131. Time of the Four Heavenly Kings
Martin forced his blurring vision to stay open.
The guard knight who had been captured alongside him by the Demon King, Sir Kawell, looked worried.
"Your Highness, are you alright?"
"Of course."
He wasn't. He'd been through too much in such a short time.
His head was a mess, his feet sank deep into the snow with every step, and the blizzard tore at his body.
Fortunately, no monsters had appeared, but that alone was enough to gnaw at his mind and body.
Flame Demon King.
Berge Dayas. Martin mulled over the Demon King's name.
I thought he was just a high demon at first. But he was a Demon King.
He'd been too flustered at the beginning to realize it properly, but he'd figured it out quickly enough.
The Demon King came out of his tower and kidnapped me himself.
That much could happen. Demon Kings personally kidnapping royalty or nobility wasn't all that shocking.
But.
Shouldn't a Demon King wait at the top of his tower for the heroes?
That was the canon for Demon Kings. The so-called Demon King's Canon they preached.
There was some room for compromise, of course. The search party wasn't a hero party.
Does that mean the canon Demon Kings follow allows for some leeway, or is it just this Demon King's whim? I can't tell.
The difference was huge. It meant there were Demon Kings who didn't follow the canon—denying everything he'd known up to now.
His worries didn't end there.
Kaede.
She'd made a contract with the Demon King. In exchange for becoming his familiar for five years, she'd gain her freedom afterward.
It seemed fine for now. But her partner was a Demon King. Would it really be honored fully?
If he harms Kaede, I'll never forgive him.
When he was young, his mother—the Third Empress—had passed from illness. Amid his father's indifference, he'd had to compete with his siblings.
In that situation, she was the only blood relative he could trust. More than just family.
She swore on the canon and the first Mahwang, so...
For now, he'd have to believe her.
To Demon Kings and demons, those two were like the World Tree to elves.
He didn't know if they carried the same coercive power as the World Tree, but at least symbolically.
I must become Emperor.
But he couldn't just rely on faith. To end this unfavorable relationship from the start, he needed equality. He needed to become Emperor.
And until then.
He had to serve the Demon King as best he could. He had to prevent his subjugation.
For his own sake.
For Kaede's sake.
That way, the Demon King would help him and wouldn't harm Kaede.
I don't know what butterfly effect giving him that card will have...
It felt like he'd given away everything, but he didn't regret it. If he hadn't, he wouldn't have gotten this other chance.
As long as the Demon King isn't an idiot, he won't reveal the card I gave him recklessly.
Plus, Sir Kawell had been unconscious and missed the negotiation between him and the Demon King.
As long as he kept the secret himself, it was safe.
"Your Highness, footprints."
The pouring blizzard had covered some, but the scale was too large for perfection. Clear human footprints.
"The search party isn't far...!"
At that moment, snow erupted. A shadow loomed.
A massive drake hidden in the snow revealed itself. Cold breath gathered in its open maw.
"Your Highness!"
Sir Kawell shoved the prince aside and wrapped himself in aura.
Thud—
But the expected impact never came. Only the drake's bisected corpse fell.
"Your Highness!"
Beyond it, the great hero who had slain two Demon Kings shouted.
"We've been desperately searching for you, Your Highness!"
He extended a hand. The Third Prince took it.
"Lord Hillun! You saved my life!"
"I scoured the entire mountain to find you, Your Highness. I'm relieved you're safe."
Hillun Kargil, the Third Prince's lifesaver, grinned broadly.
Desire is the most basic driving force of humanity.
Desire for power, for honor, longing for strength, greed for money, the survival instinct to live.
What moved Daphne Philian was honor.
The fame of finding a tower no one else could. The honor and power that followed.
But right now, survival instinct overrode everything.
Only by living could he claim fame, enjoy power, spend money.
Whoosh—
Black flames spewed black light. Raging infernos devoured the surroundings.
Daphne loosed arrows. Five shafts flew in an instant, stirring winds that pushed back the flames. The brief gap let him slip away.
But it didn't last.
Flames rained from the sky again.
