Demon King of the Royal Class

Chapter 379

The first time I learned about Charlotte’s condition, I thought she would be unable to ever recover, but the new information I’d learned showed me that she had already improved significantly.

It was time to return to the main objective. We needed magic that could aid in the operation of the dungeon, or a tome that could help to lure Cantus Magna in. Both Eleris and Lucinil had selected several tomes for that purpose.

“I’m curious about the magic used in this underground labyrinth,” Eleris said.

It was a labyrinth that only allowed designated people to reach the true destination, while sending others wandering off into the unknown.

“If we install such a labyrinth in the dungeon we plan to operate, we could make it such that adventurers who entered would wander about for a while without us killing them, and then send them back,” she suggested.

“Eleris, I love how you never change,” Lucinil remarked with a subtle smile, observing Eleris putting forth a form of magic that could maximize the number of survivors and minimize casualties.

Eleris’s brow furrowed slightly at Lucinil’s comment.

“Lucinil, the reason we and the Black Order are operating the dungeon is not for any malicious reason, but to spread the fame of the dungeon itself and therefore lure Cantus Magna in as quickly as possible. The more survivors who return with valuable rewards without reaching the end of the dungeon, the better, right? The rumors will spread faster and more reliably,” Eleris said.

While reducing casualties was her goal, Eleris was implying that having more survivors would also be faithful to the main objective. Lucinil, sprawled across the table, opened her eyes lazily.

“Sure, sure. If you say so.”

“Do you want to get scolded?”

“N-no...”

Eleris sounded slightly more serious, and Lucinil, who had been lounging against the table, quickly straightened her posture.

‘What’s this? Are these two actually in a hierarchical relationship or something?’

Of course, I thought Lucinil’s childish behavior was just a persona. But if a persona lasted for centuries, was it still just a persona?

In any case, Eleris was interested in the labyrinth itself, the one constructed beneath the Demon King’s Castle.

A labyrinth that constantly reconfigured itself, making people wander endlessly. A labyrinth with no exit in the first place.

Eleris placed a large book on the table.

“I thought there would surely be a tome explaining the creation of this labyrinth, and indeed, there was.”

Quantum Maze was the name of the tome.

‘Quantum mechanics... was it? Magic quantum mechanics or something...? What is that?’

In times like that, Lucinil’s way of thinking was the best.

I just accepted it as it was.

***

“As far as maze design goes, there’s no other magic like this,” Eleris said.

“I can’t believe someone thought of this...”

Lucinil and Eleris couldn’t help but marvel as they skimmed through the Quantum Maze tome. Of course, I couldn’t make heads or tails of the complex magic circles and formulas.

And then there was the labyrinth obscuring the path to this bunker.

“In practice, it seems to be a complex magical device composed of numerous combined magics. A barrier is used to defend against external interference, dimensional magic is used for the internal structure to send all the entrants down different paths, magic crafting is used for the constant regeneration and reconstruction of structures and traps, and summoning magic and alchemy are mixed together to generate the monsters inside,” Eleris explained.

“Honestly, with just this one form of magic, we could hold out for ten years,” Lucinil remarked.

“Provided we understand and construct it properly, of course.”

“That’s true.”

It wasn’t just magic for designing mazes; it was a way to create the highest-level labyrinths, and brought together several different disciplines of magic.

The maze was designed without an exit from the start, so any effort to find one was bound to be futile. Each time someone entered, the dungeon formed randomly. This concept wasn’t entirely unfamiliar to me.

“There’s a chance Cantus Magna might covet the Quantum Maze itself,” I suggested.

“That possibility can’t be ruled out,” Eleris replied. The labyrinth was constructed by bringing together several impressive fields of magic, which made it a form of magic that Cantus Magna would likely desire.

The original purpose of applying such magic was to create a labyrinth in which intruders would wander around until they perished, but the design could easily be adjusted to allow those who entered to wander about for a bit before eventually finding their way out.

There was no inherent necessity for casualties. As Eleris mentioned, the more survivors there were, the faster and further the rumors about the endless labyrinth would spread. Some parties could even be pre-arranged to receive rewards, leading them to believe that even greater treasures lay deeper within the labyrinth.

Of course, we couldn’t rely on it completely. After all, nothing in the world was absolute, and it was possible that this labyrinth with no exit could potentially be breached, whether from the inside or the outside.

“What are the chances of it being breached?” I asked.

“There’s no way to breach it physically, either from the inside or the outside. Even using magical means, it seems impossible unless specific conditions are met,” Lucinil answered.

“So, it’s difficult, then?”

“Exactly. And since this labyrinth isn’t designed to consume people but rather to tease them and send them back, only a very few will discover its true nature. The labyrinth isn’t meant to kill, but to divert people from reaching their intended destination.”

The magic of the Quantum Maze was already incredibly powerful and mysterious on its own, and it was likely that Cantus Magna would covet such knowledge. On top of that, there were many other tomes that would also be used as bait.

It was natural to feel anxious about this, since it was a huge gamble. If Cantus Magna took everything from us and the Black Order, it might even hasten the completion of Akasha. No one knew what would happen then.

