Dungeon Defense-Chapter 439: DAISY (3)

Daisy raised the greatsword even higher.

From her smooth lips erupted a roar that seemed to shake the entire square.

“You did not break Laura de Farnese. That is your delusion. The person responsible for her downfall is none other than I, Daisy von Custos. Therefore, you have neither the right nor the privilege to bear responsibility for it!”

Her voice, sharp as ice, lashed out like a whip.

“The notion that you drove Paimon to her death is yet another absurd delusion. The true culprit is me. Your agony, your sorrow, your wounds—everything that belongs to you, without exception, stems from me alone. How unfortunate for you, Father.”

Daisy’s eyes gleamed with exhilaration. The gaze of a victor. More than that—of a conqueror.

“You can no longer take pride in being the one who brought about their downfall for I exist! The illusion that you could shoulder all sin alone has shattered! Earlier, you asked me if I was trying to destroy you?”

Daisy curled her lips into a smirk.

“What a misunderstanding. It’s quite the opposite. I am merely saving you from a petty destruction. Now, Father, you have only two choices left. To borrow a phrase you often use—yes, a binary decision.”

Daisy looked at me, her gaze tilting ever so slightly.

“First option. Accept that ‘I’ do not truly exist in this world. Admit that your villainy is nothing more than a precarious act of acrobatics. Of course, I know this choice is impossible for you……. If it were, you would have fled long ago. So, if the first is absolutely unthinkable, then the second.”

Daisy spoke.

“Acknowledge that I am the culprit behind everything.”“…….”“Paimon, Zepar, Beleth—the ones dear to you were all taken by none other than me. You are nothing more than a pitiable puppet, a mere victim. If you wish to continue this play, then accept that you are nothing but a wretched supporting role.”

And then, of course, Daisy added—

“――Though that, too, is impossible.”

Daisy laughed heartily. Not in the sense that she laughed audibly—no, but her voice rang taut with an undeniable laughter. Every single word she uttered was laughter in itself.

“In the end, you cannot choose anything. Doesn’t this structure of forced choices feel strangely familiar? Yes, it is your favorite paradox. This is how you have always controlled others. And now, it is my turn to claim you.”

As if the chessboard trembled.

Like a mere pawn, once nothing more than a disposable minion, racing to the very end and finally transforming into a queen.

Daisy declared,

“From this moment on, all of your suffering belongs to me. Your nightmares, perhaps even your very breath—they are mine, entirely. Your entire life is in my hands. If you are to become the world’s devil—then I shall be a devil that belongs to you alone.”

A faint breeze swept through the plaza, causing Daisy’s black hair to stir gently.

I was paralyzed by shock, unable to control my expression. I simply trembled in the aftershock caused by Daisy. Silence passed between us like a blade slicing through the air.

Then, I spoke.

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“There is still one last choice left.”

I glared at Daisy, my gaze filled with uncontainable fury.

“I can kill you. If I do that, I can take back responsibility for everything once more.”

Daisy smiled. For some reason, her lips were also trembling. But it wasn’t from rage, like mine. No, hers quivered with an uncontrollable sense of accomplishment, with the intoxication of victory.

“So, in short, from now on, your entire life hinges on whether or not you can kill me.”

“…….”

“I knew you would say that. That is precisely what I desired. At last, I have succeeded in reaching this point. I can now say with certainty—every bit of my disgrace and suffering has existed for this very moment.”

Daisy, bold as ever, closed her eyes. She seemed to let herself fully feel the exhilaration coursing through her body, embracing this moment of triumph.

“Not Paimon. Not Consul Elizabeth. Not Barbatos. Only I—only I have earned the right and the privilege to kill you. What could they possibly destroy of yours? Your life? At most, your mere existence? Ah, that’s not enough. That alone could never truly kill you.”

Daisy opened her eyes.

With that, Daisy erupted into laughter—laughter that I only now realized could take many forms. It wasn’t just loud, unrestrained mirth. It was fragmented, deliberately broken apart, like she was scattering syllables on purpose. “Ah-ha, ha-ha,” she laughed in short, clipped bursts.

“They could never truly kill you, Father! And with this, my vow is complete, perfect, and absolute! Throughout the entire world, throughout all of history, I alone am the only one who can understand you! And because of that, the only one who can annihilate your beliefs, your suffering, your very being—is me and me alone!”

Daisy raised her left hand.

At that moment, an explosion echoed through the plaza.

