189. Descent and Return
Strict secrecy.
Jason and Balaf had made stealth their top priority for this hero expedition.
“Unlike other Demon Kings, Berge is highly sensitive to information. If he finds out we're preparing a hero expedition using the buoyancy ship, who knows what he'll do.”
『I know that all too well.』
It would cost quite a bit, but they could keep getting the tower's location.
But what Berge Dayas had shown went beyond simply hiding his tower.
He used the mountain terrain to obstruct the hero party, set traps with fake towers, and spread magic points to summon monsters.
The great hero and Demon King concluded that they had to prevent Berge from preparing countermeasures altogether.
“But perfect secrecy doesn't exist.”
Even if kept covert, invading the sea required coordination with several nations—Dormut, Hessen, Akan, and Berft, no less than four.
Berge was bound to find out.
But if not now, there would be no chance.
While everyone was still reeling from the death of the Diamond Demon King, when Berge would let his guard down assuming no immediate follow-up hero expedition.
Before the massively accumulating magic points became unmanageable.
They had to cut off that arrogant head.
“If we can't hide it completely, we need to divert attention elsewhere. Make them fixate there. That's where your role is crucial.”
『Don't worry. I won't tolerate another failure myself.』
“How's your condition?”
『Perfect.』
Not only had he killed the Diamond Demon King and absorbed its power, but he'd also devoured the dragon tail he'd personally sliced off.
It was negligible compared to a dragon heart or eyes, but dragons were a race with mana evenly distributed throughout their bodies. Their flesh itself was a mass of spiritual medicine.
And beyond that, the dragon's scales and bones had become his armor.
“Good to hear. Ugar's sacrifice wasn't in vain.”
『Got some spine in your words?』
“As if. I hope this wraps up any discord between us.”
『Agreed.』
“Then, best of luck.”
The connection cut off.
Jason swirled his wine glass and closed his eyes. Moments later, his adjutant knocked.
“Demon King, sir. Dorche will descend shortly.”
“He's finally here.”
Jason rose. He checked his reflection, straightening his clothes and adjusting his half-lowered monocle.
He stepped outside, taking position in front of the tower with his subordinates.
Right then.
───!
A hole tore open in the sky. From the massive abyss, the forcibly ripped spatial rift, something dropped with a thud.
Not just one.
Thud—
Thud-thud—
Dozens, hundreds—perhaps even a thousand.
Each one a legion composed entirely of demons or high-grade demonic beasts descended.
Huuuuh—
The lead male, radiating the strongest presence, inhaled the air deeply.
“The air of a lower dimension after so long.”
He swept back his disheveled black hair and scanned the surroundings. His gaze stopped on Jason, who bowed his head.
“First time meeting you. Dorche Astrin, sir.”
“You're Jason Cockmond?”
“Yes.”
“Heard the gist.”
Tsk, Dorche clicked his tongue.
“Pathetically incompetent. Heard you've been in this dimension a while, yet still haven't conquered it and are just floundering.”
“My apologies.”
“Boring. Just kidding.”
Unlike Vivian, who had come to Alein clueless, Dorche clearly understood this place and why he was here.
“Some arrogant hatchling who mocked the canon at graduation killed fellow Demon Kings?”
“Yes. I was involved in killing Drakson Dolph, sir.”
“Drakson, huh.”
Dorche pondered briefly, then nodded.
“Met him once. A wolfkin, I think. Remember him being somewhat useful. Shame.”
Still just a beastkin at best.
That was the end of his thoughts on the Demon King's death.
“Heard you're handing over magic points.”
“Yes. Once you establish your tower wherever you wish and contact us, I'll provide enough magic points to fully negate interference, plus intel on this world.”
“They said you'd amassed a ton. It's true.”
His brow furrowed in displeasure.
“Why not summon demons and beasts with them to sweep the humans instead?”
“My abilities fell short.”
“Well, lesser races have limits.”
Dorche nodded along as he spoke.
“That wayward hatchling's tantrum will end as you wish. I'll contact you after setting up the tower.”
“Yes. May I offer one piece of advice?”
“Speak.”
“The tower should be in a remote area humans won't detect...”
“You telling me to defy the great first Mahwang and the canon? Stuck in one dimension for over a century's rotted your brain?”
Jason flinched at Dorche's killing intent.
“...If I overstepped, my apologies.”
“Heard Alein's Demon Kings twist the canon arrogantly. You're not one of them, right?”
“No, sir.”
“Fine, I'll believe you for now.”
Don't contact me later, then.
Dorche turned and lightly kicked off the ground. His thousand-strong horde followed.
Jason and Aina watched their backs as they skimmed across the water's surface.
“...As rumored.”
“Indeed. The epitome of a dragonkin.”
Dorche Astrin.
He was a prominent candidate for Archduke even in Ma-gye.
Born to a great race, he'd shone from the start, graduating top of Demon King Academy.
Afterward, he'd descended on multiple dimensions, conquering them all—counted among the elite even among top-tier dragonkin.
And with that strength came arrogance.
He viewed all non-dragonkin demons as beneath him, taking his dominion as natural.
It wasn't just him, though. Most dragonkin were the same.
In a way, Berge's lack of prejudice made him the outlier.
“Can Dorche kill Berge?”
“He has ability matching his arrogance. And ample reason.”
Demons were individualistic; dragonkin even more so.
Unlike lower-dimension dragons coddling hatchlings, dragonkin had little affection even for their young.
