Chapter 21

Chapter 21
## Chapter 21: Tower of the Demon King

“Greetings to Hortonwork, champions of the realm!”

“Long may Hillun Kagil reign!”

The fortress gates swung open to a chorus of thunderous cheers from the local populace.

Granada let out a misty breath into the cold air. A strange sense of deja vu washed over him.

He had returned at last.

Hortonwork.

The site of his initial encounter with the Demon King.

The very place where he had been purchased by that entity and made the choice to serve as a follower.

The path back had been grueling, a crusade that had stretched across nearly half a year of marching.

Yet, it had not been for nothing.

“Praise Hillun Kagil!”

“Glory to Warton Kollo!”

“Granada!”

Hearing his own name interspersed with those of the legendary figures confirmed his progress.

“Master Granada? Why have you stopped? We should move inside.”

Hillun, who had become a close companion during these long months, gave his shoulder a friendly nudge.

“Of course.”

Guided by Hillun and Granada, the coalition of five hundred warriors finally marched into Hortonwork.

The group consisted of one hundred true heroes, supported by four hundred noblemen, armored knights, and hired blades.

In a direct contradiction to what the Demon King had expected, the expedition had remained largely intact. Despite minor internal friction, the desertion rate was non-existent, and the journey had been remarkably smooth.

Much of this stability was owed to the prestige of Hillun Kagil.

He was the glue that held the knights together and the voice that calmed the nerves of the fickle mercenaries.

Granada couldn’t help but feel that the Demon King had severely misjudged Hillun’s capabilities.

“Man, it feels like a lifetime since we were last posted here.”

“Told you the rumors were legit. A Demon King really was nesting in the Erjest Mountains. Someone just wanted to stay tucked away in safety instead of checking it out.”

“Drop it, I was wasted when I said that.”

“Moron.”

“You want to go? You want to die right here?”

The Red Hawk mercenaries, returning to a familiar haunt, traded rough jests. The members of the hero band accepted the local lord’s hospitality and began settling into a wing of the castle.

“As the ruler of Hortonwork, it is my distinct privilege to witness this landmark moment in the crusade against darkness and the triumph of the light!”

The feast commenced following the lord’s formal address. He shared the high table with the most renowned figures, specifically Hillun Kagil and Warton Kollo.

“Our goal is finally in sight. We have traversed the land without suffering a single major setback. The Demon King, clearly paralyzed by our collective strength, hasn’t dared to challenge us and hides away in terror.”

“Even so, we cannot afford to be lax. This is the Demon King we speak of—the villainous soul who dared to kidnap the princess.”

“I look forward to the day we toast our victory over his corpse. For the stability of the realm!”

“For peace!”

“Victory to the heroes!”

At the host’s urging, Hillun led a toast that sent a roar through the hall. The spirit of the men was at an all-time high.

They had absolute trust in Hillun.

The march through the mountains had been curiously devoid of monsters.

They were facing a recently emerged Demon King whose primary weapon was fire.

These factors created a perfect storm of overconfidence. The entire camp felt as though victory was already a foregone conclusion.

Granada, however, found the mood unsettling.

*Isn’t this the exact opposite of what was supposed to happen?*

Initially, the pieces seemed to be falling into the Demon King’s plan. But Hillun had proven so effective that the result had flipped entirely.

*Can we actually hold them back?*

Granada briefly considered the idea of sabotaging them from within right now.

He had been part of this group for two months. His last memory of the tower was the image of the princess standing solitary in a clearing.

*No. There is no cause for concern. If they win, so be it.*

He hadn’t entered the Demon King’s service by choice.

If the master died, the spiritual shackles on him would vanish.

“…”

Nevertheless, a lingering discomfort remained in his gut. Feeling the need for privacy, he retreated to the terrace and channeled his energy into the communication crystal.

To his relief, a connection was established.

“We have reached Hortonwork. We take a brief reprieve here before ascending the peaks.”

『Understood.』

The response was casual, lacking any hint of anxiety.

『Once the climb begins, the risk of detection is too high. Cease all transmissions then.』

“Do I continue to aid the heroes with my full strength?”

『Maintain your current cover and follow previous instructions until you stand before me in the tower. Then, I will issue new orders.』

『Actually, the timing is good. I have a few warnings for you.』

『Watch for the shifting snows and avalanches during your ascent.』

『Keep your eyes open during the night hours.』

『And one more thing: when you finally reach the tower entrance, keep your distance and prepare for a shock.』

“…Excuse me? What do you mean by that?”

Silence followed. The link was cut without explanation.

“What in the world…”

“What are you doing out here in the dark?”

