Tensei Shitara Slime Datta Ken (WN) 2018

c78 - Demon Lords

Demon Lord Clayman was in an unprecedented state of panic.
The humans were guided into action as planned.
The result was supposed to be a bloodbath of a battle, filled with suffering and tragedy which his soul would reap and relish.
However, the battle was concluded in an instant and all the souls were absorbed by a third-party.
He couldn't believe it, but the recent report confirmed it.
This was a stage prepared by that honorable individual.
A fight between monsters and humans that would lead Clayman into awakening as a True Demon Lord.
Thus, he hardly cared for his subordinate Myulan, and planned to dispose of her soon after.
But he now lost connection with her. Moreover, her curse had been released and she was now free.
This fact only added to his anxiety.

But only that much was hardly a matter for concern.
Fortunately, he still has the strongest trump card known as Milim.
Thus, he had forced Frey to schedule a Subjugation Council–Walpurgis Banquet.
As it had Milim's, Frey's, and his signature on it, it was quickly approved; there he wishes to call for an extermination of the presumptuous Slime who dared to call itself a demon lord and its city.
Because marching his troops in the direction of human cities is strictly forbidden.
At this Subjugation Council, he will first secure dominion over the other demon lords and then obtain the rights to invade the Monster Country, Tempest.
While trampling every country along the way, of course.
As for the high ranking devils of that country, he'll have Milim crush them.
Were it a few days ago, he could have crushed them all himself, but due to their master's evolution, they all became devils and acquired greater power.
At this point, Clayman lamented the fact that the first plan had failed.
Well, he only had to rule over whoever remained after Milim was done with them.

But...
Suddenly the shut-in demon lord Ramiris, requested that Slime Rimuru would be granted permission to attend.
And strangely, he was given permission really quickly.
Clayman tried to veto the request, of course, but, as if it was the most natural thing in the world, three other demon lords accepted it.
Which caused all of Clayman's plans to fall apart.
The Walpurgis Banquet that he so painstakingly gathered now was home to his enemies.
Nor could he run away from it.
If the slime himself came, even if Clayman called for a subjugation, the battle would occur at the Banquet.
"What to do? What should I do?"
Clayman desperately sought a way out of this predicament.

.

This desperation was observed by Frey who was smirking.
What an unsightly man.
Things were proceeding faster than she expected.
Though she had not predicted this outcome, it was nonetheless to her favor.
She looked at the expressionless Milim standing across from her,
At her cute face–completely void of any emotion,
At her eyes, which suddenly looked elsewhere. At Frey.
Frey nodded.
(Yes, that's right. I understand, Milim)
She responded in her mind, with a profound smile.
And...
(Clayman, you will live not much longer)
Frey was secretly confirming theupcoming plan.

＊　＊　＊

In an unknown land, in the innermost burial chamber,
In front of a coffin wrought of ice which sealed a beautiful naked girl with flowing black hair,
Stood a being, themselves nude, beholding the coffin with a suspicious gaze.
(Ah, how beautiful. Ah...)
Observing and adoring the coffin girl was this being's secret pastime.
A silver haired cute girl.
Her heterochromatic eyes glistened with a bizarre red and blue light.
This, among her many strikingly beautiful features, was the most prominent one.
But perhaps what garnered the most attention...
Were two pure teeth that peaked from within her small lips.
When her small lips parted, they revealed a set of pure white fangs.
She was the ruler of the night, Queen of Nightmares.
Demon Lord Ruminas Valentine.

Even she, a vampire possessing the immense power of a demon lord, could not break the ice coffin.
As it was not actually made of ice but was a pure lump of holy spirit energy.
So even touching the coffin would leave burn like marks on her body.
However...
Without any regard to this, she clung to the ice coffin.