140. Currents Surrounding the Tower (2)
Preparations to welcome Hillun Kargil and the Hildean delegation were complete.
But that was merely the end of one task—and the beginning of another. The real all-out effort would go into attaching legs to the tower, and all the groundwork that entailed.
"...What do you mean by that, my lord Demon King?"
The dwarf hero, Roger Friedri, blinked in disbelief. His voice trembled as he denied reality.
"I must have misheard you, right?"
"You heard me correctly."
"Ah."
Roger collapsed to the floor with a thud. Unfortunately, only the Demon King and he were present, so no one was there to catch him.
"No, you can't!"
"Can't I?"
"Sell the mana cannons? My children? How could you even think of it?"
"If the tower falls, the mana cannons are worthless anyway."
"Fine. I'll concede a hundred times that selling them makes sense. You could use the proceeds to buy materials for the tower's legs. But!"
No matter how much he conceded!
"To lower the performance of my masterpieces with my own hands? That's like killing me twice!"
"Listen well."
"No matter what you say, I won't do that. Just sell them as they are!"
"Very well. I'll respect your opinion."
Berge considered barking orders but changed tack. That approach wouldn't motivate Roger.
"Really?"
"Which means you'll bear the consequences."
"Consequences?"
"Suppose we sell the mana cannons as they are."
"Yes."
"People will obviously realize they're dwarf-made. Your craftsmanship is superb."
"Of course. They're leagues beyond anything those puny humans could make."
Ahem. The dwarf puffed up his chest proudly, shrugging his shoulders.
"Naturally, the other dwarves will notice too."
"Sure. My skill is so phenomenal even fellow dwarves would be amazed."
"And word will surely reach the ears of Berft Kingdom's second princess."
"...Pardon?"
"Isn't it obvious? Dwarves designate mana cannons as strategic weapons and ban their export. You know that, right?"
"O-Of course."
"So, if dwarf-made mana cannons start flooding human trade caravans in large numbers, how do you think they'll react?"
They'd launch an investigation, of course.
And after digging and digging and digging some more, the arrow of suspicion would point straight to...
"The princess who defied her orders, fled, and still hasn't shown her face? Doesn't that sound right, Roger Friedri?"
...Gulp.
Roger swallowed hard.
He could picture it all too vividly: Luize Berft charging in with a roar, a massive axe gripped in her hands.
And that axe smashing his skull to pieces.
"Of course, you're safe in the Demon King's tower for now—she can't touch you. But someday, if you step outside..."
"Your words are wisdom itself, my lord Demon King!"
"No, I'll respect your opinion. If you're willing to face all that just to protect a dwarf artisan's pride."
"No, no! You're right, my lord! Dwarf-made mana cannons are far too good for humans! We should nerf their performance down to human level— that's the way to go!"
"You don't have to say that for my sake. I've already made up my mind."
"Please, my lord!"
Roger clutched at Berge's pant leg. Berge grimaced at the flood of tears, snot, and spit.
"Listen well, Roger Friedri."
"Yes, sir!"
"I am the Demon King."
And you are my subordinate.
So.
"When I say do it, you do it. Got it?"
"Of course!"
"Go. Downgrade the mana cannons' performance. You don't need to do all of them—just start with a hundred."
"At your service!"
Roger bowed deeply and scurried out.
"One more hurdle cleared."
The massive project of mobilizing the tower was overcoming obstacle after obstacle, one small mountain at a time.
"This is an honor. The hero who found the Flame Demon Tower wants a private word with me."
The maids brought tea.
"It was my brother who said not to act rashly."
"True. If I'd known we'd find it this easily, I'd have moved first. Right?"
"It wasn't exactly easy. We found it in a relatively short time, but not without great hardship and sacrifice."
"Fair enough. Daphne Philian did die, after all. Oh, one thing I want to ask."
"Me?"
"You have questions for me, and I have one for you."
"What is it?"
"The Four Heavenly Kings. Those demons with that childish name."
"......"
Martin Jespain had encountered two of the Four Heavenly Kings: the Dark Spirit Summoner and the Dark Knight. And hilariously, the Dark Knight was his beloved little sister, Kaede Jespain.
He hadn't realized it at first amid the chaos, but reflecting on Kaede's case, the Four Heavenly Kings were likely princesses kidnapped by the Demon King.
The Dark Spirit Summoner is probably...
Hildean Kingdom's crown princess, Ernan Hildean.
Her spirit arts were renowned not just in Hildean but across the continent.
Setting aside how a human like her—and Kaede—could emit demonic mana, he couldn't admit it outright. That would be selling out his own sister.
"Haven't you already heard?"
"It's different hearing it from you directly."
"I only met the Dark Spirit Summoner."
"Good. That's who intrigues me. I've never heard of these Four Heavenly Kings before. Probably the Flame Demon King's twisted hobby. I assume they're high demons. Right?"
"...Probably."
"What was your Dark Spirit Summoner like?"
"In what way?"
"Everything."
"Powerful. A wave of her hand summoned a tsunami of snow that engulfed the entire search party. I couldn't see much after the avalanche and barrier, but she unleashed fireballs that shattered the shield."
"Water and fire spirits, then."
"Monsters swarmed the search party afterward. That was the end of the Dark Spirit Summoner's involvement."
"If she casts one spell and vanishes, maybe demons suffer backlash from handling spirits. Good. So why are you here?"
"You knew?"
"You left out the subject. But if I did know?"
