Chapter 14

Chapter 14
Chapter: 14

Chapter Title: Not a Prince, But a Hero

—

“Uh…”

Roger found himself unable to shut his hanging jaw.

“You’re… letting me go?”

“I never made such a claim.”

“B-But you gave your word that you would show me leniency…”

“I stated that I would permit you to remain among the living.”

And as of this moment, your heart is still beating.

“…”

There wasn’t a single flaw in that logic.

The color drained instantly from Roger’s features.

“Ahh…”

His stubby legs gave out, his knees sinking into the heavy snow. Warm tears fell, melting into the frozen earth.

The Demon King was fully aware.

He had seen right through Roger’s act of playing the informant just to wait for an opening to flee.

“You seem so overwhelmed with gratitude that you’ve been moved to tears.”

“…Y-Yes, naturally.”

“Stand up. Our journey is far from over.”

“…Understood.”

The air was frigid. The sharp wind cut through even the high-quality fur coat the dwarf was famous for wearing, causing the words “Erjest Mountains” to tremble past his lips.

“Um, what is our specific destination?”

“The peak, for obvious reasons.”

“Are you saying the spire is located at the very top?”

Roger had been living in isolation lately, focused entirely on smithing armaments for the princess. He had been completely out of the loop regarding the arrival of the newest Demon King.

He wasn’t even aware that this Demon King had abducted the crown princess of the Hildran Kingdom.

However, he did know that Demon King towers were typically situated in perilously remote areas—places that were just barely within human reach.

But the summit of the Erjest Mountains?

It felt strange, yet Roger lacked the courage to press for answers.

They trudged upward for a significant duration. His short stride slowed their progress, though fortunately, his years at the forge had granted him decent endurance.

“The beasts… they are moving out of our way on their own.”

“Of course they are. I am the Demon King. Do you honestly think I would permit common monsters to obstruct my path?”

“D-Does that imply this entire mountain range is under your dominion…?”

Berge offered no vocal reply. But in this silence, didn’t it feel like a confirmation?

Truly…?

Roger gulped as a dark, flickering realization crossed his mind like a black fire.

At last, they stepped onto the summit. The tower was tucked away within a basin, shielded from casual observation.

“Observe closely. This is the place where you will begin dedicating your talents to my service.”

“…Me? Serving the tower? In what capacity…?”

“That will become clear to you in due time.”

The great doors of the tower swung wide.

Roger clamped his eyes shut in terror.

The ground floor might only house the lowliest of demons, but they were still monsters. He hadn’t encountered a live one since he had taken up the mantle of a hero—not once in his life—and he was paralyzed by dread.

“What is the meaning of this?”

“Ah, uh…”

Snapping back at the Demon King’s reprimand, he pulled his eyes open. He found himself staring into a vacant stone chamber.

“Uh…? Is it supposed to be empty?”

“For the moment. We shall occupy the space in stages.”

“Ah, I see. That is logical for a newly established Demon King.”

Roger bobbed his head, feeling a sense of relief. At the very least, there were no monsters to face yet.

“Keep close.”

They moved up to the second and third levels. Both were as barren as the first. However, the fourth floor caught him completely off guard for a very different reason.

It bore no resemblance to a Demon King’s stronghold.

“Spirits…?”

Mystical entities were playing within the tower, despite the thin mana in the air.

“Oh, you’ve returned?”

A human woman appeared from among them, giving Roger another shock. She looked entirely out of place in such a fortress.

“And who might this be…?”

“Who?”

“This is the princess of Hildran. And this is the dwarf who will be your new housemate. He is a hero.”

“…A princess?”

“…A hero?”

“The two of you will reside here on the fourth floor. Since you’ll be seeing quite a bit of one another, introduce yourselves.”

With that, the Demon King ascended toward the fifth floor.

Left in the wake of his departure, the princess and the hero exchanged silent, wide-eyed looks.

“You haven’t come here to rescue me, have you?”

“…Well, in a manner of speaking.”

“Were you taken captive as well?”

“…”

“You’re… you aren’t a prince, are you?”

“…”

“…Are you actually a hero…?”

“…More or less.”

Roger lowered his head in shame.

He didn’t possess much professional pride as a hero, but in this moment, he felt a mortification so deep he wished the earth would swallow him.

◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
“You want me to remodel the entire first floor?”

Living in the same quarters as the princess had shifted from awkwardness to a stifling tension by the time the Demon King called for Roger.

And this first directive was a difficult one to stomach.

“Did you not claim you would use your expertise for my sake? Was that merely a falsehood?”

“N-No, it was the truth.”

“Then consider this your opportunity. The privilege of offering your humble craftsmanship to me.”

“So, I have permission to do whatever I wish with the entry level…”

“Do not test my patience by making me say it again.”

Heavy ballistas and massive cannons inside a Demon King’s tower…?

Instead of a garrison of demons. It was nearly unthinkable.

I assumed he wanted me to forge swords or suits of mail…

Even demons required gear and weaponry. That was the reason he thought he had been brought to this place.

