Chapter 26 - Bought with Money

Every Demon King had a preferred environment.

The Beast Demon King had built his tower on grasslands where beasts could run wild, the Adamant Demon King in a rocky canyon, and the Demon King of Bitter Cold in the north, where heavy snow fell year-round.

And the Demon King of Lies had built his tower on a beautiful lake.

Waterbirds wheeled overhead, and fish splashed in the water. Gentle mist settled over it at dawn, while in daylight, the ripples reflecting the sun were incomparably beautiful.

A tower on that lake suited his obsession with outward appearances—beauty, manners, and the like—perfectly.

"What secret did you want to discuss that made you call me out so obviously?"

He opened the door and stepped onto the terrace, where she stood.

Reina Sordein, the Demon King of Bitter Cold. She turned away from the rippling lake to look at him. Merely approaching her was enough to feel a faint chill.

"It is no particular secret. I simply wanted to speak with you ever since I heard the rumors."

"With me?"

"Having heard that you insulted the Guide, I expected you to look somewhat more menacing. Yet you look ordinary."

"You mean handsome, not ordinary."

"... If that is how you see yourself, so be it."

Her silver-blue eyes studied Berge.

"I agree with some of your views."

Then she dropped a bombshell.

The completely unexpected remark left Berge momentarily unable to control his expression.

Had Reina ever said anything like this in his previous life? No.

They had scarcely interacted, and even those few encounters had been unpleasant.

No, quite apart from that, he had never imagined hearing another Demon King say the Guide was wrong.

"Are you serious?"

"You may think that way, but I may not?"

"No, I'm simply surprised to hear a Demon King other than myself say they dislike the Guide."

"You are mistaken."

Reina kindly corrected him.

"I agree only with 'some' of your views. I do not dislike the Guide. On the contrary, I revere it and believe it must be followed."

"Like the other demons?"

"Like the other demons."

"You're contradicting yourself."

"I like the Guide. Not one of its provisions is wrong. I merely believe some should change to suit the environment and circumstances."

He understood.

Reina was different from him, who loathed the Guide itself. She was simply a realist who acknowledged reality and believed change was necessary.

Still, it was astonishing that a Demon King who must have grown up hearing about the greatness of the Guide and the first Demon Emperor could arrive at such a view without any particular catalyst.

"Then you didn't call me out for a cozy little session of badmouthing the Guide. Is this a warning? Something as childish as that beast bastard's?"

"No Demon King in Arain follows the Guide perfectly to the letter. Do you know why?"

That did not answer his question. Nevertheless, Berge answered hers.

"Because there are so many heroes."

"And because we have failed to conquer it for hundreds of years. They have grown accustomed to Demon Kings, and we are no longer absolute beings to them. Instead, heroes now hunt Demon Kings. We have reached a point where following the Guide blindly to the letter will not keep us alive."

Thus, Arain's Demon Kings survived by bending its rules in their own ways while remaining within the Guide's bounds.

"But those imbeciles are ashamed of it. They recognize the necessity, yet hate to say it aloud. Then they claim to follow the Guide more faithfully than anyone and force it upon others."

Reina found that repulsive.

They considered it shameful for a Demon King to bend the Guide. So they always claimed to follow it.

They insisted there was nothing wrong with Arain, that becoming stronger themselves would solve everything.

"They do not realize that this is even more shameful. That is why I wanted to meet you. At least I thought you would be easier to talk to than those imbeciles."

"And your verdict?"

"I dislike your hatred of the Guide, but I acknowledge that you are easier to talk to than those imbeciles."

"Thank you for the compliment."

"Nevertheless, you should be careful. You are far too rebellious. Unlike Ugar, that beast does more than run his mouth."

"I know."

He had already suffered at the bastard's hands once. Acting as Grand Duke Alkain's dog, Drakson had delivered unreasonable orders and sent a lackey to spy on him.

Berge had issued a warning, but he had not listened. Hortonwork was still crawling with watchers.

"Is that what you wanted to tell me?"

