#530 The Fight at the Dragon Emperor’s Castle: The Heavenly Four's POV

Mamoru the Coveted of the Heavenly Four here.

At the moment, I’m in the middle of a competition!

Then again, we’re the ones who proposed this.

I thought this was the best way to successfully suppress the army's dissatisfaction and delegate the job to the adventurers.

But!

A very big but!

I never imagined it would be held in such a grand place!

The matter is about entrusting dungeon management, so we're doing a dungeon-exploring competition.

This I get.

To make the game fair, we're competing in a dungeon that neither of us had ever been in.

This I also get.

That's why we're competing in a dungeon ruled by the Dragon Emperor.

This I don’t get!

The Dragon Emperor?!

Where do they get such connections?!

A normal dragon is already a higher-order being humanity wouldn’t dare communicate with!

What did they do to be able to talk to the top dragon and get him to let us use his castle?!

“You worry too much, Mamoru. There are people in the world who can get rid of any trouble in a jiffy.”

“Was it you, Lord Belpgamilia?!”

“Uh...No.”

No way!!!

How could anyone other than you have the guts to negotiate with a dragon?!

In fact, this competition is as good as ours just by having you around!

“Everything about this is so annoying. Do we really have to do this?”

“Already?!”

Why do I still act surprised, this is Lord Belpgamilia we’re talking about!

As soon as the competition began, he started complaining!

“Yes, we have to! The necessity of this match was insisted upon at the previous meeting!”

“Weren’t you the main insister?” 

As it stands, the Demon King’s Army can no longer single-handedly manage all the dungeons.

To improve the situation, it will rely on the private sector, the adventurers.

However, it’s a blow to the military pride to hand over what we’ve been responsible for.

If we win, we’d be able to assert the army’s superiority.

And then, we can have the adventurers join in...as assistants!

“By doing so, the army can maintain its appearance as the supreme ruler on earth! This is the only way!”

“Tedious process, if you ask me.”

Lord Belphgamilia, your habit of complaining is critical here, so stop it!

“Lord Belphgamilia, please! We must show the human race how powerful we demons are!” says Aeshma, a Heavenly One like me. 

She is a serious woman, but at the same time, inflexible. 

“We will let them know once again where they stand! That they are the losers and the ones who should obey! That’s what today’s match is about! Let’s make them bow to us again, just as they did when they lost the war!”

...

There are several demon soldiers who make claims like hers, and this competition is meant to persuade such people.

“But that’s not all that Mamoru is expecting, is it?” says Leviasa, the last member of the Heavenly Four.

She is a quiet woman, but she has an eye for things and is not to be sneered at.

“On one side, you want to show them what we can do. On the other, you want to see what they can do.”

“Y-Yeah, that’s right...”

She saw right through me...!

I have been told that adventurers are professionals in dungeon exploration.

However, as a soldier with responsibilities to fulfill, I have not seen firsthand how they work.

In order to make a decision, I would like to observe the adventurers so that I can better reassure myself to entrust them with the job...!

We planned this competition with that in mind, right?

“The fact that you’re so attentive even to the smallest details is so like you. But also, gross.”

“Your last comment ruined everything you said!”

But it’s only typical of Leviasa to see through people.

It’s no surprise that she’s called competent by those around her.

Lord Belpgamilia, a grumbler.

Aeshma, a steadfast but inflexible woman.

Leviasa, competent but has no intentions of contributing.

And I, Mamoru, the fourth member, am surrounded by these three!

While making small talk, we went further into the dungeon and...

“Oh, look.”

There’s a gate.

The tightly closed gate indicates that the area behind it leads to a different place.

“Looks like this is where the real exploration begins. Traps that would keep the intruders out and the like...!”

“I’m amazed you got here, young ones.”

“Gyaaaaaaaaaaaaa!”

The next thing I knew...

The next thing I knew, someone was beside me!

A dried-up person who looks like a corpse is moving!!!

“Long time no see, Sensei.”

“Hello, Sensei!”

“Hi, Sensei!”

Huh?

Why are the other three greeting him?

Do they know this immortal?

Am I the only one left out?!

“We didn’t expect to see you here, Sensei. Why are you here?”

“I designed the section from here on.”

Huh?

What do you mean? Isn’t this the Dragon Emperor’s residence?!

Why would an immortal king design it?

“This dungeon was built in a hurry, so many people were involved. At first, the dragons were the only ones working on its construction, but since they wanted to add more variety, they asked us to join them.”

“And we’re guessing you happily obliged?”

“That’s right. We decided to wait in front of our respective sections to share our story and explain things.”

This dungeon is starting to feel more and more like a theme park, I swear...

“An area designed by Sensei, huh... It must’ve been very bothersome constructing it.”

“We tried to keep our motifs to a minimum this time to solve what we thought was the biggest problem.”

This Lifeless King says some pretty decent things...

So? What’s the theme he incorporated in this dungeon?

“It’s a countermeasure against Belphgamilia, what else?”

“Huh? Me?”

“But of course. As long as you’re part of this competition, you and your team will win no matter what. If the result is already decided, it won’t make the competition interesting. As such, I have taken measures.”

This immortal isn’t beating around the bush...!

But someone like Lord Belphgamilia, who will guarantee us victory, is hard to come by.

“Fortunately, I know you well. I apologize for designing an area that thoroughly exploits your weakness, but I hope you don’t resent me for it.”

“Eh? A weakness? Do I have such a thing?” says Lord Belpgamilia.

“Let’s save the remarks for later and have a taste of the area I, a Lifeless King, created especially for you, Belphgamilia.”

Sensei the Lifeless King steps aside, and the door looms before us.

“I suspect there will be many traps from here on out!”

“As a former student of Sensei, I must rise to this challenge...!”

Aeshma and Leviasa sound pumped up. 

But... Exactly what kind of trap is waiting for Lord Belphgamilia, I wonder?

On the door we were about to open, I found these words written on it:

You must not say ‘annoying’ or any of its synonyms beyond this door.

　* * *

“Lord Belphgamiliaaaaaaaaaaa!!!”

Lord Belphgamilia got magically restrained and was taken away in a jiffy!!!

Is this what happens if you say the taboo words within the room?!

“Why?! The words on the door clearly said you mustn’t say those words! So whyyyyyyyyyyyy?!”

“Well... I thought I could bypass the system by saying ‘sorry,’ ‘what do you think?’ ‘isn’t the grass wonderful’ and finally ‘this is annoying’ in succession...” 

“Why those three specific sentences?!”

In what kind of situation would make you say those sentences consecutively?!

Particularly, the ‘isn’t the grass wonderful’ part!!!

“Since I completely fell for Sensei’s trap, I must bid you adieu here. The rest is up to you guys~”

“Noooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!”

Thus, Lord Belphgamilia was penalized for saying the taboo word and was kicked out of the room.

He’s the first member of our team to be eliminated.