Chapter 78 - Things to Come

The deaths of all the demon hounds had thrown Akan's plans off course. Naturally, the schedule was delayed.

“Sister, can you make more demon hounds?”

“Time.”

“How much?”

Lavinia spread both hands. Cain brightened, but those ten days would not really be just ten days.

“Don't have any.”

“Ah, you'll need wolves?”

“Yes.”

“Do you have any demonic creature parts?”

“Nothing.”

“I'll send word to the kingdom immediately and have the materials brought here.”

Though called demon hounds, they were fundamentally wolves. Demonic energy from demonic creatures was layered onto the wolves' bodies, making them extremely sensitive to it. Their combat abilities were unimpressive, but at finding demonic energy, they outperformed most heroes and mages.

They therefore allowed at least two to three weeks. Cain did not let that time go to waste.

“Ask the Mercenaries' Guild and Information Guild to find guides who know Erjest well.”

“Tell them I'll offer a substantial reward to anyone who knows even a little about its terrain, environment, or the kinds of monsters living there.”

He poured enormous sums into the effort. The Kingdom of Akan had high hopes for this undertaking, and it was willing to spend whatever was necessary if a little money could produce even slightly better results.

But that effort...

“You have a visitor.”

“A visitor?”

“Yes. He says he knows Erjest well. However...”

“However?”

“He's an elf named Granada.”

“The Red Hawk raiding party?”

He had never expected to land someone as prominent as Granada and the Red Hawk raiding party.

“The hero Hillen Cargill sent me.”

And what if their approach was deliberate rather than a coincidence?

* * *

When Granada and the Red Hawk raiding party first arrived, Cain was pleased.

“Granada and the Red Hawk raiding party...”

“They're Hillen Cargill's raiding party.”

“Hillen Cargill...”

The hero who had made his name by killing the Demon King of Lust, then proved his worth by slaying even the Beast Demon King. Now he had become an Argan of the Guild, seeking to add political power to his prowess. That alone made him impossible to ignore, yet recently another achievement of his had set the continent abuzz.

“I hear he saved the dwarven kingdom's princess from being abducted by the Demon King of Carnal Desire.”

“Yes.”

“Could that be true? I find it hard to believe he could have known about a Demon King's abduction in advance.”

“They say it was a coincidence. Hillen Cargill went to the dwarven kingdom as an envoy of the Heroes' Guild.”

“He went as an envoy, became involved with the princess, and a Demon King happened to attempt an abduction at that very moment?”

“Yes.”

“How fortunate.”

“It cannot be attributed to luck alone. Even for a hero, finding a Demon King deliberately concealing themselves is no easy task. Ultimately...”

“It means Hillen Cargill is that exceptional.”

Indeed, it would have been stranger if a hero who had killed two Demon Kings were ordinary.

“In any case, he didn't know about the abduction beforehand.”

“That would be impossible.”

“I suppose so. But why is his right-hand man in Hortonwork?”

“He says he'd like to explain that in person.”

“Then I should meet him. Send him in.”

Granada arrived shortly afterward.

“It is an honor to meet the prince of Akan, Your Highness. I am Granada, a warrior of the Maple Tribe.”

“I am Cain Akan.”

The elf had green hair and deep green eyes. The muscles visible beneath his light leather armor were quite impressive.

“Please sit. Coffee? Tea? Which would you prefer?”

“Tea, please.”

At Cain's gesture, the knight who had escorted Granada left. A little later, a servant brought tea and refreshments.

“This tea is made from dried zarvin leaves. You should find the aroma pleasant.”

“Thank you.”

Granada savored the tea's fragrance. Cain bit into a soft cookie.

“I hear you're looking for a guide who knows Erjest well.”

Granada was the first to broach the subject.

“Yes.”

“I believe I can help.”

“How, exactly?”

“The Red Hawk raiding party and I previously joined Sir Hillen's hero's journey and climbed Erjest. Although we failed to find the tower, we spent quite a long time wandering the mountains. I believe that experience would be useful to you, Your Highness.”

“It certainly would.”

Cain did not deny it.

“But I must admit, it also makes me suspicious.”

An unexpectedly prominent visitor had arrived at far too convenient a moment. Could he simply accept this offer without questioning it?

“What makes you suspicious?”

“I heard Hillen Cargill was in the Kingdom of Berft.”

“He was. He's now returning to the Heroes' Guild. Only the Red Hawk raiding party and I came here separately.”

“Why?”

