Chapter 90 - Either Way

Raymon failed to understand Lavinia. He insisted desperately that they had to escape at once, but rather than try to persuade him further, Lavinia had Cher seize him and drag him before the Demon King.

"... Th-the Demon King of Hellfire!"

"Choose. Will you make a golem and receive payment, or..."

"What wealth or glory could possibly make me betray humanity for a Demon King!"

"You seem to have misunderstood. The payment I mentioned is neither wealth nor glory."

"... Then what?"

"Your life."

"... Hic."

"I'll let you live, at least."

Another brief conversation (threat) followed.

"Do it."

"But Your Highness, we cannot help a Demon King—!"

"Do it."

"But..."

"Want to die?"

"..."

"An order. Do it."

Once Lavinia Akan added the coercive force of a royal order, Raymon finally backed down. Lavinia and Raymon went amicably down to the Demon Realm workshop on the first floor.

Then Raymon was appalled.

"... Good heavens. Why are you here?"

Logger Fridri.

Raymon was astounded to see the great craftsman, one of the top three even in the Kingdom of Berft. As a golem controller, he could hardly fail to recognize Logger, a foremost authority in the field.

"... Ahem."

Logger cleared his throat at the first show of respect he had received since entering the Demon King's tower. After considering how to respond, he decided to brazen it out.

"Is it strange for me to be here?"

"This is a Demon King's tower!"

"A craftsman works anywhere."

"Even if you aren't particular about where you work, you should draw the line at demons! You're a hero, for heaven's sake!"

"... Prejudice must be eradicated."

"... What is that supposed to mean?"

That was not all. The Demon King's tower, which ought to have been teeming with demonic creatures and demons, was instead filled with mana cannons.

"Don't tell me you made all of these?"

"Yes. And now you must help add golems to their number."

"Good heavens..."

Raymon sank to the floor with his face in his hands. He could not believe this horrifying reality.

"Have you never considered that heroes will die to the mana cannons you built?"

"If I refuse, I'll lose my life before any of them die to the cannons. The same goes for you."

"... Well..."

"I hear you've already settled things with our lord?"

"... Akan's golem-making technology is the best in the world! It's top secret!"

"Nothing remains top secret when your life is at stake. Just give up and go along with the situation. You'll feel better."

Logger wore the expression of a man who had made his peace with the world.

"... What exactly am I supposed to do?"

Raymon resigned himself to his fate. Yes, if even a dwarf who was his kingdom's finest craftsman and a hero could serve as a Demon King's lackey, why couldn't he?

Besides, Raymon had orders from the princess. It was only natural for a subject to obey his sovereign's commands.

And so Raymon entered the Demon Realm workshop. His admiration for the sight, so utterly different from a human workshop, was short-lived.

"... So what did you say I have to do?"

"Make a golem core using demonic energy rather than mana."

"... A golem core using demonic energy? That's impossible!"

"Do it."

"Your Highness! This isn't a question of willingness. In principle—!"

"Do it. Already. Paid."

"..."

* * *

Having abducted Lavinia Akan and a golem controller, Berge paid even closer attention to Hortonwork. How Cain and the Akan forces would act mattered more than anything else.

Fortunately, however, the world took Berge's side.

「"They received orders to return and withdrew this morning."」

「"Lavinia Akan's usual behavior seems to have helped."」

Lavinia Akan had a history of escaping the royal palace to satisfy her desires and doing whatever she pleased. She had ventured alone into dangerous lands crawling with monsters, and had recently even been found in The Beast's Tower.

Thus, they concluded that this was another such incident: Lavinia Akan going astray.

They neither submitted a request to the Heroes' Guild nor made a fuss about a Demon King abducting their princess. They simply withdrew quietly.

"Then bring the elves here. Be careful not to attract attention."

「"Yes, I will."」

Of course, he could not relax completely. Human hearts were fickle. They might regard it as her going astray now, only to recast it as a Demon King's abduction for the kingdom's honor.

He always had to remain cautious.

「"I've finally reached you."」

Hillen Cargill appeared in the communication orb after Granada's image vanished.

"I've heard the gist of it."

「"What would you have me do?"」

"You seem eager to get involved."

「"To be honest, I am. Yesica Horton is a highly respected princess of the Kingdom of Horton. I'd rather not pass up a chance to establish good relations with her if I can help it."」

"Yesica Horton, eh?"

She was indeed an outstanding hero and a well-respected princess. Her reputation surpassed even the king's, so much so that people said it would be no surprise if he cast her aside were the siblings not on good terms.

'Hmm.'

Berge considered it. For both Hillen Cargill's sake and Reina Sordein's, stopping him was the right choice.

