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Welcome to the Impregnable Demon King Castle – Chapter 239

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Translator: Kobracon

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239 – Vampires Hate Water?

「Lady Carmilla, please, stand behind us. Please make use of us as your shields.」

Said one of the Vampires.

I let them do as they please.

After affirming that I did not give a reply, my subordinate Vampire’s body shivered with pleasure.

They are happy regardless of whether I reply or ignore them, so in a way, this makes them easy to deal with.

Now then.

There is something commonly known as a Second Job.

A Job is identified by God based on their Aptitudes, so God doesn’t identify a second one.

However, this doesn’t mean that everyone only has one talent.

There are people who are good at both cooking and physical training.

A Job is the most suitable occupation for oneself.

Using the previous example, there can be a person who awakened to be a Chef but also specializes in physical training.

At such a time, “I’m a Chef, but my Second Job is as a Martial Artist.” can be said.

It is often said that because it doesn’t have assurance from God, that person can claim whatever Second Job they feel like. Of course, this can’t be used for Adventurer registrations, etc.

But it still has its uses.

Even I, as my Job is Blood Manipulator, also have Aptitudes for a Beast Master which allows me to employ Vampire Bats to my needs.

Since there is no divine revelation, we have to look for it in our own lives, but there are those who do find it and make use of it.

It is also extremely unfortunate that there exists people such as Lem who tried all sorts of things but found no such luck with a Second Job.

On the other hand, he is what he is now as a result of continuous efforts after realizing that he wasn’t blessed with any other talents outside of Black Magic.

That’s as far as I thought before I felt a presence.

With a sound like the sky being ripped asunder, Haagenti stuck a hand out and in it…she caught an arrow.

Applying just a little of her strength, she breaks the arrow.

「Firing an arrow at our queen from the shadows… It’s almost funny how these Humans fancy themselves as Hunters.」

She stopped the arrow aimed at me by simply watching it travel.

This may seem like a god-like technique to Normals, but to us Vampires, it really isn’t that hard to do.

「Let us show them just who is the hunter and who is the hunted.」

After saying that, Haagenti cast a quick glance my way.

「Indeed. However, trample them in one-on-one fights.」

Aside from Botis whose figure already disappeared at the start, the three Vampires vanished.

This is how the party of five Black Sorcerers got through the preliminaries.

They simply intervened in other parties’ battles and accumulated support points.

If they stood out too much, they would have been confronted head-on and crushed.

Therefore, when they quietly and discreetly spot someone who is about to be defeated, they take the opportunity to cast Black Magic on them.

That way, each person would get five points without directly defeating the enemy.  

This doesn’t go against the rules whatsoever, and if they truly wished to win, this is a legitimate tactic.

However, the preliminary isn’t so easy that they can win by simply doing this.

The reason they raked in support points and gained enough points in general to pass the preliminaries is…

「Guh, aarrgh…!」

A wall of a building breaks as a sole Black Sorcerer is blown through it.

That man held a large shield and a sword at his waist.

While no match for a Heavy Warrior or a Paladin, he probably has the Aptitude to use a shield like that.

However, the shield he wielded was smashed to bits by a Vampire’s fist and his head was chopped off by the flat of the Vampire’s hand before he could pull out his sword.

「M-my arm…!」

The female Black Sorcerer who fired an arrow at me at the start was rolling on the roof screaming as she stares at her arm.

I believe she has an Aptitude for shooting close to a Hunter.

Her aim was true. I’m sure she trained hard.

But it wasn’t enough to kill a Vampire.

「Oh, I’m sorry, did you say something about your arm?」

I can’t see it from here, but I’m certain that Haagenti has a sadistic smile on her face.

「…Impressive Magical Energy.」

I say without turning around to the man behind me.

To the Black Sorcerer who skilfully hid his presence and Magical Energy. He most likely has an Aptitude to be an Assassin.

「Guh…! She Resisted…! But-」

「But? But what? Please tell me more.」

The answer to my question will not come.

For his heart has already been pierced through from behind. By the Lamia whose main Job is Assassin.

「N-no..!」

As if to escape, a young Black Sorcerer wielding a sword in one hand runs out of a building.

I guess he has an Aptitude for being a Warrior.

But a single swing of a sword will not suffice.

For his opponent is a Blood Manipulator. One who can freely manipulate their own blood.

Six swords grew out from my subordinate’s back like the legs of a spider.

The young man was sliced to ribbons in a matter of moments.

How did they survive the preliminaries?

In addition to taking support points where they could, they had also learned to fight to some extent on their own.

Their individual talent as a Black Sorcerer is also high, if all five of them cast Black Magic onto a single target, it will most likely affect them, provided the target isn’t above average.

