< 182. Starting to Resemble >
Alkain Daegong flew into a rage, threatening to sever all trade rights with Ma-gye, while Vivian shot back that the old man could do as he pleased.
And with that, Vivian was utterly abandoned.
"Looks like the strings are finally all cut. Our Demon King will take responsibility, right?"
"Don't give me a headache. Just go."
Dismissing Vivian, Berge sank into thought.
Alkain Daegong hadn't even contacted him. That meant he'd drawn a clear line—no room for ambiguity.
There was no turning back now.
"...Pisses me off."
He'd half-expected it, but was he really barred from Ma-gye for good?
No, that's not set in stone.
Demon King wasn't the endgame. It was just a title born from instilling greater terror in lower-dimensional lifeforms—a vanguard at heart.
Above Demon Kings sat Archdukes, and above them, the Emperor who ruled Ma-gye.
My goal was always Mahwang.
The pinnacle of Ma-gye.
Ma-gye was a world of the strong. Demons bowed to power alone.
Demon King, Archduke, Mahwang—no difference. The strongest claimed the throne.
So he just needed to grow stronger.
Shatter Alkain Daegong's checks, surpass the other Archdukes, devour even Mahwang himself.
And I...
Already surpassed his pre-regression self.
Despite less Dimensional Interference negated.
Absorbing the Phoenix and Dragon had fused with his magic points, elevating his core strength, while merging towers boosted efficiency against interference.
The already mighty and great Ma-ryong Clan had sprouted even grander wings.
"...It's true what they say about the Ma-ryong Clan—how they tend to get lost in their own world. Indeed."
"Shut it."
He belatedly noticed Gordon there.
"What about the First Prince's treatment?"
"That's for Kaede to handle."
"I figured you'd intervene somehow, my lord."
"Why?"
"Because he's the First Prince."
"......"
Not quite what Gordon meant, but back when he'd first decided to kidnap the First Prince, Berge had been thrilled beyond measure.
How could he not be?
The First Prince held special meaning for him.
Kidnapping him had sparked the downfall. To Berge, the First Prince was the key that hastened his own destruction.
He could still vaguely recall the pre-regression prince bellowing that he'd regret it, that a mere Demon King had forgotten his place.
But once the deed was done, there was no thrill.
A more exciting foe had emerged.
The False Demon King, Jason Cockmondo.
Thinking about it, the First Prince did nothing.
He was just kidnapped. The Emperor and Jason pulled the strings from behind, driving him into a corner.
Maybe that's why facing the First Prince again stirred no emotion—not even surprise at his own indifference.
Just excitement at seizing control in a repeated scenario.
For now, Jason's moves and the Empire's tremors mattered more than the prince.
"Speaking of, where's Kaede?"
"Down in the underground prison."
"...Curious about the sibling reunion."
"Shall I fetch her for a viewing, my lord?"
"Maybe."
Not out of curiosity. Just in case Kaede got too worked up and killed the prisoner.
To prevent any mishaps...
"My lord."
"What."
"Incoming transmission."
"I know."
He sensed the faint chill instantly—knew exactly where it came from.
"Busy day today."
He settled back onto the throne.
『A hero expedition targeting me is in the works.』
No message to take lightly.
* * *
At the door to the underground prison, Kaede caressed the cold metal, taking a deep breath.
It had been ages since seeing her brother. But their bond was far from playful.
From childhood, he'd divided the world into useful and useless.
To him, Martin Jespain threatened his rightful throne, and Kaede was the thorn aiding that rival.
No contact when young. But as she rose as a knight, he struck.
'Become my sword. Serve me.'
One offer, one refusal. Then shadows.
Poison during subjugations. Isolated from knights, facing monsters.
And more. The higher she climbed, the worse it got. She had knights' support, flowing straight to Martin.
Not all his doing, but she was sure he held the biggest share.
Killing him...
Wrong. She'd just become like him. She'd promised Berge otherwise.
Habitually, her hand slipped into her pocket. The Demon King's chocolates touched her fingers. Sweetness lingered in her mouth, calming her.
Creeeak—
She opened the door. Damp moisture and stale air greeted her.
Darkness posed no barrier. Down a hundred steps. Dozens of cells. At the end, the sole prince.
Thud. Thud.
Kaede made no effort to hide. The silent prison filled with her footsteps; inmates stirred.
Rufus Jespain too.
"...Kaede?"
Even in darkness, he recognized his sister. She made no attempt to hide.
"Long time, brother."
"...Is that really you?"
"If you mean Kaede Jespain, then yes."
—!
Chains rattled. Rufus's face pressed close to the bars.
"Then free me at once."
"What do you mean?"
"I heard you're one of the Demon King's Four Heavenly Kings. True?"
"Yes."
"Didn't believe it at first. You, the Empire's paragon of knightly virtue, a Demon King's lackey? Impossible."
He'd pondered deeply. Reached his conclusion.
"To survive, you had no choice. Blackmailed into it. Biding time to strike his weakness."
"...Something like that."
True at first.
But now? If asked if she followed him just to live, Kaede would shake her head.
The change surprised even her, but it was real. Like dew soaking in, stability came in the tower. Rufus couldn't grasp that.
"No need anymore. Free me—we escape together. No bigger blow to him! We'll flee, return to the Empire, exact revenge!"
Rufus, ever optimizing for the best outcome, felt odd unease.
Only he ranted excitedly. Kaede gazed down calmly, silent.
Her eyes were icily cold, laced with contempt and mockery.
A gaze never seen from his sister.
"...You?"
"Seems you're mistaken, brother."
"What do you mean."
"I won't free you. Nor escape with you."
"Not now? Then later..."
"Not now, not tomorrow, not ever."
"...Why?"
Rufus swallowed dryly. Ignored dread pricked his neck.