Feeling anxious yet unable to know anything for certain, I quietly watched Eleris and Lucinil as they examined the tomes.

***

I had accompanied Eleris and Lucinil all this way so that they could search through the library and find the necessary tomes, since they had no means of entering the Demon King’s Castle bunker without me. But beyond that, I wasn’t needed.

Eleris returned to Ancient Castle Epiacs, and Lucinil, together with Antirianus, would make contact with the Black Order.

An artificially-created dungeon, built upon a real lich’s hideout whose cooperation had been forcefully secured. One representative from the Order and our representative, Antirianus, were both dispatched there.

From this point on, I could step back. If Cantus Magna showed up, it could lead to an all-out confrontation, and in such an event, I wouldn’t be much help.

The lich’s tomb that had been discovered in the Dark Land, and the labyrinth that was soon to be constructed there—would rumors about it reach the capital? How long it would take for Cantus Magna to take the bait was unknown. All we could do was wait.

And there was another piece of good news: Charlotte’s condition required no further intervention.

“The research is progressing well, but the information is not easy to analyze.”

Charlotte and I were in the Class B dormitory, sharing a conversation over black tea.

I had learned that the research on soul manipulation magic wouldn’t be of any help to Charlotte.

Lucinil’s knowledge came not just from books, but from her own extensive experiments.

Charlotte was fine; she just needed to accept that she had become one with the Demon King.

To put it simply, there were now two Demon Kings in this world: me, and Charlotte, who had fused with the soul of the previous Baalier. Charlotte didn’t have horns, but could she truly wield the power to command demons?

While she hadn’t mastered magic like the Demon King, she could at least use the power of shadows, a skill the Demon King had embodied. I seemed to lack that power, which suggested it was a unique ability of the previous Demon King, Baalier.

Knowing that Charlotte’s condition had improved was a relief to me, and Charlotte seemed pleased, believing that soul manipulation magic could stabilize her condition.

How could I help Charlotte accept that the power occasionally consuming her wasn’t a problem at all?

“...”

Charlotte’s expression darkened as she gazed beyond the terrace. Looking in that direction, I saw Riana and Cliffman running along the path.

The Revolutionary Forces had fallen into the hands of Owen de Getmora, and in reality, into the hands of the imperial family. Although it had been Vertus’s doing, Charlotte seemed aware of the situation, and knew that Riana’s burning desire for revenge was misdirected. Her hatred towards the Demon King was built upon deception.

Despite this, Charlotte didn’t offer me any explanations.

“By the way, we’ll soon be seniors,” Charlotte said, forcing herself to be cheerful.

The winter break, which had been full of various events, was nearing its end. The new first-year students would soon arrive and we would become second-year students. Honestly, I wasn’t particularly interested in the incoming first-year students. I had too many things to think about to engage in senior-junior activities.

“I wonder what kind of kids they’ll be?”

Still, I liked seeing Charlotte’s curiosity about the new students. She smiled as she wondered about them, yet her smile suddenly seemed to me to be slightly awkward.

***

The end of winter break was just around the corner.

Everyone had a desire to grow stronger, ignited by various reasons: to take revenge, to assist in that revenge, or wanting to protect something. All the close-combat majors were well-furnished in that regard.

Clang!

“Ugh!”

“You’re still unfamiliar with this power, Ludwig. If you don’t use it with restraint, you’ll harm yourself.”

“Yes, ma’am!”

Sabioleen Tana, acting as the dormitory supervisor, was always available to teach us. Now, there were four of us who could use Mana Reinforcement: me, Ellen, Cliffman, and Ludwig.

It had been only Ludwig who persistently bothered Sabioleen Tana before, but now all of us had started learning swordsmanship from her.

In Ellen’s case, the Miss Temple contest and her return to her hometown had eaten into her schedule, leaving her with little time to practice. Despite meeting Sabioleen Tana earlier on, she did not have the chance to practice her swordsmanship until much later.

This time, the training was focused on those who could achieve Mana Reinforcement, so Scarlett wasn’t present.

Naturally, there was a hierarchy even among those with Mana Reinforcement. Cliffman and Ludwig’s Mana Reinforcement techniques were still rough and unrefined.

Sabioleen Tana had initially treated Ludwig as a novice, handling him with a light touch. However, his unexpected awakening of Mana Reinforcement, as well as Cliffman’s, made Sabioleen Tana recognize their extraordinary potential, and she grew more serious with their training.

She seemed to believe that nurturing talent was essential, even if she wasn’t an official teacher at the Temple, as no one knew when a major conflict might arise.

“If you focus too much on Mana Reinforcement and end up neglecting the things you can actually see, what good does that do? Pay attention to both the visible and the invisible.”

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“You use mana too wastefully. No one has infinite mana. Remember, true destructive power comes from the precision and finesse of mana usage. With the same amount of power, you could either break a rock or merely injure your hand, depending on how precisely you use it.”

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“The protective power of Mana Reinforcement is different in quality from the barriers used by mages. They construct their barriers in the most efficient form possible, through casting of spells. But the protection from Mana Reinforcement comes from the pure release of power. Even with the same amount of mana, the protective power itself can’t compare to a magical shield. Remember, there are situations where you can afford to get hit and situations where you can’t. Investing too much power in protection will ultimately reduce your stamina.”

