Chapter 67 - Be Careful

Below the Guildmaster, the leadership that actually ran the Heroes' Guild was divided into three main branches: the council of five elders, the branch heads who managed the Guild's outlying branches, and the Argan, who determined the direction of the Guild as a whole.

Becoming an Argan meant that Hillen Cargill had finally taken another step toward the power he coveted. And not merely power within the Guild. Countless influential people seeking the Guild's assistance flocked to the Argan.

'It means I can play a bigger game.'

But there were drawbacks, too. There were eleven Argan in total, honoring the eleven heroes who had slain the first Demon King to descend upon Arain. That number remained fixed, so appointing a new Argan meant stripping someone else of the position. Whatever the reason, that person could hardly look kindly upon Hillen Cargill, who had taken their place.

And...

'Bair Fornian.'

Hillen Cargill had already discovered who that person was. Until recently, Bair had been an Argan. Now he had been reduced to just another ordinary Guild officer.

'I hear he's part of Elder Carlo Schweiger's faction.'

Four days had passed between his arrival at headquarters and today's award ceremony. Through everyone who approached him, whether with goodwill or hostility, Hillen had learned a fair amount about the ecosystem at headquarters. Apparently, each elder had a faction.

Perhaps that explained the unkind look Elder Carlo Schweiger was giving him from his seat directly ahead. Matthias Allman, on the other hand, looked positively friendly.

'They said those two were at each other's throats, didn't they?'

How could he use this? Hillen's mind began racing.

* * *

"I'm sorry."

The imperial princess of Jespine bowed her head. Compared with her former proud appearance, she was filthy and bedraggled. Berge had held out some hope, but he had never expected her to be this submissive.

"How did you persuade her?"

"Can I say it right here?"

When he nodded, Ernyan, who had been watching from behind, spoke.

"I told her it would be better to ask forgiveness than waste away in prison day after day. The empire seems to have abandoned Lady Kaede, so wouldn't it be better to find a way to survive?"

"And?"

"I said she might benefit from serving you and making 'deals,' my lord."

"Deals?"

"I used myself as an example."

"I see. I understand."

That explained why, despite her words, the fire in her eyes had not died. He turned his gaze toward Kaede, and she flinched.

"We both know we don't trust each other. Rather than deceive one another, we might as well openly give what we must and take what we're owed. Tell me. What do you want?"

"I want to leave the tower."

"Denied."

"I want to leave the prison."

"And?"

"I would like you to grant me freedom, as you do Lady Ernyan, and as I had before I attempted to escape."

"And what would I receive in exchange? What can you offer me?"

"There is one more thing."

"Speak."

"I was told you are willing to make deals."

"That is always an option if you bring me terms I find satisfactory. We'll treat that as a separate matter."

"Yes. Then..."

Kaede hesitated briefly before speaking.

"... I heard you wanted Four Heavenly Kings. I will become a Dark Knight."

"... Wanted them? I did?"

"..."

"..."

"... What?"

Meeting his eyes, Ernyan smiled awkwardly and looked away.

"... Well, fine."

"I will wear a mask like Lady Ernyan and work for you for five years, my lord."

"So you believe you won't be rescued for at least five years."

"..."

Her intentions were plain as day. Still, it wasn't a bad offer. Berge did not believe the tower's location would remain undiscovered for five whole years. No matter how hard he tried to hide it, he couldn't hide it forever. If everything went according to plan, so many Demon Kings would never have died in Arain. The humans would try every means possible to find it, and that made him certain. Five years. He could all but guarantee that heroes would come within that time.

If Kaede Jespine earned her keep even once before then, that would be enough. After all, he was giving her practically nothing. But that didn't mean he could simply accept her offer without imposing any restrictions. Unlike Ernyan, Kaede had already caused trouble once. Berge was not generous enough to let that slide. Especially not for a hero.

"There is something called an Armani Orb. Swallow it."

"What happens if I do?"

"It lodges in a person's head and prevents betrayal. Swallow it and live as a Dark Knight for five years, or go back to prison."

"I am a hero."

"This is different from a dark mage or dark knight contract. As long as you offer no resistance when you swallow the orb, there will be no problem."

Kaede was flustered by the unexpected choice. Had she really thought swindling a Demon King would be easy? Seeing her hesitation, Berge dangled a carrot.

"If you make it through five years without incident, I'll remove the orb and release you."

"Truly?"

"I swear upon the great Demon Emperor and the Guide revered by all Demon Kings."

"The Demon Emperor and the Guide..."

Kaede was a hero, too. She knew very well how Demon Kings and demons regarded the Demon Emperor. As a god. No, perhaps something beyond even that. Their devotion exceeded her loyalty to the emperor she served and her reverence for chivalry.

"Yes. I will do so."

Kaede bowed her head.

"Now we have two of the Four Heavenly Kings..."

- No matter how I look at it, that play is strange.

Ernyan clenched her little hands into fists.

* * *

After accepting Kaede and having her swallow the Armani Orb, Berge's first order concerned her training. Kaede was different from Ernyan. Although there was a five-year time limit, having swallowed the Armani Orb, she could be considered entirely his to command. And Berge had no use for weak servants. Putting an imperial princess or a princess before heroes would throw them off balance, and the stronger that princess was, the more effective their bewilderment became. That was why Berge intended to make Kaede strong.

"Gordon. You will teach the imperial princess."

"... Me? Teach some human princess?"

"I hear Jetoson joined the Golden Moon Trading Company quite naturally, and that you contributed nothing to it. Nor do you manage the tower. Logger manages the first floor, the second and third are empty, and Ernyan manages the fourth. Who do you think is the most useless fellow in this tower?"

