Advice
“I can’t believe it.”
Even after all the effort Berge had put into personally convincing his adjutant, Gordon stubbornly denied reality.
“The Demon King’s Canon is not wrong. No matter how much the situation has changed, it is always absolute.”
That’s why it’s called the Canon. And yet.
“Even if they’re heroes, for mere humans to create a canon to rival it?”
“We don’t slap the label ‘canon’ on it. But it’s spread word-of-mouth like an unwritten rule.”
“You’ve only just arrived in Alein, yet you know it well. Are all top graduates like this?”
I barely suppressed my rising irritation and shot back.
“Then why haven’t we conquered Alein until now?”
“Because the dispatched Demon Kings lacked the ability, of course.”
Right. That’s another reason the Canon has persisted so steadfastly.
The law of the jungle: the strong survive.
If you fail and get weeded out, it’s not that the enemy was strong—it’s because the loser was a weak piece of shit. Simple logic.
I only escaped it after experiencing it firsthand, after dying. Having been the Canon’s most fervent follower in my previous life, I never expected to convince him in one go.
I just needed to dial back the annoying interference a bit. For now.
“All those dozens of Demon Kings who died here were all incompetent, huh?”
“……”
Gordon clamped his mouth shut after that.
Having successfully quashed his fierce opposition, I slowly surveyed the tower.
Simple structure. A basement level prison for holding princes, princesses, or captives. Then floors 1 through 4: empty lots with nothing. Finally, the 5th floor for the Demon King.
The plush red carpet and throne on the dais were a courteous touch to receive heroes with more authority.
To me, it just looked like a slightly fancier execution platform.
I entered the office behind the throne. A modest desk and chair, plus various communication orbs.
Woooong—
At that moment, one of the orbs began asserting its presence as if it had been waiting.
“…Greetings. I am Gordon, adjutant to Demon King Berge Dayas.”
Gordon hurriedly answered.
“You’ve hooked a good one. I’m Casey, adjutant to Drakson. I’m relaying Lord Drakson’s intent to hold a welcome banquet for the newly assigned Demon King to our dimension.”
Ah, right.
That’s a thing.
To survive Alein’s unique environment, the Demon Kings had changed. They’d shattered individualism, formed groups, and forced newcomers to join by inviting them to banquets.
They wanted obedient juniors who’d fit into their little society and listen up.
In crude terms.
Alein’s special brand of hazing time.
What a pain.
A sigh escaped me naturally.
“Good lord, Demon Kings holding gatherings with each other?”
Gordon’s pupils shook at the contact, which was almost diametrically opposed to demon nature.
“Don’t worry. I’ve got no intention of mingling with them. Even if I ignore the Canon, I’ll play the lofty Demon King you want.”
“…You’re not just not doing it—you can’t, right? Word’s out you’re a rebel.”
Even in his confusion, he nailed the core issue.
Truly capable in at least one area.
In my past life, the summons came a week later.
The fact it came this fast meant.
There’s trouble.
Apparently, this rebel me rubbed them the wrong way more than expected.
Beast Tower.
Alein’s humans name Demon Kings based on their traits and actions.
The Drakson inviting me was a beast through and through, enough to be called the Beast Demon King.
In behavior and appearance alike.
Grrr—
The moment I entered the tower, the beastly stench hit me.
Musk, heaviness, savagery, madness.
Not pleasant scents. Especially laced with blatant hostility.
I’d barely taken ten steps from the entrance when nausea surged.
I didn’t hold back because I couldn’t.
“Keep rolling those eyeballs stiffly, and you’ll never see again, you half-sentient beasts.”
The tower’s weakest fodder filling the 1st floor yelped and slammed their heads down.
The same repeated on 2 and 3. Their blatant, contrived posturing made me chuckle involuntarily.
Childish as ever, past or present.
“Not just in body, but brains too—pure beasts, huh?”
“…This is Demon King Drakson’s tower.”
“No need to mind manners with rude trash.”
“True. Even for a new Demon King, inviting you and overdoing it like this is too much.”
A hint of anger seeped into Gordon’s tone.
Exactly. Even a blockhead wouldn’t sit idle if his lord was insulted.
“Don’t step in. I’ll handle it.”
“…Understood.”
We climbed the tower again. I could tolerate up to the 5th floor. They still glared arrogantly, but a whiff of killing intent made them yelp on their own.
But the 6th floor was different.
Lycansloths. At a glance comparable to beastkin—half-human, half-beast—but unlike them, these couldn’t fully become beast or human. Incomplete vermin.
They didn’t hide their fangs despite my warning. Didn’t conceal their malice.
Seeing dogs faithfully obeying some normal’s command up top made me smirk.
At least they could’ve hidden their trembling legs.
“How loyal.”
But not to me, so no need to respect it.
Kieeeek—
The lycansloth screamed. Clutched its face, rolling on the floor. Beastly blood pooled.
I tossed its one eyeball.
“I had no intent to cause a ruckus in another Demon King’s tower, but if you insist on giving me a reason, I’ve no reason not to.”
Looked down on, you get used. Underestimated, you get eaten. Seem easy, fangs come out first.
That’s Ma-gye. That’s demons.
“Right?”
I turned. Amid the lycansloths, a massive beast rose.
He snatched the flying eyeball aimed at him.
“Impressive.”
