Chapter 53 - A New Demon King

When a Demon King died, another descended as a successor. That way, each dimension always maintained its full complement of five.

But the process was never quick. That was especially true of Arain, the worst of all dimensions, since no one other than Berge would volunteer to come here.

In that light, there was more than one oddity about this new Demon King's descent.

'Grand Duke Alkain must have pulled some strings.'

Drakson Doldorf's sudden death would have been entirely unexpected for him. Just before dying, Drakson had even declared that he would search the tower's records, so it was hardly strange for Alkain to grow suspicious and take measures.

'He won't be able to find out I was involved.'

With the tower destroyed, there was no evidence. That was all that mattered.

"Welcome. We've been waiting for you."

Guided by Aina, the adjutant to the Demon King of Lies, Berge arrived at the top. All the other Demon Kings were already seated.

Lies, Bitter Cold, Adamant, and...

Berge's gaze fixed on one spot: the seat Drakson Doldorf should have occupied.

Pink hair swayed, falling all the way to her waist. Her snow-white skin was like white jade, its contrast with her skimpy black outfit accentuating the beauty of her body.

A tail moved behind her hips, and small wings fluttered above her shoulders.

"So you're the famous Berge Deias."

Their eyes met.

"A pleasure. I'm Vivian Blunt, Queen of the Red Moon clan."

She smiled provocatively. Her heavily made-up eyes curved into natural crescents.

"... Berge Deias."

Without any further response, he took his seat. The brief greetings concluded, and the meeting began in earnest.

"Now that everyone is here, let us begin. As you all know, Drakson Doldorf was killed in the early hours yesterday. Elite troops from the Kingdom of Akan secretly joined an expedition that included Roselle Charnt, Hillen Cargill, and even Ralph Schmitz."

'How did he find out?'

Jason Cockmundo knew the full composition of the clandestine hero's journey.

'Did he plant a spy in the expedition? Or does he have connections among Akan's leadership?'

Either way, Jason was certainly no pushover. Fortunately, he did not know about Berge's presence.

"... Ralph Schmitz?"

Ugar's eyes flared.

"That son of a bitch dared to do that to Drakson...!"

"Please calm down. Regrettable as it is, that is not our immediate concern. Even with Ralph Schmitz joining them, the Drakson I knew was not a demon who would die against opponents of that caliber."

"They must have used some cowardly trick! There's no other way humans could have killed Drakson!"

"I agree. Regardless of my dislike for him, Drakson's abilities were not to be taken lightly."

Ugar and Reina agreed with Jason. Berge gave a small, silent nod.

"But humans have always resorted to cowardly tricks. They will do anything to win, and Drakson was already accustomed to such methods. That is no excuse."

"I am not trying to make excuses, either."

Jason adjusted his monocle and looked around the gathering.

"All I could learn through my connections was that Akan intervened, and that three heroes fought the Demon King. Nothing more."

There were far too many gaps.

"Does anyone here happen to have ties to the Kingdom of Akan?"

There was no answer. Naturally.

Reina Sordein had no interest whatsoever in the humans' vicious squabbles, and Ugar Belbek lacked the ability to set up an elaborate network of spies. As for Berge, who had descended barely over a year ago, there was no need even to discuss it.

"... All that talk about Arain, and it really is fascinating."

It was Vivian who suddenly interjected.

"Meetings between Demon Kings, and all of you working together to find out why one of you died."

"As I explained, Arain differs from other dimensions."

"I know. Why else would I be sitting quietly? It's unexpected, but it doesn't exactly violate the Guide."

Demon Kings were too individualistic for such gatherings to come about easily, but meeting in itself was not a problem.

"More importantly..."

Her blood-red eyes turned toward Berge.

"This one interests me more."

A soft, nasal hum tickled his ears.

"The famous Berge Deias."

Vivian rose from her seat and sat on Berge's desk. Leaning forward, she gave him a seductive smile.

