Large and immense
When Acan began its ascent into the mountains, Berze climbed as well.
The only difference was that Acan had to climb cautiously, slowly, savoring their way up the mountain—whereas Berze met a Frost Orc halfway and rode a Frost Wolf to the summit.
By the time Acan was still floundering at the mountain's foot, Berze had already reached the Tower.
"You've returned?"
"They've begun their move. Station the orcs in each sector and lure in the monsters."
"Yes, but while you were away, there was a message from Demon King Vivian."
Vivian?
"What is it?"
"She wouldn't explain the exact reason. She insisted she must speak to you directly, so I told her you were busy and to contact you later, then I cut the line."
"Well done."
Allowing anyone to discover that he strayed outside the Tower was unacceptable.
Berze entered his office and initiated a communication with Vivian. After a moment, Vivian's face appeared.
『Why didn't you answer! What on earth were you doing?』
Her shrill voice stabbed at his ears. Berze's expression twisted.
"Say what you called to say."
『I want you to help me.』
Her first sentence was so absurd that Berze couldn't even laugh.
"And why would I do that?"
『Because it will save me—and bring you an opportunity.』
"Opportunity?"
『You haven't been in this damned dimension for long, have you? I heard you offended Archduke Alkaine and were forced here. Don't you want to go back?』
"Go back?"
『Yes.』
"That's possible?"
『Would I bring it up if it weren't?』
Vivian smiled seductively through the crystal sphere.
『Archduke Alkaine promised me. If I find the culprit, he will use his authority to summon me back to the Demon Realm.』
『If you help me, I'll make sure you can return as well. What do you think?』
"Archduke Alkaine made that promise?"
『Yes.』
"So that was your great source of confidence? Unbelievable."
『It's true.』
A sigh escaped him.
"Truly…"
『Truly what?』
At this point, he felt pity rather than irritation.
"Truly, your skull is hollow, you idiot woman."
『…What did you say?』
"There's a limit to stupidity. I'm amazed you ever conquered a dimension. Did you just cheer from the sidelines while the other Demon Kings did all the work?"
『…Watch your mouth. My patience is wearing thin.』
"You have patience? You need a brain for that."
『Enough!』
"Alkaine will summon you back? Have you forgotten that once a Demon King descends, they cannot return unless they die or conquer the dimension?"
『Of course I know. But those laws were made by demons—and enforced by demons.』
He understood what she meant.
The greatest reasons Demon Kings could not leave a dimension were twofold:
First, the pride and honor of demons, who did not tolerate failure.
Second, a practical constraint—mana.
The dimensional barrier was fickle.
The higher the dimension, the more mana required to cross.
Different dimensions varied wildly in consumption.
Traveling from a high dimension to a low one consumed far less mana.
But the reverse?
Mana costs rose exponentially.
And the Demon Realm was clearly a higher dimension than the middle realms it conquered.
Of course, it wasn't impossible—just costly. But why would Archduke Alkaine expend such mana?
"To burn a mountain of mana, ruined with the shame of his subordinate fleeing disgracefully and failing—and summon you back? Why would Archduke Alkaine bother?"
『Because it's a promise.』
"You believe he'll keep it?"
『Hmph. You don't know, but my family and his are deeply intertwined. He cannot break his promise. This is a transaction between families, not individuals.』
So she had something she believed in. Berze recalled the noble houses of the Demon Realm.
House Blunt (succubi) and House Blamif (vampires) were indeed heavily entwined. Both wielded enormous influence.
'But even so…'
Would that truly compel Alkaine?
A Demon King dying in a descended dimension was no one's responsibility but their own.
If Vivian Blunt simply died cleanly, no one would complain—and no one would need to summon her.
This woman clearly hadn't considered that.
Well, that was why she accepted the ridiculous proposal and came here.
'Though… archdukes can reverse-summon too. So technically, maybe it's possible.'
But even if everything were true, would Alkaine also summon Berze back?
Absurd.
And Berze didn't want to return anyway.
"I'm drowning in work and you're yapping about nonsense."
『You… you really live as if today is your last.』
"Try living today yourself. Keep reaching for tomorrow and you won't live to see it."
He meant it. Berze wished Vivian a long life—to keep the humans' attention focused on her.
It would make things easier for him.
Berze abruptly cut the communication.
A group was already approaching the mountain to put a blade to his throat; he had no time for nonsense.
"Gordon, you guard the Tower. I'll personally command the orcs and stop them."
"Have you found a method?"
"Not really."
He had used the identity of Pale to infiltrate them to discover their scheme, but failed.
They hid it thoroughly.
But not knowing didn't mean he wouldn't prepare.
"I plan to poke them a bit."
"In what way?"
"In reverse."
"Reverse?"
"Before, we blocked them only after they climbed midway. This time from the start. They think monsters only swarm at night—so we'll send monsters during the day. And at night…"
"At night…?"
"I'll cause an avalanche."
First, he'd test what preparations they had made.
Berze's lips curved faintly.
***
The journey of Acan to find the Demon King's Tower had begun.
Ruff! Ruff!
Five mana-hounds created by Lavinia tracked demonic energy. But perhaps because they were still near the entrance, they couldn't get a clear read.
Naturally, Acan's expectations shifted elsewhere.
"We leave it to you."
"Yes."
Granada led the way. His gaze swept across the snowy mountains. Slowly and cautiously, he left footprints on the pristine white.
"As I've said, we never found the Tower. So I cannot give you a perfect route."
"Yes, of course."
