Chapter 4 - Advice

“I cannot believe it.”

Despite the Demon King taking the trouble to persuade his adjutant personally, Gordon refused to accept reality.

“The Guide is not wrong. No matter how circumstances change, it remains absolute.”

That was why it was the Guide. And yet, to suggest...

“Even if they are heroes, mere humans have created a guide to counter it?”

“They don't actually call it a guide. But it spreads by word of mouth, like an unwritten rule.”

“You know a great deal for someone visiting Arain for the first time. Is that true of every top graduate?”

Barely suppressing my rising temper, I asked a question in return.

“Then why has no one conquered Arain yet?”

“Surely because the Demon Kings dispatched here lacked the ability.”

Yes, this was another reason the Guide had endured so long.

The law of survival of the strong.

The simple logic that if you failed and were weeded out, it wasn't because your opponent was strong, but because the loser was a weak dumbass.

I had only broken free after experiencing it myself—after dying. In my previous life, I had followed the Guide more fervently than anyone, so I had never expected to persuade him in one attempt.

A few less annoying objections would be enough. For now.

“All the dozens of Demon Kings who died here?”

“...”

After that, Gordon kept his mouth firmly shut.

Having succeeded in sinking his vehement opposition, I took a leisurely look around the tower.

Its layout was simple. A basement prison for princes, princesses, or prisoners. Four empty floors above that. Finally, the fifth floor, reserved for the Demon King.

The lavish red carpet and throne atop a dais were a thoughtful touch meant to let me greet heroes with greater authority.

To my eyes, though, they were nothing more than a slightly fancier execution platform.

I entered the office behind the throne. It contained a plain desk and chair, along with several communication orbs.

HUMMM

At that moment, one of the communication orbs began clamoring for attention, as though it had been waiting.

“... Hello. This is Gordon, adjutant to Demon King Berge.”

Gordon hurried to answer the call.

『You are indeed the right contact. I am Casey, Lord Drakson's adjutant. I am calling to convey Lord Drakson's wish to hold a welcoming reception for the Demon King newly assigned to our dimension.』

Ah, right.

'I'd forgotten about that.'

To survive in Arain's unusual environment, the Demon Kings had changed. They had abandoned individualism, formed a group, and invited newcomers to banquets where they forced them to join.

They wanted the newcomers to enter their little society and become obedient juniors.

To put it crudely, this was Arain's own special brand of bullshit hazing.

'What a nuisance.'

A sigh escaped me.

“Good heavens, Demon Kings hold gatherings together?”

Gordon's eyes wavered at a call that ran almost completely counter to the nature of demons.

“Don't worry. I have no particular desire to mingle with them. The Guide is another matter, but I'll be the proud, aloof Demon King you want.”

“... Isn't it less that you won't than that you can't? Word has spread that you're a rebel.”

Even amid his confusion, he had put his finger on the heart of the matter.

His abilities, at least, really were useful.

'In my previous life, the summons didn't come until a week later.'

For it to come this soon...

'Means there's a problem.'

Apparently, they disliked a rebel like me even more than I had expected.

* * *

The Beast's Tower.

The humans of Arain gave Demon Kings epithets based on their dispositions and actions.

Drakson, who had invited me, was such a beast that they called him the “Beast Demon King.”

In both behavior and appearance.

GRRR

The moment I entered the tower, I could smell beasts.

Rank odor, stuffiness, savagery, and madness.

None of them were particularly pleasant. Especially with naked hostility mixed in.

I had taken only ten steps from the entrance when disgust welled up inside me. I couldn't stand it, so I didn't.

“Keep glaring like that, and you'll never see again. You half-formed excuses for intelligent life.”

The gnolls filling the first floor—the weakest creatures in the tower—yelped and bowed their heads to the floor.

The same pattern repeated on the second and third floors. Their blatant, contrived behavior made me laugh.

As childish now as ever.

“Looks like you're beasts not only in appearance, but in brains too.”

“... This is Lord Drakson's tower.”

“There's no need to show courtesy to a rude bastard.”

