Chapter 147 - The Swindler

There was a saying that all of Akan's wealth flowed to the royal family and the mage towers. That was how indispensable the towers of mages were as a pillar of Akan.

Power meant wealth. And to mages, wealth was a means to conduct more experiments.

Mage towers earned money through donations from affiliated nobles, training mages, government subsidies, selling magical items, and protecting trading companies. Most of that money was then spent on magical materials and spellbooks.

In other words, a mage tower was a treasure house stocked with enormous quantities of materials. Even trading companies specializing in magical reagents and materials held only a drop in the ocean compared to a tower's reserves. No matter how precious or rare something was, a mage tower had it.

However, the towers acquired those materials for their own use, not for resale, and would not sell them for money.

"But surely it would be a different story if I had something of comparable value?"

Seated across from the mage tower's deputy master, Jetoson calmly sipped his tea.

'How lucky. I never imagined I'd get to meet someone this important right away.'

It had happened by chance. While requesting a trade and claiming to possess goods that would make the tower's eyes light up, he had caught the attention of the deputy master passing by. Intrigued by Jetoson's bold claims, the man had arranged this meeting.

"Ahem."

The deputy master cleared his throat.

"Well, isn't it time you showed me this item?"

"Ah, of course. I assure you, you won't be disappointed. If I were to give you a hint, you might call it a harvested part."

"A harvested part?"

"Yes. But surely its value depends on what it came from?"

Just as an orc's hide could not compare to an ogre's.

"Of course, but now you've made me terribly curious."

The deputy master stroked his chin with a bony hand.

"Just how remarkable is it for you to keep a mage tower waiting like this? Can I trust that you won't disappoint me?"

Under that piercing gaze, Jetoson nodded.

"Of course."

"The Golden Moon Trading Company, and Jetoson, a merchant in its employ. I'll remember that."

The deputy master examined the entry Jetoson had written in the visitors' register upon entering the tower.

"I do hope this remains a pleasant memory to the very end."

Jetoson swallowed hard. He had plunged ahead recklessly, but in truth, he could be certain of nothing.

The horn sent from headquarters certainly looked impressive. However, he lacked the magical knowledge to assess its precise value. His livelihood had never been about recognizing genuinely valuable things or uncovering hidden treasures. It was about dressing up worthless things to look convincing and selling them at inflated prices.

'All I can do is trust Deputy Head Aman.'

Please let it be what the letter said it was. Let the sinister-looking mage before him recognize its value and weep.

"Haha, of course. I've kept you waiting far too long. I'll show you right away."

CLICK

The wooden case opened. Dense demonic energy began to seep out slowly.

"This is...?"

A peculiar change came over the deputy master's expression.

"I'm sure you know that harvested parts have grades as well. Above monsters are demonic creatures, above demonic creatures are demons, and above demons are Demon Kings. Of course, there are ranks within each category, and some monsters are stronger than most demonic creatures or demons, while some demonic creatures surpass demons. So it isn't quite that simple to assign a value."

"..."

"But no one can deny that, generally speaking, demonic creatures are stronger than monsters, and demons stronger than demonic creatures. Naturally, the parts harvested from them are superior as well."

"So what exactly is this?"

"Demons in particular are each powerful beings in their own right..."

"I asked what it is! Do you want me to take it straight into my laboratory right now?"

Jetoson blinked at the shout that made the air quiver. Though slightly startled, he smiled inwardly. The deputy master's wavering eyes and ragged breathing told him the item was genuine.

"Even among demons, high-ranking demons are the most exceptional..."

"Is it a part from a high-ranking demon?"

"No."

"What?"

"It belongs to a demon who stands above even those high-ranking demons."

"Above high-ranking demons...? Surely not...?"

"Yes."

Jetoson nodded.

"It's a Demon King's horn."

"...!"

CLICK

Jetoson closed the wooden case again. The dense demonic energy vanished in an instant.

"Ah...!"

The deputy master, who had leaned so close that his nose almost touched it, cried out in disappointment.

"Once—just let me see it once more!"

"Ah, I really shouldn't..."

