Chapter 107 - A Being Called God

"God?"

A god? The suggestion was so absurd that Berge could not even muster a hollow laugh.

"Do the humans of Arain believe in such things?"

But Hillen was serious.

『Rumors are circulating among the nobles. They cannot have come from nowhere.』

"There really are people who believe in a god?"

『No one in Arain worships a god.』

There was magic and aura. There was mana, and there were spirits. What mattered was effort and talent, not the miracles believers cried out for.

No one could prove that gods existed. Nor was there any divine power said to be their strength.

In Arain, gods had naturally faded away.

『But there are those who worship someone who is not a god as one. A “human” who proclaimed himself a god.』

"A mere human calling himself a god is ridiculous enough. More surprising is that idiots actually believe him."

And that Berge had lost to people like these and died.

"Who is it?"

『A hero who killed two Demon Kings.』

"I never imagined you were that insane. Did losing to Reina drive you mad?"

『... To be precise, a hero from roughly five hundred years ago.』

Over a full thousand years, Arain had devoured dozens of Demon Kings. Heroes who killed two Demon Kings were rare, but not unheard of.

Hillen Cargill was one such hero today, and looking back over that millennium, there had been about three.

『Daniel Deirus. Roughly five hundred years ago, he killed two Demon Kings and acquired tremendous power. No one in the world was stronger, and he grew increasingly arrogant. He considered himself greater than kings or emperors.』

"The kingdoms and the Empire would hardly have left him alone."

『Circumstances favored him. The continent was engulfed in war. The flames that began with the Empire's territorial expansion spread across the entire continent, and more and more people suffered.』

In hardship, humans sought something to lean on.

But that something was not the state. To the common people of that time, the state was an evil that plundered, exploited, and forcibly conscripted them.

『That was when Daniel Deirus appeared. He built his reputation by helping people. His following steadily grew. By the time the embers of the decades-long war died down, it had reportedly grown beyond anyone's control.』

"And?"

『But in the end, he was only a hero, and the kings and emperor would not tolerate him. They piled every imaginable charge on him and branded him a traitor who had sided with the Demon Kings.』

"Interesting."

『As another war threatened to break out, he wiped out every member of the allied pursuit force sent to capture him and made a declaration. He would kill a third Demon King and demonstrate his greatness. If he returned after killing that Demon King, they were to worship him—a being whose like had never existed and never would again.』

"The kings agreed to that?"

『He set a condition. He would climb the tower “alone.”』

A hero could never climb a tower and kill a Demon King alone. There were limits to an individual hero's strength.

At least that truth had remained unchanged, five hundred years ago and today.

"What happened?"

『The Demon King's tower collapsed.』

"He succeeded?"

『But all traces of Daniel Deirus vanished as well.』

"They killed each other, then."

『Most people believed he had died. But the followers who believed in him thought otherwise. They claimed that, after killing his third Demon King, he finally acquired divine authority and ascended to heaven. That in time, he would descend into the world again and save them.』

At that point, Berge could not help bursting into laughter.

"Killing three Demon Kings makes you a god?"

Then the Demon Emperor should already have become an unrivaled god.

The same went for the grand dukes.

"So, in the end, there are morons who can't get over a hero who died five hundred years ago."

『That sums it up. Their fanaticism went too far and caused considerable unrest. There were several campaigns to eradicate them, the last one a hundred and ten years ago. We thought none remained, but...』

"All right. I'll keep it in mind."

『Yes.』

"How are things with the margrave?"

『Not bad. At least, the chances of joining forces have increased, provided it benefits us both.』

"Not bad at all."

『Indeed. Not bad at all.』

The Demon King and hero smiled at each other. Then the connection ended.

'Fanatics, huh.'

Not worshippers of a real god, strictly speaking, but to think such rumors were circulating in the southern Empire.

'There are signs they intervened in the battle between the alliance and the Empire?'

Had Jason used them to spark a war between the Empire and the alliance?

'I didn't see any humans who looked particularly suspicious...'

He had no idea that the random words he had blurted out in anger were setting a butterfly effect in motion.

'Whatever. Things worked out well enough.'

His thoughts soon returned to the hero revered as a god.

'There almost was a hero who killed three Demon Kings.'

That was not a story he could dismiss. There was no guarantee that something that could have happened once would not happen a second time.

Even in his own tower, even after the first floor's magical bombardment and the princesses' attacks, could he really...

'Could I, as I am now, defeat a hero who had killed three Demon Kings?'

In the Demon Realm, it would have been a pointless concern. He was confident he would lose to no one. But now, weakened by dimensional interference, things were different.

