108. Chimera
Before the dramatic agreement in the south, Cain Akan, the fifth prince of the Akan Kingdom, returned safely to the capital.
"His Majesty is waiting."
Not even given time to unpack from his journey, he was summoned to the throne room.
"The fifth prince of the kingdom, Cain Akan!"
"Enter!"
With the chamberlain's cry, the doors swung open. He stepped onto the long red carpet, passing the lined-up ministers to reach the throne.
He knelt and bowed his head.
"Your servant, Cain Akan, has fulfilled His Majesty's command and returned."
"Raise your head."
"Yes."
The king's face came into view.
"Well done."
He asked no further questions.
"You must be tired. Go and rest."
There was no sign of interest in Ravinia Akan whatsoever.
"Your Majesty."
"Do you have more to say?"
"It's just..."
"If it's about Ravinia, the matter has already been discussed. The prince should speak no more."
'Already discussed?'
The nobles of the Magic Tower subtly averted their eyes from Cain.
Why?
He was puzzled, but without the Magic Tower nobles' support, Cain's words carried no weight.
"Yes."
In the end, he could only withdraw powerlessly.
"A search party has already been dispatched."
"Pardon?"
After the throne room meeting ended, Cain was stunned to hear this from Ekaen Volbov, an elder of the Magic Tower.
"It happened just before Your Highness returned to the capital. His Majesty was displeased, but that one is still part of Akan. He knows full well how important Princess Ravinia is."
And the king of Akan was no fool to let personal feelings ruin the greater good. Otherwise, he never would have become king of Akan in the first place.
"But he clearly told me..."
"It's because of the situation in the northern empire."
"The snowfields?"
"Yes. The Frost Demon King is stirring, sweeping away the northern barbarians. Before that, the Lust Demon King unleashed succubi on the Dormunt Kingdom, and prior to that, the Flame Demon King's forces kidnapped two princesses from Hildean. The demon kings' actions are different from before."
And that was hardly all. The Diamond Demon King was suddenly kidnapping royals left and right.
Though they had been careful to target those far from the line of succession to avoid human scrutiny, the act of kidnapping itself was significant.
"Excluding the False Demon King, all the demon kings are acting strangely. This might be an overstatement, but perhaps..."
"Perhaps?"
"The demon kings might be trying to turn back time to a hundred years ago."
"...No way. That would be suicide for them. No one foolish enough would do that."
The coexistence of demon kings and humans rested on an implicit agreement, underpinned by the belief that humans held the upper hand.
It was possible only because humans saw demon kings as tools they could use. But if the demon kings' behavior changed and proved that impossible? If they were seen not as mere threats but as enemies to be eradicated immediately?
Humans would not tolerate demon kings. The demon kings wouldn't survive.
"Who knows. A hundred years might mean something different to them."
"Hmm."
"In any case, with the demons' situation so unusual, Princess Ravinia's importance has only grown. His Majesty acknowledges that as well."
"How is the search party composed?"
"The Magic Tower's mages are leading it personally."
The Magic Tower and the royal family were separate entities.
Nominally under the king's command, the Magic Tower operated independently.
And their armed forces were in no way inferior to the royal family's. The Magic Tower and the royals were the twin pillars upholding the Akan Kingdom.
"Do not worry. The Magic Tower will find Her Highness somehow."
"But that place is demon king territory. It won't be easy."
"We must do it anyway, mustn't we?"
"I just hope my sister hasn't been captured by the demon king."
Cain clicked his tongue in regret.
Upon returning to the capital, Cain resumed his duties.
He attended social circles, hosted banquets, and built rapport with mages, knights, and nobles.
He swung his sword and studied imperial lore, diplomacy, politics, economics, and swordsmanship—lessons across diverse fields.
He was the fifth prince, but he coveted the throne.
Akan differed from other nations in prioritizing merit over birthright. Even firstborn princes often failed to become crown prince, while those low in succession rose to kingship.
In truth, Akan had no high or low claim to the throne. All royals were born equal, and only those who proved their worth shone brightest as king.
'This mission was a failure.'
In that light, not only failing to find the tower but losing Ravinia Akan was a bone-deep setback.
It was a major blunder at a time when every achievement mattered.
Of course, his sister's safety worried him more than that.
'I can't even imagine her coming to harm.'
