< 151. Tower Tour >
While Berge Dayas and Gordon Dirik discussed their next moves, Vivian Blunt decided to take a leisurely tour of the tower.
She'd been a bit shocked that the towers had merged, but it was irreversible now—best to adapt.
What would Berze's tower be like?
She brimmed with curiosity about the tower of the lofty, mighty Ma-ryong clan, renowned even in Ma-gye. It was where she'd be staying from now on, after all.
She descended to the 9th floor.
"...Huh?"
An ecosystem unfitting for a tower had taken shape there. Flying spirits made her rub her eyes in disbelief.
"Huh? Who's that?"
The elves splashing in the water with the spirits spotted her. They tensed at the sight of an unfamiliar demon.
"Why are there elves here?"
"Who might you be?"
"I'm... a hero?"
Stepping forward as their representative was a knight—a woman sharp as a honed blade, radiating that repulsive Dimensional Interference. A hero.
"A hero... in the Demon King's tower?"
Cognitive dissonance hit her like a tidal wave.
"An intruder!"
She didn't look the part at all, but Vivian judged her as such. The only heroes in a Demon King's tower were raid parties or hero squads invading.
Vivian bared her claws. Demonic energy surged like a storm.
"Stand down!"
Just then, Gordon dashed down from the upper stairs, blocking her path.
"This one is under His Majesty's protection!"
"...You expect me to believe that? She's a hero! How do you take a hero as a subordinate?!"
"She consumed Armani's Orb."
"A hero just sat there and ate Armani's Orb? You want me to buy that?"
"You became another Demon King's subordinate to survive. Why couldn't a hero do the same?"
"...You! How dare a mere adjutant speak to me like—!"
"'I will tolerate no infighting,' His Majesty decreed."
"......"
Vivian bit her lip and reined in her energy.
"Allow me to introduce her properly. This is Kaede Jespain, ninth princess of the Jespain Empire and now His Majesty's subordinate. Lady Kaede, this is Vivian Blunt, the Lust Demon King—now likewise His Majesty's subordinate."
"...Can a Demon King become another Demon King's subordinate?"
"...Not just any hero, but an imperial princess?"
Their baffled gazes clashed.
Before more conflict could erupt, Gordon led Vivian downward.
"What the hell was that? A princess hero as Berze's subordinate? Where do they even make lunatics like her?!"
"You'd best brace yourself. There are far more shocking sights ahead."
"More than that?"
"I'll guide you through it all, step by step."
They reached the 8th floor—the original 3rd.
It was the floor for Elena Hildean and Sharlot.
A sparse-mana space tailored for her, devoid of anything else.
Boom—
A massive storm erupted in one corner.
"Well done. You've mastered two engravings now."
"Thanks to you!"
"Another human hero? And an elf? What the—"
Vivian let out a hollow laugh at their joyful celebration amid the magic.
"Elena Hildean, thirteenth princess of the Hildean Kingdom, another who swallowed Armani's Orb to serve His Majesty. The elf is Sharlot, a mage with six engravings. She's currently tutoring Elena Hildean."
"...I'm seriously confused."
"I understand. I was too, at first."
"Not anymore?"
"Everyone adapts with time. As His Majesty's subordinate now, you'll have to get used to it."
"......"
The 7th floor—the original 2nd.
"This one's at least somewhat normal."
Vivian felt a flicker of relief seeing the writhing monsters.
For the first minute.
"Uncomfortable?"
Grrr—
"Endure it."
A four-armed ogre grimaced while a tiny human scolded it—a scene far beyond Vivian's wildest imaginings.
"...What's that?"
"Ravinia Akan. Princess of the Akan Kingdom, modifying the monsters here into chimeras on His Majesty's orders."
"...Akan Kingdom this time?"
This is insane.
"Gordon!"
Ravinia spotted them and toddled over excitedly.
"Who's this?"
"Vivian Blunt. His Majesty's newest subordinate."
"Nice."
Ravinia waved. Vivian ignored her. She couldn't return the friendly greeting—not when she hadn't fully accepted this reality.
A kidnapped princess waving cheerfully at a demon. Was she dreaming?
"Chimera production going well?"
"Yeah."
"His Majesty has high expectations."
"Yeah. I'll deliver."
She vanished back into the monster horde.
"...That one."
And then Vivian spotted it: the massive titan trailing Ravinia Akan, with a far-too-familiar tail wriggling from its rear.