He could not defeat any of the other Demon Kings except Vivian. If a few of those humans who strutted around calling themselves Stars joined forces, he would have to fear for his life.

In the end, it all came back to personal strength.

Berge himself would be the one left to fight the hero in the final battle. If he was weak, no amount of strengthening anything else would matter.

'A balrog wasn't the issue.'

He had no need to worry about an invasion of the tower for a while anyway. Conversely, there was no telling when he would need to venture outside again.

So, at least until he felt it was enough...

'I need to lift the interference.'

[5135110pt]

He poured every last demonic energy point...

[0pt]

...into lifting the interference.

* * *

"... My strength."

Gordon clenched his fist as he listened to reports from the elves who had successfully blended into the Kingdom of Akan.

His own condition had not changed much. But it felt as though he had been carrying hundreds of weights on his body and a few had fallen away.

'Could it be?'

Dimensional interference was lifted using the tower's power. Every demon belonging to the tower was affected together.

In other words, lifting dimensional interference benefited not just the Demon King himself, but every demon and demonic creature who had become his servant.

'Some of the interference has been lifted.'

Not all of it. Though small compared to the whole, it was by no means insignificant. At least, it was the greatest sense of liberation Gordon had experienced since descending into this world.

It felt so refreshing that he could hardly help smiling.

'Who knew regaining what was originally mine could feel so good?'

Dimensional interference acted on power from another dimension. Demons and demonic creatures were affected, but fundamentally, its target was demonic energy.

Dimensional interference suppressed demonic energy. It merely suppressed that energy, but demonic energy was ultimately what powered every demon and demonic creature. Suppressing it also meant suppressing their bodies.

The fact that even a little of it had been lifted meant demonic energy flowed more freely and the pressure weighing on their bodies had eased.

'I thought he was too busy making use of princesses, elves, and dwarves to care about lifting dimensional interference.'

Whatever else he might be, the Demon King was still a demon. And demons were a race that could not tolerate being pathetically weak.

『Gordon, come to my office.』

Just then, the Demon King's summons came.

"You called, my lord?"

"You felt it, didn't you?"

"Yes. It feels a little closer to being in the Demon Realm."

"From now on, I intend to spend all my demonic energy points on lifting the interference."

"Really? Then the tower..."

"That doesn't mean I intend to sit back and do nothing. We simply won't be able to use demonic energy points."

"..."

A deep sense of foreboding stirred. Things never ended well when he spoke like this.

"I've been thinking about something. How can we inflict greater failure and despair on the humans and heroes? How can we keep them from growing stronger?"

In truth, no matter how weak the monsters he stationed were, there was no denying that their deaths contributed at least a little to a hero's growth.

The same was true of strong monsters. Their unexpected strength might catch the humans off guard at first, but eventually they would be killed. That had been humanity's unchanging strategy all along.

"Is there a way?"

"We stop them from killing anything. More precisely, there will be nothing to kill. No demons, no demonic creatures, not even monsters. We won't station any of them."

"..."

'Why not throw the doors wide open while you're at it? Lay out a carpet to welcome them in.'

Perhaps experience was to thank. Fortunately, he did not say it aloud.

"There was something odd about your eyes just now."

"... N-no, my lord. Then what do you intend to put on the empty floors?"

"Traps, of course. We have Logger, the golem controller, and Lavinia, who understands demonic energy despite being human. We'll use them to fill the second and third floors with traps."

Not the ordinary sort available for demonic energy points, but original, more vicious ones.

"For instance, we could lower the temperature to wear the humans down, then build a maze with no exit. Humans have this peculiar habit of always following a path if there is one. Watching them wander in circles, unaware there's no way out, until they freeze to death would be quite a sight."

Well, eventually they would break through the walls.

"But what if we added an illusion array that made them see one another as enemies? Perhaps not the heroes, but quite a few humans weakened by the cold would fall for it."

"So that would be..."

"Your job to oversee. On the second floor."

"... Cold alone has its limits. The same goes for mind magic. Expeditions come equipped with highly magic-resistant gear as a matter of course. It might be different if you were an incubus, my lord, and I were one too..."

"Which is why you need to make it work."

"Do you have a good way to do that?"

"That's what you'll be thinking about from now on."

"..."

"I've only given you the broad outline. It's your job to flesh it out. What use is an adjutant if the Demon King does all the work?"

It was so perfectly reasonable that Gordon could say nothing.

"Even if I refine it into something more complete, it will be impossible without demonic energy points or the tower's assistance."

Because mind magic was involved.