"I would rather not see someone I can talk to disappear so soon."

"You still have the Demon King of Lies, don't you?"

"He is unreadable. I cannot tell what he thinks or what he gets up to. Though he is better than those two imbeciles, at least."

She shrugged. That ended the discussion.

"Contact me whenever you want advice. So long as you do not curse the Guide in my presence, I will hear you out."

"All right."

He had nothing in particular to ask, but forming a friendship with Reina Sordein was precisely what he wanted.

Of the four Demon Kings, she was the only one he could describe as 'somewhat trustworthy.'

"This is my personal communication orb. But is Hillen Cargill truly wandering the mountains?"

"He's at least several weeks away."

"I see."

She did not appear to believe him, but she left. Berge turned the orb over in his fingers. It radiated a cold chill.

A little later, he returned to the hall.

"... Where did everyone go?"

Only one of the five chairs was occupied.

"They have all returned home."

Jason greeted him, leisurely stirring his tea with a teaspoon.

"The Harmony of Towers has ended."

"That was short."

"It was not a regularly scheduled gathering. Rather than serving its usual purpose, this gathering was primarily intended to welcome you as a new arrival, Lord Berge. But since you and the other Demon Kings are not on good terms, was there any reason to prolong it?"

Berge silently sat opposite him.

"Would you care for tea?"

"I don't like human tea."

"It is elven tea."

"Same difference."

"It cannot compare with tea from the Demon Realm, but Arain's tea has its own charm."

"The moment you said it couldn't compare, it was out of the running."

"You are quite particular, I see."

Jason set down his teaspoon.

"Did you have a pleasant conversation with Lady Reina?"

"Pleasant enough."

"Even if I asked what you discussed, you would not tell me, would you?"

"..."

"I am joking. I felt a momentary pang of jealousy. I would like to befriend you as well, Lord Berge."

Berge had now been surprised twice today.

"Why? I insulted the Guide, didn't I?"

"You certainly did, but Arain is an unusual dimension. I believe a little flexibility is necessary. And even the Demon Emperor gets cursed when he is not around."

"I did it in front of everyone."

"Which means you possess the dignity of a Demon King more proudly than anyone."

He answered without so much as a change in expression. The smile that followed was rather sly.

"That's not what you said earlier."

"Well..."

His eyes gleamed.

"It is just the two of us now, is it not?"

Though there was no need, his voice lowered to a whisper.

"Do you not think we might enjoy a rather good relationship?"

And it was sweet.

* * *

"How was the adjutants' gathering?"

"Oh. Nothing out of the ordinary."

Gordon could not bring himself to tell the truth: that it had consisted entirely of badmouthing the Demon Kings they served, and he had contributed most of it.

"How was yours, Your Majesty?"

"Not bad."

He had gained two definite enemies and two uncertain allies.

Merely making their acquaintance and having friendly conversations with them had made this gathering worthwhile.

And...

"We'll have to hurry things along. I need to put our prisoners to use."

The Demon Kings did not believe Hillen was still wandering Erjest. Naturally. He was a powerful hero who had come to conquer the tower.

Leaving the tower with that threat unresolved made no sense by their standards—or Berge's. In the end, both sides knew, but had let it pass.

But how long would that last?

He had to dispel their doubts before they approached the truth. Before they dug deeper and discovered he was putting heroes to work in his tower.

That was a problem on an entirely different level from bending the Guide a little.

"How do you intend to use the prisoners?"

"Surely there is only one way a Demon King can 'trust' mere humans enough to use them."

"Do you intend to turn them into dark knights and dark mages?"

Dark knights and dark mages were the oldest and surest method.

A Demon King took weak human souls overflowing with negative emotions as collateral, granting them power and using them as servants.

With their souls held hostage, they could never betray their Demon King. They became faithful dogs who harmed other humans.

They slowly ruined their own kind, becoming daggers that stabbed them.

That time-honored practice remained in use elsewhere, but it had died out in Arain.

There were too many heroes.