"Also, I cannot guarantee the Tower isn't somewhere on the path Hillen and I traveled. We were exhausted then and too busy avoiding monsters to inspect every area thoroughly."
"Yes."
Granada laid the groundwork, and Kain accepted it without objection. Nothing Granada said was wrong.
Searching the harsh terrain of Ergest perfectly was impossible from the start. Thus Kain didn't expect perfection.
"Just lead us to a few promising locations. We'll take care of the rest."
"She trusts you."
"My sister says once we get close enough, trust her."
The Demon King's Tower radiated faint mana simply by existing. Even aside from that, monsters would gather around it.
And in Acan, there existed mana-hounds, and Lavinia Acan herself—a being more sensitive to demonic energy than anyone.
"Yes. Understood."
Granada first chose a path leading away from the Tower and began climbing the mountain.
Monsters that occasionally darted out from the lower paths were incinerated instantly under the bombardment of magic.
Several days passed. Until then, nothing resembling a real ambush had occurred.
"We camp here tonight!"
On the evening of the fourth day, before the light fully faded, Kain selected a good location and established camp. A gently raised hill provided wide visibility, and the rocky outcrop behind them offered natural protection—an excellent choice.
They erected magic tents and laid alarm wards. Then they began installing every magic artifact they brought.
Magic landmines, engraved glyphs, installation-type spell scrolls… What a massive waste of money.
If monsters charged in, they would step on a mine before reaching the camp, be crippled instantly, and then be obliterated by bombardment—dying before they even understood what happened.
"You must've spent a fortune. How much did you bring?"
"This is only a portion."
"Incredible."
"That's how much we're investing in this operation. We will succeed."
All they needed was to spot the Tower—even from afar. What came after was not their responsibility.
Night fully settled. At dinner, the sparse snowfall thickened into a storm.
Kain allowed everyone except a few sentries to rest inside the magic tents.
"Will you have a drink?"
Granada was invited into Kain's tent. Thanks to magic lamps, the inside was warm and bright. Kain handed him a steaming mug of hot chocolate.
"Thank you."
Sip—Granada barely suppressed the grimace rising on his face. It was too sweet.
"I heard elves don't like sweet things, but it seems you're fine with it, Sir Granada."
"…"
Is he picking a fight?
"I'm joking. My apologies."
Kain smiled warmly and handed him another cup instead. The fragrant aroma of tea washed away the cloying sweetness, refreshing Granada's throat.
"That's better."
"What was it like in the early days of the Hero Expedition?"
"What do you mean?"
"It's only been a few days, I know, but nothing we've seen resembles the kind of fearsome monsters Ergest is known for."
"You were expecting something?"
"Of course not. But this calm feels like the calm before a storm. Better to take the blow early, wouldn't you agree?"
"It's no different from the hero expedition. We, too, only faced serious assaults once we reached halfway up the mountain."
The lower paths weren't without monsters—but their numbers and strength were inferior.
"Then it seems we can relax for a few more days."
"But since this is Ergest, letting your guard down is—"
Granada turned his head sharply. His pointed ears twitched.
"What is it?"
"You didn't hear that?"
"Hear what?"
And then—
Rrrrumble—
The teacups on the table trembled.
A soldier burst in, breathless.
"Your Highness! Trouble!"
"What is it!"
"A-a-avalanche!"
"…!"
Kain and Granada sprinted outside.
Confused shouts filled the camp. The ground itself vibrated. In the distance, waves of churning snow gleamed under the moonlight as they rushed forward.
"Good heavens…!"
"Is Ergest always like this? Sir Granada, didn't you say an avalanche happened during the hero expedition?"
"That wasn't—well…"
"…Not important right now."
Kain assessed the situation instantly.
There was still some distance, but not enough time to dismantle the camp and flee. Yet abandoning everything was also impossible.
"Mages! To your positions! Raise the barrier!"
The mages fed mana into the pre-set spell scrolls.
Rrrrrumble—
A massive wall of earth erupted, enveloping the entire campsite.
"Ice Wall!"
"Ice!"
The Blue Meteor mages cast spells, forming hand seals. A layer of ice reinforced the earthen barrier.
But Kain wasn't finished.
"Bring them out!"
"Yes!"
"What are you bringing out?" Granada asked.
Kain didn't answer. He didn't need to.
Creak—
Through a torn rift of subspace, enormous bodies emerged.
***
"They'll be struck like lightning."
"As they should."
From atop the mountain peak, Berze stared downward.
Acan's camp lay directly in the avalanche's path—no better than a candle before the wind.
A midnight ambush could be anticipated, but a midnight avalanche? No human would foresee that. They'd be wondering what misfortune fell on them in their sleep. Berze was certain he'd caught them completely off guard.
An earth wall rose, ice reinforced it.
Berze snorted.
"That won't stop it."
He dismantled several of the explosive charges he had set earlier, gathered them, and detonated them at once. This avalanche was, without question, far greater in scale than the one during Hillen's hero expedition.
Humans were nothing before the majesty of nature.
"…Hm?"
Just as the avalanche reached Acan's camp, something large thrust upward.
Crack-crash!
The avalanche slammed into the barrier. The wall shuddered, seeming ready to collapse—but then, suddenly, it held firm, standing even straighter.
"What… is that?"
Krutu and the orcs recoiled in shock.
"Ooooooh!"
Logar cried out in awe.
They were giants.
Constructed giants.
"Golems—massive golems! Such enormous golems! As expected of Acan!"
Five golems over five meters tall, and one titan, braced themselves against the barrier and held back the avalanche.
READ MORE CHAPTERS HERE: pokemon-translation-2.myshopify.com