An Ordinary Demon King
"Are you alright?"
"I'm fine."
He actually wasn't.
Berze roughly wiped away the blood running down from his shoulder.
He hadn't expected to meet Daphner Philian here of all places.
Daphner's final arrow had pierced through the flames far too effortlessly.
It pressed against his skin and burrowed into his flesh.
The aura that exploded inside him had nearly forced his demonic energy to flare out. Even thinking back on it now made him shudder.
"You're definitely not fine. You need treatment."
The droplets of blood that had been falling one by one soon turned into a steady stream. As his robe was stained red, Ernan urgently summoned Nairuniel.
"There's no need."
"But…"
— He's right. You don't need it.
Nairuniel brought her face close to the wound. Berze grimaced in disgust.
"What are you doing?"
— Seriously, I'm curious. What on earth did you eat?
Berze's wound was slowly—yet unmistakably—regenerating.
— You didn't swallow a high-rank spirit or a Spirit King, did you?
"You think that's possible?"
— No, probably not.
— A spirit would never form a contract with a Demon King to begin with, and being eaten is impossible.
— But your energy is closer to a spirit's…
— Don't tell me—a divine beast?
Ignoring Nairuniel, who had spiraled into her own thoughts, Berze examined his body. A physique regenerating in real time was a mystery that even most Demon Kings couldn't reproduce. But it wasn't without drawbacks.
The efficiency is terrible.
Was it because the wound was large, or because of the lingering aura interfering with recovery? His body was gulping down an absurd amount of mana to regenerate itself.
Complaining about the inefficiency, he soon accepted it.
I should be grateful a demon's body can use mana at all.
When the wound had healed to a suitable degree, he intentionally cut off the mana flow.
"You're not fully healed yet."
"At this rate, I'll have to return to the tower."
He discarded the torn piece of clothing and pulled out another robe from subspace. Ernan quickly followed him.
"Are we going to the Adamantine Tower now?"
"There's somewhere we need to stop first."
"Where…?"
"Every Demon King has a domain that must not be infringed upon."
"Humans are the same. Lines that mustn't be crossed."
"Then you'll understand quickly. No Demon King hands over a kidnapped royal to another Demon King."
"Pride, then?"
"It's a matter of honor."
"Well, I guess it would be ridiculous to arrive to rescue a princess only to find she isn't there because another Demon King took her. So you plan to do it the proper way?"
"The proper way?"
"Forming a hero party or an assault squad to attack the tower. Since you and the Adamantine Demon King have some sort of arrangement, it won't be the kind that fights to the death, right?"
"…That kind of 'proper.'"
A brief trauma surged up.
"Yes. We'll form an assault squad and officially attack the tower. In the process, you and I will have our traces erased, and the princess will be 'rescued' by the squad."
"The leader will be Hero Hillen, and the members will be the Red Falcon Mercenaries, right?"
"You understand quickly."
"But then Elena will return to the kingdom."
The ideal scenario everyone wished for was the safe return of the rescued princess. But that was the very outcome Ernan did not want.
"The moment she returns to the capital is the moment the 13th Princess is kidnapped a second time."
Once she properly returns to the royal capital, Hillen and the Red Falcon bear no responsibility. And at the same time, everyone's guard will be at its lowest, relieved that she's home.
It's the perfect moment to strike.
"Should I do it?"
"…?"
"If you kidnap her, Elena will be frightened. She's quite a delicate child."
"I understand why you despise the kingdom so much, but moments like this always make me wonder if everything you say is just another trick."
"I have never once lied to you, Demon King."
"If I had known from the start that you were the First Princess, I wouldn't have taken you."
"I never said I was Elena."
"You also never said you weren't."
"You never asked."
"How shocking. I didn't ask."
Ernan avoided Berze's gaze.
They arrived at the city, Filer. Originally, Filer wasn't even worthy of being called a city.
It was perched on a mountainside, with poor accessibility and surrounded by rocky terrain. Filer had once been nothing more than a simple slash-and-burn farming village—until the Adamantine Demon King settled in the mountain range.
