Negotiation
Before the regression, such a thing had happened.
The Berze of the past—filled with dogmatism, arrogance, blind faith and worship of orthodoxy—was like a runaway carriage.
He kidnapped dozens of princesses. Countless grievances became demonic energy. He devoured the life force of Heroes and humans who came to the Tower.
A continuous loop of positive gains. And mistaking all of it as proof of his greatness, he made a move he should never have made.
The kidnapping of the Imperial Crown Prince of the Jespine Empire.
The Empire erupted, and the entire continent rose in outrage.
The Imperial Grand Army and the Hero Guild became completely united as one and assaulted the Tower.
He endured the first couple of waves. But humans did not know surrender—he grew exhausted and deteriorated. It was during that time he happened to encounter another Tower's Demon King.
Tsk, tsk. I told you not to touch the Imperial princess, but you never listen. No matter how impressive you think you are, Arein is completely different from other dimensions. You should've carved the seniors' advice deep into your bones.
Look at me. I kidnapped a princess no one cares about—life is peaceful that way. The king doesn't even pay attention. You'd be surprised how easy it is when only a few weak Heroes show up from time to time.
It was weakness a Demon King should never reveal.
At the time, Berze had laughed at him.
You wear the mask of a Demon King and feel no shame? I wonder how someone like you even graduated from the Demon King academy.
But now he understood. Berze had been wrong, and that Demon King had been right.
The Demon King Ugar Velvek had judged Arein more accurately than anyone.
And the princess he had mentioned back then was the 13th Princess of Hilderan.
Originally, Berze had planned to kidnap her—a princess said to be so sickly she couldn't even serve for a political marriage.
"…Ugar kidnapped that princess again?"
『…Again? What do you mean?』
"It's nothing."
Strictly speaking, it wasn't "again." But for Berze, it was.
After the regression, Berze walked a different path. Because of his actions, history changed. So why was Ugar following the same old path?
Could the future already be predetermined…?
He forcefully pushed away the ominous thought. If that were true, Draxon would never have died.
"When and where exactly?"
『Last night. At the villa where the 13th Princess had gone for recuperation.』
Last night—three days after Ugar told him he wanted to purchase demonic energy.
『Judging from your reaction, it wasn't arranged, I presume?』
"No need to test me, Hillen. You've already guessed the gist."
『My apologies if I overstepped. I heard there were occasional exchanges between Demon Kings.』
Occasional, my ass.
"Cut the connection."
『Yes, Demon King.』
Knock, knock, knock—
The moment the communication ended, someone knocked. He knew exactly who it was, so he didn't ask.
"Come in."
Ernan carefully peeked inside.
"..."
"What is it?"
"…May I sit for a moment?"
"Sit."
She sat before him. Silence lingered for a short moment.
"I dislike dragging things out."
"…I know it's rude, but I overheard earlier."
Earlier.
Just moments ago, he had been checking Logar's work across the first floor. Halfway through, Gordon had come running.
Demon King! Demon King Ugar kidnapped the 13th Princess of Hilderan!
After that, he returned to his office and contacted Hillen Cargill.
Down on the first floor, besides him and Logar—Ernan had also been there. Did she hear it? Of course she did. It would've been harder not to.
"Elena was kidnapped… is that true?"
"If that really is the 13th Princess's name."
"It is. Publicly, the 13th Princess is known as Elena."
"Publicly?"
"Ah."
Ernan shut her mouth. Her demeanor was different than usual—strangely excited, unstable. The reason didn't have to be guessed.
"You seem worried."
"She's a child who can barely move. If she's kidnapped by a Demon King and something awful happens…"
"And?"
"..."
"And the reason you're telling me this is?"
She bit her lip.
She knew. She knew how absurd it was to say such things to a Demon King.
But—
"Please help."
She still said it.
"Did I hear that correctly?"
"You did. Please save Elena."
"I am a Demon King."
"And I am a princess."
"The 13th Princess was kidnapped by a Demon King."
"If she's going to be kidnapped by a Demon King anyway, then please—let it be you, Demon King."
This conversation felt strangely familiar.
That time…
When Hillen Cargill's Hero expedition began and Berze was cornered—
Berze had begged Ernan to help him survive, to stand on his side and stop the Hero.
She had done so, and thanks to her, he overcame the crisis relatively smoothly. It wasn't an exaggeration to say he owed her a large debt.
But that didn't mean he was obligated to return the favor. He had already paid for her help with the elixir. And even if he hadn't—Berze wasn't the type to repay favors one by one like some saint.
"Your approach is wrong."
"I'll tell you every secret slush fund the nobles of the kingdom possess."
"…That is tempting."
Hilderan, though now just a kingdom at the far southern edge of the continent, had once ruled the continent as a great empire.
Even when a rich man goes bankrupt, he lasts three years, they say. Even if they weren't what they once were, Hilderan was still powerful.
Their slush funds…
He might end up holding more gold than he had gotten from Jayson in exchange for demonic energy.
But he didn't nod yet.
"Not enough."
"What do you want?"
"I do not trust you."
"Have I ever broken my word?"
No. She had kept every promise. She had faithfully aided Berze.
But that didn't make her trustworthy. Ernan was hiding something. Until that came to light, Berze could never trust her.
No—
Even if she confessed everything, would he trust her? Probably not. Humans simply weren't a race worth trusting.