Mages' obsessions surpassed ordinary imagination, and Ravinia Akan was an outlier even among them.
By his common sense, he couldn't picture her dying.
Clang—
A stinging shock ran through his palm. He dropped his sword. The masterless blade stabbed into the ground.
"Your Highness, you seem lost in thought."
The old knight sparring with him sheathed his sword.
"I suppose I was. Sorry."
"No matter. Since returning from the Erjest Mountains, you've pushed yourself relentlessly every day. Shall we end here for today?"
"Yes, let's."
Cain picked up his sword. As he moved to sheathe it, a knight came running.
"Your Highness, a guest has come seeking you."
"A guest?"
"He calls himself Granada."
"...Bring him to the detached palace immediately."
"But he's not alone."
"Not alone?"
"Eleven elves are with him."
"Eleven elves?"
Elves were an extremely insular race. Their nation, the Elven Forest, was entirely shrouded in woods, and the forest's will repelled uninvited intruders.
In the past Great War, they had burned the forest to advance by force, but now under treaty, the Elven Forest was as unknown as ever.
Few elves ever left it, making encounters with them rare indeed.
"I'll go right away."
In the detached palace's reception room sat Granada and the eleven elves. Cain muttered in awe at the splendid group and welcomed them warmly.
"Welcome, Sir Granada."
"I hope my sudden visit isn't an imposition."
"Not at all. I told you to come anytime."
Though he hadn't expected it so soon.
"And these people?"
"Elves connected to me."
"Pleased to meet you."
Cain exchanged greetings with the elves.
"If it's not too much trouble, might I request a private audience?"
"Of course. Sir Alburn, please escort the guests elsewhere."
"Yes, Your Highness."
The knight named Alburn led the elves away. It wasn't his duty, but he tactfully withdrew.
"Now, speak."
"We are elf slaves scattered across the continent."
When he first received Berze's order, Granada had pondered deeply. How to "plant" the elves in Akan was crucial.
Lie or tell the truth?
The elves were slaves. Though forced into that status by humans, the recipients were also human. Being slaves offered no advantage.
But lying felt wrong too.
Akan's intelligence was no slouch. Probe Hillun a bit, and the Golden Moon Merchant Guild would surface, along with their recent elf slave purchases.
In the end, Granada chose truth.
"So these are the elf slaves bought by the Golden Moon Merchant Guild?"
As expected, Cain knew.
"I won't deny it."
"Why tell me?"
"We are slaves. But that status was forced upon us by humans. We are all precious elves of the Elven Forest."
"That doesn't matter."
Even if it was a narrow human-imposed status, Akan was a human nation.
The war between humans and other races had ended in human victory, and even under peace treaties, humans had always held the advantage.
No amount of time could erase those deep-seated prejudices.
And that wasn't all.
"Letting elves into the Magic Tower means taking spots from humans. Their resentment would fall on me. Why should I accept them and bear that?"
"For the sake of your connection with Fail."
"That's already covered by contract. This is separate."
"They are exceptional mages."
"Spirit summoners, precisely."
"Spirit arts are a branch of magic. Even Akan doesn't deny that, does it?"
"Of course not."
"They will become Your Highness's strength."
"Hmm."
Cain doubted the elves would serve him just because accepted.
"As long as it doesn't contradict their beliefs and oaths, they will always support Your Highness. I swear this on the World Tree."
"Elves who break a World Tree oath lose all mana, right?"
"Something like that."
That piqued his interest. Eleven elves bound by oath, unable to betray.
Considering their innate talents, they'd shine in the Magic Tower. If they gained recognition there and still backed him?
"But 'as long as it doesn't contradict beliefs and oaths' means they could betray me if it does?"
"I'm speaking of prior oaths and elven duties before pledging loyalty to Your Highness. For instance, even if you ordered it, they wouldn't turn against me."
"Understood. But."
Cain's gaze sharpened.
"What do you and they gain from this?"
"We can't return to the forest. As a fellow elf, it's harsh to say, but elves are insular and reject those who've been human slaves."
"A home for the homeless? It doesn't have to be Akan."
"Nor does it have to not be."
"Weak."
"It's also a gift from Sir Hillun."
"...Continue."
"I gathered them, but under Hero Hillun Kargil's orders. He wishes to maintain good relations with Your Highness."
