033. Well, They Haven't Been Useful

Ten top-grade packets of Seniel powder. And two packets of degraded Seniel powder.

With a total of twelve packets in hand, Berge returned to the tower. The tower-bound spirit Roger on the first floor greeted him first.

"Welcome back, sir?"

"No special incidents, I assume?"

"None."

"And the mana cannons?"

"I've reinforced their firepower and made a few more."

Twenty mana cannons stood imposingly aimed at the entrance.

Not bad.

But the rest of the floor felt utterly empty. There was a makeshift workshop in the corner, but that was it.

It was woefully inadequate anywhere you looked to call this a Demon King's tower.

"I'd like you to renovate the first floor a bit more."

"I'm short on equipment. I set up this makeshift workshop, but everything's so rudimentary..."

"Sounds like you're asking me to go shopping."

"...As if I'd dare, haha."

Let's see here.

A decent amount of points had accumulated while he was out.

Thanks to Hillon Kargil's failure and the kidnapping of the imperial princess.

Most of it would go toward paying off debts, but he could spare a little.

In his previous life, he'd never summoned something like a forge. With the magic points he had back then, he was too busy releasing dimensional interference or summoning monsters.

Balrogs used to be pretty affordable back then.

But now he couldn't even dream of it. If there was one thing he regretted compared to those days, it was the overflowing monsters.

He bought five lowest-grade interference releases.

There wasn't much difference. Just a slight ease in breathing.

It was a bit stingy, but since magic points were horribly inefficient against interference, he let it slide.

The tower began to rumble. Roger staggered in panic as the ground writhed, summoning the workshop.

A fiercely boiling furnace, flames of destruction, Ma-gye's glacial ice boasting extreme cold, and all sorts of facilities and tools filled the space.

Roger blinked at the Hell's Forge that had suddenly crushed his makeshift workshop and appeared.

"...Wha, what is this..."

"Should be good now."

"So I can use this..."

"I'm not just telling you to set up mana cannons. Redesign the entire first floor however you want to most effectively annihilate heroes."

"Of course!"

Hah...

"This is a true Ma-gye workshop...!"

Roger breathed heavily and dashed past Berge toward the furnace.

"This furnace has a very unique shape."

"Ma-gye has something called bloodfire stone. Inject magic points, and it heats up hotter than most lava. The entire furnace is made of it. No need to make fire separately—just infuse magic points to melt metal."

"Heat from minerals instead of fire? Fascinating. Ooh, this feels alive?"

"The core inside is a creature called Freefrost that parasitizes glaciers. It consumes heat and emits cold, making it nearly perpetual. They use it a lot for quenching."

"Perfect! This is the best!"

It wasn't just the novelty. Having spent most of his dwarf life in workshops, Roger knew every piece of equipment was top-grade. The layout of the furnace and smeltery considered the artisan's workflow.

"I'll renovate the first floor with everything I've got!"

Heh heh heh. Roger drooled.

...Should be fine, right?

Of course. He'd screwed over hero parties with pretty high-level mana cannons before, so he'd handle it.

Berge was starting to grasp Roger's personality. A madman in his field. Utterly simple—satisfy his desires, and he was content.

Berge headed to the next floor. Still empty.

How should I fill this one?

Previously, he'd just plastered it with monsters. Traps here and there, maze-like layout, probably?

Not a bad idea.

Heroes startled by mana cannons on the first floor would ascend to the second on high alert.

But if what awaited them wasn't another trick but a textbook setup?

The confusion would be effective. They'd suspect traps everywhere, draining their mental energy.

He went up to the third floor. The second was lacking, let alone the third—it was still far off.

Finally, the fourth floor. The first thing Berge heard was the sound of wind slicing. The first thing he saw was a blade flying at him.

Golden aura rippled.

A decent strike. If the opponent wasn't a Demon King and this wasn't his tower, it might have been sharper—maybe even wounded him.

Clang—

The aura shattered. Kaede, her blade caught, swallowed a groan.

"What the hell?"

"...Filthy Demon King!"

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

Berge tossed Kaede aside. She landed with a roll and charged again.

Annoyed, Berge knocked her out with a chop to the neck.

"I told her not to."

Ernan, who had watched impassively, muttered calmly.

"You didn't try hard enough."

"I did. She wouldn't listen—kept asking why I'd side with a Demon King instead of escaping together."

"......"

Honestly, that was something Berge wanted to ask too.

"Get along."

"I'm trying."

He tossed her the pouch of Seniel powder.

"Top-grade? Ten packets. What's this?"

"Degraded Seniel powder. Got it for free."

"Thanks. I figured you'd bring just one."

"Too lazy to go multiple times. But can you contract a high-grade spirit with that?"

"Gotta try."

Berge decided to clear up a lingering doubt.

"Summoning a high-grade spirit means your skills improved... Not my place to say, but spirits and towers are polar opposites."

The tower was mana-poor. Spirits fed on pure mana.

Magic points and spirits were near-total opposites.

"True. But it helped. Scant mana forced me to maximize efficiency with minimal output. Improved my mana control. The elixir you gave helped too."

And...

Ernan swallowed her last words.

No need to mention how repeated mana heart depletion had awakened and fully integrated the unabsorbed elixir remnants dormant in her body.

He'd treated her decently, but he was still a Demon King.

"I see."

Berge nodded.

"Don't think summoning a high-grade spirit lets you escape."

"I won't."

"Get caught trying, and you lose everything you've enjoyed. No second chances."

"No one climbs Erjest right after barely contracting a high-grade spirit."

Descending was the same.

