061. Or Is It Not?
"My lord Demon King. A message has arrived from Demon King Ugar."
"From Ugar?"
Reina set down the yeti cub. At her gesture, the mother scooped it up.
"Take good care of them."
"Yes, my lady."
"This is the first time Ugar's reached out directly, isn't it?"
Reina arrived at the office and picked up the vibrating communication orb. She dismissed everyone else and infused it with magic power.
Ugar's face appeared.
"This is the first time you've contacted this lady. What is it?"
『I didn't want to, but I had no choice. Reina Sordain. I've just uncovered something tremendous.』
His expression and tone were so grave that Reina grew serious as well.
"Speak."
『A short while ago, I got a message from Berge Dayas. He said he was taking Hildean Kingdom's 13th Princess.』
"Berge?"
『So I told him I couldn't just hand over a princess I'd already kidnapped. And Berge said that if I stationed her on a low floor like you do, he'd just take her himself.』
『That's...』
"You mean Berge has ties to the heroes? That's impossible."
Reina didn't think Berge incapable of colluding with humans. Publicly scorning the Demon King's Canon already qualified him.
But Berge Dayas had only descended to Alein a year ago. With no benefits from ruining the graduation ceremony—just his adjutant and the clothes on his back—did he really have the leeway for that?
『Rozel Charnt and Hillun Kargil came to my tower and rescued the princess.』
"That's even harder to believe."
『I thought so too, but it's reality. I agonized over how it could be possible and reached one conclusion. You know this? Those two heroes are the ones who killed Drakson.』
One puzzle piece clicked into place.
『I don't think Berge killed Drakson. Nor do I see him directly connected to those two heroes.』
Reina thought of one name.
The longest-reigning Demon King in Alein, who helped others when external troubles arose outside their towers. The one with the most human connections. But always enigmatic.
"Jason Cockmondo."
The man humans called false.
『Exactly. I see Berge in the same light.』
"Jason killed Drakson?"
『No. Jason had no motive to kill Drakson. I know Jason from Ma-gye. He doesn't move without clear reason and gain. Killing Drakson would bring more loss than profit.』
"Then what the hell are you getting at?"
『Change your perspective. Jason's involvement is undeniable, but he had no reason for it. What if there was no need?』
『What if he was being manipulated by the humans?』
Reina's brow furrowed.
『Alein’s humans see Demon Kings as beneath them. Insolent, but reality doesn't lie. They view us Demon Kings as a necessary evil—and some even try to control us. What if they attempted to manipulate a Demon King?』
"...Do you realize what you're saying?"
『It's not absurd! Before Jason, no Demon King lasted over thirty years in Alein. But Jason did it first, and with his help, Drakson, you, and I settled in one after another. We shrugged it off then, but fit it to my hypothesis—doesn't it make sense?』
Reina sighed. She was done listening.
His theory had a glaring flaw.
"You think human magic can pierce a demon's mind?"
It wasn't pride. Demons had invented mind magic, spreading it to humans via warlocks.
And in Alein, where Demon Kings failed to uphold their dignity, warlocks and mental magic had declined together.
『...Or is it not?』
"No."
『Ahem. I made a fool of myself.』
"But I agree Jason's involved. I'll look into it."
If Jason truly killed Drakson...
"This lady won't let it slide."
Her rage burned cold.
The revelation that the new Demon King was the Succubus Queen earned her the epithet of Lust.
"The Demon King of Lust caused one incident in Dormunt and has shown no further activity."
"Same with Dormunt Kingdom. They made a fuss about killing the Demon King but took no real action."
A new Demon King's descent was always big news. It could even be seen as a celebration of human victory.
After all, a new Demon King descending meant the previous one was dead.
Thus, the succubi's actions—after decades—stirred some buzz but amounted to a minor blip.
Dormunt got some gold, but that was it.
"What about Rozel Charnt?"
"She's cooperative, so the agreement was easy. The second hero expedition will be announced as guild-led and secret. Rozel Charnt and Hillun Kargil will face minor sanctions for poor judgment causing excess bloodshed in the first."
"Not cooperative—she already got what she wanted."
The elders gnashed their teeth.
"Still better than going public. The guild's honor matters more than some Demon King byproduct. All hero expeditions must be guild-led. We must make them believe that."
"Yes."
"No word from the Guild Master yet?"
