213. Ravinia and the Mages
Hillon Kargil had been summoned by the king.
It was a time when anxiety and fear toward the Demon King had grown after repeated failures, and criticism of the Hero Guild was once again rearing its head.
"It's because heroes who only know how to fight are put in command—they keep falling into traps and making foolish choices!"
"The problem started when we gave too much authority to a mere guild in the first place."
"I heard the heroes attacked first without waiting for the allied forces?"
"The alliance should be led by the nations! Only battle-hardened veterans from the nations leading the war can prevent repeating the same mistakes!"
Someone's fear was another's opportunity.
The king of Hildean was one such person.
He resented the Hero Guild for stripping away all the heroes and their authority, and he yearned to reclaim that power.
"Even the empire has wisely pulled back, so isn't this a golden opportunity?"
At the king's sly smile, Hillon realized the rumors swirling through the streets had the king's fingerprints all over them.
Of course. He wouldn't miss a chance like this.
"You want me to become the commander?"
"Nonsense. With rumors spreading that the failures stem from the heroes' foolish command, why would we entrust it to you?"
"Then you wish for me to slay the False Demon King with my own hands."
"Exactly. The great hero who slew three Demon Kings first—a hero of Hildean. Wouldn't that make a splendid picture?"
Just then, the strongest hero, Balaf Disrod, had died, leaving the position vacant.
While many quietly assumed Hillon Kargil, who had closely trailed him, was the natural successor, being tacitly acknowledged and actually slaying the False Demon King to seal the deal were two different things.
"And if Ernan, who contracted with the Spirit King, joins you, our kingdom's prestige will soar even higher. A princess and a hero who felled a Demon King as a team. A beautiful picture, no?"
"I'll do my best."
"It's not about effort. I expect results."
Of course, that was what Hillon Kargil desired as well.
But he couldn't be certain. He'd already heard why.
About what kind of monster the False Demon King was.
'You'd best be cautious. It's beyond what your skills can handle.'
And about what monster was coming because of it.
'The Demon King is on the move. And he has no intention of handing the False Demon King to anyone.'
The False Demon King had never been cheese on the table for Hillon in the first place.
But if that were all, it might have been a relief.
'It's the first time the Demon King has issued such a warning.'
And that was hardly the end of it. The Demon King himself was moving, along with Hildean's crown princess—and even Ravinia Akan.
It meant it wouldn't be easy.
'Success...'
It could be done.
Otherwise, the Demon King wouldn't have his lover, Ernan Hildean, join in.
Yes, Hillon Kargil suppressed his unease that way.
'But he's not coming just to rescue the princess alone, is he?'
"No answer? Lost confidence?"
The king's voice snapped him from his thoughts. He belatedly realized they were still in conversation.
"No. I will most certainly sever the Demon King's head alongside Crown Princess Ernan."
"Good."
Only then did the king smile in satisfaction.
"Believe me."
"Just believe, is that it?"
"Lord Hillon, aren't you the Demon King's subordinate? If even you lack faith more than I do—a non-subordinate—what then?"
"That's true, but... weren't you a subordinate too?"
"You didn't know?"
"I didn't."
"Nope."
"Then why the Demon King?"
"Why? Can't I?"
"...No."
He'd forgotten. You couldn't try to understand the crown princess before him.
"Anyway, it worried me a bit since it's the first time the Demon King warned so strongly. And I heard the monster's true nature."
Not just any Demon King, but a doppelganger that had parasitized for three hundred years. Its power's limits unknown.
"He's stepping in to prevent that warning from becoming reality, right? Same for me."
"That's true, but..."
"More than that, something else bothers me."
"Something else?"
"Why go to Akan first?"
"...Pardon?"
"We parted ways, so why Akan instead of Hildean..."
"Hm."
Hillon left her lost in dark thoughts and slipped out of the office.
Best not to engage at times like these.
Rozel Charnt's warning didn't create much stir.
"Does the empire have some ulterior motive? Betray us?"
"I get what she means, but the empire would have to go collectively mad for that."
With responses like that, Rozel had nothing more to persuade with. And truthfully, that was the prevailing view.
"Can't exactly shout, 'The emperor's actually insane!'"
"Insane, huh."
"For real?"
"Just a hunch."
"See? Even you aren't certain."
"Teaming up with a Demon King might qualify as insane."
"You do realize you're on that side?"
"I'm different."
"How? Good Demon King, bad Demon King?"
"I didn't join hands as equals. I turned them all into subordinates."
"...You leave me speechless."
Rozel let out a hollow laugh. Berge changed the subject.
"Any issues with Hillon Kargil?"
"What issues? Sounds like you hope there are."
"You stormed out of the tower like you wanted to kill him right then."
"I just put it off due to lack of time. You telling me not to touch him?"
"Let them resolve their own problems. Third parties only make it worse."
"Third party? Your conscience seems suspiciously spotless."
Rozel snorted.
He hadn't gone to find Hillon right after leaving the tower because he was off on hero business. And that brief gap gave Rozel time to cool her rage.
