7th Demon Prince Jilbagias’ Chronicle of Demon Kingdom Toppling

６２． Virtue And Shiny Scale

「Is that really enough?」

Asked Sofia, a while after we left the dwarven workshop.

「Which one are you referring to?」

「Both. The sword and armor.」

Sofia’s line of sight was―― Looking at the holy sword Adamas strapped on my belt.

It was sheathed inside a brand-new sheath. It was made for me after I healed another dwarf’s wound. As expected of a dwarf, the sheath was done while they were taking measurements for my armor.

Moreover, it was enchanted with magic that kept the condition of the sword inside the sheath in good condition. It was truly incomparable with the one made by craftsmen of other races…

By the way, Ficelle seems to be able to finish the scalemail before the end of the day.

『I swear by my arm and beard that I’ll make an armor comparable with the original glow of that sword.』

According to Ficelle, as long as I protected my vow, the armor would keep its original defensive power and magic resistance. The air around him became serious when he said those words to me.

It was the same air that I felt from the blacksmith who forged Adamas.

「――Alas, I can’t choose my opponent in the battlefield.」

Sofia asked what I’m going to do if I happen to meet a dwarven warrior during battle.

「Yeah, I can’t choose my opponent on the battlefield. But I can choose my battlefield. The dwarven warrior are really conspicuous on the battlefield from afar, thus I can choose a place where I will never clash with them.」

I replied to Sofia while shrugging my shoulders.

I wouldn’t be able to do something like that if I was a mere soldier but, I was a prince. Though I was a mere lesser knight, I had the authority to intervene with the place where I would be deployed.

「And the dwarves are never going to the front as vanguard right?」

「That’s right but… As long as it’s not a siege battle, as you remember the content of various war reports.」

「Well right.」

In fact, the dwarves weren’t supposed to come out on the battlefield.

The dwarven warriors who armed themselves to a tee with the armament made with 『True Strike』 inherited from previous generations had extremely powerful breakthroughs that far surpassed all other races but, due to the weight of their armament, they were really slow.

Especially on the open field, they would be left behind by light infantry who rushed at the main body of the demon king’s army. But, they were too overpowered when it came to urban battles or castle battles.

Moreover, even if they were not a war potential, it didn’t change the fact that the dwarves were valuable craftsmen. Even in the alliance, the dwarves were either used as blacksmiths or deployed as forces for urban battles or for fort battles. In short, they were either active as blacksmiths or warriors in the city and castle.

""

「Well, if I happen to clash with them in the fort… Let’s leave that matter for that time.」

I could take off my armor, or leave the matter to my subordinate.

… With this, I had no choice but to laugh since Ficelle could make an armor that would take a lot of time to be taken off to prevent me from using the loophole of my vow.

「Moreover――」

I snapped my fingers, creating a soundproof barrier.

It was truly convenient when I could form this kind of barrier by myself.

「For me, this equipment is mainly for a fight against my sibling.」

「… I see.」

Sofia nodded in agreement.

I need powerful armor as a countermeasure against Rubyfia’s and Aiogias’ magic. Naturally, I wouldn’t tell anyone that I prepared the armor for the crown contest.

That’s why its’ demerit of being unable to show its’ true strength wasn’t a big deal. Rather, I could avoid the fight against the dwarves by using the armor limitation as an excuse.

『Well, it doesn’t change the fact that you still have to kill a human.』

Ante mercilessly pointed out that fact.

Well… Most participants in the war were human after all…

The chance of encounter in the battle by order from highest to lowest was, Human＞ Beastfolk＞＞ Elves＞＞＞ Dwarves.

That can’t be helped…

「Though I can understand the reason you need the armor, is that sword really necessary?」

Asked Sofia again while glaring at the holy sword as if it was a lump of filth. It seems she couldn’t bring herself to like the faint holy attribute wafting in the air.

「This is just what I need. It can also increase my power due to the effect of the contract with my devil.」

In fact, I’m contracted with a Demon God of Taboo. And Sofia herself knew about that…

「…」

Sofia puckered her lips meekly. The air between us suddenly turned awkward.

「Woof! Woof!」

「Ah, Liliana, you can’t go there!」

When Liliana was running around excitedly in the huge corridor, Garounya was the only one who could move normally and catch her.

「Slaughtering the human with the holy sword of the hero… Is there any more wicked blasphemy than this?」

「… None I guess.」

「That’s how you will match the explanation with me to my mother.」

That’s why you don’t have to say anything, I’ll prepare a way out for you.

Sofia had also noticed that, nodded slightly―― Pretending that she had no idea about this matter.

†††

The next day, just as promised, the white dragon’s scale mail arrived.

It was an extravagant item with extremely powerful magic resistance to the point of overwhelming, it was also made with ease of movement in mind and extensive protection which covered from my body all the way down to the length of my leg.

It might even be capable of repelling my own taboo magic. Ficelle truly shows his class as a craftsman. Not to mention that he enchanted the armor with magic that allowed it to adjust the size with my body, meaning that I could still use it even after I grow up later.

In addition, I could put it on from my head, and fastened it with the belt on my waist, an extremely simple procedure. Included in the letter that came with the armor he wrote 「I inscribed it with 【Sindikaios】. The power of magic will protect Your Highness as long as you keep your promise」 in demon race letters with unmatched dexterity of dwarves.

Sindikaios―― In the ancient language, it means trust, or maybe mutual trust.

I felt invisible pressure from that name, it was as if he told me that he wouldn’t let me break my promise.

Don’t worry, I’ll keep my promise, Ficelle. This armor would be a great help in the battle against my siblings and the Demon King. I wouldn’t use it to hurt your dwarven comrade. Instead, it would become the symbol of terror for the elven race and the human race…

I stood up, putting on the scale mail 【Sindikaios】 as I repeated my vow.

『You’ll commit a huge taboo if you kill the dwarves while wearing this.』

　STOP IT!!

　DON’T SPOIL THIS SACRED MOMENT PLEASE!!!

「… Come to think of it, Jilbagias-sama. The representatives of the Dragon race is asking for permission to meet with you.」

After I had my wake up meal while looking at my scalemail, Sofia came in and gave me such a report.

「Meeting?」

From the dragon race?

「Who’s that so called representative?」

「Patriach of the Dark Dragon, Orphen. Literally, he’s the king of the dragon race. The reason for his visit today is to confirm the authenticity of the corpse, and to offer his apology for failing to kill the white dragon that injured you.」

""

「Hoo…」

The leader of the dark dragon who drove out Faravugi had come himself huh.

「Do you think he has another motive?」

「I think it’s exactly as he says. Since the matter of dragon race injuring a Demon Prince is the truth, he come forward to offer apology.」

Well, I did feel the same way.

For me who wanted the relationship between the demon race and dragon race to deteriorate―― Rejecting their request, or behaving like a super a*sshole might buy their antipathy.

『The second one might have better effect.』

Of course, nothing can beat my shitty prince act. I looked at the scalemail made with Faravugi’s scale, his memento.

「Let’s accept their request. And display both Faravugi’s head and the scalemail for them to identify.」

It would add bargaining value to me.

「Good enough I guess, it will also act as a reminder for them that we’re the victim side.」

Sofia was literally burnt black till she almost became charcoal. The other attendants(Mainly who became the victim of Faravugi’s breath attack) nodded in agreement.

Though no one died in that incident, it seems they were so pissed off by the fact that they got burnt black without being able to fight back at all. Properly speaking, the fault laid at the dragon who failed to kill the white dragon that participated in the assault tactic.

Kukuku… Now it’s the time to make that haughty dragon suffer a little bit!