"...So I can interpret this as potential aid from Hero Hillun Kargil someday?"
"If you help these elves settle safely, there's no reason not to."
"Indeed."
This pulled harder.
Cain fell silent in thought.
'Hillun Kargil.'
Rumors of failure in the northern snowfields hadn't dimmed his value.
He had slain and absorbed two demon kings. As long as he didn't die, greatness awaited.
"...Very well."
There would be backlash.
Suddenly inserting elves into the Magic Tower would rile the mages.
Those serving other princes or princesses would be worse. It invited endless checks.
So he needed assurance.
"In exchange, I must meet Hero Hillun Kargil and get a firm commitment."
That he would support him.
No— that he would show support.
"Immediately isn't possible. Hero Hillun is currently in the empire's northern snowfields."
"Of course. I can wait months."
Hillun's opinion didn't matter. Demon kings commanded obedience.
And two months later, Hillun Kargil—having solidified ties with the Chernian Border Count in the northern snowfields—arrived in Akan Kingdom to meet Cain.
Right after Berze met Reina Sordain.
"Wow..."
Ravinia Akan blinked vacantly.
Snow fell, but it couldn't extinguish the fiercely burning embers.
Hundreds of monsters, no less.
High-level ones from the untouched snowfields, at that.
Even for the renowned chimera maker Ravinia, seeing so many elite monsters gathered was unprecedented.
"All... mine?"
"Gonna swallow 'em whole without drooling?"
"Chimera."
"Yeah, make chimeras from those."
"Lots."
"Obviously."
Honestly, even Berze hadn't expected Reina to hand over hundreds so readily.
It showed how seriously she valued this alliance.
All the more reason.
'Gotta be careful.'
If their rapport soured, the betrayal would sting. Frost demons harbored grudges that brought snow to lava lands. And she was elite enough for demon king status.
"Really."
"Do whatever you want with them. But on one condition."
"Condition?"
"You said you wanted to make chimeras and keep them in the tower."
"Yeah."
"And I don't want to take your chimeras as my kin."
"No engravings."
Ravinia gave the answer Berze wanted.
From a human perspective, chimeras were violent amalgamations needing strict control—hence obedience engravings.
Magic inscribed during creation.
They'd break if made kin anyway, but no need for the hassle.
'Wonder if this is okay.'
As the elves settled in Akan, Granada relayed various intel.
Including Akan's newly dispatched search party.
Aiming for Ravinia Akan, of course, currently in Hotenwork. No moves yet, but the calm before the storm.
They'd climb the mountains, desperate to find her.
Rationally, releasing Ravinia was best.
But.
'Greed's kicking in.'
In his past life, he'd shunned her blindly, but living with her revealed a merely unique mindset. Controllable, even.
A controllable Ravinia Akan's utility was inexpressible.
She was key for golem crafting and chimeras.
Among tower needs, her and Roger topped the list.
'Not yet, at least.'
Not until golems finished and these monsters became chimeras.
'Leave 'em be for now.'
No need to stir trouble. They'd tire out eventually.
"Put all the monsters on the second floor."
"Yeah."
"But finish the golem core before chimeras."
"...Why?"
"Obviously more important."
"No."
"Chimeras more important?"
"Yeah."
She nodded, thumbs-up, as if nothing surpassed chimeras.
Then just say so plainly. Tongue cut in half or what?
"This isn't Ravinia's tower—it's mine. My word is law, my priorities first. Golems over chimeras."
"...Mean."
"Thanks for the compliment."
"Exploitation."
"My specialty."
"Hurry."
"Yeah, the faster, the better for you."
Ravinia slumped her shoulders and entered the tower.
"Hurry!"
"Your Highness, rushing won't..."
"Excuses!"
"I haven't rested a moment since arriving!"
"Impossible. Work."
Ravinia silenced the golem artisan. Under her sharp gaze, he shed bloody tears, driven mercilessly.
Berze smirked at the sight while leading monsters to the second floor.
A princess overworking kingdom talent for the demon king. Quite the amusing scene.
'Gotta snag her an elixir soon.'
Can't have her die of overwork before the golem core.
"...Ugh."
"What?"
"Dunno. Sudden chills..."
"Malingering."
"No, really! Isn't this too much, Princess?"
"Work."
"...Yes."
Golem artisan Raymond grimaced and resumed work.