157. What in the World Happened?
"I know nothing about it."
He had anticipated that once word spread that he hadn't found the tower, the other Demon Kings would reach out.
Thus, Berge pondered. How should he respond?
How could he answer in a way that reasonably satisfied them while revealing not a shred of his own information?
Gordon, Kaede, Elena, and even Ravinia and Vivian—they had all racked their brains together, but no such perfect response existed.
The tower's disappearance carried that kind of weight.
Unfamiliar to humans, but even more so to Demon Kings.
And Berge had zero intention of sharing it with them.
'Especially not with Jason.'
His early relationship with Jason hadn't been bad. They'd lent each other money and joined hands.
Even when Jason had caught on to Berge's involvement in Drakson's death and issued a warning, Berge had tossed him candy in the form of the alliance-empire war.
There, Berge had clearly sensed it. Jason was painting some grand picture, and he didn't want that picture ruined.
And through Vivian, it became even clearer.
'That he could stand by or prevent Vivian's death.'
It meant he had his own influence in the Hero Guild or a major continental power.
'The Hero Guild, the Empire, or maybe Akan.'
Probably one of those three. There were only two nations with that kind of might right now.
'And he might even be involved in the deaths of other Demon Kings.'
On the surface, he preached Tower Harmony, unity, and cooperation among Demon Kings, but it also meant he could strike down any who deviated from his picture at any time.
Of course, in a sense, that made him a perfectly typical demon. But when you're the one on the receiving end, it stops being "of course."
That realization made him suspicious of how the single Demon King seat had only steadily changed hands over the past century.
Maybe he'd deliberately culled those who wouldn't cooperate with him. Before they could ruin his picture.
Thus, Berge had only one possible response.
"My tower is right where it started. If it doesn't exist, that just means you lot went looking in the wrong damn place."
"You think that makes any sense right now?"
The massive titan bellowed in rage.
"I can't make heads or tails of your question. So what? You think I made my tower vanish or something?"
"I know Hillun Kargil rescued Hildean Kingdom's crown princess. You expect me to believe the empire's hero party couldn't find what they discovered? They had the same records!"
"You're the one spouting nonsense. Why the hell should I explain why those idiots couldn't find it?"
"···We're asking what you did with the tower! Don't tell me it was destroyed by Hillun Kargil?"
"Isn't that what you want? If so, I've been playing along with your delusions quite nicely."
Ugar clamped his mouth shut. If a tower was destroyed, the overwhelming dimensional interference would crush the Demon King's body and soul even while alive. Without magic points to sustain him, it meant certain death.
"So you're saying you truly have no idea why, Lord Berge?"
Jason, who had been quietly listening from the host's seat, finally spoke.
"Yeah. And I don't see why I should have to explain myself."
"My apologies. From your position, that makes perfect sense. Ugar seems to just be flustered by the unexpected turn."
"And you aren't?"
"I always trust you, Lord Berge. If you say so, then it must be."
"How many times have we met?"
"I'd rather ask about something else."
"···?"
"A few months back, Berft Kingdom's princess and craftsmen were kidnapped. Do you know about it?"
"Who doesn't?"
"Berft declared it a Demon King's doing and pointed fingers at Lady Vivian."
Berge nodded slightly. Jason continued.
"After that, her tower vanished, and we presume she's dead."
"Tragic. But after tasting failure once, repeating the same mistake is on her."
"Of course—if she truly was the culprit."
Jason adjusted his monocle. Reina, who had been listening silently, furrowed her brow.
"Jason Cockmondo. What are you implying?"
"Before her death, Vivian contacted me. She swore she wasn't the culprit—that she was innocent."
"Anyone can say that."
"Even swearing on the great first Mahwang and the Demon King's Canon?"
"···."
Reina fell silent, unable to retort.
"What are you getting at?"
"Berft detecting magic points there isn't a lie."
"The culprit has to be one of us Demon Kings, but not Vivian—so one of the rest of us, huh?"
You're suspecting me, aren't you?
"Am I wrong?"
"No. I'm just saying it seems unlikely she'd lie under oath to the first Mahwang and the Canon. If she truly didn't do it, wouldn't that be unjust? We should at least clear her lingering spirit's name."
Well, aren't you the noble one.
Berge snorted.
"Since when do you care about Vivian?"
"I always care about everyone."
"She contacted me too. Offered to become my subordinate if I helped her. Said she asked you first, but you refused?"
"I had my reasons. It's my failing I couldn't help then. If I'd known she'd end up like this, I'd have moved heaven and earth."
"She messaged me too. I dismissed it as bullshit and refused. But you're not using that to hound me, right?"
"Ugar Belbek, when did I ask you anything?"
"Whether you ask or not, answering is my choice."
Ugar growled.
"You've become quite the loyal dog."
"What did you say?"
"How tragic. I have no idea why we're turning on each other like this. I just want to clear Vivian's name."
Jason mediated between them.
"Lord Berge, we may not have built much rapport, but from the start until now, I thought we'd maintained a decent relationship."
"Sure, let's say that."
At least on the surface.
"Yet suddenly, it feels so distant. I thought I'd always shown you my true intentions."
