018. An Inevitable Matter
“Uh... did I hear that right?”
Ernan blinked her large eyes.
“You heard me correctly.”
“But.”
No matter how much she thought about it, she couldn't wrap her head around it.
“I'm a princess.”
“And I'm a Demon King.”
“Heroes come to rescue me.”
“They come to kill me. So?”
“I can't do it.”
“Yeah, I figured you'd say that.”
Berge hadn't held out much hope anyway.
He'd just been intrigued by her unusually cooperative attitude.
Her lack of aversion to the Demon King's tower.
It had sparked a faint maybe.
But he had no intention of forcing her. Forcing her wouldn't make her help wholeheartedly—and if she were human, there'd be no need to tie himself to an elf anyway.
Still, he had to try his persuasion tactics.
“Hillon Kargil is a strong hero. High chance he'll kill me and rescue you. High chance he'll take you back to your kingdom.”
“Ah. Back to the kingdom...”
Berge didn't miss the shift in her eyes. Something was definitely there.
It was almost instinctual. For some reason, Ernan dreaded returning to her kingdom.
What could be in her home that she'd fear it more than a Demon King?
Berge couldn't imagine it. So he didn't try. Instead, he tossed out the bait.
“By the way, you seemed pretty eager for that elixir.”
“The elixir?”
“I could give it to you if you want.”
“...If I oppose the hero?”
“That's how it'd play out.”
She fell silent, her tiny lips pursing.
And after a long pause.
“...Can I think about it a bit?”
A relatively positive response.
...This might actually work?
* * *
Honestly, it was a gamble.
Great if it worked, but he'd rated the odds low. So he'd just gone for it—and gotten a somewhat positive reply.
Now Berge was in a bind.
He thought he knew humans pretty well, but this called for a full reevaluation.
“Don't humans cling to their families?”
Yet why did this princess hate her kingdom so much? He'd heard she was a promising prodigy there.
He didn't know the reason, but he couldn't deny it had worked out.
“If Hillon Kargil struts up to the fourth floor all confident and runs into the princess...”
He could already picture the hero's panic.
He hadn't expected the princess to win anyway. The point was the opening she'd create by turning against the hero come to save her.
“The princess really agreed to this?”
“Not confirmed yet.”
“Of course it's good news, but that woman's clearly insane.”
“Maybe.”
Gordon clicked his tongue. Relieved, his mind wandered elsewhere.
“But is it really okay to do nothing about Demon King Drakson?”
“What would you have me do?”
He had no monsters to send, and a written protest would just get snorted at.
“He'll play dumb and deny involvement. No way to catch him.”
“But if he spreads rumors that Granada is your subordinate...”
“Didn't like it at first, but now you're against it going wrong?”
“That's not it—it's a scheme you're putting real effort into, right?”
“Your loyalty brings tears to my eyes. If only you were this agreeable without the nagging.”
“......”
Just take the concern as a compliment.
Gordon shut his mouth. No matter how he looked at it, this damn lord grated on him.
“No need for pointless worries anyway.”
“What do you mean?”
“It means it doesn't matter.”
* * *
Crunch crunch—
“That guy's completely nuts!”
A massive bone shattered in his jaws. Drakson swallowed it whole and burst into laughter.
“Is that intel solid?”
“Yes. The Red Hawk mercenary band has joined Hillon Kargil's hero expedition.”
“Granada's definitely with them?”
“The band's current leader is Granada.”
“Then it's confirmed.”
Drakson devoured the remaining bones. Red blood trickled down his chin.
“I figured the arrogance meant something. But sticking an elf in a hero party? What's his angle?”
“A spy. Probably planning betrayal at the peak of the expedition.”
“That's what I think too. And it's not a bad play.”
No other Demon King had thought of it. But it was brilliantly simple.
Crumbling from within beat attacking from outside—far easier and more effective.
“No point interfering.”
“Even if exposed as a Demon King's spy, no one would believe it about an elf.”
“Yeah.”
Humans had precedents. Even without black mages empowered by demons, some sided with Demon Kings for their own desires.
