064. It's Not Bad
The executive of the Hero Guild, Parni, knocked on the door.
"Come in."
He opened the door. The grand elder, whose face was etched with deep wrinkles but whose eyes were sharp and clear, pushed the documents aside.
"You called for me?"
"Help Hillun Kargil."
"So he's finally coming to headquarters after all?"
"Yes. He killed a Demon King. It's only right to summon him."
"He is a hero who defied the Guild's orders and acted on his own. Do you intend to give a hero's welcome to such a man?"
"That doesn't matter. Like it or not, Hillun Kargil has already slain two Demon Kings and absorbed their power. Sooner or later, he'll become the greatest hero."
"But..."
"Who would bother hunting Demon Kings as heroes if we don't give proper rewards to someone who's taken down two?"
"That's true, but isn't there a big difference between the Guild summoning him and us directly requesting him?"
"It might look a bit unseemly, but it's better than letting it be known that the Guild was manipulated by the Akan Kingdom."
To bury Akan and position the Hero Guild as the driving force, they had to align their stories. Unlike Rozel Charnt, who had obtained what she wanted and acquiesced smoothly, Hillun Kargil had promised cooperation with the Hero Guild in exchange for a price.
Ugh.
Parni swallowed a groan.
"And it's not just because he meets the conditions and qualifications. We were planning to use him soon anyway."
"What do you have in mind?"
"There were those who wanted to harshly punish Rozel Charnt and Hillun Kargil to the end and make it public."
"Elder Carlo and his faction."
"And those foaming at the mouth in excessive opposition."
"Elder Mathias and his group."
"Behind them are Jespain and Akan."
The reason the Empire wanted to blow it up and make it public was simple.
"They want to tarnish the Guild's reputation. Akan opposed only because Rozel Charnt was involved with them; any other kingdom would have done the same."
"The Guild won't crumble over something like that."
"I think so too. The Guild has endured for centuries and is solidly built. This won't even leave a scratch. But they know that."
Whether it left a scratch or not wasn't the point. They would hammer at every opportunity.
No matter how sturdy a tree, repeated axe blows would fell it eventually. It was laying the foundation to gradually build justification and reclaim control from the Guild back to the nations.
"It'll get worse from now on. They'll cry incompetence at the slightest pretext. Honestly, we've held back a lot already, haven't we?"
Those greedy emperors and kings had tolerated a supranational organization above them for centuries.
"It's greed. They entrusted everything to us when Demon Kings were strong, but now that humans hold the advantage, they want to bring it under their control."
"We're the same. It's just reluctance to lose power."
Anyway.
"I went off track. Hillun Kargil will make a fine pawn."
"To check the factions following the two elders and two nations."
"Exactly. Hildean is a great power rivaling those two nations, yet its influence in the Guild is sorely lacking."
Hildean's interest across generations had been returning to the Empire.
It wasn't that they hadn't considered the Hero Guild in that direction, but it hadn't been a priority.
It was incomparable to Akan and Jespain's overt efforts to expand influence within the Guild.
"On top of that, Hillun Kargil cut ties with all his sponsors right before heading to the Erjest Mountains as a hero. He's back with Hildean now, but he can't fully restore the old relationship."
"He's even more suitable then. But he is still a hero who killed two Demon Kings. He could become an even greater threat."
"That's why you need to keep him in check up close."
"Understood."
"It'll be tough, but until the Guild Master returns, make sure they keep each other in check."
"I'll do my best."
"No need for best. Do it properly."
The grand elder stood from his seat.
"He's here."
Knock knock—
The attendant knocked on the door.
"Grand Elder, Hero Hillun Kargil has arrived."
* * *
'I can pay it all back.'
After climbing the Diamond Demon Tower and rescuing Elena Hildean, he checked his points.
3,124,512 pt
The magic points accumulated while he was away exceeded his expectations.
Even excluding the 2.5 million he owed Jason Cockmondo, about 600,000 remained.
