103. The Mana Vein's Fate
Sightings of a human who looked just like Berge.
It wasn't suspicion or anything of the sort.
Armani had sensed no energy from him except pure mana. A Demon King couldn't possibly be like that.
It was just an amusing anecdote, nothing more.
Reina had reached out to Berge, the one person she could talk to comfortably, after her ingenious scheme had failed and left her distraught.
But then.
"It was a snowfield. Definitely a snowfield."
Why a snowfield?
Why lie about it?
"A snowfield, really? My lord Demon King?"
"No doubt about it."
"The Erjest Mountains get heavy snowfall too. At higher altitudes, it snows year-round just like a snowfield. And while it's mountainous, it's not like there are no flat areas at all."
"Is that so? Yeah, probably."
Reina nodded with effort.
Right, that made more sense on reflection. She must have been stressed from Armani's failure and the appearance of a Berge lookalike.
"But does Erjest even have a snowfield wide enough to see the horizon?"
"...Well."
Nina hesitated to answer.
"......"
"......"
Silence fell.
"...What did Demon King Berge look like?"
"Same as always."
The Demon King himself. Demon King communication orbs only worked with magic points anyway.
"I want to say it can't be, that it doesn't make sense. But..."
Once doubt took root, it wasn't easily uprooted.
"Even if it was a snowfield, if it was in your domain, my lady, you would have noticed."
If it was a snowfield but not in Reina's territory, no big issue.
Nina wasn't wrong.
"No."
But Reina shook her head.
"If it was a snowfield, then he lied to me."
Claiming it wasn't when it was.
Alliances were built on mutual trust. Berge had said as much, and Reina agreed. But Berge had shattered that trust.
"A Demon King entering another's domain without permission is taboo. It wasn't your domain, my lady, but close by. If he'd admitted coming that near, how would you have reacted?"
"Not well. So he hid it, huh."
"That's how it seems."
"That doesn't excuse it."
"But it wasn't your domain, so no crime."
True enough. If he'd just wanted to gloss over a non-issue to avoid trouble, it was understandable.
But the 'why' lingered.
"Why was he setting foot in a snowfield?"
"What for?"
"What was his goal?"
Questions bred more questions.
"Any royalty nearby?"
"No imperial royals have come north right now."
"Then..."
Why did Drakson's words spring to mind now, of all times?
A high demon invading her territory.
What if it wasn't a high demon, but a Demon King? Berge?
Reina pondered. Nina pondered too.
"...Maybe."
A long while later, Nina ventured haltingly.
"Maybe?"
"Maybe it really was about monsters."
"Monsters?"
"Yes. Demon King Berge said he was out recruiting monsters as familiars. What if that's true? Just a snowfield instead of Erjest."
"Why go all the way to a snowfield?"
"Erjest and snowfields have similar environments. Cold, snowy. But mountains and plains host different monsters. Maybe he had his eye on something else?"
"Absurd reason."
"Is it?"
"But I can't think of anything more plausible right now."
Reina stroked her chin.
"...Monsters, huh."
It could be true. Or not.
But since Berge had brought it up first, it made a perfect excuse to probe.
"Guess I'll pay a visit."
Using monsters as pretext.
Oblivious that Reina Sordain now suspected him, Berge returned south.
The south was, in some ways, even more chaotic than the north.
"War!"
"The Southern Alliance and the Empire are clashing in the Pillerium Mountains!"
The Empire and Alliance had tried to keep the mana stone mine secret, but escalating tensions made total secrecy impossible.
Rumors of the mana stone mine spread, and armies gathered around the Pillerium Mountains.
"The Empire invaded Southern Alliance territory, plundering resources! They ambushed Prince Pablo Barkat, who was innocently surveying!"
"We'll hold the Empire accountable for the ambush and reclaim our stolen lands!"
That was the Southern Alliance's claim.
"The Southern Alliance invaded Empire territory, coveting our resources."
"They ambushed our camps with their army and play the victim to stir sympathy."
"The Empire will not yield to their agitation or surrender a single inch of our soil."
That was the Jespain Empire's stance.
They rattled off excuses, but facts no longer mattered.
The two sides had already fought, with the tantalizing fruit of the mana stone mine right before them.
Neither would back down first.
"Delightful."
A barrage of news so cheerful it erased northern troubles from mind.
"So, what's the situation now?"
"M-my lord Demon King, my mana cannons..."
"I buried them nicely in the snowfield, so answer the question."
"Pablo the prince... Wait, 'buried nicely'—what does that mean?"
"Figure it out yourself."
"...Lady Ernan? You don't mean what I think, right?"
"......"
Ernan averted her eyes from Roger. The dwarf latched on frantically; she shoved him away with a spirit.
"Lady Ernan!"
"I don't know!"
"At least tell me if my babies survived!"
"...If I had to say, closer to dead than alive?"
"N-no way...! Do you know the heart I put into sending them off...!"
The dwarf collapsed to his knees.
Berge clicked his tongue and turned to the elves.
