Chapter 123 - Strategy Meeting

Everyone in the tower gathered on the fourth floor. It was the first time since the tower had been built.

"The Empire is coming to Erjest to find my tower. We have to stop them."

"So the imperial army is invading, with members of the imperial family leading them."

"Yes."

Ernyan was the first to offer an opinion.

"I don't think we should risk using the Golden Moon Trading Company or Sir Hillen to stop the Empire."

"Because they can't stop it anyway?"

"Yes. One wrong move, and we could lose them all."

Things might have been different before the hero's journey was approved, but once the emperor had issued his decree, none of that mattered. When the Empire encountered an obstacle, it did not compromise or go around it. It smashed it to pieces.

"Don't worry, my lord. I'll take care of everything!"

The dwarf hero thumped his chest.

"You?"

"I have 321 mana cannons!"

"... That is a lot."

Previously, Berge had never fully appreciated mana cannons. But after watching the imperial army use them firsthand, he finally understood just how extraordinary Logger was, how valuable his cannons were, and how tremendous the firepower of over three hundred cannons would be.

'If all 321 mana cannons fired a volley at once...?'

No matter how formidable the imperial army was, wouldn't it all be swept away? A few hundred fools swaggering about on their so-called hero's journey could be annihilated outright, too.

Hope suddenly began to blossom.

'No. Mana cannons can't do everything.'

They were certainly destructive, but they were not invincible. Above all, he could not picture Balaf Dislord dying, no matter how much cannon fire rained down on him.

'And a single hero's journey isn't what makes the Empire frightening.'

It was their venomous determination, their anger growing with every failure. If he repelled them once, they would return in greater force, prepared to counter his mana cannons.

He had to think long-term.

"May I offer my opinion?"

Gordon quietly raised his hand.

"Go ahead."

"I don't know how powerful this imperial army you speak of is, my lord."

"A head-on clash would mean certain defeat. Their forces are powerful, and one or two failures will never discourage them."

"In short, an enemy we cannot presently match is also persistent."

In that case...

"I believe we should fight them in the field, rather than in the tower."

"In the field?"

Berge's eyes widened. The suggestion that they abandon the tower's defenses to fight outside was surprising enough, but the fact that Gordon had made it surprised him even more.

"... Why are you looking at me like that?"

"Because that's not something I'd expect you to say."

"Didn't I tell you? I now believe your methods are right, my lord. This is simply an extension of that. I am only doing everything I can to help you conquer this world."

"Why do you suggest fighting in the field?"

"Because we must break them psychologically."

"Psychologically?"

"One moment..."

Gordon went up to the fifth floor and returned with a crystal ball. He infused it with demonic energy and set it on the floor, bringing forth an enormous hologram. It depicted the Erjest Mountains, based on the information the tower had accumulated over the past year.

"Over the year I've spent here, I have come to understand very well what these Erjest Mountains mean to humans."

Treacherous terrain. Forbidden ground. A land denied to humanity. A treasure trove of monsters. A land of bitter cold where snow fell all year round.

"Wandering through mountains like these is exhausting in itself. Searching snowy mountains for a tower with no end in sight is bad enough. Add monsters, and it becomes even worse."

It wore away at both body and mind. Gordon had utterly failed to understand it at the time, but Berge's decision to build his tower in Erjest had been the best possible choice.

"But what happens if they find the tower? A spark of hope ignites. Of course, the tower is rich in demonic energy, which may give us a slight advantage. But an undertaking with no end in sight, or one that ends once you reach the summit—which would you prefer?"

"And can we win in the field? Fighting outside imposes a great many restrictions. Some people are bound to escape."

Unlike the other Demon Kings, Berge had filled his tower with princesses, nonhuman races, and heroes. That could be effective against first-time visitors by delivering a considerable psychological shock, but once the whole world knew, it would be no better than an ordinary tower.

Worse, the moment the elves and princesses were exposed, many of Berge's plans would go awry. The very fact that elves, heroes, and princesses served a Demon King would overturn the foundations of everything humans had blindly believed until now.

Inside the tower, he simply needed to eliminate everyone who entered. In the field, however, he could not keep it hidden.

