Chapter 423: Poison User’s Pursuit Battle (side: Thermal)
“Now then, what to do here? Personally, I prefer not to fight in confined areas like this, but… That’s also the case for you, is it not, Irushia?”
Standing next to me, Rogueheil's solemn wiseman expression crumbles as he laughs. Irushia’s two heads stare at Rogueheil bitterly.
The injured woman – Miria – is being carried on the back of a masked spider monster. Protecting the spider, and emanating a strange atmosphere, is a girl with deep crimson eyes. That masked spider and red-eyed girl are probably both monsters of about C+ rank. They’re Irushia’s subordinates, no doubt.
I was successfully able to join up with Rogueheil, who was stationed by Demon Lord-sama’s side. The bottleneck to the plan was how fast Rogueheil would be able to grasp the situation and move, but he was able to just barely make it in time.
It’s regrettable, but Rogueheil’s abilities are a step above mine and Mephisto’s. I have received Demon Lord-sama’s divine protection, and yet I have still stopped at B+ rank [Poison Ruler]… In the end, I couldn’t break through the A-rank wall. I have a clear memory of Demon Lord-sama once saying that , unless a slime is a truly unique specimen, the evolution limit is reached quickly.
Demon Lord-sama is someone who can swiftly cut off those who become unneeded. As one who has had a lot of contact with humans even among the slime soldiers, I understand that all too well. Though it's not at all as though Demon Lord-sama has nothing that they are attached to. Witnessing their enthusiasm towards God’s Voice, makes that clear. But, on top of that passion being awfully twisted and focused, Demon Lord-sama hasn’t noticed that, from an outside perspective, that obsessiveness is clearly bound for failure. I have been secretly terrified that the day that those who are unlikely to evolve will be abandoned is soon approaching.
The gigant slime and Rogueheil are the only two of Demon Lord-sama’s thousands of slime subordinates that were able to climb to A rank. And that gigiant slime is currently in the possession of Rogueheil.
Should Rogueheil judge that he’s not able to kill Irushia by himself, then there’s no doubt he’ll use the gigant slime. If we bring out that card while the Saint still has yet to appear, it’s a loss for us, but… With how much of an uncertain element Irushia is, capturing him and presenting him to Demon Lord-sama takes precedence. Irushia is a candidate for the Six Great Sages’ divine skills… As long as that can be transferred to Demon Lord-sama, then even if we lose the social position of the princess, it will be worth it.
If so, then my role is to dispose of those left in the castle, including Irushia’s subordinates, and to secure Miria, who is a part of Demon Lord-sama’s obsession. It won’t serve as much more than as harassment for Irushia, so it’s unclear to what extent it’ll please Demon Lord-sama, but I might as well capture her as I deal with Irushia’s subordinates. Also, if I can catch Miria, then even if Rogueheil somehow fails against Irushia, we will still have an insurance against him, and I’ll be able to use her to lure out the rest of his subordinates.