Heroes, knights, and mercenaries flocked in, and merchants seeking to exploit them multiplied. As the population grew, the village became an official city of the kingdom and expanded greatly.
"Heroes here, heroes there. A den of hero scum."
The heroes failed to perceive Berze, who was disguised with Phoenix's power. But he could sense the dimensional interference clinging to all the heroes.
"It's a city built for heroes."
"A Demon King being used for profit… truly, this dimension is fundamentally broken."
It wasn't just Filer—every city near the towers was like this. Ormus was practically a national industry.
A Demon King who had come to conquer a dimension being used by humans instead—what a disgrace.
"…I won't say anything. I'm human, but right now I need the Demon King's help."
Her pale fingers fiddled with the necklace around her neck.
"And there's this thing too. If the Demon King gets offended, he might blow my head off."
"Are you mocking me?"
"I'm sorry. I must be too excited after being outside for the first time in a while."
"There is only one mercy."
"I'll be careful."
Berze located the prearranged meeting place. The inn called "Star's Rest" was fairly high-end and bustling.
"Welcome."
"There should be a reservation under the name Granada."
"Ah, he's been waiting for you. Please follow me."
They followed the attendant to the annex, where Granada and the Red Falcon Mercenary Corps were waiting.
"You're here?"
"Yes."
Berze swept his gaze over the mercenaries standing stiffly behind Granada. Familiar faces, including Bark—the first one he had gotten involved with.
"Not a single one has changed."
"As you know, our survival instinct is… above average. Excessively so."
"For mercenaries, having strong survival instincts is a good thing—so long as they don't abandon their mission and run."
The mercenaries flinched. Berze chuckled at the indirect warning. Ernan pulled her robe aside slightly and approached Granada.
"Granada. It's been a while."
"A while…? Who are you?"
Granada froze.
The face was different, but the distinctive mana, the scent, the atmosphere—were the same.
"You're thinking correctly."
"…Have you lost your mind?"
He glanced at the Red Falcons and whispered quietly.
"You brought the princess outside? What if she runs?!"
"She won't."
"How can you be sure? Huh?"
"Just think back to when you came to the tower with Hillen Cargill."
"…Ah?"
"And the necklace on her neck is a shackle. Did you really think I came without precautions?"
"…I trust you'll handle this well."
"You've become more talkative. Is that an elf trait?"
"Please don't compare me to that dark-skinned one."
Leaving the mercenaries behind, Granada led them deeper into the annex.
The door shut with a click, and he personally served three cups of tea. A thin mana barrier sealed the room.
"Where is Hillen Cargill?"
"He sent a message last night saying he'd arrive by morning… but we haven't heard from him yet."
"Late, then."
"He'll arrive soon. But… do you truly intend to conquer the tower with just this group? Demon King—can I say this?"
Granada glanced at Ernan.
"It's fine."
"We know you contributed to conquering the Beast Tower, but we being the main force is another matter entirely."
"The Demon King conquered the Beast Tower?"
"He did."
"She's a Demon King too."
"You're human as well. And yet you helped capture Hillen Cargill."
"Seems even demon-kind have complicated interests. Sorry. Please continue."
Ernan brushed it off casually.
Am I the abnormal one?
Not once in history had a Demon King helped kill another Demon King. It was the first time such a thing had ever happened, yet her reaction was less than what one would give to a rumor like, "I heard some bard sings well."
If only Granada hadn't sworn an oath before the World Tree, he would've spread the news across town instantly.
"But back then, the tower had already suffered heavy damage from the first hero expedition. And the second time as well, there were many heroes present."
"And now?"
"What's there to say? Just twenty of the Red Falcon mercenaries, you, me, Her Highness the Princess, and Hillen Cargill. That's all."
"That's enough. I've already made arrangements with Ugar."
"Well, that's fortunate."
"We won't be going above the third floor. The princess will be inside, and all we need to do is retrieve her and get out."
"Like in the Frost Tower—frozen into an ice statue?"