Hillun appeared on the balcony, a bottle of spirits in hand. Granada shoved the crystal out of sight immediately.

“Taking in the air. Why have you left the party, Sir Hillun?”

“I needed a break from the lord and the others for a moment.”

Below, the lord was indeed busy entertaining the rest of the elite warriors.

“Would you like a drink? It’s a fruit vintage that the elves are quite fond of.”

“Only a small glass.”

Granada couldn’t find a polite way to decline, so he accepted the drink. It smelled sweet and potent.

“Is something weighing on your mind?”

The hero took a long sip, letting out a satisfied sigh. “Ah, that’s the stuff.”

“Is it that obvious?”

“Quite. Nervous about being so close to the Demon King’s Tower?”

In a sense, that was true.

“Do you believe we will truly defeat the Demon King?”

“Who can say for certain? The men believe in me, but killing a Demon King is never a sure thing. They are inherently powerful, and their domains are literal death traps.”

“But you were the one who brought down the Lust Demon King. Compared to a foe like that, a newcomer should be simple, right?”

“If things were that simple, the world of Aren would have been cleared of Demon Kings centuries ago.”

Hillun gave a casual shrug.

“Regardless…”

A mysterious smirk crossed the hero’s face.

“With your assistance, Sir Granada, I am confident we will prevail.”

“I am merely an elf of modest skill.”

“Modesty doesn’t suit you. Excluding myself and a handful of others, your reputation has grown more than anyone’s on this journey.”

“That is only because I am always the first to engage when the monsters attack…”

“Precisely. There are warriors stronger than you, but your renown is unmatched. It’s the gap between those who merely have the power to do good and those who actually act on it.”

“Perhaps it is just part of my elven nature,” Granada muttered.

“Listen.”

The hero gripped Granada’s shoulders firmly, his gaze piercing.

“I will take the lead. I need you right beside me, covering my back.”

“…Understood.”

Granada pushed down a nagging feeling of wrongness.

—

### The Ascent

The hero band rested for a full week in Hortonwork after their long trek from the southern Hildran Kingdom to the northern edge of the world.

Hillun called a meeting of the sub-commanders to finalize their strategy.

“Speed and discretion are our best assets. The Erjest Mountains are crawling with beasts. If we avoid notice, we reduce casualties, avoid getting lost in the storms, and save our strength.”

“The tower should be visible once we clear the lower peaks. They are almost always situated in prominent locations.”

“Most likely at the very zenith.”

“Trekking through snow is slow work. We should account for at least seven days of climbing.”

“That will increase the weight of our supplies.”

“The enemy uses fire; ensure everyone has fire resistance gear packed.”

“And winter furs for the drifts. Our packs are going to be heavy.”

They finished their preparations in Hortonwork, and then the word was given.

“Forward!”

The expedition began its final push toward the climax.

—

The base of the Erjest Mountains was manageable.

The slopes were mild, and the group was shielded by thick forests and level clearings.

However, as the altitude climbed, the landscape turned white. The inclines grew sharp, and the trees thinned into nothingness.

Furthermore, the mountain’s natural inhabitants were hostile.

*Kroooaaar!*

“Yeti!”

“Five of them on the right! Three hundred meters!”

The massive white apes, rare in other regions, began appearing with frustrating frequency.

“Twin-Headed Ogre!”

“Spread out! If we bunch up, he’ll crush the whole line!”

The apex predators of the peaks bared their teeth at the invaders.

Any one of these creatures would have been a disaster for a normal caravan, but they couldn’t stop the heroes.

*Slash.*

Hillun’s blade moved with fluid grace. Every swing left a trail of light and a dead foe.

Yeti heads fell into the snow.

The ogre’s chest was pierced.

Orcs were cut down in droves.

Despite his gentle demeanor, Hillun’s combat style was ruthless and efficient.

“That’s our hero!”

“Victory for Hillun Kagil!”

Inspired by his prowess, the other warriors fought with renewed vigor. No matter how fierce the Erjest monsters were, they couldn’t slow the momentum.

The beasts and the terrain were becoming mere nuisances.

Then, a different kind of threat emerged.

“Frost Orcs?”

“Wait, look at the one leading them…”

The knights and mercenaries voiced their concern as shadows appeared on the ridgeline.

“It’s a demon beast!”

The creature was nearly double the size of the other orcs, sporting wicked horns.

The heroes, sensitive to the aura of the abyss, recognized the threat immediately.

“No, that’s not just a beast—it’s a demon. It’s commanding the Frost Orcs!”

“We haven’t seen any demonic presence until now, and they start with this?”