Daphne had turned tail the moment he faced the high demon. He couldn't guarantee a frontal fight, but he trusted his speed.
But only for a moment.
The demon spread wings, and escape wasn't so easy anymore.
Flames poured endlessly from above, and any slowdown brought orc presences closer.
His legs grew heavy, his skin melting from the heat. Still, he clung to hope.
Not far...!
He'd found traces of the search party.
The search party has Hillun Kargil and the alliance elites. If we join forces, we can kill those Four Heavenly Kings bastards.
The orcs herding him were easier. Without the Four Heavenly Kings, he could've massacred thousands alone, given time.
Daphne nocked an arrow skyward while urging his heavy steps onward.
If this keeps up...
He'd miss them.
Berge gritted his teeth, batting away the arrow. The biting dimensional interference gnawed at his magic points.
I didn't think it'd be easy, but this rat is even more slippery than I imagined.
He spread his wings. Took to the sky.
Even so, catching Daphne wasn't simple.
The greatest tracker among all heroes. It wasn't just speed.
The bastard was fast and agile, hid his presence expertly, and exploited terrain like second nature.
Hiding in rock crevices, snowdrifts, tree gaps to harass Berge, maintaining precarious distance with unmatched speed.
The orcs couldn't keep up even on frost wolves; it had long become a duel between just the two.
The problem was that Daphne, one of the ten great heroes, was no pushover for Berge.
Even head-on, he was tough; now dead-set on fleeing, impatience grew.
And that anxiety soon became reality.
A group appeared in the distance.
All too familiar. Ones he'd met before.
Berge's face twisted.
...Already?
He'd fled recklessly without regard for front or back, pursued with murderous intent. Days and nights had blurred.
But even so, he'd led Hillun away from the tower's direction.
I realized too late.
He'd botched from the start. Should've caught him before the tower was found. Or killed him the instant it was.
But he'd been distracted by the Third Prince, let Daphne slip, allowed him to find the tower, and gave him ample time to flee leisurely.
Then wasted more time searching late, leading to this.
At least they hadn't spotted Daphne or Berge yet.
Once.
He glanced back. Orcs were far behind, but Ernan was desperately chasing.
Good.
Once.
One chance.
No afters. But at least that bastard.
Berge halted. Floated midair, drew breath.
Air rushed in. Heart pounded. Magic points gathered, compressed.
A massive belch began.
The mountain shook. The artificial ki flow he created was soon detected by the humans.
"Massive magic..."
"What's that?"
"A demon!"
"A demon's appeared!"
At the same time.
"Help!"
Daphne's desperate cry echoed across the snowfield.
"It's Hero Daphne!"
"Daphne!"
"He's being chased by a demon!"
The search party spotted him late.
"Send the knights!"
"Mages, block it!"
"Rangers, snipe the demon!"
Urgent shouts crossed. Martin yelled at Hillun.
"Lord Hillun! Help Lord Daphne now!"
But Hillun had to hesitate.
He'd recognized the demon in the sky.
He felt the rage in its breath, the gathering magic points.
The Demon King himself has come out.
This had never happened before.
The Demon King he knew preferred hiding and manipulating from shadows. Breaking that after descending meant dire urgency.
Why?
For just one hero?
He found the tower...?
That explained everything.
Berge gnashing teeth in pursuit.
The thick killing intent, magic points, rage on display.
The problem was Hillun now stood opposite that Berge.
Pressure from princes behind. Knights charging ahead.
Magic points centered on Berge thickened.
All was pressure.
Step in...?
Save Daphne, and Berge rages.
Berge tolerated no betrayal. Betrayal meant punishment, punishment meant death.
Help Daphne, and Hillun dies.
"Lord Hillun! What are you doing? Block that demon now!"
But hesitate, and princes rage.
Demon before eyes, hero there. Hero attacked by demon. Everyone moved to aid Daphne; none would miss the oddity.
Doubt becomes suspicion post-battle, suspicion turns to fury at Hillun as stakes rise.
Why didn't you help Daphne then? Why not aid him or aggressively repel the demon?
From empire prince, kingdom prince, elites of nations.
......
Hillun bit his lip.