"Perhaps you could at least build everything up to that stage before complaining."

"... I'll try."

"I don't care for trying. I care for results."

"I'll do my best."

"That's the same thing."

"May I ask one question?"

"Ask."

"I agree with your idea of leaving the heroes nothing to gain, my lord. But defending the tower is ultimately only one step in the process."

A Demon King erected a tower, defended it, and accumulated power. Then, when the time came, conquered the dimension.

That was the strategy of the Demon Realm and its Demon Kings.

"But with your method, they gain nothing—and neither do we."

"Why do you think we gain nothing?"

"Are you saying we do?"

"I'll take the monsters in the mountains as servants."

"Haven't you said until now that you wouldn't do that?"

"For ordinary monsters, it would be a waste of demonic energy, so I had no intention of it. But what if we turned them all into chimeras?"

"... Lavinia Akan. You mean that princess of Akan?"

"Yes."

Gordon wanted to protest, to ask how he could trust a mere human princess, but he could not.

"... Attaching a succubus queen's tail to a titan would be difficult even for demons deeply versed in magic."

"No demons take an interest in making chimeras in the first place."

Demons killed and devoured one another to absorb power. There was no need for them to rely on things like chimeras.

But here, it was different. Demons and demonic creatures were not as abundant as in the Demon Realm. They could not afford to devour one another.

"I'll ensure that the heroes gain nothing when they come, while taking the mountain monsters as servants one by one and modifying them into chimeras."

"If that works, it would certainly be a good approach, but..."

"Will the princess do it?"

"Yes."

"She says she will."

"... My lord, are you perhaps an incubus rather than a demonic dragon?"

"Don't talk nonsense."

"But otherwise, why do heroes, elves, and princesses keep flocking to you—"

It happened then.

BUZZZZ

Something vibrated inside Berge's clothes. A faint chill cooled the heat-filled office slightly.

"... Is it Demon King Reina?"

"Step aside, out of sight."

"Yes, my lord."

Berge infused it with demonic energy.

"What brings you?"

『You're in your office.』

Without any particular greeting, Reina examined the view through the communication orb.

"Yes."

『This time.』

"What?"

The chill in her words rattled Berge a little. But he made an effort to keep his expression calm.

"What do you mean?"

『You.』

"Yes?"

『Have you nothing to tell me?』

"To tell you?"

『I entered an alliance with you. And I believe trust is important between allies. No matter how individualistic demons may be, that fact does not change. If you intended to live alone, you should have rejected my offer in the first place.』

Berge tapped his fingers on the desk. His mind raced.

'What? What's the problem?'

The clues were in her words.

Office. This time. Alliance. And trust.

'... I've been caught?'

Had she discovered that he had gone to the snowfields and rescued Hillen Cargill?

His heart sank.

His eyes met Reina's through the communication orb. Hers were utterly cold and sharp. He sensed a quiet anger, as though she were facing an enemy.

'No, that's not it.'

If she had discovered that he had interfered with her plans by rescuing Hillen Cargill, that he had trespassed in a Demon King's domain, she would not be speaking this way.

Didn't this seem more like she was giving him another chance?

'Then...'

He had been caught, yes. But not entering her domain.

'The communication orb.'

He had spoken to her from the snowfields. He had been on their outskirts, but lied and said he was in Erjest. Fortunately, that place had not been within Reina's domain.

Then what should he do now?

"... I'm sorry."

『For what?』

"When we spoke, I wasn't in Erjest."

『You were in the snowfields.』

"But not in your domain. That was the only reason I didn't tell you. Even outside your domain, it wasn't something you'd welcome. I wasn't trying to deceive you to accomplish anything."

『To acquire monsters?』

"Yes."

He nodded blindly, without properly hearing what Reina had said.

『... So it really was the snowfields.』

"... Huh?"

What had she just said?

'Don't tell me...'

Had he stupidly walked straight into her leading questions?

'You idiot...!'

It was a stupid mistake born of his guilty conscience. Berge's face turned pale.

Alarmingly, Reina Sordein did not answer at once.

'What on earth have you been going around doing?!'

Hidden in the blind spot, Gordon screamed silently.

Time passed. Each second felt like an hour.

『What a relief.』

"A relief?"

『... To be honest, I was wondering what I should do if you continued lying to the end. Once trust is broken, it cannot be repaired.』

All the more so for demons.

『But you did not. I am glad.』

'... Am I in the clear?'

He sighed in relief. It felt as though he had traveled between heaven and hell in an instant.

『I shall invite you here.』

"All of a sudden?"

