The message arrived on a bright afternoon.
"Hello."
The figure waving looked noticeably worn. The confident air she used to carry was nowhere to be seen.
So something had happened.
"I was hoping we could meet for a bit. Would it be alright if I came to your tower?"
What was her intention?
Berze hesitated briefly.
"Is that not possible?"
When no reply came, the other party muttered anxiously. Berze did not feel particularly sorry for her. If she was the Succubus Queen, then even this pitiful appearance could very well be an act.
"Vivian Blunt."
"Yes, Berze Deias."
"What is it you want to say? Were you and I ever close enough to exchange private communications or come and go between each other's towers?"
"Not yet. But that depends on how things go from now on, doesn't it?"
"Your tone has gotten a bit less arrogant."
"Hah. I never thought I'd hear that from someone who's only been out of the academy for a year."
"I'm not interested in your past. Get to the point."
After hesitating for a moment, she finally spoke.
"I was wondering if you already knew."
"Be precise about what you mean."
"The Hero Guild."
"In the dimension I conquered, there were barely a hundred heroes at most. A guild? Something like that couldn't exist."
She let out a hollow laugh.
Her trembling pupils betrayed her state of mind. The confusion and emptiness she felt were not an act.
"Anyone among the Demon Kings who descended upon Arein knows."
Even if they did not at first, they eventually learned.
"So I was the only one who didn't know. Just me. I was the idiot. Right?"
"What are you actually trying to say?"
"I told you. Let's talk in person!"
Her sharp outburst made his ears ring. Berze barely restrained the urge to cut the connection.
Rotten or not, she was still a Demon King. And no matter how distasteful, she was still one.
After regressing, Berze had come to understand how important relationships with other Demon Kings were.
If there was even a slight chance of utility, even the smallest benefit to himself, then maintaining the connection was the correct choice.
After all, Arein was a place he could not confidently conquer even if he used every available means.
And besides -
Vivian Blunt was highly likely to be Alkaine's hound.
Archduke Alkaine harbored doubts regarding Draxon's death. If someone was sent to probe the truth, Vivian Blunt was the most likely candidate.
"Keep your friends close, and your enemies closer."
A saying that circulated among humans. Berze liked it.
"Then I'll come to your tower."
"I think the opposite would be better."
"Don't try such transparent tricks. If you refuse, I have no reason to deal with you any further."
"...Fine. I'll leave the gate open."
The moment he passed through space, blazing sunlight struck him. Wind brushed across his face, carrying a sharp saltiness.
The sea.
Right. Vivian's tower was located in the Seratin Archipelago, in the western ocean.
"Welcome."
The five-story tower opened its gates. The interior was extravagant. Far too lively for a Demon King who had only recently descended.
Succubi, incubi, and various monsters.
As expected of a Demon King who had already conquered a dimension. Setting aside quality, there were dozens of demonkind and thousands of monsters.
Then again, I used to be the same.
He recalled a past that technically had not yet occurred.
After graduating first in the Demon King Officer Academy, he had received massive support.
Graduates of the Demon Race Training School had flocked under him, and demonic energy points and monsters had been supplied without restraint.
Vivian Blunt's current state was exactly what Berze had looked like right after his own descent before regression.
Not a valedictorian, but lavishly coated in privileges earned from conquering a single dimension.
Lost in faint nostalgia, he reached the fifth floor.
"Welcome."
As befitting a Demon King's floor, it was incomparably more splendid than the rest. In some respects, it was even more extravagant than Jason's tower.
Yet in contrast to the decorations, there were no demonkind or monsters present. Only Vivian sat upon the throne, waiting for him.
"My head already hurts."
"You really have no respect for your seniors. I've conquered another dimension, you know."
She complained as she stepped down from the throne and took a seat at a round table prepared in advance. Red wine and light appetizers were already laid out.
"Wine is better than tea, right?"
"Don't ask when you've already decided."
"I could bring tea if you want."
"I'll pass."
Vivian uncorked the bottle. A light pop echoed as a sweet aroma spread through the air.
"So. What do you want?"
"You're in such a hurry. Can't you afford a little composure?"
"You sounded like you were about to die over the communicator. Feeling more confident now that you're on your own territory?"
"...Honestly."
She poured the wine. When Berze slid his glass forward, it filled about halfway.
"I called you because I wanted to ask something."
"Ask what?"
"Your movements."
She raised her glass. It looked like a toast, but Berze snorted and drank without waiting. Vivian sighed and followed suit.
"After the succubi were all exposed in the Dortmund Kingdom, I looked into what you've been doing."
"And?"
"I was shocked."
After receiving a warning from Jason Raymun, she had not believed it.
Three thousand one hundred ninety-eight heroes.
Such a dimension should not exist.
Vivian had only conquered one dimension, but she had exchanged information with many Demon Kings. Even in the worst cases, she had never seen a place exceed five hundred heroes.
Naturally so.
Heroes were those chosen by the dimension itself. It would not be wrong to consider them mercenaries selected to protect it.
And the power of a dimension was never infinite.
By the time she realized Jason's words were true, by the time she understood that something was fundamentally wrong with Arein, it was already too late.
Officially, once dispatched to a dimension, there were only two ways to leave.
To die and return as a corpse, or to completely conquer the dimension.
In the end, she chose the next best option.
Survive. Even if conquest was impossible, at least do not die.
It was only natural that Berze caught her attention.
"You've shown astonishing results despite having only one year."
Kidnapping the crown princess of Hilderan, abducting the imperial princess of Jespine, and recently even taking another princess of Hilderan.
Kidnapping princesses itself was not strange.
But now Vivian understood. In Arein, kidnapping not just a princess but the crown princess was an act bordering on suicide.
"And yet you're alive. You don't even look like you're about to die. Even though you've caused bigger incidents than I ever did."
