"Isn't he your brother?"
『What is this?』
Hillen Cargill unfolded a sheet of paper toward the scrying orb.
Plain brown hair, brown eyes. A relatively gentle-looking face.
"It's a wanted poster."
『…Logar, huh.』
"Yes. That dwarf from the first floor of the Tower."
"A wanted order went out?"
"A few days ago, the Verft Kingdom sent this wanted notice to every country on the continent and requested cooperation."
"It is a wanted order for Logar Friedri, the traitor who betrayed the kingdom."
"What they're offering as a reward is top secret, but considering how every kingdom is searching with bloodshot eyes… I assume it's not something small."
He still remembered how shocked he'd been when he first heard it. It wasn't just any nation—it was the Verft Kingdom. And the order was said to have come directly from the crown prince.
"I've been curious since I first saw him… how did you bring Logar into the Tower?"
『Kidnapped him.』
Hillen was left speechless at that shameless response.
"If you kidnapped him, Verft wouldn't be making such a fuss calling him a traitor. And that dwarf never once acted like he served you because he was forced."
That man called a Hero created a mana cannon to kill another Hero.
Fine, even if you generously excused all of that as coercion, how would you explain blocking a Hero's escape and hurling curses at him?
A normal Hero would try to escape together—not swing a hammer in a rage.
『Ask him yourself. He'll be thrilled to death when he finds out.』
"…All right. Actually, that's not even the main issue."
『There's more?』
"The verdict is out."
Some of the elders had accused Hillen and Rozel Charnt of refusing the Hero Guild's orders.
Because of that, he'd heard a secret trial had been conducted inside the Guild.
『What happened?』
"Nothing came of it."
『They dragged it out for two weeks for that?』
"There was no justification from the start. The reason kingdoms are forbidden from interfering is because they use it as an excuse to invade other nations, but the party in question—Ormus—actually sided with Acan and defended them…"
Of course, it wasn't without opposition.
Quite a number had demanded severe punishment, and Hillen believed they fell into two groups:
Those who believed the Hero Guild should stand above the kingdoms, and those who had forced Balaf Dislord to give up the path of a Hero.
'The Empire? Or another kingdom?'
Balaf Dislord's sponsor was so well hidden that not even the slightest clue had ever surfaced.
"But the majority favored covering it up. Heroes acting independently and outside the Guild's control only tarnishes the Guild's honor. Compared to that…"
『It's better to hand over what needs to be handed over and claim the achievements for the Guild. Honor is a precious thing.』
"Yes, exactly."
『Humans… really…』
『Fine. For now, focus entirely on absorbing the Demon King's power. At your current level, you cannot accomplish the great task.』
"Yes. Ah, and Rozel Charnt has been desperately looking for you."
『...』
"She asks me every single day about your condition."
『Persistent woman.』
"You should've just made one for her before you left."
『I must have forgotten.』
"What about giving her one now? If you build a positive connection with her and with the kingdom of Acan that supports her, it may become a great help someday."
『And you'll benefit as well, won't you?』
"I won't deny it."
Beyond the orb, the Demon King's lips curled upward.
『That's why I like you. I'll consider it.』
"Yes."
The connection cut. Hillen stretched his arms.
"…Maybe I can finally get away."
Saying she visited every day was no lie. One of the reasons Hillen followed Rozel Charnt to the Alliance had been the trial, but the real one was that Rozel refused to let him leave until she received Berze's mana.
Of course, she had been helpful enough, so Hillen hadn't tried too hard to escape. Right now was a time not to pursue new things but to refine what he had gained.
Knock, knock—
"Hillen-nim, you have a visitor."
Right then, someone knocked.
Assuming it was Rozel Charnt, Hillen paused before preparing tea.
The presence was different. The feeling was different.
'Vague.'
Like a mist.
"…Who is it?"
He asked cautiously. Instead of an answer, the door opened.
A heavy smell of dirt rose from dirty leather armor. Rough beard, unkempt hair.
But his eyes were alive.
"Well, you must be the famous Hillen Cargill, yes? I am Daphner Piliain. By any chance, do you know me?"
