Division of Roles and New Allies

Creating new subordinates proved to be quite a challenge.

The two who had gone out for supplies returned after about two hours. By that time, I had managed to create five new subordinates. As difficult as creating subordinates was, I had started to get the hang of it. The time required per subordinate seemed to decrease significantly. This could be partly because, unlike guardians, there was less information needed for their creation.

The new subordinates included three supply-gatherers and two promoters.

Elrodea pointed out that for the dungeon or rather, for living under me to be appealing to the outside world, it needed to be something impressive. Even as a demon lord, it seems the outside world isn't naive enough to follow a weak one. Therefore, to prove I am a powerful demon lord, I had to create promoters who embodied strength. The two promoters were set up as the strong-looking Demon Ogre and Bullman Vakka.

The Demon Ogre, although appearing human, is 1.5 times taller than a regular person. The single horn growing from its forehead symbolizes its strength; the more impressive the horn, the stronger the demon. With a muscular, well-defined body and healthy, tanned skin, its crimson eyes emit a fierce glare. This is the demon ogre I created, named Akagiri. Its physical abilities are on par with those of the guardians.

The bull, while also appearing human-like, has large, thick horns growing from its head and a chest that is distinctly bovine. Its height is similar to, or slightly shorter than, a human's. Next to the tall demon ogre, it appears quite small. Bullma has finely textured skin, a voluptuous chest, and thick thighs. Its attire, designed to highlight its proportions, is a bit distracting, but the prominent, large horns on its head draw more attention. This is the Bullma I created, named Kaleido.

These two will serve as the promoters.

The supply gatherers were created with a focus on agility. I consulted Elrodea and Catela on which species would fit this role best. Currently, no other members of these species have been created.

Rorona Silphanietta, a Wolfman Ansthlorp, is a humanoid with wolf-like ears, arms, and tail. This species typically has tanned skin, and Rorona is no exception. She wears leather armor and a deep crimson beast-ear hood, with various pouches hanging from her waist. Her healthy, tanned skin is visible between her leather thigh-high boots and shorts. Wolfman, known for their agility, have well-toned muscles.

Next is Rei Amon Rodfel, a member of the rare Fairy Ogre species. Unlike the Demon Ogre, the Fairy Ogre is much smaller roughly the size of a human toddler and up to about 130 cm tall. Fairy ogres have two slender but strong and sharp horns on their foreheads. They use a form of magic called "Yõjutsu" rather than traditional spells. Despite their small stature, their combat abilities are exceptional, with agile fighting styles and a unique weapon called "Inbu" used until death. Rei, being a child-like demon, is dressed in a navy blue yukata with peony patterns. Her pitch-black hair is styled in a very Japanese fashion, and she wears raised, stylish black geta sandals.

The third supply gatherer is Keena Belmora, a White Moth Farenna, a rare species resembling humanoid insects. She has a large moth-like abdomen extending from her tailbone and moth-like antennae on her forehead. While some might find her appearance unsettling due to its realism, I don't have a strong aversion to insects, likely because of my rural upbringing.

White moths can fly quickly using their distinct wings, which they usually fold on their back but can extend at will. Although they are not very agile on land, they are exceptionally fast in flight. Keena has a very cheerful character, making her well-suited for the interpersonal skills required for supply gathering.

These are my new subordinates.

Supply Gatherers:

•Rorona Silphanietta (Wolfman Ansthlorp)

•Rei Amon Rodfel (Fairy Ogre)

•Keena Belmora (White Moth Farenna)

Promoters:

•Akagiri (Demon Ogre)

•Kaleido (Bullman Vakka)

With these additions, I now have eleven subordinates. I plan to gradually increase this number, but managing more than thirty will be challenging and exhausting.

I still need to create at least seven more floor guardians. I might also need a few servants and a cook to improve my quality of life, so I'll create two or three more.

Currently, my only interaction with otherworldly beings is with Cornelia, the Dark Elf. This has sparked a bit of excitement in me. I hope they will work hard to establish a solid connection with the outside world. Although it's relying on others, it's unavoidable.

I looked at the five new subordinates kneeling before me in the meeting room and told them to relax their tense posture.

When they stood before me and I began giving instructions, their perfectly synchronized movements were so impressive that it made me wonder if they had practiced somewhere. Their disciplined stance was overwhelming.

Just like my previous subordinates, they were equipped with [teleportation rings) to allow them to freely move to and from what would soon be a large city.

After explaining everything, they gave me a formal salute and quickly disappeared from the meeting room.

I never imagined that new subordinates would dive straight into work like this. During my office work days, I couldn't have imagined such dedication, especially if I were forced into it. I can assert that I wouldn't have shown such enthusiasm, which is a rather pitiful admission.

Now, with the supply gathering and dungeon promotion underway, it would be ideal to have companions living here. However, the reality will likely be tough.

Next—

I turned my gaze to Cornelia, who was sitting in a chair. I needed to create someone to accompany her and gather information about the world.

Having become quite adept at character creation, I finished setting up the companion quickly.

Dressed in full obsidian-colored armor that made her look like a dark knight, she stood before me. Though the armor was lightweight and designed to accentuate feminine features, its high hardness made it resistant to most attacks. The armor had a design resembling feathers around the chest and waist, though its hardness remained unchanged. The armor was accented with deep crimson drapes, and her visor had two glowing red eyes peeking out from the darkness.

This is Diata Yugerfon Liebera, a member of the Black Rabbitfolk Cornello. Her entire body is covered in black fur, making her appear very beastlike despite being humanoid. However, her skin is still visible in some areas, like the thighs, chest, shoulders, and face.

In my setting, she avoids showing her appearance in public. Despite her intimidating appearance, she has a very disciplined personality. She is designated to take on the role of a knight, embodying an uncompromising spirit against wrongdoing.

She drew her silver sword and presented it respectfully before me. Her blade was held perfectly still, and a slightly muffled voice came from behind her visor.

"I am the knight of the king, pledging absolute loyalty. I would be honored to serve you as you wish, my lord! Please, command me!"

Her every action, fitting her knightly role, was grandiose. I feel I may have created the most disciplined subordinate yet. However, such a character might be the most suitable for traveling the world. She is strict about justice and cannot overlook evil deeds. Therefore, while she travels, I hope she will help those in need and create a positive impression.

Although I am a demon lord, I didn't become one by choice. It happened forcefully. I don't wish to ravage or conquer the world, nor do I desire to kill all humans. My goal is to slowly create the impression that not all demon lords are harmful. If I can do that, perhaps even a harmless demon lord won't be hunted by heroes.

I intend to protect myself through these meticulous efforts.

"Now, Diata, I want you to gather as much information as possible about the countries outside the dungeon, along with Cornelia. Even minor details are fine, but please prioritize information about the countries and their situations."

"Yes! As you command!"

I briefed her on the special ring and Cornelia's role.

Then-

"Very well, my lord. I will set out immediately to fulfill your command! I will strive to bring you valuable information."

With that, the two information-gatherers disappeared from my sight.

The meeting room became eerily quiet.

Well, this might be all I can do for now. The only thing left is to hope for good news from my subordinates.

Since I can't leave the dungeon, my tasks are limited to fine-tuning the dungeon's details. While it's a significant job, it feels a bit like being a recluse and may become a bit boring.

The only thing that might alleviate my boredom is exploring the castle. Although I built this castle, I don't know its full layout. Therefore, I'll begin by exploring the castle and refining the dungeon details, prioritizing the latter. Exploration will be a reward after work.

Now, back to desk work! Let's go, me!

I could hear faint cheers of encouragement from either side.