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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 18
Chapter Title: Inevitable Circumstances
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"...Did I hear that right?"
Ernyan blinked her large eyes.
"You heard me correctly."
"But."
No matter how much she thought about it, she couldn't understand.
"I'm a princess."
"I'm the Demon King."
"Heroes come to rescue me."
"They come to kill me. So?"
"I can't do it."
"Yeah, I figured you'd say that."
Berge hadn't held out much hope either.
Simply put.
Ernyan's unusually cooperative attitude.
Her lack of aversion to the Demon King's Tower.
It had sparked a faint hope that maybe, just maybe, it could work.
But he had no intention of forcing her. Forcing a human might make them help half-heartedly at best, so there was no need to tie himself to an elf for that.
Still, he had to try his persuasion tactics.
"Hillun Kargil is a strong hero. There's a high chance he'll kill me and rescue you. A high chance he'll take you back to the kingdom."
"Ah... Back to the kingdom..."
Berge didn't miss the change in her eyes. There was definitely something there.
It was almost instinctual. For some reason, Ernyan dreaded returning to the kingdom.
What could be in her home that she'd fear it more than the Demon King?
Berge couldn't imagine it. So he didn't try. Instead, he tossed out the bait.
"Speaking of which, you seemed pretty keen on spirit herbs."
"Spirit herbs?"
"I could give you some if you want."
"...If I oppose the hero?"
"That's how it would be."
She fell silent. Her small lips pursed.
And after a long moment.
"...Can I think about it a little?"
A relatively positive response came back.
...Is this actually working?
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
Honestly, it was a gamble.
If it worked, great—but he'd rated the odds very low. That's why he'd just thrown it out there, and surprisingly, he'd gotten a positive reply.
So now Berge was in a bind.
He thought he knew humans pretty well, but it looked like he needed a full reevaluation.
"Don't humans have strong family bonds?"
Yet why did this princess hate her kingdom so much? He'd heard she was a promising prodigy there too.
He didn't know the reason, but he couldn't deny it had worked out well.
"If Hillun Kargil climbs to the fourth floor all confident, expecting to meet the princess."
He could already picture the hero's panic.
He hadn't expected the princess to win anyway. The point was the opening she'd create by opposing the hero come to rescue her—that was Berge's aim.
"The princess really agreed to this?"
"Not confirmed yet."
"Of course it's good news, but that woman has to be insane."
"Maybe."
Gordon clicked his tongue. But with one worry off his chest, his mind wandered elsewhere.
"By the way, is it really okay to do nothing about Demon King Drakson?"
"What should we do?"
He had no monsters to send, and a written protest would just get snorted at.
"He'll play dumb and deny it. We can't pin it on him."
"But if we sit idle and he spreads rumors that Granada is your subordinate..."
"You didn't like it, but now you don't want it to go wrong either?"
"That's not it, but this is a scheme you're putting a lot of effort into, right?"
"Your loyalty brings tears to my eyes. If only you'd obey this quickly all the time."
"..."
If only you'd just accept my worries positively.
Gordon shut his mouth. No matter how he looked at it, he couldn't stand this damn lord.
"No need for pointless worries anyway."
"What do you mean?"
"It means it doesn't matter."
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
Crunch crunch—
"That guy's completely insane!"
A massive bone shattered. Drakson swallowed it whole and burst into laughter.
"Is that true?"
"Yes. The Red Hawk Mercenary Corps has joined Hillun Kargil's hero expedition."
"Granada's definitely with them?"
"Granada is currently the captain of the Red Hawks."
"Then it's confirmed."
Drakson devoured the remaining bones. Red blood trickled down his chin.
"I knew his arrogance meant something, but I didn't expect it'd be shoving an elf into a hero party. What do you think he's aiming for?"
"A spy. I suspect betrayal at the expedition's peak."
"I think so too. And honestly, it's not a bad idea."
No other Demon King had thought of it. But it was brilliantly simple.
Crumbling from within was far easier and more effective than from outside.
"Interfering would be pointless."
"Even if we expose Granada as a Demon King's spy, no one would believe it."
"Probably."
Humans had precedents. Even without demon-granted black mages, some sided with Demon Kings for their own desires.
But not elves.
Elves had the World Tree as their backbone. To protect it, they opposed demons.
