025. Demon Kings
“What happened to Hillun Kargil? Is he dead?”
Her first words were, “Hello, Gordon. First time seeing you in person, right?”
Then straight to the point.
He'd expected this question would inevitably come up here.
That's why Berge had firmly warned Gordon.
—We didn't fight. Hillun Kargil is still wandering somewhere in the Erjest Mountains.
When asked why. Why hide the fact that he'd captured such a renowned hero? Wouldn't it be better to boast of the feat and boost his standing among the Demon Kings?
Berge called that short-sighted.
—That bastard will become the dagger I planted. Even with a few failures, he'll return as the undefeated hero he was.
He understood the intent. That's why Gordon was shocked. But he couldn't argue against Berge's resolute gaze.
It was impossible by his common sense, but everything Berge had done so far had been the same.
And the result?
Total success.
So Gordon decided to trust Berge. He'd already resolved to do so anyway.
“He's not dead. In fact, he never even reached the tower.”
“What does that mean?”
Clack, clack—
Her flustered voice slipped between the sound of her heels.
“Hillun Kargil is probably still wandering the Erjest Mountains even now.”
“That make any sense?”
By the canon, no. But now it did.
“I trust you know what Berge did at the Demon King Academy graduation ceremony.”
“...He insulted the canon.”
“It was more than mere insult. I heard it myself. He called it no different from a hatchling carrying a corpse to a dragon's lair—foolish trash.”
“...No matter how great a Demon King, one must never dare insult the canon.”
Gordon welcomed the faint anger in her words.
“That's exactly what I wanted to say.”
“...I get why you had so many complaints. So you really built the tower somewhere else? Not on the highest peak?”
“Not just that—we hid it where it's hard to spot.”
“Impressive. Hiding it in a hellhole like the Erjest Mountains explains why the heroes can't find it.”
She stopped walking.
“Don't be too tense—it's your first time. Unlike those lofty Demon King conferences, us adjutants are just disgruntled subordinates venting about our bosses.”
“If that's the case, I have full confidence I can excel.”
“From what you've said, I believe it.”
She turned and straightened Gordon's clothes.
“He's still your Demon King, and it's not a total secret, so don't go too overboard bashing him.”
“Of course.”
“I'm kind to everyone. Don't get the wrong idea just because of this.”
“...Isn't that a bit self-conscious?”
“Oh? You say that, but your heart's pounding pretty loud.”
“Dark Elves have big hearts by nature.”
Creeeak—
The door opened. It was Gordon's first adjutant conference.
“He never even reached the tower?”
How was he supposed to take that absurd statement?
Drakson Dolph snorted.
Reina Sordain blinked expressionlessly.
And Ugar Belbek decided to get angry.
It had been nearly a month since the hero party first started climbing the mountain.
Half had fallen away, and a matching number of stragglers had become corpses or retreated.
Yet Hillun Kargil hadn't even reached the tower?
“You expect me to believe that crap?!”
“Believe it or not, I don't care. No reason to beg a lump like you to buy it.”
“Who're you calling a lump?!”
If not for the tower, if not for the ban on Demon King infighting, he'd have killed him on the spot.
And he probably could have. Berge, suffering the most from dimensional interference, was weaker than anyone here.
“Hold on a moment.”
Jason Cockmond cut through the killing intent once more.
“So you're saying Hillun Kargil is still roaming the Erjest Mountains?”
“Yeah.”
“Then the heroes' campaign isn't over yet. Neither is guarding your tower, Berge.”
But.
“Then why did you leave the tower, Berge?”
“Is that a problem?”
“Of course it is.”
Jason adjusted his glasses and continued calmly.
“A Demon King doesn't have to guard the tower at all times. When kidnapping princesses or princes, plotting something, or attending a gathering like this. You can leave it empty.
But.
“Not when heroes are gunning for your tower. A Demon King must never step away then.”
The tower is only complete with its Demon King. It obeys the Demon King's commands, lends him power, and all functions work smoothly only with him there.
