Chapter 59 : A Typical Demon King
Chapter 59: A Typical Demon King
“Are you alright?”
“I’m fine.”
In truth, he wasn’t fine at all.
Berje roughly wiped the blood flowing from his shoulder.
He hadn’t expected to run into Daphne Phillian here of all places.
Daphne’s final arrow had pierced through the flames far too easily.
It pressed into his skin and burrowed into his flesh.
Had the aura exploding inside him grown any worse, he might have exposed his demonic nature. It was a dizzying moment even in hindsight.
“You’re not fine at all. You need treatment.”
The drops of blood that had been trickling down turned into a small stream before anyone noticed. As the robe grew redder, Ernan hurriedly summoned Nairuniel.
“No need.”
“But…”
— Right. No need.
Nairuniel pushed her face toward the wound. Berje frowned in disgust.
“What are you doing?”
— I’m genuinely curious. What on earth did you eat?
Berje’s wound was slowly, yet unmistakably, regenerating.
— You didn’t happen to swallow a high-grade spirit or a Spirit King, did you?
“Does that sound possible to you?”
— No, of course not.
— A spirit would never form a contract with a Demon King in the first place, and eating one is impossible.
— But your energy is closer to a spirit’s…
— Don’t tell me, a phantom beast?
Berje ignored Nairuniel, who had wandered off into her own thoughts, and observed his body. A body regenerating in real time was a mysterious feat even most Demon Kings couldn’t accomplish. But it wasn’t entirely a good thing.
‘The efficiency is terrible.’
Was it because the wound was large, or because the lingering aura interfered with the healing? As his body regenerated, a massive amount of mana was being consumed.
Grumbling at the height of inefficiency, he soon accepted it.
‘I should be grateful a demon’s body can even use mana at all.’
Once the wound had roughly closed, he intentionally cut off the flow of mana.
“You’re still not healed.”
“At this rate, I’ll have to return to the tower.”
He discarded the torn garment and wrapped himself in a different robe pulled from subspace. Ernan followed close behind.
“Are we heading to the Gold-Steel Tower now?”
“There’s somewhere we must stop first.”
“Where…?”
“Each Demon King has a domain that must never be violated.”
“That’s the same for humans too. A line that shouldn’t be crossed.”
“Then you’ll understand quickly. No Demon King abducts a royal and hands them over to another Demon King.”
“Pride?”
“It’s a matter of honour.”
“Well, yeah. If the Gold-Steel Demon King kidnapped her and you showed up to rescue her only to find she wasn’t there, it would be ridiculous. So you’re going the standard route?”
“Standard?”
“Forming a hero unit or an assault team to attack the tower. Since you must have some sort of agreement with the Gold-Steel Demon King, it’s not the kind of hero unit that fights to the death, right?”
“…That standard.”
For a moment, his trauma flared.
“That’s right. We’ll form an assault team and officially attack the tower. During the process, your existence and mine will be erased, and the princess will be rescued by the assault team.”
“The captain will be Hero Hillan, and the members will be the Red Hawk Mercenary Company, right?”
“You catch on quickly.”
“But if we do that, Ernan will return to the kingdom.”
A rescued princess safely returning to her kingdom was the ideal scenario everyone wished for. But it was a direction Ernan did not want.
“How about… the moment she returns to the kingdom is the moment the 13th Princess is kidnapped for the second time?”
Because she would have returned properly through the royal capital, neither Hillan nor the Red Hawk would bear responsibility. At that same time, everyone would relax, relieved she was safely back.
It was the perfect moment to act.
“Can you do it?”
“…?”
“If the Demon King kidnaps her, Ellena will be shocked. She’s quite a fragile child.”
“I understand now why you hate the kingdom so much, but every time you say things like that, I start wondering if everything is just deception.”
“I’ve never once lied to you.”
“If I had known during our first meeting that you were the First Princess, I wouldn’t have taken you with me.”
“I never told you I was Ellena.”
“You also never said you weren’t.”
“Well, you never asked.”
“That’s astounding. That I didn’t ask.”
Ernan avoided Berje’s gaze.
They arrived at the city of Filer. Originally, Filer had barely been worthy of being called a city.
Located halfway up a mountain, transportation was inconvenient, and the area was filled with rocks. Filer had only been a simple slash-and-burn farming village, but it developed into a major city after the Gold-Steel Demon King settled in the mountain range.
