023. Blockhead, Blockhead—And He Really Was One
"It's nothing special."
Roger rolled across the floor. Hillun kicked him and spat.
"A so-called hero wielding a hammer for a Demon King? That mana cannon that screwed us over—was that your handiwork too?"
"Damn right! The only regret is I didn't put enough effort into severing your neck in one go! And you, a hero, smashing someone else's creation like that?"
"What kind of bastard... Dimensional interference is truly something to lament."
With his killing intent surging, Hillun kicked Roger again. A stifled scream escaped as the dwarf crumpled into a heap.
"I'm busy as hell, and now this worthless trash..."
He wanted to interrogate the dwarf and vent his frustration, but the Demon King was closing in from behind.
No time to waste even a second, and yet here was another hero picking a fight. It was enough to make his blood boil.
"This is amusing. Keep it up. It's not every day you get to watch heroes fight from a Demon King's perspective."
It was already too late.
"Hah."
The Demon King had appeared at the tower's entrance, lounging casually with a chair brought along. The nonchalance screamed mockery.
Escape? Impossible.
From start to finish, he'd danced to the Demon King's tune.
"What the hell are you?"
"A Demon King. Berge Dayas, at your service."
"Who doesn't know that!"
"Asking when you already know is just bad taste."
The Demon King was thoroughly enjoying this.
Especially compared to his past life.
Demon King versus hero. Hero versus Demon King.
In his memories, it was the Demon King who got played, used, and ultimately killed.
But now? The exact opposite.
He was the one mocking and toying with the heroes. It was restoring the pride shattered just before his regression.
"Look, I've tried to understand a hundred times why there are no monsters or demons here."
Not stationing troops in the castle was a lord's prerogative. Fine, that made sense. But no sane person used an ogre as a doorman.
"How the hell did you turn the princess and this scum to your side? Mind control magic?"
"Unfortunately, I have zero talent for that."
Whoosh—
Berge conjured black flames.
"My specialty is Flame Magic. As you probably know."
Yeah, he'd heard.
Hillun ground his teeth.
Word from a noble: a Demon King skilled in flame magic. So he'd shelled out a fortune equipping his entire unit with flame resistance gear.
But lo and behold, no flame magic on the approach. All that money wasted, zero gains.
"Don't tell me that rumor was your doing too...?"
"Afraid not."
"Whatever. Doesn't matter. How'd you manipulate the princess?"
"To cut to the chase: not manipulation—persuasion. She joined me of her own free will."
"Bullshit! No way a princess follows a Demon King like you!"
"If a piece of shit like you follows, what's a Demon King?"
The retort came from elsewhere. Hillun's eyes widened.
The Demon King was right here. He'd assumed the guy was dead?
"Granada... sir?"
"Drop the'sir,' fucker. We've seen each other's ugly mugs—cut the formalities."
"Ah, late on the introductions. This is Granada, sworn to serve me for a century."
"...An elf too?"
This was insane.
What the hell?
"What are you, really? A true Demon King?"
"Why else would I build a tower!"
Crack—
The elf's knee smashed into Hillun's jaw.
"You're the bastard who tried to sacrifice me."
Dull thuds followed in rapid succession, and his vision went black.
"What about the ones passed out outside?"
"Round 'em all up and toss 'em in the underground prison."
He hadn't expected more prisoners than tower members.
He chuckled. Couldn't help it.
"Have you lost your mind, sir?"
"I think you're the crazy one. Your mental training's lacking."
"I'll go collect them right away!"
Granada bolted off. Gordon, who'd been listening quietly, bowed his head.
"...You were right, my lord."
The traditional demon in him had always screamed opposition, but deep down, he'd suspected as much.
If it really played out like this, even a great hero would take a hard hit.
Berge's methods were bizarre yet subtly foolproof.
But suspicion and certainty were worlds apart.
Gordon, having witnessed it all firsthand, reflected.
If they'd followed the canon.
Building the tower blatantly.
Sending monsters to harass heroes.
Placing weak ones on the first floor.
Could they have stopped the heroes?
No. Overflowing with pride in Ma-gye and the canon, but Gordon wasn't a fool.
Sticking to canon would've meant...
'Death. Without a doubt.'
They'd have been found easily, no internal fractures.
No damage from opening the door.
Without the princess, capturing Hillun Kargil wouldn't have been this easy.
He'd been wrong. The Demon King was right.
'Come to think of it, his abilities were renowned from the start...'