No way.
"Because I'm a Heavenly King."
"Just complying to survive!"
"At first."
"Not now? You've truly abandoned imperial pride and dignity to become the Demon King's dog?!"
"And if I have?"
"What?"
"Pathetic, brother."
Kaede knelt, meeting his eyes. Slipped a hand through the bars, gently stroking his cheek.
"Begging the sister you tried to kill a dozen times. If you have any pride, accept reality head-on—that's your so-called dignity."
"...You've truly become his dog. Betrayed humanity."
Rufus gnashed his teeth.
"I never betrayed you, brother. We were never allies."
"The Empire won't let you off. Escape with me, and you'll never bear Jespain's name again!"
"If you escape."
"What?"
"Why assume you will?"
Kaede whispered.
"You'll rot here forever, brother. Trapped in darkness, never returning to the Empire."
No matter how you crave it.
"Heroes will find the tower, slay the Demon King. You're arrogant from a fleeting edge."
"No."
Kaede shook her head.
"This isn't fleeting. Heroes won't find the tower. Won't kill the Demon King. You won't leave this cell."
What then for the Empire?
"With you gone, Florian-brother, Marlene-sister, Martin-brother—they'll rejoice."
"Succession focuses on them. No room for you."
Ah, by then, I could ask the Demon King to release you.
"Once the next Emperor's set and your place is gone. Think you can accept that quietly?"
"You bitch...!"
"One way to avoid it."
Beg.
"Beg and beg and beg. Pray heroes find the tower, save you. A thousand years might bring one."
—!
——!
Chains thrashed. Raw fury poured at Kaede.
"You bitch! Not Kaede—a succubus in disguise! She wouldn't do this!"
"Want to believe that?"
"How dare you...!"
"Wanted to see that side of you, brother. Up close, just ugly. Disappointing."
Kaede rose. Turned from the wretched brother.
His screams chased her back. More satisfying than she'd admit.
"......"
Kaede touched her lips. Shocked at the upturned corners.
Never mocked as a proud knight.
"...Succubus."
An insult to her knighthood.
She knew she'd changed since entering the tower. Not all for the better.
"...Only to brother. Just to him."
Kaede forced the smile away. Not influenced by Ernan.
"...Still, a relief."
She hadn't vowed to crush his skull.
Couldn't imagine herself saying that.
Kaede decided to cut back spars with Luije Berchef.
* * *
Berge visited the snowfield after ages.
It was colder than when fetching the magic storage orb.
"You've changed much, my liege."
"Lots happened."
"Indeed."
Reina, sipping tea quietly, cut to the chase.
"Your feats astound. Slaughtered hundreds of heroes, over ten thousand humans."
"Yeah."
"This lady's eye was true. Ma-gye's 'once-in-a-generation top graduate' agrees."
But.
"You lied to this lady."
"How so?"
"You swore on the great First Mahwang and the Canon—no kidnapping dwarves or princesses."
A chill settled.
Reina bent the Canon out of necessity, never broke it.
She revered the First Mahwang and Canon above all. Her nobility and pride sanctified them.
Demons took that for granted.
Swearing on them and lying? An unbearable insult to her.
As expected.
Berge swallowed. He'd anticipated this. Stick to the plan.
Only his silver tongue left to trust.
"I swore. And it wasn't a lie."
"Rumors say you did it. Without dwarves, how'd you use mana bombs?"
"Teamed with Vivian."
"...Vivian Blunt is dead. Desperate lies to slip away?"
"Who said she's dead?"
"The tower..."
"Tower vanished. No one saw her die."
"Her horn's in human hands too."
"I planted that. To make them think she died."
"...What does that mean?"
"You remember her begging Demon Kings for life. You refused; I helped her survive."
"...So you moved the tower?"
"Hid it, precisely. Told you the method already?"
"...Dwarves?"
"Vivian's doing. Lent them to me as payment."
Truth irrelevant. Plausible enough for Reina—that sufficed.
"......"
Reina fell silent. Her evident pondering meant it landed.
Alkain Daegong didn't tell her either?
What did that imply?
His pretext for sanctions is Demon King slaying—lacking proof, he's hedging.
Fits the self-preserving Alkain Daegong.
Delegated to Jason, then. Jason, given the mess, prefers heroes' hands over alerting Demon Kings to hunt me.
Better for Berge. Reina stayed neutral for now.
"So, hero expedition underway?"
He shifted topics.
"Yes."
Reina nodded, expression uneasy.
"Odd for me, fighting humans on the frontlines, but I need aid."
"Regular expedition? I can handle it."
"Balaf Disrod leads."
"That bastard?"
Berge bit his lip. Recalled fleeing with tail tucked.
Suddenly targeting Reina?
Brimming with rage and hate toward him—yet eyeing another Demon King?
Why?
Hundreds of heroes dead by Berge. Tens of thousands of troops.
Humans needed a scapegoat: naturally, Balaf, the alliance head.
His honor. Prestige. Deeds.
All dragged through mud.
That loss should've fueled bloodlust for Berge...
Thinks I'm too tough?
Berge and Balaf clashed evenly. Neither full power, but surface-level parity.
To ensure victory?
Heroes are foolproof for Demon Kings.
Ah, now it clicked.
Capture Reina first—before killing Berge.
"How'd you learn?"
"From Jason. Verified myself. True."
"What do you want from me?"
"Your means."
"My means?"
"The method hiding your tower through expeditions, faking Vivian's death. Share it with this lady."
Humiliating, but this lady can't beat them now.
"Can't let my faithful die in vain. I beg you."
"Uh..."
Berge faltered.
No way to hide the tower while fooling Balaf.
Well, one way.
Very different from hiding.
But Reina would never accept it.
< 182. Starting to Resemble > End