"So?"
"I was curious. How you manage it. What you're thinking. And what your plans are."
"You think I'd tell you?"
"...Honestly, I didn't expect you to answer easily. But I'm desperate."
Berze understood.
Whether it developed into a full hero crusade or not, Dortmund was still in turmoil because of Vivian.
Overlay that with the number 3198, and the fear of death would be unavoidable.
"And you already know, don't you? That it's too late for you to copy what I did."
"Hiding the tower."
Vivian gave an awkward smile.
"That goes against the Proper Way."
"If you're going to cling to rigid nonsense like that, then this conversation was pointless from the start."
"Is there really no other method? I find it hard to believe you repelled a hero crusade with just that one thing."
"Even if there were, I have no reason to tell you."
"I heard you like money."
She pulled out a large pouch from subspace.
Already?
"Even though they were discovered, the succubi approached nobles. I emptied their vaults."
A total of four hundred eleven gold.
She muttered the number.
"It may not be enormous, but I don't think it's small either. At least enough for one more piece of advice."
"It's certainly not a small sum."
Enough to buy nearly a hundred elven slaves. No reason to refuse money being offered.
What would be good?
Something that sounded like advice, but wasn't really.
"You chose your location well."
"Unlike you, mine is already fully exposed."
"It's an island. That means they have to come by sea."
"That's true."
"Acquire sea monsters and release them, or take maritime creatures as your retainers."
"You mean intercept the heroes at sea?"
"It won't be perfect. But it's easier than dealing with them after they land. Humans are ultimately terrestrial creatures."
"Hmm. That's a bit too textbook to call it advice."
"So what."
Before Vivian could say anything else, Berze snatched the pouch.
"I spoke, you listened. That concludes the transaction."
"You're a decisive man. I don't dislike that."
Vivian smiled calmly. Her coquettish gaze and movements made Berze frown.
"I don't like filthy succubi."
"How fitting of a lofty Demon Dragon."
"If you're done talking, I'll be leaving. If this drags on any longer, I'll get irritated."
"Wait. I heard that when you descended, no one accompanied you except your adjutant."
"So?"
"And that you haven't summoned any monsters or demonkind since. According to Jason, you converted all the demonic energy points you accumulated into money..."
"For a mere Demon King like you to know I haven't summoned even basic monsters."
"Didn't you already more or less guess? Reading between the lines is one of my specialties."
Her eyes were already saying she knew.
"I'll ask plainly. Were you involved in Draxon's death?"
"If I said I wasn't, would you believe me?"
"Of course. Honestly, the Archduke suspects you, but I have doubts. I heard a high-ranking demon infiltrated the area, yet you don't even have ordinary monsters, let alone high-ranking demonkind."
"Weren't you given orders? Are you sure it's fine to reveal everything like this?"
"His Excellency has concealed quite a lot about Arein from me as well. I believe this level of discretion is acceptable."
"Interesting."
Whether it was a calculated performance or genuine sincerity was impossible to tell.
"It has nothing to do with me."
"Then I'll accept that for now."
"Do as you please."
"Oh, and one more thing."
Vivian gave a bewitching smile.
"You'd do well to be careful of Jason Raymun. What you see on the surface isn't everything."
"That goes without saying. I know him better than someone who only just descended."
Berze opened space and stepped through. Vivian licked her lips as she watched his back.
"He really is suspicious."
Her grip tightened around the wine glass.
"Arrogant."
"Annoying."
Crash -
The glass shattered. Crimson wine flowed down her hand.
"Berze Deias."
"Reina Sordein."
"Ugar Belbek."
"Jason Raymun."
She murmured the names of the four Demon Kings.
"Jason Raymun. I do understand your anger."
With 3198 heroes, it was inevitable. She herself had panicked for quite some time, unable to act.
But that did not mean resentment disappeared.
She could not accept that she had felt fear, even for a moment, because of a fellow Demon King's intimidation.
Her warning to Berze was born of that wounded pride.
"Regardless, I should do my job."
Her purpose in descending upon Arein.
She had to uncover the culprit.
To escape this cursed place without dying.
Fortunately, a path had opened.
"Reina Sordein. Just what are you plotting?"
Vivian repeated the name of the frozen figure she had recently contacted.
Those who render great service receive recognition.
Those who serve a nation are rewarded with nobility, or even kingship.
And heroes affiliated with the guild are officially commended by the Guild Headquarters.
That Hilleun Kargil, who killed the Beast Demon King Draxon Doldorf, was summoned by the Hero Guild Headquarters was only natural.
Because that "natural" outcome could easily have turned unnatural due to minor friction, Hilleun demanded guild-level compensation as a condition, and this meeting was arranged.
"Hilleun Kargil of Hilderan greets the assembled elders."
The grand hall.
A massive chamber capable of holding several hundred people was packed to capacity.
More than half of those present were heroes.
Every hero stationed at the Guild Headquarters had gathered to see the rising star.
"An honor to witness a great hero in person."
"His momentum is formidable."
"For someone who killed two Demon Kings, though..."
Whispers rippled through the hall.
"Hero Hilleun Kargil, step forward."
Hilleun took a step ahead.
One of the elders unfolded a document. The Grand Elder himself read aloud.
"Hilleun Kargil. For ascending the Beast Tower, conquering it, and slaying the Demon King..."
His achievements were listed in detail.
"You are awarded five thousand gold, ten magical items from the guild armory, and..."
The Grand Elder paused. His gaze met Hilleun's.
"You are hereby appointed Argan."
A title named after the first Guildmaster, designating a high-ranking executive who handled the guild's actual operations.
Those who determined the guild's direction alongside the council of elders.
I did it.
Hilleun screamed soundlessly.
He had finally made it this far.