
"Hmm," the Demon King murmured as he pulled a map out from the drawer of his desk.
「There Are few abandoned fortresses in the domain under my jurisdiction. Most of them are in ruins and unusable, but I shall personally have one renovated and lend it to you.」
"Which one do you prefer?" the Demon King asked, pointing to the abandoned castles around the Demon King's castle.
――And so, I ended up borrowing a small fortress located about 20 minutes south of the Demon King's castle by dragon flight.
At the same time, albeit unofficially, I was appointed as the director of the Demon Kingdom's National Necromancy Research Institute.
Starting today, I'm the 7th Demon Prince, a Viscount of the Demon Kingdom, and the Director of the Demon Kingdom's National Necromancy Research Institute—Jilbagias Reiju (5 years old)!!