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- 156. Meeting in the Labyrinth
- Armoured Corps chief Calgurio advanced his troops with the utmost confidence.
- After consulting with his advisors, a magic tank squad was to advance as vanguard and bait.
- Even if Storm Dragon Veldora appeared, the Aerial Fighter Legion’s 100 airship fleet would counter it flawlessly.
- That force was thought to be more that enough to conquer all of the west side.
- After all, the 100 airships assured complete dominance by each carrying elite mages to the maximum capacity.
- In addition, even though the 300 airships carrying the Beast Corps did not have many offensive mages, they specialized in logistic support so it was not a problem.
- With both teams simultaneously attacking, Calgurio’s Armored Corps would achieve great success and honor.
- Thus, Calgurio laughed heartily at the prospect of his power further increasing in the Empire.
- As the enemy fell for the bait, the main force was to boldly make its appearance and commence the attack.
- Even though they were at the border of the military nation of Dwargon, their movements would not be detected.
- It was also not guaranteed that this nation would contact its allied nation, the Monster Country Tempest.
- In any case, it was already too late.
- Even if they were to send troops now, they were too far, and timewise, would not be able to make it.
- Even if they were too busy with their experiments and regretted it, it would be too late.
- (TN: I don’t know. Original: 術中に嵌ったと後悔しても手遅れなのだ。)
- Plus, even if they were guarding all routes, they would be spread far too thin to actually be a hindrance.
- Everything was going according to plan, victory was in Calgurio’s hands.
- At that point, on the off chance that the military nation Dwargon tried to help the Monster’s Country Tempest, their neutrality is nulled.
- If that happened, he would then overwhelm and destroy both nations.
- -
- Then, a well awaited report came.
- The vanguard squad sent as bait reported that, the monsters of Tempest had come out.
- They number not much more than ten thousand.
- The report verified that it was one the enemy’s main forces.
- I won!
- Gloated Calgurio.
- The enemy easily fell for the trap.
- They seem to be much less intelligent than he thought, and, failing to guess his invasion route, split up their forces.
- Reconnaissance had determined that Monster Country Tempest, had prepared 120,000 – 150,000 troops.
- Among them, those that could be considered military units should not even be 50,000.
- Therefore, as the enemy here number around 10,000, their plan was likely to have all the routes covered and stall for time.
- With such a pathetic force, forget stalling for time, even the vanguard can finish them off.
- As expected of savages, monsters that do not comprehend the importance of information gathering, this was their utmost level of planning.
- If Veldora doesn’t appear, they are fated for defeat.
- Before the frontal forces arrive to trample all over them, Calgurio would quickly fell the enemy base.
- Calgurio ordered to halt covert operations and advanced his army towards the capital of Monster Country Tempest.
- Although there is the matter of the dwarves possibly taking military action, that was determined to no longer be a problem.
- In fact, Calgurio was immersed in imagining the faces of the of the panicked enemy as they finally noticed his army.
- In the end, with no sign of reinforcement from Dwargon, they would head for the Labyrinth in the Monster Country Tempest’s satellite city.
- They beasts most likely gave up upon seeing the Empire’s might, thought Calgurio.
- That was obvious, after all, the Empire boasts a great army of 700,000.
- In addition, despite being fully armed, they marched are an unprecedented speed.
- This modern army was at a strength beyond the imagination of the dwarves with their backdated technology and arms.
- Magic and science.
- With their fusion, based on a new cutting edge combat system, the strongest corps was born.
- That was the Armoured Corps led by Calgurio.
- -
- In Monster Country Tempest, at the location of the Labyrinth city was nothing save for a single structure.
- That, in fact, was the entrance to the Labyrinth, and other than a staircase to its depths, there was nothing more in the vicinity.
- This scene was different from what was initially reported, and apparently, the merchants and adventurers on the west side all ran away with the Empire approaching.
- If that was the case, rather than let the enemy use them, it was likely that the beasts erased everything.
- They probably feared the possibility of looting.
- This in reality was a clearly a strategy to hurt the enemy by preventing the enemy from procuring food.
- (Clever!)
- Calgurio spits out.
- For soldiers who received enhancement surgery from ‘Otherworld’ science and magic, it is possible to perform optimally without food or water for a week.
- Food packs made with energy balance in mind were created to provide each unit with energy for a single day.
- Each unit, carrying a small storage pack, was provided 10 such food packs.
- Considering such measures taken prior to arriving, there was no loss in performance in the Armoured Corps even if they could not manage to collect food from this town.
- Food intake was optimized by making sufficiently small and easy to use food packs.
- The problem of potable water was easily solved by drawing water through magic.
- To hope that the supply chain was a weakness of this great army was simply too naïve.
- (Ha! Demon lord or not, in the end, to think they’re only capable of such shallow thought!)
