What's with that guy?
『…So you're saying you've decided to join the hero campaign yourself?』
My god. Beyond the crystal, Gordon's voice quivered. Deep denial radiated from him.
"Didn't we agree you wouldn't argue with me anymore?"
『This is a completely different matter! A Demon King joining a hero campaign?! Joining forces with a hero to kill another Demon King?!』
"There is no law that forbids killing a Demon King."
『Conflicts between Demon Kings are explicitly prohibited.』
"That only means we're forbidden from directly killing each other."
『That's just covering your eyes and pretending you don't see!』
"If no one finds out, everything is fine."
『...』
Gordon fell silent. Berze's sudden proclamation was so absurd and explosive he could barely think—but in the end, Gordon had only one path.
『…If your identity as a Demon King is exposed, you will die.』
He was Berze's adjutant, and until they returned to the Demon Realm after conquering the dimension called Arein, they were bound together in the same boat.
And technically, the prohibition against demonkind fighting each other only applied to Demon Kings dispatched to foreign dimensions.
If this were the Demon Realm, killing each other wouldn't be a big deal.
…Nonsense.
This wasn't the Demon Realm—it was Arein.
But the one spouting such nonsense was the Demon King he served.
『Fine. Let's assume everything else is fine. Let's say we really can kill Demon King Draxon. But why must you personally join the hero campaign? It's too dangerous.』
"Don't worry. I'll hide myself well."
『Hide? How can a Demon King possibly hide his identity in front of heroes?!』
Why were heroes considered the natural enemies of Demon Kings?
Not only because their dimensional power opposed a Demon King's power, but also because the moment either side released even a trace of power, they instantly sensed each other.
They couldn't hide their identity, nor act separately. This severely restricted the movements of Demon Kings and their kin.
And yet he wanted to walk straight into a place swarming with heroes?
That was suicide.
『I know you've obtained the Phoenix's power.』
Honestly, Gordon was shocked—he could sense no demonic energy from Berze at all.
『But that's me. Heroes are different.』
"Logar didn't notice."
『Logar isn't even a proper half-hero!』
"And I just met Rozel Charnt."
『…hic.』
『Have you already been captured…? If someone is threatening you right now, blink once… or lose vision in one eye…』
"Stop talking nonsense, Gordon. I'll handle everything. You just focus on your job. When are you finally going to push that swindler into the Golden Moon Firm?"
『That's…』
Before Gordon could finish his excuse, Berze cut the connection.
He didn't bother trying to persuade him. Besides, Berze himself knew his actions were a gamble.
But a gamble I must make.
If Draxon dug through the tower's records and uncovered Berze's demonic energy—
If Archduke Alkaine and the other Demon Kings learned of it—
The bleak future painted itself automatically. Berze clicked his tongue.
"Just seeing how much the Dark Elves oppose you shows how different you are from the other Demon Kings."
"That's exactly why I'm helping you."
Berze sipped his tea and calmly studied Hillen Cargill.
"Do you not have a personal guard?"
"I didn't have a strike unit, but I did have a small personal guard. And of course, I still have some subordinates now."
"Then why don't you have a strike unit?"
"I was planning to form one."
Their eyes met. Berze wasn't someone who missed implications.
"This bastard keeps blaming me every chance he gets."
"But it's the truth. Until I dealt with the Lust Demon King, I was just another low-tier hero."
He had some fame, but not enough to form an assault unit like the great heroes.
But after slaying the Lust Demon King, Hillen Cargill's name had risen higher and higher.
"At that time, I intended to stand on my own."
He had cut off his private sponsors and envisioned a future built on his own money, hero campaigns, and reputation.
"But in front of you, Lord Berze, I know it sounds laughable—if that hero campaign had succeeded, I would have been thriving by now."
He would've formed a strike unit, conquered multiple towers, and steadily grown stronger. He knew his shortcomings well.
"With that level of strength? Hardly."
"...I know I'm lacking. But with time, I'll change."
"The Lust Demon King, hm?"
"...Yes."
A Demon King releases interference by devouring the negative emotions of humans and killing heroes. They grow stronger through that.
Heroes kill monsters and demons to absorb their power and advance.
Just as heroes are valuable prey to Demon Kings, Demon Kings are a rare elixir for heroes.
The fame of a Demon King Slayer is not merely symbolic—it means the hero has absorbed that Demon King's strength.
Thus, Hillen Cargill was still lacking, but within him slept the power absorbed from the Lust Demon King.
"Master it quickly. My subordinate can't be this weak."
"...Even so, I can beat you as you are now."
"Do you truly believe that?"
Berze tapped his head lightly. Hillen sighed.
"So what do you think Rozel Charnt will do?"
Berze had set two conditions—and demanded a clear display of intent to fulfill them.
Recruiting Hillen was easy, but forcing the hero campaign to start quickly was… difficult.