"No. You'd think he'd return for a crisis like this..."
"Found Balaf Disrod's backer?"
"Traces lead to the Empire, but that's the end."
"The Empire."
An elder stroked his beard.
"Leave it there. Digging deeper is dangerous."
"Yes."
He could guess.
Kings and emperors lived as supreme rulers. Wielding absolute power, they saw themselves as gods.
Would such men tolerate a transcendent group beyond national authority?
No. Efforts to sideline the Hero Guild had long persisted.
Attempts to poach guild heroes for private kingdom or empire loyalty had happened repeatedly.
Yet the Hero Guild endured, growing stronger. And it would continue.
"No news on the Erjest Mountains Demon King? Didn't Daphne go searching the tower?"
"He couldn't find it."
"What..."
"Some areas are inaccessible even to him. He's guessing it's there."
"Damn thing."
The elder sighed.
"He uses fire?"
"So we hear."
"Then dub him Flame Demon King and propagandize that the guild uncovered his info."
"Yes."
"A failure or two is fine. But incompetence can't persist. The Hero Guild must always emerge victorious."
The other elders nodded at the Grand Elder's words.
"Mm..."
She opened her eyes to languid warmth.
Chirp chirp chirp—
Gentle sunlight caressed her cheek. Birdsong tickled her ears.
Under the clear blue sky laced with clouds, Elena blinked.
"...Where is this?"
Where?
She tentatively wiggled her fingers. Her condition was its usual worst. Nothing special.
'I was definitely taken by the Demon King...'
Kidnapped.
Her last memory was the villa.
The mountain villa for recuperation. Due to the early mountain dusk, she'd gone to bed early.
Knight screams woke her.
Clashing weapons dizzied her ears; spilled knight blood stung her nose.
The door opened, and a limp knight thudded before her bed.
A larger shadow loomed over her.
"...Who are you?"
"The Demon King."
That was it. Rough hands engulfed Elena.
She'd expected to wake in a tower, not under sky.
"You're awake?"
"...Sis?"
A dream?
She reached out cautiously. Soft cheek under her fingers.
"The real sis?"
"What, fake?"
The voice and feel matched.
"I was kidnapped by a Demon King..."
"I rescued you."
"You were kidnapped first."
"Yeah. So I came with the Demon King who took me."
"...Huh?"
Elena bolted up, then groaned and lay back.
"Don't push yourself."
"What does that mean?"
"Look around."
Lying down, she slowly turned her head. Familiar and unfamiliar faces.
"Hero Hillun."
"It's been a while, Princess."
"Did you save me, Hero?"
"Yes. Honored to rescue you safely."
"Then Sis too?"
"Regrettably, I couldn't save Princess Ernan."
"Then how...?"
Is Sis right here?
"Let me introduce."
Ernan pulled Berge forward.
"The Demon King who built his tower in the Erjest Mountains, Demon King Berge Dayas."
"...Pardon?"
After parting with Rozel Charnt, Hillun Kargil procured a luxury carriage and set off for Hildean with the princess.
"...Sigh."
"You look pitiful."
"I hoped he wouldn't return to Hildean for a while."
Hillun Kargil was a Hildean-born hero.
Hero work went beyond raids and expeditions, so he'd built fame from Hildean, handling various commissions.
Killing the Lust Demon King and toppling her tower was his legendary steed, speeding him ahead—but he'd walked steadily before.
Hildean was his home turf, but failing to save Ernan ended that.
"Heard the Azure Knight Order chased you to the Assoin Duchy? How'd you escape?"
"They backed off."
"..."
"Threatened 'em. They're probably grinding their teeth now."
"Not like you."
"Courtesy is for where it's needed. Useless against the discourteous."
"Fair. Sending the Azure Knights over a failed expedition—Hildean's rotten."
"Not that I don't understand."
"...What? Something I don't know?"
"Like you know anything?"
"Wanna test me?"
Hillun frowned. Granada's prodding irked his tangled mood.
"Without Phail, you'd be begging on your knees before me."
"Typical hero—outwardly noble, inwardly using elves as shields. Ever think it could backfire?"
"Where does that confidence come from?"
"I trust myself."
"How can an elf be so dense..."
"What'd you call me?"
Hillun glanced at the Red Hawk mercenaries and sped up. Granada hurried after.
"What're you doing?"
"Keep them back."
