102. It Was the Snowfield
Mercenary Guild.
Just as all heroes joined the Hero Guild, all mercenaries joined the Mercenary Guild.
Unlike the Hero Guild, it wasn't mandatory, but the reputation, trust, and system they'd built over long years made it so.
People trusted those with a mercenary badge more than those without.
'They're probably still alive.'
The Mercenary Guild had branches everywhere people gathered. Even here, at the forefront bordering the snowfield, there was one.
Granada made time to head to the Mercenary Guild.
The Red Eagle had become a raiding party, but at their core, they were still mercenaries. If they were alive, they'd surely be resting at the familiar Mercenary Guild.
'They couldn't all be dead, right?'
They'd always shown a knack for surviving on their own. Of course, that came with prioritizing their own lives over missions, but this wasn't the time to nitpick.
It had been over a year since they'd been together, and both fondness and grudges had built up.
'Just in case.'
Anxiety coiled in his gut.
Their survival skills were top-notch, but what had happened in the snowfield was no guarantee.
Demons, demonic beasts, and monsters had overflowed. The harsh natural environment was a problem too.
Even if the Frost Demon King had shown mercy, there were deaths. He couldn't be sure they'd all made it.
Screeech—
"Drink more, more!"
"Squad leader, after stuffing your face with all that snow out there, is there even room left for booze?"
"Maybe it's 'cause you wrapped yourself in monster hide to sleep, whining about the cold. You even scarfed down that disgusting lump of meat alone, saying it was tasty?"
"Shut your traps, you bastards! If I don't empty this keg, I'm demoting myself from squad leader to rookie!"
"Ooh, that's a great idea!"
"Rookie and manservant duties! I'm in too!"
And that worry vanished the moment he pushed open the branch's door.
The guild branch in this northern city overflowed with endless work from snowfield monsters, so it had to be huge.
Naturally, the big building drew crowds of mercenaries. In the bustling chaos, the voice of the former Red Eagle mercenaries' leader stood out sharply.
Granada wove between the tables.
The stench of spilled booze.
Boisterous laughter.
A symphony of food and sweat odors.
He arrived at the loudest, rowdiest spot.
Ignoring their startled eyes, he pointed at them one by one with his finger.
"One, two, three... thirty-two."
"L-Leader."
"All of them alive, huh?"
Not a single one missing.
Granada grinned. His men flashed awkward smiles.
"Haha... After holding out a few days, the pursuit strangely slacked off..."
"I know. You did well."
"R-Right?"
"Yeah. Surviving was good..."
Crack—
Granada ripped the arm off a nearby chair, turning it into a club.
"But partying like pigs without even reporting in? No matter how I look at it, that's not 'well done'."
"L-Leader!"
"L-Let's talk it out!"
"Dialogue! That's what makes us human—dialogue!"
"I'm an elf, you trash!"
The beatdown commenced.
Red Eagle members scattered in all directions, and surrounding mercenaries, enraged by spilled drinks, started brawling among themselves.
It was pandemonium.
"So you need compensation money because they trashed the tavern?"
Have they lost their minds?
"...Their mess wrecked the whole place."
"What? That was the lea—mmph!"
Berge let out a hollow laugh. Granada averted his eyes awkwardly.
"Causing trouble already. Elves are usually so prim and proper—are you sure you're an elf?"
"......"
"Don't talk back. Just follow me."
"What happened?"
"HIllun Kargil woke up."
A knight of the Chernian Border Count had brought the news.
He'd arranged for Berge and Granada to meet Hillun.
Entering the private room, they found Hillun sitting blankly on the bed.
"...Where is this?"
"Cherville Northern Fortress. The lord's castle here."
"...I survived."
Hillun's last memory was the snowfield. Berge falling from the sky, mana cannons blasting firepower.
The renewed flight, the horn blasts shaking the snowfield.
"Thank you."
Hillun bowed his head.
"I lived thanks to you."
"You get it. Granada already filled me in. Demons and beasts poured out?"
"Yes. First time I'd seen them open the tower door and come out first."
"Not the first."
"Wasn't that different from you, my lord?"
It was worlds apart from mere nighttime monster raids.
"When you held me back once—was that because you foresaw this?"
"I figured you wouldn't succeed easily. Didn't expect it to blow up this bad."
"...Even after hunting two Demon Kings, I'm still not enough."
"Reina Sordain descended on Alein nearly a century ago. Even with hordes of heroes, Demon Kings are top-tier even in Ma-gye. Not something you can underestimate."
"Felt it in my bones."
Hillun nodded deeply.
When Berge appeared and saved him, he'd truly felt it. He couldn't yet escape the Demon King's grasp.
Maybe it was all Berge's scheme. But the Frost Demon King's forces had crushed them outright, and he realized they were still far short against Demon Kings who'd endured for decades.
"I like that look. How's your body?"
"A bit languid, but otherwise fine."
"No major injuries to begin with. Now that you're up, the Border Count will summon you soon. Maybe all of us together."
"Border Count..."
The Count wanted ties with Hillun, and vice versa.
Though limited in central politics due to northern defenses, he wielded immense northern influence and top imperial military authority.
"Whatever bond you forge with him, whatever schemes, I don't care."
"Thank you."
