024. Hillun Kargil's Whereabouts
Waton's return. A half-failure.
After that news spread, there was one thing people were most curious about.
Where on earth was Hillun Kargil?
"He's still wandering the Erjest Mountains searching for the Demon King's tower."
That was Waton's answer, but as more time passed with no further word, unease began to spread one by one.
No, even if he found the tower in that condition, it would be a problem.
"Could he beat the Demon King in that state?"
Demon King was still a Demon King, freshly summoned or not.
No one could answer with certainty.
It wasn't called Erjest for nothing. Demon Kings weren't Demon Kings for nothing.
Hillun was a hero, but ultimately human. And among heroes who headed to Demon King towers, none had brought back good news.
Gloom spread like wildfire.
Rumors ballooned, and someone's belly swelled alongside them.
[125412pt]
"Perfect."
Berge grinned, watching the Magic Points climb rapidly.
Humans might not know it, but the hero offensive was utterly crushed. Peace had returned to the tower.
Post-war cleanup was key, but Berge had little to do himself.
Organizing the tower's interior fell to Gordon, managing prisoners to Granada.
Repairing the broken mana cannons and ballistae was Roger's job, and the fourth floor belonged to the princesses.
For now, it was time to let the prisoners' spirits break. As their Demon King, he savored the wait.
Hero assaults had him on edge every day; since regressing, he'd run nonstop without rest. This leisure was precious.
Accumulating points was a bonus.
"An invitation has arrived."
The guest signaling the end of his leisure appeared then.
"Invitation?"
"A message from the Beast Demon King. 'One week from now, at noon. A feast at the False Tower to celebrate the new Demon King's descent and victory. Attendance is mandatory. Non-attendance will not be tolerated.'"
"Refuses non-attendance? Wonder if he felt any shame saying it."
The feast.
Alein's Demon Kings, unlike those in other dimensions, knew their position wasn't absolute. They played prey to hunters at times.
To survive, to live on, they sought tighter bonds.
That was the feast, the Tower Harmony. Where the five Demon Kings gathered to mingle.
Held once a year, rotating towers. Exception: when a new Demon King descended.
The previous life's feast came shortly after his own descent. He'd ignored the invite.
'Back then, I thought banding together wasn't Demon King-like.'
But an invitation just months later was odd.
'Butterfly effect, I suppose.'
Mocking the canon, branded a fool.
Drakson had opposed him from the start, badmouthing deliberately. Wishing his death.
"The guy he thought would die succeeded instead, so curiosity demands a look."
"What shall we do?"
"They sent an invitation; manners demand we oblige."
Berge walked a path utterly different from his previous life.
Relations and events shifted accordingly. To avoid repeating outcomes, his attitude needed changing too.
'I need clearer insight into Demon Kings' ties to humans.'
Past Berge formed no bonds with humans. He was the conqueror; they mere spoils to seize through battle.
Lone wolf.
No exchanges with other Demon Kings.
Sneered at human negotiations.
Saw all heroes beneath his feet.
Thus,
No Demon King aided him.
Choosing war over talks united humans.
Heroes toyed with him instead.
He'd thought it right. Natural.
One failure made the natural unnatural.
'This time will be different.'
It had to change. Must.
He'd revamped tower ops with dwarves and princesses.
Now, time to shift diplomacy and social ties.
Tower Harmony.
That was how Alein's Demon Kings named their gatherings.
The first was exactly 351 years ago.
Demon Kings fell one by one to hero waves; new ones couldn't settle properly.
One fed-up Demon King proposed uniting like humans. That first mingle became Tower Harmony.
"Wearing Demon King masks yet using a cringe word like 'harmony'."
It revealed how cornered Alein's Demon Kings had been.
"Shall we depart?"
"Yes."
Only Demon Kings and aides attended Tower Harmony. So only Gordon accompanied Berge.
Opening gate to the False Tower.
Opponent's consent required.
Approved.
100pt consumed.
Gates between towers opened and closed at Demon Kings' will. They required consent from both sides—or points—and no Demon King refused Tower Harmony.
At least not in this life.
A sharp rift tore through the fifth floor's grand hall, where the golden throne sat.
"Let's go."
"Yes."
Berge stepped into the rift.
"Welcome."
"We welcome the great Demon King, Berge Dayas!"
Gates between towers always led to the destination's first floor.
Thus, Berge emerged at the False Tower's entrance. The door creaked open.
He trod the red carpet.
Ornate chandeliers lit the interior.
Golden statues, beautiful paintings, finely crafted decorations pleased the eye.
Amid them,
Dark elves stood at attention with swords.
Succubus maids and incubus butlers bowed behind.
"Uh..."
Gordon faltered at the un-Demon-King-like splendor, but Berge silently followed the carpet.