At Granada's signal, the Red Hawks slowed.
"Heard of World Tree's Child magic?"
"World Tree's Child? That crude human spell enhancing fetuses?"
A shoddy magic daring the great tree's name.
"Human greed knows no bounds. Forcing mana into fragile fetuses and strengthening bodies—failure's inevitable. So many ways to suicide, they laughed... wait..."
Granada's pupils dilated.
"No way?"
"..."
"Seriously?"
"Hildean direct royals number 62 originally."
"Officially 28."
Insane.
Granada swallowed.
"That many died?"
"The king has two queens and 33 concubines."
Granada knew of eight concubines. World Tree's Child burdened more than fetuses.
"Why go that far?"
"How should I know lofty kings' will?"
Simply.
"I just know they chase unreachable ideals."
Whether feasible or delusion, who knew.
Hillun Kargil's return was huge news in Hildean.
"Hillun Kargil's coming to the capital."
"What nerve."
The Azure Knights' secret Assoin dispatch was hushed. Arresting a hero for a failed expedition was wrong.
But the king's rage was infamous; high nobles knew.
So did the knights' empty return and the king's sky-high fury at Hillun.
"He's bringing back Princess Elena."
"Elena?"
Hillun entered the Diamond Demon Tower and rescued the kidnapped princess!
Royal kidnappings were routine.
But no one took their own royals' abductions lightly.
Failing to save one, then losing another—big shock for Hildean.
The 13th Princess's uselessness didn't matter.
Hildean's pride was bruised.
Now Hillun saved the 13th. Hildean's son-hero defended its pride.
"Long live Hillun Kargil!"
"Long live Princess Elena!"
"Long live Red Hawk Raid Team!"
Rumors snowballed. Villages cheered wildly.
Their location spread; the palace couldn't ignore.
Upon capital arrival.
Bam bam bam—
"Welcome, Hero Hillun Kargil."
Roooar!
Long live Hillun Kargil!
Long live Granada!
Long live Red Hawk Raid Team!
Festival and triumph awaited.
"Grateful for the welcome."
Hillun trod the red carpet. Granada and Red Hawks followed.
"Whoa..."
"Don't gawk like yokels."
"We really turning raid team?"
"They pay and give honor—why not?"
"Shh, smile."
Knights raised swords overhead. Trumpets blared.
Cheers and fireworks mingled.
First-time stars, Red Hawks grinned, minding expressions.
A man and woman watched the parade.
"Grand. They rioted before."
"Father sent Azure Knights over Hillun because of me, but he values pretext usually. Welcoming a princess-rescuing hero is natural."
"So when?"
"The banquet. Father knows the Demon King issue too; he'll welcome grandly to make amends."
"Stars: 13th Princess and Hillun Kargil."
"But Elena can't attend."
"In that hyacinth-decorated palace? Where you were."
"Yes."
"Kidnapped once—guards tight?"
"Opposite. Rescuing then re-kidnapping royals is rare."
"Perfect timing for it."
Berge chuckled dryly. Absurd: plotting with a Hildean princess to kidnap another.
"But."
"Yes?"
"Banquet for the rescue—most nobles attend?"
"Hillun's Hildean's top hero. Unless father issues persist, they'll mend ties outwardly."
"Banquet lasts long."
"All night."
"Then let's raid some noble vaults."
"...Pardon?"
"The estates and secret vaults of nobles you dislike."
"...You knew?"
Ernan smiled awkwardly.
"They urged siphoning your nation's gold like 'hurry up.' Not like they want Hildean ruined."
"...Ehehe. Didn't trick you."
"Rivals or grudges—doesn't matter. Money's money."
"Right? Money's innocent."
"You know some?"
"Two? One merchant house, one noble. But unlike Akan, security's tight."
"I'm a Demon King. Best at infiltrating palaces for royals."
No estate outguards a palace.
"No magic power leak worries."
Why don't Demon Kings raid merchants or nobles?
Magic power exposure. Stealth entry fine, but breaking wards and killing guards requires it.
And once theft's known, humans trace flows.
Berge was free of that.
"Who's the noble?"
"Duke Hainz, father's brother."
"Tight security."
"Fine. I know layouts, wards, patrols. But you okay? Gave Rozel lots of mana—look drained."
"Banquet's days away. No issue."
"True."
The two thieves melted into the crowd.