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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 13
Chapter Title: The Spy
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『Join Hillun Kagil's hero party as a mercenary.』
『Do your utmost to aid him and build your fame.』
"Is this really an order from the Demon King?"
『It's from the Demon Lord. Mind your manners.』
"Come on, Demon King or Demon Lord, it's still weird, isn't it? Where in the world has a Demon King ever told someone to help a hero?"
『How could the likes of you fathom His profound intentions?』
"And you know them so well?"
『Shut up and obey the order.』
Granada chuckled at the low growl.
"Well, what choice does a slave have? Fine. Though at this rate, I might end up beheading the Demon Lord myself. Too obedient to orders, you see."
『You white-skinned lot really only learn after you're dead.』
"And you black-skinned lot are no fun at all."
The two elves locked eyes across the crystal orb. A strange tension hung in the air. Gordon looked away first.
『How the Demon Lord took in a wastrel like that... tsk.』
He snorted lightly and cut the connection. Granada scratched the bridge of his nose.
"What's the real scheme here?"
Join the hero party out to subjugate him, of all things.
Granada gauged the gap between himself and the Demon King.
During the battle in the tower, long years of slavery had left him far from normal. His body was wracked with illness, his skills rusted—he'd been no better than a cripple.
But now?
Not perfect yet, but he could slaughter five of his past selves at once.
And yet.
"Can't get a read on him."
A freshly descended Demon King, yet impossibly strong. And that peculiarity of his.
It defied understanding.
"Guess I don't need to worry about it."
Strong or weak, he'd sworn to the World Tree. He'd serve a century unless he died.
A short time for an elf, but no regrets. Better to serve the Demon King and slaughter humans than live out a pathetic existence as their slave.
Especially that damned bastard.
The hunter who'd captured him and sold him to the slavers.
Grinding his teeth, Granada snapped out of it and left the secret room. He smacked the backs of the heads of the mercenaries, including Bark, who were drowning themselves in booze.
"Ow! What the hell, boss?!"
"Orders from the lord."
"Finally?"
"Yeah. We're joining the hero party."
"Hillun Kagil?"
"Hildean Kingdom's hero?"
"Ah, so that's why you've been commissioning info on heroes from the guild? To team up?"
"Well, you could say that."
Not quite, but it was a decent fit. Maybe that was the Demon Lord's intent.
"But Hillun Kagil's party? Won't there be way too many rivals?"
The fame of having already beheaded a Demon King wasn't for just anyone. With success all but guaranteed, even more hyenas would swarm to snatch the scraps.
"That's why we gotta move fast."
To become the biggest hyena among them.
The Red Hawk Mercenary Corps headed south.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
"...What is this?"
Gordon, having descended after assigning Granada his mission in service of the Demon Lord's command, halted at the sight of the fourth floor.
"You've arrived?"
The princess greeted him with a beaming smile.
"I tried decorating it into a landscape the spirits would love. What do you think?"
"A landscape they'd love... I see."
Yes, the spirits would surely adore a scene like this.
"Is this a river?"
"I wanted to make it bigger, like a real river, but my abilities fell short— a valley's the limit."
Water spirits frolicked in the winding stream cutting through part of the fourth floor.
"And this tree..."
An earth spirit dangled and slept from a branch.
Fire spirits danced in the bonfire, and wind spirits stirred the stagnant tower air.
She wields all four elements, they said. It was true.
"Forest over here, grassland there. Refreshing, isn't it?"
"Very refreshing."
Too refreshing. A gentle breeze tickled Gordon's hair.
It was an ecosystem in itself.
A natural ecosystem in the Demon King's tower, no less.
Small-scale, but the princess was undoubtedly no ordinary being.
"I could've decorated the whole fourth floor on the spot if I wanted, but... mana must be too thin here, huh?"
"Impressive work, considering."
Of course. The tower brimmed with demonic energy, making mana scarce.
To achieve this much despite that? Worthy of praise. If she weren't a kidnapped princess. And if it weren't in the tower of the Demon Lord he served.
I want to smash it all.
Without his lord's orders, he would've. Forced the spirits to revert, dragged the princess to the underground dungeon.
Heroes must never be allowed above the third floor.
Gordon burned with a sense of duty. This disgrace to the tower's dignity must never reach other humans.
Why show such favor to a mere human princess?
Aren was different from other dimensions, sure. Provide some comforts, fine. But this was anything but "some."
"Oh, right—did the Demon Lord say anything about when he'll go for more spirit herbs?"
"That's for the Demon Lord to decide."
"Ah, sorry."
The princess bowed her head. Gordon didn't catch her expression.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
It was twisted.
He could no longer deny it.
An exceptional craftsman, yet he'd kidnapped a hero.
Gazing at the dwarf's rear ahead of him stirred a boiling killing intent.
Not the one who'd killed him, nor the one who'd mocked him atop the tower—but still a hero.
Heroes deserved their limbs torn asunder and necks crushed, and that wouldn't even suffice.
