111. The Third Prince and Hillun
Connecting with royalty wasn't easy.
The status of imperial family members in the empire surpassed any imagination, and naturally, their necks were held stiff with pride.
They wouldn't meet just anyone who asked, nor could they.
But a hero like Hillun Kargil changed the equation.
"Hillun Kargil?"
Martin Jespain, the third prince of the Jespain Empire, tilted his head at the unexpected report.
"You're saying Hillun Kargil has come to see me?"
"Yes, Your Highness."
"Why?"
"Well..."
"No, wait a moment."
Martin shook his head after pondering.
Forming a connection with Hillun Kargil was something anyone would desire. But the timing was poor.
The empire was embroiled in fierce covert struggles among the royals, overflowing with vultures ready to pounce and tear at the slightest opening.
Especially for the third prince, whose support base was weaker than his siblings', every step felt like walking a knife's edge.
Even a seemingly innocent meeting with a hero like Hillun Kargil could be twisted by the Hero Guild's Argans into something incriminating.
"Turn him away."
"But, Your Highness."
"What is it?"
"He asked me to deliver this."
It was a small wooden box.
Click.
The box had no special magical treatment. Inside lay a single small necklace, dangling loosely.
"...!"
For Martin Jespain, it was a necklace he could never overlook.
"...Guide him to the reception room at once."
"Yes!"
The knight dashed off.
"How did he get this...?"
Martin carefully lifted the tarnished necklace. A faint warmth seemed to emanate from the cold metal.
Kaede.
Why was your necklace, which should be in the Demon King's tower, here?
Martin murmured his sister's name.
True to its reputation as the continent's greatest city, the imperial capital was vast.
And the palace within the inner citadel was no different.
Its interiors were opulent, its defenses ironclad. Berge and Hillun walked a long corridor under the watchful eyes of vigilant knights.
Passing a grand garden, they finally arrived at the third prince's annex.
"Welcome. His Highness awaits."
The attendant guarding the reception room greeted them, his gaze sharpening.
"I respect you. I respect your achievements. But if you dare insult His Highness with your arrogance, you won't see the end of it."
Hillun replied without a flicker of expression at the blunt words.
"Does the empire treat its heroes this way?"
"His Highness had no intention of meeting you originally—and still shouldn't. But you insisted on this risk with that necklace of unknown origin. Isn't my anger, as his servant, quite justified?"
"Did the third prince order you to yap like this? So impertinent."
Berge chuckled. The attendant's face twisted. The knights growled.
"How dare you!"
"You seeking death?"
"Pale."
Hillun stepped in front of Berge. Then, a voice came from beyond the door.
"Enter."
"...However, Your Highness."
"They are my guests."
"...Consider yourself lucky. Be grateful for His Highness's mercy."
The knights stepped aside. The door opened.
Beyond lavish decorations and fine hardwood stood the man.
His golden hair, symbolizing the empire's wealth, was luxuriantly thick.
His emerald eyes gazing at Berge and Hillun were deep, his build sturdy, exuding an extraordinary presence.
He resembles her.
He bore a striking resemblance to Kaede Jespain.
"Sit."
"Yes."
The two sat before him. The attendant exited, and the door closed.
"You are Hillun, and you are Pale."
"That's right."
"The pure mana you possess has the mages of Akan obsessed, and it turns out to be true."
"Thanks for the praise."
He refrained from commenting on the arrogant tone. Instead, he turned to Hillun.
"I had no intention of meeting you. Do you know why?"
"I have a rough idea."
"And yet you lured me in, so it must be that important?"
"I believe the necklace I brought answers that sufficiently."
"It depends on what it means."
Martin produced the necklace. Then, he removed an identical one from his own neck.
"This is the necklace my mother gave me and Kaede. No one else could have it—it's custom-made."
"Yes."
"How did it end up in your hands?"
How.
"How did you obtain it?"
"I'll explain. That's why I sought you out, Your Highness."
"You'd better make it convincing. Something I can believe. The truth only."
"Of course. This necklace came from Kaede Jespain herself."
"...!"
Martin's face contorted.
"I said make it convincing."
"I am."
"I know your exploits without needing to dig deep. You didn't go to the Erjest Mountains after Kaede was kidnapped?"
"I said I received it from her. I never said I got it."
"Continue."
"Do you know what happened in Hotenwork a few months ago?"
"Akan sent La Vinia Akan ahead to search for the Demon King's tower?"
"At that time, I had the Red Hawk squad's deputy leader, the elf Granada, join them."
"He found Kaede? When Akan's group couldn't even locate the tower?"
"No. They didn't find the tower, and naturally, not Kaede either."
But.
"Kaede came to Granada."
"...Spouting nonsense to imperial royalty in the heart of the empire. Does your status as the Hero Guild's Argan protect you?"
Martin was furious.
A thousand years had passed since the Demon King descended and kidnapped royalty.
In that millennium, there had been hundreds of kidnappings and rescues. But never once had a kidnapped royal broken free and escaped the tower on their own.
"Just because it hasn't happened doesn't mean it never will. Do you know? A Demon King's tower can't be forcibly opened without a hero. And Kaede is a hero."
"How Demon Kings treat kidnapped royalty varies. But one thing's common: they bind them so they can't escape. I know my sister well. She's a hero and fine knight, but not overwhelmingly so to break such bonds by force."