"That and trust are separate."
"You're wondering why I don't try to leave the Tower, aren't you?"
"I won't deny it."
After a moment of hesitation, Ernan opened her mouth.
"Do you know the spell called Child of the World Tree?"
***
"Welcome."
A rugged mountain range came into view. The wind blew between crags of stone.
"I am Cocoon, lieutenant serving Lord Ugar."
"A Titan?"
"Yes."
Standing over four meters tall, the figure made Berze frown. He hated having to look up at someone.
"Where is Ugar?"
"He is waiting inside."
Creak—
The Tower's door opened.
Ninth floor.
Just before Berze died, he had climbed to the 11th floor of the Tower. But now, the Tower had stalled, unable to break past the two-digit floors.
And the moment he looked around inside, he sensed something strange.
"There are a lot."
"Yes."
The monsters were packed almost to the limit.
So Ugar suddenly wanted to buy demonic energy—was it to summon more monsters?
It wasn't just the first floor. All the way up to the ninth floor, he felt the same thing: far too many monsters.
Because the Tower wasn't strengthened enough, it felt cramped.
"Demon King, I've brought Demon King Berze."
"I've been waiting."
Ugar pressed a floating hologram while seated on his throne. After purchasing a demonic contract from the Demon World, he stepped down from the throne.
"Check it."
It was exactly what they had discussed. Berze infused his demonic energy and signed.
"Cocoon."
"Yes."
"Bring the gold."
Cocoon brought a thick pouch. Berze placed it into his subspace.
"I heard you kidnapped a new princess?"
"Yes."
"A princess of Hilderan, they say."
"More precisely, the 13th Princess of Hilderan. So sickly she can't even be married off politically. Even the king doesn't care much, so it doesn't cause trouble…"
Ah.
"Now that I think of it, I'm curious. Would you call this something unbefitting a Demon King, or would you say it's proper orthodoxy done cleverly?"
"Well…"
Tap, tap. His fingers struck the table.
"If I had to choose, I would say the latter."
"Surprising."
"Surprising?"
"I thought you simply hated orthodoxy—that you were a textbook example of the arrogant demon."
"And why is that?"
"You collided with the Grand Duke and Draxon, didn't you?"
"A demon who flees from a fight is no demon."
"But your opponent was the Grand Duke."
"So you get hit once and then obey out of fear? Not very fitting for your size."
"Do not insult me. Obeying orders is natural."
Ugar growled.
"On my way up, I noticed you've stuffed the Tower with monsters. You buy demonic energy from me, then suddenly kidnap a princess…"
"Chasing demonic energy is what a Demon King must do. What of it?"
"You're afraid."
"...!"
"You're afraid you'll end up like Draxon—decapitated by a Hero and turned into a headless U/ga/r."
"I am Demon King Ugar! As if a mere human Hero could ever harm me!"
Ugar slammed the desk. It shattered with a loud crack, fragments flying.
The thick killing intent surged across the entire floor like a rampaging steed.
It was fitting for a Demon King—but why did he still feel like a frightened dog?
History had changed. The future had changed.
All because of Berze's regression.
He chose a different path, walked a different path—so the relationships among Demon Kings, the responses from humans, all shifted.
A false bond with Ormus and Hokan had formed.
A beast who once climbed safely to the 16th floor died.
And the new Demon King, Vivian, acted exactly like a stereotypical Demon King—full of arrogance and causing incidents.
Humans were enraged. Tension between Demon Kings and humans intensified.
In that case—
Now that the beast he relied on had died, how would this cowardly bald rat react?
Simple.
Exactly as he was now.
Jumping at shadows, panicking, overreacting.
"And so this creature tries to buy demonic energy from me, stays quiet all this time, then suddenly kidnaps a new princess. I hear it's not only Hilderan's 13th Princess—didn't you kidnap the 8th Prince of Hessen as well?"
"What of it? I repeat, it is natural for a Demon King to seek demonic energy."
"And stuffing your Tower full of monsters?"
"Is it strange for a Tower to have monsters?"
"It's strange if you have too many."
"What are you trying to say? Get to the point."
"Hm."
Berze's lips curled slowly.
"You look like a frightened little rat, Ugar."
"...!"
"A pathetic rat flailing to survive, but unable to find a rope to grab."
"You son of a—!"
Ugar rose to his feet. Standing over five meters tall, his sheer mass generated raw pressure.
Berze calmly folded his arms.
"You think graduating top of your class from the academy puts you above me? I've been a Demon King for decades. A creature like you…"
"You always kidnap the lowest-ranked princes and princesses, don't you? Not important enough to cause outrage, but not so worthless as to be ignored."
"…How did you know that?"
"It must be tiring. Selecting such ambiguous targets requires thorough investigation, considering their relationships, the politics between kingdoms… many factors."
It sounded simple, but it wasn't. The relationships among royal children, diplomatic balance between kingdoms—none of it was easy.
For someone as foolish and simple as Ugar to pull it off was impressive. Proof, perhaps, of how desperately he clung to life.
"If you want…"
Around then, Berze slowly cast the bait.
"I can tell you."
"…Tell me what?"
"All the princes and princesses I know who fit the exact criteria you prefer."
"...!"
"In exchange, I have one condition."
He smiled. Ugar's pupils trembled.
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