< 141. Vassal >
“Damn it all.”
Granada exhaled a puff of white breath. The biting cold had flushed his cheeks bright red.
“Erjest again, of all places.”
Ever since forming a contract with the Demon King and becoming Hillun Kargil’s close aide, Granada couldn’t shake the feeling that he was being worked to the bone.
It had started with infiltrating the first hero expedition led by Hillun Kargil, followed by entering the Beast Tower and barely escaping death, then aiding Akan to climb Erjest, joining another imperial search under the empire’s lead, and now being part of the Hildean-organized assault force—with participation scheduled in the upcoming imperial hero expedition as well.
And of all places, this frozen hellscape where snow fell year-round.
Don’t the humans know elves are supposed to live in warm, lush lands with fresh water and bountiful mountains?
No, he knew they did—and didn’t care. That’s why he was the Demon King’s man.
“This isn’t really an order from above, is it? You’re not planning to betray us, are you?”
Granada shot a glare at Hillun Kargil, who walked beside him.
Otherwise, why would Berze keep pushing him into these hero expeditions and assaults that could get him killed?
“There are others around us, Lord Granada.”
“Right. Then let me ask politely: Aren’t you just slimy enough to stab us in the back because you want to survive?”
“Not polite at all, but I’ll answer. I merely follow orders faithfully.”
“And does that faithfulness have to include me, specifically?”
“So that’s your gripe. Though you never mentioned it outright, there’s a human proverb: where the needle goes, the thread follows. If I’m going, my Red Hawk assault team—and its vice-captain, you—have to come along. Makes no sense otherwise, does it?”
“...Damn it.”
Granada barely suppressed the urge to slap the smug grin off Hillun’s face.
He steadied his breathing, gazing at the distant mountains. The sight of ogres rising from the snow made curses bubble up automatically, but he forced his thoughts elsewhere.
‘Help Hillun Kargil rescue Ernan Hildean,’ he said.
That meant the Demon King had decided to release Ernan Hildean.
Releasing her would silence Hildean, if not Jespain, in this situation.
It was the best option for now, even if the empire loomed larger still.
‘She won’t actually die, will she?’
If she did, what then? Even a World Tree oath wouldn’t bind if the subject vanished.
‘But that’s me. The elves are different.’
As the Demon King’s minions, they’d be enemies of the heroes. Would enraged humans spare elves? No—they’d label them traitors and make their deaths even more agonizing.
‘......’
He’d dragged those elves into this himself, turning them into the Demon King’s lackeys. Sure, they’d rationalized it as better than slavery, but facts were facts.
He couldn’t abandon them to die as his master’s pawns. Not for at least another century. The Demon King couldn’t die yet.
That was Granada’s responsibility, as the one who’d pulled them in.
‘Damn, did the Demon King foresee this and use the elves?’
Either way, he was cornered.
Meanwhile, as his worries churned, the assault force pressed swiftly toward the Flame Demon Tower.
The problem? It was too easy—far too much so for Erjest, the Flame Demon King’s domain.
Slash—
A massive monster’s head split in two and tumbled down, staining the pristine snow red.
‘So that’s what he meant.’
Hillun Kargil shook the blood from his blade after felling the beast.
He’d said the path to the tower was paved smooth, and now Granada got it.
The road was well-cleared, marked with signs only they’d recognize for the shortest route.
Monsters appeared, sure—but their strength and numbers were just right for Hillun to handle effortlessly.
Hillun’s elevated power meant even that caused decent casualties for others, but the sharper ones couldn’t help questioning it.
“This is really Erjest?”
“Wasn’t it supposed to be crawling with monsters?”
“Snow all year round, right? Sky’s clear as day.”
And with the weather cooperating, the difficulty plummeted. Hillun inwardly cursed humans too dense to accept a freebie while flashing an outward smile.
“It’s only natural, in a way.”
“Natural how?”
“The search parties took heavy losses clashing with the Demon King’s Four Heavenly Kings. Their side suffered too, so fewer monsters to hinder us.”
“Makes sense.”
“And who am I? Self-praise aside, I’m Hillun Kargil.”
“...True enough.”
“As expected of Lord Hillun.”
The doubters bought his explanation.
“The monsters were strong, yeah. Just not as strong as Hillun.”
They were mercenaries and kingdom elites, all cut from the same cloth. Rattled by the suspiciously easy vibe—against their reputations—they still knew any monster surviving to the base would’ve wreaked havoc.
“Hope it stays this smooth.”
“Same here.”
And it did.
They followed the Demon King’s paved path, reaching his lair far quicker than anyone anticipated.
“The tower!”
“A real tower!”
The Flame Demon Tower—the continent’s hottest—loomed before them.
No monsters near it. The assault force arrived at its doorstep calmly.
The relaxed mood tensed anew.
‘Back again.’
Hillun placed a hand on the door. He felt the chill from the snow-staring sentries.
Opening it meant entering at last.
Everything was pre-arranged.
Open the door, clear minor monsters, rescue the crown princess on the first or second floor.
But.
‘There’ll really be monsters inside, right?’
Not mana cannons?
Not a flashy barrage greeting him, but roars?
Of course the Demon King wouldn’t lie. But the trauma lingered thick.
Cold sweat trickled down his back.
“Lord Hillun?”
“Something wrong?”
His hesitation drew puzzled looks from the team.
“No, nothing. Just... the emotion of finally entering this tower.”