But to saturate the first floor with dwarven traps?

“If you intend to retreat now and claim you cannot bring yourself to slay your fellow heroes, then speak up.”

“Truly?”

“Indeed.”

Roger was sharp enough to feel the palpable aura of death radiating from the man.

“N-No! I am eager to begin.”

His own survival far outweighed the lives of heroes he had never met.

“Can you deliver?”

“I am among the finest craftsmen in the dwarf kingdom. If it is your wish, I will provide more than just simple artillery—I shall demonstrate the very pinnacle of dwarven ingenuity!”

“A commendable spirit. Do you require any specific supplies?”

“That depends on the scale of the renovation and the design for the floor.”

“The entire first level. I am giving you total control—execute it as you see fit.”

“The whole floor…? In that case, may I prepare some technical drawings?”

“You have forty-eight hours.”

“Yes, my lord!”

“Oh, one more thing.”

The Demon King leaned down, bringing his face dangerously close. Roger collapsed as those void-like eyes loomed inches from his own.

A low whisper crawled into his ear.

“By all means, try to play double agent. But never forget—this is the tower of the Demon King. The second you betray me, your life will become a nightmare beyond your imagination.”

“Hic!”

The Demon King dissipated into the shadows. Roger remained on the floor, his trousers soaked.

“Sniff.”

He felt utterly pathetic.

◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
“I can tolerate the dwarf.”

It wasn’t a perfect situation, but compared to their current circumstances, it was vastly improved.

“But a hero?”

Heroes were the sworn enemy.

The sentinels meant to halt any incursion.

The barriers to conquering any realm.

While things had become strange in Aren lately due to some Demon Kings working with humans, they remained fundamentally incompatible rivals.

“No self-respecting Demon King permits a hero within their walls!”

“Then I shall be the pioneer.”

“Why are you taking this path?”

“I gave you my reasons regarding the dwarf. Must I repeat the strategy?”

“But he is a hero.”

“He is also a dwarf. One of the greatest smiths of his nation.”

“Even so…!”

“Would you prefer to design the traps yourself?”

“…”

Berge sipped his bitter tea as Gordon’s protests finally died down.

“Devise a way to obtain the materials the dwarf requires.”

“…That is simple enough. You should handle the acquisition yourself.”

Gordon replied with a sharp tone.

“Explain.”

“By dispersing the purchases across different realms, we prevent the worst-case scenario.”

“Which is?”

“Being intercepted while buying supplies, and then being followed. They would uncover exactly what you are constructing.”

“And the solution?”

“Buy from various kingdoms—they won’t be able to connect the dots. Humans rely on tracking logistics, but since you’ll use sub-space storage, there will be no trail to follow.”

“Decent thinking. So why the long face?”

“Is there something wrong with my expression?”

Everything about it.

It’s so grating I feel the urge to crush it.

He wasn’t this insufferable before the regression. What has changed?

“This might turn into an issue shortly.”

“…”

Gordon broke into a wide, mocking grin when the Demon King balled his fist. It was a hideous sight.

Berge drummed his fingers on the tabletop.

It was irritating, but perhaps it was for the best.

Traps built by a dwarf relied on the element of surprise.

The shock of the timing.

The unexpected nature of the mechanisms.

Regardless, having humans trace his movements was far from ideal.

“Very well. Organize a list of the best materials and where to get them. Provide a full report.”

“I haven’t the slightest idea what he needs.”

“Is that meant to be a question? Go speak to the hero.”

“Ah.”

“Do you have an issue with the workload?”

“…No.”

“Is this an act of defiance?”

“…”

“The valedictorian of the Demon Aide Academy? How disappointing.”

“…That isn’t the case.”

“Whatever. I will review the designs myself. Just keep an eye on the hyacinth.”

“…Understood.”

Berge vanished. Left alone, Gordon threw a heavy punch into the stone wall.

◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
Returning to his own room, Gordon stomped across the floor and collapsed onto his mattress.

He was seething, no matter how he looked at the situation.

It was his own oversight, surely—he had been so preoccupied with the dwarf’s status as a hero that he had ignored the basic logistics.

But who was the source of the problem? Berge.

I looked past the decision to build on the Erjest Mountains.

I accepted keeping it hidden.

I didn’t argue when the princess was allowed to decorate the fourth floor instead of being locked in a dungeon.

I watched him waste vital magic points to acquire human currency.

I stayed quiet while he used an elf slave for back-alley dealings.

I even stood by while he let a dwarf fill the entrance hall.

I have ignored every piece of non-traditional, un-demonlike conduct. Because he is the Demon King. The master I chose to serve.

But bringing a hero into the fold?

Giving a hero control over the tower’s defense?

“Dammit.”

This was not the dynamic between a Demon King and his second-in-command that he had envisioned.

This wasn’t why he had spent a decade studying at the Demon Aide Academy.

This wasn’t why he had graduated at the top of his class.

“I can’t take anymore…!”

Gordon slowly opened his clenched hand. A heavy, weary sigh escaped his lips.