Screams erupted from the crowd. I struggled to keep my eyes on Daisy, but I glanced sideways at the square, where a thick cloud of dust had risen.

Through the swirling debris, someone was walking toward us.

And when I saw that figure—

—I was utterly horrified.

A boy with golden hair.

The young boy, neatly dressed in a butler’s uniform, was none other than Daisy’s brother—and my slave—Luke.

Luke was holding a massive greatsword that was nearly as tall as he was. Crimson droplets of blood dripped steadily from its blade. He was the one who carried out the attack on the plaza. Does this mean that even Luke had broken free from the slave seal’s restraints……?

“Daisy……!”

“Pardon me.”

With the sharp whistle of a blade slicing through the air, Daisy swung Baal’s greatsword.

In an instant, the arc of the blade traced a massive circle, severing the weapons of the Neutral Faction Demon Lords surrounding her. The aura radiating from the sword carved deep gashes into their chests.

The four Demon Lords clutched their chests, screaming in agony as blood sprayed in every direction.

A single strike.

With just one breath, Daisy incapacitated four of the Neutral Faction Demon Lords. Even if she was wielding Baal’s greatsword, it was still an overwhelming display of martial prowess. And yet, she continued to look at me with a relaxed expression, as if she had swatted away nothing more than a few flies.

“Why the grave expression? Has some great tragedy occurred? Or rather, isn’t this the very sight you’ve dreamed of? Go on, praise me.”

I clenched my teeth.

“This is my command! Take your own life, Daisy!”

“Aha.”

Daisy let out a small laugh.

“My apologies, but I cannot obey that order, Father. I, the lowest of slaves, the daughter of mere slash-and-burn farmers, have prepared everything solely for you. The strongest beings will soon come rushing in—to bring about your downfall.”

Daisy swung her greatsword four times with effortless grace.

At that moment, Barbatos, who had been groaning at Daisy’s feet, let out a horrific scream. The blade had severed her limbs. At the same time, the magical restraints binding her arms and legs were also cut apart.

Why wasn’t my command working? Daisy was still my slave. And yet, not only Daisy, but even Luke was able to defy me—how was this possible?!

Daisy gracefully lifted one side of her skirt and bowed politely.

“You sacrificed everything just to satisfy your petty, selfish delusions. Now, it’s time to pay the price.”

“What are you planning to do……!?”

“Isn’t the anticipation part of the spice that makes your romantic life all the more delightful?”

Daisy smiled.

Then, she violently yanked Barbatos up by the collar. Blood continued to pool beneath her. Having already lost her horns, the wounds she bore were far too severe for her to endure much longer.

“Until the day we meet again, I bid you farewell. I shall leave your side for a time to prepare the grandest stage, Father. Drink in moderation, and perhaps it’s time you quit the drugs. I am not so insignificant that you can face me with a mind dulled by intoxication.”

At that moment, a blade came rushing toward Daisy.

It was perfect timing.

She had been looking at me, speaking so leisurely as if completely off guard. Yet, as if it were the most natural thing in the world, Daisy raised her greatsword and blocked the attack. The one who had launched the strike—was Sitri.

Sitri gritted her teeth and spoke.

“I don’t understand what you’re saying…… but you had a small hand in Big Sis’s death, right?”

“Yes. It wasn’t just a small hand. If I hadn’t been there, Paimon wouldn’t have died like a dog.”

Daisy glanced at Sitri.

“But outsiders should stay out of this. How dare a puppet like you not know your place and meddle?”

With a swift motion, Daisy twisted her greatsword.

Sitri’s sword, which had been wrapped around Daisy’s sword like a snake, shattered into pieces like glass. The tension that had been holding Sitri’s stance together gave way, and she stumbled, falling to her knees. Sitri still hadn’t fully recovered from the injuries she had sustained previously.

“Normally, it’s the Demon Lord’s role to kidnap a princess.”

Daisy lifted Barbatos up by the waist.

“Sometimes, it wouldn’t hurt for roles to be reversed. I’ll borrow the woman you love most as a hostage. Please don’t cry too much from loneliness, Father. It would make your daughter embarrassed.”

***

TL Note: Thanks for reading the chapter. I was able to make enough time to translate a LITTLE faster since we finally got a public holiday this month. After my current workload is done, I seriously need to apply for some more PTO. Until then, I gotta just endure for another week or two until I get all these big projects done. Then, I’ll finally be able to breathe.

I’ll see you guys in the next chapter.