084. March Forth
“...Cher, cry.”
“So?”
“It hurts.”
“I regret only hitting it once. It should've hurt a lot more.”
The collapse of the annex had been chalked up to the princess's chimera losing control of its strength in an accident.
But that didn't mean Berge's anger had subsided.
For a mere low demon—let alone one modified by humans like some mongrel dog—to offend a Demon King was a grave crime worthy of being torn apart on the spot.
If this weren't the lord's castle in Hotenwork, and if Akan's princess weren't standing right there, the Titan would have been reduced to minced meat rolling down the snowy mountainside.
“What's that guy doing?”
“Reflecting.”
“Unbelievable.”
A giant squatting miserably, staring at the wall—it was a rare sight even in his previous life.
If Ugar saw that, he'd yank the fool's head off for shaming the entire race.
“Tell it that if it pulls that stunt one more time, I'll rip out its tongue.”
“Gladly.”
“Gladly? You mean it did that on purpose?”
What was he supposed to do about it?
“Why do you keep coming around anyway?”
“Like.”
“Me?”
“Mana.”
Ravinia fell silent after that. Her wandering pupils made her thoughts all too easy to guess.
She wanted mana but couldn't ask outright because of their prior agreement.
Still, she edged subtly closer. He slapped her hand away.
“Why.”
“If you use mana near me, I won't stay still.”
“I know. Just.”
“There's no 'just' about it.”
His patience was wearing thin.
He irritably downed the rest of his tea in one go and shoved back his chair to stand.
“Where to?”
“What's it to you?”
“Chimera.”
Make one.
“Give?”
“Yeah. Promised, didn't I?”
“Yup.”
Ravinia beamed innocently and vanished alongside the Titan, still moping at the wall.
“What a pain.”
If she weren't a princess, he'd have ignored her outright.
But what the hell are they really after?
It had already been four days since he'd arrived here. Ravinia visited daily, but Cain and the rest of Akan's leadership hadn't sought him out once.
It was a far cry from their initial warm welcome.
Have they caught on?
Well, royals who got intimidated by a bit of bluster and believed him outright would be the real suckers—not royalty at all.
This was my mistake.
He'd descended without anticipating even such a simple scenario.
They were probably smiling to his face while digging into his background behind his back. But he didn't care.
Worst case, I just bail.
It'd be nice if the Pale identity worked better in the human world, but he had no need to tie his neck to it.
Granada and Hillun Kargil were his proxies, after all.
Even if they were bound, he could just tell them to play dumb about knowing him.
Claim it was a chance encounter and he'd never mentioned impersonating royalty. Done.
They might suspect a little...
Whatever. What could they do?
Hillun Kargil was now a great hero who'd slain two Demon Kings and an Argon of the Hero Guild. This minor hiccup wouldn't scratch him.
He'd grown that much.
Another week passed.
“So, shall we draw up a proper contract?”
Even though they'd clearly finished their investigation, Cain casually slid the contract across as if nothing were amiss.
The long wait of another week had ended.
In that time, Berge had wandered the annex and castle as a guest, trying to suss out what the Akan folks were preparing.
Chimeras and artifacts, for starters.
Chimeras to track magic points, artifacts to fend off nighttime monster swarms. A magic kingdom indeed—massive shipments arrived daily, all magical artifacts.
They won't actually make it all the way to the tower, will they?
With this level of prep, day or night didn't matter. They'd be lucky not to get massacred the moment monsters charged.
Do absolutely nothing?
No, that was a bad move. If he hadn't assigned Granada, maybe, but as their guide, he had to pretend to lead them without raising suspicion—which drastically shortened their actual search radius.
Should've held off on sending Granada.
Of course, that didn't guarantee they'd find the tower.
If it did, the Erjest Mountains never would've stayed forbidden.
Especially since monsters beyond Berge's current power lurked there.
The problem was the odds skyrocketing—and Berge wanting no part of that possibility.
That was around when Cain sent a servant inviting him to lunch.
“Welcome, Pale.”
The dining hall, where he'd expected other leaders, held only Cain.
A maid served the food. Reassurance steak.
“Please, eat.”
“Don't mind if I do.”
Berge sliced into the steak with his knife. Crispy exterior gave way to rosy flesh. Medium rare. The meat was high quality, tender with just the right juices.
“To your taste?”
“Heavy on the pepper.”
“Ah, you dislike pepper?”
“Means I like it.”
“Good to hear.”
Cain smiled. Conversation halted after that. For a while, the only sounds were the two of them eating their steaks.
Clink.
Cain set down his knife and fork. He dabbed his mouth with a napkin and savored a sip of red wine.
“Word from the homeland.”
“Word?”
“Didn't we agree to a deal?”
“I've been waiting. You're quite late.”
“Not a light matter. Needed review.”
Cain pressed the bell on the table. A waiting servant entered and handed documents to Berge.
“Take a look.”
The terms matched their verbal discussion, largely unchanged.
Berge supplied mana to Akan.
Akan paid Berge in gold and artifacts.
The documents specified exact figures.
“200 gold and a Rank-2 artifact per storage orb? Isn't that overkill?”
“It is. We put thought into it.”
“I can tell.”
200 gold was no small sum. Plus an artifact. All the more so since the orbs held volatile mana that would eventually deplete—not cores.
I figured 50 gold tops...
Even 50 was a fortune. But Phoenix's pure mana was worth that, in his mind.
Berge wasn't disappointed. Apparently, they were.
“Doesn't seem like you just want the mana.”