“Ah, I get it. This place is special to you, Lord Hillun.”
The search veterans recalled his failure, sobering briefly.
“That’s the past, isn’t it? Rescue the crown princess and slay the Demon King—your fame will echo across the continent!”
A mage rushed to lighten the mood, but Granada knew that wasn’t it.
‘He’s scared.’
Fair enough—dozens of mana cannons blasting the moment the doors opened was like lightning from a clear sky.
Now hundreds, they said. If the tower was as designed, half the force would vaporize on entry.
“Thanks for the encouragement. Shame a hero like me shows such weakness before you all, when I must slay the Demon King in your stead.”
Hillun shook off the dread, gripping the door firmly.
Creaaaaak—
The heavy portal groaned open slowly.
Gulp.
The team readied weapons, bracing for lunging monsters.
When it fully opened.
Hillun sighed in relief.
At the perfectly orthodox tower interior.
At the total absence of mana cannons.
‘Yetis, huh?’
Dozens of white furballs roamed the first floor. No pushovers, but no match for the assault force.
“Th-there...!”
A knight shouted. All eyes followed his finger.
And there she was.
Hildean’s crown princess, Ernan Hildean.
In a small iron cage in one corner of the first floor.
Deathly pale, eyes closed in sleep.
“My goddess, Your Highness!”
“Your Highness!”
“Crown Princess!”
Hildean knights and mages who recognized her cried out.
Hillun blocked those surging forward.
“Calm yourselves. This is the Demon King’s tower.”
“But the crown princess is right there...!”
“She lives. Her placement here means the Flame Demon King follows the same pattern as the Frost or Diamond Demon Kings.”
Placing kidnapped royalty low to avoid rash clashes.
“Ah...”
Realization lit the team’s faces.
It wasn’t just low-floor placement. Not once had royalty died.
“Lucky us. No need to push to the Demon King’s floor.”
Hillun raised his sword.
“I’ll take point.”
Before reactions came, lightning struck.
────!
A white yeti crumbled to black ash. The thunderclap enraged the rest.
Thick killing intent heralded battle. Hillun charged, Red Hawk—Granada at the fore—following.
“Touchy, aren’t we? That eager to save her?”
“Obviously. Saving the crown princess is my job.”
Hillun brushed off the elf’s jab. Rigged or not, near three hundred witnesses stoked his greed.
Rawr—
Yetis roared but couldn’t block him.
Arcing lightning charred fur black, denying even spilled blood.
A path cleared.
Slash—
The hanging cage plummeted. Hillun caught and lowered it gently.
Sliced the bars, carefully extracting the princess. Her body was ice-cold, but faint breaths confirmed life.
“The crown princess...”
The team surrounded him late.
“She lives. No visible wounds. Just... freezing. Needs healing.”
“Healers, now!”
“Tend to Her Highness!”
“Best head to the village for proper care first.”
The Azure Knight captain hesitated at Hillun’s suggestion.
“But Princess Elena...”
Ernan was priority, but the royal order included Elena too.
She was Hildean royalty.
But.
“My orders prioritize Crown Princess Ernan Hildean. We’ve found the tower—heroes can raid anytime. Protecting her comes first.”
‘Demon King only greenlit Ernan. Touch Elena, and heads roll.’
Exceed that mercy, and his own would explode.
“But...”
“Lord Hillun! We must descend—Her Highness isn’t stabilizing!”
A healer’s urgent cry timed perfectly. Hillun rushed over.
“No external injuries—serious?”
“Her frozen body won’t warm. Beyond my skill. Take her to the court mages in the capital.”
“Let’s go.”
The knight captain fell silent. Hillun slashed the sealed door. Dimensional interference shattered the otherworldly seal.
Forced open, the assault force escaped victorious.
* * *
“Crown Princess has awakened!”
“She’s not well. Set up camp here and rest first.”
The rescued princess stirred midway down the mountain.
Her icy body seemed a lie as color returned.
The force camped in a monster-scarce spot. Hillun got a private audience request.
“Heard she’s awake.”
“Yes, waiting for you.”
Hillun entered the tent. Ernan, wan-faced, sipped soup.
“You summoned me.”
“Ah, Lord Hillun.”
“Your Highness.”
“I’m fine. Can’t greet my savior from that vile Demon King while lying down.”
She struggled up. Her guarding knight protested, but she shook her head.
“Body all right?”
“Thanks to you. Might’ve died without you.”
Ernan turned to the knight.
“Leave us, please? I want to speak with Lord Hillun.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
The knight left obediently. Instantly.
—Ahh, that was stifling.
A spirit peeked out. A translucent water barrier muffled sound around them.
“How was it?”
Ernan’s tone shifted.
Her pitiful, weak pallor.
Turned utterly playful and vibrant.
“My acting.”
Ernan grinned.
Hillun grinned back.
“Flawless.”
“Yeah?”
“Without your perfect timing, we’d have pushed upstairs for Princess Elena.”
“Can’t have that. Not what the Demon King wants.”
Elena’s better off in the tower for now.
“Welcome back as Ernan, crown princess.”
“Demon King told me. You love honor more than anyone.”
“No one hates honor.”
“Money?”
“No one hates money.”
“How about ‘Benefactor of Hildean’s Queen’? If that queen backs you fully—not as some Argon, but as Hero Guild master?”
“I’ve served Her Majesty from the start.”
Hillun knelt.
< 141. Vassal > End