Chapter 64 - It's Not a Bad Thing

Parni, an officer of the Heroes' Guild, knocked on the door.

"Come in."

He opened it. The chief elder, his face deeply wrinkled but his eyes still sharp, pushed his papers aside.

"You sent for me?"

"I want you to assist Hillen Cargill."

"So Hillen Cargill is coming to headquarters after all?"

"Yes. He killed a Demon King. It's only right that we invite him."

"He disobeyed the Guild's orders and acted on his own. You intend to honor someone like that?"

"That doesn't matter. Like it or not, Hillen Cargill has already killed two Demon Kings and absorbed their power. Sooner or later, he will become the greatest hero."

"But..."

"If a man who has slain two Demon Kings receives no fitting reward, what hero will want to go out and defeat them?"

"True, but isn't there a considerable difference between the Guild inviting him and him demanding it himself?"

"It may cost us a little dignity, but isn't that better than letting people know the Kingdom of Akan manipulated us?"

To bury Akan's involvement and present the Heroes' Guild as the driving force, they needed to coordinate their stories. Unlike Roselle Charnt, who had obtained what she wanted and readily agreed, Hillen Cargill had demanded compensation in return for his cooperation.

Parni stifled a groan.

"And I'm not bringing him in merely because he meets the requirements and has the qualifications. I intended to make use of him soon anyway."

"What do you have in mind?"

"Some insisted to the very end that we punish Roselle Charnt and Hillen Cargill severely and make the matter public."

"Elder Carlo and his followers."

"Others were practically frothing at the mouth in opposition."

"Elder Matthias and his faction."

"Jespine and Akan stand behind them."

The empire's reason for wanting to blow the matter up and bring it into the open was simple.

"They want to tarnish the Guild's reputation. Akan only opposed it because it was involved with Roselle Charnt. Had another kingdom been involved, Akan would have done the same."

"The Guild won't be shaken by something so trivial."

"I agree. The Guild has endured for centuries and spent a long time strengthening its foundations. This won't leave so much as a scratch. But they know that too."

Whether it left a scratch was not the point. They would strike whenever an opportunity arose.

Even the sturdiest tree would eventually fall if struck repeatedly with an axe. They were building justifications one by one, laying the groundwork to someday reclaim for their respective nations the authority that had passed to the Guild.

"It will only get worse. At the slightest opportunity, they'll proclaim the Guild incompetent. In truth, haven't they shown considerable restraint already?"

Those avaricious emperors and kings had tolerated a supranational organization above them for hundreds of years.

"It's greed. When the Demon Kings were powerful, they left everything to us. Now that humanity has the upper hand, they want to bring us back under their control."

"We're no different. In the end, we don't want to lose our power either."

In any case.

"We've strayed from the subject. Hillen Cargill will make an excellent piece on the board."

"To keep the factions following those two elders and their nations in check."

"Exactly. Hilderan is a powerful nation on par with those two, yet its influence in the Heroes' Guild falls far short."

For generations, Hilderan's focus had been on regaining its status as an empire.

It had considered the Heroes' Guild as a means to that end, but the Guild had never been its primary focus. It could not compare to Akan and Jespine, which openly sought to expand their influence within the Guild.

"What's more, Hillen Cargill severed ties with all his sponsors just before beginning his hero's journey to Erjest. He has returned to Hilderan, but he won't be able to fully restore those relationships to what they were."

"That makes him even more suitable. But he is still a hero who has killed two Demon Kings. If we're not careful, he could become an even greater problem."

"Which is why you must stay at his side and keep him under control."

"Understood."

"It won't be easy, but keep them checking one another until the Guildmaster returns."

"I'll do my best."

"I don't need your best. I need you to succeed."

The chief elder rose from his seat.

"He's here."

KNOCK, KNOCK

An attendant knocked on the door.

"Chief Elder, the hero Hillen Cargill has arrived."

* * *

'I can pay it all back.'

After climbing the Adamant Tower and bringing Elena Hilderan back, Berge checked his points.

[3124501pt]

The demonic energy points accumulated during his absence exceeded his expectations. Even after deducting the 2.5 million he owed Jason Cockmundo, he would have roughly 600,000 left.

There was no need to ask why.

'Elena Hilderan.'

Because he had kidnapped her. Because he had ruined the occasion when everyone was rejoicing over her safe return. Because, after Ernyan Hilderan, he had kidnapped her younger sister too.

