109. Empire's Intrigue
『You're awfully busy. Thanks to you, Demon King.』
"If you're gonna complain, at least fix that smug look on your face."
『Ah, my apologies.』
The faint smile at the corner of Hillun Kargil's mouth vanished.
Berge snorted derisively.
Hillun Kargil, that hero, was ridiculously straightforward.
He craved power and authority. Honor and fame.
He was a greedy sort who wouldn't hesitate at any means to get them.
He'd played the role of the good guy when it suited him.
And he'd chosen submission to the Demon King when it proved useful.
Among the things he valued most, connections stood out.
Humans were social creatures. They formed intricate bonds, moving within the vast board of society they'd built over ages, where any one person's reach was severely limited.
That's why connections mattered—powerful ones that could offer real help.
And Cain, the Fifth Prince of Akan Kingdom, clearly fit that bill perfectly.
Even for Hillun Kargil, though, approaching him out of the blue to forge ties wasn't feasible. Berge had opened that door, so he had every reason to be thrilled.
"Plus, with elves planted in Akan's magic tower, you're probably over the moon. Remember this: they're my subordinates, not yours."
『Of course. And am I not your servant as well, Demon King? The most loyal one.』
"Spare me the empty flattery."
『As if. From the day you saved my life, I realized it—you're truly precious to me.』
"Precious enough to exploit, you mean."
Hillun didn't deny it. Nor did Berge find it insolent.
That was the dynamic between the hero hailed as destined for greatness and the Demon King praised for his potential to be the greatest.
"Heading back to guild headquarters now?"
『Probably.』
"The real priority is seizing control inside the guild."
『Naturally.』
"Once you're in, find out who this Guild Master really is."
『The Hero Guild's Guild Master has been missing for quite some time.』
『The elders claim it's no issue, but vanishing this long screams trouble.』
"Exactly."
Berge's eyes sharpened.
"That's why you need to dig into it."
『A tall order.』
Still.
『Even without your command, I planned to investigate.』
Hillun grinned.
『It's my goal, after all.』
Ending the communication with Hillun, Berge recalled his promise to Reina Sordain.
'Ugar Belbek.'
What gave him the confidence to boast like that to her?
Berge was certain.
'Jason's involved.'
Ugar was like a hedgehog—timid for his size, always bristling with spines, acting with extreme caution.
No way he'd boast without certainty, nor would a guy cowering with a princess in tow suddenly start gathering intel.
Someone had planted that certainty in him. Jason Cockmond was the only suspect.
'On second thought, it might not be that hard to figure out.'
He'd been surprised at first, caught off guard. But pondering it now, it didn't seem so extraordinary.
After all, Jason hadn't actually killed Drakson or encroached on his territory.
Whatever the case, uncovering it mattered—for his deal with Reina, and for himself.
Knock knock.
"Come in. Huh?"
An unexpected visitor.
"Demon King."
"What brings you here?"
It was Kaede.
"If you're not too busy, may I have a moment of your time?"
"Sit."
She hesitated before taking the seat across from him. Too lazy to fetch tea, he rummaged around and spotted the candies he'd gotten from Reina and shoved away haphazardly.
"Have one."
"Ah, thank you."
"What is it?"
"...I'm sorry to bother you with nothing substantial, but could I ask a favor?"
"A favor?"
"...Please help my brother."
"...?"
What was this about?
"I thought you had seven brothers."
"I mean the Third Imperial Prince of the Empire, Martin Jespain."
"Explain so I can understand."
"Not long ago, Ernan shared some news with me."
"Ernan?"
"Yes. Gustav Jespain, the Eighth Prince, is dead."
Come to think of it, she'd mentioned something like that. Probably around the time they were prepping to kidnap Elena.
He hadn't paid it much mind.
Right before his death, the empire's crown prince had given him a hard time, souring any desire to tangle with the empire.
Kidnapping Kaede Jespain had been a fluke—not planned or intentional.
That was it. That summed up Berge's view of ties with the Jespain Empire.
"They say a mid-level Aura knight fell off his horse and died."
"Assassination."
"That's what I think too."
"And the empire buys that?"
"Without evidence, belief doesn't matter."
"The emperor's teaching?"
"Yes."
In some ways, they were demon-like.
Probably the First Prince, the future crown prince.
He'd famously slain countless rivals and kin to claim the bloodstained throne.
Though the Second Prince wasn't impossible—he'd lost to the First but could be plenty ruthless for his goals.
"You may know this, but the empire's embroiled in a succession struggle right now."
He knew. Peak infighting between the First and Second Princes, the First Imperial Princess, and the Third Prince.
The Third went down first, as he recalled.
The First Imperial Consort from a ducal house with power second only to the emperor, birthing the First Prince and Princess.
The Second from a marquis house with vast wealth, mother to the Second Prince.
The Third Imperial Consort, his mother, was sorely outmatched in backing.
Thus, eliminated first.
"So you want me to help the Third Prince now?"
"Yes."
"Denied."
Berge had no interest in linking with the empire. Breaking that stance required clear gains.
The destined crown prince or the Second with his last-stand grit? Maybe.
Using Kaede as a bridge to intervene, twist the future, wield influence—that tempted him.
But the Third was a sinking ship.
"I'm a Demon King, to begin with. Meddling in imperial succession is absurd, and impossible anyway."
In another dimension, sure—brainwash a prince, off the rest, crown him.
