Luciana’s report was not something I could afford to take lightly.
Of all the scenarios I had imagined, this was among the least desirable. My intuition had proven unerringly correct, and in the worst possible way.
"Is that certain?"
『There is no mistake. They’re heading straight for it,』 Luciana stated flatly.
I could sense a hint of tension in her voice. Compared to her usual casual demeanor, she was clearly serious. I could understand her concern. Human armies had rarely ever targeted the Valley of the Dead before. This was likely the first time a hero had ever set their sights on it.
In the first place, its location right next to the Royal Capital made it difficult to invade. Under normal circumstances, an invading force would have to pass through numerous villages and towns just to reach the outskirts.
Furthermore, there was little strategic value in attacking it. Currently, the miasma concentration within the Valley of the Dead was staggering. It had transformed into a demonic wasteland where ordinary purification had no effect, and where a normal person’s life force would be drained just by standing near it. By continuously offering corpses to the valley, I had accelerated its contamination.
However, the Valkyrie’s army was aiming for it anyway. Their objective was obvious: by interfering with the Valley of the Dead, they intended to weaken me.
To travel through the Demon King’s Domain and reach the valley would require considerable effort. Above all, it required high mobility. The Valkyrie’s force was undoubtedly a small, elite unit—perhaps a group so small it hardly qualified as an "army" at all.
It wasn't a bad plan. Ten years ago, we had done the exact same thing. Moving in small numbers allowed for maneuvers that were impossible for a full-scale army. Depending on the situation, it was the optimal solution.
Of course, such a strategy demanded high individual skill. Small-scale operations were always fraught with danger; a single moment of carelessness could lead to total annihilation. However, in this particular instance, it was the correct judgment.
If they moved as a full army, they would clash with the Demon King’s Army countless times before they ever reached the valley. Their casualties would mount, and their movement speed would drop to a crawl. A small, elite unit bypassed these issues. They could move at high speeds to reach their destination before they were even detected.
They had likely planned their route with meticulous care. Since this move came right after the death of the Steel Knight, they might have intended to strike while we were distracted. Even though we had detected them early, it was a well-thought-out maneuver.
『What are you going to do? You can’t exactly just leave them be, can you?』 Luciana asked anxiously.
She was uncharacteristically restless. It was a rare sight for her.
"I will handle it myself. I cannot overlook this," I declared in a detached, businesslike tone.
I could not afford to show mercy when my source of power was being threatened. I would have to trample them thoroughly. To that end, I needed to bolster our defenses even further.
『Is it really okay for you to go alone, Demon King-sama? The Valkyrie has that specific ability...』
"It is no problem. I have already devised a countermeasure."
I had a fair amount of prior intelligence regarding my opponent. She was one of those who had been forcibly elevated to the status of a hero through ritual magic, and I had a general grasp of her abilities. To be honest, our compatibility was nearly at the worst possible level. However, that was only a concern if I were forced to fight her without prior information.
I was well-acquainted with the Valkyrie’s combat style. She likely had a hidden trump card or two, but as long as I kept a watchful eye on those, the situation wasn't nearly as grave as Luciana feared.
『I don’t think you’ll lose, but... please, just don't overextend yourself.』
"I understand."
I nodded at Luciana’s insistence. With the fight against the Demigod looming in the near future, I had no intention of exhausting myself here.
『Then I’ll wait for your report.』
"It shouldn't take long. I will contact you soon."
『Okaaay.』
I ended the telepathy with Luciana. Logan, who had been listening in silence, immediately questioned me.
"What is it? What happened?"
I explained the details of Luciana’s report. Hearing the news, Logan’s expression turned solemn. He let out a troubled groan.
"The Valley of the Dead... So they know it's the root of your power?"
"I don't recall ever stating it explicitly, but I haven't kept it a secret, either. Even if they've made the connection, it wouldn't be unnatural."
The Valley of the Dead was quite famous, originally serving as the Kingdom's execution ground. It had been known since ancient times as the place where criminals were cast down to their deaths. It had also been used as a mass grave for the Empire’s soldiers during past wars. In every era, it was a place deeply entwined with death.
As the Immortal Demon King, I commanded the undead. In other words, I wielded power over death itself. It wasn't strange for them to suspect a link between me and that valley.
"I'm sorry, Logan, but our investigation ends here. I am heading out to intercept the Valkyrie."
"What about me?"
"I want you to stay at the castle and maintain a spirit magic protection barrier. If you cooperate with Yuura, you should be able to cover the entire Royal Capital."
"Leave it to me," Logan replied with a reliable nod.
With this, the capital’s defense was nearly perfect. All that remained was to continue layering anti-teleportation measures in preparation for the Demigod.
We returned from the workshop via teleportation. Logan headed to the castle, while I applied the anti-teleportation art before proceeding to the research institute. Upon entering, the Director immediately scurried over.
"Well, well, Demon King-sama! To what do I owe the pleasure today—"
"I need to use my dedicated unit. Is the maintenance finished?" I asked, cutting her off.
The Director nodded vigorously. She began to speak with animated gestures.
"Yes, of course! Since the last battle, I’ve reconsidered the design from the ground up and implemented a wide variety of improvements. Because of this, the unit’s performance—"
"I’ll hear the full explanation later. Hurry with the preparations."
"Understood!"
Sensing the urgency, the Director gave a sharp salute. She guided me to the area where the dedicated Golem I had used against the Steel Knight was housed. All the minor damage had been repaired, but its appearance had changed slightly. It was a subtle transformation, difficult to pinpoint, yet undeniably different.
"I’ve replaced parts across the entire frame. No major structural changes, but I’ve significantly boosted the base performance."
As I listened to the Director, I approached the Golem and inspected it closely. Then, I noticed something.
"These parts... are they from the Steel Knight?"
"They are. There were several extremely useful components, so I took the liberty of repurposing them for this overhaul. There shouldn't be any issues with synchronization. Er... was that a problem?"
"No, I don't mind. You did well."
I was a bit surprised, but the Director was not at fault. The Steel Knight was already dead. I wasn't about to complain about salvaging parts from his remains; if they weren't used here, they would simply be discarded. It was only logical to put them to effective use.
It might be considered a desecration of the dead, but it was far too late to worry about that. There was likely no one in this world who desecrated and mocked the dead more than I did.
Pushing aside those self-deprecating thoughts, I established a magical connection with the dedicated Golem. I synchronized my consciousness, adjusting the link until I could operate it as if it were my own limbs. My original body would remain here on standby. In the unlikely event that the Golem was incapacitated, I would rush to the scene in person. I only prayed it wouldn't come to that.
I activated my sensing magic. Searching through the domain, I quickly picked up a reaction that seemed to be the Valkyrie. As expected, they were moving as a small group, and their position indicated they were heading straight for the Valley of the Dead. The intelligence was accurate.
There’s no reason to wait for them to arrive, I thought.
Judging by their pace, they would reach the valley today or tomorrow. It was best to deal with them immediately.
"I’m heading out."
"Have a safe trip! I look forward to hearing your feedback on the new adjustments!"
Seen off by the Director, who was waving her hand vigorously, I teleported to the Valkyrie’s location.