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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 4
Chapter Title: Advice
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"I can't believe it."
Even after the Demon King had gone to the trouble of personally convincing his adjutant, Gordon refused to accept reality.
"The Standard of the Demon King is never wrong. No matter how much the situation changes, it's always absolute."
That's why it's the standard. And yet here we were.
"Even heroes—mere humans like them—creating a counter-standard to it?"
"We don't call it the standard outright. But it's spread around like an unwritten rule."
"Someone who's just arrived in Aren knows it well. Is the top graduate always like this?"
I barely suppressed my rising frustration and shot back.
"Then why hasn't Aren been conquered all this time?"
"Because the dispatched Demon Kings lacked the ability, obviously."
Right. That was another reason the standard had persisted unchanging.
The law of the jungle.
A simple logic: if you fail and get weeded out, it's not because the enemy was strong—it's because you were a weak loser.
I only escaped that mindset after experiencing it firsthand—after dying. Having been the most fervent follower of the standard in my previous life, I never expected to convince him in one go.
I just needed to reduce these annoying obstacles a bit. For now.
"All those dozens of Demon Kings who died here, every single one?"
"..."
Gordon clamped his mouth shut after that.
Having successfully quelled his fierce opposition, I slowly surveyed the tower.
It was a simple structure. A basement level prison for holding princes, princesses, or captives. Then floors 1 through 4: empty lots with nothing in them. Finally, the 5th floor for the Demon King.
The plush red carpet and the throne on the dais were a thoughtful touch to receive heroes with more authority.
To me, it just looked like a slightly fancier execution platform.
I entered the office behind the throne. A simple desk and chair sat there, along with several communication orbs.
Woooong—
At that moment, one of the orbs began to assert its presence as if it had been waiting.
"...Greetings. This is Gordon, adjutant to Demon King Berge."
Gordon hurriedly answered.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ "You've taken the bait properly. This is Casey, adjutant to Drakson. I'm relaying Lord Drakson's intent to hold a welcome party for the newly assigned Demon King to our dimension."
Ah, right.
'That was a thing.'
To survive in Aren's unique environment, the Demon Kings had changed. They'd broken their individualism, formed groups, and forced newcomers to join by inviting them to banquets.
They wanted obedient juniors who would fit into the little society they'd built and listen up.
In crude terms.
Aren's special brand of hazing time.
'What a pain.'
A sigh escaped me naturally.
"Good lord, Demon Kings holding gatherings with each other?"
Gordon's pupils shook at the contact, which was almost the polar opposite of demonic nature.
"Don't worry. I have no intention of mingling with them. Even if I ignore the standard, I'll play the lofty Demon King you want."
"...You're not just refusing—you can't, right? With rumors of you being a rebel already out there."
Even in his confusion, he nailed the core issue.
Truly capable in at least one way.
'In my last life, the summons came a week later.'
The fact that it came this quickly meant...
'There's a problem.'
I must have rubbed them the wrong way more than expected, being a rebel and all.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
Beast Tower.
The humans of Aren name the Demon Kings' towers based on their dispositions and actions.
Drakson, who had invited me, was the very picture of a beast—earning him the title "Beast Demon King"—both in behavior and appearance.
Krrrng—
The moment I stepped into the tower, the beastly stench hit me.
Musk, heaviness, wildness, madness.
Not pleasant scents by any means. Especially with blatant hostility mixed in.
I'd barely taken ten steps from the entrance when revulsion surged up.
I didn't hold back because I couldn't bear it.
"Keep rolling those eyeballs like that, and you'll never see again, you half-evolved intelligences."
The tower's weakest dwellers on the 1st floor yelped and slammed their heads to the ground.
The same pattern repeated on the 2nd and 3rd floors. Their overt, contrived behavior made me chuckle involuntarily.
Childish as ever, past or present.
"Not just in body, but your brains are beastly too, huh?"
"...This is Demon King Drakson's tower."
"No need to mind manners with rude trash."
"True enough. Even for a new Demon King, inviting you and then going this far is excessive."
I caught a hint of anger in Gordon's tone.
Exactly. No matter how thick-headed, if your lord is insulted and you sit idle, you're no adjutant.
"Stay out of it. I'll handle it."
"...Understood."
We climbed the tower again. I could tolerate up to the 5th floor. They still glared arrogantly, but a bit of killing intent made them yelp and submit.
But the 6th floor was different.
Lycanslopes. At a glance comparable to beastkin—half-human, half-beast—but unlike true beastkin who could fully become beasts or humans, these were incomplete vermin in every way.
They didn't hide their fangs despite my warning. They didn't conceal their malice.
A smirk escaped at the sight of dogs faithfully following orders from someone above.
It would've been better if they'd at least hidden their trembling legs.
"How loyal."
But since it wasn't directed at me, no need to respect it.
Kieeeek—
The Lycanslope screamed. It clutched its face and rolled on the ground. Thick beast blood pooled.
I tossed its one eyeball away.
"I had no intention of causing a ruckus in another Demon King's tower, but if you're giving me a reason, I see no reason not to."
If you're looked down on, you're used. If you're seen as easy prey, they bare their teeth first.
That's the demon world and demons for you.
"Isn't it?"
I turned. Amid the Lycanslopes, a massive beast rose.
He snatched the flying eyeball aimed at him.
"Impressive."
Squish—
Disgusting fluid trickled down his gray fur.
"Rumors say you crushed all the other cadets to take top graduate. Well deserved."
"Is this how beasts treat guests?"
"I came out to greet you personally, so I've shown plenty of courtesy."