"Annoying pest. You continue."
"Yes, my lord. The Southern Alliance, led by Pablo Barkat, raided the mine again."
This was on another level from the makeshift first assault. They'd selected elites from each nation, expanding forces heedless of monster casualties.
Not the absolute best, but a formidable army.
"The Empire fought hard but lost the mine."
"Oh?"
"The Empire retreated, then launched two recapture attempts—both failed. That's the latest."
"Southern Alliance has the edge for now."
They'd lost to the Empire's initial claim, but retook it in revenge, then won the follow-up skirmish.
"What's the mood?"
"The Empire, stung three times, is moving cautiously now. Ten knight orders assembled at the Pillerium border, more arriving. Mercenaries and noble private troops too—they won't back down."
"And the Alliance?"
"Same. Reinforcements arriving in Barkat, heading straight to the mine. Ignoring casualties. Both sides equal."
"Intriguing."
"If left alone, full-scale war is likely."
"Good."
Exactly what he wanted. Though this might drag on longer than expected—maybe buy more mini-towers.
Then doubt struck at the elves' blank faces.
"Doesn't it bother you? You're on the human side, technically."
"Elves, not humans. Their war is theirs."
"We've sworn to the World Tree: for the next century, we serve you faithfully unless it harms the Tree."
As expected.
This was why he employed elves.
He whistled.
"Smart planting that mine flag."
Plenty of negative energy must've gathered in the mini-tower by now. Imagining more? Ecstasy.
But too soon to relax.
His meddling had escalated things, sure.
But the mana stone mine's value was absolute, intervention or not. Why had the Alliance given up easily pre-regression?
'Not easy. Skirmishes happened; they failed to seize it even once, so they quit.'
But peanuts compared to now.
'Something's up.'
And likely Jason Cockmond's doing.
What?
How did he make the Alliance abandon such riches?
'Ties to Alliance kings?'
'Or Empire nobles? Brokered a deal?'
No, before that.
'Why stop this golden opportunity?'
For massive magic points?
'Something I don't know?'
Didn't care much back then.
Ugar was involved. No need to steal his bread, and it didn't suit Berge's proud nature.
He shook his head.
'No need to dwell. Past is past; present differs.'
Future already changed. No point worrying over hypotheticals.
Or prepare for them.
Just in case.
"Any good ideas from elves to ignite their war further?"
More options, the better.
"Amusing."
The man savored pink fruit wine.
North: Frost Demon King stirring.
South: Alliance-Empire clash.
Both defeats.
As an Empire man, unwelcome—yet he was genuinely pleased.
Count Mainz reported cautiously.
"Chernian Border Count submitted a report on the situation and the Frost Demon King."
"Summary?"
"Frost forces exceed what's needed to sweep northern Empire."
"Scary."
He shuddered, then shrugged.
"Odds of Frost Demon King rampaging?"
"Very low. Even in Gillian Aint's ploy, many survivors. Means she wants peace."
"Leave it to Chernian Border Count for now."
"Yes."
"South?"
"Lost the vein to their raid. Two recaptures failed."
"Smearing Empire honor. Utter incompetence."
He poured wine on the floor.
"Ruined the taste."
"I'll refill."
He held out his empty glass; the count poured.
"Not all bad. Southern border count doesn't follow Floyan."
"Yes."
"Suddenly thirsty."
"Ershian Border Count prepares counterattack. Will seize mine, restore honor, earn merits for central standing."
"Can't allow that."
He tsked.
"Your thoughts? Vein worth it?"
"Scale unconfirmed."
"And?"
"If reserves overwhelming, maybe. But not that valuable."
"Why?"
"Pillerium Mountains. Untamed by humans. Rugged terrain, monster-infested. Alliance battles hurt us bad, but monsters too."
"Hm."
"Armies focused on advance take hits—what about mining?"
Considering losses, economically viable?
"So, abandon?"
"Not ideal, but no need to hang for it. Empire has many mana stone mines—Alliance doesn't."
"Right."
He nodded.
"Bury it."
"Yield the vein to Alliance?"
"No. Ants can't do good. Leave it for no one—like before."
"Understood."
"How? Honor's stained; must reclaim."
Not genuine ignorance. His intrigued gaze tested the count.
"Restore honor, spread vein's worthlessness."
"Not bad. But ants won't sit idle?"
"Use the other vein from the lake?"
"That's why I tipped it. Use war as I please, end when done."
He dumped wine again.
"He gets his cut too."
Alliance hit right after Empire claimed. No coincidence.
"Cheeky bastard. Daring to use the Empire?"
"His schemes are shady. But this helps."
"Yeah, Floyan underestimates Alliance—they're no pushovers."
Current outcome: as he'd foreseen and desired.
"Still, too wasteful to just give it."
"Think big."
"Yes, must."
He nodded vigorously.
"I should step in personally?"
"Yes."
"Then I will."
He refilled his glass.
"Demon scum who devour the world occasionally useful."
This sip sweeter than before.