"Why ever not? Please!"

"Very well. I'll make a special exception for you, Deputy Master."

The wooden case opened again, pulsing with dense demonic energy. The deputy master eagerly drank in the sight. Just as he began to use magic to examine it further, the case snapped shut.

"Now, now, this is a precious item. What if you damaged it...?"

"I'll buy it, no matter what! Open it again!"

"You want it that badly?"

"Do you even need to ask?"

"But as you know, it's exceedingly rare..."

"That's precisely why I'm offering to buy it!"

"Ah, but the price..."

"Are you questioning this tower's financial resources? We have more money than we know what to do with!"

Ordinarily, the person with the money held the upper hand. But in a mage tower, that privilege belonged to whoever possessed something rare.

At that moment, their positions had reversed.

"First, tell me what price you can offer."

Jetoson crossed his legs and leaned back.

"What's the highest you're prepared to pay?"

* * *

While Berge was extorting Vivian's horn from her, a grand welcoming ceremony was being held in Hilderan.

Ernyan Hilderan and Hillen Cargill.

The Kingdom of Hilderan's Crown Princess, returned from captivity, and the great hero who had rescued her.

Every gate in the royal capital stood open. From the outer walls to the royal palace, soldiers lined both sides to create a path for the Crown Princess and the hero. Behind them, citizens swarmed in and cheered.

"Long live Her Highness the Crown Princess!"

"Long live the great hero, Hillen Cargill!"

"We're so glad you're safe!"

"Hurrah!"

Fireworks burst brightly enough to be seen even in broad daylight, and the music of a military band rang through the capital. The entire city was swept up in what amounted to a festival, and understandably so.

People said the abduction of royalty was unavoidable, but most still felt their kingdom had been slighted when one of their own royals was taken.

The kingdom had lost its royalty because it was weak. A Demon King had appeared because the royal family was an easy target.

Hilderan, moreover, had lost two princesses, and one had been abducted again immediately after being rescued. The incident had deeply wounded its people. Ernyan Hilderan's rescue and return could hardly have been anything but momentous.

"It's wonderful to see you, everyone. Thanks to you, I've escaped that wicked Demon King's tower and returned here once more. Thank you."

Ernyan rode a spirit into the sky, her voice ringing throughout the city, and the people's cheers grew even louder.

"What an interesting display."

"I need to make certain my return is firmly impressed upon a few minds."

"Whose minds?"

"Who knows? Perhaps an impudent older brother eyeing the place his little sister left vacant?"

"Isn't it usually the other way around?"

"Hilderan values ability above all else."

"I like the sound of that."

Soon, they entered the royal palace.

* * *

The grand welcome continued inside the palace. The magnificent audience hall was filled with nobles, with the king seated on his throne.

Ernyan walked slowly along the carpet, feeling everyone's eyes upon her.

'Baron Ankus, Viscount Berian, Count Korin...'

She felt the gazes of countless nobles. Those who met her eyes shrank from her gaze.

Next, she surveyed the royal family.

'Oleg, Polina, Titania, Olga...'

And Obest Hilderan.

Her eyes met those of her blood relative, positioned closest to the throne. The corners of her mouth rose—a stark contrast to his rigid expression.

Passing him as well, she finally stood before the kingdom's sovereign. Slowly but gracefully, she bowed her head.

"Ernyan Hilderan, Crown Princess of the Kingdom of Hilderan, has returned safely, Your Majesty."

"Welcome home. Let me embrace you, my daughter."

The king spread his arms. Ernyan approached carefully and embraced him.

"How was it? Rather a steep price for a little escapade, wasn't it?"

At his whisper, Ernyan gave a peculiar smile.

"You knew?"

"You're my daughter. Demon King or not, a newly arrived one could hardly have abducted you without your leaving any trace."

Unless she had deliberately offered no resistance.

"... There's no getting anything past you, Father."

"So, how was it? You left of your own accord, but a Demon King wasn't what you imagined, was he?"

"No."

Ernyan gave a small nod. He certainly wasn't what people generally described, or what she had imagined.