The Hero Guild was dragging its feet.
"She'll probably put more pressure on the guild, or…"
"Or?"
"She may move the AcanKingdom. They might pressure the Hero Guild from the state level—or even march an army."
"And other nations will just sit by?"
"That's why it will be done quietly."
The unwritten rule of not crossing borders had been created because shameless nations used hero campaigns as excuses to swallow neighboring countries.
Eventually, it became a shackle binding all nations.
Even if two nations agreed to cooperate, breaking that rule would draw the entire continent's eyes. But if they coordinated secretly to fool everyone, it would be hard to detect.
"Especially Acan—they're the Magic Kingdom. With all their spells, they can hide it well enough."
"And Ormus will accept that?"
"Under normal circumstances, never. But Ormus took massive damage from the failed hero campaign. And the prince was killed—they will desperately want revenge."
Reasonable enough.
"Of course, that's what I would do. I can't say I fully understand Rozel Charnt's thoughts—so please consider it just one possible scenario."
Hillen Cargill shrugged.
***
"A new recruit, you say?"
The vice-captain of the Crimson Flame Assault Unit, Franz, could not understand his commander's words.
"I do think we need new recruits, of course."
"No, I already found one."
"...?"
"A man named Pale. His mana is surprisingly pure for a human. Almost elf-like. I suspect he's a spirit arts user."
It was practically an announcement rather than a discussion, but Franz took it in stride. Rozel's recklessness wasn't anything new.
"You seem very fond of him."
"I've never seen such pure fire mana."
"Is that so?"
Already completely smitten, huh.
Based on long experience, persuading Rozel in this state was impossible. The only saving grace was that she had never once made a meaningless personnel decision.
Now I'm curious too.
For someone with Rozel's ego to praise someone this much—he had to be anything but ordinary.
"I'll run a background check, just in case."
"His name is Pale. Red hair, red eyes. From Hilderan. Handsome, about 185 cm tall. Oh, and one point of interest: he has some connection to Hillen Cargill."
"Hillen Cargill?"
"Yes. When I told him to join the assault unit, he boldly made a counteroffer. First, he wants the hero campaign restarted as soon as possible, and second, he wants Hillen Cargill to join the campaign. If their relationship were ordinary, he wouldn't care that much."
"…And you accepted?"
Franz frowned. Rozel's fallen comrades had also been Franz's comrades.
He knew that if Hillen had simply done his job, the tragedy never would have happened. So just as Rozel Charnt hated Hillen Cargill, Franz also disliked him.
"Yes."
"Commander…"
"I don't like Hillen either. But we can't deny that he's useful. Honestly, he's stronger than you."
"He's just a kid who happened to get his hands on a good sword. Because of him, many of our members died."
"He didn't do it on purpose."
"And what exactly is so great about him?"
"He's weaker than you."
"All that because of someone weaker—?!"
"But."
She propped her chin on her hand.
"His potential is far greater. Give him some time—ten of you charging him together won't be enough."
"...!"
Franz was strong. Naturally. He was vice-captain of the Crimson Flame Assault Unit, and the Crimson Flame Assault Unit was among the strongest on the continent.
"And you'd let someone like that pass by? Just because of someone like Hillen Cargill?"
Rozel's hunger for talent was beyond imagination. She would avenge her dead comrades on the Beast Demon King.
Hillen Cargill had been indirectly involved in their deaths, but that was due to incompetence, not malice.
And that incompetence was partly because the Beast Demon King had acted in ways no one anticipated—and was stronger than expected.
"Hillen Cargill is not insignificant."
Franz admitted objectively, though he disliked him.
"Then how will we handle the demand to start the hero campaign as soon as possible? The Hero Guild isn't being proactive right now."
Their attitude was drastically different from when they first gathered heroes.
"It doesn't matter. We'll pressure them. If they still don't move, we'll go in ourselves. The Beast Tower is basically empty right now anyway."
"Us?"
"I already contacted the AcanKingdom."
"You think they'll get involved?"
"Old geezers love beastfolk flesh."
Like most demons, beastfolk skin, muscle, and every body part were invaluable research materials for mages.
Let alone a Demon King's hide and magic.
"They've probably already departed."
"Ormus won't just sit by… unless—"
Crossing borders under the excuse of a hero campaign had long been taboo.
But if two kingdoms agreed beforehand and cooperated perfectly to hide it—what could the others really say?
"Ormus lost a prince. On top of that, they failed to avenge him and suffered enormous casualties. And now monsters beyond the Demon King's control are running wild?"
Rozel grinned.
"They'll beg us to go."
"You won't be able to hide it completely."
"We just strike fast and leave fast. You can't hide a collapsing tower anyway. I'll just claim I acted alone after everyone else withdrew."
"Even so, Jespine won't remain still…"
"We'll deal with that later. You think those high nobles haven't thought of that already?"
Rozel Charnt chuckled to herself.