Daphner dragged a chair over and sat with a relaxed manner.
"…I think there isn't a single Hero who doesn't know you."
"Ah, honored that you recognize me."
Daphner bowed playfully.
"What business brings you to me…?"
"Oh, nothing serious, so you don't need to be so on guard. I simply have something I'm curious about. Would you mind cooperating a bit?"
"If it's something I can help with."
"Good, good."
Daphner pulled out a small notebook.
"Then first, I'd like to hear about your Hero expedition in detail—very, very thoroughly, if you would?"
***
Chomp, chomp—
The meat vanished in an instant. The well-cooked pasta splattered sauce everywhere as it was sucked into mouths.
They had tossed aside forks and knives and were grabbing food with their hands—and they weren't humans, but elves.
Granada sighed at the gluttonous scene. It wasn't disgust she felt, but pity.
'How starved were they…'
He, too, had endured five years of slavery. He knew how grueling and brutal it was.
"Eat slowly. I can give you more, as much as you want."
"Th-thank you!"
"Thank you!"
The fifteen elves bowed their heads. But their eating speed didn't slow.
"I still find it unbelievable every time… are they really elves?"
"What do you mean by that?"
"They're devouring food like orcs…"
Granada's look made Jetoson shut his mouth.
"Where next?"
"Buarne. An elf is said to be coming up in an underground auction."
"Then we won't be needing your help this time, will we, Jetoson-nim?"
"…Excuse me?"
"At least for auctions, it seems your assistance hasn't been particularly helpful."
"That's… that's very hurtful, you know."
Jetoson beat his chest.
"I, Jetoson, the greatest merchant of Acan, am never useless."
"But…"
"Even monkeys fall from trees sometimes. No one can be perfect, right? Not even humans. Granada-nim—are you perfect in everything you do?"
"…Fine. Then what's your plan this time?"
"I studied auctions again."
Ahem. Jetoson cleared his throat, adjusting his voice.
"An auction is ultimately a competition between people. You watch each other's reactions, read the atmosphere, set the price strategically, and call out higher than the other…"
"Just the conclusion."
"Make them shut up from the start. If someone bids, you call out a much higher price. It's called seizing the initiative."
"I thought you said you'd make sure we could buy for as cheap as possible?"
"It is buying cheap."
Jetoson took out a notebook and drew long lines across it.
"Look. The starting price is 10. In a normal auction, let's assume the final price we'd have to buy at is 100. But if the opponent bids 11 and instead of 12 you call out 60, the opponent will definitely become cautious."
"But if the opponent follows to the end, wouldn't we end up paying 200 instead of 100?"
"That can happen."
"You sound confident—so you have a countermeasure, don't you?"
"There isn't. A guy like that follows to the end no matter what price you call out, so it's easier on the mind to just accept it."
"Even if you end up buying something worth 30 for 60 because of it?"
"Even the greatest merchant can't always make a profit."
"...."
What a peculiar human.
Granada felt like he finally understood why Berze had taken a liking to this human called Jetoson.
That shamelessness was unlike anything Granada had ever seen in all his long life.
"When is the Buarne auction?"
"Tomorrow at 8 p.m. It's a major city with a teleportation circle, so we can get there quickly."
The next day, they arrived at Buarne's auction.
An elf was brought out, and Jetoson entered the auction. Everything went according to plan—except for the part where the opposing bidder matched Jetoson's strategy exactly.
"…As a merchant, sometimes giving up is a virtue."
"I am not a merchant."
Granada ended up winning the elf for twice the expected price.
"As expected, Jetoson-nim really is hopeless when it comes to auctions…"
"Now, now, hold on. It's too early to jump to conclusions. The continent is vast, and we have many elves to purchase, don't we?"
"…Are you the ones sweeping up elves these days?"
Just as the auction ended and they were heading out to receive the elf, someone blocked their path.
***
"...."
Berze opened the eyes he had closed.
'This…'
Interesting.
The Phoenix power that had taken root in Berze's second heart had grown stronger.
