196. Matchup
Amusing.
Or was it really amusing? Wasn't it more infuriating?
Ravinia Akan, princess of the kingdom, and Rozel Charnt, the kingdom's representative hero, had both vanished.
'And both of their paths led straight to the Erjest Mountains.'
Akan's fifth prince, Cain Akan, let out a bitter smile.
Was there some kind of curse on Erjest?
'Is Pale there?'
Even so, it was ridiculous. He'd appeared out of nowhere, said he was heading to Erjest to find Pale, and then disappeared again.
If he was going to spout that nonsense, he should at least report it formally to the Magic Tower or the king.
Fortunately, several nobles had witnessed his antics and heard his purpose. Of course they had—it was a social event.
'Where the hell is my sister, anyway?'
She'd gone missing in Erjest. But whether she was still there was questionable.
The allied forces had scoured the entire range searching for the Flame Demon Tower and found nothing. Even if they hadn't checked every inch.
'No way...'
She couldn't be dead.
Cain suppressed the creeping unease. She's fine. She has to be.
Of course she was. Ravinia Akan wasn't the type to die a dog's death in some mountain range.
'Sister, please be safe.'
Only then could her little brother, who owed her so much, avoid watching her take the throne.
The reason a mere fifth prince like him could boldly enter the succession struggle was his close ties with Ravinia, backed by the Magic Tower. She rarely refused his requests.
"Sir Kline."
"Yes, Your Highness."
"Send word to the Magic Tower and His Majesty about Lord Rozel's movements."
"Understood."
The knight vanished. Cain clapped his hands to liven up the tense atmosphere.
"A minor unexpected issue arose, but it's resolved. Let's resume the banquet."
The orchestra struck up again.
The fifth prince's struggle to build a faction of supporters had only just begun.
"Escaped?"
"Less an escape and more like she left for Erjest to find someone named Pale."
"Why?"
"His blood, most likely. They say Pale's blood is as pure as a spirit's, coveted by many mages."
"How did I not know about this?"
"That's mages for you. They hoard the good stuff among themselves without telling anyone."
"That's not mages—that's humans."
"Ahem."
The grand elder swallowed a groan.
The guild master rested his chin on his hand, lost in thought.
"Then we have to assume Rozel Charnt won't be participating."
"Given her behavior so far, that seems correct."
"She met Hillun Kargil and headed to Erjest. Makes me wonder if Hillun deliberately excluded her. Or am I overthinking it?"
"However, Rozel Charnt sought him out first. And it's true that Pale and Hillun Kargil are acquainted."
"That's what bothers me."
Pale, of all people.
"Just one human. Mana as pure as a spirit's? Does someone like that even exist?"
"Maybe he consumed spirit herbs or elixirs."
"How many humans eat those? Hillun has ties to the Demon King. This could be..."
"A scheme by the Demon King?"
"Exactly."
"But as I said..."
"Right, Rozel sought him out first."
Assuming it had been orchestrated went too far. Rozel had holed up in the Magic Tower after her failed hero expedition, while Hillun was busy preparing a new one.
They couldn't just chase down this Pale either, so no clear answer emerged.
After a moment's deliberation, the guild master decided.
"Leave it be for now, but tail her with a few men just in case. If something happens, make sure she's saved."
"Yes."
"How many Stars have committed to the real hero expedition?"
"Six."
Balaf Disrod, Rozel Charnt, Ralph Shmitz, Aina Diaphrin, Waton Colro, and Pablo Barkat.
Considering Jessica Horton who never left her kingdom, the deliberately excluded Hillun Kargil, Holen Callife missing for over a decade like the guild master, and the vacant spot of Gillian Aint, it was practically all the Stars agreeing to join.
Naturally.
Heroes were humanity's hope, and Stars were the pride of heroes.
The Stars brimmed with confidence that they could take down monsters, demons, even Demon Kings.
That confidence had been shattered, wounding their pride. Honor had plummeted, and doubts about the Hero Guild and Stars were creeping in.
To quell it and restore their pride, they were sharpening their blades.
"Pablo Barkat is a surprise, though."
A borderland prince of the Southern Union, obsessed with strengthening his own nation, yet he'd agreed to participate via a casual envoy.
"The Southern Union's stabilized somewhat. Probably wants to make a name centrally now."
"Well, more firepower is always good."
The guild master shrugged nonchalantly.
"Accounting for Rozel not returning in time, that's five."
"The buoyancy ships borrowed from the dwarves will be filled with heroes. Plus, the navies of Akan, Hesse, Dormut, their ships, and elites from the Empire and other nations."
"Without Hillun Kargil knowing?"
"Yes, and Hildean too."
"Interesting."
The guild master laughed.
This time for sure.
'You won't escape.'
Even if he did, it didn't matter. They wouldn't let him slip away this time.
The grand elder hunched lower under the thick killing intent.
Kriiiiek—
The monster—formerly a pitch-black char golem—let out a grotesque screech as it breathed its last.
"What a joke."
Whoosh—
As the flames died, the fierce blizzard scattered the heat. Rozel irritably stomped the pristine snow.
"What the hell is keeping you holed up in this godforsaken place?"
All there was: snow, blizzards, monsters. No Demon King either, so its value was zilch.
Moreover, if her senses were right, Pale was a fire mage. He'd thrive more in a volcano than this elemental hell.
Ironically, she was spot on. Berge, having absorbed the Phoenix's power, grew stronger in volcanic depths.
The upside: fewer monsters than expected.
Probably thinned out when the massive allied forces swept the mountains, she figured.
Either way, it worked in her favor. Even she couldn't overpower sheer numbers.
"Let's see."
Should be around here.
She spread her mana, expanding her senses.