The atmosphere grew heavy. Hillun led the charge, followed by the elite.

Granada followed suit.

*If it’s a demon, the master sent it. Should I fake a fight and let it go?*

No, that would be too suspicious. He had been told to do his part, so he would.

Then, he locked eyes with the demon.

*Is it… grinning?*

Granada caught the faint upward curve of the demon’s mouth.

“He’s mocking us?”

“That arrogant filth.”

Hillun and the others saw it too.

In that heartbeat of realization—

*Bwooooo!*

The demon sounded a massive war horn.

*A trap?*

A wave of dread hit the group.

*Kaboom!*

A thunderous blast echoed through the peaks.

Then.

*Rumble rumble rumble!*

“Wait… no…”

“Run! Get to high ground!”

The avalanche was unleashed.

As the wall of white death raced toward them, Granada had one coherent thought:

*Damn it, how are you supposed to ‘watch’ for an entire mountain falling on you!*

—

*Cough, cough.*

Granada spat a mouthful of snow as he hauled himself out of a drift.

“Is anyone else alive?”

“Y-Yes… I’m here…”

Luckily, the slide hadn’t been as massive as it looked, and the warriors were sturdy. The death toll was lower than expected.

But the psychological damage was done.

“The bastards used an avalanche? Since when do demons use tactics like that?”

“This is insane.”

For the first time since leaving the south, their progress was halted. Morale took a visible hit.

*The madman. I’m standing right here and he just tries to bury the whole group?*

They weren’t unscathed. The weaker mercenaries had taken the brunt of it; the entire Red Hawk Mercenary Corps had been swallowed by the snow.

*They shouldn’t have been taken out by just that…*

While Granada felt a mix of frustration and doubt, Hillun gathered the survivors, letting out a dry, mirthless laugh.

“I didn’t expect the first real move to be so dirty.”

“…What’s the plan?”

“We regroup, find a spot out of the wind, and wait for stragglers. We aren’t broken yet, but we need rest before the final climb.”

Hillun handled the disaster with poise. But the avalanche was only the opening act.

“Ambush!”

“Frost Orcs are driving yetis toward the camp!”

“Hold your ground!”

“Die, you monsters!”

Night falls instantly in the mountains. They had barely begun to set up camp when the shadows brought enemies.

The smell of monsters filled the air. A sudden assault on a tired, cold army.

Hillun, Granada, and the primary heroes held them off, but the constant harassment was wearing everyone down.

The first day turned into the second.

Their schedule was in ruins. Every time they lowered their guard, the Frost Orcs would strike and retreat.

“Cowards! Face us!”

“Fight like men!”

The heroes screamed at the darkness, but chasing orcs and monsters through a pitch-black snowstorm was a death sentence.

“Are these really just orcs?”

“Why are they being so smart about this?”

Exhaustion set in.

“This Demon King is a snake.”

“We can’t play his games anymore. We push for the top, even if we lose people.”

“Agreed.”

With grim determination, they forced the pace. They cut back on sleep and ate while moving.

This aggressive advance finally forced the Frost Orcs to back off.

It worked, but the cost was high. Men began to collapse from the strain. By the time they reached the summit area, more than half the force was gone.

And then, the worst-case scenario.

“…Where is it?”

“I don’t see the Tower!”

Historically, every Demon King’s Tower was an eyesore, built to be seen from leagues away.

It was an established rule of their world.

The fact that the tower wasn’t there broke the heroes’ resolve.

One day passed, then two, searching the peaks. The cold and the hit-and-run attacks claimed more lives.

Finally, the cracks turned into a fracture.

“I’m done. I’m out. This Demon King is playing by different rules. I won’t die looking for a building that isn’t there.”

“It has to be close. Maybe not on the highest point, but it’s here.”

“How many more die while we look? This is Erjest. I’d rather survive and come back later with a better plan than die for nothing.”

“If we quit now, the next attempt will be even harder.”

“Better than everyone being dead.”

Warton, the second-most famous hero, stood his ground against Hillun.

His words resonated with the exhausted survivors.

“I’m heading back! Anyone who wants to live, follow me!”

More than half of the remaining force turned their backs and left.

Morale didn’t just drop; it vanished.

“…”

“I’m staying with you.”

“Sir Granada… I promise you, I will take that Demon King’s head.”

For the first time, Granada saw the friendly Hillun snarl with genuine hatred.

The search continued, but with fewer men, it was even slower. Deserters continued to slip away in the night.

Ironically, just as they were about to give up entirely, they found it.

“In the valley gorge…”

“That sneaky bastard…!”