Why?
No need for questions.
'Elena Hildean.'
Because he had kidnapped her.
Because he had struck while everyone rejoiced at her safe return.
Because he had kidnapped the sister after Ernan Hildean.
Everything overlapped into one massive incident. It was like pouring oil on a fuse already burning down.
'And...'
Hillun Kargil's speech.
His speech had given the enraged Hildean people a direction for their fury. And fury in a secure state was nothing but sweet magic points for Demon Kings.
The points still climbing sharply now were proof.
A smile crept across his lips.
Knock knock—
"Come in."
Ernan entered and bowed her head politely.
"Thank you."
"For what?"
"For saving Elena."
"I didn't do it for your thanks. As a Demon King, I kidnapped a princess, and we made a deal."
"You might think that way, my lord, but not me. She was the only sanctuary in the palace alongside my mother."
"Just words?"
"Well... I think I've paid the price."
"All value is relative. If your sister and a bit of money are equal, then just go."
It wasn't just a bit—to Berge, the money was a hundred, a thousand times more precious.
But no need to say that. From watching her these past few days, he knew how dearly Ernan cherished her sister.
"...You're really like a Demon King."
"Thanks for the compliment."
"What do you want?"
"Kaede Jespain."
"The imperial princess?"
"Persuade her."
"To what end?"
"To become my sword."
"Don't tell me you need a Dark Knight too..."
"Enough with that childish play you and your sister love."
"...You like humans a lot."
"Me?"
"Hero Hillun, Granada... an elf, but still. Even me and the Red Hawk mercenaries."
"Your case is different."
"...Anyway."
Hm.
Thinking about it, there were indeed many humans. It was natural since he planned to infiltrate them into the human world.
'If the princess becomes a limb, it'll pierce the heroes' expectations once more when they come for the tower.'
Still, he didn't expect much. Ernan's case gave a sliver of hope, but Ernan Hildean and Elena Hildean were special.
This was just one of many attempts he tossed out.
Fine if it worked, whatever if not.
"...Okay. I'll try. Is that enough?"
"Yes."
"I'll take responsibility and make her a Dark Knight."
"Fine, but drop the Dark Knight part."
"Huh, why?"
"Kaede won't like it."
"...She won't?"
"No."
"What about Dark Spirit Sorceress?"
"If I'd been there, I'd have cracked open those actors' heads to see what they were thinking."
"...I'll give it a shot."
"Good."
She left.
Berge closed his eyes again.
"I can say the days of scraping by on points are over."
Now it was time to fill the empty spaces.
'Carelessness, surprise.'
That was Berge Dayas's goal. Not placing overwhelmingly strong monsters or demons, but creating situations humans couldn't help but panic over.
The mana cannons on the first floor did that, and he planned the same for the second.
'Break the standard the heroes expect.'
That was the best way.
And the tower's most representative standard was.
"Weak monsters on the first floor, gradually stronger toward the upper levels."
Berge laughed.
"Guess I just need to wait till 5 million."
If balrogs popped out from the second floor, the heroes would love it to death.
* * *
Kaede Jespain.
The ninth imperial princess of the Jespain Empire opened her eyes in the cold prison.
'What day is it now?'
With constant darkness, she had no sense of days. She just felt time dragging on longer and longer.
'When will the heroes...'
She knew not to hold much hope.
She withered away. In the silence without people, the drab darkness, the meager meals.
Day by day, she grew exhausted.
She realized how grateful she was for the Demon King's consideration.
'Still...'
She felt no regret for her actions.
She was a hero and knight before being an imperial princess. Better a proud prisoner than a dog disgracing the Empire and herself.
"You're awake?"
"...How long have you been there?"
She swallowed at the purple pupils flickering in the dark.
"Since a bit ago."
"Why didn't you wake me?"
"Just did. That's beef stew. The meat's good—pretty tasty."