Everything overlapped, piling together into what felt like a single incident. He had poured oil onto a fuse that was already slowly burning.

'And on top of that...'

There was Hillen Cargill's speech.

His speech had given the people of Hilderan a target for their anger. And anger expressed from a place of guaranteed safety was nothing but sweet demonic energy to a Demon King.

The points rising steeply even now were proof. A smile formed on Berge's lips without any effort.

KNOCK, KNOCK

"Come in."

Ernyan entered and bowed her head.

"Thank you."

"For what?"

"For saving Elena."

"You have no particular reason to thank me. I kidnapped a princess as a Demon King, and we made a deal."

"You may see it that way, my lord, but I don't. My sister and my mother were the only people who gave me a place of refuge in the royal palace."

"And all I get is words?"

"Um... I thought I'd paid a fair price."

"All value is relative. If your sister is worth no more than a little money to you, you're free to go."

It was hardly a little money, and to Berge, it was a hundred, a thousand times more valuable than her sister.

But there was no need to tell her that. Watching Ernyan over the past few days had shown him just how dearly she cherished her sister.

"... You really are like a Demon King."

"Thank you for the compliment."

"What do you want?"

"Kaede Jespine."

"The imperial princess?"

"Try to persuade her."

"To do what?"

"To become my sword."

"Don't tell me you need a Dark Knight too, my lord—"

"That's enough about that absurdly childish play you and your sister like."

"... You're fond of humans, aren't you?"

"I am?"

"Sir Hillen, Master Granada... though he's an elf. Then there's me and the Red Hawk mercenaries."

"I would say your case is different."

"... Anyway."

Hmm.

Thinking about it, there really were a lot of humans. That was only natural, since he intended to plant them in human society.

'If the imperial princess becomes my servant, I can catch the heroes who come to the tower off guard once again.'

Still, he did not actually expect much. Ernyan's example made him think it might be possible, but cases like Ernyan Hilderan and Elena Hilderan were unusual.

This was merely one of many attempts he was making on the off chance. If it worked, good. If not, so be it.

"... All right. I'll try. Will that be enough?"

"Yes."

"I'll take responsibility for turning her into a Dark Knight."

"That's all well and good, but I'd prefer you leave out the 'Dark Knight' part."

"Huh? Why?"

"I don't think Kaede would like it much."

"... Isn't it good?"

"It isn't."

"The Dark Spirit Summoner is all right, though, isn't it?"

"Had I been there at the time, I'd have cracked open those actors' skulls to find out what they were thinking."

"... I'll give it a try, then."

"Good."

She left.

Berge closed his eyes again.

"I suppose my days of scraping together points are over."

Now it was time to fill the empty spaces.

'Complacency. Surprise.'

That was Berge Deias's goal. Rather than simply placing powerful demonic creatures and demons in the tower, he would create situations that were bound to bewilder humans.

The first-floor mana cannons served that purpose, and he intended to do the same with the second floor.

'Break the rules the heroes take for granted.'

That was the best approach.

And the most familiar rule of a tower was:

"Weak monsters on the first floor, growing gradually stronger as you climb."

Berge laughed.

"I suppose I'll have to wait until I reach five million."

The heroes would be thrilled to death if a balrog popped out as early as the second floor.

* * *

Kaede Jespine.

The Ninth Princess of the Jespine Empire opened her eyes in her cold prison.

'How many days has it been?'

It was dark every day, so she had no concept of dates. She could only feel that more and more time was passing.

'When will the heroes...'

She knew there was little hope.

She was wasting away in the silence devoid of other people, the dreary darkness, and the meager meals. Each day wore her down further.

She realized just how grateful she should have been for the consideration the Demon King had shown her.

'Even so...'

She did not think she had done anything wrong.

Before she was an imperial princess, she was a hero and a knight. Better to be a proud prisoner than the Demon King's dog, disgracing both the empire and her own honor.

"You're awake?"

"... How long have you been here?"

Kaede caught her breath at the violet eyes shimmering in the darkness.

"A little while."

"Why didn't you wake me?"

"No particular reason. That's beef stew. The meat is good, so it's quite tasty."

Beside Kaede, warm steam rose from a bowl of meat stew.

"... You seem to be in a good mood."

"Me?"

"You're smiling brightly."

"I've always smiled."

That was true. But something was subtly different. Kaede could not put her finger on it; it was simply a feeling.

"My younger sister has been kidnapped and brought here."