"What do you think you're doing?"

"I'm curious."

"Curious?"

"What sort of demon could have caused such an uproar in the Demon Realm?"

"And your verdict?"

She licked her lips.

"Quite handsome. I like you."

She extended her other hand.

"Let's get along from now on."

"Get lost."

"... Hm?"

SMACK

Berge knocked Vivian's hand away.

"Don't touch me without permission."

"Rather prickly, aren't you?"

"If I get prickly again, I might burn every last strand of that precious hair of yours."

"Isn't that usually my line? They said you were a blockhead, but you're quite entertaining, aren't you?"

But did he know this?

"Being too rigid only leaves you more vulnerable. I've seen it plenty of times."

"I take it you've conquered another dimension?"

"I'd say I have the most illustrious career of any Demon King here, at least."

Interest glimmered in her eyes. But she soon turned her head.

"Oh dear. I seem to have made someone dislike me."

"Enough idle chatter. Jason, is that all you have to say?"

"Is there something else you wish to discuss?"

"Before he died, Drakson said a high-ranking demon had intruded upon his territory. I would like to believe that was not you."

"Let me be perfectly clear: it was not. Nor do I believe it was anyone here. That is why I did not mention it."

Their gazes clashed.

"Then there is nothing more to discuss. I shall take my leave first."

Reina rose first. Ugar and Berge followed her.

"What would you like to do, Lady Vivian?"

"There are a few more things I'd like to hear."

"I would be happy to tell you."

'Berge, hm.'

Vivian watched Berge's back as he stepped into the portal.

["Drakson could not possibly have fallen so easily. No matter how I look at it, the demon who intruded upon his territory is suspicious. Investigate thoroughly and report to me. And keep an eye on Berge Deias."]

["If any Demon King has broken the rules, the most likely culprit is that bastard who insulted the Guide."]

Grand Duke Alkain's orders flashed through her mind.

'Trying to seduce him doesn't seem particularly difficult.'

He was full of wariness, but that type was actually easier.

She smiled merrily.

* * *

'Good.'

Over the past few weeks, Kaede had gained a complete understanding of how the tower operated.

Once the Demon King went out, he seldom came back. The dark elf shut himself in his office, doing something all day long. When Logger was absorbed in his work, he wouldn't notice anyone coming or going unless someone stood beside him and hit him. Ernyan was helping him.

And no one guarded the tower or watched her.

She had never seen such a poorly secured tower in her life.

'Though this is the first tower I've been in...'

She gathered her armor and weapon. Keeping a discreet eye on her surroundings, she took some jerky and water as well.

'As carefully as possible.'

She didn't understand why she needed to be wary even of a fellow princess, but given Ernyan's actions so far, caution was warranted.

'Princess Ernyan is completely on the Demon King's side.'

Perhaps she had been brainwashed.

That fear made Kaede all the more eager to escape. There was no guarantee the brainwashing would stop with Ernyan.

She slowly started down the stairs to the third floor.

She had no idea that a tiny wind spirit was watching everything.

* * *

On the first floor, Kaede passed Logger, who was engrossed in making mana cannons, and reached the door safely. Then she stopped.

No one had caught her.

Or so she had thought, until she saw the princess of Hilderan blocking the door.

The atmosphere was anything but friendly.

"... So you really have become the Demon King's dog?"

"That's harsh. We're in the same situation, aren't we?"

"How did you know?"

Instead of answering, Ernyan smiled. Her inscrutability only made Kaede more desperate.

"Please move aside. I must leave the tower."

"You'll die if you leave. Do you really think you can make it out of Erjest?"

"Even if I can't, it doesn't matter. Not if the alternative is becoming the Demon King's dog and losing my honor as a knight."

"For someone who says that, didn't you run away because you didn't want to get married?"

"... That is different."

Negotiations had been underway, and the arrangement had nearly gone ahead, but it had never been finalized. She had fled before that could happen.

