Even Though I'm the Demon King, There Are Too Many Heroes - Chapter 41: Even Better If He Dies
While Berge had been unconscious, all contact had been cut off. Upon his return to the tower, what awaited him was a massive influx of information.
"Where have you been, my lord? The continent is in an uproar!"
Gordon greeted him with visible relief. The words tumbling out in a rush confirmed that things had escalated far beyond what Berge had anticipated.
'Ormus has issued a full mobilization order.'
'A formal request has gone to the Hero Guild, and heroes are gathering.'
He'd meant to screw over Drakson, but he hadn't expected it to go this smoothly.
"Rozel Charnt?"
He scratched his chin at the mention of this new hero.
"Yes."
"Hero, Rozel Charnt."
"A hero from Trafalgar who always ranks in the top ten when they're lined up by strength. They call her a Star."
"She's a mage, specializing in flame magic. But her melee combat prowess is impressive enough that she's hailed as the epitome of a battle mage."
"Notably, she was originally slated to lead the hero party against the Frost Demon Tower but got bumped by me. With all schedules thrown into chaos, though, she's been reinstated."
Berge, who had been listening quietly, spoke up.
"So that woman is leading the hero party heading for the Beast Tower?"
"Yes. The party has nearly five hundred members so far, about two hundred of whom are heroes."
"...That's a filthy lot."
A sudden memory from his past life twisted Berge's expression into a scowl.
"This hero expedition won't follow the usual circuit, unlike before."
"Like the one heading for the Lust Demon Tower."
"They really mean to lop off Drakson's head?"
"That's the ambiguous part."
Ambiguous? Heroes were still gathering, and the Hero Guild was urging more to step up. It sure looked like they were out for blood.
"The Hero Guild's resolve is firm, but someone's pulling strings. Some heroes are dragging their feet."
"Meaning...?"
"Two possibilities: Someone doesn't want the Beast Demon King dead, or they take issue with Ormus."
"You mean an individual could sway this, not the Guild?"
"Officially forbidden, but there are backers in the shadows. Heroes can't ignore their sponsors."
Heroes needed money, and power brokers craved the leverage of a hero in their pocket.
That was why sponsorships and lobbying persisted despite the official ban—heroes were supposed to act for the continent's safety, justice, and the greater good, not personal greed.
"Don't you have any sponsors?"
"I cut them all off after beheading the Lust Demon King. Figured I could handle it solo. Sponsors bring cash but too much meddling."
"Then you came along and wrecked it all."
Berge snorted and changed the subject.
"Who is it?"
"Too many suspects, honestly. Ormus doesn't have the best relations with other countries. My bet's on their first prince."
"The first prince?"
"From his position, it'd be like pulling a bad tooth. With succession secured, no need to waste national strength on a demon king tower. But without cause, he'll spin it as 'not enough heroes showed up.'"
"Humans are amusing creatures."
In some ways, more demonic than demons.
No wonder they'd lost.
"Guess I need to step up my game too."
Fighting textbook style against humans who'd sell out dimensions for greed? Sticking to the Demon King's Canon like a fool?
Looking back, defeat was inevitable.
A sudden curiosity struck him.
"How do you stack up against her?"
"Who?"
"Playing dumb?"
"...She outclasses me."
"Just outclassed, or...?"
"Nine out of ten fights, I'd lose."
"Aren't you the Hillun Kargil who slew the Lust Demon King? Seems like you're underselling yourself."
"Must I answer?"
"No."
He'd guessed as much. Hillun Kargil fell short of his fame—not weak, but lacking compared to peers of equal renown.
'Hell, how he even killed the Lust Demon King is a mystery.'
But in his past life, it had always been scheming over brute force that stood out.
No matter. Hillun was top-tier, and slaying a demon king guaranteed a brighter future than now.
"That said, I hope this subjugation goes off without a hitch—and succeeds."
"...Isn't he another demon king?"
