< 125. Persuasion >
Berge was scheming to turn the entire tower into a weapon, and the two Demon Kings were deep in serious conversation, when the Empire dispatched envoys to the three kingdoms.
"You'll find the Flame Demon Tower for us, so cooperate?"
"Yes. Here is a personal letter from His Imperial Majesty the Emperor."
The chamberlain accepted the letter and presented it to the king of Korzen. After scanning the contents, the king asked the envoy.
"Do you know what is written here?"
"I am merely a messenger delivering His Majesty's letter."
"Catarina Jespain."
The envoy flinched.
"Do you know how I learned your name?"
"You seem to take great interest in the Empire."
"Who doesn't? But recognizing the 11th princess, who rarely appears in public, at a glance is another matter."
"The letter?"
"When I first heard the Empire's proposal from your own mouth, I was pleased yet troubled."
No one welcomed the news of a Demon King's tower lurking nearby, its exact location unknown.
Of course, it was ideal if the Empire took the initiative and dealt with it. But pure cooperation was impossible—after all, the Empire had a history of using hero expeditions as excuses to devour other nations.
Even if it was centuries ago, the Empire remained an untrustworthy hyena.
Various promises and commitments, sealed with the Imperial stamp.
"The letter contains various promises, stamped with the Emperor's seal. And it says you're sent as a token of trust."
"······."
"What answer do you think I should give?"
"You could just take me into custody."
"Did you hear that?"
"Yes, Your Majesty."
The knights approached. The envoy's entourage instinctively moved to resist, but stopped at Catarina Jespain's restraint.
"Then, may I take that as a positive response from Your Majesty?"
"I thought I'd already answered."
Catarina bowed her head.
"Thank you for your wise decision."
Then she meekly walked toward the knights.
"Let's go."
It wasn't just Korzen. The same scene was unfolding in the other two kingdoms.
Three princes and princesses were detained.
There are no perfect secrets in this world.
Especially as more people know, and more organizations or nations get involved.
The Jespain Empire had tried to keep it secret, but couldn't hide assembling a search party.
"The Jespain Empire is searching for the Flame Demon Tower."
Whispered intelligence report
The chamberlain poured Antura Porin 1311 vintage into an empty glass. The room filled with the fragrant aroma of the wine.
The Empire's bustling movements had reached even Hildean.
The king carefully reviewed the report.
"Flame Demon Tower."
And the Flame Demon King.
The vermin den that had kidnapped the kingdom's heir.
Unlike other Demon Kings, it remained hidden even after a year since descent—no one had found it.
The Demon King who had snatched Elena back from the Diamond Demon Tower rescue just days later, thoroughly humiliating the kingdom.
The Flame Demon King and Hildean had crossed an irreversible river.
Hildean had to destroy the tower to save its two princesses—or the Demon King would have to annihilate Hildean first if it didn't want that.
They were locked in an unending grudge until one killed the other.
And it was the Flame Demon King who had started it all.
"What do you think?"
"If the Empire takes the lead, there's no reason to refuse. We should lend a hand."
The chamberlain offered his counsel.
"But there are some questionable points."
"Questionable?"
"The black mage confessed it. We've never heard of a black mage betraying their Demon King."
"Does the Empire not know that?"
The king chuckled dryly.
"They know."
"Regardless of their ulterior motives, will the Empire readily take the hand we offer?"
Relations between Hildean and Jespain weren't bad. But they weren't particularly good either.
Just middling, with mutual envy of each other's success.
No meddling, but no sharing either.
"No reason to refuse."
The official hero expedition hadn't started yet. The Empire's current alliance with the three northern kingdoms was solely to find the tower, and no one knew how much time and effort the vast, treacherous Erjest Mountains would demand.
If Hildean pitched in, refusal was unlikely given the total burden.
"Besides, hero expeditions can't involve the Empire's regular army. They could join incognito, but only partially. The core is always the heroes."
"True. And we happen to have a suitable hero?"
"Exactly."
A hero from Hildean, deeply involved on the Empire's side while receiving Hildean's support.
Hildean's hero who had publicly vowed before the masses to rescue the two princesses someday.
"Send an envoy to the Empire and make contact with Hillun Kargil."
"As you command."
The king clenched his fist. The glass shattered under the pressure.
Yet he paid it no mind.
"Finally."
Finally.
"The day has come to tear that damned Demon King limb from limb."
The day to avenge the kingdom's humiliation—his humiliation—was near.
The day to reclaim the kingdom's heir, too.
Berge ruminated on his memories from before the regression.
The Empire had come charging, and he'd tried to block them. But he'd failed eventually.
And died.
'Can't repeat the same mistake.'
He'd decided to block them for now, but he knew better than anyone that mere defense wouldn't win.
Simply blocking wasn't enough. He needed something fundamental to stop the Empire from launching the hero expedition at all.
'But how?'
The Empire was already mobilizing, and as conflict escalated, it snowballed into an unstoppable carriage.
'Can't stop the start. Just make them give up at some point.'
For that, create justification—or distract them.
'Stir trouble in the Empire?'
But how?
Then, Hillun Kargil's words flashed in his mind.