But not Alein. Brainwashing needed magic points, and the palace had heroes.
"I'm not asking for your help, Demon King."
"...Are you messing with me?"
"I heard Hillun Kargil is your right hand. I didn't believe it at first, but seeing the elves follow you convinced me it's true."
"So you want me to have Hillun back the Third Prince?"
"Yes."
What a headache. As if Hillun was some miracle worker.
"A hero can't interfere in imperial succession."
The empire hated Hero Guild meddling most, constantly checking the guild's supranational power.
Some Argon from the guild jumping into succession? Disaster.
It wasn't just Hillun's issue.
The guild proclaimed neutrality. Even slaying two Demon Kings couldn't shatter centuries of tradition on a whim.
"I don't even want my brother to become emperor."
"Then?"
"His life. Just keep him alive."
"Not support, just friendly ties. You think a connection to Hillun saves him?"
"No."
"Then?"
"But it raises the odds a bit."
"Your best shot?"
"...Yes."
He got the gist of her thinking.
"If I grant your request, what do you offer me?"
"I'm your knight, Demon King."
"A five-year deal."
"You set those terms."
"That was payment for your freedom—not prison, but tower privileges. Hell, I even assigned Gordon to teach you swordsmanship."
"...What do you want?"
"Gold."
Berge spread his fingers.
"I bought Hillun for 100,000 gold. An imperial prince should be worth at least that."
"...I don't have that kind of money."
"Then we're done."
Truth was, even if she paid, he didn't want empire ties.
"Demon King."
"First the Eighth Prince, then his noble followers, now you gone—the Third's base must be crumbling, with his knight support vanished."
"How do you know all this?"
"Who knows."
The future made it obvious.
They'd targeted the Third first, then turned blades on each other.
Kaede Jespain died then too, he recalled—wiped out on a Demon King subjugation.
'That Demon King was...'
Jason Cockmond.
Kaede failed, the hero party annihilated. Empire raged, but that was it.
'They screamed for Jason's head at first, then... nothing.'
More precisely, no action.
Seemed minor then, but now suspicions piled up.
'Even amid succession wars, an imperial princess dies to a Demon King—not kidnapped, slain—and no revenge?'
Not even pretense. That struck at imperial prestige.
Impossible without some deal.
'Was Jason's hook the empire?'
The sudden doubt stuck like a bone in his throat.
'If Jason has empire ties, then...'
Thoughts chained, swelling to a conclusion.
'He might've been involved in my death...?'
Maybe a leap. But Vivian's case made it plausible.
'No, no.'
Late realization hit—how that incident got buried.
A bigger wave swept it away.
Jespain Empire, Second Prince's death.
With Third gone, strife escalated to near civil war.
Then the Second died absurdly.
'Cause was...'
Heart attack.
Probably First Prince's doing.
Unrelated to Jason.
But the suspicion lingered.
'Might not concern me, but Jason having empire connections isn't far-fetched.'
Jason had human ties. Undeniable.
Maybe use the Third to probe it.
Empire or not.
And bolstering the Third could ignite full civil war.
Weakening the empire.
'Risky.'
Mishandle it, total ruin. But no risk, no reward.
"I've changed my mind."
"Pardon?"
"I'll grant your request."
Berge flashed a chilling smile.
* * *
Vivian Blunt.
Known to humans as the Demon of Lust, she'd struggled to escape her isolated existence.
Her attempt to kidnap Luize Berft failed, heroes stormed her tower, leaving it in ruins.
Unable to counter dimensional interference, the tower's survival wasn't her skill or some hidden ace.
Pathetic mercy—from humans, no less—had saved her.
"How dare they...!"
The direct culprits were the heroes and humans who'd raided. But digging deeper, it wasn't just them.
Jason Cockmond.
He'd warned her repeatedly.
Stay put.
Don't cause trouble.
She ignored him, and this happened. Coincidence?
No.
His words held a clue.
'He's got ties to humans.'
Beyond planted warlocks or dark knights.
A deal or compromise with sane humans.
She wanted to scream about Demon King pride, but...
'Can't blame him. This place is a hellhole.'
Over 4,000 heroes.
Every decent city had one or two. She could hide as a Demon King, but her minions got caught or fled back.
As a succubus, she wasn't the strongest—racial trait. She excelled at manipulating humans, sowing chaos.
But blocked from the start.
A succubus unable to seduce? Half-useless. No, a total fraud.
'What now?'
Forget hunting Drakson's killer. Survival first.
Live to fight another day.
Ironically, she found answers in Jason, who'd pushed her to the brink.
'Jason compromised with humans.'
Whatever form, contact existed.
Meaning...
'Humans here see Demon Kings as bargaining chips?'
In Ma-gye, she'd scoff. But not now. Alein had slain Demon Kings for a millennium, flipping hierarchies.
'Humans. It's all humans.'
Compromise with humans.
But how?
'How else.'
A succubus Demon King's path was one.
She rose from her throne.
"Heina."
"Yes, Demon King."
"I'll be out for a while. Manage the tower."
"Kidnapping royalty?"
"No. Not kidnapping."
She descended the stairs. Adjutant Heina hurried after.
"Then?"
"Seduction."
Never dreamed she'd seduce humans as a Demon King.
"I need this region's power players in my grasp."
If regular succubi couldn't, she'd handle it personally.
The retired Demon King spread her wings of temptation.
< 109. Empire's Intrigue > End