In the hundreds of years since the demon realm found and descended on Arelin dimension, not one elf had sided with demons.
"How the hell did he convince an elf?"
"It might not be that hard."
"Not hard?"
"Elves exist in other dimensions too. We assume they're impossible to sway because of their resolve there. No one's tried in Arelin."
"I heard there were attempts early on. They all failed, so no one bothered after."
"Maybe it's just prejudice? A little more effort might've worked, but we wrote them off based on other dimensions."
"So Berge charged in clueless and got beginner's luck... something like that?"
"Yes."
"Can't confirm, but worth considering."
Drakson stroked his chin.
"Watch Granada's moves for now. Subtly approach the elves and test the waters."
"Yes."
"And Berge came down?"
"Yes. He vanished from Hortonwork using a dimension transfer device with a dwarf. We know the destination was Angsila, but nothing after."
"Angsila's not my territory, so that tracks. A dwarf?"
"Yes. Likely kidnapped."
"When?"
"Seems during the gap after Rosal got badly beaten by Demon King Berge and retreated."
"Elf, then dwarf..."
Was he so fed up with demons screwing up—even alienating archdukes—that he thought monsters were hopeless?
Planning to fill the tower with mid-realm beings, excluding demons entirely?
"I doubt he'll go that far."
"Yeah, no Demon King would stoop that low."
His demon pride rejected it. Even a canon-rejecting fool wouldn't imagine such a thing.
"Maybe using it as a spy like the elf."
"Check it out. See where he's placed the dwarf, and if so, watch closely till the end."
"Yes, understood."
"Curious what picture he's painting."
Drakson picked up fresh meat.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
Ernyan Hildran, the kingdom's princess kidnapped by the Demon King, tossed a mud ball.
A wind spirit zipped over and fetched it. She stroked its head in thanks, and it danced. This repeated several times.
Block Hero Hillun...?
She couldn't really picture it.
Hillun was Hilde ran's hero, and as crown princess, she'd crossed paths with him a few times.
An endlessly kind man.
An endlessly likable man.
He was coming to save her. Yet she had to stop him herself?
But.
She didn't want to return to the kingdom.
For her, rescue wasn't rescue. Just as kidnapping wasn't mere kidnapping.
Tower life was boring. Nothing there, no one paying attention.
The sudden limited freedom felt dull and tedious.
But it was better than the kingdom's stifling pressure. Better than the stares directed at her.
Especially lately—it hadn't been boring.
Her thoughts reached that point, and she stood. She descended the stairs to the first floor.
Scattered tools and lines greeted her messily.
Clang clang clang—
Loud hammer strikes.
Whoosh—
Hot air scorched the space. In the forge on one side, a dwarf hammered away diligently.
"What are you doing?"
No answer. But this happened often. He claimed he couldn't hear when focused.
With nothing else to do, she sat quietly watching the flames.
A fire spirit dove in and danced. The blaze intensified.
Ernyan flinched, but Roger said nothing. No harm done, so she left it.
After a while.
"...What are you doing here?"
Roger finally noticed Ernyan.
"Got curious."
"Curious?"
"Why are you working here, Roger?"
"What do you mean?"
"You're a hero, right? Kidnapped too. Just wondering why you're working for the Demon King."
"..."
Why? No choice. Refuse and die.
And he couldn't escape because escape led only to a grim future.
The princess outside was probably furious, searching for him by now.
"...I have my reasons."
But pride wouldn't let him admit it outright. Even as a coward, unbound by hero duties, he had lines to hold.
"I see."
Ernyan tilted her head.
"Still, it helped."
"...Not sure what I said, but glad it helped."
"The Demon King said if a hero reaches the fourth floor, I should block them."
"...Pardon?"
Roger dropped his hammer. He glanced around cautiously and whispered.
"Is the Demon King insane?"
"Doesn't seem so. Looked perfectly fine."
"And he told you that?"
"I was agonizing over whether to do it."
"You were agonizing?"
It wasn't worth agonizing over.
Shouldn't she pray for the hero to kill the Demon King and return to the kingdom?
"But hearing you, I've decided."
To do it.
She murmured resolutely.
"Everyone has unavoidable circumstances. What rights does a hostage have? If I want to live, I follow the kidnapper's lead."