Squelch—
Disgusting fluid dripped down his gray fur.
“Rumors say you crushed the other cadets to take top spot. Well deserved.”
“Is this how beasts welcome guests?”
“I came down personally, so I think that’s courtesy enough.”
“Lack patience, don’t you?”
“That too. Couldn’t wait to see the famous trash in person.”
“Same here. Wondered what kind of vermin these so-called Demon Kings had become, huddling scared and holding hands.”
“Hahaha… Indeed. No wonder Alkain the Archduke told us to watch you closely.”
“Think that’d make blood pour from an eyeball?”
“It could from yours.”
He growled. Killing intent exploded; Gordon flinched. I yanked him behind me and sneered.
“No idea what makes you so cocky.”
“You’re that hotshot top graduate we’ve never faced.”
“Trash bug insulting the Canon, right?”
“So devoted to the Canon, yet tossed out Demon King pride?”
The killing intent thickened, viscous, pressing on skin.
I pinched my nose, frowning.
“Clean your mouth. I’m sensitive.”
“Fine. A rebel ignoring the Canon at graduation needs this much guts.”
“Talk’s dragging, and no tea served here.”
Drakson eyed the beastkin behind. One brought a hunk of meat and handed it over.
“Amazing. You beasts drink meat?”
“We eat only meat and blood.”
“Barbarians.”
I spotted a document bundled with the meat.
“Pretending to have manners, huh?”
“Shut up and read.”
Flutter—
The official Ma-gye paper document unfurled. Drakson recited.
Demon King Berge Dayas shall, per the great Demon King’s Canon, kidnap a prince or princess within one month and report progress.
If the order is not followed, the tower’s system privileges granted to Demon King Berge Dayas shall be revoked.
Ha. I shut my mouth mid-bite, appetite gone.
Not planning to follow? Fine, they’ll force it via system lockout.
Using another Demon King to pressure me, no less?
Thud—
I tossed the meat hunk. Ground it underfoot.
“Thanks for the hospitality, but my tastes are refined. Can’t stomach cheap crap like this.”
The beasts’ faces hardened viciously.
“No intent to force our tastes on idiots.”
“How generous.”
“You haven’t answered yet.”
“Revoke tower system if I don’t comply, right?”
Rip—
I shredded the document.
Amid scattering paper scraps, Drakson’s enraged roar echoed.
“How dare you to the Archduke’s decree!”
“Don’t worry. Even without this bullshit order, I planned to do it anyway.”
So.
“Don’t order me around, you mangy mutt.”
You stink.
“What, what, what!”
Gordon screamed.
“What were you thinking!”
“Problem? Demon King battles are forbidden anyway. Drakson won’t break it. Beast brain makes him obey his master to a T.”
“I know that! I mean, why rip the Archduke’s decree!”
Oh, that.
“Relax. Like I said, I’m kidnapping a princess anyway. Tower system won’t shut down.”
“That’s not the issue now!”
“It is. I was gonna do it anyway—now it looks like I’m obeying orders.”
“What’s wrong with following the Archduke’s command?”
“Would’ve been nice to part amicably.”
No bad impressions in my past life. But that’s history. Now, he’s just vermin stripping my rightful privileges and threatening me.
At my firmness, Gordon changed tack.
“…But didn’t you say you wouldn’t follow the Canon?”
“Not fully. No need to reject what’s useful.”
“Then which princess? Before coming here, I looked into northern continent kingdoms—”
“Told you, not following the Canon to the letter.”
“…Not kidnapping from a nearby kingdom?”
They figured opening with this would force me into the Canon flow.
Tower built—first step. Kidnap next, and the rest flows naturally, Demon King or not.
Furious king pays Hero Guild to retrieve child; heroes mobilize.
But I’ve no intent to fulfill that expectation.
Closing my eyes briefly summoned the system, showing tower status.
├─ Sub-Tower Lord: Gordon Dirik
└─ Floors: 5
├─ Demons: Gordon Dirik
├─ Familiars: None
└─ Monsters: None
├─ 1st Floor: None
└─ 2nd Floor: ...
A pathetic sight.
In this state, flowing smoothly means elimination.
So target a princess no one cares about if kidnapped, or a powerless kingdom too weak to fight back.
Fortunately, I knew one.
Long ago—in my previous life, one day.
When I’d poked Alein’s superpower.
Relations with other Demon Kings at rock bottom; swarms of heroes had me struggling.
Then one Demon King visited.
A smug idiot, especially mouthy among Demon Kings—couldn’t live without bragging.
He relished my plight.
‘Tsk tsk, told you not to touch the empire’s princesses. Alein’s totally different from other dimensions, no matter how great you think you are. Should’ve etched seniors’ advice into your bones.’
‘Look at me. Kidnapped a princess no one cares about—smooth sailing. King doesn’t give a damn, so only weak heroes trickle in now and then. Honey pot. Bet you didn’t know.’
He left giggling, unaware he’d have died on the spot if Demon King fights weren’t banned.
“Wanted to rip out all his teeth then. Now it helps.”
“What do you mean?”
“Decided which kingdom’s princess to kidnap.”
“Which, from where?”
“Southernmost continent tip: Hildean Kingdom’s 13th princess.”
Frail-bodied illegitimate daughter of a king unfit even for political marriage.
Her.