"Pale probably didn't expect I'd go this far."
It was a lucky coincidence, but a perfect one. She licked her lips.
"Whether he's scheming to escape, or he truly wants to kill a Demon King…"
"And whatever his relationship with Hillen Cargill is, why he wants Hillen included, whatever he's plotting—"
Her eyes sharpened like a hawk aiming for prey.
"I gave him what he wanted. So he's mine now. I never let go of what lands in my hands."
She coveted that pure mana far too much.
Her mana reacted to her emotions, releasing faint heat.
***
"...."
"What's wrong?"
"No, nothing. I just felt something strange for a moment."
Ernan shook his head.
— Could it be?
Nairuniel appeared out of nowhere, eyes sparkling.
"Could what?"
— The arrival of a romantic rival? Someone is aiming for the Demon King!
Ernan sighed long and deep.
"Lord Nairuniel, truly…"
— Truly?
"You act like a hopeless idler."
— The truth deals zero damage to me!
"…What?"
— Do you know how boring the Spirit Realm is? It's full of dull kings and brainless low spirits.
— The Middle Realm is the best. Thrilling. Always new. It gives meaning to a spirit's life.
— Especially the forbidden love between a kidnapped princess and the Demon King who kidnapped her… deliciously exciting—
"The more I look at you, the more I feel I need to grow stronger as soon as possible."
— So you can overthrow the Demon King faster?
"No. So that you stop showing up whenever you want."
High spirits had free will. As powerful beings, they could cross dimensions using the contract tether even without being summoned.
Ernan resolved to shut that channel off as soon as possible.
— Cruel. After all the time we've spent together?
"It hasn't been that long."
— Anyway, what are you doing right now?
Ernan knew Nairuniel was trying to change the subject, but he let it go.
"I'm remodeling the first floor."
— Remodeling? Why you?
"Lord Logar said he needed help, so I'm helping."
— No, I mean why you specifically?
"Well, I'm a royal pri— no, a prisoner. When your kidnapper tells you to do something, you have to, or you won't survive."
— The Demon King never said to remodel the first floor.
"Lord Logar asked for help, so I'm helping. I have to contribute if I'm going to live in one of the few towers."
— I knew it.
Nairuniel grinned suggestively.
— You like the Demon King, don't you—
"Please die."
Logar let their comedy routine wash over him. At first it was unbearable, but now he was used to it.
Same with the princess's peculiar way of speaking, as if she were hiding something.
TANG, TANG, TANG—
Between the two women's voices, Logar's hammer struck the trap mechanism hard.
— So what exactly are you making?
"I don't know. I'm just helping because he told me to."
Nairuniel's gaze shifted to Logar. Feeling the pressure, Logar finally spoke.
"The Demon King commanded me to make something unusual—something that shatters all expectations."
— And?
"Creating something unexpected is simple. Just make something unfamiliar. So all we need is a Demon King's tower unlike any tower heroes know."
— It's just a normal maze, though?
What Logar had asked Ernan to help build was indeed a maze… or close enough. Not very complex. Twisted a bit, but simple enough that anyone could navigate it.
Logar continued without answering.
"So I thought—wouldn't it be easiest to break their expectations by killing everyone before they can expect anything?"
— …Huh?
"Isn't that already what the Demon King did?"
Nairuniel blinked. Ernan quietly followed up.
"That alone is insufficient! And this is not merely reinforcing a magic turret."
"Then what?"
"Humans are simpler than you think. If there is a path, they follow it. Princess, have you ever heard of a hero squad or assault team that smashed through the maze walls and sprinted straight to the exit?"
"No."
Indeed, none existed.
"Exactly. Such hero squads don't exist. Meaning—once a maze is built, anyone who steps in will automatically follow the path. Therefore…"
Logar pointed at the completed front section.
— Looks normal.
"For now."
Vmmm—
Logar touched something lightly, and gunports revealed themselves along both walls.
"I will line these all the way down the path. A red carpet laid with their own blood."
Logar walked down the path, Ernan trailing behind. At the end of the maze was a wide clearing.
"When the magic turrets fire, they'll run even faster. And eventually, they'll reach this place."
The clearing was a gently sloped, rounded triangle. The entrance was narrow; once inside, all walls closed around the intruders.
— And what goes here?
"I'll dig beneath and install a trap that collapses under a certain amount of weight. The moment it activates, larger, more spectacular magic turrets will appear and unleash hellfire all at once!"
"The hero squad will be completely defenseless and get torn apart like flies under the barrage!"
Mwahahaha!!
Logar cackled madly.
He tenderly stroked the schematics he had drawn.
"Hehehe… you're going to do something great. I have high expectations for you. This time… this time I'll finally tear down a tower…"
— Ugh, I don't know. He's scary.
"Just ignore him."
— Okay.
For the first time, Nairuniel didn't argue with Ernan.
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