To Roger, she just needed a self-justifying excuse. She'd already decided alone.
...Is Hilde ran's crown princess insane?
He couldn't think otherwise.
Meanwhile, Ernyan had made her choice.
"Still, I don't want the hero to die. So I'll make that a condition."
"Doubt the Demon King will agree..."
Heroes grew by slaying demons and monsters; Demon Kings grew by slaying heroes. Especially strong ones—they were prizes not to miss.
"You think?"
"Definitely."
Roger was certain. That greedy Demon King wouldn't pass up top prey.
"I'll allow it."
"Thank you."
"..."
Roger gave up thinking.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
Getting stronger wasn't the immediate priority.
Surviving was.
Survive to grow strong. To get revenge.
So certainty of capturing the hero outweighed the chance of killing him for strength.
"Besides, if they don't break the first floor, it's all moot."
Click—
Roger shrugged. He'd followed Ernyan out of curiosity, only to get glared at suddenly.
"How's the progress?"
"...Mana Ghost installation is done. Actually came to report that."
"Let's check it."
They went to the first floor. The Mana Ghost artifact was embedded fully into one wall, its tendrils covering the entire floor, creating an eerie vibe.
But weirder things existed in Demon King's Towers, so no issue.
"Activating."
"Power source?"
"Normally absorbs ambient mana for semi-permanent operation. But now it needs mana stones."
"Activate it."
"Yes."
Roger flipped the switch. The magic tool rumbled loudly.
Something brushed his skin. A hazy veil enveloped the floor. Berge sensed no malice.
Containment.
It blocked internal energy from leaking out.
Wait.
Berge paused while testing. Magic tool. Tower.
Relics mixed among humans—if brought to the tower, I can use them more efficiently. No need to waste Magi Points buying everything?
Was it coincidence that another Demon King's boasting had revealed the 13th princess info?
One tower function: recognition and assimilation.
A system to enhance mid-realm artifacts to fit the tower.
But he hadn't bothered. No point wasting Magi Points on inferior mid-realm junk.
Back then, he'd been obsessed with canon and demon supremacy.
Berge cautiously touched the artifact's core.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙
[The Tower recognizes the magic tool 'Mana Ghost' installed on the 1st floor.] [Determined to be installed by the Tower Lord's will. Can assimilate the tool with the Tower.] [Requires 1000pt.] [Assimilate?]
1000pt wasn't trivial. Especially since most points went to cash via Drakson, making them precious.
But Magi Points weren't omnipotent to him anymore.
"Do it."
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙
[Consuming points.] [12182 → 11182]
He nodded slightly, and Magi surged.
Crackle—
The tower's Magi rushed the tool. Upon reaching the core, a massive spark shook the floor.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙
[Massive mana energy detected.] [Assimilation failed.]
"Failed?"
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙
[More Magi required for full assimilation.] [Consume 10000pt to assimilate?]
What?
Failed, and points needed jumped tenfold. It was all he had left, but "massive energy" piqued his curiosity.
"Accept."
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙
[Consuming points.] [11182 → 1182]
The halted tool roared back to life.
Tendrils wove more intricately. No longer just along walls—they burrowed into floors, ceilings, becoming one.
Finally.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙
[Mana Ghost recognizes Tower Lord, Berge Dayas, as master.] [Mana Ghost's power source fully replaced: Mana → Magi.] [Mana Ghost's purpose, mana concealment, changes to conceal all energies except Magi. Level proportional to Tower and Demon King.] [Mana Ghost's range expands to entire Tower.] [Constantly conceals internal Tower energies.] [Can consume Magi Points to conceal the Tower itself.]
"I-I didn't do anything weird! It was fine in the workshop, why suddenly..."
"I did it. Shut up and stay quiet; it's distracting."
"Yes!"
"Princess. Summon a spirit and cast any spell."
"I can?"
"Do what you want."
Berge stepped outside.
Slowly, very slowly.
He crossed the threshold. Stepped on pristine snow. Turned around.
Yet Berge felt.
No mana fluctuations at all.
Nothing.
He snapped his fingers. The Tower, per his will, absorbed Magi.
And vanished. Not perfectly, but unless staring hard, it was a mirage.
"..."
Berge trembled in ecstasy.