089. Dunno, No
"An expedition led by Akan's Fifth Prince has climbed the Erjest Mountains. Their goal was to find the tower."
But as time passed, the ones who returned were little more than stragglers.
"And there was no princess among them."
"Don't tell me she was kidnapped by the Demon King?"
"That's the ambiguous part."
Hmm, should I even say this much?
Count Tomhal stroked his chin.
"Count, aren't we already in the same boat?"
"Urgh, you can't spread this around."
"Of course not."
Count Tomhal wet his lips with wine and continued.
"What kind of reaction do kingdoms usually have when their royalty gets kidnapped by a Demon King?"
"They get furious and put in a request with the Hero Guild, right?"
It's standard to link up with the guild and do everything possible to rescue them. They might not go all out for unimportant royals, but they at least formally report the disappearance to the Hero Guild and file a request.
"Akan didn't do that?"
"They've been holed up in their assigned annex this whole time, staying quiet."
It was extremely suspicious.
"If it wasn't a kidnapping, there's no reason to act like that..."
"Exactly. Even back home, they're leaning toward that explanation. Voluntary disappearance."
"That doesn't make sen—ah."
"Got it?"
"Yes."
Ravinia Akan's eccentricities were infamous.
Just recently, she'd been rescued from the Beast Tower—and claimed she'd walked in there herself.
"Erjest is a monster haven. It's not that strange for the world's top chimera maker, Ravinia Akan, to go googly-eyed over it, right?"
"I see."
'Good thing it's not a kidnapping.'
'No' and 'nuh-uh' are worlds apart.
If it was voluntary, it wouldn't spiral into the worst-case scenario.
"Thank you."
"But why are you so curious about that?"
"No big reason. I just wanted to know even the smallest details about the Demon King of Erjest."
"Even the smallest details? Why that—ah."
The count nodded.
"...I asked something unnecessary."
"No, I asked for it. It's only natural."
"Thanks for understanding."
"If you ever need my help, just reach out."
"Yeah, I will. This is too reassuring! Let's have a drink!"
"Sure."
Clink—
The wine glasses touched.
『I see.』
The dry voice neither scolded nor praised Cain.
There was no affection or worry for his sister. It just felt like the kind of person who would say that had done so.
『Return first. With Ravinia gone, pushing the search is pointless.』
"Sister..."
『Do we need to find her? Really?』
She's royalty. She's your sister, His Majesty's child. Cain knew such words wouldn't land.
"She won't just sit idle in the magic tower."
『...Probably not.』
Tsk. He heard the king click his tongue.
The king of Akan Kingdom couldn't wield absolute power. The mages, led by the magic tower, were untouchable even by the king, despite royal authority taking precedence.
『But listen.』
『Ravinia deserted during wartime operations. I'm not sacrificing allies to chase a deserter.』
"...Yes."
『Return.』
"...Yes. Understood."
Cain nodded at the uncompromising tone.
He pocketed the communication orb and stepped out. The Blue Meteor Magic Division Captain and White Wolf Knight Division Captain approached.
"What did His Majesty say?"
"Return orders."
"Then the princess..."
Cain shook his head.
"We can't do that!"
The Blue Meteor Magic Division Captain was appalled.
"The princess is the treasure of the magic world. We must find her."
"It's a royal command."
"......"
"Once we're back, I'll figure something out. If the magic tower steps in, His Majesty will have no choice but to form a separate search party."
"But until then, can the princess hold out...?"
"Sister's not one to go down easy."
"...Understood."
"Yes."
"Prepare to pack and return?"
"Yes."
The mage and knight left. Cain headed to the mercenaries' lodgings.
"You've arrived?"
"I bring bad news."
"Withdrawal?"
"Yes."
"Then the princess...?"
"We'll form a separate search party after returning. I'm truly sorry to Granada and Hero Hillon. I'll never forget this favor."
"No need. We just did what we had to."
"Akan will set out to find the tower again someday. I promise we'll succeed then."
"Thank you."
"And whenever you visit the kingdom, seek me out. I'll treat you royally."
"Yes."
The next morning, Akan Kingdom's forces left Hotenwork.
On the tower's first floor, with the dwarf watching, Berge stood Ravinia Akan in front of him and locked eyes.
Slowly, deliberately, emphasizing each word.
"That's not right."
"What?"
"It's not a secret."
"Not secret? Tell?"
"No, that's not what I mean by 'not a secret'."
Berge thumped his chest. What a frustrating girl.
"Asking again. If someone asks if you've seen the Demon King's tower, what do you say?"
"Secret."
"No, you have to hide that it's a secret too."
"Hide?"
"Yes. If someone asks about the tower or me, your answer should be 'Dunno'."
"Dunno?"
"Yeah."
"Lie. I know."
"It's a good lie."
"Bad."
"You still have to do it. If they ask if you've found the Demon King's tower, what do you say?"
"Secret."
"Damn it."
Her sullen glare was surprisingly firm. Berge felt a thousand boils rising inside.
But that was her principle. No lies, and she'd stick to what she believed was right, no matter how odd.
The world called her crazy for it.
No, even a crazy person is human—there has to be some compromise point.
What irresistible desire could Ravinia Akan have?
"......"
Something clicked for Berge, and he opened his subspace.
'It's a shame to lose it, but if it gets her to make a decent golem without issues...'
Still a profit.
"...Wow."
Ravinia's pupils dilated.