- Ridiculing the plans of his foe, Calgurio was certain of victory on this battle.
- First he would put a foothold in the satellite city of Monster Country Tempest.
- Building a base there, he would subjugate the west side with a smooth flow.
- If he didn’t hurry, the Beast Corps advancing from the north would diminish the scale of his achievement.
- If Veldora were to come out, there would be the need to stop it, but the Storm Dragon had made no sign of showing up.
- Speaking of which……
- While Calgurio was resting in a tent of the provisional headquarters, he was surprised to not receive any reports from the vanguard.
- After the first time, there was no more communication.
- According to the communications mage, the magic concentration in the Great Forest of Jura was apparently interfering with the magic communication waves.
- As this is a demon lord’s domain, that much was to be expected.
- The remaining enemy troops may have even come back and fighting had already broke out.
- (Even so, judging from the first troops we encountered, reinforcements should also be fodder.)
- There was no need to worry about the vanguard, so Calgurio would stopped thinking about it.
- Just in case, he ordered an Reconnaissance to look into the matter and dropped the thought.
- -
- The issue now: Whether to advance to the capital or the labyrinth.
- Normally, felling the capital would be given priority.
- It was close by, so first was defeat the demon lord and then, beat the labyrinth.
- Even if Veldora showed up, it’s a simple matter of calling the Airship fleet.
- Though communication was impossible for now, they could easily signal them using magic bullets.
- Unlike on land, airspeed was so high that the waiting time would be negligible, so there was no need to fear the purportedly weakened Storm Dragon.
- The mage reported that, the Monster Country Tempest’s capital had a defence barrier set up around it.
- Even using the Magic Canceller Device to break the barrier, it would soon regenerate, so there was no point.
- It seemed to be pretty strong. Rather than breaking in, it would seem to be easier to destroy it from the inside.
- Even though the Magic Canceller Device was excellent against offensive magic, its rather weak at beating barriers.
- That being the case, now would be the time that the remodelled Armoured Corps takes center stage.
- Reconnaissance reported that the monster troops were stationed right in front of the capital.
- They were the main force of 20,000 high orcs.
- No problem at all.
- Calgurio and his advisors all never doubted their certain victory.
- After all, they had a great army of 700,000.
- Victory usually being assured with 3 times the force, with more that 30 times more troops, they had no doubt at all.
- “Can’t we just attack both places at the same time?”
- The advisors who were nobles of the Empire expressed the opinion.
- There were no objections.
- There was no need to pointlessly disagree and create anxiety, as there was no rush.
- Rather, Calgurio was equally interested in the treasures that lay within the labyrinth.
- In the end, sending off 200,000 troops to capture the capital, he, with 350,000 were to head into the Labyrinth.
- Anyway, it was a simple strategy of overwhelming the labyrinth with immense numbers.
- There being no objections, there’s really no doubt that what they were most interested in was the short-term profit, rather than capturing the capital but……
- Being assured of victory, Calgurio and co. put their plan to action without realizing their greed.
- Thus, in Monster Country Tempest, 200,000 troops would advance towards the capital, and 350,000 would focus on capturing the Labyrinth.
- And then……
- These foolish souls would descent the stairs they could never again climb back up.
- With the absolute conviction of filling their pockets to the brim with the treasures of the Labyrinth, they advanced.
- The Labyrinth grants passage to all.
- But, with Safe Mode now turned off, there would be a never before seen hell befallen on its visitors.
- −−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−
- One of the innermost rooms of the Labyrinth.
- A place where a secret meeting room could be found, that even Rimuru didn’t know of.
- For the first time, because of the Master of the Labyrinth, Ramiris’ emergency remodelling, the most powerful denizens of the Labyrinth were gathered.
- The reason: a meeting concerning the annihilation of the fools who dared to invade the labyrinth.
- But in reality, the purpose of the meeting was of a very different nature.
- -
- The gathered, they were those who were called the 10 Lords of the Labyrinth.
- Ramiris’ aide, Labyrinth janitor, dungeon master Beretta.
- 4 groups of the Lords.
- Floor 90 guardian, Nine-head-kumara.
- Floor 80 guardian, Insect Emperor Kaiser Zegion.
- Floor 79 floor boss, Insect Queen Apito.
- Floor 70 guardian, Ghost King, Immortal King Adalman.
- Floor 70 vanguard, Ghost Knight, Death Paladin Albert.
- And finally,
- Floor 50 alternating guardians, Gozurl and Mezurl.
- Both of them were also participating for some reason.
- Realizing the strength of their fellow Lords, it felt as if they were shrinking.
- They, who had thought they could win against anyone, now faced a reality as they recognized the clear difference in level.
- As for Beretta, though he was only assigned to chores said – Later, Rune Master Gadra would become one of the 10 Lords – but……
- Anyway, those sitting down currently were the 10 Lords of the Labyrinth.