Right beside Kaede, the meat stew steamed warmly.
"...You seem in a good mood."
"Me?"
"You're smiling brightly."
"I've always had a smiling face."
True, but it felt subtly different. She couldn't pinpoint it, but her instincts said so.
"I kidnapped my sister."
"...Not just Lady Ernan, but other royals too?"
Such a vile Demon King...!
Kaede bit her lip.
"I asked him to."
"...Pardon?"
"The Diamond Demon King kidnapped my sister. I was worried, so I asked my lord. Better to bring her myself."
"Ah..."
That made sense.
Demon Kings were inherently untrustworthy, but Berge's treatment was far better than rumors of other towers—no denying it.
"But does he fetch from other Demon Kings too?"
"He said no. So I pulled a little trick."
"Trick...?"
"Can't tell you that. But thanks to it, I brought her with my own hands. That's probably why I'm in a good mood."
"...Should I congratulate you?"
The word "myself" stuck. Must have misheard.
"Why bring this up? No one's around."
"What do you mean?"
"No heroes stepping up to rescue you."
"......"
"No rumors either. I asked Granada—Jespain Empire shows no real reaction. Probably waiting since the tower's location is hidden."
But you know?
Ernan stepped closer.
"Hero Daphne Philian came, couldn't find the tower, and left."
"...What are you getting at?"
"Nothing."
Ernan swallowed her words. That brief silence felt like an hour to Kaede.
"It's a shame. Locked in this prison for years, decades maybe. You might get rescued as a grandma."
Wasn't that why you didn't marry?
"I don't want to live like a doll by an old king's side, doing nothing."
"...No."
Exactly.
"...Please spare me such cruel words."
"Sorry if it upset you. Just checking."
"Whose side are you on?"
"Not the Demon King's, not humans'. Just mine. Right now, I feel bad for you."
"Sophistry. You aided the Demon King against heroes."
"You could see it that way."
"You deny it?"
"I agree."
But it was just aligned interests.
"Like how cooperating a bit with the Demon King lets you live better than rotting in prison."
"...More sophistry."
"Maybe."
Ernan shrugged.
"But one thing I'm curious about."
"Speak."
"Knights complete themselves by serving their lord. Do you have one, Lady Kaede?"
"...Don't insult me. I swear loyalty to His Imperial Majesty and the Empire."
"Doesn't he need Princess Kaede, not Knight Kaede? Isn't this disobeying orders?"
"......"
"Ah, I wouldn't know since I'm no knight."
She tilted her head innocently.
"Would a lord leave a knight who disobeys orders?"
I wouldn't.
"...What are you trying to say?"
"Who knows."
Ernan blinked innocently.
"Maybe you've lost your lord."
"Can a knight without a lord be called a knight?"
"No one's moving to save you, so maybe your knighthood's already revoked."
"That's it."
Kaede clenched her fist. A metallic tang of blood replaced her dry saliva.
"...I can't tolerate more."
"Too far? Sorry."
"...Why are you doing this to me?"
"Back in the kingdom, I heard rumors. Some about the Empire."
Ernan changed tack.
"Intense succession struggles among imperial royals. Whose side are you on? First Prince? First Princess? Or your close brother, the Third Prince? But his faction's weak."
"Stop there."
"But who knows? The Demon King might help."
"Never."
"Don't be so sure. Know Hero Hillun Kargil is the Demon King's limb? If the man who beheaded two Demon Kings backs someone...?"
"A hero can't be a Demon King's pawn..."
"You saw Roger. Ordinary dwarf?"
"......"
"Think it over. Grandma rescue or take the Demon King's hand for help."
Which is better?
"Honestly, the Demon King's not purely evil, right? You know plenty of humans secretly cooperate with him."
So it's not bad.
"I want you to become a Dark Knight."
Ernan whispered to the end and vanished.
"......"
Kaede couldn't move. Not even as the food she left grew cold.