"Once we're exposed, humans won't be our only problem. The Demon Kings will have fits, too."

"For a start, we can use the elves if we paint their skin black."

"That alone won't fool anyone."

"We finely grind tainted mana stones, mix them into the dye, and inscribe engravings on their skin. The disguise will have a time limit, but it will make them look like dark elves."

The elves, who had been listening silently, flinched.

Berge stroked his chin. Infusing dye with demonic energy was a fairly common practice in the Demon Realm. It was widely used because a faint trace of demonic energy lingered in it.

"Not bad. What about the princesses, then?"

"Please call us the Four Heavenly Kings."

"The princesses?"

"Tch."

"They can wear masks inscribed with engravings that naturally emit demonic energy. In the urgency of an ongoing battle, no one will have time to scrutinize every detail. They certainly won't imagine that they're princesses of Hilderan."

"That's far too complacent."

Complacency was what had brought about this mess. Berge did not want to repeat the same mistake—especially with his life at stake.

"I'm certain of it."

"Certain?"

"No one could imagine that princesses would call themselves the Four Heavenly Kings and help you, my lord."

Gordon looked around the gathering, seeking agreement.

"... That is true."

"Even to me..."

"Honestly, I also..."

One by one, the elves agreed. Given their inability to lie, it was safe to say they meant it.

"Why?"

Ernyan tilted her head.

"Exactly. Why?"

Under the combined assault of Hilderan's two princesses, Charlotte, who had been the first to answer, swallowed.

"Because what princess, anywhere in the world, would help the Demon King who kidnapped her and try to fight the heroes coming to rescue her—would, apparently."

There were four such princesses right here. One plainly felt she had no choice, but the other three did not.

As Charlotte hesitated, Ernyan shook her head.

"That's right. I was taught to take a broad view of the world, not look at it from just one perspective. I see you're no different, even as an elf, Lady Charlotte!"

"..."

Unable to find a reply, Charlotte pressed her lips shut. Watching their almost comical exchange, Berge realized something.

'Charlotte is right.'

A princess helping a Demon King defied common sense. Even if she did help, doing so this enthusiastically, fighting the heroes who had come to rescue her, made even less sense.

Then why had he begun to take it for granted?

His gaze naturally settled on Ernyan.

'... She's rubbed off on me.'

To think he had reached the point where he could no longer recognize common sense for what it was.

Berge took warning.

"Fine. That settles the princesses."

"What? I still don't understand."

"Your understanding is not required."

Berge dismissed Ernyan's complaint.

"Krutu and the other Poil Orcs have no such issues. The same goes for the monsters Demon King Reina sent us. The problem is..."

"The mana cannons."

"Yes."

Mana cannons were plainly not a Demon King's weapons. In the thousand years since Demon Kings had begun descending upon Arain, not a single one had used them.

There was, however, nothing inherently wrong with a Demon King using mana cannons. The Guide made no particular mention of them. A bastard like Ugar would bitch about using the technology of lowly humans, but Berge could simply ignore him.

The problem was that once the cannons were exposed, they would lose their advantage.

Still...

"We'll proceed anyway."

"Are you sure that's all right?"

"They're bound to be discovered eventually. Better the mana cannons than the tower. But once we reveal them, we must wipe out as many enemies as possible. You're confident you can do that?"

"Of course! I'll show those arrogant human bastards that dwarven-made mana cannons are in a different league!"

Logger snorted fiercely.

"And what if we kidnap a member of the imperial family in the process?"

"What?"

"If we kidnap one and make a deal behind the scenes..."

"Rejected."

"Pardon?"

"Out of the question."

For now, word was spreading quietly, but once the hero's journey began, it would very likely be announced across the continent.

What if, instead of destroying the tower, they lost yet another member of the imperial family to kidnapping?

The proud emperor and his Empire would most likely denounce the captive as worthless and press their attack even harder. It was an extreme move that would eliminate even the faint possibility of some inconclusive end to the conflict.

"... If that's the case."

"Then we'll plan to face them in the field and work out the details. Above all, the identities of the elves and princesses must remain hidden."

According to the Guide, kidnapped royalty were to remain in the underground prison, then greet the heroes within the tower. Normally, that came with the added stipulation: beside the Demon King at the top.

