078. Matters of the Future
With all the demon hounds dead, Akan's plans had gone awry.
The schedule was naturally delayed.
"Sister, can you make more demon hounds?"
"Time."
"How much?"
Ravinia held up both hands. Cain's face lit up, but ten days was far from the actual ten days.
"None."
"Ah, we'll need wolves, then."
"Yeah."
"Do you have any byproducts from the magic beasts?"
"Nothing."
"I'll send word to the kingdom right away and have materials shipped in."
They were called demon hounds, but at their core, they were wolves. Wolf flesh infused with magic beast mana made them extremely sensitive to demonic energy.
Their combat prowess wasn't exceptional, but when it came to sniffing out mana, they surpassed most heroes and mages.
That bought them at least two to three weeks.
Cain didn't waste that time.
"Scour the mercenary guilds and information guilds for guides who know the Erjest Mountains well."
"Offer a huge reward to anyone with even a scrap of knowledge about the monsters residing there, the environment, or the terrain."
He poured out massive sums of money.
The Akan Kingdom had high hopes riding on this operation, and they were willing to foot the bill if even a little extra cash could yield better results.
But that was...
"A guest has arrived."
"A guest?"
"Yes. He claims to know the Erjest Mountains well. However..."
"However?"
"He's an elf named Granada."
"The Red Hawk Raid Team?"
He hadn't expected to hook a big fish like Granada and the Red Hawk Raid Team.
"Hillun Kargil sent me."
And if this wasn't coincidence, but deliberate?
When Granada and the Red Hawk Raid Team first arrived, Cain was thrilled.
"Granada and the Red Hawk Raid Team..."
"It's Hillun Kargil's raid team."
"Hillun Kargil..."
The hero who made a name by slaying the Lust Demon King and then proved his worth by taking down the Beast Demon King as well.
Now an Argon in the Hero Guild, he was climbing not just in strength but in power and influence.
That alone made him impossible to ignore, but recently he'd racked up yet another achievement that had the continent buzzing.
"I heard he rescued the princess of the Berft Kingdom from being kidnapped by the Lust Demon King."
"Yes."
"Is that true? It's hard to believe anyone could know in advance when a Demon King plans a kidnapping."
"It was coincidence, they say. Hillun Kargil went to the Berft Kingdom as an envoy for the Hero Guild."
"He goes as an envoy, gets tangled up with the princess, and by sheer coincidence, that's when the Demon King tries to kidnap her?"
"Yes."
"Lucky bastard."
"We can't chalk it up to pure luck. Even for a hero, tracking a Demon King who's deliberately hiding is no easy feat, so in the end..."
"Hillun Kargil is just that exceptional."
Well, a hero who'd slain two Demon Kings—if he were ordinary, that would be the real surprise.
"Anyway, he didn't know about the kidnapping in advance."
"Impossible."
"Right. So why are his lackeys in Hotenwork?"
"He said he'd explain that in person."
"Then we have to meet. Bring him in."
Moments later, Granada arrived.
"I greet the prince of Akan. I am Granada, warrior of the Maple Tribe."
"Cain Akan."
He was an elf with green hair and deep emerald eyes. The muscles peeking through his light leather armor were quite impressive.
"Have a seat. Coffee? Tea? What would you like?"
"Tea, please."
At his gesture, the knight who'd escorted Granada left the room. Soon after, a servant brought tea and refreshments.
"It's tea made from dried Jarvin leaves. The aroma isn't bad."
"Thank you."
Granada savored the tea's scent. Cain crunched into a soft cookie.
"I heard you're looking for a guide who knows the Erjest Mountains well."
Granada struck first.
"Yes."
"I believe I can help."
"How exactly?"
"My Red Hawk Raid Team and I once joined Hillun's hero expedition and climbed the Erjest Mountains. We didn't find the tower, but we wandered those peaks for quite some time. I think that experience could be of use to you, Your Highness."
"Of course it would."
Cain didn't deny it.
"But it's suspicious too."
A massive catch showing up at just the right timing? Could he really accept this without question?
"What part?"
