Chapter 79 - Intent on Doing Nothing

『How did you learn of that?』

The hero Gillian Aint and the White Eagle Raiding Party he led had sought out the Tower of Bitter Cold just after Drakson Doldorf fell.

“It was all in the humans’ newspapers.”

It would have been a lie to say Berge hadn't been surprised when he first heard the news. The White Eagle Raiding Party wasn't originally supposed to seek out the Tower of Bitter Cold for another five years. He realized that his own actions had changed the future.

『I see. Indeed, human heroes are obsessed with fame and achievements.』

“Isn't that true of demons too?”

『It is.』

Reina chuckled, but there was something bitter about it.

“How many times has the White Eagle Raiding Party come to your tower?”

『Did they even print that?』

Of course not.

“Yes.”

Before his regression, Reina Sordein had fallen victim to the White Eagle Raiding Party. It hadn't killed her. But if asked whether her fate was better than death, Berge couldn't agree.

'I laughed at her when I first found out.'

He had sneered that her obsession with appearances was why she ended up being treated like livestock by mere humans. He used to say he'd rather die than live like that. And he really had died.

『They invaded the tower twice, and I repelled them both times. It consumed a fair amount of demonic energy, but there is no serious problem.』

『I see no particular need for your help.』

“Do you really think so?”

『... There is something I do not know. Is that what you mean?』

“There is.”

『What is it?』

“Their tricks won't stop after one or two attempts.”

They would torment Reina Sordein dozens of times, perhaps even more than several hundred times. Slowly, little by little, they would wear her down.

『However many times they come, I need only repel them all. Do you think I cannot?』

“No. You can. You're strong.”

Reina Sordein was strong, by both objective and subjective standards. If it was merely the White Eagle Raiding Party rather than a hero's journey, she could repel them any number of times. No, she could wipe them out.

『... Such lavish praise is unlike you.』

She cleared her throat and averted her gaze.

“But it won't be easy. He'll use the barbarians in the surrounding area.”

『It makes no difference how many of them gather.』

“Of course it wouldn't, if you stepped in and killed Gillian from the start.”

『You would have me descend from the top? I cannot. Following the Guide is only proper.』

“But you took Jason's advice when you first descended, didn't you?”

『That and this are different. The Guide explicitly states that a Demon King must guard the top of the tower.』

Abducting royalty high in the line of succession, however, was merely a recommendation. She would try to follow it as closely as possible, but there was no reason to risk her life for it.

“... Well, fine.”

Berge hadn't expected Reina to do that in the first place. It was enough if she grew wary and refrained from laying her hands on Louise.

“But put off abducting Louise. You mustn't leave your tower empty now.”

『... If you are urging me so earnestly, there must be something to this.』

『The White Eagles...』

After pondering for a moment, Reina nodded.

『You would have no reason to tell me this without cause. I will take your advice into consideration.』

“Good choice!”

『You seem far too pleased. What exactly is there for you to be happy about?』

“... It's sad to lose a like-minded Demon King. The opposite is something to be happy about.”

『Is that so?』

“Oh, and one more thing.”

『There is more?』

“Even if you run short of demonic energy later, don't go to Jason for help.”

『...?』

* * *

After the connection ended, Reina Sordein lingered over the conversation for a long while.

“... This is not unpleasant.”

Having another Demon King worry about her. In a way, it felt as though he underestimated her, but his sincerity made it far from unpleasant.

“But...”

What did he mean by telling her not to seek Jason's help?

“I would run short of demonic energy?”

“And turn to Jason because of it?”

Reina rejected the idea, but she couldn't entirely rule out the slightest possibility that it might happen. If, as Berge said, the White Eagles proved a greater headache than expected, and all her demonic creatures and monsters died, leaving her in trouble, there was some chance she would ask Jason Cockmundo for help. Anyone could see that he was the only Demon King with resources to spare at present.

That was what she would have done in the past, at least.

“Jason may have killed Drakson. I cannot place myself in debt to someone so suspicious.”

In other words, Berge Deias had worried needlessly. Of course, he must have taken that into account as well.

“Nina.”

“Yes, my lord.”

At Reina's call, the adjutant waiting outside entered.

“Send out the demons to watch the White Eagles' movements. Gather the monsters as well.”

“Do you intend to deal with them before they enter the tower?”

“For now, we watch.”

“Yes. Understood.”

Nina went outside.

“It would be wise to heed an ally's sincere advice.”

Reina rose from her seat.

* * *

Just before Berge began to be plagued by the Kingdom of Akan and Reina by the White Eagles, Vivian Blunt returned to her tower after failing to abduct Louise Berft.

BOOM!

A huge hole opened in the first-floor floor. The monsters trembled and pressed themselves against the walls.

“My tail! My precious tail!”

Her destructive rampage continued for another hour. Only after spending demonic energy points to restore the utterly wrecked first floor did she climb to the fifth, still huffing with anger.