Ployan didn't ask what. The questions Martin would have after meeting the emperor were obvious.
"What did His Majesty say?"
"That this unprecedented Demon King must be subjugated before problems arise."
"Sounds plausible."
On the surface, anyway.
"Leaving the real enemy who toyed with the empire alive to kill the obvious fool of a Demon King."
"Brother's influence?"
"Yes, brother's influence."
"Why?"
"The pretext is the same as what you heard."
"Then the real reason?"
"I don't know."
Ployan shrugged.
"Brother, Marlene, and Duke Osrian pushed hard for it."
The Osrian ducal house and nobles supporting the first prince and first princess followed suit. That was the majority.
"No guesses at all?"
"I have guesses, but so do you. It's not like there aren't those secretly colluding with the Demon King. Just no hard proof."
Collusion between power and Demon Kings. Anyone in the know already knew.
It was inevitable.
Past Demon Kings were objects of terror, but that was the past. Now, humans clearly held the advantage, so if a Demon King could be useful, why not exploit it?
Humans devoured even their enemies, after all.
For money, power, and honor, they'd do anything. That was humanity.
"But the Osrian house suffered the biggest blow from this."
"Who knows? Maybe their ties run that deep."
"Or maybe it's His Majesty's will, and brother is just dancing like a puppet."
Their gazes clashed.
Truth be told, yes.
The imperial succession looked like a pure clash between royals and their noble backers, with no emperor involvement. But the emperor was human too.
Among ten fingers, one always hurt more. Among the royals, one was always favored.
Even if the emperor showed no sign, that's how it appeared to them.
Whether due to primogeniture or sheer similarity, who knew.
But if multiple royals sensed it subtly, it wasn't mere illusion.
That was the backdrop allowing two rival princes from different mothers to grow subtly close.
United against a common foe—it was instinct.
"What will you do, brother?"
"What choice is there? His Majesty's will is firm, so we pour everything into slaying the Flame Demon King."
"And me...?"
"Fine. Truth is, I have no confidence beating you alone. We can settle our fight later."
The two princes clasped hands.
This wasn't why I came...
The third prince's worries deepened.
He swung his sword.
Golden aura rippled forth.
Slicing empty air, parting the wind, vaporizing beads of sweat.
The fluid motion traced long arcs, becoming a dance that painted the world.
"Huff... huff..."
Kaede gasped for breath.
The Demon King's tower was mana-poor, naturally limiting her aura recovery.
She tired quickly, her aura depleting fast. Worst conditions—but in a way, ideal. Overcoming them made her stronger.
What should I do?
But today, she couldn't focus purely on training. Intrusive thoughts lingered with every swing.
The empire was coming soon.
The empire, to slay the Demon King.
If they met, what then?
It was worlds apart from convincing her brother before. They'd kill the Demon King without fail, and she'd be exposed.
Her only hope was the tower migration the Demon King mentioned—but she doubted it was possible.
Her common sense didn't include towers with legs wandering about.
"Here."
A pale hand offered a handkerchief. It was Ernan.
"Wipe."
"Thank you."
"You look worried."
"......"
"Don't worry. What you're fretting over won't happen."
"You think so?"
"The Demon King does what he says. Always has. If he decided to move the tower, he means it. No clash with the empire."
"But I've never heard of such a thing."
"Did you ever imagine becoming one of the Four Heavenly Kings?"
"......"
No way.
"A dwarf hero filling the first floor with mana cannons, an Akan princess stocking the second with chimeras, Hildean princesses guarding the fourth with elves. No such Demon King's tower exists anywhere."
"...True."
"So believe it. You can't do anything anyway, Kaede."
"...Fair enough."
Still, something felt off.
"Anyway, what's up?"
"Just checking in. You know I'm leaving, right?"
"Ah. To Hildean..."
"Yeah. Shame. We barely got close."
"You're sad about it?"
Kaede couldn't understand. Ernan wasn't bound by Armani's Orb like her, nor contracted to a warlock—yet she regretted leaving the tower.
Did she hate returning to her old life in the kingdom?
"Oh, Kaede, want this?"
Kaede's eyes lit up at the small piece Ernan pulled out.
"Where'd you get it?"
"Bought it last time I went out with the Demon King. Heading back to the kingdom now, so sharing them out."
"Thank you."
The brown lump vanished into Kaede's mouth. The sweetness brought an instant smile.
"You like chocolate?"
"One after training melts away all the fatigue."
Kaede looked happier than she had since arriving at the tower. Was it just her love for chocolate, or deprivation after so long? Hard to say.
It was a surprising side to the noble, ever-stern imperial princess and knight.
"It's rare."
"Pardon?"
"Nothing. More?"
"You have more?"
"Here."
Ernan tossed a few more pieces. While Kaede munched away obliviously, she headed to the fifth floor and knocked on the office door.
"Demon King."
The door creaked open. The Demon King asked curtly.
"What is it."
"One last bit of advice before I go."
"Advice?"
"Kaede's a bit rigid. Like you. Keeps things stiff between you two, even as Demon King and Heavenly King."
"...And?"
Thud—
Ernan pulled a thick pouch from her subspace pocket and set it on the desk.
"...What's this?"
"Chocolate."
"......?"
"Like oiling rusty gears—for your relationship with Kaede."
"......"
It took Berge a while to grasp her intent.
Not that he accepted it.
< 140. Currents Surrounding the Tower (2) > End