Even before his regression, the White Eagles and Gillian Aint had tried to seize control of the Tower of Bitter Cold and use it like a farm. Wouldn't Gillian Aint have asked Yesica Horton for help then, too? Wouldn't she have cited her own circumstances and asked another hero to help?

Of course she would.

'The one who stepped in then was probably...'

Dafner Philiain, yes. Dafner had neither formed a raiding party nor possessed a power base, but he had performed admirably all on his own.

Yet the result?

Defeat. They had put Reina Sordein, whom they had underestimated, in a difficult position, only to fail to withstand her fury once Jason helped her.

'They're likely to fail this time, too.'

It would be the same even with Hillen Cargill joining instead of Dafner Philiain. Hillen had yet to reach his full potential.

Berge predicted failure. Reina Sordein would ultimately emerge victorious. In that case, opposing this was the right choice for Hillen's reputation.

But...

'Is that really the best course?'

He imagined what would happen if Hillen Cargill failed.

A hero was like a gladiator on a rampage. Every victory increased their fame and authority, but a single defeat could cost them everything. Had Hillen not secured his future by killing the Demon King of Lust, he would have been finished the moment he failed even to find Berge's tower.

Arain had countless heroes who could replace him.

'But Hillen Cargill is different from other heroes.'

How could a hero who had absorbed two Demon Kings be like the ordinary ones? He had become the idiot who failed even to find the tower in Erjest, yet kept his position as a Star because he had killed the Demon King of Lust.

Thus, one more failure would not cause any great problems. He would be criticized, of course, but that was his own burden to bear.

'The bastard feels even more insolent lately.'

Killing Drakson and becoming an Argan had made him full of himself. He needed to be taken down a peg at least once and taught his place. Who was master, and who was servant.

"No."

For the moment, however, Berge tried to dissuade him.

"Reina Sordein is stronger than you can imagine. You stand to lose more than you gain."

He knew that would not be enough to break Hillen's resolve. He wanted the man to press his wishes further, so that he would be all the more pathetic when his wings were clipped.

「"... But..."」

"You still want to do it?"

「"I may never have another opportunity to put Yesica Horton in my debt."」

"Then do it."

「"May I really?"」

Hillen blinked.

"You said you wanted to, didn't you?"

「"But I didn't expect you to permit it so readily. Is your relationship with Bitter Cold perhaps similar to your relationship with the Beast Demon King? Or is there something..."」

This was why perceptive bastards were so annoying.

"Will you refuse to go because it seems suspicious? Let me be clear: I haven't done anything myself."

「"But there is something, then?"」

"You'll find out when you experience it. Whether you overcome it and become the great hero you wish to be, or end up a wretched failure, is in your hands."

Silence lingered for a moment, but Hillen soon nodded.

「"... Understood. I am Hillen Cargill. I will succeed, without fail."」

"I hope you do."

「"Thank you. I'll take my leave, then."」

Hillen bowed his head, and the connection ended.

"Thank me? I'm the one who should be grateful."

The corners of Berge's mouth rose. He quickly operated the communication orb.

"Reina Sordein. I have some very useful information for you."

He was not hoping for Hillen's failure merely out of personal feelings. Weighing success against failure, failure was more likely. But Berge wanted to gain something even from that.

'What if I use this opportunity to put Reina in my debt?'

Even if Hillen succeeded despite that, his success would have benefits of its own.

'At Hillen's level, he's unlikely to die unless he reaches the top of the tower and faces Reina herself.'

Either way, Berge would have the last laugh.

* * *

"My lord, don't you actually love the Guide more than anyone?"

When Berge reached the fifth floor, Gordon was wearing a sullen expression.

"What kind of bullshit is that?"

"I say that because you've abducted yet another princess, even in these circumstances. What about the problems you always mention?"

"It isn't entirely without problems, but there are practically none."

"... What does that mean?"

"Officially, Lavinia Akan wasn't abducted. She simply left the party of her own accord."

"..."

How on earth had that happened? The princess had left the party on her own? In Erjest? Was that princess insane?

Gordon had plenty of questions, but reduced them all to one remark.

"... You've picked up another strange princess."

"If she weren't strange, she wouldn't cooperate with a Demon King."

"... Well..."

That was fairly convincing.

"Lavinia Akan and the golem controller will help Logger make golems. They say she knows more about demonic energy than any other human, so we should find an answer."

"I see. Then Akan has withdrawn completely?"

"Yes."

"That's a relief."

Gordon sighed with relief. Berge had been quite busy, and the tower's household was growing one member at a time.

Even so, all they had were the cannons on the first floor and those strange princesses. Gordon could not possibly put his trust in them.

"The Golden Moon Trading Company contacted us earlier."