He had to stay the course.

Their bond was one of strict hierarchy. Among demons, the chain of command was everything.

To rebel was to invite death. It was the natural order. And that order was even more absolute within the tower than in the demon world.

“If only he weren’t the Demon King!”

But Berge held the title, and Gordon was merely his aide.

He retrieved his communication crystal. Feeding it a spark of mana, it began to pulse with light, establishing a link.

💬 Vice Officer Network
— Unknown
You’re back, I see.
— Unknown
The Demon King made an appearance? Earlier than we thought?
“Are all Demon Kings this impossible?”

Gordon poured out his pent-up frustration.

— Unknown
I can hear the rage in your voice.
— Unknown
I understand. We have to serve, but they can be incredibly grating.
— Unknown
Tell us what happened.
“He simply won’t listen. Everything has to be done his way. Why even bother having an aide?”

— Unknown
You too? My master is the same. Occasionally listens, but usually just does whatever they want.
— Unknown
That’s rough. My Demon King is actually quite receptive.
— Aina
Quiet, Aina.
— Cocoon
You be quiet, Cocoon. You have no manners.
The voices that had started out supportive quickly devolved into their own petty arguments.

“If he would just consider my input once, I wouldn’t feel this hopeless.”

— Unknown
Top of the class at the Demon King Academy? Seems he’s living up to the reputation.
— Unknown
Gordon, you were the top of the Aide Academy too, right? Being the first valedictorian in Aren… that must be a strange position.
— Unknown
Same here. I’m not sure if I’m an officer or just a personal cheerleader.
“Precisely! If he just didn’t have that title!”

— Unknown
Keep those thoughts away from your master.
— Unknown
He sounds temperamental—your head will be on a pike.
— Unknown
‘Gordonized.’ This could be quite the show.
“Don’t jinx me.”

Aren maintained a private network specifically for the aides of Demon Kings.

The lines usually lit up whenever someone reached their breaking point with their superior.

◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
While the private aide channels were meant to be secure, it wasn’t unheard of for hyper-loyal subordinates to report back to their lords.

“I knew it.”

Drakson let out a gravelly laugh, tearing a piece of raw meat with his teeth.

“The first brat to ever act tough to my face. He was even mocked at graduation for questioning the old ways, despite being the top student. He was destined for arrogance.”

Even the ones who didn’t graduate at the top became arrogant once they became Demon Kings. That was simply the nature of their kind.

“What’s your assessment?”

“Regarding the Demon King? Or the aide?”

“The aide. What if he’s putting on an act?”

“It didn’t feel like a performance.”

The fury vibrating through the crystal had been genuine.

“No demon army summoned, no specific tribe brought in, and he’s already at odds with his only officer. It’s confirmed.”

Drakson’s smile took on a predatory edge. Their intense first meeting had hinted at something deeper, but perhaps it was all just a grand bluff.

No, there’s something there.

“What about that slave girl, the elf?”

Trading magic for human gold just to buy slaves? It was suspicious. He remained on high alert.

One of his subordinates had been caught, but the operation was still moving.

“She’s moving south with the Red Hawk Mercenary Corps.”

“The goal?”

“Still unknown…”

“The aide won’t talk?”

“He has plenty of gripes, but he hasn’t breathed a word about Berge’s specific plans.”

“Is he still that loyal?”

It wasn’t a matter of loyalty. He simply couldn’t bring himself to tell the other aides that his Demon King had given a floor to a princess and recruited a hero.

“Keep the channel open, keep digging. Report anything out of the ordinary.”

“Yes, sir.”

“Keep your eyes on that elf as well.”

“Will do.”

“And the hero?”

“Hillun Kagil has departed from Hildran and is currently crossing the Endain Kingdom. The hero party is up to 40, accompanied by mercenaries and traders—141 people in total.”

“Moving faster than I anticipated. I wonder how large that force will be by the time they hit Erjest. Especially against a target like him.”

A desperate attempt at survival had backfired spectacularly.

The situation was too perilous for commoners. It had forced the kingdoms to deploy their most elite hero.

The catalyst was the abduction of the crown princess. Typical, arrogant behavior.

“Hillun Kagil.”

The genuine article. The one who had decapitated the Lust Demon King.

“He’s absorbed Tyrus’s renown and strength—there’s no telling how powerful he’s become.”

“This might be the first and final hero Berge ever encounters.”

“He was struck like a bolt of lightning; now the real show begins. I’m still restless—should we intervene more?”

“In what way…?”

“Heroes thrive on preparation. Give them the intel, and they will tear the target apart piece by piece.”

Drakson snapped his fingers.

“He uses fire, doesn’t he?”

“Yes, black flames.”

“Leaked that information to the heroes quietly. Make sure there are no paths leading back to us.”

“Understood.”

The humans knew nothing about Berge. No way to prepare, no way to strategize.

But knowing about the “flames” changes the entire battlefield.

It leads straight to an inevitable downfall.

Kuhhuhu.

Drakson’s grin turned wicked.