Chapter 10

Chapter 10
## Chapter 10: A Valuable Princess

Berge had personally verified that Granada was successfully integrated into the Red Hawk Mercenary Corps.

Even though they were linked by a formal agreement, he felt a sense of accomplishment knowing a trusted subordinate was now positioned within human territory.

‘The true objective begins now.’

With his backing, Granada and the mercenaries were destined for a swift rise to power. The expansion of the group would coincide with Granada’s own advancement, ensuring the elf would eventually serve as a lethal hidden blade for the days to come—a weapon designed to strike at the heart of humanity and its champions when they least expected it.

‘That’s one complication sorted.’

Upon his descent into Aren to seize control of the realm, Berge had formulated three primary pillars of his plan:

1. Manipulate events from the shadows.
2. Enhance his own personal capabilities.
3. Strengthen the tower and the surrounding lands.

The improvement of the tower and his territory necessitated the use of magi points, which were currently in short supply. However, he knew that mitigating the realm’s interference didn’t strictly require those points.

‘The spiritual flora.’

There were plants and elixirs saturated with the natural energy of this world. While their essence differed from pure demonic magi, the tower possessed the ability to transmute mana into the power he required. Though the result wasn’t as potent as harvested emotions or direct points, it was far better than remaining stagnant.

‘I need to get moving.’

The further he traveled from the sanctuary of the tower—which provided a buffer against the world’s interference—the more physical and spiritual strain he endured. Because the tower was still in its infancy, its protective radius was incredibly small, making the prospect of hunting for rare herbs across the endless frozen wastes a daunting chore.

Nevertheless, he couldn’t simply delegate everything to Granada.

‘Granada is a tool for support. If my own strength is lacking, everything else is trivial.’

No matter how formidable his fortifications, the heroes would eventually arrive at his gates. When that day came, someone had to stand against them. Berge intended for that someone to be himself.

By his own hand. Using his own might.

He craved the sensation of crushing the life out of those pests. He wanted to roar his defiance at those who had once ridiculed and ended him, proving his resurrection.

It was during these thoughts that he sensed it.

“……”

His stride toward the northern exit of the city faltered. A sharp, predatory sensation prickled at the base of his skull. He was being shadowed. Someone was tracking his movements.

Who would be so bold? Who dared to hunt him?

Berge continued forward, turning into a desolate side street—moving with deliberate speed.

‘Has he noticed?’

The figure following Berge paused. The dark, narrow passage ahead felt as dangerous as the throat of a beast. Instinctive terror flared within the stalker.

‘The target is aware. I should fall back and wait for a better opening…’

“The sound of your frantic thoughts is becoming quite annoying.”

“……!”

A wave of murderous intent washed over the shadow, freezing him in place. He clenched his teeth in desperation.

*Rip—*

Talons of a beast tore through the air. The stalker’s frame distorted, muscles bursting through fabric as he transformed. Realizing his initial strike had missed, he lunged away, his heavy landing causing the edge of a nearby rooftop to crumble.

“A beastkin.”

Berge made a sharp gesture toward the retreating figure.

*Whoosh—*

A beam of obsidian fire erupted, streaking through the air.

“Kuh…!”

The beastkin contorted his body mid-leap, desperately trying to evade. However, the dark flames behaved as if they were sentient, swerving to consume him. Engulfed in the blaze, the beastkin released a massive pulse of his own internal magi. It was a move that would leave a trail for others to follow, but he was desperate.

The surge of energy managed to dissipate the clinging fire.

But it wasn’t enough.

“I’ll give you credit for escaping the flames. You have a bit more wit than the average beast.”

That split second of distraction was all Berge needed to close the distance.

*Boom!*

A powerful hand locked around the beastkin’s throat. Berge slammed him through the roof, crashing through five successive floors until they hit the solid earth below. The beastkin gasped, struggling against the crushing grip.

‘This is impossible. Even a Demon King should be crippled by the interference of this dimension…!’

The stalker had arrived in Aren long ago and had recovered much of his strength, yet the disparity between them was staggering.

“Wh-why are you doing this?”

“Do not fret. I won’t even bother asking who your master is. It’s painfully obvious.”

“I was merely a traveler passing through!”

“Of course. And I simply happen to be in a foul mood. You had the audacity to watch a Demon King and then flee, which only made my temper worse. Isn’t that a sufficient reason to break you?”

“That’s insane!”

*Crack—*

The pressure on his windpipe increased. The beastkin’s eyes became bloodshot as he suffocated.

“Is it? In this world, the strong dictate the rules.”

“I-if you kill me, Lord Drakson will…!”

“If you intended to keep your secret, you should have held your tongue to the end. Have all your kind become this dim-witted?”

It mattered little in the end.

“I will spare your life for the moment.”

Though he was irritated, Berge knew that starting an open war with Drakson right now was premature. He loosened his grip. The moment the beastkin inhaled in relief, Berge snapped both of his arms with a sickening crunch.

“Gaaargh!”

“I can’t let you leave without a reminder. Inform Drakson of this: I am not his debtor, so he has no business keeping an eye on me.”

Berge tossed the broken beastkin into the shadows away from the main road. Then, he leaped over the city walls and disappeared into the high peaks.

‘He’s more bold than I anticipated.’

The encounter confirmed that Drakson intended to meddle in his affairs regardless of his actions.