'Martin Jespain.'
He was coming to Erjest with Hillun. His ambitions weren't light.
What if his desire to become Emperor was no smaller than the first prince's? He'd just hidden it behind a mild mask due to unfavorable circumstances, never able to unfold it before dying early?
And if Berge himself helped him...
'Stick to the original plan?'
Empower Martin to fracture the Empire.
'Capture him and make him a subordinate.'
Not kidnapping. He'd send him back.
And if Martin, upon return, somehow blocked the Empire's hero expedition...
'Perfect.'
Of course, the odds were minuscule. Logically, no reason for the Empire's third prince to serve a Demon King...
"...but there is."
If his greed for the throne outweighed all, and he knew his position best, it wasn't impossible.
And add a dash of persuasion from close blood kin.
Berge summoned Kaede.
"...You're saying my brother is joining the search and coming here? Not the hero expedition?"
"The Empire and the three northern kingdoms will cooperate to search for the tower. The Empire's representative is the third prince."
"...I see."
"You have a job."
"I don't follow."
"Persuade the third prince."
"...Pardon?"
Kaede's eyes widened more than when she'd heard about the Dark Knight.
"You heard right."
"...My brother is an imperial prince."
"And you're a princess."
"······."
Kaede swallowed her words, lips moving silently.
She clearly wanted to say plenty, but held back since he was the Demon King and she his subordinate.
"I'm not asking you, or ordering you. Just informing you."
"...What do you mean?"
If ordered, Kaede would obey. She was steeped in knightly honor and, for now, a subordinate.
But not wholeheartedly, not her best effort to persuade Martin. Berge wanted her full commitment.
"Know this: In facing enemies, killing the legion commander is basic strategy."
Hence, not a request, order, or persuasion—but notice.
"If the third prince climbs the mountain with the imperial army, I'll prioritize him. I'll order Krutoo to take his head."
"I'll flood monsters toward his position."
"I'll tell Roger to make him the mana cannon's top target."
"Him."
"I will."
"Absolutely."
"Kill him."
Each word hammered home. Kaede's paling face was no illusion.
"...Demon King."
"His futures are many: beheaded by Krutoo, devoured by monsters, crushed in an avalanche, body blasted by mana cannon."
"Demon King."
"But the end is one. He won't leave Erjest alive. I'll ensure it."
"Demon King!"
Kaede shouted, face flushed with agitation.
"...I'll persuade my brother."
"No need to force it."
"No. I will... I absolutely will."
"As expected of my loyal knight."
Berge smiled contentedly.
"My promises to him are two."
"Two?"
"One is his life."
"Yes."
"The other is the Empire."
"...Yes?"
"I swear on the great first Mahwang and the Demon King's Canon: if the third prince allies with me, I intend to make him Emperor."
"...Ernan says something."
"What?"
"Be most wary when you swear on the first Mahwang and the Canon..."
"······."
This brat.
Overused it?
"...In exchange, he becomes your subordinate?"
"We'll see."
Not a hero, so black mage or black knight possible.
But black mages or knights reveal magic points upon use—not ideal.
'Use Armani's Orb.'
Unlike black mage/knight contracts exchanging magic points, Armani's Orb merely constrains the soul—an artifact.
No magic point exposure, no inherent use.
Drawbacks: can't grant power, high magic point cost, melts instantly if resisted—but if Kaede persuaded well...
"...But don't you lack the power to make my brother Emperor?"
Not dismissal. She'd witnessed Berge's meticulous cruelty.
She just knew the Empire's might. No Demon King could meddle in its succession—that was her pride.
"Of course."
Berge admitted it. Despite his words, he couldn't arbitrarily crown anyone.
But.
"I'm a Demon King. As long as humans and demons are official enemies, I can make him rack up merits. A third prince could exploit that aid, no?"
"...I obey your command, Demon King."
"That's my Dark Knight."
"...Please don't call me that."
"Ernan already thinks of you that way."
"...If you stop her."
"Can't guarantee that."
"······."
Kaede pondered deeply.
Was this the same meticulous, vicious Demon King she'd seen?
'With my own hands, my brother...'
Persuade him to become the Demon King's dog?
'My brother is different from me.'
Same father, same mother, but unlike her lack of ambition for the throne, Martin burned with desire to be Emperor.
He was a good brother, but not purely kind or ambitionless.
She knew best, watching closely, how badly he wanted the throne.
So she wanted to help—as knight, as his sword.
If impossible, through political marriage.
But the match was Ormus's dying king—unbearable.
She hadn't planned to abandon hero and knight paths to be Ormus's ornament.
So she escaped, became a great hero to aid Martin. Failed, kidnapped, serving the Demon King—but her feelings for Martin remained.
Hence, the dilemma.
Berge Dayas delivered. He never lied.
'To save brother's life, must persuade him.'
But would Martin want that?
Did his throne desire, his thirst for life, outweigh becoming a Demon King's dog?
Unclear.
'Still...'
As promised the Demon King, she'd give her all.
For Martin Jespain was the sole warmth in the Empire's icy royals, like frost flowers.
< 125. Persuasion > End