As heroes, knights, and mercenaries gathered one by one, merchants hoping to strip them of their money increased. As the population grew, the village was officially incorporated into the kingdom as a city and expanded in scale.
“Heroes here, heroes there. A den of heroes.”
The heroes could not recognise Berje, who was disguised with the Phoenix’s power. But Berje sensed the interference power dwelling within them.
“It’s a city for heroes, after all.”
“A Demon King being used for mere profit… This dimension is not just wrong—it's deeply wrong.”
It wasn’t only Filer; every city adjacent to a tower was the same. Ormus, in particular, had made it a national industry.
For a Demon King who came to conquer a dimension to end up being used by humans—there was no greater disgrace.
“…I won’t say anything. I’m human, but right now I need the Demon King’s help.”
Her pale fingers brushed the necklace hanging around her neck.
“There’s also this. If the Demon King gets annoyed, he might blow my head off.”
“Are you mocking me?”
“I’m sorry. I guess being outside for the first time in a while has me overly excited.”
“Mercy is only once.”
“I’ll be careful.”
Berje looked for the arranged meeting place. The inn called Star’s Rest was fairly upscale and crowded.
“Welcome.”
“There should be a reservation under the name Granada.”
“Ah, he has been waiting for you. I’ll guide you.”
They followed the clerk toward the annex. There, they met Granada and the Red Hawk mercenaries who had been waiting.
“You’ve arrived?”
“Yes.”
Berje swept his gaze over the mercenaries standing stiffly behind Granada. They were familiar faces, including Bark, the one he had first crossed paths with.
“Not a single one has changed.”
“As you know, their survivability is somewhat exceptional. Excessively so.”
“For mercenaries, high survivability is a good trait. As long as they don’t abandon their mission and run.”
The mercenaries flinched. Berje, who had delivered a light indirect warning, let out a short scoff. Ernan parted her robe slightly and approached Granada.
“Granada. It’s been a while.”
“A while? Who are you?”
Granada stiffened.
Her face was certainly different. But her mana, scent, and presence were unmistakable.
“You’re thinking correctly.”
“…Have you lost your mind?”
He glanced at the Red Hawk mercenaries, then whispered quietly.
“What are you doing bringing the princess out here? What if she tries to run?”
“That won’t happen.”
“And how can you be so sure? Hm?”
“If you recall the time you came to the tower with Hillan Cargill, isn’t it obvious?”
“…Huh?”
“And the necklace around her neck is a shackle. Do you really think I’d bring her out with no countermeasures?”
“…I trust that you know what you’re doing.”
“You’ve grown quite naggy. Is that common among elves?”
“Please don’t compare me to that dark-skinned bastard.”
Leaving the mercenaries behind, Granada guided them into the inner room of the annex.
Click. The door closed, and he personally served three cups of tea. A thin soundproof barrier formed by mana wrapped around them.
“Where is Hillan Cargill?”
“He sent word last night saying he’d arrive by morning, but we’ve had no reply yet.”
“He’s late.”
“He’ll arrive soon, I’m sure. But… do you truly intend to conquer the tower with just these numbers? Demon King… am I allowed to say this?”
Granada glanced at Ernan.
“It’s fine.”
“I know the Demon King assisted in conquering the Beast’s Tower, but us being the main force in conquering a tower is an entirely different matter, isn’t it?”
“You conquered the Beast’s Tower?”
“I did.”
“You’re both Demon Kings.”
“You’re both humans. Yet you helped capture Hillan Cargill.”
“It seems demons also have complicated interests. Sorry. Please continue.”
Ernan brushed it off casually.
‘Am I the strange one?’
There had never been a single instance in history where one Demon King helped kill another. This was the first time ever—yet her reaction was no more dramatic than hearing, “Some bard sings pretty well.”
If Granada hadn’t sworn to the World Tree, he would have spread the news everywhere already.
“But at that time, the tower had already suffered heavy damage during the first hero’s march. And the second time, there were plenty of heroes as well.”
“And now?”
“What more is there to say? We have twenty members of the Red Hawk Mercenary Company, the Demon King, me, the princess, and Hillan Cargill. That’s all.”
“That’s enough. I’ve already reached an agreement with Ugar.”
“That’s a relief then.”
“We won’t go higher than the 3rd floor. The princess will be somewhere inside that range, and all we need to do is rescue her and get out.”
“So she’ll be frozen into an ice statue like in the Frost Tower?”