Hillun Kargil.
Martin growled.
"The Hero Guild puffs you up, and you see no bounds? How dare you insult an imperial prince of the empire! Guards!"
Knights burst in at his roar.
"Your Highness! Are you alright?"
They drew swords, aiming at Hillun and Berge. Berge clicked his tongue at the killing intent pointed at his own throat.
Gauging that Hillun wasn't exploding, he continued the conversation.
"I assure you, I've spoken no lies. Your Highness, do you know? Akan's search party was in earnest. Mages, knights, golems, chimeras—a massive operation."
"And?"
"Conversely, what of the Flame Demon King? His reputation's inflated by my failure and the kidnappings of Hildean and Jespain princesses, but he's barely a year past summoning. All Demon Kings have clear limits early on."
Martin didn't respond. Hillun pressed on.
"The Flame Demon King can't be that strong. To face Akan's forces, he sent monster hordes. You know familiars are limited in number."
"So Kaede slipped out during the weakened defenses? With the Demon King there?"
"The tower's prison is underground. The Demon King stays at the top."
"Kaede escaped through the gap in defenses?"
"That's what I think."
Puhahaha!
Martin laughed. He guffawed loudly. Then stopped abruptly. Heavy pressure bore down on Hillun.
"Are you toying with me?"
"I know it's unlikely. But please consider it calmly."
"Consider?"
"I didn't find the tower. Akan didn't either. Yet Kaede's necklace is in my hands. If not for what I've said, does that seem possible?"
Impossible.
But Martin couldn't answer readily. Hillun's words rang true, yet something felt off.
"Then where is my sister?"
"I didn't go myself, so I can't say for sure. But according to Granada, while ascending Erjest, he spotted a frantic figure but couldn't identify them amid a monster attack."
"And he found this necklace at that spot?"
"Yes."
"No one from Akan saw Kaede?"
"Elf vision differs from human."
"Doesn't it feel too scripted?"
"Reality can be more dramatic than theater."
"Interesting."
No, it wasn't.
Martin suppressed the urge to behead the hero before him.
His story was suspicious, but the necklace was genuine. The necklace explained it all.
"So nothing changes. Just gained a necklace. And the claim she gave it directly is a lie."
"No different from direct. Granada met her eyes. And it's not nothing gained."
"...?"
"That location. If the necklace's owner is indeed Kaede Jespain, isn't her last sighting the biggest clue to finding the tower?"
"...!"
After a silence, Martin spoke.
"So, what do you want?"
"Help me."
"With what?"
"To rescue Kaede."
"Why you?"
"So you'll help me in return. Since my hero quest failed, my goal's always been one."
Hillun unleashed deliberate fury. The knights flinched at the menace.
"Find and destroy the tower. Rescue Hildean's two princesses. And Your Highness's sister, Kaede Jespain."
"Even if motives differ, shared goals mean we can sail the same ship."
Please.
"Help me topple the Flame Tower."
Hillun bowed with a trembling voice. His sincerity weighed on Martin, who closed his eyes again.
And Berge.
I told him to do it, but it's annoying.
He barely suppressed his boiling killing intent.
He wanted to incinerate the back of Hillun's head.
Contacting the prince was hard.
And to stay close, guide his direction smoothly, they needed deeper ties—harder still.
They needed a proper pretext.
Berge and Hillun deliberated and reached a conclusion.
Since the issue tying them was Kaede-related, use it again.
"Are you sure about this?"
"They'll hunt my tower regardless. Better to use it and steer toward my goals."
It aligned with Hillun's rightful vengeance.
And the sibling bond between Kaede and Martin.
Some tower info might leak, but they didn't care. Erjest's harsh terrain and Frost Orcs allowed preemptive strikes before ascent.
"...How can I trust you after one failure?"
Martin finally spat it out.
Berge and Hillun sensed connection.
"I failed once, but many heroes haven't even that experience. I've roamed Erjest longest and gained a clue, however small."
"I hear Hildean supports you?"
"More support is always better, no?"
"Greedy."
"I understand your caution, but Akan failed too. No preparation's enough."
"...Guide them to rooms."
"Your Highness?"
"Now."
"Yes!"
"Follow!"
The knights sheathed swords and gestured.
But neither Hillun nor Berge rose.
Martin's face soured.
"What is this?"
"I know your concerns, Your Highness. The empire's situation too."
"Watch your tongue. Even Hillun Kargil's fame doesn't make this your affair—it's the empire's."
"I'm offering beneficial advice. We passed Hamstline Gorge on the way."
"Hamstline Gorge?"
"Rumored site of five Demon King towers, piqued my curiosity. Anyway, I found something intriguing there."
"What do you mean?"
"I didn't fully explore inside, so I can't say for sure."
However.
"Gather artifacts imbued with interference power or heroes. It'll solidify your position."
"...What?"
"We'll take our leave, Your Highness. Call when you've decided."
Berge and Hillun departed.
"Any guesses?"
"Hamstline's where five Demon Kings descended. Residual magic points linger."
"He mentioned heroes and dimensional interference."
"Monsters warped by magic aren't new. Probably that."
"If minor, no need to tell me."
"Hm."
A normal hero, he'd dismiss. But it was Hillun Kargil.
"Dispatch someone discreetly."
"Yes."
"I'll reply after."
"Yes."
The knight bowed.