kscans

Chapter 161 - Interlude: The Seven Demon Lords, Part Four

A space unfolded, bathed in blue flames.

At its center was a round table, around which sat seven monsters: the Seven Demon Lords.

For the past year, these beings had not caused any major incidents. All they had done was secretly indulge in their own hobbies and work, careful not to be discovered.

"Let the meeting begin," announced Bamhal the Dragon King. "First, Sage. Report on your activities."

"About six months ago, I was conducting performance tests on my Night Zombies," said Redorza the Sage. "During the incident at the Church, I discovered they still had some bugs. It took until six months ago to perform maintenance and get them moving properly. I had them attack only monster nests to avoid human detection, but I never expected them to make a move. Still, I was able to gather some excellent combat data against soldiers." He smiled faintly.

Hearing this, Lates the Thousand Poisons sighed. "I’m quite envious. I’ve managed to create several new drugs in my mansion, but I’m having trouble finding good test subjects. All I can get are the nearby bandit gangs and wanted thugs. They have no outstanding talents or skills, let alone magic. Most of them just go mad and die when I experiment on them. My research is at a standstill."

"Scientists have it so tough," Harynair the Corruptor purred. "You should be more like me, doing things on a whim, in the moment. Like with that princess." She flashed a seductive smile.

Princess Grine. She had been used by Harynair for the sole purpose of inflicting a taste of the pain and hardship she herself had endured.

"Seriously," chimed in Rumby the Fateweaver. "Doing this and that and having it all end in failure… isn’t that just boring? Or more like, irritating? I don’t know how you can do it without getting sick of it." She let out a bored yawn.

"You say ‘in the moment,’" Lates retorted, "but if you don’t have enough hands or the right tools when you decide to act, you won’t succeed. In fact, didn’t you yourself admit that your success rate would have been much lower if we hadn’t lent a hand back then?"

Harynair was at a loss for words, a bitter look on her face.

Seeing this, Lates continued, "Speaking of which, when you turned that princess into a Behemoth, you said you had revived it. Is it still around?"

"Ah, I did revive it," Redorza replied to Lates’s curious question. "But it was extremely weak. It barely ate, and I think the environment was poor, because it died of emaciation. I managed to collect its blood while it was still alive, but it seems its tough body can only be developed by raising it in a suitable location. There were too few texts, and I lacked information." He looked disappointed.

"So even legendary monsters die," said Daios the Sea General. "Speaking of which, I hear the succession of thrones has been completed in all the human nations. The new rulers are said to be quite sharp. We may need to reconsider our future activities."

"I agree," Bamhal said. "With the change in leadership, they will surely have been informed about us. There are no more easily manipulated figures like before. Let’s just wait and see for now, limiting ourselves to observing with the scouts and monsters we send out."

"If we’re sending them out, I don’t mind sending some of mine," Sidoor the Sword Demon offered.

All eyes turned to him at his words.

"That’s unusual for you," Redorza remarked. "Did something happen in your village?"

"It’s not that," Sidoor replied. "He has acquired all that power, but he still has no intention of a rematch. I saw him from a distance, and he looked troubled. That’s all."

It was an unexpected display of kindness.

"I appreciate the sentiment," Bamhal said, "but considering the Minotaur race, it’s not a good idea. Do you have any other monsters?"

Sidoor thought for a moment. "Then perhaps I’ll send a Salamander I’m raising for food. Even that is a threat to humans." He offered it as a compromise.

That monster. It was certainly strong, but it lacked intelligence. It was perfect.

"That will do," Bamhal said. "On another matter, have any of you been to Mestie’s Temple?"

All of them shook their heads.

"Mestie… I heard she was my predecessor," Daios said. "Is there something at that temple?"

"Lately, I’ve been sensing a strange power moving there," Bamhal explained. "Only those with great power, like us, or those with a strong aura of death can enter. But in the latter case, they’re practically dead already and can’t do anything. Which means…"

His words sank in, and they all understood.

When one spoke of the dead, one thought of the Undead, but they had no will of their own.

In the silence, Redorza spoke up. "Indeed. If anyone were to do something in a place like that, it would only be us. It’s natural to ask. However, the only ones who would have business at that temple would be myself or Lord Thousand Poisons. Naturally, I have not been there. I have knowledge, but it is all self-taught. Lord Thousand Poisons?" He passed the question on.

"The same," Lates replied. "That place is alluring, but it also has its dangers."

"Which means," Bamhal concluded, "that something has happened without our knowledge. Everyone, be on high alert."

At his words, they all nodded, and the meeting came to a close.