Before things became irreversible, she had wanted to become a hero. By joining an expedition that killed a Demon King, she had hoped to gain recognition as a hero rather than an imperial princess.

That plan had gone awry and left her a prisoner, so she could not deny that it had ultimately been foolish. That was why she had to leave—before she did something even more foolish and brought disgrace upon the Empire.

"I understand your circumstances, Lady Kaede. But I have circumstances of my own, so I can't let you leave."

Collective responsibility.

Kaede might not understand, but Ernyan didn't find life in the tower bad at all.

No, compared to the suffocating royal palace, it was practically heaven.

Freedom was guaranteed here, even if it extended only as far as the tower's walls. She wanted this precarious peace to remain unbroken. Even less did she want someone else to be the cause of its destruction.

That was why she could not let Kaede leave.

"I do not want to cut you down."

"But it sounds as if you're willing to, if necessary."

"..."

Kaede made her resolve clear. Ernyan sighed.

"... I suppose it's time I returned to being the Dark Spirit Summoner."

"... The Dark Spirit Summoner?"

Tension hung between them.

"Go on, then. Do as you please."

The dark elf broke the tension.

When had he arrived? No, how?

Kaede started in alarm. Like a frightened cat, she swung her sword's point toward him and stood on guard.

"Leave if you want. But you alone will bear the consequences. This is why, even when you treat humans well..."

Gordon folded his arms and gestured with his chin. Ernyan stepped aside. After cautiously assessing them, Kaede ran for the door.

"But you weren't the one who treated her well, were you, Master Gordon?"

Gordon glared at Ernyan. She quickly changed the subject.

"Is this really all right?"

"A Demon King's tower is not so poorly secured."

Perhaps meeting an unusual Demon King and enjoying a somewhat comfortable captivity had made the princesses forget what sort of place this was.

"You may enter as you please, but you cannot leave the same way."

"The raiding parties seem to come and go quite freely."

"... Ahem. Nothing is perfect."

Having recently studied Arain and learned what a raiding party was, Gordon cleared his throat.

'Damn this dimension.'

Who would have imagined that heroes regarded a Demon King's tower as a mere hunting ground?

Follow the Guide, and the tower would fall. He was increasingly coming around to Berge's actions and way of thinking.

'If it weren't for this shitty dimension...'

He could have conquered a world elsewhere by following the Guide. Why had he come to the one dimension where it did not work?

"Even so, it is not so weak that one half-baked hero can break through it."

WHOOSH

The instant Kaede touched the door, black Hellfire surged up and engulfed her.

"That is what usually happens."

Kaede summoned her aura to protect herself. But the black flames, which had inherited the Demon King's nature, did not die out so easily.

"Humans always have to experience things for themselves before they face reality. She won't even dream of escaping again."

"May I help her?"

"Infuriating as she is, she is still an imperial princess. My lord would be furious if she died."

"We can't have that. Collective responsibility..."

Nairuniel showered her with pure water. Steam billowed as the droplets evaporated.

Kaede panted, her skin scorched black. It burned painfully. Yet she raised her sword once more.

CLANG

Hellfire engulfed her again.

Just as she clenched her teeth and prepared to swing her sword repeatedly, Gordon struck the back of her neck, knocking her unconscious. The flames subsided.

"... A hero is still a hero, I suppose."

There was a small scratch on the door.

Gordon gently stroked it. Swelling demonic energy repaired the scratch.

"Does this only spare demons?"

Gordon did not answer. Ernyan approached the door, her face full of curiosity.

"Don't touch it carelessly. You'll get yourself into trouble, too—"

CLICK

The instant her snow-white hand touched it, the door swung open without any resistance.

An icy blizzard swept through the gap.

"... Huh?"

"... Uh."

"Why is it...?"

Silence settled over them.

"... I'll close it again."

She gave a nervous little laugh.

Her eyes wavering, Ernyan smiled awkwardly.