"You manage this idiot. If she bolts, it's on you."

"...That's unfair. I'm the good one here."

"Collective responsibility."

"...Did you check out Berft?"

"Not yet. Gonna scout more and sweep 'em clean."

"Ah."

"Good luck then."

He waved and ascended to the fifth floor. Past the empty throne, into the adjutant's office. Gordon, eyes bloodshot, rummaged through papers.

"What are you doing now?"

"Welcome back, my lord Demon King. Forgive me for not greeting you—I've been swamped."

Gordon replied without looking up.

"Swamped?"

"Didn't you order me to find a way to ruin that Jetoson scum?"

"Right, I did."

He'd considered ordering Granada, but remembered Gordon was idle and delegated to him.

"Any methods yet?"

"Not yet, but soon. No—I'll make sure of it."

"Take your time."

"No!"

Gordon shouted.

"I, Gordon, top graduate of the Demon Clan Training Academy, swear on my name to wash away this disgrace of uselessness!"

Useless? I never said that.

Berge frowned. He hadn't thought that.

But on reflection, it was true. Granada was building a mercenary band. Ernan had made huge contributions blocking Hillon Kargil.

Gordon? Nothing. Absolutely nothing. If anything, constant nagging from the sidelines? A net negative.

Though he'd stopped after the Hillon Kargil block.

"Well, you have been useless so far."

"...I'll prove myself!"

"Yeah, do that."

"Yes, sir!"

Berge entered his office. He sank into the plush chair, reviewing the situation.

"No need to kidnap more princesses or princes right now..."

Too many too quickly would raise flags.

"Oh, right. Elves."

He recalled the solid plan to buy all elf slaves and use them as vanguards.

But most of the 100,000 gold was in Hillon Kargil's hands.

Bzzz—

Then the crystal orb vibrated.

"Perfect timing. I was just about to contact you."

It was Hillon Kargil.

"Me, sir?"

"Elves. Buy every elf at the slave market."

"Elves? Like Granada?"

"Glad I contacted you then."

"What's up?"

"Aman Katrash has returned to his family home. He repented his past, and the family head forgave him."

"He's now the heir."

"Ho ho."

Good news. A big step toward continental conquest.

"Wasn't he a wastrel? Even as sole heir, forgiveness wouldn't come easy."

"Who am I? Even after one failure, my reputation isn't light."

"And I invested some money there. Told them firmly it was because I trust Aman Katrash."

Indeed.

No matter the wastrel past, he was the ailing sole heir after his aura hall's destruction. They had to yield, especially with a top hero like Hillon Kargil's endorsement and investment.

Game over.

Hard to find greater merit.

"Excellent."

"I'll relay your orders. Contact you if anything special comes up."

"Do that."

Berge smiled satisfactorily.

Everything was going smoothly.

"The Hero Guild sitting idle is a bit suspicious, though..."

Even in his previous life, they hadn't moved until the endgame. After toppling several kingdoms, heroes were deployed en masse, driving him to death.

So there's still time.

Back then, he'd thought they were just cowering. But humans had their tangled politics.

Ask Hillon later.

And look into the red-sword hero who'd killed him, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠while at it.

Berge sank deeper into the chair.

Failure to subjugate the Demon King.

And failure to rescue the princess.

The Hildean Kingdom, as the quest issuer, reacted most sensitively to these two pieces of news alongside the Hero Guild.

At first, when half the hero party including Waton Colro descended with heavy losses, hope's ember hadn't died.

"Waton Colro isn't fit to be a hero."

"Princess kidnapped, and he couldn't even find the tower before fleeing?"

"But there's still Hillon Kargil. A hero far stronger than that fool, right?"

Hildean's ministers viciously tore into Waton Colro and his group. Nursing anxiety, they desperately prayed Hillon Kargil would rescue the crown princess.

"Your Majesty, Hillon Kargil has returned! Total failure—utter failure!"

Hillon Kargil's failure too was the worst outcome they never wanted.

"...Where is Hillon Kargil?"

"Holding a press ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠conference in the Assoin Principality."

The Assoin Principality was part of the Traparta Union.

"Insolent cur! He took Hildean's commission and failed his heroics—should be groveling before Your Majesty, confessing all and begging forgiveness...!"

The ministers erupted.

"Your Majesty! We can't let Hillon Kargil get away with this! Summon him immediately and hold him accountable!"

"Hold him accountable!"

"...We will."

The Hildean king's gaze turned icy.

"Request cooperation from Assoin immediately and dispatch the knight order to bring Hillon Kargil here."

"Your Majesty, it's customary to overlook hero failures. Who would fight Demon Kings for Hildean if we punish those who risk their lives?"

"I've endured plenty already!"

The king bellowed. The advising minister bowed his head.

"The crown princess is the kingdom's foundation. Our future. I could lead the army and raze the snowy mountains myself—and still it wouldn't suffice. But I endured. Because of custom! Because we can't raise armies on Demon King pretexts! Because I believed enduring a bit longer meant Hillon Kargil would rescue her!"

The king growled.

"And what was the result? Is this what I wanted? What you wanted?"

"Your Majesty."

"If you knew what that child means to me—to Hildean—don't tell me to endure more. I've held back plenty. Not marching north with the army right now is proof."

"The Hero Guild won't stay silent."

"Are you Hildean's minister or the Guild's spy? Scared of that ragtag bunch more than Hildean?"

"......"

"What are you waiting for? Send the Azure Wave Knights to drag that hero here! Use force if he resists!"

"As you command!"

One of Hildean Kingdom's top five knight orders departed for the Traparta Union.