"I heard Hillun Kargil is in the Berft Kingdom."
"He was. He's back at the Hero Guild now, and only me and the Red Hawk Raid Team came here separately."
"Why?"
"You might not know, but the Red Hawk Raid Team started as a mercenary band. We've spent years in Hotenwork and consider it home. We're just here on a short vacation to rest our hearts."
That was...
"A bit forced?"
"Yes."
"Hillun Kargil sent me."
"That makes more sense."
But it was closer to the truth, even if questions lingered.
"Why did Hillun Kargil send you to us? And how did he know we were here?"
"Do you know? We failed back then—couldn't even find the Demon King's tower."
"Everyone knows that."
"But you don't know the details. How many of us became monster chow, froze to death in the snowy fields. How it felt to watch."
"...I understand."
"Hero Hillun knows—we still have nightmares from that day. We can never forget. We're biding our time for revenge."
"Anyone would..."
No one likes failure. No one wants to repeat it. And humans always want payback equal to what they suffered.
"But few act on it."
"Act?"
"The city closest to Erjest—the last stop for hero expeditions, the city where the Demon King kidnapped Jespain's imperial princess. We planted people in Hotenwork."
"For what?"
"To find the Demon King and demons."
"You think the Demon King will come to Hotenwork?"
"He kidnapped the princess from here. If once, why not twice?"
"Isn't that too optimistic?"
Cain voiced his doubt. The vast Erjest range bordered three kingdoms alone, with countless cities.
Hotenwork was just the closest and most famous. Paths from the mountains to the continent numbered in the infinite.
And there was no guarantee he'd descend to a city at all.
"But that optimism paid off."
"Paid off how?"
"How else did we save Berft's princess?"
"That was a coincidence during guild negotiations..."
Cain's pupils dilated.
"That's just the public story to dodge scrutiny."
"No, wait. Even if you had eyes in Hotenwork, the Flame Demon King and Lust Demon King are different, aren't they?"
"Don't Demon Kings have gatherings?"
A not-so-secret secret. Any high-ranking noble in a decent kingdom knew it.
"Ha."
Cain let out a hollow laugh.
"What passed through Hotenwork?"
"A succubus. We tracked her, and it led to Berft. Ask Princess Luize Berft if you doubt it."
"Like I'd ask her that."
Cain knew the wild rumors about Luize all too well—he had zero intention of approaching her.
Granada continued.
"I got sidetracked, but thanks to that, we learned what Akan's up to in Hotenwork. And Hero Hillun—we—don't want to miss this chance."
"...What do you want?"
"Find the tower for us. We'll support you with everything we've got!"
That's all we ask!
Granada pleaded desperately.
'Trailing Hillun Kargil must've improved my acting.'
A single tear dropped.
A bit uneasy but convinced, Cain granted Granada and the Red Hawk Raid Team an entire annex in the lord's castle.
"Never thought I'd get invited to a lord's castle in my lifetime."
Former mercenary captain Bark gawked at the castle grounds.
"Don't act like such a country bumpkin."
"He's right. We're a raid team now—quit looking like small-town mercs..."
"Weren't you all small-town mercs too?"
Ignoring his team's chatter, Granada turned to the knight guiding them.
'Doesn't seem like a Hotenwork knight.'
It hadn't been long, but Granada had done mercenary work in Hotenwork. He'd clashed with local soldiers and knights plenty, and he could tell this one's vibe was different.
'Then... Akan.'
Having guests host guests in a lord's castle with its own master? Definitely not normal.
"We've formally rented ten rooms in the annex."
As if reading his mind, the knight explained first.
"You're guests of Akan, not the lord. Keep that in mind."
"Yes. But that..."
"A monster?"
"It's a monster!"
The team drew weapons. The knight hurriedly blocked them.
"Put your weapons away! It's not a monster!"
"A chimera?"
In one corner of the garden loomed a giant over five meters tall. It crouched, staring at Granada.
The giant exuded faint demonic energy.
The team reluctantly sheathed their weapons.
"Yes. A chimera made by Her Highness. It won't attack first, so don't show hostility."
"Understood."