If their opponent is rendered unable to move or have their thoughts completely stopped, they can be easily defeated by a bow or sword wielded by anyone, regardless of their Job.

「I suppose you are the leader. Just a lone, pure Black Sorcerer.」

He most likely has the highest ability as a Black Sorcerer.

It’s not always good to dabble in other things.

Even Lem, back when he was in the Fenix party, has to appear like he’s just standing there, doing nothing, in exchange for allowing his allies to win with ease.

In order for him to continue using advanced Black Magic, he couldn’t make any grand movements.

Even if he were to find a Second Job he had an Aptitude for, polished his skills, and learned techniques to be able to endure a real battle…

Dividing his attention like that would naturally result in a portion of his Black Magic being neglected.

This leader is most likely here to offset the neglected Black Magic in his party.

A man in his late twenties.

「Come.」

「…」

The man stands in front of me, filled with resolve, and flows his Magical Energy into his staff.

And then, he releases Black Magic with all his might.

It eroded my Resist a fair amount, but not enough to go through.

With a sword made of my own blood, I cut him down.

Magical Energy spews forth from his chest as he falls to his knees.

The man looks up at me, our eyes meet and he simply asks…

『Why?』

Why the one-on-one fights? That’s what he was asking.

Without answering that, I say this instead…

「How, pray tell, did you intend on seizing the seat of the strongest?」

I do not disapprove of their methods.

Considering their skills, they must have been training by casting Black Magic on each other on a regular basis.  

Despite being treated coldly by the Adventurer industry, they didn’t give up, polished their skills, found their Second Jobs, trained, and dreamed of the day they could succeed together as a party.

It’s truly remarkable.

In fact, they were able to pass the preliminaries.

However…

If there is…just one thing that I have a problem with about them…

「The All-Heaven Festival Contest is an event to decide who is the absolute strongest, you know?」

It isn’t good enough to just be strong enough to pass the preliminaries.

At the very end, you must overthrow the strongest Demon King and the former 1st ranked Adventurers.

This party shed blood, sweat, and tears to find the perfect fit, but they weren’t formed with the vision of being the strongest.

The man’s eyes opened wide and then…he was defeated.

Already, my subordinate has returned to my side.

「Lo…the Wraith party seems to be waiting for us. The location is…the square where a fountain is built…」

I suppose she wanted to say Lord Lemegeton.

Haagenti responded to Botis’s words.

「Hmph. Those two little ones and that Black Sorcerer have broken through our third stratum once before. This is an opportunity to restore our honor.」

The All-Heaven Festival Contest is an event to decide who is the absolute strongest.

I ponder over the words I just said.

Of course, I have every intention to win.

That is to say, even if I ran into her Highness, whom I love and respect, my allies, or even Lem, I will win.

「…This is the Black Sorcerer Lem we’re dealing with. He almost certainly has plans upon plans set up in order to sap us of our strength」

There isn’t a soul among us who does not know the power of Lord Lemegeton.

Even Haagenti, who holds a personal grudge against him, knows his power enough to form a Contract with him.

It probably isn’t right to respond to him with a mind-wracking scheme of our own.

To him, the easiest of opponents are those that underestimate him.

But the next time around, there will be someone who will be wary of him and come up with a plan.

This can be seen in the Tag Tournament as well as normal Defenses.

What poses a threat to him is…absolute power that bulldozes through cheap tricks.

Like that of the Flame Hero Fenix or the Storm Hero Aerial.

No matter how much I strive for the seat of the strong, I do not think myself to be on equal footing as a single Four Great Spirits contractor.

However, it isn’t as if I am out of options.

He will fight with all seriousness.

So, we shall respond in kind.

「Be that as it may, we are the ones who shall win.」

◇

There they are.

Four Vampires, excluding Botis.

At the front is the Vampire Queen Carmilla.

My benefactor, my friend, my ally… my sleep buddy.

I suppose for today, the most appropriate moniker for her is…rival.

「A very good day to you all, oh members of the Wraith party.」

Carmilla greets us elegantly.

「Did you catch the weather forecast this morning?」

Our leader moves to the beat of his own drum and no one can throw him off.

「…I did not. Did you?」

「Not really. But you better watch out, ’cause I think we’re expecting heavy rainfall.」

「…」

In an instant, rain poured down relentlessly in the surrounding area.

Wraith recreated rain using his Spirit Magic.

「I see, is this the Black Sorcerer Lem’s idea?」

「And what if it is?」

Her eyes were covered in a black veil, but I could clearly see her smile warp.

「Indeed. Well then, let us do battle in the pouring rain.」

For the time being, we were able to use the place we had chosen as our battlefield.

It should be effective.

That’s because…

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