"Lack of patience, more like?"
"That too. How could I wait to see the famous trash in person?"
"Same here, actually. I was curious what kind of vermin the so-called Demon Kings had become, cowering and holding hands."
"Hahaha... Indeed. No wonder Archduke Alcaine told us to keep an eye on you."
"Think that little squeeze would make blood pour from an eyeball?"
"It could from yours."
He growled. Gordon flinched at the erupting killing intent. I pulled him behind me and sneered.
"I have no idea what makes you so arrogant."
"You're that fancy top graduate you've never beaten."
"A standard-mocking, thick-headed vermin, right?"
"If the standard's so vital, did you toss out your pride as a Demon King?"
The killing intent thickened. It pressed on my skin, sticky and cloying.
I pinched my nose and wrinkled my brow.
"Tone it down with the stench. I'm sensitive."
"Fine. A rebel who dared ignore the standard at graduation should have this much guts."
"This chat's dragging on, and they don't even serve tea here."
Drakson nodded to a subordinate. The beastkin brought a hefty chunk of meat and handed it over.
"Amazing. You beasts drink meat?"
"We eat nothing but meat and blood."
"Barbarians."
I noticed a document bundled with the meat.
"Pretending to be civilized, huh?"
"Shut up and read."
Shrustle—
The official document, made of demon realm paper, unfurled. Drakson recited its contents.
"Message from His Excellency Archduke Alcaine: Demon King Berge Dayas shall, in accordance with the great Standard of the Demon King, abduct a prince or princess within one month and report the results.""Failure to comply will result in the revocation of tower system privileges granted to Demon King Berge Dayas."
Ha. I shut my mouth, the bite of meat forgotten. Appetite gone.
Since I might not follow through, they're nailing it down by force?
Using another Demon King to pressure me, no less?
Thud—
I tossed the meat chunk aside. Ground it underfoot.
"Thanks for the hospitality, but my tastes are refined. Can't stomach cheap trash like this."
The beasts' faces hardened menacingly.
"No intention of forcing our tastes on an idiot."
"How generous."
"You haven't answered yet."
"Revoke tower system privileges if I don't comply, was it?"
Rip—
I tore the document to shreds.
Amid the scattering paper scraps, Drakson's enraged roar echoed.
"How dare you to His Excellency's message!"
"Don't worry. Even without this forced order, I planned to do it anyway."
So.
"Don't give me orders, you mangy mutt."
You reek.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
"What in the world—what in the world—what?!"
Gordon screamed.
"What the hell was that?!"
"Problem? Demon King battles are forbidden anyway. Drakson won't break that. His beast brain makes him obey his master's word to the letter."
"I know that! I'm asking why you tore up Archduke Alcaine's decree!"
Ah, that side of it.
"Relax. Like I said, I'm kidnapping a princess anyway. The tower system won't shut down."
"That's not the issue right now!"
"It is. I was going to do it anyway—now it looks like I'm obeying orders."
"What's wrong with following Archduke Alcaine's command?"
"It would've been nice if we'd parted on good terms."
In my previous life, I hadn't thought badly of him. But that was then. Now, he was just vermin trying to strip my rightful privileges and threaten me.
At my firm stance, Gordon changed the subject.
"...But didn't you say you wouldn't follow the standard?"
"Not entirely. No need to reject the useful parts."
"Then which princess? From what I looked into before coming here, among the northern continent kingdoms..."
"I told you I won't follow the standard to the letter."
"...You're not kidnapping from a nearby kingdom?"
They must think that once I open with the first move, I'll have no choice but to follow the standard.
With the tower—the standard's first step—already built, the moment I do the second—abduction—the rest flows naturally, regardless of the Demon King.
The enraged king pours money into the hero guild to retrieve the lost child, and heroes mobilize.
But I have no intention of fulfilling that expectation.
Closing my eyes briefly, the system popped up, showing the tower's status.
⚔ TOWER STATUS ⚔ 👑 Tower Lord: Berge Dayas 🛡️ Sub-Lord: Gordon Dirik 🏗️ Floors: 5
📋 Affiliation 👹 Demons: Gordon Dirik 🐉 Familiars: None 👾 Monsters: None
📍 Floor Details 1st Floor: None 2nd Floor: ...
A pitiful sight.
In this state, if things flowed smoothly, I'd be eliminated outright.
So I needed a princess no one cared about if abducted, or a kingdom too weak to even consider retaliation.
Fortunately, I knew just such a princess.
Long ago—in my previous life, one day.
When I tangled with Aren's superpower.
Relations with other Demon Kings were at their worst, and I was struggling against the sudden hero influx.
Then one Demon King visited me.
A smug fool, especially brainless among them. A loudmouth who couldn't hold back bragging if he had something.
He relished my plight.
'Tsk tsk, I told you not to touch the empire's princess, but you never listen. Even if you're hot stuff, Aren is totally different from other dimensions, I said. Should've etched the seniors' advice into your bones.'
'Look at me. Kidnapped a princess no one gives a damn about—it's a breeze. Bet you don't know how sweet it is when the king doesn't care, so only weak heroes trickle in now and then.'
He left giggling, unaware he'd have died on the spot if Demon King battles weren't banned.
"Back then, I wanted to rip out all his teeth. Now it's proving useful."
"What do you mean?"
"I've decided which kingdom's princess to kidnap."
"Which one, from where?"
"The 13th Princess of Hilderan Kingdom, at the continent's southernmost tip."
The king's illegitimate child, too frail for political marriage.
Her. Elena.