"Our only commonality is the title."
Besides, Drakson had yapped as Alkain Daegong's dog from the start, annoying Berge endlessly. His death a loss? Hardly.
On a grander scale?
Even better if Drakson died and the demon kings got cocky. Berge could infiltrate humans from the flanks in the meantime.
"What if I leaked Drakson's weakness?"
"...If it's legit, I'd join her party myself, even at the bottom."
"Greed in your eyes."
"For the greater good. Gotta minimize sacrifices, right?"
The shameless bastard didn't bat an eye.
Berge pondered. Killing Drakson anyway—why not borrow a hero's hand, especially Hillun's, tied to him?
Beheading Drakson would bring fame and fortune. The higher he climbed, the more useful.
The issue?
'Too big, and control slips.'
Hillun was a viper. Courtesy masked lethal venom.
Even now, obedient on the surface, he'd be scheming to purge the poison in his mind.
Impossible, Berge knew—but heroes defied common sense. Maybe possible.
But control didn't need one method.
"Fine. I'll compile and send it soon."
"Understood."
"Also, use the Golden Moon Merchant Guild to quietly back promising heroes."
"...Wonder what faces those heroes'll make when they learn the truth later."
"That'll be ages from now."
"Oh, and... from Golden Moon..."
Much later, contact cut off.
"Hm."
Berge extracted the audio from the crystal orb and stored it in a memory crystal, then tossed it into the mage tower's warehouse.
Click.
The five or six existing crystals welcomed their new kin.
"What?"
"She says it's weird."
Ernan Hildean eyed Berge with an odd look as he hurried down to the fourth floor, having sorted the situation.
In one corner, Kaede Jespain swung her sword. No longer charging recklessly—she seemed to have come around.
"Weird?"
"Yeah. Nairuniel said you've changed, Demon King."
"What does that mean?"
"Said you're not demon king-like. Weirdly different."
"Has that damn spirit sewn its trap shut? Why's it hiding behind you and bitching?"
Nairuniel, shrunken and perched on Ernan's shoulder, hopped in outrage.
- Bitching?!
- I'm backing off tactfully!
"If you're leaving, go back to the spirit realm properly. Why pull this half-assed stunt?"
- Well, that's... Mmph!
Ernan hurriedly clamped Nairuniel's mouth.
"She says you don't feel like a demon king."
"Then what?"
"Might sound ridiculous, but she said you feel like a local lifeform... I don't get it, though. You seem a bit friendlier, maybe..."
- Don't dismiss a high spirit's senses! You've changed—definitely changed! Don't know how, but changed!
Nairuniel yelled.
"But you don't know what changed?"
- Exactly.
"Boldly admitting incompetence."
- ......
"Still, good intel."
Even a mana-sensitive high spirit couldn't pin it down. Low odds of Drakson or other demon kings spotting the phoenix power.
"Then."
Whoosh.
He sealed the first heart, opened the second.
Mana supplanted magic points. Hair and eyes flushed red.
"How about now?"
"...Uh."
Ernan stammered.
"Demon King... right?"
"Don't I look it?"
"...You look totally human—no, more elven. Handsome in a normal way."
- How the hell?!
Nairuniel gaped, trembling pupils betraying turmoil.
- Not demonic—just this dimension's lifeform!
Overflowing with mana, too!
Like she said, closer to elf than human. Ernan muttered.
- How can a demon—a demon king—do this? Never heard of it.
- What've you been up to? Swallowed a spirit somewhere?
- No, even then...
"Perfect."
Berge solidified his hunch. If even a high spirit saw elf, not demon king, most would too.
'Test on Roger, and it's solid.'
If heroes couldn't tell...
'No reason not to step out myself...'
None.
No matter the restrictions or bullshit, self-reliance was king.
Heading to the third-floor stairs, Berge paused by Kaede. Watched her swing silently, then descended.
"Hah... haaa...!"
