013. The Spy
『Join Hillun Kargil's hero party as a mercenary.』
『Help him to the best of your ability and build your reputation.』
"Is this really an order from the Demon King?"
『From the Demon King. Watch your manners.』
"Come on, Demon King or whatever—it's still weird, isn't it? What Demon King in the world tells someone to help a hero?"
『How could a worm like you possibly understand His profound intentions?』
"And you know them so well?"
『Shut up and obey the command.』
Granada chuckled at the low growl.
"Well, what choice does a slave have? Fine. But who knows, maybe I'll end up cutting off the Demon King's head at this rate. Too loyal to the orders, you know."
『As expected of you pale-skinned folk—you only learn after you're dead.』
"And you dark-skinned ones are no fun."
The two elves locked eyes across the crystal orb. A strange tension hung in the air. Gordon turned away first.
『How could the Demon King take in a thug like that... Tsk.』
He snorted lightly and cut off the connection. Granada scratched the bridge of his nose.
"What the hell is he scheming?"
Join the hero party that's coming to subjugate him?
Granada gauged the gap between himself and the Demon King.
During the battle in the tower, he'd been far from normal after years of enslavement. His body was sickly, his skills rusted—he'd been no better than a cripple.
But now?
Not perfect yet, but he could take five of his old selves at once.
And yet.
"Can't get a read on him."
A freshly descended Demon King, yet this strong? It didn't make sense. And that eccentricity too.
"Guess I don't need to worry about it."
Strong or weak, he'd sworn on the World Tree. He'd serve for a century unless the Demon King died.
It wasn't a short time for an elf, but he had no regrets. Better to serve the Demon King and kill humans than live pathetically as their slave.
'Especially that damn bastard.'
The hunter who'd captured him and sold him to the slavers.
Grinding his teeth, Granada snapped out of it and left the secret room. He smacked the backs of the heads of Bark and the other mercenaries, who were drowning in booze.
"Ow! What the hell, boss?!"
"Orders from the lord."
"Finally?"
"Yeah. We're joining the hero party."
"Hillun Kargil?"
"Hero of Hildean?"
"Ah, so that's why you've been commissioning the intel guild for hero info? To team up?"
"Something like that."
Not really, but it was a decent fit. Maybe that was the Demon King's real intent.
"But Hillun Kargil's party will have tons of rivals."
A hero who'd already beheaded a Demon King wasn't for just anyone. With success guaranteed, more hyenas would swarm for scraps.
"That's why we gotta hurry."
To become the biggest hyena among them.
"...What is this?"
Gordon, who'd descended after relaying the Demon King's orders to Granada, halted at the sight of the fourth floor.
"You're here?"
The princess beamed and welcomed him.
"I tried decorating it like a landscape the spirits would love. What do you think?"
"A landscape they'd love... I see."
Yeah, the spirits would probably love a scene like this.
"Is this a river?"
"I wanted to make it a full-on massive river, but my power's limited, so a valley stream's the best I could do."
Water spirits frolicked in the winding stream cutting through part of the fourth floor.
"And this tree..."
An earth spirit dangled asleep from a branch.
Fire spirits danced around a bonfire, and wind spirits stirred the stagnant tower air.
'She handles all four elements, huh. It's real.'
"Forest over here, grassland there. Refreshing, right?"
"Very refreshing."
Too refreshing. A gentle breeze tickled Gordon's hair.
It was an ecosystem in itself.
Creating a natural habitat inside the Demon King's tower.
Small-scale, but the princess was no ordinary woman.
"I could've decked out the whole fourth floor right away, but mana here's too thin or something?"
"You've done remarkably well despite that."
Of course. The Demon King's tower overflowed with magic points, making mana scarce.
To wield this much power anyway deserved praise. If she weren't a kidnapped princess. And if it weren't in the tower of the master he served.
'I wanna smash it all.'
If not for the Demon King's orders, he would've. Forced the spirits back, dragged the princess to the underground dungeon.
'Gotta make sure no heroes ever reach the third floor or above.'
Gordon burned with a sense of duty. This dignity-shattering sight must never reach other humans.
'Why's he treating a human princess like this?'
He got that Alein was different from other dimensions, so some conveniences made sense. But this was way beyond "some."
"Oh, right—did the Demon King say anything about heading out for more spirit herbs?"
"That's for the Demon King to decide."
"Ah, got it. Sorry."
The princess bowed her head. So Gordon didn't see her expression.
It was twisted.
He couldn't deny it anymore.
A brilliant craftsman, but one who'd kidnapped a hero.
Staring at the dwarf's ass ahead made killing intent boil.
Not the one who'd killed him or mocked him atop the tower, but still a hero.
They all deserved limbs torn off and necks crushed.