There were only fifty left. A mere fraction of the original five hundred. They stood at the edge of the ravine, teeth bared.

“What now?”

“We are here for justice. We don’t run from evil because our numbers are thin. That is what makes a hero. If I have to go in alone, I will.”

“Well said.”

“Let the cowards run.”

Ignoring their losses, they felt a surge of hope looking at the tower—it was only five stories tall.

“Just a fledgling after all.”

“I’ll take the door.”

“First floor is probably just cannon fodder.”

The confident survivors reached the entrance and pulled.

In that moment—

*Flash.*

A blinding, searing light consumed everything.

A cataclysmic explosion tore through the mountain air.

—

“Ughhh…”

Granada fought for air, his lungs burning.

“Are you still with me?”

A bloodied Hillun reached out a hand. Granada struggled to his feet.

“What was that?”

“If I had to guess… a magic cannon.”

“A magic cannon?”

*This lunatic.*

No monsters on the first floor—just heavy artillery?

Granada knew his master was eccentric—he had bought him, after all—but this was beyond the pale.

*So that’s why he said to stay away from the door and brace!*

“It’s bizarre. A blast that strong should have had a massive mana signature…”

Usually, the thick demonic energy of a tower would mask smaller spells, but not something of that scale.

“What about the rest?”

“Alive… mostly…”

Hillun looked away. At the moment of the flash, he had cast a top-tier defensive ward.

It had saved their lives, but it hadn’t stopped the kinetic force.

Most of the heroes were scattered across the snow, unconscious and broken.

“Ambushed and unprepared.”

“So, it’s just the two of us.”

“It seems so, unfortunately.”

“What do we do?”

“I checked the interior. Five massive magic cannons and ten heavy ballistae mounted behind them.”

“Good grief.”

“I’ve disabled them, but the floor is empty otherwise. No beasts, no crew.”

Hillun scowled.

“Regardless, we go up.”

“Is it wise? Just the two of us?”

“I defeated the Lust Demon King. A novice like this is nothing.”

Hillun’s gaze was hard.

“This journey has the eyes of the world on it. I cannot fail them. I cannot leave this evil unpunished.”

Then, he softened his voice.

“I truly hope you will stay with me, Sir Granada.”

“I’m not sure how much help I’ll be.”

“Don’t say that. You are the only one I can trust right now. Please.”

Facing that earnest plea, Granada gave a slow nod.

The first floor was a graveyard of machinery. The hero was in rough shape—it was better to keep an eye on him.

And so, the elf and the hero ascended further into the Tower.

—

Hillun bit his lip until he tasted iron. The pain helped him focus.

*Stay calm.*

This expedition could not end in a retreat.

He needed the Demon King’s head, or at least the contents of the treasury. He needed a win.

He had built his life on the expectations of others. The weight of his reputation was heavy, even for a man of his stature.

*The merchant conglomerates that funded this…*

The specialized gear and the months of food hadn’t been charity.

He had made private promises to the nobility: *Put your faith in me.*

The life of a hero was expensive, and the bills were coming due.

If he died, the debts died with him. But if he lived and failed, he would be hunted by creditors for the rest of his days.

This mission *had* to succeed.

*At least the elf is still here. With him…*

He hadn’t lost everything yet.

“Let’s move.”

Regaining his mask of composure, Hillun led Granada to the second floor.

“Wait… what?”

“Hmm?”

They stepped out into an empty room.

“Is it a trap?”

“I don’t think so. There’s literally nothing here.”

What kind of tower was this?

The ground floor was a battery of cannons and bolts without a single guard.

The second floor was a vacant lot. The most disturbing part was the total lack of life.

“…Next floor.”

After a quick sweep, they moved up.

The third floor was the same void, and the fourth followed suit.

*Is the whole place going to be empty until the top?*

Fortunately, the fifth floor broke the pattern.

A soft wind blew.

The scent of a fresh forest filled their lungs.

The biting cold was replaced by a gentle, balmy warmth.

“…What is this place?”

Streams of water bubbled nearby.

Trees rustled in a phantom breeze.

Translucent spirits shaped like birds and beasts moved through the undergrowth.

It was a self-contained world. A piece of the wild, preserved inside stone.

And in the center of the grove, she stood waiting.

“Greetings to the Tower of the Demon King, travelers. I am the Fourth Heavenly King, the Dark Spirit Sorceress.”

“…Princess?”

“You have the wrong person. I am a loyal servant of the Demon King.”

“But you just said you were a Heavenly King…”

“You aren’t very good at listening. I suppose you need to be taught a lesson.”

That was the last thing Hillun remembered.

*Bang.*