Far too many Demon Kings had been cut down by them.

To Arain's humans, Demon Kings were no longer absolute beings. There was no reason to obey one at the cost of pledging their souls.

"But these men are exceptions."

The prisoners had no alternatives. If they wanted to live, they would have to become Berge's slaves, whether they liked it or not.

It was their only way out.

"Is it worth doing? They will be discovered the moment they use even a little of their power."

Dark mages and dark knights, who accepted demonic energy while retaining human bodies, could use that human shell to evade a hero's senses.

But only while keeping it completely concealed within that shell.

"That's for them to figure out."

Of course, it was no concern of Berge's.

"If that is what you will do with the humans, what about the heroes?"

"Kill them all except Hillen Cargill."

His hatred of heroes had followed him from one life to the next. It had only grown deeper and hotter.

He restrained himself nonetheless because Logger and Hillen Cargill were useful. Because he believed the best revenge he could take on the heroes who had exploited him and treated him as a plaything was to use heroes to overthrow the continent.

Conversely, he had no mercy to spare for those with no value.

"The expedition never came to the tower. They will go down the mountain and return to their ordinary lives."

Even if his reputation suffered a little, Hillen Cargill would soon recover it.

"Of course, that would be ideal, but heroes cannot be turned into dark knights or dark mages. Must we not kill Hillen Cargill as well?"

"I'll use an Armani Orb."

Armani Orbs were artifacts from the Demon Realm. They could be purchased with demonic energy points and were used to bring someone under one's control.

The moment an orb was swallowed, it dissolved and took root in its host's brain.

The host became unable to refuse the orders of the master whose seal it bore, sharing their vision and relaying information.

"Will Hillen Cargill swallow it willingly?"

Demons were a race all but specialized in magic dealing with minds and souls, but heroes were different.

Empowered by the dimension, they had high resistance to mental effects. In particular, for an Armani Orb to work, a hero had to personally disable every defense and swallow it of their own accord.

Otherwise, the orb would dissolve before it could reach the brain.

But would any hero do something so foolish?

"That's why I need to talk to him."

Fortunately, Berge had already found a lead in the things Hillen had poured out.

* * *

His lips were dry, and his throat felt cracked.

He stuck out his tongue to catch the dripping water. It was filthy and revolting, but it eased his thirst a little.

He blinked his eyes, which had grown fairly accustomed to the darkness.

'... Why is he still keeping me alive?'

Some Demon Kings took princes and princesses captive to bargain with kingdoms or heroes.

But none spared captured heroes.

Heroes were the enemies of Demon Kings, and Demon Kings were not merciful. Death was the fate of a hero who failed and could not escape.

Yet Hillen was still alive.

'Everything about this is strange.'

Why had a dwarven hero installed mana cannons for a Demon King?

Why was an elf acting as the Demon King's spy?

Why did the princess call herself the Demon King's subordinate?

Why had he been imprisoned instead of killed?

Had the throbbing pain not reminded him this was real, Hillen might have assumed it was a dream and killed himself.

'What does he want?'

Imprisoning him rather than killing him meant there was something he wanted.

But what could a Demon King want from a hero? Could a hero give him what he wanted? Would it be worth more than killing that hero?

Hillen shook his head. No. However much he thought about it, nothing like that existed.

That was when the cell door opened.

It was not the elf who visited every day at noon.

"... Demon King."

Berge examined Hillen through the darkness. His cracked skin looked lifeless. His hair was dry and brittle, and his strength had visibly dwindled.

But the light in his eyes had not yet died. Berge liked that.

"You seem quite comfortable here."

"... Have you got the eyes of a rotten fish?"

"I'll let you live."

"...?"

"I'll release you and everyone else currently imprisoned here. You never found the tower in the first place. You will be a hero who failed, but was never defeated."

"No, wait. Just wait."

Hillen could not understand what the Demon King was saying.

"You're going to release me? Me?"

"Is there another human in here besides you?"

"Did you take some fucking drug and go mad?"