"The most dangerous Demon King is Lies. The next most dangerous is one who has only recently been summoned."

"Because his ignorance makes it impossible to know what he might do?"

"Yes. You were fortunate this time, but there's no guarantee you will be next time. I will permit no further escapades. This was your first and last."

"I'll remember that."

"Good. I trust you'll do well. You always have."

"Aren't you going to ask about Elena?"

"It's enough that you've returned."

"I see."

She stepped away from the king.

"This is a truly joyous day! We shall hold a banquet to celebrate the princess's safe return!"

Following Ernyan Hilderan's return, the royal capital of Hilderan celebrated for an entire week.

* * *

"My lord! About what you promised..."

When Berge came downstairs after finishing his communication with Vivian, the dwarf latched onto him as though he had been waiting.

"We have only a small portion of the materials. Not only do we need enormous quantities, but many rare items as well, so we haven't obtained everything yet."

"I expected they wouldn't be easy to obtain. I meant the other..."

"The craftsmen."

"Yes!"

Logger nodded vigorously.

Berge opened his storage dimension. Vast quantities of materials piled up inside the first floor, which had once again been remodeled into an empty space.

Then cold air began to spill out.

THUD! THUD!

White ice statues emerged one after another. Recognizing the dwarves' faces, Logger tilted his head.

"My lord, surely you didn't..."

"I most likely did."

"You abducted all the craftsmen from the royal workshop?"

Good heavens!

Logger was aghast. He had wanted dwarven craftsmen, but had expected, at most, dwarves from a frontier city.

The royal workshop's craftsmen were among the finest in the Kingdom of Berft. Naturally, they would be immensely reassuring allies, but it was heartbreaking to think they would have to become a Demon King's lackeys because of him.

'No, when you think about it, this isn't my fault.'

Yes, he too had merely been abducted by the Demon King. He was cooperating to survive, but what was wrong with that? Nothing was more precious than life.

'They might even like it.'

Dwarven craftsmen all had fairly similar personalities. They loved making things and were excited to work with something new. A new invention was always welcome.

If told they would be building a colossal golem capable of moving a tower tens of meters tall, they too would welcome the opportunity with open arms.

'Yes, I'll persuade them that way and use my lord's authority to put myself in charge.'

Outside, some of them had wielded a hammer longer than he had, but this was the tower, and inside the tower, one had to follow its rules.

'Then we'll start building a prototype and adjust the blueprints as we find erro—'

Logger froze in the middle of planning his next steps. His head turned jerkily, like a malfunctioning golem.

"... Um, my lord?"

"What is it?"

"Um..."

Surely not. It couldn't be.

The Demon King knew how she would react upon seeing him. Surely he wouldn't have abducted her anyway.

Yes, that had to be right. It had to.

"I think there's something wrong with my eyes..."

Even the fingertip he pointed at the ice statue was trembling.

"... Right?"

"If your eyes are seeing the princess of the dwarven kingdom, I can assure you they're doing their job perfectly."

His heart sank.

"... Uh."

Cognitive dissonance. Logger couldn't understand Berge's words. No, he didn't want to understand. But his brain was working far too diligently.

His mind went blank. Fighting the moisture welling in his eyes, he checked the statue again, once, then twice.

"W-why on earth...! You know how Louise Berft feels about me!"

"This is your own karma."

"What?"

How was this his karma?

The last unbroken thread of reason kept him from swearing at the Demon King. But it couldn't stop the tears bursting forth at the injustice.

"Because the secret passage you told me about led to the detached palace where Louise Berft was confined. Remarkable, really. Even arranging an encounter on purpose would have been difficult, yet you managed to send me straight to her."

"... Uuugh."

"So sort it out yourself."

"Uuughhh...!"

"Well, I'll at least make sure you don't die."

"Uuuughhhh!"

"Quiet."

"You're! You're a liar, my lord! A swindler who casually swears on the first Demon Emperor and the Guide!"

"Quiet."

"Mmph, mmph, mmph...!"

The consciousness Logger had barely managed to cling to finally snapped.

THUMP