029. Jespain
Really, it was pure coincidence.
Right after releasing the hero party, Ernan Hildean came looking for Berge Dayas.
“I have a favor to ask.”
“You don't strike me as someone who gets to ask favors.”
“I know about one of the high nobles' secret warehouses in the kingdom.”
“Just spit it out.”
“I need Seniel powder.”
“The powder for spirit contracts?”
“Yes.”
Hundreds of years ago, an elf named Seniel had defected to a human kingdom. At the king's request, she'd created an aid to help humans contract spirits more smoothly—that was Seniel powder.
“Isn't your blood more effective?”
But that was just an aid for those lacking spirit affinity. Ernan, who'd already contracted spirits and shown outstanding talent, had no need for it.
“I'm going to mix it with my blood. As you know, there's hardly any mana in the tower, so I need the help.”
“Planning a new spirit contract?”
“Yes.”
“Mid-level?”
“Who knows.”
Her answer was vague, but Berge could guess.
An advanced spirit.
In my previous life, it caused quite the uproar too...
Spirit mages were rare among humans, let alone those contracted with advanced spirits—you could count them on one hand.
She'd formed a contract with one at just twenty-seven. The Hildean Kingdom had publicized it far and wide, drawing spirit mages from across the continent.
And now, she planned to do it three whole years early.
What's different this time?
She'd been kidnapped—something that hadn't happened before.
Lived in the tower for months.
But wouldn't that be a hindrance?
He watched her closely, but she just beamed innocently. Whatever. It wasn't that important.
“Here's the advance payment info.”
“Pelsen region in the Akan Kingdom. Secret mansion in Pelto Castle—warehouse underground.”
“Hidden pretty far out.”
“That way, even if trouble hits, it won't get seized.”
“How'd you find out?”
“Spirits see and hear a lot.”
She spilled all the details on the noble's stash.
“It's a top Hildean noble's secret vault—they've squirreled away plenty of embezzled cash.”
“A kingdom princess telling this to a demon king?”
“It's basically smuggling kingdom assets overseas, so it should be fine, right?”
Guess I'll handle this myself.
He wanted to check the continent's state firsthand. Good thing being a demon king let him move without drawing eyes.
“You can get Seniel powder relatively easily in Akan.”
Spirit mages weren't common for humans, so facilities for them were scarce. Only a magic kingdom like Akan made it feasible.
“Noted.”
“If I'd known you were slacking off like this, I'd have just sent you.”
“No, how is this...”
“Who the hell are you?”
The mercenary who'd cornered Granada barely straightened up, grip tightening on his sword.
“The slave owner oppressing us.”
“Bullshit!”
“Damn right! Total bullshit!”
The mercenary and Granada shouted, a second apart.
The mercenary ground his teeth.
It was like watching childish theater. Laughable that riffraff like him was playing slave owner—and doubling down on it.
They were being toyed with, plain and simple.
Who the hell is he? A powerhouse like that, rotting in a backwater like Hotenwork?
“So, who are you guys?”
“...”
“Not gonna answer? I already told you mine.”
Berge grinned. The killing intent laced in his smile made the mercenaries shudder.
Newly summoned demon kings were weak. Dimensional Interference saw to that—suppressing invaders, empowering heroes to keep dimensions safe.
One way to counter it: twist the interference via tower and Magic Points.
Or bulk up your total power with elixirs and points to brute-force past the limits.
Berge had no such luxury.
All his Magic Points went to the demons for cash; he'd scarfed only a few elixirs, netting a pittance of magic.
But.
It was enough.
Suppression wasn't absolute—it was proportional. A strong man's 10% dwarfs a weak one's.
And Berge?
He was a legendary graduate of the Demon King Academy, a school spanning millennia.
His throttled power was still exceptional.
He wasn't merciful enough to tolerate some insolent human staring him down.
“If you come uninvited, courtesy demands you leave the same way.”
Demon flames flickered faintly.
In their wake: razor claws. Dark-red scales faintly sheathed his skin.
“D-Demon...!”
The mercenaries recognized the rippling magic amid the flames. Overwhelming pressure buckled their knees.
Can he flaunt his magic this openly?
Granada thought so—it was that blatant. And that thrilling.
Only one could resist the onslaught.
Crunch—
“Filthy demon scum!”
Brilliant blue Aura cloaked the mercenary, shoving back the magic and supercharging his body.
His blade surged even larger, slicing the magic's flow. The freed mercenaries gulped air.
But saving his men wasn't the goal.
Clank—
Heavy boots stomped earth. Muscles ballooned.
Boom—
Ground shattered as he launched.
In a blink, the distance vanished.
The instant Berge glimpsed his form—
A line slashed across.
Compressed Aura detonated. Space tore.
Insanely fast. Insanely sharp. Insanely destructive.
Where'd this bastard come from?