Just kidnap another craftsman. Rumors might've spread among dwarves, but with resolve, it wasn't impossible.
But Berge held back.
Because he was a hero.
Because he'd died being used by heroes.
'Not like I can't...'
use one myself.
Wouldn't it be more fun to make him crawl like a dog, use him like trash—repay tenfold, no, a thousandfold the humiliation he'd endured?
Thinking that suppressed his rage, barely.
Opening his eyes, he saw the ass again. Irritation surged.
Secret passage, he'd said—yet this undignified crawl. Intentional?
Smash the ass? He pondered, then dismissed it. Too likely to kill him outright.
"This heads to the exit, right?"
"Y-yeah."
But it led deeper underground. A small mine appeared.
Berge silently smacked the dwarf's head. He yelped.
"There, through there—leads to the exit! Old abandoned mine; I dug a new path!"
One hit and his tone turned polite. Not bad.
"One more chance. If it's a lie again, it won't be fun."
"It wasn't a lie to begin with..."
"......"
"N-no! Uh, one question?"
Berge nodded slightly.
"Why kidnap a hero like me?"
"You offered to go instead of the princess."
"Even so..."
Heroes and Demon Kings were water and oil. No tales of Demon Kings sparing heroes or vice versa.
'Well, there are some...'
But those were different.
Not climbing to the top wasn't "sparing" the Demon King.
"Stop dawdling and lead."
"Y-yes!"
Roger squeezed through a narrow gap.
"You expect me to fit?"
"Secret passage I dug—entrance is tight. Widens inside, just bear with it..."
Crunch—
The entrance partially collapsed. The wall pinning Roger vanished.
"Impressive. Not that narrow after all."
"...Touch wrong and the tunnel collapses."
"Yet it didn't."
"W-well, lucky it didn't, but underground it's always..."
"Makes me wonder if you're stalling to keep me here."
"N-no way! L-let's go quick!"
The passage was steep stairs. Roger huffed upward on short legs.
'What now?'
He'd escaped the Demon King under threat, but the future was unpredictable.
Escape impossible. Why spare him over the princess?
"...What'll you do with me?"
"Wanna live?"
The piercing question made Roger flinch.
He was a hero. A weird one who didn't hunt or subjugate like others, but still...
A proud hero who wouldn't beg for life before a Demon King...
"...I wanna live."
Roger whimpered. If he could toss life away like trash, he'd roam battlefields, not workshops. Hero status wasn't by choice.
"Hmm."
Cold steel grazed his neck. Roger collapsed.
"Why should a Demon King like me spare a hero like you?"
"I-I'm useful! Combat's crap for a hero, but my craftsmanship's top-notch!"
"Just one of many dwarves."
"No! Self-praise, but in the dwarf kingdom, everyone's heard of Roger! Top craftsman among dwarves!"
"Fine, say it's all true."
Roger nodded furiously at the Demon King's concession.
"But a hero using that skill for a Demon King? You think that makes sense?"
"Why wouldn't it?!"
Roger racked his brain desperately.
"Hero Pallas bought a princess kidnapped by the False Demon King—for a fortune."
"Hotenwork's king allied with the False Demon King."
"Diamond Demon King cleared monsters in Ians Forest on Iasin Kingdom's request!"
"Frost Demon King let twelve heroes who entered her tower leave unharmed!"
He spat out insider rumors like bullets—ones whispered among royals and heroes.
"Heroes and Demon Kings cooperating in secret isn't news! Why can't I serve you?!"
Poke—
Laughter answered his desperate cry.
Invisible behind, but Roger guessed the smirk.
Approval or mockery? Sweat poured in tension.
"Come for the princess, end up courted by a pint-sized dwarf."
"At least utility-wise, I'm more useful than most! Make me a spy!"
"I decide that, not you."
"Of course!"
Hmm.
The Demon King stroked his chin briefly.
"Not sure if a runt like you is useful..."
Silence. Roger's breath grew ragged. He trembled.
"But if you beg and cry this hard, I could show mercy. I'm a generous Demon King."
Roger spun and slammed his head to the floor.
"Thank you! Truly! Glory to the great Demon King!"
"Rise."
The Demon King's hand lifted him.
"Please..."
He patted his shoulder with a smile.
"don't forget that resolve today, little hero."
If he did.
"Your worst fears won't come true."
"Never! I'll etch today's grace into my bones! Thank you, truly!"
'I-I lived. Lived...!'
Legs gave out; Roger slumped. He swallowed snot, wiped tears.
'No more tangling with princesses.'
The Demon King might use him as a spy, but he'd avoid it otherwise.
And slip away when the Demon King's guard was down.
No more such misfortune—or freak luck of a Demon King freeing a hero.
He vowed it, firmly, unyieldingly.
Relief of survival. A faint smile crossed Roger's face.