But not elves.
Elves had the World Tree as their anchor. To protect it, they opposed demons.
In the centuries since Ma-gye targeted the Alein dimension, not one elf had aided demons.
“How the hell did he convince an elf?”
“Might be easier than we think.”
“Easy?”
“Elves exist in other dimensions too. We assume they're impossible to sway because of their resolve there. No one's tried in Alein.”
“Heard there were attempts early on. All failed, so no one bothered after.”
“Could be prejudice. Maybe a little more effort would've worked, but we wrote them off based on other worlds.”
“So Berze charged in clueless and hit beginner's luck... something like that?”
“Yes.”
“Can't confirm, but worth considering.”
Drakson stroked his chin.
“Watch Granada's moves for now. Subtly approach the elves and test the waters.”
“Yes.”
“And Berze came down?”
“Yes. Used a dimensional transfer device in Hotenwork with a dwarf. Destination was Angsilla, but lost track after.”
“Angsilla's not my turf, so that tracks. A dwarf?”
“Yes. Likely kidnapped.”
“When?”
“During the gap after Rosal got wrecked by Demon King Berze.”
“Elf, now dwarf...”
Was he so fed up with demon infighting—even with archdukes—that he thought monsters useless?
Planning to fill his tower with mid-world creatures, excluding demons entirely?
“I doubt he'll go that far.”
“Yeah, no Demon King would.”
His demon pride rejected the notion. Even a canon-rejecting nutcase wouldn't dream it.
“Maybe using them as spies like the elf.”
“Check it out. See where the dwarf's placed—if anywhere, watch till the end.”
“Yes, understood.”
“Wonder what picture he's painting.”
Drakson grabbed fresh meat.
* * *
Ernan Hildean, the kingdom's princess kidnapped by the Demon King, tossed a mud ball.
A wind spirit zipped over and fetched it. She stroked its head in thanks, and it danced. The routine repeated.
Block Hero Hillon...?
She couldn't picture it.
Hillon was Hildean's hero, and as crown princess, she'd crossed paths with him.
Infinitely kind.
Infinitely likable.
He was coming to save her. Yet she had to stop him herself?
But.
She didn't want to return to the kingdom.
Salvation wasn't salvation to her. Just as her kidnapping wasn't mere kidnapping.
Tower life was dull. Nothing to do, no one paying attention.
The sudden limited freedom was boring, tedious.
But better than the kingdom's stifling pressure. Better than the stares.
Especially lately—it wasn't boring anymore.
Her thoughts reached that point, and she stood. Down the stairs to the first floor.
Scattered tools and lines greeted her messily.
Clang clang clang—
Loud hammer strikes.
Whoosh—
Hot air scorched the space. In the corner workshop, a dwarf hammered away furiously.
“What're you doing?”
No reply. But this happened often. He claimed focus blocked out words.
With nothing else to do, she sat and watched the flames.
A fire spirit dove in and danced. The blaze intensified.
Ernan flinched, but Roger said nothing. Harmless, apparently, so she let it be.
After a while.
“...What are you doing here?”
Roger finally noticed her.
“Got curious.”
“Curious?”
“Why're you working here?”
“What do you mean?”
“You're a hero, right? Kidnapped and all. Just wondering why you're helping the Demon King.”
“......”
Reason? No choice. Refuse and die.
Couldn't escape because escape led only to grim futures.
Outside, the princess was probably hunting him with bloodshot eyes by now.
“...Just circumstances.”
But pride wouldn't let him admit it. Coward or not, hero title or not, some lines couldn't be crossed.
“I see.”
Ernan tilted her head.
“Still, it helped.”
“...Glad something I said was useful, whatever it was.”
“The Demon King said if a hero reaches the fourth floor, block him.”
“...Pardon?”
Roger dropped his hammer. He glanced around and whispered.
“Is the Demon King insane?”
“Doesn't seem so. Looked fine.”
“And he told you this?”
“I was torn on it.”
“You hesitated?”
No hesitation needed.
Pray for the hero to kill the Demon King and return to the kingdom, obviously.