"... I'll do it. That's what you want, isn't it?"

Gordon grumbled. Kaede, who had been listening quietly, voiced her indignation with some caution.

"I believe training on my own will be sufficient."

Her pride as an imperial knight had reared its head.

"Is that so?"

She likely hadn't expected that to wound Gordon's pride in turn.

"I learned swordsmanship from the empire's finest knights. All that remains is to master what I have learned. I don't believe there is any need to learn a new style."

"My lord, may I begin her education right now?"

"Do as you please."

Gordon went down to the first floor, brought back a sword, and tossed it to Kaede.

"Ten minutes."

He spread his fingers.

"Last ten minutes against me, and I won't insist on teaching you."

"... Will you not take up a sword?"

"Do I need a sword to deal with the likes of you?"

"Please refrain from insulting me."

"Meet my condition first. Succeed, and I'll even kneel and apologize to you."

"I'll add another stake. If you last ten minutes, I'll remove the orb and release you immediately."

That sealed it. Kaede drew her sword at once. Golden aura surged along the blade, and Gordon's gaze settled on its keen edge.

"I see. You do have some reason for that confidence."

"Get your sword."

"No need."

Kaede's brow twitched.

"You are the one who chose not to use a sword. Don't complain afterward that I violated chivalry."

"Of course. Demons have no such thing as chivalry."

He beckoned with a finger.

"I'll let you strike first."

"You brought this upon yourself. Do not regret it."

Kaede drew in a breath and charged. A golden line cut through the air, splitting space. But Gordon was already gone.

'Behind me!'

Leaving deep footprints, Kaede hastily twisted around.

CLANG!

Her body rocked. Fragments of shattered aura scattered.

'Left!'

Before she could fully absorb the impact, she felt a chill. She forced herself to twist, her muscles creaking under the strain. But it allowed her to block again.

"Your ability to sense energy is quite good."

She heard Gordon whisper.

'He's fast.'

And strong. His claim that he needed no sword had been no empty boast. Even though it was his hand striking her sword, the collision rang like metal. Her sword hand trembled from the heavy impact.

'I've even drawn on the dimension's power...!'

It was having an effect. But the gulf between them was so overwhelming that he could effortlessly cancel out all of it.

THUD!

In the briefest opening, a black fist slammed into her abdomen. Blood surged from her mouth. Even so, she did not let go of her sword. Gritting her teeth, she thrust at Gordon's side.

SLASH!

'I got him!'

The faintest sensation lingered in her fingertips. And that—

THWACK!

—was her last memory.

* * *

Ernyan took the unconscious Kaede down to the fourth floor. Once the two of them were alone, Berge asked,

"Your impressions?"

"Her ability to sense energy is serviceable. Her swordsmanship is a little rigid, but her fundamentals are sound. Human swordsmanship isn't quite as lacking as I thought."

"Of course. Dozens of Demon Kings have died here. This is no place to underestimate. Teach her well."

"To what level?"

"To the best of your ability."

"Is that all right? She is still a hero. She will become our enemy eventually..."

"Who said she would become our enemy?"

"Didn't you make a five-year promise? You swore upon the Demon Emperor and the Guide... did... huh?"

Gordon tilted his head. He remembered what Berge had done at the Demon King Military Academy's graduation ceremony. Would someone like him keep an oath merely because he had sworn upon the Demon Emperor and the Guide?

"... You never intended to keep it in the first place, did you?"

"I am a Demon King. Why would I simply release something once it has fallen into my hands?"

A Demon King who kept promises to humans? Surely no such thing could exist.

"Now you're acting like yourself, my lord!"

"And what is acting like myself?"

"Mocking and exploiting humans."

"That is my specialty."

Strictly speaking, it had only become his specialty since his regression.

"Ah, the imperial princess delayed my report, but I hear Hillen Cargill has become an Argan of the Heroes' Guild. Apparently, it is a position named after the first hero, and one of the Guild's senior leadership posts."

"An Argan. My investment was worthwhile."

"As you said, my lord, he will become a dagger aimed at the human world."

A Demon King who made one of the Heroes' Guild's leaders his subordinate. Even Gordon, the adjutant serving that very Demon King, found it hard to believe. It was that unprecedented.

"And Demon King Reina Sordein contacted us."

"What about?"

The Demon King of Bitter Cold maintained a friendly relationship with Berge, but they weren't close enough to contact one another without a reason. If she had called, something had happened.

"Well, it's a little strange."

"Don't drag it out."

"She asked to speak with you in person. When I asked again what I should tell you, she said, 'I've found the culprit who killed Drakson.'"

"... She found the culprit who killed Drakson?"

"Yes."

"That would be Hillen Cargill."

"If that were what she meant, she wouldn't have contacted you, my lord."

"Then..."

"Could she have discovered what you did?"

"Reina Sordein? Jason, perhaps, but that's far too much of a leap."

Reina Sordein never left the snowfields in the northern Jespine Empire. Nor did she go out of her way to meddle in human affairs or scheme. The chances of her knowing the details of events in distant Ormus were infinitely close to zero.

"Then..."

"I'll find out when I get there."

"Something about this makes me uneasy."

"Everything has made me uneasy since I descended upon Arain."

Berge rose from his throne.

* * *

The Tower of Bitter Cold was as cold as ever. Reina greeted Berge with a scarlet candy in her mouth. No, could that really be called a greeting?

"Beware of Jason."

"...?"

The first words she spoke, her eyes cold and somber, were rather strange. What was with all of them lately?