“That is true. Even if you're a new Demon King, this is going too far after inviting you here.”

I could hear a faint trace of anger in Gordon's voice.

That's right. However much of an idiot he might be, an adjutant who stood idle while his lord was insulted was no adjutant at all.

“Don't get involved. I'll handle it.”

“... Yes, sir.”

We resumed climbing the tower. Up through the fifth floor, I could tolerate it well enough. They kept glaring with their insolent eyes, but a little killing intent was enough to make them whimper.

The sixth floor was different.

Lycanthropes. At first glance, they resembled the half-human, half-animal beastfolk. But unlike beastfolk, who could become wholly beast or wholly human, these vermin were never fully either.

Even after my warning, they did not hide their fangs. They did not hide their hostility.

I snorted at the sight of these dogs so blatantly obeying orders from someone at the top.

It would have been better if they could at least hide their trembling legs.

“Such loyalty.”

But since it wasn't directed toward me, I had no reason to respect it.

SCREEECH

A lycanthrope screamed. Clutching its face, it rolled on the floor. Beast blood pooled thickly beneath it.

I tossed away one of its eyeballs.

“I had no intention of causing a disturbance in another Demon King's tower. But if you insist on giving me a reason, there's no reason not to.”

Show weakness, and you were exploited. Show weakness, and you were devoured. Look like easy prey, and they bared their fangs before anything else.

That was the Demon Realm. That was the nature of demons.

“Isn't that right?”

I turned my head. An enormous beast rose from among the lycanthropes.

He caught the eyeball flying toward him.

“Indeed.”

CRUNCH

Disgusting fluid trickled down his gray fur.

“They say you graduated at the top, overwhelmingly surpassing the other cadets. You live up to your reputation.”

“Is this how beasts treat their guests?”

“I came to greet you personally. I'd say that is courtesy enough.”

“Not because you couldn't wait?”

“That too. How could I wait to see the trash everyone's talking about in person?”

“I felt the same way, actually. I heard that creatures calling themselves Demon Kings had become frightened vermin holding each other's hands. I was curious what that looked like.”

“Hahaha... Indeed. Now I see why Grand Duke Alkain told us to keep a close eye on you.”

“Think you'll make your eyes bleed glaring that feebly?”

“I could make yours bleed.”

He growled. Gordon shrank back from the killing intent blasting outward. Pulling him behind my back, I sneered.

“I have no idea what makes you so damned arrogant.”

“Being an illustrious top graduate. Something you never managed.”

“An idiotic vermin who insulted the Guide, you mean.”

“So the Guide matters that much, but you've thrown away your pride as a Demon King?”

His killing intent intensified, pressing thickly and clammily against my skin.

I covered my nose and frowned.

“I'd appreciate it if you moved your mouth away. I'm rather sensitive.”

“Yes, an idiot who dared to disregard the Guide at graduation ought to have at least this much nerve.”

“This looks like it'll be a long conversation, yet you don't even offer a cup of tea here.”

Drakson signaled with his eyes to a beastfolk behind him. The beastfolk brought over a huge chunk of meat and handed it to me.

“Amazing. You drink meat?”

“We consume nothing but meat and blood.”

“How ignorant.”

I discovered a document tucked in with the meat.

“And you're putting on airs, too. It doesn't suit you.”

“Shut up and read.”

RUSTLE

The official document, made of paper from the Demon Realm, unfurled. Drakson recited its contents.

“A message from His Excellency Grand Duke Alkain. In accordance with the great Guide, Demon King Berge Deias shall kidnap a prince or princess within one month and report his progress.”

“Should he fail to carry out this order, Demon King Berge Deias shall be stripped of his tower system privileges.”

Ha. I closed my mouth just as I was about to bite into the meat. My appetite vanished.

Because he thought I wouldn't follow it, he was going to force my hand?

Even using another Demon King to pressure me?

THUD

I threw down the chunk of meat and ground it underfoot.

“Thanks for the hospitality, but I have refined tastes. I can't eat cheap fare like this.”

