Chapter 17

Three days had passed since I announced myself as the lord in front of the people. The dungeon and the town were progressing smoothly. Not only the people but also my hunger had been satisfied.

Thanks to the sufficient emotions, I could now fully exert my power as the Demon King.

The people here were emitting higher quality emotions than I had expected. Given the circumstances, they must have felt a strong sense of gratitude towards me.

...However, that presented its own problem. I was only able to satisfy my hunger and function fully because of this gratitude.

That wouldn't do. After all, humans tend to forget their gratitude quickly. No matter how much kindness or favor they receive, it eventually becomes the norm, and the feeling of gratitude fades away.

"Gratitude won't last long, but there are other things to look forward to. The best solution would be to increase the population."

From the start, the basic strategy for turning the dungeon into a town was to compensate for the lack of special or strong emotions by increasing the number of people. By increasing the population, I could manage even without the gratitude.

"There are ways to do this."

In this country, slaves are bought and sold, so I could buy slaves with ample funds. Another option would be to recruit neighboring farmers. The target would be tenant farmers without land. By offering them their own land, a minimum of one meal a day, and low taxes, I could easily attract them.

However, doing so would likely earn me the enmity of neighboring nobles.

"Too much trouble. I'll go with the former. I'll buy slaves."

According to Ciel, this country won a major war about two months ago. As a result, they acquired many slaves as war spoils, and the supply is currently high.

I don't particularly like buying slaves, but the slave traders will get money, the slaves will have a better life, and the town will thrive. The only issue is that the security might deteriorate, but I can have the golems patrol the town 24/7. I'll take action immediately.

"I need to nurture and protect this town for at least twenty days. That's a long time."

The Demon King can produce one medal per month. I originally had a few medals from other Demon Kings and one Creation medal.

I always keep one Creation medal. In a tight spot, I can use its versatility to create a monster suited to the situation and turn the tide.

However, to obtain a dungeon in this world, I had to hand over the Creation medal to the Desire Demon King, Elygor. Therefore, I could only use this month's medal to replenish the Creation medal.

I can't create a monster with just Creation. I need two more medals, one of which must be specialized in Transfer. Without a Transfer-specialized monster, I can't cross the barrier between worlds.

Therefore, if I can produce a medal in twenty days, I'll create the Migration medal—the medal of the Demon King who sent me to this world—and use it to create a Transfer-specialized monster.

Because Quina and the others shattered the crystal of the Migration Demon King on the other side, I can now produce his medal. With a full stomach and a Transfer-specialized monster as backup, I should be able to return. Until then, I need to protect this base and ensure I have a full stomach.

"Master, the preparations for the ritual are complete."

"Thank you, Ciel."

"If I could fully mimic, I could create something more precise, but the current Ciel is incomplete."

I tried to contact Avalon using the link between crystals but failed. It felt like something thick was blocking the connection.

Therefore, I decided to break through with sheer force once I had a full stomach. However, that might not be enough, so I asked Ciel to create a ritual device to amplify thought transmission.

"Let's go. I feel the most power now."

"Yes, I'll bring the High Elves. The magic of the High Elves is compatible with the Demon King's magic."

"I'll leave it to you."

...Well, let's see how it goes. I hope the connection is successful.

◇

In the deepest part of the dungeon, geometric patterns were carved around the core crystal. This was the magic circle Ciel prepared.

Four High Elves stood outside the magic circle, praying and increasing their magic power. Using someone else's magic power is difficult.

However, Ciel's technique neutralizes the magic and tunes it to my needs, making it usable for me.

"Everyone, I'm counting on you."

This was the signal to start. Magic power flowed from the High Elves into me. I mixed the Demon King's power with the magic and struck the crystal with it.

I initiated the link between the crystal in Avalon and the one in front of me, trying to connect the dungeons through the barrier between worlds. However...

"Damn, the barrier is still thick."

The image of my thoughts flying out formed in my mind, but I couldn't progress further.

Not only that, I couldn't even tell where I was heading. I gave up here last time. However, my condition is perfect now. I need to push forward forcefully.

The High Elves, who were pouring magic power into me, started to show signs of distress. I was putting a significant strain on them.

My thoughts crossed the invisible barrier. At that moment, I realized a misunderstanding. It wasn't a barrier; it was a constant, intense pressure from that point onward.

"Not yet, I can't give up."

I held back the urge to give up and exerted more force. I couldn't tell if I was heading in the right direction. The link between the crystals was too unreliable, and I couldn't see anything.

At that moment, I felt something familiar.

Something that had always been close to me. The warmth that had always connected us. My heart raced. Ah, yes.

I couldn't forget. This was a bond. Our bond.

Yes, the warmth of the creatures I trusted the most, the creatures I loved the most, the Pact Monsters. I no longer hesitated. I crossed the barrier between worlds and finally connected. I shouted with all my might, not letting the barrier crush me.

"I'm here!"

I shouted not just with my thoughts but with my voice. To the end of this thin thread. Reach me, please reach me.

One of the High Elves behind me collapsed, unconscious from magic exhaustion. The support was cut off, and my thoughts were suddenly pulled back.

With one High Elf down, the burden increased, and the others started to collapse as well. I couldn't maintain it alone. I thought I had reached my limit when I heard a small, very small voice.

"Master, at the same time tomorrow, we'll also create a path from this side."

The connection was cut off. Everything was crushed by the barrier, and my thoughts were severed. I used all my strength and sat down on the spot.

"Are you alright, Demon King?"

Ciel rushed over and wiped the sweat from my forehead.

"I'm fine. ...We connected. Aura noticed me."

Aura, the Pact Monster and Ancient Elf. We connected for just a few seconds, just one word.

"Ugh, but one word isn't much use."

"No, that's Aura for you. In that instant, she almost understood the situation. She said, 'At the same time tomorrow, we'll also create a path from this side.'"

Instead of words of joy at our reunion, concern for me, or updates from Avalon, she chose these words and transmitted them before the connection was severed. She deserves praise.

She must have realized that the path was barely connected and could break at any moment, so she only said what was necessary. She also deduced that the function of the crystal link was to connect the paths.

Therefore, she specified "tomorrow, 24 hours later, we'll also create a path from this side." She deduced that we were exhausted and needed time to recover our magic power, and that we could only maintain a thin path for a moment. By creating a path from their side, they could form a stronger connection.

Aura thought all of this in that instant and spoke those words.

"Aura is amazing. She's the second smartest monster in Avalon."

"Who's the first?"

You can't be serious, you're not saying it's you, are you?

"It's obvious. Duke. By the way, Ciel is fifth. Ciel is smart, but I can't match Duke and Aura."

Those two are in a league of their own. With Aura and Duke, I can leave Avalon without worry. I can guess who the third and fourth are. Ciel is confident but not arrogant.

By now, Aura must have told Duke the details and gathered the power of Avalon's monsters to prepare for the connection by the agreed time. The next communication will definitely succeed.

"I'm looking forward to talking to everyone."

"Exactly! We can discuss the way to return. If the path is connected, we can find a way to transfer back."

I gained more than I expected. My return to Avalon is not far off.