"What did they want?"

"It was merely a routine report. They say weapon prices have risen as far as they will go, so they're selling everything. They're also branching into a new business..."

"Tell them not to sell."

"Pardon?"

"The northern barbarians are picking a fight with Reina. Hillen Cargill has decided to join them, too. The situation will continue for a while longer."

"Hillen Cargill? Surely you aren't planning to kill Demon King Reina as well...?"

"No. The opposite this time. I'm going to teach Hillen Cargill some manners before he gets any more conceited."

"Of all your plans, my lord, that is my favorite."

Gordon smiled faintly.

"Ah, may I make one suggestion?"

"Speak."

"Now that both the Golden Moon Trading Company and Hillen Cargill are fairly well established, how about filling the tower?"

"I'm already filling it."

"With something other than princesses. As a Demon King should! Like a proper Demon King!"

"As it happens, I was planning to do that soon."

"Really?"

Gordon brightened.

"Yes. I was thinking of placing a demonic creature on the second floor."

"What sort of demonic creature?"

"A balrog."

"..."

"I'm dying to see the faces of the heroes who survive the mana cannons' crossfire."

Yes, of course. He had never had the slightest intention of following the Guide.

Gordon muttered a curse.

* * *

"A new princess has arrived."

"I saw her."

She had only seen her, passing by during training. The enormous demon following her had been quite impressive.

'Lavinia Akan.'

How shocked she had been when the Demon King brought her here. There could hardly be a royal in the empire or the kingdoms who did not know her.

The king of Akan's sore spot. At the same time, the Kingdom of Akan's treasure.

That contradictory assessment described her best.

"The Kingdom of Akan won't sit idly by."

The king might perhaps feel relieved, but the mage towers would not.

"Are you worried about our lord?"

"... Is that how it sounds?"

'Worried about the Demon King? Me?'

No, surely not. It would be better if the Demon King died. She could leave this tower and no longer have to stain the empire's honor.

Yet she gave a small nod.

"I am our lord's knight."

A knight's oath symbolized honor and trust. Could she call herself a knight if she failed to uphold that pledge?

Even if it had been sworn to a Demon King. Even if she had been half-forced into it.

She had spoken the oath herself. For at least five years, she would live as the Demon King's utterly loyal knight.

"You really are perfect for the role of Dark Knight."

"... There is something I'd like to say about that."

"Yes?"

"Our lord says he never wanted the Four Heavenly Kings..."

"Oh, right. Still, there's nothing to worry about."

"No, I mean the Four Heavenly—"

"Our lord said Lavinia Akan wasn't abducted."

"... What does that mean?"

"Apparently, she joined voluntarily, rather than being abducted."

"How is that even...possible? Perhaps it is."

She could not understand it, yet she could. Lavinia Akan was said to have a wandering streak. And the last place she had been found was The Beast's Tower.

"What do you think?"

"Pardon?"

"Lavinia Akan is a chimera creator. The finest chimera creator on the continent."

"I don't know what you're getting at."

"There are four Heavenly Kings. The Dark Spirit Summoner."

Ernyan pointed at herself.

"The Dark Knight."

Next, at Kaede.

"The Giant of Hell."

Finally, toward the first floor.

"And the Commander of the Legion of Death."

"... You really are..."

"Really are?"

"Without a doubt, insane."

More so than Louise Berft or Lavinia Akan.

"That's a rude thing to say."

"A minor discourtesy compared with your deceiving me."

"I arranged an illustrious position for you."

"You did nothing of the sort."

"But you're undeniably the Dark Knight now, aren't you?"

"I doubt losing one of the Four Heavenly Kings would cause much trouble."

"You called yourself the Demon King's knight, didn't you? A Demon King's knight is naturally a Dark Knight. Are you planning to forsake your oath?"

"... Haah."

Kaede rose, wiped away her sweat roughly, and took up her sword again.

"I need to continue training, so I would like you to leave."

"It's rude to do something else during an important conversation."

"This isn't important at all, and you are the one who interrupted my training."

"Let's overlook such little details."

"Yes, so would you please leave?"

She began swinging her sword. But Ernyan did not leave. She crouched down and watched the blade slice through the air.

"When we left the tower to abduct Elena, we had a little time between her arrival at the palace and the start of the banquet. Our lord gave me permission, so I heard a rumor from an informant I knew. Oh, of course, I had my face covered, so they didn't know I was a princess."

Kaede did not respond, but Ernyan continued undeterred.

"Apparently, the Jespine Empire's Eighth Prince died. I heard his horse went wild while he was riding, and he fell to his death... But wasn't he a knight with intermediate-level aura?"

"...!"

Kaede's sword stopped.