Hiding one's presence was basic for surviving monster hordes, but she was confident she'd find him.
For a long while, she killed monsters, advanced, and pulsed mana.
Then, a faint anomaly: warmth amid the icy frost.
Rozel glided forward. The endpoint was just more snow.
'Not here?'
No, here. The subtle wrongness and hidden warmth tugged at her nerves.
Whoosh—
She conjured flames and hurled them. Snow melted. Nothing else.
But she was certain. Circling mana around her eyes revealed nothing, so she flung more fire.
—!
A tiny spatial rift.
She shoved mana in, prying it open.
———!
Sparks engulfed the area. No more blizzard. Amid half-melted snow, a door appeared.
Kiiiek—
It opened to descending stairs.
She went down slowly. The door shut behind her, but mana lamps lit the way.
'Heat. Warmth.'
30 meters? 50? She lost track. After countless steps, the floor appeared.
A lab crammed with beakers and magic reagents. At its center: a bubbling furnace and a familiar back tinkering away.
"Rozel Charnt."
He knew her without turning.
His low voice matched her memory perfectly.
Rozel thrilled silently.
Found him.
"Why are you here?"
"Not as surprised as I thought. Knew I'd come?"
"Hillun told me."
"Ah, right."
"Gonna make me ask twice?"
"Brought money."
"Money?"
"Yeah. You like money, don't you?"
"Want my blood?"
"Akan Kingdom contracted you. Pay fair price, and I claim rights to your blood."
"Amusing logic."
Pale half-turned. His hair and eyes still red, but different. Black tinged them?
"...Something happened, huh?"
Yet his mana felt purer. The heat fiercer. Looks wouldn't deter her greed.
"Happened. A lot."
"Sounds positive."
"Could say that."
Pale turned fully.
"But that doesn't mean I owe you blood."
"What?"
"Agreed to a deal. But it's a deal—if I refuse, it's over."
"Why?"
"No need."
"...No. I need your blood."
"Desperate, huh? Why?"
"...Can't say."
"Even for my blood?"
"......"
Rozel bit her lip.
"No."
"Mana oath?"
Mages' vow on their engravings. Breaking it scattered their mana—their lifeblood.
"Even without, trust matters."
"Then no blood."
"...Other compensation, anything."
"Sure you have what I want?"
"I'm Rozel Charnt. I can do anything if I want."
"Gonna beat me and take it?"
"...No."
She'd considered it. But once talking, that vanished.
His natural aura dominated the space, pressing her.
Strong. Incredibly so.
She, a grand mage soon to etch eight engravings, couldn't fathom his limit.
'What the...?'
Her doubt deepened; his smile intensified.
"Well, I could give blood if you want."
"Really?"
"Depends what you offer."
"What do you want?"
"Hmm. What indeed."
Pale scratched his chin thoughtfully.
"Loyalty."
"What?"
"Your loyalty."
"You're insane?"
Rozel scoffed.
"That's as far as I'll humor you. Get real."
"Serious, though. Not bad for you. I can give what you crave—overflowing."
"Bullshit. Your blood's valuable, but not enough to bind my freedom."
Rozel murmured incantations quietly.
Instinct screamed danger.
"Unlimited blood?"
"That's it?"
"Dragon blood?"
"...You have dragon blood? Don't bullshit me!"
"See for yourself if it's bullshit."
"What?"
"Balaf Disrod claimed a dragon, but took only tail and wing. Where's the rest?"
"...That."
Most wondered the same. Buried by the powerful's needs.
"...You have it?"
"Been living here awhile."
"Hard to believe."
"Not just blood. Scales, bones, muscles, tendons, eyes too?"
Gulp.
Rozel swallowed dryly. Instinctive.
'No, don't fall for it.'
Didn't make sense.
Dragon byproducts? Not easy to come by.
"Why no heart? Promise a dragon, start with the best part."
"Too good for you."
"Realistic for a corpse you don't have?"
"Have the corpse. Everything Balaf left behind."
"...Really?"
"Yes."
"Believe that?"
"Don't?"
Pale stepped closer. Rozel instinctively retreated.
"What are you? The Pale I knew?"
"Me. Oh, horns or tail from a Demon King? Or demon essence?"
"What?"
More absurd than dragon.
"Fine, say you got the dragon corpse."
Balaf took tail and wing; battle confirmed by heroes.
Injured dragon fled; Pale finished and claimed it. Hard to swallow, but possible.
Demon Kings? Different story.
"How'd you get Demon King parts?"
"Possible? Succubus Queen's wings or tail, Frost Demon King's ice essence."
"Two different Demon Kings? Why not Flame Demon King, False Demon King, Diamond Demon King's too?"
She shrugged, testing how far.
"False and fallen Diamond are tough, but Flame scales? Sure."
"Unbelievable."
Fine.
"If true, I'll be your subordinate. If not, bleed you whenever, however much I want."
"Swear as a hero?"
"Gladly. On my hero's power—if true, yours."
"Don't forget."
That instant—
"......!"
Pale's sly smile chilled her.
"Wha...!"
Whoosh—
Her prepped spell activated. Melting inferno spewed straight.
Pale didn't block.
Rozel recoiled in shock.
The flames didn't singe a hair.
"...What?"
"Pity for you, really."
Pale laughed.
"Your power rivals a dragon briefly. But worst matchup against me."
Black Flame Dragon of Flame, reborn in fire via Phoenix corpse.
Devoured Red Dragon heart of fiery dominion.
"Fire."
Never.
"Touches me not."
"...Uh."
The mage, stripped of her strongest weapon, panicked.
Kwachak—
A rough hand pierced space, flying at her.
Red flames resisted. The hand engulfed her unhindered.
And that was—
Thud.
Her last memory.