Granada shot to his feet without thinking. No mere mercenary. Not some Hotenwork drifter hunting trash mobs.
He won't lose, right?
A flicker of unease. He knew his demon king wouldn't go down, but that strike was that precise.
And.
Clanggg—
When shockwave shards nicked his cheek and faded.
When a calm shadow emerged from the smoke—he knew it was just nerves.
“I was, you see.”
The sword was in Berge's hand. The all-slicing Aura blade stalled against black flames.
The mercenary's face burned crimson.
“Trying to build some patience on this trip down.”
One failure already. He'd toed the Demon King's Canon, but also thrown kingly tantrums.
Looking back, reaching floor 20 was impressive. Probably caught other kings off-guard with his reckless steamroll.
“So I actually held back once.”
Kidnapping Roger Friedri, he'd shown his back to some pissant princess and bolted.
Unavoidable. Couldn't reveal himself, too far from tower—limits harsher.
But it bruised demon king pride all the same.
“And now trash like you is screwing around in my front yard.”
Hold back here too?
No. Hotenwork's restrictions were milder than Erjest Mountains, negligible compared to Berft Kingdom.
The princess's cheek got a pass 'cause she didn't know he was demon king. This guy? No.
“Y-You... who are you...!”
Snap—
Sword shattered. Blood trickled from the mercenary's mouth.
“Not some ordinary demon.”
Any more than you're ordinary riffraff.
“Doesn't matter now. Dead men tell no tales.”
Whoosh—
Flames roared stronger.
Devoured the Aura, pressed forward. The mercenary screamed.
“Run!”
With his final order, he crumpled. Mercenaries turned tail.
“Who said you could leave?”
I didn't permit it.
Berge took a slow step. Space folded, sealing their escape.
He swung through the panicking pack. Elongated nails rent leather armor, painting flesh red.
Then someone barged in. Kaede Jespain.
“Heroes.”
Berge's lip curled at the predator's aura. Icy killing intent—Kaede drew her sword.
Clang—
Her form wavered. Desperate slash devoured by hellfire. Still, she advanced a step.
Quick thrust—but a mini-explosion hurled her back. She rolled with a cry.
“Wait! You can't kill them!”
Berge's shadow swallowed Kaede. His gaze flicked to Granada.
“That woman's a princess! We have to capture her!”
“That true?”
“...”
“Asked you a question.”
Kaede bit her lip.
“...What do you plan to do with them?”
“What's your relation?”
“Knights sent to drag me back.”
“...Doesn't add up.”
“I sneaked out of the palace for reasons.”
“...Palace?”
Not the royal palace?
“Spare them, and I'll tell you who I am.”
Kaede's legs shook. But she held her ground.
“You don't seem to grasp your situation.”
“...”
“Don't wanna talk? Fine. Easier to just kill 'em all.”
“Jespain!”
She blurted desperately.
“I'm the 9th imperial princess of the Jespain Empire—Kaede Jespain!”
Jespain Empire.
Berge had no fond memories of Alein's supreme superpower.
Only bad ones.
Thinking back, his doom was sealed the moment he kidnapped Jespain's crown prince.
He'd been riding high, demon king pride piercing the heavens. String of successes? Nose to the stars.
Thought he could tango with Jespain—nabbed the crown prince. Cue the entire Hero Guild grinding knives for his head.
Come to think of it...
Tower Harmony chatter surfaced.
'Jespain Empire's 9th princess is missing. Been dying to ask—is she someone's handiwork here?'
'No plans to poke the empire.'
'Wasn't there marriage talk with Ormus's king?'
“Fled an unwanted marriage?”
“H-How did you... mph!”
The princess frantically clamped his mouth, but the cat was out.
Ormus Kingdom's a nothingburger.
Big landmass, half jungle—power level trash.
No notable powerhouses or heroes. Retaliation? Laughable.
Problem's Jespain...
Unlike Hildean, no clear heir.
1st prince, 2nd prince, 1st princess, 3rd princess in a dogfight. Lower royals picking sides, shadow wars.
1st prince eventually crushes all—but that's later.
No family bonds in the imperial house.
They see each other as bloodstained rivals.
Might even cheer one less competitor.
Best not touch the empire, sure—but you don't shoo away prime meat that rolls to your doorstep.
Especially post-reveal as demon king. Gotta reap something.
Another reason too.
The imperative to grind more Magic Points for debt. Confidence from Hillon Kargil's hero stunt.
So he was sure.
This was fair game.
“You're coming with me.”
“Th-The knights...”
“Kidnapping a princess needs witnesses. Your call saved them.”
Though they wouldn't know.
Berge scooped up Kaede.
“You—stay and finish the job.”
“Yes, sir.”
Berge and Granada vanished.
The battered knights lay unconscious until security, drawn by the magic, found them.