“You may already know this, but the Red Hawk raiding party was originally a mercenary company. They spent several years in Hortonwork and considered it their home. They've come back for a short holiday to find some peace of mind.”

That explanation was...

“Too far-fetched?”

“Yes.”

“The hero Hillen Cargill sent us.”

“That makes rather more sense.”

Yet being a little closer to the truth did not dispel his questions.

“Why did Hillen Cargill send you to us? And how did he know we were here?”

“Did you know that we failed before, without even finding the Demon King's tower?”

“Everyone knows that.”

“But you won't know what happened during it. How many became food for monsters, how many froze to death in the cold snow. How it felt to watch them die.”

“... I understand.”

“Sir Hillen—we still have nightmares about that day. We cannot forget it. We keep dwelling on the day we will have our revenge.”

“Anyone would...”

No one liked failure. No one wanted to repeat it. And wanting to repay what one had suffered was human nature.

“But few actually take action.”

“Action?”

“The city closest to Erjest, the last city reached on the hero's journey, and the city where the Demon King abducted Jespine's imperial princess. We planted an agent here in Hortonwork.”

“For what purpose?”

“To find the Demon King and demons.”

“You think the Demon King will come to Hortonwork?”

“He abducted the imperial princess in Hortonwork. If he did it once, isn't there a chance he'll do it again?”

“Isn't that overly optimistic?”

Cain voiced his doubts. The vast Erjest Mountains bordered three kingdoms, with countless cities. Hortonwork was merely the closest and most famous among them; there were innumerable routes from the mountains to the continent. Besides, there was no guarantee the Demon King would come down to a city at all.

“As it happens, that optimism bore fruit.”

“What fruit?”

“How do you think we managed to save Berft's princess?”

“That was a coincidence, during negotiations for a Guild agreement...”

Cain's eyes widened.

“That was merely the public account, crafted with public scrutiny in mind.”

“No, wait. Even if you planted an agent in Hortonwork, the Demon King of Hellfire and the Demon King of Carnal Desire are different, aren't they?”

“The Demon Kings hold gatherings, don't they?”

It was a secret that scarcely deserved the name. High-ranking figures in any kingdom of some standing would know about it.

“Ha.”

Cain gave a disbelieving laugh.

“What passed through Hortonwork?”

“A succubus. We tracked her, and the trail ended in Berft. If you have doubts, you can ask Her Highness Princess Louise Berft.”

“Surely you don't expect me to ask her that directly.”

Knowing the outrageous rumors about Louise, Cain had no intention of doing so.

Granada continued.

“We strayed from the subject for a moment, but that is how we learned what Akan intended to do in Hortonwork. And Sir Hillen—we did not want to miss this opportunity.”

“... What do you want?”

“Please find the tower. We'll give you every assistance, material and otherwise!”

That was all they needed!

Granada cried out with heartfelt desperation.

'Following Hillen Cargill around seems to have improved my acting, too.'

A single tear fell.

* * *

Persuaded despite his lingering unease, Cain gave Granada and the Red Hawk raiding party an entire annex of the lord's castle.

“Never in my life did I think I'd be invited to the lord's castle.”

Bark, the former mercenary captain, looked around the castle grounds.

“Stop acting like a country bumpkin.”

“Exactly. We're a raiding party now, not some backwater mercenaries...”

“You were all backwater mercenaries too, remember?”

Leaving the members' chatter behind, Granada turned his attention to the knight guiding them.

'He doesn't seem to be a knight of Hortonwork.'

Though not for very long, Granada had also worked as a mercenary in Hortonwork. He had often dealt with its soldiers and knights, and recognized that this man's bearing and presence were different.

'Then he must be from Akan... '

A guest receiving other guests in a lord's castle that already had its own master? This was clearly not a normal situation.

“We have formally rented ten annexes within the lord's castle.”

As though he had guessed Granada's thoughts, the knight offered an explanation first.

“Please keep in mind that you are Akan's guests, not the lord's.”

“Of course. But that over there...”

“A monster?”

“It's a monster!”

The members drew their weapons. The knight hastily stepped in front of them.

“Put away your weapons! That is not a monster!”

“A chimera?”

A giant over five meters tall occupied one side of the garden. Crouched there, he was watching Granada. He gave off a faint trace of demonic energy.

The members reluctantly sheathed their weapons.

“Yes. A chimera made by Her Highness. He will not attack first, so please do not show hostility.”

“Understood.”

Granada had already heard about the chimera from the Demon King. Still, seeing it in person for the first time left him a little repulsed.