"That's mine!"
It had grown freakishly larger, but no doubt—it was hers.
Gordon couldn't stop her in time.
Wings unfurled, claws extended.
Space-ripping wounds blanketed the titan's back.
——!
A thunderous roar echoed.
The titan staggered three steps back. Ravinia Akan bared killing intent beside Cher.
"Cher, attack. Enemy."
"Give me back my tail, you brainless musclehead titan!"
"Strong."
Cher, and Ravinia too.
Even a combat-weak succubus was still a Demon King.
The monsters wailed in agony at her primal fury.
"No infighting, Lady Vivian."
"Are your eyes for show? That's my tail! The one that got severed!"
"Yes, I know. But you can't blame Ravinia Akan. His Majesty gave it to her."
"...What did you say?"
"His Majesty gave her the tail."
"Berze gave my tail to that one-eyed bitch?!"
"Yes."
"You expect me to swallow that bullshit—?!"
"If not, how else would your tail end up here?"
"......"
"I know your emotions are in turmoil, but why not see the rest of the tower first before deciding?"
"...Fine. Let's."
Having exceeded her limit for rational thought, Vivian paradoxically calmed.
Berze personally gave that bastard my tail?
What did that mean?
How had Berze gotten hold of her tail?
She wanted to grab his collar and shake him senseless, but she held back. Something in Gordon's words gave her pause.
Her tail on a titan's ass felt like just the tip of the iceberg.
No way.
It couldn't be.
Nothing worse than this could exist.
And then, as they reached the 1st floor, her hopes were dashed.
"Dwarves..."
Dwarves, of all things.
And that was Luize Berft.
"The bitch who cut off my tail!"
"Correct. Luize Berft is also His Majesty's subordinate."
"And those dwarves..."
Vivian imagined the worst.
No way?
"Huh? No way?"
"...Probably. They're artisans from the Berft royal workshop. His Majesty kidnapped them recently."
"...Ahaha. Hilarious. So because of Berze's stunt, I took the fall and became his subordinate?"
Thud—
"Lady Vivian!"
Vivian fainted dead away.
Vivian dreamed.
She stood atop a golden hill. The glittering beauty was all hers. But one day, it all vanished.
Vivian set out to find the thief and encountered a Ma-ryong along the way.
I'm searching for the one who stole my gold.
Someone pilfered your gold? What a scoundrel—coveting others' possessions.
Could you help? I'll split it half-and-half.
I'd rather have your tail and horn.
This is...
Pass, then.
I'll give them.
Tears in her eyes, Vivian tore off her horn and tail. Pleased, the Ma-ryong handed her the thief's trail.
Vivian pursued it.
Over mountains, across rivers. At last, she confronted the thief.
"...Ma-ryong?"
Well come, succubus.
"...No way?"
Indeed. I stole your gold.
"You said coveting others' things makes one a scoundrel!"
True. And I am a scoundrel.
The Ma-ryong roared with laughter.
Trespass in my domain, pay the price.
I already paid!
That was then. This is now.
That's ridiculous—!
Want to live? Become my slave. I could use a succubus slave.
"Th-this is a scam!"
The duped are fools!
Vivian turned to flee. Demonic breath poured from the Ma-ryong's maw.
Kyaaaah...
"...Aaaahhh!"
With a scream, Vivian awoke.
Cold sweat soaked her clothes and sheets.
"Hahk, hahk..."
She recalled the final scene before her sanity fled: Luize Berft and the dwarves.
It felt like a play.
The world staging a farce to deceive her.
But even if a scam, it wasn't mere theater.
"Awake, I see."
She ground her teeth at Berze's face, the first thing she saw.
"You...! You...!"
"Not 'you'—His Majesty. Forgotten already? You're my subordinate."
"This is a scam!"
"Of what?"
"Kidnapping the dwarves—that was you!"
"It was. So?"
"You framed me!"
"Strictly speaking, the dwarves jumped to conclusions on their own. Because you were colluding with pirates and causing a ruckus."
"You call that an explanation—?!"
"Should I have announced, 'Hey, the real culprit's me'?"
"...You vicious bastard."
"Vicious to a Demon King? Thanks for the praise."
"You...!"
Vivian ached to claw that smug face off. But she couldn't.
Why? She was Berze's subordinate.
Bound by a soul contract she couldn't betray, a shackle she'd donned herself.