“That's abandoning the tower yourself.”
It's suicide. A Demon King without a tower can't survive. They replenish spent magic points through the tower, accumulate more, and escape dimensional interference.
Deprived of all that, is it still a Demon King?
No, just prey.
History on Alein even recorded Demon Kings who lost their towers and became playthings for heroes before dying.
“You lot invited me to this Tower Harmony.”
“We assumed the battle was over. It's been weeks since Waton led the heroes down.”
Berge didn't answer. But that was answer enough.
“You really built the tower somewhere other than the summit?”
Drakson cut in abruptly.
“I know you're a blockhead. I know damn well what you pulled at the sacred graduation.”
“So?”
“But before that, I heard you followed the canon closer than anyone. So I figured it was just talk, a quirk.”
At least up until the princess kidnapping, he'd stuck to it reasonably well.
“And now you blatantly defy it?”
“The canon doesn't say you must build on the mountain summit.”
“It does say to place it in a suitably dangerous spot, easy to find, standing proud. You broke both.”
The Erjest peak is extremely hazardous. Even Demon Kings tread carefully in its heart, where certain beasts lair.
“So?”
“What?”
“The canon isn't an ironclad law. The Demon King's Canon is just the first Mahwang's advice compiled. Nowhere does it say you must obey.”
“Thousands of years of tradition make it binding. Tradition is tradition because it's upheld, canon canon because it's obvious.”
“Right!”
Ugar chimed in. Berge met their gazes coolly, lips twisting.
“Can you lot confidently say you've proudly followed the canon to the letter?”
“Not like you, breaking it.”
“So you have issues too.”
The canon was made for other dimensions—applying it wholesale to special Alein was impossible.
If it had worked, they'd be former Demon Kings by now.
“Let's leave it there.”
Once more, Jason Cockmond interjected at the perfect moment. It grated, feeling like deliberate inaction.
“Berge is right. I don't love seeing the canon defied either.
But we have no right to force it on him.”
“Hmph.”
“And you still haven't answered. Where exactly is Hillun Kargil?”
“I said wandering the mountains.”
“I'd like to believe you, Berge, but I can't think you're foolish enough to empty your tower while heroes sharpen their blades against you.”
“I said he's lost in the mountains. Never said the tower's in danger.”
“How many days?”
The cold interjection came from the frost demoness, bored at one end of the table.
“At least a week.”
“Tower Harmony ends in a day. This lady sees no issue—it's efficient.”
“Defying the canon?”
“We just covered that. Ugar, are you so dim you need repeats?”
Ugar flinched at her icy glare. Even among equal Demon Kings, hierarchies existed.
“...Ahem.”
He turned away.
“Jason. Maybe you should quit too? If the tower falls, it's his burden.”
“Naturally. I was just worried— I respect Berge's free will.”
Jason shrugged.
A brief silence. Then casual chatter resumed.
“My kin are descending to Alein this time. They've pledged as my vassals to aid me. It'll cost hefty magic points, but worth it.”
“Not bad. But don't show your hand too soon. Humans don't ignore a Demon King getting too big.”
“Jespain Empire's 9th Imperial Princess has gone missing. Been dying to ask—anyone here responsible?”
“No interest in touching the Empire.”
“Wasn't she betrothed to Ormus's king?”
“Berft Kingdom's 2nd Princess left the kingdom, wandering the continent. Anyone involved here?”
“Heard Roger Friedri vanished.”
“That half-assed hero?”
“Says he fled rather than craft the princess's weapon.”
“Makes sense. That 2nd Princess's temper suits a demon more.”
Berge stayed out of the Demon Kings' talk. Trivial to them, but as Demon Kings, they brought news and rumors from across the continent. He listened quietly, pondering what he could use.
Cautiously, in case some were decoys to mislead him.
Then, a prickling gaze. Reina Sordain. Their eyes met.
