第１３９掘：茶番劇の準備
**Dig 139: Preparing the Farce**
**Side: Liliana**
My favorite things are burning away. How sad, how hollow. It is deeply frustrating in so many ways.
To think that I was driven from the throne of the Demon Lord by such a pervert...
No, I must pull myself together. The elimination of the Demon Lord—no, the pervert—has been completed according to plan. Next, I must head to the dungeon to rescue the members of the peace faction.
"Yuki-san, that should be enough. I would like to head to the dungeon now, if that’s alright?"
"Ah, yes. Wait, hold on a second. Let me check the situation inside the castle. Milly, Tori, guard the entrances and exits. Ria, set up a shield at the window and keep watch. Rurua, prepare the fake as planned."
"Understood!"
Yuki-san immediately fired off orders and moved into action.
I have been observing his conduct ever since I was placed under the protection of Weed, and honestly, I suspect he has been granted the authority of a Dungeon Master and is now exercising that power to its fullest.
While Elju-san holds the primary authority over the dungeon, from what I have seen, I apologize for saying this, but she does not seem suited to be a ruler.
However, Yuki-san, who is effectively commanding this operation, is on a completely different level.
His strategic planning, his decisiveness, and the way he utilizes the dungeon’s unique characteristics—this man is no ordinary person.
He must surely have some connection to the policies of Weed, which has achieved such staggering development through ideas completely different from the norm.
Yet, that does not mean he is merely a book-smart intellectual.
Honestly, his magical power far exceeds my own.
While he is refraining from individual heroics this time out of consideration for the nation's face, I suspect it would be impossible to stop Yuki-san if he truly wished to act.
I still wonder why a man of his caliber remains in a position like "advisor."
"Operation unit here. Reporting on the progress of the operation. We selected the 'Spear' strategy. Result: Target Arrow is clear. Moving to the next target, Beta. Current time 2324. Progress is extremely favorable. Over."
"Headquarters here, understood. We pray for the success of your operation."
"Big Brother, Big Sister, do your best!!"
"Brother, Sister, good luck!!"
"Fufu, Rearguard unit here, understood. We have detected no signs that the enemy is aware of our presence. We will continue to maintain the route."
He communicates and shares the situation as if they were standing right next to him.
The speed of this transmission and their responsiveness—in every respect, the small nation of Weed is head and shoulders above the rest of this continent.
"Well, the report is done. Now, let’s see what the situation inside the castle is..."
Yuki-san began to grasp the status of the enemy forces within the castle by making full use of his Dungeon Master skills.
His actions are devoid of waste; his judgment is swift.
How on earth did he become this capable?
I am not even sure if our generals or the captains of the Royal Guard could achieve this much.
"Alright, everyone, listen while staying alert. There is no need to open your individual maps."
"Yes!"
"Currently, about 70% of the castle is silent. I suppose I couldn't hide everyone, after all. There are three areas with heavy resistance. First, the soldiers' barracks. I’ve sent ten teams as reinforcements, so that should be settled soon. Second, the Royal Guard who were patrolling the castle; they reported to their captain immediately and are mounting a defense, but since it’s night, they don't seem to be doing very well. Third, one of the Four Heavenly Kings remains in the castle. As per Liliana’s intel, that’s Jesta of the brute force, right? Between his attack power and his natural defense, he’s not taking any fatal wounds. I’ll send thirty teams each to support the second and third areas. As for the remaining 30%, forty teams should be able to handle it."
I was stunned by Yuki-san’s report.
The number of demons working in the Demon Lord’s castle is not high when looking at the total population.
However, there are at least 3,000 of them. Of course, not all are soldiers, but there are still 1,500 who are.
And 70% of them were silenced in about twenty minutes? I know the monsters he summoned are powerful, but we demons should not be the type of opponents who lose so quickly in a fight.
"There are no remaining enemies on the way to the target dungeon. Well, it’s going according to plan. The support magic of the Wight Noirs is terrifying. Putting them into a deep sleep, then capturing or eliminating them with Dullahan Assassins, while the Shadow Snakes take out the patrolling guards..."
I see. So that is why they didn't do anything that would wake the enemy.
Indeed, even if there are over 3,000 people working in the castle, most of them are asleep at night.
This operation using these monsters was truly a masterstroke.
Since those who were sleeping were bound up, one could say that very little blood was shed unnecessarily.
"We will begin moving to the dungeon at 2330. Liliana-san, please lead the way."
"Understood."
"Ria, how does the outside look from the window?"
"It is quiet. Are there really people fighting out there?"
"The soldiers' barracks are in the castle, but they are in an annex. The Royal Guard barracks are on the opposite side. And the Four Heavenly King is busy fighting in one of the rooms specifically designated for them in the four corners of the castle. Liliana-san, I recommend a review of your security system and deployment after you regain power."
...I doubt there is a commander, or a unit and strategy, that could surpass you.
"Milly, Tori, how is it outside?"
"No presence detected."
"Rurua, how is the Doppelganger preparation?"
"Yes, preparation is complete. The Doppelganger of the pervert is ready."
Before my eyes stood the form of the Demon Lord—no, the pervert—imitated by a Doppelganger.
Actually, since a Doppelganger is the one inside, this one is far more decent.
"Good. We’ll take this fake with us; it will make it easier for the people in the dungeon to accept the situation."
Indeed, rather than me trying to persuade them alone, forcing this fake pervert to kneel before them will be far more effective.
The head of the real one is barely still attached, but that is for the people remaining at the barrier. The people in this dungeon are my allies in the peace faction, so there is no need to screen them like those at the barrier. What matters is the fact that they have been liberated from the fake pervert and that the monsters have been eliminated.
If I cause a skirmish with the hardliners here, a messenger will surely be sent to the Demon Lord’s army currently on the march.
Therefore, until we take the barrier and this castle, I must keep the pervert alive in name.
And once that plan is executed, the hardliners will have no choice but to join the peace faction.
"2330. Operation start."
As Yuki-san said that, everyone quickly moved outside to secure the perimeter and wait for me.
Whether that plan succeeds depends on my persuasion.
Right now, rather than making optimistic predictions about the future, I must succeed in the goal right before my eyes.
I stepped into the hallway and began to run through the darkness once more.
This is the path to the future.