"If I'd known it'd be like this, I'd have died before becoming your subordinate!"
"Then you'd truly be dead."
"Shut up!"
"As you wish."
"......"
She was pierced through. No turning back now. Berze spoke so freely knowing that.
Deep breath. She forced calm.
"...Fine. That was a misunderstanding."
"Agreed."
"But what about that titan?"
"Cher, you mean?"
"Cher, Chess, whatever—I don't care. Why's my tail stuck on that godforsaken muscle lump?!"
"Compared to other titans, calling Cher a muscle lump is a stretch."
"That's more horrifying! Mountain-sized, yet vampire-esque?!"
"All thanks to your tail."
"Shut it! Don't mock me!"
"It's simple, really."
"Simple?"
"Who cut off your tail?"
"Luize Berft, that damned dwarf bitch."
"And where's that dwarf bitch now?"
"In this tower..."
Ah. Vivian gasped.
Of course, nitpicking revealed holes: How had Luize kept the tail after all this time? Even kidnapped, how attach it to a titan so quickly?
But her mind was too frayed for details.
From the towers' merger to now, pure chaos.
"Fine, I get it. Give my tail back."
"Impossible. It's fused with the titan."
"Cut it off, then!"
"Don't get hung up on trivialities. Tails regrow, don't they?"
"In a century!"
"A century's no great span for demons."
"That's for Ma-ryong like you!"
"His Majesty."
"...Why'd I ever agree to be your subordinate."
"Regret comes too late, no matter how soon."
Vivian gnashed her teeth.
"...Fine. I'm pissed, but I'll accept that much."
"Quite understanding today. But more?"
"Why do princesses and elves swear loyalty to you? Even heroes."
"They call themselves the Four Heavenly Kings. Dark Spirit Summoner, Black Knight, Death Legion Commander, Hell Giant."
"I just asked that, and... Black Knight's that crazy hero bitch, Death Legion Commander's the airhead who slurped my tail. No Hell Giant or Dark Spirit Summoner yet?"
"Luize Berft's pegged as the Hell Giant. They've already agreed among themselves."
"...Giant? She's a runt."
"Overlook the minutiae."
"Dark Spirit Summoner? That elf-taught mage? Not a spirit summoner."
"We released the Dark Spirit Summoner recently. She returned to her kingdom."
"Released recently? Only one princess freed from your tower..."
No way?
Vivian's eyes widened.
"That 'no way' is spot on."
"Ernan Hildean serves you too? The princess who's basically guaranteed to summon high spirits at her age and seize the Hildean Kingdom?"
"Yes."
Vivian staggered.
"You alright?"
"Do I look it?"
"No. But your options are gone."
The soul contract bound her; her tower absorbed and gone.
Towerless, release meant nothing.
"...Yeah. Makes me even madder. Feels like you've played me from start to finish."
"Not a feeling. Fact."
"Shut up! Just—!"
Deep breaths.
Complaints changed nothing; it was irreversible. Berze spoke freely for that reason.
Infuriating, but inevitable. And Ernan Hildean's acquisition? Sheer genius.
Seducing a kidnapped princess wasn't easy, even for top incubi.
"That's all, right? No more surprises?"
"One more."
"...Another?"
"Hillon Kargil, who thwarted you."
"The hero who slew two Demon Kings?"
"He's my subordinate too."
Insane.
"You goddamn son of a bitch! So you cut off my tail in the end!"
"I didn't cut it. I did send Hillon to block you."
"...Grr."
Her blood pressure spiked; she fainted again.
Much later, she opened her eyes. Berze was still there.
"...Settled now?"
"Please don't talk. It just pisses me off more."
Vivian closed her eyes, deep in thought.
The faint had oddly calmed her. She reviewed coolly.
What Berze had built. Her situation.
Princesses as Demon King's lackeys? So what.
Heroes too? Fine.
If that hero was Berze's plant, derailing her plans perfectly.
If she'd shouldered blame for his deeds, lost her tower—so what.
The key: Irreversible subordination and vanished tower.
In her eyes, Berge Dayas this Demon King.
More than any other.
Closest to conquering that damned Alein.
Infuriating, but true.
"...You won't release me, right?"
"Tower's gone—if you wish."
Not mercy, but mockery. No real choice anyway.
"...An honor to serve the great swindler."
"Very well. Arrogant, but I'll allow it."
A Demon King and former Demon King found common ground.