“But hearing you settled it.”
On the yes side.
She muttered firmly.
“Everyone has unavoidable circumstances. What rights does a hostage have? To survive, follow the kidnapper's lead.”
To Roger, she just needed self-justification. She'd already decided alone.
...Is Hildean's crown princess nuts?
He couldn't think otherwise.
Meanwhile, Ernan had chosen her path.
“Still, I don't want the hero dead. So make that a condition.”
“Doubt the Demon King'll agree...”
Heroes grew by slaying demons and monsters; Demon Kings grew by slaying heroes. Especially strong ones—irresistible prey.
“You think?”
“Definitely.”
Roger was certain. That greedy Demon King wouldn't pass up prime meat.
“I'll allow it.”
“Thank you.”
“......”
Roger gave up thinking.
* * *
Getting stronger wasn't the immediate priority.
Surviving was.
Survive to grow strong. To get revenge.
So certainty of capturing the hero outweighed the chance to kill and power up.
“Besides, if they don't breach the first floor, it's all moot.”
Click—
Roger, who'd followed Ernan out of curiosity and now earned a glare, shrugged.
“How's progress?”
“...Mana's Phantom installation complete. Came to report that.”
“Let's check it.”
Down to the first floor. The Mana's Phantom device was embedded fully in one wall. Tendrils from it blanketed the floor, giving an eerie vibe.
But weirder existed in Demon King towers—no issue.
“Activating.”
“Power source?”
“Normally draws ambient mana for semi-permanent operation. Needs mana stones now.”
“Do it.”
“Yes.”
Roger flipped the switch. The magitech roared to life.
Something brushed his skin. A hazy veil enveloped the floor. Berge sensed no malice.
Containment.
It blocked internal energy from leaking out.
Wait.
Berge paused testing performance. Magitech. Tower.
Artifacts mixed among humans—bring to tower for seamless use. No need to waste Magic Points buying everything?
Another Demon King brag about the thirteenth princess info surfaced coincidentally.
Tower function: recognition and assimilation.
Adapted mid-world artifacts to tower standards.
But he'd skipped it. No point wasting Magic Points on inferior mid-world junk.
Back then, canon and demon supremacy blinded him.
Berge touched the device's core gingerly.
The Tower recognizes the magitech device 'Mana's Phantom' installed on the 1st floor.
Determined to be installed by the Tower Lord's will. Can assimilate the tool with the Tower.
Requires 1000pt.
Assimilate?
1000pt wasn't trivial. Especially precious now, most converted to cash via Drakson.
But Magic Points weren't omnipotent to him anymore.
“Do it.”
12182 → 11182
He nodded slightly. Magic surged.
Crackle—
Tower magic rushed the device. On core contact, a massive spark shook the floor.
Detected massive mana energy.
Assimilation failed.
Requires more magic for complete assimilation.
Consume 10000pt to assimilate?
What?
Failed, and cost jumped tenfold. His entire stock—but "massive energy" piqued curiosity.
“Accept.”
11182 → 1182
The halted device roared anew.
Tendrils wove finer, denser—not just walls, but floor and ceiling, merging fully.
Finally.
Mana's Phantom recognizes Tower Lord, Berge Dayas, as its master.
Mana's Phantom power source fully replaced: Mana → Magic.
Purpose evolves: Mana concealment → Conceals all energies except magic. Scales with Tower and Demon King level.
Range expands: Entire Tower.
Constantly conceals internal Tower energies.
Can consume Magic Points to conceal the Tower itself.
“I-I didn't do anything weird! No issues in the workshop, why suddenly...”
“I did it. Shut up, you're annoying.”
“Yes!”
“Princess. Summon a spirit and cast any spell.”
“I can?”
“Go wild.”
Berge stepped outside.
Slowly, very slowly.
Out the door. Fresh snow crunched underfoot. He turned.
Yet Berge felt.
No mana fluctuations.
Nothing.
He snapped his fingers. The Tower, per his will, sucked in magic.
And vanished. Not perfectly, but like a mirage unless staring hard.
“......”
Berge trembled in ecstasy.