Something still fresh and twitching, detached from its owner long ago, floated before her eyes.
She trembled at the thick, pure magic.
"This...?"
"Lust demon's tail. From a Demon King."
"Demon King..."
Her eyes gleamed with greed. She licked her lips unconsciously—a sight to behold.
"Gimme."
"No."
"Cooperate."
She reached for the Demon King's tail. Berge snorted and tucked it back into subspace. Her hand sliced empty air.
"...Gimme."
"Asking again."
"What?"
"If someone asks if you've found the Demon King's tower?"
"......"
"If they ask?"
"Dunno."
"If they ask if you cooperated with the Demon King?"
"No."
"That's it."
Berge extended his pinky.
"Promise."
It felt pathetic, but this was custom-fit for Ravinia. These childish rituals mattered most to her.
After hesitating, she hooked her pinky.
"Promise."
"What do you say?"
"Dunno, no."
Berge grinned in satisfaction.
The succubus queen's tail went into the chimera expert's hands.
She beamed.
—Dangerous.
The high water spirit, Nairuniel, propped her chin on the hilltop.
"What?"
—The Demon King brought another royal. A 'princess' this time.
—No sense of crisis? Your spot's at risk.
Again.
Ernan sighed.
"Why's that all you think about, Lady Nairuniel?"
—Your tone's aggressively sweet.
—You weren't like this at first.
"Ever think you made me this way?"
—Nope.
—Think about it. Without wild fantasies, how else to kill time in this boring place?
"Go back to the spirit realm."
—Even more boring.
—Aren't you bored anyway?
"I'm fine."
—Why?
"Nothing to do, but nothing I have to do either."
Limited freedom was still freedom. From a caged bird in a new cage to one in a building. Better that way.
—A chimera-making princess, huh.
—Too unique.
—More than you?
"I'm not unique."
—Unique people never realize they're unique. Just themselves.
"Right back at you."
The high spirit and human glared. Then the Demon King arrived with the new princess.
A massive titan chimera in tow.
—My god. She made that?
The ominous, patchwork magic might repel normal spirits. But Nairuniel was a prejudice-free spirit who'd endured over half a year in the Demon King's tower.
"Stay here."
"Yeah."
"Ernan."
"Yes."
Ernan came down the hill. Up close, the chimera was even bigger.
"Show her around. She'll be here awhile with you."
"Awhile? You didn't kidnap her?"
"She came willingly. She'll help with golem cores then leave, so don't spill everything."
"...Got it."
Ernan wanted to ask if that was possible but held back. At least, she was sure this princess wasn't normal.
The Demon King vanished. Ernan and Ravinia's eyes met.
"Hi."
"Yeah."
"Name?"
"Ravinia."
"I'm Ernan."
"Yeah."
"......"
"......"
Awkward silence fell. Nairuniel broke it.
—Her tongue half-cut or what? Why so curt?
"...You're the older sister."
—Oh, really?
—Sorry. Fair enough.
"Dummy."
Ravinia stared at Nairuniel and muttered softly.
—What?
"Where?"
"Pardon?"
"Bed."
"Ah, I'll show you to sleeping quarters."
Ernan led her to an empty clearing.
"Nothing."
"We'll make some now."
An earth spirit was summoned. As the tiny spirit wriggled, the ground rose. It leveled the soil and laid grass.
"Wow."
"Good?"
"Like. More."
"More?"
"Cher."
"Cher?"
Her pale finger pointed to the titan behind her.
"Ah."
Ernan commanded the spirit again. A bed dwarfing Ravinia's appeared. Cher lay down immediately, rumbling contentedly.
"Good."
"Glad. But I heard you made a deal with the Demon King. What was it?"
"...Ah. Dunno."
—Liar!
"Dunno."
She bolted up, led her titan down the hill.
"......"
Ernan stared blankly at her retreating back.
"...What was that?"
—Dunno. She's weird anyway.
A golem sorcerer is both mage and master artisan.
They craft the golem's body, wire magic circuits, design and build the energy core.
Design, creation, control—all from their hands.
Raymond, Akan's golem sorcerer, took pride in that.
His orichalcum alloy golem incorporated body designs and activations unimaginable to other nations, with cutting-edge magic and tech.
He was one of the key mages behind it.
Clap—
"Mm."
When he opened his eyes, a small pale hand was before him. Ravinia Akan's face behind it.
"Y-Your Highness?"
"Wake up."
"Y-Yes!"
He sat up instinctively but panicked at the unfamiliar surroundings.
"Wh-where is this?"
His last memory: rampaging Behemoth and golems facing it.
"Tower."
"Pardon?"
"Demon King."
"...Eek. The Demon King's tower?"
"Yeah."
She'd promised secrecy, but Raymond was exempt. He'd build golems with her now. Even the Demon King allowed it.
"Why are we in the Demon King's tower...?"
Raymond scanned around. High ceiling, labyrinthine walls. No demons or beasts, so maybe not the tower—but definitely not the mountain with the Behemoth.
"Golem make."
"We have to make a golem?"
"You and me."
"With you? No, we need to escape now!"
"Don't."
"Don't what?"
"Die."
"...Your Highness?"
Raymond stepped back.
"Demon King."
"You."
Ravinia sliced her finger across her throat.
Raymond spiraled into deeper confusion.
Don't make the golem, and the Demon King kills him?
What nonsense is this?!
< 089. Dunno, No > End