The beasts' faces hardened menacingly.

“We have no intention of forcing our tastes on a fool.”

“How very generous.”

“You have yet to answer.”

“Did you say my tower system privileges would be revoked if I didn't comply?”

RIIIP

I tore the official document to shreds.

Through the scraps fluttering in every direction came Drakson's indignant roar.

“How dare you treat the grand duke's message that way!”

“Don't worry. I intended to do it even without this ridiculous order.”

So...

“Don't give me orders, you son of a bitch.”

You stink.

* * *

“Why, why, WHY!”

Gordon screamed.

“Why in the world did you do that!”

“Is there a problem? Fighting between Demon Kings is forbidden anyway. Drakson would never break that rule. With an animal's brain, he obeys his master's words more faithfully than anyone.”

“I know that! I mean why did you tear up His Excellency's written order!”

Ah, that was what he meant.

“Don't worry. As I said, I'm kidnapping a princess anyway. The tower system won't be shut down.”

“That isn't the issue here!”

“It is the issue. I was going to do it anyway, but now it'll look like I'm obeying an order.”

“What is wrong with obeying His Excellency the grand duke's orders?”

“It would have been fine if we'd parted on good terms.”

In my previous life, I hadn't held any particularly bad impression of him. But that was the past. Now, he was nothing but vermin who had stripped me of everything I was entitled to and threatened me.

Faced with my firm stance, Gordon changed the subject.

“... But didn't you say you wouldn't follow the Guide?”

“I'm not following it to the letter. There's no need to reject the useful parts.”

“Then which princess? From the inquiries I made before coming here, among the kingdoms in the continent's north...”

“I believe I told you I wouldn't follow the Guide exactly.”

“... You mean you won't kidnap a princess from a nearby kingdom?”

They must have thought that once I made the opening move, I would have no choice but to follow the Guide.

I had already built a tower, its first step. Once I went on to kidnapping, the second step, the next stage would unfold naturally, regardless of the Demon King's wishes.

An enraged king would pay the Heroes' Guild to recover his lost child, and the heroes would act.

But I had no intention of fulfilling those expectations.

I closed my eyes for a moment, and the system appeared, showing the tower's status.

[Tower Master - Berge Deias

Deputy Tower Master - Gordon Dairik

Floors - 5]

[Affiliates

Demons - Gordon Dairik

Demonic Creatures - None

Monsters - None]

[Floor 1 - Nothing

Floor 2 - ...]

An utterly pathetic sight.

In this state, letting events take their natural course would eliminate me outright.

I needed to target a princess whose kidnapping would attract little interest, or a kingdom too weak to even consider fighting back.

Fortunately, I knew one such princess.

Long ago—one day in my previous life, that is.

It must have been when I provoked Arain's most powerful nation.

My relations with the other Demon Kings were at their worst, and I was having considerable trouble with the heroes suddenly pouring in.

Then a Demon King came to see me.

A self-important fool, exceptionally stupid even among Demon Kings. As I recalled, he was a loose-lipped vermin who couldn't resist boasting whenever he had something to boast about.

He took great delight in my suffering.

[“Tsk, tsk. I told you not to touch the empire's princess, but you wouldn't listen. However impressive you might be, Arain is completely different from other dimensions, you know? You should have engraved your seniors' advice deep into your bones.”]

[“Look at me. I kidnapped a bitch who's a princess but gets no attention from anyone, and life couldn't be easier. Her so-called father, the king, doesn't care, so only a few weak heroes come by now and then. I wonder if you even know what a sweet deal that is.”]

He left in high spirits, unaware that he would have lost his life on the spot if fighting between Demon Kings hadn't been forbidden.

“Back then, I wanted to pull out every one of his teeth. Now he's proving useful.”

“What do you mean?”

“I mean I've decided which kingdom's princess to kidnap.”

“Who, and from where?”

“The thirteenth princess of the Kingdom of Hilderan, at the southernmost tip of the continent.”

The king's illegitimate daughter, too frail even for a political marriage.

She was the one.