"... You mean he has kidnapped another royal besides you, Lady Ernyan?"

That vicious Demon King...!

Kaede bit her lip.

"I asked him to."

"... What?"

"The Adamant Demon King kidnapped my sister. I was worried, so I asked my lord to bring her here himself instead."

"Ah..."

That part she could understand.

Demon Kings were untrustworthy as a breed, but she could not deny that Berge's treatment of his captives was far better than the rumors about other towers.

"But can a Demon King take someone another Demon King has kidnapped?"

"Apparently not. So we used a little trick."

"A trick...?"

"I can't tell you that much. But thanks to it, I was able to bring my sister here with my own hands. That's probably why I'm in a good mood."

"... Am I supposed to congratulate you?"

The word 'herself' troubled Kaede. Surely she had misheard.

"The reason I brought this up is that there isn't anyone."

"Anyone doing what?"

"Any hero stepping forward to rescue you, Lady Kaede."

"..."

"There haven't been any rumors, either. I asked Master Granada, and he said the Jespine Empire hasn't shown any particular reaction. He thinks they're probably waiting because the tower's location hasn't been revealed. But do you know something?"

Ernyan took another step closer.

"The hero Dafner Philiain came here and left without finding the tower."

"... What are you trying to say?"

"It's just..."

Ernyan held back her words. That brief silence felt like an hour to Kaede.

"I feel sorry for you. We don't know whether it'll take years or decades, and it isn't good for you to remain locked in a prison like this. You might be an old woman by the time you're rescued."

"Wasn't that why you refused to marry? Because you didn't want to live like a doll beside an old king, doing nothing?"

"... No."

It was.

"... Please don't say such dreadful things."

"I'm sorry if I offended you. I only asked in case that was the reason."

"Whose side are you on, exactly?"

"Neither the Demon King's nor humanity's. I'm simply on my own side. Right now, I just feel sorry for you."

"That's sophistry. You helped the Demon King and opposed the heroes."

"You could see it that way."

"Are you saying you didn't?"

"I'm saying I did. But that was simply because our interests aligned. Just as you could cooperate a little with the Demon King and live a better life than you do locked in this prison."

"... That is sophistry too."

"Well, perhaps it is."

Ernyan shrugged.

"But there's something I'm curious about."

"Go ahead."

"A knight becomes complete by serving a liege. But do you have a liege, Lady Kaede?"

"... Please do not insult me. I am loyal to His Majesty the Emperor and the empire."

"But it seems the emperor needs Kaede the imperial princess, not Kaede the knight. Isn't this disobeying orders?"

"..."

"Oh, I'm only asking because I'm not a knight and don't know."

She tilted her head.

"Would a liege leave a knight who disobeyed orders alone? I don't think I would."

"... What are you trying to say?"

"Well..."

Ernyan blinked innocently.

"I've been wondering whether you've lost your liege, Lady Kaede. Whether a knight who has lost her liege can truly be called a knight. Whether, since no one is even trying to rescue you, you've already been stripped of your knighthood. That's all."

Kaede clenched her fists. Instead of saliva in her dry mouth, she tasted the metallic tang of blood.

"... I will not tolerate another word of that."

"Did I go too far again? I'm sorry."

"... Why on earth are you doing this to me?"

"When I was in the kingdom, I heard all sorts of rumors. Some were about the empire."

Ernyan changed the subject.

"That the imperial family is secretly locked in a fierce struggle over the succession. Whose side are you on, Lady Kaede? The First Prince's? The First Princess's? Or, as one might expect, your own older brother, the Third Prince's? But the Third Prince has so little support."

"Enough."

"But who knows? Perhaps my lord could help."

"That will never happen."

"Don't be so certain. Did you know? The hero Hillen Cargill is my lord's servant. What would happen if a hero who has beheaded no fewer than two Demon Kings supported someone?"

"A hero couldn't possibly be a Demon King's servant..."

"You've seen Master Logger, haven't you? Was he an ordinary dwarf?"

"..."

"Think carefully about which is the better choice: being rescued as an old woman, or siding with the Demon King and receiving his help. Honestly, being a Demon King doesn't mean he's nothing but vicious, does it? As you know, Lady Kaede, quite a few humans secretly cooperate with Demon Kings. So it's not a bad thing. I hope you'll become a Dark Knight."

Ernyan left, whispering to the very end.

"..."

Kaede could do nothing at all. Not even by the time the food Ernyan had left grew cold.