Kaede, ignoring his gaze with effort, panted roughly.
Her sweat-soaked back wasn't from exertion—nerves.
"What's wrong?"
"...How can you chat so casually with a demon king?"
"I don't do anything bad and treat her normally."
"Kidnapping is bad! And he's a vile demon king. He can't just act chill."
"Kidnapping's bad, but someone might wanna escape that way?"
Ernan grinned.
"Like you, running from marriage?"
"How did you—mmph!"
Kaede flushed, clamping her own mouth.
"Heard from the Demon King."
"Vile demon king! Spilling private matters...!"
Kaede trembled in fury.
- Oh ho.
Silent Nairuniel perked up, shoving her tiny face close, eyes sparkling.
- Really fled marriage?
- Juicy. Like forbidden demon king-princess romance...
"Nairuniel, please return to the spirit realm? Pretty please."
Nairuniel ignored Ernan.
- So, hated marriage that much?
"...Not fleeing. Wanted to live as hero, not Jespain princess."
- Hated it enough to brave Erjest Mountains.
"......"
- So, who? Where?
"Well..."
- Spill. Worst way to piss off a spirit: half-talking!
Kaede faltered under the high spirit's aura. Her desperate glance at Ernan met feigned ignorance—curiosity winning.
"...Ormus."
She confessed.
- Ormus. Princes all hot-blooded, most died, three left.
- First? Second? Third?
"...The king."
None.
"Word is Ormus king’s bedridden, dying."
- Ssshh! Don't say it!
Nairuniel frantically muffled Ernan.
"...No magic points at all. Feels like facing an elf or master spirit summoner. Yes, like Hildean’s crown princess..."
Berge confirmed even with a hero.
'Drakson never pulled this.'
No rumors of him faking non-demon king.
He'd never left his turf anyway.
'Come to think, no fire powers either.'
Near-immortal regeneration.
Flames melting all.
Phoenix power split two ways, but post-corpse, no flame use from Drakson. No rumors.
Instead, tales of real-time wound-healing monster.
'Drakson had zero fire affinity. Dumb beast poured everything into flesh.'
So phoenix power funneled there too?
'Not two hearts to separate...'
Racial limits explained it.
"How, though? First time you don't feel demonic. If not rude, a blood sample...?"
"...You dabble in magic too?"
"Not much—alchemy and enchantments."
...More versatile than thought.
Fits a top Berft craftsman.
"Your torso's too long. Dwarf-style, I'll shorten it."
"S-sorry! Curiosity got me...!"
"Curiosity has times and no-times."
"I'll remember, Demon King!"
Roger prostrated. Berge passed.
"Where to?"
"Down the mountain."
"Ah, materials? Could you?"
Berge glared, scowling. Too lenient lately—liver swelling.
"...Can't go solo. Can't defy fortifying first floor either."
"If time, maybe."
"Thank you! Thank you!"
"Fall short of expectations, you'll pay for wasting mine."
"B-best effort!"
Leaving trembling Roger, Berge exited. Snow crunched; he infused magic points, drew mana.
Hair subtly reddened. He donned robe hood, hiding face.
'Meant to delegate fully...'
Phoenix corpse opened this path—no reason not to act.
He recalled Hillun's comms.
"Aman Katrashu leveraged massive funds and my fame for solid heir status."
Black Knight soul-pledged, but humans schemed. Distance dulled loyalty; fire cooled to ash.
Contract ensured soul-pressure worked, but...
'This chance? Sitting tight ain't my style.'
Past life obsessed 'demon king' image via canon. No need now.
Higher efficiency, hero-slaying? He'd walk miles.
'Wanna spectate the expedition...'
Curious, climbing tower as hero.
But no guarantee other demon kings wouldn't spot him—hold off.
'Hope Drakson gets wrecked hard.'
Even better if dead.
No lovable traits, so Berge prayed for Rozel Charnt's flames to roast him.