A moment's stare. She rose with a glance.
Berge followed silently.
Thud.
The audience chamber door shut, silencing the three chattering Demon Kings.
“Wonder what they'll talk about?”
“Obvious.”
Drakson snorted.
“That bitch didn't outright complain, but slipped in canon gripes. Blatant blockhead meets subtle rebel. They'll clique up nice.”
“Don't like either.”
Drakson and Ugar gnashed teeth.
Jason just watched the door with amused interest.
“What're you doing?”
Tap, tap.
Roger turned at the light tap on his shoulder.
The ever-innocent princess gazed with brimming curiosity.
“Repairing the busted mana cannon.”
“Not running away?”
“What do you mean?”
Roger paused.
“No one's here now.”
The tower currently held neither Demon King nor Gordon. No troops or means to block their escape.
'Well, there are.'
An elf named Granada. And the natural fortress of Erjest.
But was he staying out of fear alone?
Roger asked himself.
No.
“I can't run.”
More precisely, he couldn't.
Thanks to the Demon King, Roger had no warm home left. His forge, once burning with passion, was no longer his.
'Princess Luize.'
He knew her well.
He felt her rage aimed at him, her obsession ignited.
She was probably tearing the city apart by now. If not found, she'd scour kingdom, continent—whatever to claim him.
If caught.
A chill ran through him; he shuddered. Couldn't even imagine.
Not just that. This bizarre tower granted to the Demon King had captivated him.
Sorry to the heroes who'd eat his mana cannon—and would again—but who cared? Life's about self-preservation.
“And you, Princess? Why not run?”
To Roger, she was the weirder one. Unlike him, no oppression held her. Yet she aided the Demon King willingly.
She'd lured rescuers into traps, claiming minion to the Demon King.
“No confidence descending Erjest alone.”
He knew that wasn't it. Still, Roger didn't pry. Something about this princess unnerved him.
“I see.”
Instead of chatting, he resumed repairs.
Then she poked his cheek.
“...What're you doing?”
“A gift.”
Not her finger. Warm, sweet scent. Cookies studded with chocolate chunks.
“Just baked 'em.”
“In this empty tower?”
When Roger first arrived, the tower was bare. Just basics filling the 5th floor.
The Demon King hadn't ordered anything built. Just prioritize the mana cannon.
“Smoothed the ground for an oven, stuffed a fire spirit inside.”
“Ah.”
Makes sense for a spirit summoner handling all four elements.
Separately, credit her guts for baking cookies so casually after kidnapping.
Already hungry, Roger crunched one.
Crunch—
Perfectly crisp, perfectly sweet.
“How is it?”
“Delicious.”
Even without her sparkling expectant eyes, it was great.
“Uh...?”
He noticed the change after five chews or so.
“...What'd you do to the cookies?”
“Mixed in a tiny bit of Alloje fragment into the dough.”
The princess smiled.
“...Isn't that an elixir?”
“We eat plenty in the kingdom. Still so much left in me, hard to fully digest new stuff. Thought I'd use it this way.”
Alloje. He knew it was what the Demon King gave her for opposing heroes.
Her, to him?
Even a fragment: grown in Erjest fortress, purest mana. It greedily absorbed every trace of dimensional interference clinging to hero Roger.
A stroke of fortune.
All the more huge for a mediocre hero like him.
“A gift for getting along from now on. Like it?”
“Like it too much—it's unreal. But why me specifically...?”
“Reason? You, Granada, and me. We'll be seeing each other's faces a long time.”
If that's the reason, he'd bow in thanks.
“Thank you.”
“Think Granada will like it?”
“He'll go crazier than me.”
“Knew it.”
She scampered off. Down the stairs to the basement—heading for Granada.
'Bold princess.'
No matter how elixir-abundant, they're always coveted. Giving to another? Not just anyone.
Roger's fondness for Ernan rose a notch.
'But why...'
Feels like sinister bribery?
His spine chilled inexplicably.