- Knowing that irresponsible Ramiris, that name would not stick.
- Normally, all of them wouldn’t gather here, but since it was an emergency-like situation, Ramiris invoked her authority, and as a result, for the first time, the whole team had gathered.
- Well, Veldora was sitting leisurely on the middle seat but, the other Lords were gathered for a sole reason.
- That who amongst them, other than Beretta and the Storm Dragon, was the strongest.
- This rivalry burned stronger when Demon Lord Rimuru personally praised Alderman and granted him a higher rank.
- Every one of them wanted to prove to be the most useful.
- With the lower floors not receiving much action, those Lords were most affected.
- So there was a backlash.
- Particularly the 2 females, Apito and Kumara, had an dangerous relationship.
- Zegion was calm, and Alderman was burning with ambition.
- However, they did not truly hate each other despite their poisonous auras.
- In the end, even though they were all aiming to prove themselves, they wouldn’t go around sabotaging each other’s efforts.
- These people gathered for the first time, but it was surprisingly quiet.
- Facing the Empire’s invasion of the Labyrinth, their hostility towards the enemy took precedence over their rivalry.
- “Lords, you’ve done well to gather!
- Today, this Labyrinth faces its greatest crisis since it’s grand opening!
- With that, let me hear your thoughts!”
- The words my Ramiris signaled the start of the meeting.
- “Ara? Isn’t that obvious-” (TN: kumara ends her line in -orin su)
- “- a Massacre of course.”
- Cutting off Kumara, Apito continues.
- “This time, can you not send the action to my floor?
- These days, Apito has been happy fooling around with the Holy Knight right?”
- “Say what! That weakling, any more and I’ll die of boredom!”
- As they glare at each other, a different kind of tension fills the room.
- “Kuhahahahaha! Lets stop the bickering. And be at ease.
- This time, everyone shall get a chance to fight!
- First, I figured anyone who can pass the 60th floor
- would be a worthy enemy but……
- It was annoying so I stopped.”
- “Yea that’s right! Just like Shishou (TN: Master) said, waiting for them to cross all the 50 floors is seriously a pain -ne?
- Normally it’d be ok, but with their numbers, it looks like it’s gonna take a while.
- So tell you what, well send in 10,000 of ‘em to each floor from the beginning.
- If you’re lucky, someone strong might come along in y’know?”
- With those words from Veldora and Ramiris, the others’ shown a glint in their eyes.
- “So you mean…… everyone gets the chance?”
- Asks Alderman, to which,
- “Exactly!”
- Ramiris made an exaggerated nod, and continued with the explanation.
- Each of the Lords would receive 10,000 troops at a time.
- Floors 61 – 70, 71 – 80 and 81-90 would get filled 100,000 each.
- And the remaining would be sent to floors 51 – 60.
- There were around 350,000 troops heading into the Labyrinth, so they would be distributed in this fashion.
- “And then, Gozurl and Mezurl are on standby on floor 30 to eat up the ones that can run back up that far ‘kay?
- And even if you up and die, you can always revive so, work hard -ne!”
- Ramiris concluded.
- With that, the Lords got super motivated.
- “So, does Rimuru-sama know about this?”
- Zegion broke his silence and spoke.
- And Apito was surprised.
- Insect Emperor Kaiser Zegion was a silent man, he never really had much to talk about.
- he seemed to be receiving combat training from Veldora for a while, and recently it looked like they were close to being evenly matched.
- Veldora was admittedly very strong, and other than his loyalty to Demon Lord Rimuru, He was a man who only cared for strength.
- “Ehehe, we’re keeping it a secret! So, lets surprise everyone -ne!”
- Ramiris said with an innocent smile.
- But in reality, together with Veldora the two were hatching a devious plot – mainly to surprise Rimuru --
- It was always like that, and the one’s who were involved suffered.
- “Oi oi, Rimuru-sama won’t get angry later right?”
- Albert asked, worried.
- “No problemo!”
- Veldora and Ramiris assured him.
- Seeing Beretta was averting his gaze, Albert gave up.
- Well, it probably wasn’t too big a deal, he thought.
- I just need to beat the enemy.
- In theory, a battered enemy is easier to beat, but we can revive.
- There was no need for wait for them to tire out battling monsters on weaker floors.
- “Very well, I concur that we simply need to win.”
- Zegion said with a nod, and the matter was settled.
- Ramiris and Veldora looked at each other with an evil smile, and the others pretended not to notice.
- After all, it was the first real battle with the full force.
- Whatever the case, in truth, none of them were going to let go of this chance.
- To unleash the true horror of the Labyrinth unto its invaders, the ten Lords returned to their respective floors.
- And so, these denizens of hell wait patiently for their soon to arrive guests.
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