"Pleased to meet you, Berge Dayas. I am Aina Semun, aide to Jason."
At the carpet's end, amid the ranks, a red-haired succubus bowed gracefully. Poised, elegant, dignified.
"A welcome prepared specially for you, Demon King. Do you approve?"
"Not bad."
"Worth the preparation."
"That golden statue especially catches my eye. And the gemwork. Dwarven craft?"
"...You are a most perceptive Demon King."
"You've heard that by now, surely?"
"We have, but rumors are just rumors, no?"
"Truth. Not a grain of lie."
A faint crack marred Aina's soft smile.
"...I see. The False Demon King awaits above. Allow me to guide you."
"The others?"
"All arrived."
"I'm not late."
"Yes. They simply came early."
"Plenty to discuss without me, then."
"As a mere aide, I wouldn't know."
"Aides aren't 'mere.' Usually."
"......"
Clack, clack—
Silence fell. Only Aina's high heels echoed softly.
13th floor. The False Tower stood 13 stories tall.
Before the grand hall door, Aina stopped.
"The Demon Kings are within. This is no place for aides, so may I take your aide separately?"
He nodded indifferently. Aina knocked softly. The guarding dark elf announced.
"Demon King Berge Dayas has arrived."
"Let him enter."
The door opened with the reply.
"Enjoy your time."
Aina bowed, leading Gordon away.
The interior was even more opulent.
The first floor seemed quaint by comparison; this was lavish antiquity's pinnacle.
The golden throne was pushed aside; in its place, a round diamond table, carved translucent.
And around it,
Four Demon Kings
greeted Berge Dayas.
"It's been a while."
Glare of displeasure: the Beast Demon King.
"You are Berge Dayas?"
Cold gaze tinged with curiosity: the Frost Demon King.
"The infamous fool graces us."
5m bulk jabbering frivolously: the Diamond Demon King.
"Welcome."
Graceful bow: the False Demon King.
Berge took his seat. Four pairs of eyes pierced his impassive face.
"Pleased to meet you."
The False Demon King smiled softly, adjusting his monocle.
"Pleased?"
Berge turned. Ugar Belbek. The titan's massive eyes fixed on him.
"Everyone here's your senior. Show respect, you stupid fool."
"Stupid, am I."
Berge tapped the table.
"I'm top graduate. You?"
"You little...!"
"Is this how you treat guests?"
He faced not Ugar, but the False Demon King.
"Came on invitation, and you sic a pig on me grunting? Telling me to leave?"
Killing intent exploded.
"...Want to die?"
"Lord Ugar, this is the feast hall. Please don't sully this sacred place."
"But...!"
"Lord Ugar."
Ugar grimaced, reining in his aura at the False one's mediation.
"Lord Berge seems more Demon King-like than most."
"I'll take the praise."
"Anything else? We'd hear it now."
Berge shook his head silently.
Not close enough for chummy greetings, first feast. Unsure, he'd observe first.
"Of course."
Jason nodded exaggeratedly, as if understanding.
"It may feel awkward, but this is for Demon King harmony. To know each other, share bonds, counter humans smoothly."
"Not awkward—nauseating."
He knew they weren't wrong.
Results mattered. Pre-regression, he'd failed; Jason and the others hadn't.
Not success, but not failure—that counted.
But agreeing outright was wrong. To them, he was the canon-mocking fool; it'd seem suspicious.
"A natural Demon King thought, of course."
Jason's face unchanged despite the blunt scorn.
He always wore that smiling mask, polite to all.
"But Alein isn't as easy as you think. Embarrassing as a Demon King to say, but we must compromise."
"Compromise ill suits Demon Kings."
"True. But absolutes don't exist? Like how you scorned the absolute canon to demons."
"Mocking me?"
"Just saying."
Jason shrugged. Berge let it drop.
Small talk followed.
"First time, so you may not know others. As host, I'll introduce."
The False Demon King explained the other three casually.
"This is Ugar Belbek. To humans, the Diamond Demon King, a titan."
"Hmph, a name too good for your ears."
The bulk snorted. A rotten stench seemed to vibrate; Berge frowned.
"You've met the Beast Demon King. Drakson Dolph, wolfkin."
"Still arrogant as ever."
Hostility rained down.
"And this is Reina..."
Berge let the intro flow past, lost in thought.
Tower Harmony.
Just looking, it seemed ordinary Demon King revelry. Drinking, eating, chatting—like human feasts.
That was it.
But really?
'Tower Harmony endured long. Post-Harmony, Demon Kings felled by heroes decreased.'
Just bonding? Unlikely.
It wouldn't last centuries otherwise.
All but him wouldn't attend mandatorily.
"Introductions done. Your turn. Or rather, a question."
As expected.
"Berge Dayas."
As Jason finished, Ugar growled.
"Where is Hillun Kargil?"