Because of Arain's circumstances, some Demon Kings placed their royal captives elsewhere than the top floor, but only inside the tower, as specified in the Guide.

If word got out that Berge was sending princesses outside—and employing heroes—the other Demon Kings would never stand idly by.

Ugar might let it pass, too busy trying to stay alive himself. If Berge negotiated well enough with Jason, he might turn a blind eye for the moment, though Berge would have to surrender a great deal.

But Reina, that princess of the frost demons, who was not entirely inflexible but was exceedingly rigid in certain matters...

"She will never stand by and watch."

First she would try persuasion, then threats, and finally she would act. The problem was that she was currently the Demon King closest to Berge.

"I will do everything I can to ensure we are never exposed. But to do so..."

Gordon's gaze passed over Lavinia Akan and Charlotte in turn. He was no stranger to magic himself, but he needed the assistance of professional mages—especially Lavinia Akan, with her skill in demonic energy.

"Lavinia."

"Mm."

"I need your help."

"Mm. Lots of monsters. I'll help."

Fortunately, the monsters obtained from Reina seemed to have put her in a good mood.

"Oh, and I forgot to mention this: the imperial family will move in four separate groups. They may join forces along the way, but they'll be divided at first, so consider defeating them one at a time."

"Yes, my lord!"

"Yes!" they answered together.

The Demon King and his servants steeled themselves for battle.

* * *

"My lord."

After establishing the broad outlines, Berge had left the details to Gordon. He had retired to his office and was clutching his throbbing head when Kaede Jespine knocked on the door.

"Come in."

She entered hesitantly.

"What is it?"

"... Well."

In truth, he already knew. It would be about the Third Prince. From what Berge had seen firsthand, the prince cherished his younger sister dearly. Kaede felt the same way about him.

"You can't fight the Third Prince. Is that it?"

"... I'm sorry, but yes. That's right."

"You said you would become my servant. Yet you would refuse an order for personal reasons? Is that what you meant by being a knight?"

"..."

Kaede hung her head. For a knight, their lord's orders had to take precedence over everything else. No amount of words could excuse her.

"Only the Third Prince?"

"Pardon?"

"I asked whether the Third Prince is the only one you cannot attack."

"... My brother Floyan, too."

The Second Prince. The Third and Second Princes had not seemed to be on particularly bad terms. Was the same true of Kaede?

"Then what about the First Princess?"

Instantly, Kaede's eyes changed. Her gaze turned sharp and vicious, with a hint of anger.

"... If you entrust her to me, I will do my utmost."

"How?"

"I will do as you command, my lord."

"If I told you to smash her head, slit open her belly, and pull out her entrails, would you? She's your sister."

"... That would be too much, but her limbs, at least..."

"You pass. I've seen enough of your loyalty. Now guard the tower."

"... Pardon?"

What did she mean, pardon?

"You're an imperial princess, but you're also a hero. Do you intend to announce to the whole world that a hero is my subordinate?"

"... Oh."

Kaede blinked blankly.

* * *

While Berge was pondering how to deal with the Empire, the Demon King who had lived in Arain the longest received news from it.

『I will ask you just once.』

A quiet anger underlay the voice coming through the crystal ball.

『Were you the one who planted a dark mage in Habstrain Gorge, dreaming of overthrowing the Empire?』

"No. Surely you know that? I have no reason to do so. I know the Empire better than any other Demon King."

『... And what if that made you all the more determined to weaken it?』

"Had that been my intention, I would not have handled it so sloppily."

『...』

For a moment, no answer came.

『I will ask one last time. Was it truly not you?』

"It was not. If you were certain it was me, you wouldn't be asking like this."

『For now, I will believe you.』

But...

『This will not end as easily as it did with Carnal Desire. You have crossed the line.』

The connection was cut off from the other end. Jason pressed a hand to his forehead. The solid wood table splintered under his grip.

CRACK

"Lord Berge, Lord Berge, Lord Berge, Lord Berge!"

Just...

"What have you done?"

Why had he provoked the very people he should never have touched?

Why on earth...

"Are you ruining my plans?"

His eyes turned cold.