"Unfortunately, there is no drug in Arain capable of driving me mad. Nor in the Demon Realm, for that matter."

"Then you've simply lost your mind."

"Don't you want to live?"

Did he want to live? Of course. No one wanted to die. And Hillen Cargill was greedier and more faithful to his instincts than anyone.

He wanted to live, gain fame, and enjoy money, wealth, and glory.

That was why being a hero was his calling, and he had done well at it, at least until now. He would have continued doing well if this damned Demon King had not used the princess.

A brief silence followed.

After agonizing over it, Hillen approached the truth.

"Pahahahaha!"

Hillen roared with laughter. Pain tore through his ravaged lungs, but he could not stop.

"... Are you actually trying to win me over? A Demon King, recruiting a hero? Really?"

"Countless humans have offered themselves as our servants. Why should a hero be any different?"

"It's different. Completely different!"

Demons and humans stood on opposite sides, unable to coexist.

Their war was on an entirely different level from wars between kingdoms or the racial wars of the past. It was a war to decide whether the world would be conquered.

In that war, heroes were humanity's vanguard commanders, and Demon Kings were the Demon Realm's.

"It is no different. Whatever happens to the Middle Realm, the dead have no voice and no future. What matters, therefore, is whether you want to live."

"..."

That struck rather close to the heart of the matter.

"You're telling me to become your dog."

"Humans have a saying that even rolling in a field of dog shit is better than being dead."

"You think a few words like that will convince me?"

"I sensed powerful desires in you. Greed, ambition for fame, and the urge to survive. Right now, you want to die less than anyone. Am I wrong?"

Berge was sensitive to others' emotions. There had been more to the intense feelings he sensed during Hillen's outburst.

"You value your own reputation above your cause as a hero. You put your desires first."

Hillen's despair had not come merely from failing to slay a Demon King. It had come from the damage to his reputation, the money he would lose, and his longing to live.

Nowhere in it was there regret over failing to defeat evil, or anger at being unable to vanquish the Demon King.

'It isn't particularly unusual, really.'

The heroes here were faithful to their desires. There was a reason merchants shuddered at the thought of them.

"By ensuring you were never defeated by a Demon King, we've minimized the damage to your reputation. That leaves money. I'll provide it."

"... Huh?"

"I will pay off all those debts you said were plaguing you."

No, that alone was not enough.

"I will supply all the money you need in your career as a hero from now on. I will be your financier. I, the great Demon King Berge Deias."

So pledge your loyalty to me.

"Heheheh."

Hillen laughed.

It was so absurd that he could only laugh.

A Demon King offering to sponsor a hero? When would he ever hear such bullshit again?

He was dumbfounded. Yet he was also curious how far this Demon King could take his bullshit.

"Oh, really?"

So he decided to play along a little.

"I owe ten thousand gold. And if you include all the money I'll need to maintain my social life from now on, that's roughly a hundred thousand gold. Give me that, and I'll become your dog."

"A hundred thousand gold?"

"What, too expensive? You said you'd sponsor me. If you want a hero to trust and follow a Demon King, shouldn't you hand over at least that much before spouting this shit? Oh, and if you think I'm lying, don't worry. You know, don't you? Heroes don't break promises."

He sneered at the flustered Demon King.

A hundred thousand gold. A fortune no mere Demon King could ever obtain.

Hillen expected him to shout and rage, demanding that he stop insulting him.

But...

"Wait here. I'll bring it shortly."

He calmly left the cell.

"... Huh?"

* * *

"Your Majesty! Demon King Berge has contacted us!"

Drakson opened his eyes. He had been enjoying a long nap, nestled among enormous demonic creatures.

"He wishes to exchange demonic energy for human money."

"Come to think of it, he must have accumulated quite a few demonic energy points."

"But he has requested a hundred thousand gold."

"...?"

Drakson sat up.

"A hundred thousand gold? Does he even have enough demonic energy for that?"

"He says demonic energy is coming in steadily, so he will repay it in installments. He also said he could draw up a Demon Realm contract if you wish."