“Mana is what we want. But we're also buying Pale's goodwill to build ties.”
As if.
Berge didn't buy it straight.
Maybe factoring in his ties to Hillun and Granada, so they sweeten the pot.
Either way, he wasn't one to refuse freebies.
“Pleased?”
“Very.”
But one thing puzzled him.
They'd surely investigated him—yet no mention of it.
Cain said nothing more until the meal ended.
“I'll fill one storage orb within the week.”
“Understood. We'll send the orb via knight to your lodgings. Payment upon mana delivery.”
“Fine.”
Berge left. Servants cleared the plates. A knight entered.
“Do we really need to keep this up? He's no royal.”
They'd scoured every kingdom's lineages. Not perfectly comprehensive, but all notables were accounted for.
No royal named Pale—nor anyone matching.
Some argued for immediate arrest on impersonation charges.
Sound advice, but Cain chose the opposite.
“We do. Pure mana alone, we'd use other means. But his ties to Hillun Kargil run deep.”
Rozel Charnt had explained how she'd connected with Pale and gained mana.
“In the final battle against the Demon King, he went out of his way to convince Rozel to back Hillun Kargil. No casual acquaintance does that.”
Hillun was a rising sun. Two Demon Kings dead by late twenties, now a Hero Guild powerhouse.
Impressive already, but his future potential was key.
“And we can't rule out him being royal entirely.”
Kingdoms aplenty, royals more so. As he'd told Pale, some hid identities for reasons.
If he was one, short-term search was futile. Slim chance, but Cain didn't dismiss it.
“Keep investigating. Crucially, learn how Hillun Kargil and Pale met.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Even if nothing hooks, we'll maintain ties unless major issues. His mana helps, Hillun aside.”
Pure mana would supercharge the magic tower's research.
“And above all...”
Whatever the reason, big sis is head over heels.
“No, nothing.”
Cain swallowed his last words.
No need to share that with the knight.
A week passed.
Berge filled a storage orb and handed it to the prince. The prince gave the promised gold and artifacts.
And that first deal became their last for now.
“Told them they can reach me through you.”
“Yes.”
“Safe travels.”
“Yes.”
“Give it your all, but skip anything suspicious. You've got 99 more years of service before you croak.”
“Feels like a few extra months tacked on.”
“We round down the small stuff.”
“Got it. Heading back to the tower, then?”
“Prep to greet you lot is done. Advice: watch for monster eyes.”
“...Crazy. Same trick as before?”
“Oh, just in case—if you find the tower and enter the first floor, you know?”
“I won't open it.”
“Keep the prince and princess at a distance. Their deaths would be a real headache.”
“No guarantees, but I'll try.”
“Chatty for an elf.”
“...I'll make it happen.”
Berge grinned in satisfaction.
“The Red Hawks? No worries there. Rats always survive.”
“Sad but true.”
“Ain't it.”
After farewells to Ravinia and Cain, and final instructions to Granada, Berge left Hotenwork without looking back.
Shortly after the deal between Berge and Akan Kingdom, Akan finally stirred.
“We march!”
Blue Meteor Mage Corps, White Wolf Knight Order, plus elite reinforcements to 200.
Total 400 troops merged with the Red Hawk raid party and began exploring Hotenwork.
The snowfields never thawed, year-round.
Summers cold, winters brutal.
Blizzards raged. Pristine white snow stained red with blood.
Steam from hot blood meant recent deaths.
“It's over. No survivors.”
Frost demon Armang exhaled white breath. Beyond the crystal orb, his lord replied.
『Well done.』
“Just doing my duty.”
『Withdraw clean. Leave no traces of your hand.』
“Yes, sir.”
They'd guess anyway. But suspicion wasn't proof.
White Eagle and Gillian would recognize the Demon King's warning.
To the empire's sluggish asses, just another barbarian tribe swept by monsters.
That distinction mattered.
『Don't return to the tower. Monitor White Eagle instead.』
“As you command.”
Demons and beasts departed the now-empty tribe.
Only shattered debris and corpses attested to recent life.
“Nina.”
“Yes, Demon King.”
Communication ended, Reina Sordain leaned back in her chair.
“What do you think will happen?”
“Outrage first.”
“And then?”
“Might lean on the empire and Hero Guild. But empire likely ignores.”
“Why?”
“From Jason's data last time, empire wants northern barbarians culled.”
Reina Sordain had ruled for decades. Snowfield monsters gradually fell under her shadow, minimizing clashes.
It brought a fragile peace and explosive barbarian population growth.
Naturally, the empire disliked it. Snowfields nominally theirs, barbarians their subjects—but mere wrapping paper, everyone knew.
“They'll stand by, then.”
“Yes. Unless numbers drop too low.”
“That 'too low' is the trick.”
Reina smiled faintly, satisfied.
She hated kowtowing to a human empire, but she was a Demon King who faced reality.
This was best for now.
Vrrr—
Then, a communication orb on the desk vibrated fiercely.
“Ugar?”
Reina infused magic points.
『Reina Sordain. I am certain.』
Out of nowhere. She asked,
“What are you on about?”
『I saw it. What Jason Cockmond did for us, for conquering Alein.』
“Speak plainly.”
『Can't say! But certain! Jason Cockmond didn't kill Drakson!』
『Believe me!』
Click.
One-sided cutoff.
“...You messing with me right now?”
“Seemed sincere...”
The Demon King and her adjutant fell silent for a long while.
< 084. March Forth > End