Because There Were 100 Goddesses in Charge of Reincarnation, I Received 100 Cheat Skills - Chapter 105

 Chapter 105 - Territorial Dispute
 
 “Heeh. So, this is your castle? Isn’t it rather imposing?”

“Naturally. It’s because I’m a Demon Duke”

　Belfeene pushed out her chest as she was showing me, who came to her castle in the Demon Realm, around.

　Indeed, there were demonic decorations spread out at every turn and the atmosphere was rather ominous.

　It sure was a large and imposing castle, but I wouldn’t really want to live in it.

　Well, it might be a comfortable place to live for demons.

　Of course, it wasn’t only that, there were atrocious traps and monster guards stationed, it made it seem like the last dungeon of a game.

“Gyau!?”

“Eh, why did you trigger a trap?”

“Shu, shut up! The position of the traps changes regularly so I haven’t memorized them!”

　Belfeene cried as such while she pulled out a poisoned arrow that got stuck in her butt.

　Though she became teary-eyed, it didn’t seem like she took any noteworthy damage.

　By the way, I have currently changed my appearance to that of a demon using the 〈Transformation・Extreme〉 skill as usual.

　With this, I won’t be revealed to be a human……Is what I want to say, but I haven’t seen a single demon inside the castle.

　While I was thinking that I advanced further into the castle and then, I encountered the first demon.

“Welcome back, Belfeene-sama”

　While saying this, the beautiful blue-haired female demon respectfully bowed.

　She wore men’s clothes, which suited her tall figure and sharp features well.

　A beauty wearing men’s clothes has appeareーーーーーd!!!

“Thank you for watching the castle, Mirange”

　Belfeene directed some words of appreciation towards her.

　After the beautiful demon called Mirange bowed she turned her blue eyes in my direction.

“Who might this be?”

“Th, that guy’s, erm……M, my new underling, Karuna!”

　No, why did I turn into your underling?

　It’s the other way around, the other way around.

　Belfeene hurriedly whispered into my ear.

“Mirange is a butler that served our family since my grandfather’s era……I, I can’t tell her something like I was made to be your subordinate”

“Hohooh, in other words, I’m indirectly her master. I’ll have to make her heart and body understand properly……Gufufufu”

“As I thought, I shouldn’t have brought this guy……”

“What did you say? Didn’t you say that you wanted territory?”

“I did say that! Y, you’ll really regain it for me, right?”

　While we were quietly talking with each other, Mirange interrupted us with an “Ehem”.

“Belfeene-sama, there’s a report”

“A, a report?”I

“Count Malkoki who was affiliated with us separated from us the other day”

“Eh, even Malkoki?”

　Belfeene raised her voice as if to scream.

“It seems like he is now affiliated with Duke Levia. With this, it’s the fifth titleholder who has separated from us. Compared to the previous generation’s era, our duke’s sphere of influence has now fallen to less than two-thirds. If left as is, there might be the possibility of a demotion to marquis rather soon”

“Ugu…….”

　In the Demon Realm, demons who own their own territory are given a peerage.

　And its rank is mainly decided according to the size of their territory.

　From the bottom, it’s baron, earl, marquis and duke.

　And, although it’s not a title, above duke there’s the Demon King, who stands on top of the Demon Realm.

　It seems like most of the western parts of the Demon Realm was occupied by the Demon King and a great number of titleholders followed him.

　Next, there seem to be a total of six Dukes including Belfeene.

　Not only do they rule over large territories, but they also seem to have many lower-ranking demons under their control.

　Belfeene’s territory is the eastern parts of the Demon Realm near the centre.

　Although it has the disadvantage that it’s surrounded on three sides by other Dukes, it still continues to boast the largest surface area in the east.

　Many famous demons holding titles were affiliated to them as well.

However, recently, it seems that defectors appeared one after the other, decreasing their sphere of influence rapidly.

“I mean, this is all your fault!…… Because you call me whenever you want……using that weak spot…….”

“No, that doesn’t really have anything to do with me though? The territory has continued to decrease in the 100 years you were a feudal lord, so no matter how one thinks about it there’s a problem with your own ability, right?”

“Shu, shut up!? Don’t just nonchalantly poke at things without considering the other person!?”

“……I’m properly reflecting on that”

　It is said that the intense territorial disputes continued in the Demon Realm for thousands of years.

　However, fighting is a heavy burden, not only on the loser but also on the winner.

　If the territory’s inhabitants become impoverished because of a prolonged battle, there are few things they’d get out of it even after they conquered it with much effort.

　Because of that, the territorial disputes of the Demon Realm gradually evolved in intuitive ways.

　Every demon who holds a title has a “Base”.

　If one were to invade, one should only attack that place, no matter what.

　And even if one only conquered the base one would get the whole territory.

　If one were to violate the rule and attack other places other than the base, it seems that one would make the whole Demon Realm one’s enemy.

　Thus, battles only broke out in fairly limited places, namely the bases of both sides.

　Thanks to that, they succeeded in minimizing the damages.

“Rather, the demons are more advanced than humans, huh?”

『Only after a history of thousands of years of fighting, were they finally able to settle it like this though』

　Anyway, that means to expand one’s own territory, one just has to conquer the bases of other titleholders.

“Duke Levia, was it? Then let’s smash that guy’s base first, shall we?”

“Wai, Isn’t that impossible!? It’s suicidal to just charge into a Duke’s base!”

　If one were to ask, the bases of title holding demons were almost always dungeons of super difficulty.

　Of course, Belfeene’s castle was like that as well.

　In other words, it’s a home base that’s absolutely profitable for the other party.

　To invade a base and win.

　Either one is two ranks higher or cooperates with three demons of the same rank.

　Apparently, at least that much fighting strength is necessary.

　In other words, even if one were to attack a base of a demon holding the same rank, there’s no chance of winning.

　Besides, the biggest fighting force is the title holding demons themselves.

　If one were to invade the opponent oneself, then one’s own side would be shorthanded, so one’s base might get attacked in the meantime by other demons.

“I see”

“Did you get it? It’s not as easy as you think to take some territory. We should start from the lowest rank up…….”

“Got it, got it. Alright, tell me where Duke Levia’s base is at”

“You didn’t get it at all!?”

“It’s fine, it’s fine”

“What’s fine?!”

“I’ll be fine if I just quickly go there, quickly smash it and quickly come back”

“……That guy’s no good…….I’m an idiot for expecting something from him……”

　Belfeene crouched down, holding her head.

“Don’t worry. You said he’s a duke or whatever, so shouldn’t he be equal to you? Then it’s an easy victory, an easy victory”

“The way you said that is really irritating!?”