Before insulting the canon, he was called the top graduate in history. The Demon King Academy, founded millennia ago—no one across all classes had earned that title without reason.
"I'll serve you more faithfully from now on, my lord. I'll strive to stand by your side."
"Glad you're finally done nitpicking."
"......"
To have his hard-won emotions brushed off like that.
Yeah, he still hated this blockhead Demon King he served.
"Finally."
Drakson was in high spirits today.
Reports from his subordinates dispatched to Hotenwork.
"The hero expedition's end draws near. The moment they climb the mountain and open the tower door—that's his last."
Kuhuhuhu. Imagining that arrogant head rolling was delightful.
"What do you think, Berge? That punk's neck will fall, right?"
"Hillun Kargil's combat prowess wasn't highly rated in the past."
He was seen more as a political player. Of course, compared to the absolute top heroes.
"But that's old news."
Public opinion flipped when he slew the Lust Demon King.
Demons grew by hunting heroes, just as heroes grew by slaying demons.
The Demon King fed on negative human emotions toward hero fame, while heroes converted demon power into interference. The process differed, but the result was the same.
"Unexpected that Elf hero, Burtein, fell to him after all expectations, but what matters is he did it—and absorbed the power. How well he's digested it is another question."
Still, plenty to handle the current Berge.
No matter the rumors of top graduate, he was a fresh summon.
He hadn't spent a single magic point on himself.
Interference would be at initial levels—a Demon King like that couldn't beat Hillun Kargil, dead or alive.
Drakson was certain.
A day passed. Two. Three. Four.
As his patience frayed, the awaited news arrived.
『Uh...』
"Spit it out. Hillun Kargil descended triumphantly with Berge's head, right?"
『We can't confirm success or failure yet.』
"What nonsense is that? Didn't the hero party return?!"
『Waton Colro and the stragglers gave up midway, unable to find the tower. Hillun and some are still on the Erjest Mountains.』
"Couldn't find the tower...?"
Impossible.
The tower should stand proudly in the most obvious spot.
"On the tallest peak, the summit! They've been heroes for years—how do they not know that?!"
『It's not there.』
『They searched around after no tower on the summit, but still struggling. Waton and some peeled off from exhaustion.』
Good lord.
Drakson smacked his forehead.
Only then did the truth dawn.
"That crazy bastard! Calling him a blockhead, blockhead—and he really is one!"
Not content with mocking canon, he'd outright defied it.
Half a failure.
Waton Colro and the hero party's return shocked the public.
"Hillun Kargil failed? This Demon King must be insanely strong!"
"A monstrous Demon King has descended!"
"Hillun Kargil hasn't returned."
"Not just failure—did he die?"
Rumors swirled. They fed straight into Berge's points, unbeknownst to them.
As gossip ballooned, Waton Colro held a press conference.
"It's not a failure yet. I and some felt inadequate and withdrew. Hillun Kargil and his elite heroes still seek the Demon King's tower. There's hope."
But it sparked new debate.
"Why search for the tower? It's not at the summit?"
"Towers are always in the likeliest spot, right? No Demon King ever bucked that."
Their failure—and the questions it raised about this new Demon King—sowed chaos.
And none felt the shock more than those who made demon-slaying their trade.
"Different from past Demon Kings?"
"Yes."
Summoned to Hero Guild headquarters, Waton bowed. Five shadows encircled him.
He steadied himself amid the heavy air.
"Hero Waton, recount the events precisely."
"Any lie, and you'll pay dearly."
"I swear to speak only truth before the guild elders."
From expedition start to withdrawal, Waton finished and exited.
"...No Demon King like this before."
"Hiding the tower, no monsters sent? I'd sooner believe dwarves live in trees."
"But Waton wouldn't lie. Other heroes say the same."
"That's what makes it weirder. Why would a Demon King ditch their sacred canon? Totally mad?"
Silence fell. No one here knew the answer.
Not without asking directly.
"I'll decide."
The five elders bowed to the deep voice.
"This Demon King has anomalies."
"No monsters or demons to hinder the expedition: first."
"Tower in the harsh Erjest Mountains: second."
"Not on the summit, but hidden: third."
"Hillun Kargil's fate unknown, but these variables threaten future expeditions."
"Thus."
"In the absent guild master's stead, I'll investigate this irregularity."
"Per the pact between Demon Kings and the guild, I request cooperation on these variables."
The meeting ended.