045. What the Hell Is That Guy?
『...So you're saying you've decided to join the hero party yourself?』
Good lord. Gordon's voice trembled through the crystal orb, laced with profound denial.
"Didn't we agree you wouldn't argue with me anymore?"
『This is different! A Demon King joining a hero party? Teaming up with heroes to kill another Demon King?』
"There's no law saying I can't kill a Demon King."
『Battles between Demon Kings are strictly forbidden.』
"That doesn't mean I can't indirectly lead to one's death."
『That's just playing ostrich.』
"As long as I don't get caught, it's fine."
『......』
Gordon fell silent. Berge's bombshell declaration—delivered after the fact—had left him reeling, but in the end, he had only one path forward.
『...If it's revealed that you're a Demon King, you'll die, my lord.』
He was Berge's adjutant, bound together until they conquered the dimension of Alein and returned to Ma-gye.
And strictly speaking, the ban on infighting among demons only applied to Demon Kings dispatched to dimensions like this one.
If they were in Ma-gye, killing each other wouldn't be such a big deal.
...Nonsense.
In the end, this wasn't Ma-gye—it was Alein.
But the one spouting that nonsense was his master, the Demon King.
『Fine. Whatever. Let's say we kill Demon King Drakson. But does my lord really need to join the hero party? It's too dangerous.』
"Don't worry. I'll hide it well."
『How do you hide being a Demon King in front of heroes?!』
Why were heroes called the natural enemies of Demon Kings?
It wasn't just the dimensional interference that countered Demon King power. The moment they revealed even a hint of their strength, they sensed each other instantly.
Demon Kings and demons couldn't conceal their identities or act freely—it drastically limited their options.
Yet he planned to walk right into a place swarming with heroes.
It was suicide.
『Of course, I know you've gained the power of the phoenix familiar.』
Honestly, Gordon had been astonished that no magic points could be felt from him at all.
『But that's my situation. Heroes are different.』
"Roger didn't notice."
『Roger's barely a hero himself!』
"And I just met Rozel Charnt."
『...Click.』
『Could it be you've already been captured...? If someone's threatening you right now, even if it's just one eye...』
"Cut the crap, Gordon. I'll handle it, so you focus on your job. When the hell are you shoving that scammer into the Golden Moon Merchant Guild?"
『That's...』
Berge cut the communication before Gordon's excuse could finish.
He was too lazy to persuade him anyway—and deep down, he knew this was a gamble.
But a gamble I have to take.
If Drakson really dug through the tower records and his magic points were exposed.
If Archduke Alkain and the other Demon Kings found out.
He clicked his tongue at the grim future unfolding in his mind.
"Just seeing how much the dark elves oppose you proves you're different from other Demon Kings."
"That's why I'm helping you."
Berge savored his tea while eyeing Hillon Kargil intently.
"Don't you have a personal guard?"
"I wouldn't call it an assault team, but I did have a small elite guard. I still have a few subordinates, though they're dwindling."
"Why no assault team?"
"I was planning to form one."
Their eyes met. Berge wasn't one to miss the implication.
"This damn bastard keeps blaming me."
"But it's true. Before dealing with the Lust Demon King, I was just one of many heroes."
He had some fame, but not enough to lead his own assault team like the great heroes.
But slaying the Lust Demon King brought him renown, and Hillon Kargil's name rose higher.
"That's when I decided to go independent."
He cut ties with personal sponsors, relying on his own funds, hero party support, and self-promotion to carve his future.
"Not something to say in front of you, Lord Berge, but if that hero party had succeeded, I would've gone far."
He'd have formed an assault team, conquered towers, honed his skills. He knew his own shortcomings.
"Eh, with your skills? Doubtful."
"...I know I'm lacking. But given time, it'll change."
"The Lust Demon King?"
"...Yes."
Demon Kings fed on humanity's negative energy and slaying heroes to shed interference, seeking greater paths.
Heroes absorbed power from monsters and demons, advancing stages.
Just as heroes were greedy prey for Demon Kings, Demon Kings were elixirs to make heroes stronger.