"That's my line. I thought we had a good thing going, but here you are doubting me."
"I'm not doubting you, Lord Berge. As I said, it's about clearing Vivian's name."
"And?"
"Shouldn't we respond to an oath on the first Mahwang and the Canon with one of our own?"
Berge's lip twisted. Jason's smile deepened.
"You want us to swear?"
Reina's eyes turned icy. Oaths on the first Mahwang and the Canon had to stem from one's own will—no one could be forced into them.
At least, that was the belief held by all demons.
"It's merely a suggestion, not a demand, Lady Reina. And I'll do it myself."
Jason set down his milk-tea-laced black tea.
"I, Jason Cockmondo, swear upon the great first Mahwang and the Demon King's Canon that I did not kidnap the Berft princess or the dwarf craftsmen."
He slowly scanned the other Demon Kings.
"What's so hard about that? Same here. I, Ugar Belbek, swear upon the great first Mahwang and the Canon that I did not kidnap the Berft princess or the dwarf craftsmen."
"···I don't like it."
Reina spat coldly but didn't buck the trend. On the surface, at least, it preserved honor.
"I, Reina Sordain, swear upon the great first Mahwang and the Demon King's Canon that I did not kidnap the Berft princess or the dwarf craftsmen."
"···."
Only Berge remained. Jason had said no forcing, but his gaze—and those of the other two Demon Kings—pinned on Berge. Silent pressure.
Rather than rebel, Berge chose to bow his head briefly.
"I, Berge Dayas, swear upon the first Mahwang and the Demon King's Canon that I did not kidnap the Berft princess or craftsmen."
"Perfect."
Jason clapped, lightening the mood.
"Thank you all, esteemed Demon Kings, for indulging my insistence."
He bowed slightly.
"So in the end, none of us touched the dwarf kingdom, but they misunderstood and acted anyway."
And Vivian died in the process.
"We danced to their tune."
"Arrogant bastards. Using a Demon King like a chess piece."
"Their hubris knows no bounds."
Reina chewed on her quiet fury. Ugar fumed.
No matter how relatively weak Demon Kings were, they were still Demon Kings. The mightiest of the mighty.
None could lightly accept being used by inferior races.
"That's why I think this gathering is crucial. Just as humans band together, so should we. This Tower Harmony, thanks to you, Lord Berge, is a prime opportunity."
"That's—"
"Cooperation might seem un-Demon King-like. But if we're used by humans, suffer humiliation, and do nothing? That would be truly unworthy."
"I agree."
Ugar quickly raised his hand. Berge nodded, and Reina reluctantly followed suit.
Thus, Tower Harmony transformed into an alliance strengthening mutual cooperation.
* * *
Tower Harmony concluded.
The Demon Kings returned to their domains, and Jason traded his cold black tea for fine wine.
"Congratulations on achieving your goal."
His adjutant, Aina, refilled his empty glass with red wine.
"Thank you."
"My pleasure."
Deeper cooperation among Demon Kings was his ideal. For more organically conquering the dimension of Alein.
Due to their arrogance and individualism blinding them to reality, it had been near-fantastical—but he'd finally achieved tangible results.
Vivian's sacrifice was the perfect catalyst.
Using Berge's vanished tower as pretext for the harmony? Masterstroke.
But.
"Oddly, I'm not all that pleased."
"Any concerns, my lord?"
"Concerns."
Tart yet sweet, thick yet smooth—it glided over his tongue. The rich aroma teased his nose.
"One, I suppose. It seems I can never truly befriend Lord Berge."
He'd achieved a major victory.
But Jason didn't see it as drawing the Demon Kings together.
Berge's response—his oath—that was the true win.
He didn't know how Berge hid the tower or why the heroes missed it, but he'd taken a step closer to the Demon King called Berge Dayas.
Jason gazed out at the lake.
"Fascinating. Truly."
"What is?"
"Berge Dayas swore on the first Mahwang and the Canon. That it wasn't his doing."
Yet.
"I was certain."
That Berge Dayas was the culprit.
"That's···."
"One of two things."
He was wrong, or Berge had lied.
And Jason was convinced it was the latter.
Thus, chills ran down his spine. Ecstasy surged.
"Lord Berge, what in the world happened to you?"
What had happened for.
"You, who were the staunchest believer in the Canon during your days at the Demon King Academy."
You, who preached the first Mahwang's greatness.
"To treat the first Mahwang and the Canon like trash."
Goosebumps prickled his skin. Overwhelmed by the boiling emotions, he burst into laughter.
"···My lord?"
"Looks like."
The laughter cut off abruptly.
"I've been too complacent."
I thought you were different from the others, so I watched with favor and leniency—but apparently, you're too different.
His adjutant read only one emotion in his expressionless face: rage.
"If my picture is ruined, the culprit will surely be Berge Dayas."
"Understood."
"Crush the Golden Moon Merchant Guild. Shatter it, split it, and absorb it whole."
"Understood."
"And."
Jason hurled his glass to the floor. It shattered.
Aina poured into a fresh one.
"Find Lord Berge's tower."
By all means.
"Make sure the next hero expedition doesn't fail."
"As you command."