第１４４掘：魔王城攻略 後編 (Part1)
**Dig 144: The Demon King Castle Siege, Part 2**
**Side: Liliana**
"Liliana-sama, the enemy at the second gate is retreating!"
"Report from the diversionary unit: the southern gate has been successfully opened!"
"A detachment has been spotted exiting the eastern gate. Close the first gate immediately and prepare for a rear attack!"
"Prioritize relaying the detachment's movements to Seraria-sama! Does anyone know the interior layout of the second gate? Any information at all!"
We had breached the first gate and were approaching the second. Thanks to the diversion, the peace faction within the first gate had sided with us without much trouble. The fire traps had been neutralized, resulting in nothing more than a minor blaze from some leftover oil.
"The Weed unit is already in position. Don't worry; the enemy seems to be pulling back, so we’re going to smash right through," Seraria-sama said, having arrived before I could even send my report to the leadership.
"Did you hear? The enemy's detachment has already..."
"Yes, the other leaders heard as well. Supplies are already being moved inside the gate, so we’re fine. Once the second gate opens, the Weed unit will intercept the detachment coming for the first gate. Since their numbers are small, that’s the correct way to use them. I’ll leave the Demon King Castle to the other units. You know what’s inside, right? If you wander too far ahead, you’ll be devoured by *that*."
"Yes... I understand. So, *that* is already rampaging inside the castle."
I stared at the Demon King Castle, which showed no signs of change.
"Yes. Eris reported that the main leaders remaining in the castle have already been consumed, save for those the peace faction selected to keep alive. It seems the unit led by the captain of the Royal Guard is barely holding it back."
"Him, you mean..."
"Oh? You know him?"
"Yes. I was the one who appointed him captain of the Royal Guard. He is honest, diligent, and possesses both the skill and the character befitting his position."
"I see. Then it would be a waste to let him die. If only the second gate would open already... oh, it seems it has."
Following Seraria-sama’s gaze, I saw the gate swinging open. Just as before, Lowel-san’s unit was moving in first to secure the path.
"Well, I’ll take my leave here. Good luck with the rest."
With those words, Seraria-sama moved away and began issuing orders to the Weed unit.
"Quar, I’ve confirmed the enemy detachment has departed from the east gate. There are three hundred of them; the Weed unit will stop them alone. Gather the troops and head to the first gate immediately!"
"Understood!"
I watched Seraria-sama depart and joined Lowel-san and the rest of the Demon King Castle siege force.
"Liliana-dono, the second gate is completely suppressed. The enemy seems confused for some reason. Do you know anything about this?"
"No, not particularly... Perhaps the volunteers are creating a diversion."
In truth, I knew. While the volunteers were indeed causing a distraction, the real issue was that the Demon King was rampaging within the castle. But I could not speak of that. We had to reach the castle as quickly as possible and defeat the monster acting as the Demon King.
"Hmm. We have no intention of harming the demon citizenry. If they aren't in our way, shouldn't we head straight for the Demon King Castle?"
"That’s true, but Liliana-dono, what of the path to the castle?"
Ares-dono asked me.
"The castle is located in a straight line from each gate. There are bridges connecting it from the north, south, east, and west. They are drawbridges, however..."
"Drawbridges, eh? In this situation, we must assume they’ve already been raised. But that doesn't change the fact that we need to reach the castle as soon as possible, does it?"
The siege leadership nodded in agreement.
"All troops, charge down this road! Aim for the Demon King Castle! We shall drop the drawbridge and thrust our swords into the Demon King’s throat!"
At Ares-dono’s command, the siege force surged forward. There was no resistance from the enemy. The demon residents were cheering. Many of them had lost family members to the war caused by the gates; no one would hinder the Allied Forces that had chosen to save them rather than slaughter them. It was the result of the allies I had sent in.
"Listen! Our friends are cheering for us! There is no reason for us to lose, nor any reason to retreat! Shout and answer their feelings!"
Ares-dono raised his sword and charged at the front. The soldiers behind him let out a roar.
"OOOOHHHHHHH!"
And then, for some reason, the drawbridge of the Demon King Castle lowered.
"■■■■■■■!!"
An unintelligible, meaningless scream echoed out.
"Guaaaahhh! S-someone... gubyu—"
The sound of a human scream twisted into something alien at the end.
"Damn it! Don't let this thing out! Show them the pride of the Royal Guard!"
"YEAH!"
The Royal Guard was holding back the monster. This meant that the main survivors of the hardliners were gone from the castle. It seemed he had survived Eris-san’s selection.
"Hiera! I’ve brought the Allied Forces! We’re here to provide support!"
As I shouted, Hiera, the captain of the Royal Guard, turned toward us with a look of shock.
"Liliana-sama! I’m glad you’re safe!"
"Talk later! We’ll join forces with the Allied army to slay this monster and defeat Dekira!"
"No... Dekira is no longer here. He has already been consumed by that monster."
The leadership of the Allied Forces looked on in horror at those words.
"That Demon King Dekira used us as sacrifices to summon that thing. No, perhaps that is what a true Demon King should be. It is a genuine monster that grows by devouring living things!"
The Allied Forces looked as if they couldn't comprehend the meaning, but there was no time to question it.
*THUD.*
With that heavy impact, most of the Royal Guard were blown away.