“My lord.”

“What?”

“A message has arrived from Demon King Jason. He asked that you contact him as soon as you returned to the tower.”

“Ha...!”

Vivian snorted. It was obvious what he would say.

“I suppose he's angry that I didn't listen to him?”

Making a fuss the moment she got back.

Of course, she understood. As he had said, Arain was by no means an easy dimension. The 3,198 heroes were proof enough, as was the hero guarding the princess's bedroom door.

Something was wrong with this dimension.

But.

But for that very reason, Vivian had all the more need to abduct Louise Berft. She was the only clue that could unravel the secret surrounding Drakson's death.

'I have to get out of this goddamn place.'

In principle, once a Demon King descended, they couldn't leave unless they conquered the dimension or died. But all rules were ultimately enforced by those in power. Having secured Grand Duke Alkain's promise, Vivian could only cling to it all the more desperately.

'Whatever it takes, whatever it takes, I have to abduct her.'

There was no time. After her failed attempt, the humans would be furious. If heroes like the one she'd met in the Kingdom of Berft came at her in droves, she would have no choice but to die.

Biting her nails, she fed demonic energy into the communication orb. Immediately afterward, a mask of an expression settled over her face.

“What is it?”

Her nonchalant question was met by a voice from beyond the orb, holding back its anger.

『Was it so difficult to heed my advice?』

“... I have no reason to do as you say. That's the nature of advice, isn't it?”

『Haha. You truly are a very, very amusing person, Lady Vivian.』

Jason pushed up his monocle.

『I was going to let it pass, since you were faithfully carrying out the mission you descended for. Had you shown even the slightest sign of remorse, that is.』

“How ridiculous. What do you intend to do if you don't let it pass?”

『What could I possibly do to a fellow Demon King?』

Jason smiled. Vivian felt an inexplicable chill.

『Until now, I have been doing something.』

『But from now on, I intend to do nothing.』

『Yes. That is all.』

“... What kind of nonsense is that?”

『I am merely talking to myself. It is nothing you need to know or understand, Lady Vivian.』

He cut off the connection without waiting for a reply.

“You fucking—!”

Vivian spat out a curse.

“He'll do nothing? As if he's been doing anything until now!”

She mulled over Jason's words, trying to understand them. A few days later, she learned what they meant.

“My lord! Heroes have invaded the tower!”

The heroes had come to her tower.

* * *

“The Harmony of Towers. Is it that time already?”

Ugar had received a call from Jason.

“In a month?”

『Yes. It is your turn. In truth, we are already well overdue, but circumstances prevent us from holding it immediately.』

The Harmony of Towers was held once a year, with the Demon Kings taking turns hosting at their towers. This time, however, they hadn't kept to the yearly interval. Ever since Berge's descent, one incident after another had occurred.

'The Harmony of Towers.'

Until now, Ugar had never questioned it. In his eyes, Jason had worked harder for the Demon Kings than anyone else. Without him, Ugar would never have made it this far. The Harmony of Towers was another development born of those efforts. It wasn't always useful, but the exchange of information had clearly been helpful.

But he did have his suspicions. No matter how he considered it, no one but Jason could have killed Drakson.

“... Do we really need to hold the Harmony of Towers at a time like this? I think it would be better to delay it a little.”

Perhaps Jason had noticed his hesitation. He sighed.

『There is no reason not to hold it, either.』

『I know that Lady Reina, Lord Ugar, and Lord Berge have begun to suspect me.』

『But I most certainly did not kill Lord Drakson.』

“... But the high-ranking demon...”

『Are you certain that really was a high-ranking demon?』

『Do you have clear evidence?』

He didn't. That had only ever been Drakson's claim. He had tried to prove it by searching the tower's records, but had failed.

“But the fact that Drakson went that far means he had grounds for certainty.”

『I am certain too. Certain that I did not do it. Certain that I had no part in Lord Drakson's death. Certain that I had no reason to do so.』

『That is why I, too, wanted to examine the tower's records.』

『It would have allowed me to put your and Lady Reina's suspicions to rest.』

『Unfortunately, that is no longer possible...』

After a brief hesitation, Jason spoke again.

『Would you come to my tower?』

“... All of a sudden?”

『I have spared no effort in trying to conquer this dimension. I intended to do so alongside Lord Drakson, Lady Reina, and Lord Ugar. Do you truly believe that I would kill Lord Drakson?』

In truth, that question had troubled Ugar as well. Without Jason, the Demon Kings would not be where they were today. Would such a man have gone out of his way to kill Drakson?

『I swear upon the great Demon Emperor and the Guide that I did not kill Lord Drakson.』

『If you come to my tower, I will show you proof that I did not. Proof that I had no reason to.』

“... I'll come.”

Knowing the weight of an oath upon the Demon Emperor and the Guide, Ugar stepped into the rift leading to Jason's tower to resolve his doubts.