The title "Demon King Slayer" wasn't just symbolic—it meant a great hero who had absorbed a Demon King's power.
Hillon Kargil was still lacking, but the Lust Demon King's absorbed strength slumbered within him.
"Master it as fast as you can. Can't have a subordinate of this body being so weak."
"...Even so, I can take on a Demon King right now."
"You really think that?"
Berge tapped his head. Hillon sighed.
"What do you think Rozel Charnt will do?"
Berge had laid down two conditions and demanded proof of commitment.
Getting Hillon on board was easy, but rushing the hero party restart was unrealistic.
The Hero Guild leading it was dragging its feet.
"Just pressure the Hero Guild more, or..."
"Or?"
"There's a chance Akan Kingdom gets involved. Pressuring the Hero Guild from their dimension or leading an army."
"Other countries won't sit idle."
"So they'll do it covertly."
The unwritten rule against crossing borders—except under hero party pretexts to swallow other nations—had become a chain binding all countries.
Even with agreements, it held. But if two nations conspired and deceived the continent, it was hard to detect.
"Especially Akan, the Magic Kingdom—full of spells to hide it."
"Will Ormus accept that?"
"Normally no, but Ormus took massive damage from the hero party failure. And lost a prince—they'll crave revenge."
It made sense.
"Of course, that's what I'd do. I can't read Rozel Charnt's mind fully, so take it as one possibility."
Hillon shrugged.
"A new member?"
Franz, vice-captain of the Crimson Flame Assault Team, couldn't comprehend his captain's words.
"Of course, I think we need new blood."
"No, we already got one."
"...?"
"A guy named Fail. His mana is remarkably pure for a human—almost elven. Maybe a spirit summoner."
It was practically an order, but Franz accepted it. Rozel's recklessness wasn't new.
"You seem really taken with him."
"I've never seen such pure fire mana."
"Is that so?"
She's already hooked.
From experience, convincing Rozel now was impossible. At least she'd never made a pointless personnel choice.
Now I'm curious too.
If narcissistic Rozel praised him this much, he had to be exceptional.
"I'll run a background check. Any issues?"
"Name's Fail. Red hair, red eyes. From Hildean. Handsome, about 185 cm. Oh, and he's connected to Hillon Kargil."
"Hillon Kargil?"
"Yeah. When I invited him to join, he boldly counter-offered. One: restart the hero party ASAP. Two: include Hillon Kargil. No ordinary guy would care that much."
"...You accepted?"
Franz frowned. Rozel's dead comrades were his too.
He knew Hillon had done his part—it wouldn't have happened otherwise. So he hated Hillon as much as she did.
"Yeah."
"Captain."
"I hate Hillon too. But he's useful. Honestly stronger than you."
"He's a kid with a good sword. That's why so many died."
"He didn't do it on purpose."
"How great can he be?"
"Weaker than you."
"And you're okay with that...!"
"But."
She propped her chin.
"His potential is beyond that. Give it time, ten of you couldn't touch him."
"...!"
Franz was strong. Naturally—he was vice-captain of Crimson Flame, one of the continent's best.
"Pass on a guy like that? For some Hillon Kargil?"
Rozel's talent lust was insatiable. Revenge for dead comrades could go to the Beast Demon King.
Hillon was indirectly involved, but through incompetence, not malice.
And that incompetence stemmed from the Beast Demon King's unexpected moves and greater strength.
"Hillon Kargil isn't 'some' guy."
Unwilling as he was, Franz judged objectively.
"So how will you rush the hero party? The Guild isn't keen."
Their attitude had shifted since initial recruitment.
"Doesn't matter. Pressure more. If not, we go alone. The Beast Tower's practically empty now."
"Us?"
"Contacted Akan Kingdom."
"They'll step up?"
"Old mages love beastkin bodies."
Like most demons, but beastkin hides, muscles—endless research value for mages.
Demon King skin and magic points? Priceless.
"They're probably en route."
"Ormus won't stay quiet... Wait, could it be?"
Crossing borders under hero party pretext was a long taboo.
But with two kingdoms' agreement and cover-up, who could complain?