A Demon King, a demon, a monster—all weaken once they leave the Tower for two reasons.
One: they are leaving the Tower's interference-dampening field.
Two: they can no longer replenish demonic energy.
Just as humans absorb mana to form an aura hole and later a mana heart, demons also absorb demonic energy to fill their own empty vessel.
But because there is no demonic energy in the Middle Realm, demons are forced to depend on the Tower.
But Berze was different.
Inside the Tower, he absorbed demonic energy. Outside the Tower, he absorbed mana.
The Phoenix's power made that possible.
'Just what kind of creature is this thing?'
He recalled reading ancient documents long ago about the Phoenix.
Roughly three thousand years ago, one had been discovered in a dimension called Bellars, and it had taken the combined assault of three Demon Kings to barely bring it down.
One Demon King ended up crippled, and another lost his life—nothing but a pyrrhic victory.
Even if Arein's Phoenix wasn't identical to the one from Bellars, the fact that it didn't buckle under the energy of a Demon King alone made it worth studying.
'The more mana it absorbs, the more it fuses with the body. Looks like I'll need to go outside on purpose.'
Lacking full control over immense power wasn't a problem limited to Hillen.
Just then—
The communication orb rang. It wasn't Hillen Cargill.
It was the network connecting Tower to Tower—another Demon King.
『Long time no see, Berze Deias.』
Injecting demonic energy into the orb caused a giant face to appear.
"What is it, Ugar. We aren't on friendly enough terms to contact each other."
Berze suppressed the curse ready to burst out.
『I have a proposal.』
"We're not on the kind of terms where we exchange proposals either."
『So arrogant from beginning to end. You think you can live in this world alone?』
"Those words don't suit the mouth of a Demon King. I'm hanging up."
『Wait…! It won't be a loss for you either!』
"Speak."
『I want to buy demonic energy. I heard you've been giving demonic energy to humans in exchange for money. I want to buy yours with money as well.』
"You? Buying demonic energy?"
So the rumor had spread. Well, it wasn't exactly a secret. The strange part was that Ugar—the Ugar he knew—was not the type to do this.
"How much money do you have?"
『3592 gold.』
More than he expected. Jayson Cocmoondo having 100,000 gold had been the anomaly. Demon Kings usually had little interest in wealth.
"Then it's worth 180,000 points."
『Only that?』
"I promised Jayson 5,000,000 points for 100,000 gold. If you don't like it, forget it."
『…Fine.』
"Of course, I can't give it to you all at once. I'm giving Jayson his monthly share too. I'll divide it and send it to you each month."
『…Guh, fine. Better than nothing.』
After thinking for a moment, Ugar nodded.
Saying he'd send the money once the contract was written, he ended the call.
"Ugar needing demonic energy…"
It was natural for a Demon King to need demonic energy. But for Ugar, who disliked Berze, to come crawling like this—why?
'Something is going on…'
Was it because Draxon died?
Comparing the situation to before his regression, that was the one glaring difference.
A Demon King who should not have died had died. And a new Demon King descended.
Ah—there was also that stupid stunt by Vivian, which had thrown the continent's wariness toward Demon Kings into overdrive.
'I'll figure it out when the time comes.'
Berze closed his eyes again.
Phoenix mana stirred.
***
"Halfway complete?"
"Yes. The moment a Hero appears, these walls will open all at once, and the mana cannons will unleash their firepower."
"I like it."
Berze inspected the result on the first floor. It wasn't finished, but the image forming in his mind made him smile.
He wanted to see the expression of the Hero who faced this.
Especially Ralph Schmitz.
'Will your shield be able to block even this… or not?'
He wanted to test it.
That's when—
"Demon King!"
Gordon came running in a panic.
"Demon King Ugar has kidnapped the 13th Princess of Hilderan!"
"…What?"
And then he dropped a bomb.
"…Huh?"
Ernan, who had been helping Logar using the Earth Spirit, trembled.
— The 13th Princess of Hilderan… isn't that your little sister?
The oblivious Water Spirit tilted its head.
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