They'd already heard about chimeras from the Demon King, but seeing one up close was a first—and a bit off-putting.
Then the giant stood.
It thudded toward them.
"Uh?"
"Hey? Is this okay?"
To their surprise, it halted right in front of them.
"Elf."
A surprisingly refined voice rang out. Granada looked up. A woman sat on the giant's shoulder.
"Your Highness."
The knight bowed. The princess hopped down.
Her gaze scanned Granada up and down. Her red eyes, reminiscent of the chimera, were striking.
"I'm Granada, vice-captain of the Red Hawk Raid Team. Your Highness."
"Ravinia."
"I heard this chimera was made by you."
"Cher."
"Cher, huh."
"Friend."
"You and Cher are friends?"
"Yeah."
She mumbled something. Granada waited, but her mouth stayed shut for a long while.
"......"
"......"
An awkward silence fell, the team exchanging uneasy glances.
"Elf heart."
Suddenly, Ravinia reached out. Her pale hand jabbed at Granada's chest.
"Hot."
"Pardon?"
"Gimme."
"...Pardon?"
"No, Your Highness."
A chill ran down his spine; Granada instinctively swatted her hand away. The reply came from the knight.
"No?"
"Granada is here to help us, Your Highness."
"Oh. Sorry. Mistake."
"...It's fine."
Ravinia bowed slightly and climbed back onto Cher's shoulder. Cher thudded back to its spot.
"...My apologies."
"What was that just..."
"Raised in the palace, she's a bit clumsy with people. I apologize on her behalf. It won't happen again."
"...Ah, yes."
Granada could only nod awkwardly at the knight's polite apology.
『Heard the news?』
As Berge Dayas pondered how best to crush Akan's forces, a message arrived from Reina Sordain.
It was a complaint about the failed kidnapping.
"Yeah. Hillun Kargil blocked Vivian, huh?"
『Unlucky doesn't cover it. Of all timings, Hillun Kargil shows up in Berft as a guild envoy...』
"A golden chance to expose the culprit, wasted."
Berge suppressed a spreading smirk with superhuman restraint.
『Exactly. But in some ways, I can't help lamenting Vivian Blunt's stupidity.』
『She surely heard Hillun Kargil arrived in Berft, yet she went ahead so carelessly.』
But who could've imagined he'd be guarding the princess's doorstep?
As the mastermind behind it all, Berge could picture Vivian's flustered face.
"So, what's your next move?"
『This lady will handle it personally.』
"...What?"
『One failure—they'll think we won't try again so soon.』
『With Hillun Kargil back at the Hero Guild, it's perfect.』
No. No, it couldn't happen.
Luize Berft must not be kidnapped.
"No."
『No? What do you mean?』
Berge racked his brain desperately.
He forced casual words.
"Luize Berft isn't going anywhere. No rush."
『True, but that doesn't mean we shouldn't kidnap her.』
"I need your help. Hand Luize to Ugar Belbek and assist me instead."
『Ugar Belbek can't operate smoothly in the dwarf kingdom.』
He knew that. Berft's underground cities weren't built big.
For titans like Ugar, even entry was an issue.
That's why Berge mentioned him—to minimize suspicion.
『But help with what? Problems?』
'Why'd I say that crap?'
Summoning Reina Sordain to the tower was a no-go. No magic beasts left, just two dwarf heroes—a princess and a warrior. Even Reina would rage.
Given her straight-laced Demon King nature, she'd likely report to Archduke Alkain already.
'Something else. Something to divert Reina's attention.'
『If you're telling this lady directly, it must be serious.』
Damn. The dilemma deepened.
『Embarrassed to ask for help between Demon Kings? Rightly so—pride befits a Demon King. But Alein is different. We agreed to cooperate, so speak freely if needed.』
Screw it.
"...I misspoke. It's not my problem—it's yours."
『Mine?』
"Gillian Aint."
One of the great heroes.
"Didn't the White Eagle Raid Team find your tower? Ignore it, and you'll face massive trouble."
It hadn't happened yet—but in his past life, it had.
< 078. Matters of the Future > End