Then the giant rose and approached them with heavy, thudding steps.

“Huh?”

“Uh, is this all right?”

Making their alarm seem foolish, the giant stopped right in front of them.

“Elf.”

A sweet voice rang out, at odds with the giant's appearance. Granada looked up. A woman sat on the giant's shoulder.

“Your Highness.”

The knight bowed. The princess hopped down. Her gaze swept Granada from head to toe. Her red eyes, resembling the chimera's, were striking.

“I am Granada, deputy leader of the Red Hawk raiding party, Your Highness.”

“Lavinia.”

“I hear you made this chimera, Your Highness.”

“Cher.”

“So his name is Cher.”

“Friend.”

“You and Cher are friends, Your Highness?”

“Yes.”

Her lips moved. Granada waited to hear what she would say, but she did not open her mouth for a long time.

“...”

“...”

The silence lingered, and the members exchanged awkward glances.

“Elf heart.”

Then Lavinia reached out. Her snow-white hand poked Granada's chest.

“Hot.”

“Pardon?”

“Give it.”

“... Pardon?”

“You mustn't, Your Highness.”

A chill ran down Granada's spine, and he instinctively knocked her hand away. The answer had come not from him, but from the knight.

“Can't?”

“Master Granada has come to help us, Your Highness.”

“Ah. Sorry. Mistake.”

“... It's all right.”

Lavinia bowed her head, then climbed back onto Cher's shoulder. Cher returned to his original spot with thudding footsteps.

“... I apologize.”

“What exactly was that...”

“She grew up entirely within the royal palace, so she is somewhat unpracticed in dealing with people. I apologize on Her Highness's behalf. This will never happen again.”

“... Ah, yes.”

Faced with the knight's courteous apology, Granada could only nod uneasily.

* * *

『Have you heard the news?』

While Berge was considering how best to fuck up the Kingdom of Akan's troops, Reina Sordein contacted him. She had complaints about the failed abduction.

“I have. Hillen Cargill stopped Vivian, didn't he?”

『Her luck could not have been worse. To think Hillen Cargill visited the Kingdom of Berft as a Guild envoy at that exact moment...』

“What a shame. It was a good opportunity to uncover the culprit.”

With superhuman patience, Berge suppressed the smile threatening to spread across his lips.

『Indeed. Yet in some respects, I could only lament Vivian Blunt's stupidity.』

『She must surely have heard that Hillen Cargill had arrived in Berft, yet she acted so carelessly.』

But she could never have imagined he would be guarding the princess's bedroom door.

Berge, the mastermind behind it all, could readily picture Vivian's bewildered face.

“So what do you intend to do now?”

『This time, I intend to act personally.』

“... What?”

『They will assume that after one failure, we would not try again so soon.』

『Hillen Cargill has also returned to the Heroes' Guild. There could be no better opportunity.』

No. No.

That absolutely could not happen. Louise Berft must not be abducted.

“You can't.”

『I can't? What do you mean?』

Berge desperately racked his brains. He poured out words as calmly as he could.

“Louise Berft isn't going anywhere. There's no need to rush.”

『True, but that is no reason not to abduct Louise.』

“I need your help. Leave Louise's abduction to Ugar and help me instead.”

『Ugar Belbek cannot operate freely in the dwarven kingdom.』

He knew that. The buildings in the underground cities of Berft, the kingdom of dwarves, were hardly large. For a titan, one of the giant races, even getting inside was a problem.

Knowing that was precisely why Berge had mentioned Ugar—to arouse as little suspicion as possible.

『But help? Is something wrong?』

'Why did I say that?'

He could not invite Reina Sordein to his tower. If she saw that it had not a single demonic creature, but did have a dwarf hero and two princesses, even Reina would surely fly into a rage. Given her upright, rule-abiding disposition as a Demon King, she might even report him to Grand Duke Alkain.

'Something else. Something else that will divert Reina's attention.'

『If it is serious enough for you to ask me yourself, it must be no ordinary matter?』

Damn it. His predicament grew worse.

『Are you ashamed to ask another Demon King for help? Naturally, I believe such pride is fitting for a Demon King. But Arain is different. We have agreed to cooperate, so speak freely to me whenever you need something.』

To hell with it.

“... I misspoke. It isn't my problem, actually. It's yours.”

『My problem?』

“Gillian Aint.”

One of the great heroes.

“Hasn't the White Eagle Raiding Party come looking for your tower? If you leave them unchecked, you will not escape a great calamity.”

It had not happened yet. But it had happened in the world before his regression.