Help, don't, help, don't, help, don't, help, don't, help, don't.
His head felt like bursting.
"Lord Hillun!"
"Help Lord Daphne now!"
"Please help!"
Royals, knights, mages, Daphne's pleas. All pressed him.
Blood dripped from his clenched fist.
And he chose.
Please.
Hoping the other saw his desperation, the signal.
He drew his sword.
Flash—
Lightning struck.
Loathsome interference disrupted Berge's breath.
This fucking bastard...!
Writhing emotions shook the flames further.
Dare betray me?
No, a signal. Like an empty cart rattling loudly, the lightning was a hollow show.
Hillun Kargil's desperate flail to survive.
Can't help it, so pretend, please spare me.
Fine, I'll let it slide once.
Hillun was vital. He didn't want Hillun branded a human traitor by Jespain Empire and kingdoms.
So you too.
Stay out of it yourself.
Berge exhaled held breath.
Toward Daphne's retreating back. Toward the approaching search party trying to save him.
Black breath.
He spewed it.
Dragon's wrath erupted.
The world turned black.
The blizzard split under searing heat.
Horses screamed.
"Block it!"
Mages cast joint spell. A massive shield barred the black flames.
───!
The shield shook. Unresolved shock cleared the blizzard. Vacuum formed instantly.
Crack—
Shield melted. Mages vomited blood.
Shield shattered. Flames seeped through gaps. Knights swung aura.
Shaved flames. Aura shaved away too.
Knights screamed. Melted without corpses left.
Crackle—
Blue lightning tangled with black flames. Halted advance briefly.
In that gap, Daphne released drawn bowstring.
Ten arrows merged into one. Massive wind pressure sucked all in.
Screeeee—
In a blink, met flames. Pierced straight through.
Seemed so.
But opposite. Wind devoured by flames. Made them bigger, fiercer.
Black storm exploded.
Search party screamed.
Steam from snow and flames engulfed everything.
"......"
Deep fatigue hung heavy.
First time since regression he'd gone all out.
Squeezed every magic point into that breath.
To kill Daphne Philian.
Did I...?
Couldn't be sure. No energy to check.
Fingers trembled. Couldn't twitch one.
But he feigned calm. Target was only Daphne; breath focused there.
Power so vast its aftermath swept surroundings, but alliance search party wasn't weak enough for mere shockwaves to wipe them.
Berge descended slowly to ground. Or crashed. Ernan rushed, caught him.
"Are you okay?"
"...Yeah."
Wasn't. Heart screamed like bursting.
Breath wasn't mere magic—authority. Overuse backlash natural.
"...Daphne Philian?"
"Can't see well through steam."
"Orcs?"
"Coming. Arriving soon."
"If Daphne lives, find and kill him for sure."
"My lord..."
"Need a short rest."
"Shall I sing a lullaby?"
"...Wanna die?"
"Leave the aftermath to me. Don't worry."
As your Four Heavenly King, I'll show you.
"Daphne Philian. Must kill him."
"Yes. Trust only me."
"...Yours."
For a split second, betrayal worry flickered, but he shook head. If Ernan betrayed, chances aplenty.
Yeah. So betrayal chance... is...
Consciousness faded. Ernan gently closed his eyes.
—You really gonna kill Daphne Philian?
"I'm a Four Heavenly King now."
—Pretty serious, huh.
"At least more than Nairuniel's lovey-dovey nonsense. Bury my lord in snow. Keep hidden."
Ernan laid Berge down. Snow swallowed him.
"I owe my lord quite a debt."
Demon King called it a deal, but grace to her. Escaped prison-like place, tower gains advanced her spirit arts hugely.
Saved sister kidnapped by Demon King. Thanks to him, she started magic, frail body slowly normalizing.
Received more than given.
"Grace must be repaid."
—If you say so.
"Won't touch others though."
She wasn't a blood-mad killer.
"Keep steam up. Find Hero Hillun too."
—Got it.
"From now."
She lifted her mask.
"Four Heavenly King."
Ferocious smile curled lips.
"Time of the Dark Spirit Summoner."
< 131. Time of the Four Heavenly Kings > End