Then he was serious. A Demon Realm contract bound demonic energy and could never be broken. Breaking it would damage one's standing as a being.

"What does he suddenly need a hundred thousand gold for?"

"I will look into it."

"That can wait. How much do we have in storage?"

"Five thousand gold."

"Nowhere near enough."

Demon Kings had various ways of amassing money, but most had little interest in human currency to begin with.

As a result, all Drakson's income came from the spoils he gained by beating down the heroes and expeditions that came to him.

Naturally, it was not much. All the more so because many heroes gave up and retreated midway rather than attempting to reach the top.

That made him proud of how well he had developed his tower, but it was not what mattered now.

"..."

An abundance of delectable demonic energy was right before his eyes, yet he had no way to obtain it.

"He'll repay us gradually? Then tell him we'll give him the money gradually too. Tell him I'll find some way to raise it."

A hundred thousand gold was an enormous sum. The demonic energy he could receive for it would be enormous as well.

Drakson had no intention of letting this opportunity slip away.

"... Never in my life did I imagine I'd regret not having enough human money."

Was he mad? No. The mad one was Berge, selling precious demonic energy for mere money.

* * *

"So he'll give it to me whenever he gets some money?"

『Yes, that is correct. At present, our Demon King does not have that much money...』

"Then that's the end of this deal."

『Wait! Please wait, Your Majesty!』

"Speak."

『No Demon King anywhere could obtain that much money immediately. If you give us just a little time, we will find some way to raise it.』

"Unfortunately, I have no intention of waiting that 'little' time."

『Demon King Drakson has many means at his disposal! He will surely be able to satisfy you!』

"Contact me again once those means have produced results."

CLICK

Berge cut off the communication without waiting for a response, then infused fresh demonic energy into the orb.

It took a long while for the connection to go through.

Previously, he would have waited for Drakson to make the arrangements. But after the Harmony of Towers, he knew other Demon Kings as well.

They could hardly be called close, nor was their relationship one that warranted financial dealings, but...

"I'd like you to give me some money."

『...』

Berge was shameless enough not to care about such things.

A brief silence followed.

『How interesting.』

『Lord Drakson said precisely the same thing just a moment ago.』

『Is there something I am unaware of?』

"What a joke. Was he planning to borrow from you and lend it to me?"

『So that is what happened. May I ask why you suddenly need money?』

"Because I need it."

『If you do not wish to explain, I will ask something else. How much do you need? And what will you offer in return?』

"A hundred thousand gold."

『That is no small sum.』

"And I'll pay in demonic energy."

『... That is rather surprising. You are not playing a joke on me, are you, Lord Berge? I would be rather disappointed if you were.』

"Are we that close? You and I?"

『Nor are we close enough for me to readily hand over the considerable sum of a hundred thousand gold.』

『Do you realize? I would have to scrape together most of the money I have saved to produce a hundred thousand gold.』

"You've saved quite a lot. And you were the one who said you wanted to be friends first."

『As I consider it now, I believe saying that was a very good decision indeed.』

"And however much human money you have, you can hardly call it impressive."

『That is true in the Demon Realm, but all value is relative.』

『Nevertheless, nothing is more valuable than demonic energy.』

There was no need to deliberate. Nor was there any need to worry about repayment from the Demon King currently generating the most excitement among humans. Jason Cockmundo made the same choice as Drakson.

"A good deal."

『That is my line. Please do not ask for it back later.』

* * *

CLANK

THUD

THUD

Dozens of enormous bundles were set before Hillen.

The Demon King personally untied them and showed him their contents. Mountains of gold. An immense quantity of gold coins shimmered before his eyes.

"I've brought it. A hundred thousand gold."

The Demon King spoke.

"I'm buying you. From now on, you belong to me."

An orb entered his mouth.

And Hillen Cargill swallowed it before he quite knew what was happening. No—even had he been fully aware, he could not have refused it.

In exchange for receiving the dimension's power, heroes were bound by restrictions on their promises.