Thinking about it, Hillon Kargil had only followed Berge's orders—no great sin. And his crown princess had been there too.
Blame Hillon?
It would only incite a fight.
"What's your angle?"
"No real motive. Just curious which of my hero subordinates is strongest."
"Hah, can't let that slide."
Rozel steeled her resolve.
'Hillon needs occasional discipline.'
Give him a moment's leeway, and the rebellious sort starts scheming. Berge's growth and strengthened subordinate bonds prevented it, but breaking his will now and then was necessary.
Berge flashed a sly smile.
"Where have you been all this time, and doing what?"
"Er, research."
"Research in the Erjest Mountains, huh. They say you modified Cher?"
"Yeah."
At her innocent gaze, Akan's king sighed.
He could never read his daughter's mind. If only she'd speak properly like his other children.
And quit that filthy chimera research.
No matter how displeased, she was still his daughter. She always vanished like a ghost and returned after long absences—this time especially so. How could he not worry?
But at this moment, the king's worries weren't for his daughter, but the new problems she'd brought.
"They say Cher's aura is far stronger than before. Mages are clamoring to know how you modified it. Can you share the results?"
"No."
"No?"
"Yeah."
"You are a princess of the kingdom and a mage of the Magic Tower. Just as you've received much, dedicating to the kingdom is your duty as royalty and tower member."
"No."
But Ravinia shook her head again.
The king's brow furrowed.
She was eccentric, but not incomprehensible. Knowing how much she'd received as princess, she freely shared her research with the kingdom.
He knew she had no possessiveness over it—only zeal for research and new knowledge.
Yet refusal?
So firmly?
Having seen reports of mages' excitement over Cher's changes, the king already felt a headache at their reactions.
"Why?"
"Can't say."
"Can't even give a reason? Ravinia Akan, this isn't a game."
"Something else."
"Something else matters, but the mages truly want Cher."
"No."
"As your king, I command you."
"No."
"As your father, I beg you."
"No."
"......"
He rubbed his face at her resolute eyes. Once Ravinia set her mind, even he as her father couldn't break it.
He couldn't torture his daughter either.
But would the mages understand?
Akan wasn't an absolute monarchy. Nominally all were subjects of the royal family, but the Magic Tower's authority rivaled the throne, and the Tower Lord's matched the king's.
The kingdom built with the mages—that was Akan. Even the king couldn't treat tower mages lightly.
"Really no?"
"No."
"Then no choice. You'll explain to the mages yourself."
The king resorted to his final card.
"Explain?"
"Guards! Summon the Magic Tower's mages at once!"
Dozens of mages poured in: the Tower Lord, Vice Tower Lord, and high mages answering his call.
"Your Highness! Glad you're safe. How did your trip go?"
"Yeah."
"Can you share your research results with the tower? We'll pay appropriately."
Appropriate pay meant monsters, their byproducts, or elixirs Ravinia wanted.
The deal had always held.
"Yeah."
"Ooh!"
"As expected of Lady Ravinia!"
Same as always. The mages brimmed with anticipation at her assent.
"Cher excluded."
Until exactly one second prior.
"Pardon?"
"What do you mean?"
"Cher, no."
"Didn't you say you'd share research results?"
"Yeah."
"Then Cher too..."
"No."
"Why not!"
"No, what is this, Your Highness?"
"No."
"Your Highness!"
"Your Highness, please show mercy!"
"Cher. No."
Hundreds of questions met her firm rebuffs, advancing not an inch.
And then.
"Gonna go."
The end was Ravinia's weary escape. She bolted through the mage crowd and fled the capital.
"Cher!"
The mages could only gape as she rode off on the suddenly appeared Cher.
"...Flying that massive bulk on one wing."
"Ooh, magnificent."
"What method did she use? Drake? No, that's no mere drake."
"What monsters or demonic beasts are those byproducts from!"
"She flees whenever we try to inspect. Damn it."
The mages admired Cher's form, not even thinking to pursue.
Regaining their senses late, they turned to the king.
"Your Majesty."
"She wouldn't tell me either."
"Cher's transformation surpasses all precedents. It's the pinnacle of chimera studies, enough to leap our kingdom's chimera research to new heights!"
"Indeed! Knowing the spells that strengthened Cher would elevate Akan's name in the coming False Demon King subjugation."
"I know that. But she won't tell even me. You know her stubbornness—no one can break it."
If he could, he'd have stopped her chimera tinkering long ago.
"Urgh."
The Tower Lord and mages groaned.
They wanted to interrogate Ravinia, but none dared.
Press too hard, and she'd bolt again.
But they weren't ones to give up easily.
"She ignores our pleas, but what about someone closer?"
"Like Prince Cain?"
"Him too, but there's also that fellow Peil who returned with her, or Lady Rozel?"
"Ooh, brilliant idea."
"Can't do nothing!"
The mages, united once more, bowed to the king and left the palace.
Their minds fixed on one thing: how to persuade Ravinia.