"Ormus lost a prince. Failed revenge, massive damage—even monsters running wild beyond the Demon King's control?"
Rozel laughed.
"They'll beg us to do it."
"Can't hide it completely."
"Strike and withdraw before issues. Tower collapse can't be hidden, so I'll say I acted alone."
"Jespain Empire won't stay quiet..."
"We'll deal later. Think the bigwigs overlooked that?"
Rozel Charnt cackled.
"Fail probably didn't expect this."
It was a lucky snag. She licked her lips.
"Trying to escape, or really wants to kill the Demon King."
"Whatever his tie to Hillon, why include him, his motives—who knows."
Her eyes sharpened like a hawk eyeing prey.
"I granted his wishes, so he's mine now. I never let go of what's in my grasp."
That pure mana was irresistible.
Her mana responded, faintly heating up.
"......"
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing. Just a weird feeling."
Ernan shook her head.
- Isn't that...?
Nairuniel, popping up out of nowhere, sparkled.
"Isn't what?"
- A rival appearing? Someone targeting the Demon King!
Ernan sighed deeply.
"Lady Nairuniel, you're really..."
- Really?
"Like a jobless loafer."
- Truth hits like zero damage shock!
"Pardon?"
- You know how boring the spirit realm is? Dull kings and brainless low spirits.
- Mid-realm's the best. Thrilling. Always fresh. Spirit life's bliss.
- Especially forbidden love between kidnapped princess and kidnapper Demon King—juicy...
"The more I see Nairuniel, the more I want to power up fast."
- To topple the Demon King?
"No. To stop you from popping out freely."
High spirits had free will. Strong enough to cross dimensions without summons, using contract bonds.
Ernan vowed to sever that link soon.
- Harsh. After all our time together.
"Not really."
- So what're you doing now?
Ernan knew Nairuniel was changing topics but let it slide.
"Renovating the first floor."
- Renovating? Why you?
"Roger needed help."
- Why you again?
"I'm a palace... er, prisoner. Captor orders, I obey to survive."
- Demon King didn't order first floor.
"Roger asked. Gotta help in this tower to get by."
- Indeed.
Nairuniel smirked slyly.
- You love the Demon King...
"Get out."
Roger brushed off their banter. It was hard at first, now routine.
Even the princess's evasive speech.
Clang clang clang—
His hammer rang out between their voices, pounding a trap.
- So what're you making?
"No idea. Just helping."
Nairuniel eyed Roger. Feeling the glare, he spoke.
"Lord Demon King wants the unexpected—beyond all predictions."
- And?
"Unexpected is unfamiliar. So make a tower unlike any hero-known Demon King tower."
- Just a plain maze?
What Roger had Ernan help with was a maze. Not very complex—twisted but findable.
Roger continued without answering.
"Then it hit me: shatter expectations by killing them before they expect."
- ...Huh?
"Hasn't the Demon King done that?"
Nairuniel blinked. Ernan asked quietly.
"Not enough! And not just reinforcing mana cannons."
"Then...?"
"People are simpler than you think. Give a path, they follow it—not detour. Ever hear of a hero team punching through maze walls to the exit?"
"No."
Indeed not.
"Right. Build the maze, intruders follow the path. So..."
Roger pointed to the finished front panel.
- Plain?
"Now it is."
Vmmm—
He touched something; portholes appeared along both walls.
"I'll line the path end-to-end. Roll out a red carpet made of their own blood."
Roger walked the path; Ernan followed. The end was a wide clearing.
"Mana cannons fire—they'll run faster, right here."
The clearing was a gentle rounded triangle. Narrow entrance; walls enclosed instantly.
- What's here?
"Pit trap—collapses under sufficient weight. Triggers bigger, flashier mana cannons firing in barrage!"
"Heroes hit defenseless—die like flies in the salvo!"
Ehehehehe!
Roger cackled maniacally.
He caressed his blueprint fondly.
"Hehehe, you'll do great things. Big expectations. Finally, I can dismantle the tower..."
- Dunno, scary.
"Ignore him."
- Yeah.
For once, Nairuniel didn't argue with Ernan.