"Just don't let his attention turn to me."
"Isn't it fine for you to step forward, my lord?"
"Don't say what you don't mean."
Of course it wasn't bad. But Berge was a Demon King at heart. Not versed in pretense or human society like Hillun.
Meeting Akan's Cain had taught him: a long tail gets stepped on.
As long as Hillun Kargil and Granada existed as proxies, he had no need to front. Maintaining ties with Akan was enough.
"Understood. I'll handle it."
"Since you're awake, no need for me to stick around."
"If you leave, the Border Count won't take it well."
"Should I care about some human count's gaze?"
"It doesn't matter for you, my lord, but for me and Hillun Kargil, it does."
"Exactly."
Berge turned to Hillun Kargil.
"That's why I waited till this guy woke up."
"What...?"
"Yes."
Hillun nodded.
"I'll take care of it."
"Link me with Akan if needed. We're already appropriately tied."
"Yes."
"Contact you if anything comes up."
"Yes."
Slide—
Berge opened the window.
"Ah, won't you use the main gate? Say you're going for some air—they'll let you go. Since I'm here."
"I'll do that."
He left through the door.
"Thought you weren't coming."
About 20km from Cherville Northern Fortress, at the snowfield-empire border. Ernan, who'd walked here alone, hidden in the snow, sniffled.
"Hillun took longer to wake than expected."
"Glad he made it."
"Wound wasn't deep to start."
"Still, you never know."
"No run-ins with monsters, I see."
"Hid well. Was on pins and needles worrying about demons."
"Good work."
"That's it?"
"What else?"
"Spent all day in the snow, wandered the snowfield alone, then days more buried?"
"Said good work."
"...Yeah, whatever."
"Back to the south. Wonder what the empire and southern alliance are up to."
"Oh, right. Forgot."
The north had been that draining.
The encroaching cold, constant demon vigilance—the snowfield wore you down just existing.
"Not Cherville—another city for a teleport circle. Cover hair and eyes thoroughly."
"Doesn't matter in this state, right?"
"Sneaking out past the Count."
"Huh? Won't that cause issues?"
"That's what Hillun and Granada are for."
"Hmm."
Then.
Vrrr—
The communication orb in Berge's pocket vibrated. His private link with Reina. He gestured Ernan far away.
『Berge Dayas.』
"What is it?"
『Where are you now? Not the tower, it seems.』
"Erjest. Stepped out briefly to take monsters as familiars."
Demon Kings didn't have to stay glued to their towers.
They just had to guard the summit when heroes entered.
And not get caught wandering undignified by humans.
Quibbling, it amounted to not roaming freely—but recruiting monsters as familiars was fine.
『I see.』
"What is it?"
『You will recall this lady declaring intent to capture Hillun Kargil for you.』
"I remember. You said you'd spare the other humans and heroes, kill only Hillun as an example. Success?"
『Failure.』
"Failure? You wouldn't half-ass prep."
『Prepared as best I could, but insufficient. Underestimated human strength.』
"This is Alein. Don't get complacent."
『Duly noted. But...』
She paused. The brief silence felt like hours to Berge.
'Did she notice something?'
No real reason. But guilt made him uneasy.
He could guess her next words.
『The high demon I sent for Hillun Kargil said something odd.』
『Said they saw you.』
As expected.
Berge replied as calmly as possible, face twisted in puzzled confusion.
"Me?"
『Correction. Saw a human identical to you.』
"A human identical to me... Interesting tale."
Berge snorted.
"What did that human do?"
『Saved Hillun Kargil when he was nearly caught. Ruined this lady's plan.』
"Kill that demon."
『What do you mean?』
"I've never left Erjest. Daring to frame another Demon King to cover failure—should've executed on the spot."
He growled, and she chuckled softly.
『Didn't outright say it was you.』
『Just that, minus hair, eyes, and aura, everything matched.』
"Know what that's called?"
『What?』
"Completely different."
『Sounds right.』
"Why even tell me this? Think I did it?"
『No.』
"If it was me, Hillun's head would've rolled in the snow long ago. Got old grudges against him too."
『If it offended, this lady apologizes. Just venting frustration.』
『Confident in success, but failed—mood soured.』
『Can't unload on subordinates.』
"Fair. But remember: I never harm you. We're allies; trust comes first."
『Apologies. This lady yields.』
"...Accepted. What's next?"
『Pondering now.』
Faint anger laced her words. Berge schooled his expression.
"Nothing to say on the failure. Next time, success."
『Yes.』
Connection cut.
Berge exhaled the breath he'd held.
"...She bought it, right?"
She had to.
No sane Demon King would mistake a mana-less human for another just on looks.
Reina's tone was more amused anecdote than suspicion anyway.
"Let's go."
"Yeah."
Berge and Ernan hurried on.
Snowfield north, Frost Tower.
Reina stared at the dead communication orb for a long while.
Nina, sensing something off, called to her.
"Demon King?"
"...It was."
"...Pardon?"
"...The snowfield..."
The orb showed a narrow radius, but environments too.
Behind Berge: snowfield.
Vast plain.
A landscape all too familiar to Reina Sordain.
Closer to the empire than her domain, but.
Undeniably.
The snowfield.
"It was the snowfield..."
Reina muttered madly.