Dungeon Battle Royale ~ Since I became a Demon King, I will aim for World Domination

Chapter 318: Offer (Poison)

If you combine the Ishikawa and Toyama prefectures before the Cataclysm, their population amounted to around 2 million people. The south of the Ishikawa prefecture has been ruled by Kaoru, but I can rightfully brag about sheltering a significant number of humans.

“…400,000 people.”

“So many…?”

“Peaceful days, he says…”

“Don’t get misled by him! Genesis is a Demon King excelling at trickery and evil schemes!”

“You say it’s as we know, but…is that common knowledge or something?”

“You idiot! All he said is part of his little strategy!”

Agitation is flickering amidst the invaders.

“No, no, that’s no lie, you know?”

I’ve been getting regular reports from Mrs. Tamura about the developments among the humans of Aster.

“Shut up! If what you say is true, why can’t we see any humans fighting on your side…despite finding yourself in a perilous situation?”

“Perilous situation? Who? Are you talking about the Aster Empire?”

“Obviously!”

A perilous situation, huh…? He’s right about this being the biggest defense effort since the establishment of the Aster Empire. The enemy numbers are big and if we make wrong choices, it’s also possible for us to lose domains. That’s why I, the Demon King, am personally taking part in the defensive battles.

Having said that, we still have a lot of resources to spare. We aren’t cornered to such an extent that I’d describe the current situation as critical or perilous.

“Hmm, let me point out two mistakes you people have made. First, the Aster Empire is in no perilous situation whatsoever.”

“Don’t bluff!”

“You think my words are a bluff…? Well, you will probably understand what I mean in a few days.”

Once Rina and the rest of our invasion forces take the domains in Niigata, they will come back to defend. And as soon as this happens, the battle situation will change in no time.

“…”

Seeing me declare this full of confidence, the invaders fell silent.

“The second mistake you’ve made is about you not seeing any of Aster’s humans on the front line. This is part of my――Aster’s policy.”

“…Your policy?”

“We have given the humans of Aster a choice at the beginning. They can either fight or not. The humans, who chose to not fight, have been entrusted with assisting us through various means such as producing things inside my Domain. As for those who chose to fight, we usually try our best to not pit them against their own kind――aka other humans.”

There’s an exception to this, but I have no need to mention this here.

“You’re lying! Aren’t demon kings treating humans as battle slaves…meat shields!?”

“What demon kings are you talking about…? Humans have never been treated like this in our country.”

The humans still tend to lump all demon kings together. It’s an extremely rude way of assessing things.

“I…I…with these very hands…”

“A-S I S-A-I-D: what demon king are you talking about? Humans have good and bad apples among them, right? Demon Kings are different too. …Geez, do you even not understand something so basic?”

Has the knowledge of humans degraded so much?

“Calm down… I understand your feelings, but the guy in front of us…isn’t the demon king of Numazu.”

“But…!”

This crybaby invader seems to hold a strong resentment towards demon kings.

“Anyway, is it fine for me to continue with my offer? By the way, when it comes to our residents, all of them, without a single exception, have been given their own home. Of course we don’t need anyone who doesn’t work, so we have everyone pick a job, but…we have all sorts of different work places to offer, you see? Heroes of the Central Area! You may use your skills to work at combat-related occupations, or you may completely change your vocation, and opt to work on a farm…we also have schools, but…you over there, aren’t you still at an age where you’d usually go to school? You won’t experience any shortage of food and illnesses as well as injuries will be healed for free. How about it? Won’t you become subjects of the Aster Empire?”

I quickly rattled down the good parts our nation has to offer.

“Don’t fuck around with us!”

“Ah, you must be surprised having something like this offered to you all of a sudden, right? As such, I’ll grant you some time to think it over. Or to be precise, not time, but a place. I will wait for you on the 20th floor. You can give me your answer there.”

“Stop screwing around! We will kill you right now and here!”

Oohh…quite the hotblooded fellow. The crybaby from before drew his sword while yelling.

“I’m not screwing around, but…let’s see. Does anyone wish to answer my offer right away?”

I looked around the invaders, but not one of them nodded.

“I think it’s a very attractive offer, but…oh well. If you wish to duke it out, I guess I’ll increase the difficulty of the defense measures a bit beyond this place. …I mean, it seems like we’re in a dangerous situation or some such.”

“D-D-Don’t mess around! Everything will be over if we kill you here right now!”

Should I rename Crybaby-kun to Don’t-mess-around-kun….?

“It’d be fine for me to take you on here, but I have my dignity as Demon King. If you want to meet me…come all the way to the 20th floor. Well then, dear heroes of the Central Area, please excuse us. My offer stands for a limited time. Please consider it thoroughly during your journey――《Transfer B》!”

After having finished injecting my poison, I transferred to the 14th floor.