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“In situations where Mana Reinforcement is used, swordsmanship must be fundamentally restructured. There are times when you must allow what was previously unacceptable and catch your opponent off guard, yet there are still attacks that must never be allowed to land. Understand the weight and focus of your opponent’s attack. After all, the purpose of swordsmanship is to take your opponent’s life.”

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“You are inexperienced, Ludwig. You need to become more accustomed to Mana Reinforcement before moving on to the next stage.”

“Yes. I’ll try a bit more.”

“No. Excessive use of Mana Reinforcement does not just lead to mere muscle aches. When I say rest, it’s not a suggestion; it’s an order. Rest.”

“Y-yes, ma’am... Understood.”

Sabioleen Tana had moved beyond just brief remarks, and was providing more detailed guidance to Ludwig and Cliffman. Of course, since they were still not fully accustomed to Mana Reinforcement, there were limits to what she could teach.

“You are very familiar with it now. Your skills are improving rapidly, Reinhart.”

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“Good. Very good. Can you make finer adjustments to the output? Like doubling the protection and then reducing it to half... Oh. Yes, you can. Excellent.”

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“Of course, your technique is still rough, but the growth you’ve shown is remarkable. Your control of Mana Reinforcement, in particular, can be considered proficient.”

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“Given your level of skill, you’ll easily be able to handle those who can’t use Mana Reinforcement most of the time. However, there might be instances where you could be caught off guard by someone who doesn’t know how to use it... Hmm, but that’s something that only happens when someone is just learning to control Mana Reinforcement, so it shouldn’t be an issue for you. Sorry, that was unnecessary. Forget it.”

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“It won’t take long for you to become a Swordmaster.”

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‘Uhh, teacher? You’re praising me so much that it’s actually hard to bear!’

Although her attitude had changed somewhat, she still showed extreme favoritism towards me.

“...”

Ellen stood to the side, quietly observing the interaction between Tana and I.

***

The day’s sparring session was specifically for those who could use Mana Reinforcement, and was being held at the Class B training grounds.

Ludwig went first, followed by Cliffman, then me. Ellen was last.

We all went up against Sabioleen Tana, sparring until we were exhausted. The three of us sat lined up against the wall of the training grounds, waiting for the final match to begin.

“I’m still far from it,” Ludwig said with a sigh, wiping away his sweat with a towel around his neck and drinking from a water bottle.

“... Yeah,” Cliffman muttered absentmindedly.

Although they had awakened Mana Reinforcement, it was clear they were not proficient enough to garner the same praise that I’d received, and they were certainly not at Ellen’s level either.

There was also the issue of the Demon King. Ludwig and Cliffman likely believed that the Demon King would be an even more formidable foe than Sabioleen Tana, who herself already seemed like an insurmountable obstacle.

“Let’s do our best,” Ludwig said casually to Cliffman, who looked a bit taken aback.

The two had hardly interacted before, and Ludwig was always straightforward, unlike Cliffman. However, they shared a common enmity towards the Demon King.

“Uh... Yeah. Sure,” Cliffman replied with a nod.

The Demon King united humanity.

A common enemy was an important mechanism for fostering unity. I had used it, and Vertus had used it too.

Seeing the effects of it manifest even in these small relationships filled me with a mix of complex emotions that were difficult to describe.

I watched the standoff between Ellen and Tana. Blue mana waves enveloped Ellen’s body, and Tana focused her power as well.

Pah!

Clang!

Tana deflected and parried Ellen’s relentless sword strikes.

Ellen’s thrusts were deflected, her slashes were parried, and Tana didn’t even react to her feints. Tana stood her ground, not moving a single step as she absorbed Ellen’s offensive. However, I knew from countless exchanges with Ellen that she didn’t rely solely on her sword.

Ellen always used more than just her sword. Her one-handed sword stance allowed her to manipulate the path of her opponent’s blade, then grab their collar with her free hand or use kicks.

As Tana deflected Ellen’s thrust to the right, Ellen reached out with her left hand to grab Tana’s collar. Her right hand was occupied, and she had waited for the brief moment when Tana couldn’t respond.

However, just as Ellen’s left hand was free, so was Tana’s. As Tana quickly moved to grab Ellen’s left wrist with her own left hand, Ellen seemed to anticipate this and lunged at Tana. It was a feint within a feint within a feint.

Instead of merely lunging, Ellen practically threw herself into Tana’s arms, almost as if she was embracing her.

Bang!

“Ouch!”

All of us watching were in shock as Ellen headbutted Tana right on the forehead.

Thud!

Caught off guard, Sabioleen Tana fell backward, landing on her rear, holding her forehead with a bewildered expression.

A swirl of complex emotions appeared on Tana’s face.

‘What just happened? What hit me? Why would she do that?

‘What is this? What is this girl?’

Ellen had won the round with an unexpected headbutt.

She had indeed caught Tana off guard, and I was left speechless. I hadn’t expected Ellen to pull such a stunt.