"That's Ugar's business. As long as he's not an idiot, he'll keep her alive to some extent. No need to worry."
"The third floor, huh…"
Even if it was a Demon King's tower and no floor could be taken lightly, with a Demon King, a high-rank spirit mage, and Hillen Cargill, they felt they could manage.
"The third floor…"
Ernan nodded, looking determined.
"May I ask you just one question?"
"Speak."
"It may not be proper to ask with Lady Ernan present, but… why are you trying to rescue the 13th Princess of Hilderan?"
And doing so while climbing another Demon King's tower, no less.
"Because Ugar won't hand her over without a fight. Pride."
"That's not what I meant."
"She is useful."
"I heard the 13th Princess was born frail and incapable of doing anything."
"So they say."
Berze looked at Ernan.
"That isn't true."
She shook her head.
"Elena is physically weak. It's true she's been sickly, and most rumors aren't wrong. But it's not true that she can't do anything."
"You mean the rumors are incorrect?"
"The rumors aren't wrong. There's just something they don't mention."
"And what's that?"
Knock knock—
At that moment, someone knocked on the door. Before anyone could answer, it burst open.
It was Hillen Cargill. And—
"Found you at last."
A red-haired woman bared her teeth in a grin.
"…What is this."
"This is Rozel Charnt."
"That's not what I asked."
"Apologies, but I couldn't get her off."
Berze rubbed his forehead. So that's why they were late.
"You're doing this in front of others?"
"What's going on?"
"What do you think? A debt collector, here to collect."
"Debt?"
"Have you ever seen someone this shameless? If you promised two, you give two. Why'd you cheat me out of one?"
"That's right, I did."
"'That's right'?"
"I forgot."
"Forgot? Should I forget you're human and just lob this at your head?"
A blaze of fire—who knows when she conjured it—heated the air.
"I'll give you mana. What's so difficult about that?"
"Exactly, it's not difficult. That's why I'm angry."
"But not now."
"So you do want to fight?"
"If you followed Hillen, then you heard why he came here."
"He said something about forming an assault squad to clear the lower levels, right? But isn't your party a little pathetic? I only saw one mercenary group on the way."
"And that's why I said it's not possible right now."
"Fine, I understand."
Rozel nodded.
"Then I'll come with you."
"Not necessary."
"I think it is. What if you run away again? And what if you suddenly die? That would be even more inconvenient."
"I won't die in some pathetic tower."
"I've met a lot of humans overflowing with confidence. And the number I kept seeing wasn't those who lived… but those I never saw again."
"Don't compare me to such insects."
"Actually, it's funny. Shouldn't you see it as an honor? Rozel Charntis offering to join your sorry little assault team."
Well… that is…
Not bad.
He felt the urge to snap the arrogant woman's neck for talking down to a Demon King—but he couldn't.
Even if everyone in the room attacked at once, they couldn't capture Rozel Charnt. They might be able to wound her, but preventing her escape entirely was impossible.
And if she fled, everything they had built up until now would collapse.
So Berze concealed his fangs and considered her proposal properly.
Honestly, I could ditch this leech and take my time if I wanted.
He could pay her now and rest a few days before attacking the tower. But why bother?
His goal was never Hillen Cargill's assault-squad experience. All he needed was the noble justification:
The hero rescued the princess. Hillen rescued the 13th Princess.
What happened in between didn't matter as long as the result was correct.
Besides, even if Rozel Charnt causes chaos, it's not my tower.
Ugar would shoulder all the damage.
And Berze was a perfectly ordinary Demon King—one who hated seeing another Demon King prosper.
"Fine."
"Finally, you're making sense."
"Oh, and by the way—"
She smiled.
"When I heard you were attacking the Adamantine Tower, I brought the entire Crimson Flame Assault Squad. They'll all be coming too."
"That's not bad."
"You're being way too agreeable suddenly. Suspicious."
"Let's call it respect for the great Rozel Charnt."
"That I like!"
The Demon King and the hero clasped hands and laughed together.
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