『The reason you came to the snowfields. I shall give you what you wanted.』

With that, the connection ended.

"...?"

"...?"

Berge and Gordon looked at each other and tilted their heads.

"Has Hillen Cargill been captured by Demon King Reina?"

"Who would know, me or you?"

What on earth was going on?

For the moment, Berge checked on Hillen.

Fortunately, he was safe.

* * *

"... I apologize for what happened before."

Reina Sordein was silent. After deliberating, Berge spoke first.

"Even if it wasn't your domain, coming so close without telling you was clearly a mistake on my part."

Still no answer came. The atmosphere grew colder. Combined with the chill of the snowfields, it made the back of his neck feel icy.

'Damn it.'

He had to smooth things over somehow, but no good ideas came to him.

Then Reina opened a drawer, took out a piece of candy, and offered it to him. He accepted it and carelessly tucked it inside his clothes.

"That part does not particularly concern me."

"It doesn't?"

"It would have, had you continued lying to the end. But not now."

Reina rolled a piece of candy around in her mouth. A sweet cherry scent wafted out.

"There is nothing unusual about a Demon King acquiring monsters. Snow falls in Erjest all year round, and only the snowfields offer a similar environment. I understand you. I resent that you did not tell the truth from the start, but at least you did not conceal it to the end."

"... Thank you."

Berge sighed in relief. His heart, which had nearly dropped out of his chest, began beating again.

"So, did you acquire any monsters to your liking?"

"I stayed on the outskirts to avoid entering your domain, so not really..."

"I thought as much. I told you I would give you what you wanted."

"You don't mean...?"

"Did you see the monsters outside?"

"I did."

When he arrived at the tower's first-floor entrance, hundreds of monsters had been stationed there as though welcoming him.

"I shall give you all of them."

"... Really? Why, all of a sudden?"

The more monsters he had to turn into chimeras, the better. Naturally, it was a welcome offer, but it was far too sudden.

"Because you want them. If you came all the way to the vicinity of my domain, does that not mean your need is pressing?"

"Well, yes, but..."

"That is why I am giving them to you. I consider it only natural as your ally."

"... In that case, I'll gratefully accept."

"However."

She added a caveat.

"You, too, must give me something of equivalent value."

"Then it isn't really a gift."

"I would like to give them freely. But a one-sided relationship soon falls apart. I believe that if something goes one way, something must come back."

"I don't think one-sided relationships are necessarily bad."

"What an amusing joke."

Berge considered it.

He needed monsters, but there was no hurry. He could slowly take the monsters of Erjest as servants, one by one.

In other words, there was no need to acquire them immediately at the cost of giving Reina something of equal value.

But this was an offer full of goodwill, made by Reina as his ally.

He needed to discern its deeper meaning rather than simply its terms.

'The monsters are a pretext.'

She merely wanted to reinforce the trust in their alliance that had nearly cracked.

"What do you want?"

"What do you think I want?"

"Well..."

Until recently, he could have said direct assistance.

But Gillian Aint and the White Eagles had been routed, and the northern tribes had tucked their tails like frightened dogs. On top of that, Margrave Chernian had decided to refrain from further conflict.

'No, wait.'

Did Reina Sordein know that?

Berge had learned of Margrave Chernian's plans through Hillen Cargill.

And Berge had not gone out of his way to announce them. Given Reina's lack of interest in the human world, there was a good chance she did not know.

"I'll tell you about the situation in the northern Empire."

"The situation in the north?"

"The war hasn't officially ended yet, has it?"

"How absurd. Are you suggesting that we and the humans ever end a war by mutual agreement?"

"Then isn't it all the more important to know how they're moving?"

"Are you receiving that information from Jason? That would hardly be your achievement."

Berge did not bother correcting her assumption.

"Then is there something else you want?"

"Ugar."

"Ugar?"

"Not long ago, Ugar contacted me. Then, out of nowhere, he said this."

"Said what?"

"Jason is not the culprit. Believe me."

"What kind of bullshit is that?"

"I do not know either. The connection ended afterward. I wanted to ask him again, but with everything going on, it slipped my mind for a while."

"You want me to look into it?"

"It is hardly difficult, is it? I consider it a very low price for hundreds of monsters."

"... All right."

'He said it wasn't Jason?'

What had he seen and heard to make him say that?

'Ugar may be a coward and a fool, but he doesn't make things up.'

'Surely he hasn't discovered that I'm the culprit.'

'Damn it, this feels like walking on a blade.'

"I am counting on you."

"Yes."

He took the hand Reina offered. Unlike the chill she radiated, her hand was warm.