‘I must find a way to bypass this dimensional suppression as quickly as possible.’

While Demon Kings were technically forbidden from fighting one another, there were always ways to bend the rules. He couldn’t trust that Drakson wouldn’t find a loophole. In such a world, personal power was the only true insurance.

His gaze turned toward the horizon, cold and determined.

—

The Erjest Mountains were a colossal presence. No other range on the continent could rival their jagged heights, making them a dead zone for humans and most civilized races.

Because of this isolation, monsters ruled the peaks, and the ambient mana of the wild grew more concentrated over the centuries. Plants that soaked up this energy became rare spirit herbs, and the creatures that consumed them evolved into spirit beasts.

A scholar of magic once described the Erjest Mountains as “a natural vault of legendary elixirs.”

Hidden behind lethal terrain and hordes of monsters, this was the most efficient way for Berge to regain his power without spending his limited points. The only issue was the sheer difficulty of the search.

“The interference gets heavier the further we go. When the mountain storms hit, the tower’s reach weakens significantly. It is a grave risk,” Gordon noted.

His concerns were valid. In Erjest, a blizzard wasn’t just weather; it was a tempest of chaotic mana. Much like how a fire is extinguished by a downpour, the tower’s influence would be drowned out by the storm.

It was a delusion to think the local monsters would bow to a Demon King out of habit. Unless they were formally broken, they only stayed away out of fear; the moment he showed a hint of vulnerability, they would tear him apart.

“Furthermore, there is no promise of success. These mountains are endless.”

“I am aware, but wandering blindly is still better than sitting still. We will find something eventually.”

“I suppose, but…”

Their conversation was interrupted.

*Knock knock—*

The door moved slightly, and a small, delicate face looked through the gap.

“Um… am I interrupting something?”

“What do you want?”

“Well, I was thinking…”

At that moment, a spirit drifted above the girl’s head, making its presence known.

“……”

Berge and Gordon looked at each other in surprise. The very tool they needed had been right in front of them all along. Spirits were more attuned to mana than any other being in existence.

—

“I am actually quite excited about this,” the princess said, her voice carrying an uncharacteristic cheerfulness. “I was dying of boredom. Truly.”

She had managed to cast off the heavy burdens of her royal life, finding an odd sort of joy in her current situation. Being kidnapped and surviving unharmed was a stroke of luck in her eyes. However, after weeks of having nothing to do, her relief had curdled into restless curiosity.

She had heard the dark legends of the Demon Kings back at the palace.

‘The Beast Demon King keeps princesses in iron cages.’
‘The Demon King of Frost preserves royalty as statues of ice.’
‘The Demon King of Lies treats his captives like honored guests.’

To these entities, royalty were either bait for heroes or chips for political gambling. Whether they were cruel or kind, they always used their captives. Yet, this particular Demon King hadn’t laid a finger on her. He hadn’t even checked on her.

She had been curious, but she kept her mouth shut.

‘He is still a monster…’

She was thankful for the peace, but the lack of responsibility was becoming its own kind of prison. She needed a purpose.

‘I could make this place look much better.’

She looked around the desolate fourth floor. She wanted to transform the empty space into a sanctuary for her spirits. She had knocked on his door out of a mix of desperation and sheer boredom. Her heart had been racing, but the response was not what she expected.

“Put this on. It’s cold.”

Berge handed her a thick coat made of high-quality fur, recently acquired from the city.

“You will keep your end of the deal?”

“Allowing you to renovate the fourth floor? If you locate the herbs I need, you can do whatever you like with that level.”

Berge had initially thought she was losing her mind. A human girl wanting to redecorate a Demon King’s fortress was absurd. But he chose to indulge her. He didn’t have the time to focus on the tower’s aesthetics anyway, and since he needed her unique talents, a fair exchange was the most logical path.

The tower gates opened. For Ernyan, it was her first taste of the outside world in a long time. The freezing air and the biting wind were harsh, but they felt like freedom. Her water spirit danced in the air, while her fire spirit hid within her layers for warmth.

“I suspect I am the first human to ever walk these heights of the Erjest Mountains.”

“That is irrelevant. Pay attention, princess. Your task is—”

“Ernyan.”

“…?”

“Call me Ernyan. Since we are going to be working together, it’s only right, don’t you think?”

Berge’s expression darkened. He had been too soft; she was starting to forget who he was.

“You are overstepping. Would you prefer a cold stone cell?”

“……”

She went quiet immediately, the color draining from her face as she felt his brief flash of malice. Berge suppressed the aura and kept walking.

“The task is simple. Use your spirits to identify areas where the mana is most concentrated.”

Rare herbs only grew in “mana wells.” It was far easier to detect a large zone of energy than to find a single small plant.

“I understand.”

Ernyan released her wind and water spirits into the air.

“I’ve already found a spot.”

“…?”

—

While Berge and Ernyan scoured the peaks for spirit herbs…

A report arrived from Granada.

⚙ COMMUNICATION FROM GRANADA ⚙

Information gathered from the local guilds: The Hero Hillun Kagil, accompanied by thirty-two other champions, has left the capital of Hildean. They are marching north. As per their usual behavior, expect their numbers to swell as they recruit more followers along the way.

Gordon’s jaw tightened.

“I was hoping for more time…”

The hunt had begun. The heroes were finally on his trail.