A new craftsman could be found. Kidnapping rumors might've spread among the dwarves, but with resolve, it wasn't impossible.
But Berge endured.
Because he was a hero.
Because he had died after being used by heroes.
For me, too...
No rule against using a hero.
Wouldn't it be more satisfying to make him grovel like a dog, use him like trash—repaying tenfold, no, a thousandfold the humiliations he'd endured?
With that thought, he barely suppressed his rage.
He opened his eyes, and there was the rear again. Irritation surged.
He'd asked for a secret passage, yet this dog-crawling route—was it intentional?
Smash that ass? He reconsidered; it'd kill him outright.
"This heads to the exit, right?"
"Y-yes."
But it led deeper underground. A small mine appeared.
Berge silently smacked the dwarf's head. The dwarf screamed.
"There! That way to the exit! An old abandoned mine—I dug a new path!"
One hit, and his tone turned polite. Not bad.
"One more chance. If it's a lie again, it won't be fun."
"It wasn't a lie to begin with..."
"..."
"N-no! Uh, may I ask one question?"
Berge nodded slightly.
"Why kidnap a hero like me?"
"You offered to take the princess's place."
"But still..."
Heroes and Demon Kings were like water and oil. No tales of Demon Kings sparing heroes, or vice versa.
There are, but...
Those were different cases.
Not climbing to the tower's peak wasn't "sparing" the Demon King.
"Quit dawdling and guide me."
"Y-yes!"
Roger squeezed through a narrow gap.
"You expect me in there?"
"My secret passage—entrance is tight. Widens inside, so just bear with..."
Crunch—
The entrance partially collapsed. The wall pinning Roger vanished.
"Indeed, not so narrow."
"...Touch wrong, and the tunnel collapses."
"Yet it didn't."
"Well, luckily not, but underground, it's always..."
"Makes me wonder if you're stalling to keep me here."
"N-no way! Hurry!"
The passage was steep stairs. Roger panted upward on short legs.
What now?
Forced by threats to help the Demon King escape, but the future? Unpredictable.
Escape impossible. Why spare him over the princess?
"...What will you do with me?"
"Want to live?"
The piercing words made Roger flinch.
He was a hero. An odd one who never hunted or subjugated, but still...
A proud hero who wouldn't beg for life before a Demon King...
"...I want to live."
Roger whimpered. If he could discard life like trash, he'd roam battlefields, not workshops. He never wanted to be a hero.
"Hmm."
A cold edge grazed his neck. Roger collapsed in a heap.
"Why should Demon King I spare hero you?"
"I-I'm useful! Combat's zilch, but my craftsmanship's top-notch!"
"Just one of countless dwarves."
"No! Self-praise, but in the dwarf kingdom, everyone knows Roger! I dare say I'm the finest craftsman among dwarves!"
"Fine, suppose it's all true."
Roger nodded furiously at the concession.
"But you—a hero—using that skill for me, a Demon King? You think that makes sense?"
"Why wouldn't it?!"
Roger racked his brain desperately.
"Hero Pallus bought a princess kidnapped by the King of Lies with heaps of gold."
"Horton Kingdom's king forged a pact with the King of Lies."
"The Diamond Demon King cleared monsters from Ians Forest on commission from Iasin Kingdom!"
"The King of Frost sent back twelve heroes who'd entered his tower—unharmed!"
He spat out the insider rumors like rapid fire. Whispers among kingdom elites and heroes.
"Heroes and Demon Kings cooperating in secret isn't news! Why can't I serve you?!"
Poke—
His desperate cry earned a laugh.
Invisible behind, but Roger guessed the Demon King's lips curled.
Approval or mockery? Tension brought cold sweat.
"Came to kidnap a princess, end up wooed by a pint-sized dwarf."
"At least utility-wise, I'm more useful than most! Make me your spy!"
"I decide that, not you."
"Of course, of course!"
Hmm.
The Demon King stroked his chin briefly.
"Not sure if a wretch like you has any use, but..."
A momentary silence. Roger's breath grew ragged. His body shivered.
"If you weep and beg like this, who am I to deny mercy? I'm a generous Demon King, after all."
Roger spun and slammed his forehead to the ground.
"Thank you! Truly, thank you! Glory to the great Demon Lord!"
"Rise."
The Demon King's hand pulled him up.
"Please..."
He patted his shoulder with a smile.
"Don't forget that mindset today, little hero."
If he did.
"Your worst fears won't come to pass."
"Never! I'll etch today's grace into my bones! Thank you, truly!"
I-I'm alive. Alive...
Legs buckled; Roger slumped again. He swallowed snot, wiped tears.
Never, ever get tangled with that princess again.
Spy or not, he'd avoid it at all costs.
And slip away at the first chance, evading the Demon King's grasp.
No more such misfortunes—or freak luck.
He vowed it, firmly, unyieldingly.
Relief washed over him. A faint smile graced Roger's face.