“That’s Ugar’s business. As long as he isn’t an idiot, he’ll keep her alive to a reasonable degree, so there’s no need to worry.”
“If it’s only up to the 3rd floor…”
It was a Demon King’s tower; the 3rd floor couldn’t be taken lightly. But with a Demon King, a high-grade spirit sorceress, and Hillan Cargill, they figured they would manage somehow.
“The 3rd floor…”
Ernan nodded, her resolve strengthening.
“May I ask just one thing?”
“Speak.”
“It feels wrong to ask in front of Lady Ernan, but… why are you trying to save the 13th Princess of Hilderan?”
And going as far as climbing another Demon King’s tower to do it.
“Because Ugar won’t hand her over willingly for pride’s sake.”
“That’s not what I meant, is it?”
“She is useful.”
“I heard the 13th Princess was born frail and unable to do anything.”
“So they say.”
Berje looked toward Ernan.
“No.”
She shook her head.
“Ellena is indeed frail. And yes, she has lived like an invalid, and most rumors about her are true. But it’s not that she can’t do anything.”
“Are the rumours false, then?”
“The rumors aren’t wrong. But one thing isn’t well known.”
“And what is that?”
Knock, knock—
At that moment, someone knocked outside. Before anyone could answer, the door burst open.
It was Hillan Cargill. And—
“Found you at last.”
A red-haired woman grinned, baring her teeth.
“…What is this?”
“She is Rozel Charnte.”
“That’s not what I asked.”
“I apologise, but I couldn’t shake her off.”
Berje pressed his fingers to his forehead. So this was why they were late.
“Doing this in front of other people?”
“What’s going on?”
“What else? I’m here as a debt collector.”
“A debt?”
“Look at this shameless human. If you promise two, you give two. Why give me only one?”
“Ah, yes. That did happen.”
“That did happen?”
“I forgot.”
“Forgot? Should I also forget you’re human and throw one of these at your head?”
Blazing flames of unknown origin flared in the air, heating it until it shimmered.
“I said I’d give you mana. What’s so difficult about that?”
“Exactly! It isn’t difficult, which is why it pisses me off even more!”
“But I can’t give it now.”
“So you are picking a fight with me.”
“If you followed Hillan, then you must’ve heard why he came here.”
“He said he wanted to form an assault team and try attacking the lower floors of the tower. But isn’t this team far too lacking? I didn’t see anything but a mercenary unit on the way here.”
“So I’m telling you, it’s not possible right now.”
“Alright, I understand.”
Rozel nodded.
“Then I’ll go with you.”
“No need.”
“I’m needed. How do I know you won’t run away again? And if you suddenly die, that’d be even more troublesome.”
“I won’t die in a pathetic tower like that.”
“I’ve seen so many humans full of confidence. And among them, there are far more humans I no longer see than humans I still see.”
“Don’t compare me to such insects.”
“Thinking about it, it’s funny. Shouldn’t you be honored instead? Rozel Charnte herself is agreeing to accompany such a pathetic assault team.”
‘That…’
Wasn’t bad.
The urge to snap the neck of this arrogant woman pressuring a Demon King rose sharply—but it was impossible.
Even if everyone here attacked at once, they couldn’t capture Rozel Charnte. They might inflict significant injuries, but restraining her completely? Impossible.
After that, everything Berje had built so far would crumble.
For that reason, Berje hid his teeth and genuinely considered allowing her to join.
‘Honestly, I could just shake off this leech and take my time.’
He could simply give her the mana later and attack the tower after a few days’ rest. But would he really need to?
His goal was never about Hillan Cargill’s assault team experience. All he needed was the legitimacy — the narrative that a hero rescued the princess, that Hillan rescued the 13th Princess.
No matter the process, only the result mattered.
‘Besides, even if Rozel Charnte causes a mess, it’s not my tower.’
Ugar would have to bear all the damage.
And Berje was a thoroughly typical Demon King who hated seeing another Demon King benefit.
“Fine.”
“Now we’re talking.”
“Oh, by the way.”
She grinned.
“When I heard you were attacking the Gold-Steel Tower, I brought the entire Red Flame Assault Unit. We’ll all be joining.”
“That’s not bad.”
“Now that you’re being so agreeable, it’s suspicious.”
“Consider it respect for the great Rozel Charnte.”
“I like that!”
The Demon King and the hero clasped hands and laughed together.