But one thing—if touched wrongly—roused the entire race: the canon.
Among all Ma-gye's races, they followed and revered it most faithfully.
Why? Simple. The first Mahwang was a great dragonkin. To others, a great emperor; to them, a great ancestor. Racial pride.
Their pride and arrogance left no room for compromise on the first Mahwang or canon.
Thus, Berge's canon denial and first Mahwang rejection stirred greater waves in Ma-gye.
Had he not descended to Alein immediately like a fugitive, the issue would've escalated.
“A fellow dragonkin denying the canon will irk him more. He'll see it as a racial disgrace.”
Dragonkin shared no tribal bonds.
Fierce individualism—even between parent and child. Honor of the canon outweighed some unfamiliar dragonkin's life.
“Worth every bit paid to Archduke Alkain.”
The perfect pick.
Though interference currently limited his full power, once Jason supplied magic points to lift the shackles, a mere newbie like Berge would be devoured in seconds.
“But Dorche isn't favorable to you, sir. After killing Berge, he might become a second Berge.”
“I know.”
Of course.
Jason smiled.
“Did you know? Even Dorche took at least a decade per dimension conquest.”
Impressively fast, yet laughably slow compared to current Berge.
“Berge is an unprecedented dragonkin.”
Dorche had topped Demon King Academy too—it was expected of dragonkin. But only Berge bore the “all-time great” title.
“Among all dragonkin, Berge Dayas is the finest.”
Demon King Academy vouched for it. Current results proved it.
“Fully negated interference in just two years. No Demon King could do that.”
No. But Jason, unaware of tower mergers boosting efficiency or Alein's phoenix and dragon consumption, could only think so.
“Berge won't go down easily.”
Not mere hunch, but conviction. Even against Dorche, Berge suffering defeat without resistance was unimaginable.
“If Balaf Disrod and the heroes fail to kill Berge, Dorche will step in.”
Dorche was canon-faithful. He wouldn't interfere with humans attacking another Demon King's tower, violating canon.
But if Berge survived, he'd move to execute the rebel.
“The fight won't end quickly. They'll wound each other.”
And that moment.
Jason swallowed the rest. His eyes turned ice-cold.
“But if Balaf Disrod kills Berge Demon King? The magic points given to Dorche won't return, right?”
“Left unchecked, he'd be a greater threat than Berge.”
Rampaging wildly, showing other dimensions' Demon Kings how conquest's done.
Not what Jason wanted, but he wasn't overly worried.
Counters always existed.
“I won't give enough to fully negate interference.”
Just enough to control, manageable levels.
“And if Balaf succeeds in killing Berge, his power grows stronger.”
Such a one.
“Subjugating another Demon King is only natural.”
Jason would merely lend a hand.
To right the overturned board.
“But suppose, just suppose.”
Aina asked cautiously.
“If Balaf Disrod subjugates not just Berge Demon King, but Dorche too? Uncontrollable, no?”
“The odds of that...”
Zero. He couldn't claim absolute.
“Overstepping, but advice?”
“Plenty. I value yours.”
“You've long partnered with Balaf Disrod, mutually beneficial, I know. But signs show him slipping your control.”
Baring teeth at Jason, killing Ugar over failing to catch Reina.
Who eased his growth?
“Humans can't be trusted. Favor becomes entitlement. Balaf sees your goodwill as due. He'll betray you when needed.”
“You think so?”
“Yes.”
“Wrong. What I gave Balaf wasn't favor—it was a deal. Long-standing, mutually satisfying. Though Berge's variable strained it somewhat...”
Still, not yet.
“His growth is undeniable. He delusionally thinks he achieved it all alone.”
“Yes. He'll be the biggest obstacle to your great undertaking.”
“If Berge dies.”
“Plenty of heroes. Can't replace him immediately, but can cultivate. Plus, don't you hold a card to deal with him?”
“No.”
Jason shook his head firmly.
“No hero can replace him. Anywhere. That's why Balaf Disrod is special.”
“...Frankly, I don't get why you're so fixated on him.”
“Aina. How long have you been my adjutant?”
“Precisely 114 years.”
“Appointed after my previous one died to a hero.”
“Yes.”
Adjutants were assigned by Ma-gye to Demon Kings, but not irreplaceable.
“...You might not know, then. Just know Balaf Disrod is special.”
“...Understood.”
“Though far from original purpose, he's valuable in another sense too.”
And perhaps.
“Handled right, we might achieve the original goal. If he subjugates the Flame Demon King and even Dorche.”
“Original goal?”
“Following the canon faithfully, something like that.”
Jason dodged details, but Aina asked no more.
His eyes were brutally cold.
“...Emergency summons?”
『Yes. Not just the guild elders, but Argans and mid-level executives too—all summoned.』
“Strange. As far as I know, only one can issue that...”
Of course, it was an emergency. Hundreds of heroes wiped by a Demon King, a Star fallen.
Even partially restoring honor by killing the Diamond Demon King didn't erase the deep wound.
But humans were always inefficient. Risking lives for authority or pomp.
If an emergency summons was warranted, it should've come sooner.
When the Flame Demon King attacked the empire.
When hundreds of heroes died.
But it hadn't. Only one could summon the entire guild.
『...Yes, the Guild Master has returned.』
And Hillon's prediction hit the mark.
“...Prepare to go at once.”
The Hero Guild's supreme, vanished for over a decade, had finally broken his long seclusion.
< 189. Descent and Return > End