Chapter 69 : The Broken Resolve
Chapter 69-Unedited: The Broken Resolve
“Absolutely not! Absolutely not! I can’t do it!”
The dwarf burst into tears.
“You can’t do this to me!”
Whatever grievance tormented him, he wailed and sobbed uncontrollably.
But the sight of a stubby dwarf doing so was anything but pleasant.
“Shut up before I rip your tongue out.”
“...Y-Yes, hic. B-But.”
“But?”
“If they discover where I am, Princess Louise will tear me in half and kill me! Are you saying it’s fine for a loyal servant who devoted himself to the Demon King to just disappear?”
“If you spew nonsense one more time, I will personally puncture your clogged ears.”
“...But if they find my equipment, she’ll search for me with fire in her eyes.”
“Most likely. I forgot to mention—there’s already a bounty on you.”
“Hiiik...! Then it *really* can’t be done!”
“Fine. Then I suppose I should just kidnap the princess.”
“...Excuse me?”
The hand that had been pulling at his hair froze.
“Which princess are you speaking of?”
“Who else but Louise Berfht?”
“T-That would truly mean killing me!”
“If you don’t want that, hand over your equipment.”
“....”
“This is the Demon King’s Tower, my domain. Unless I bring someone in myself, who would dare enter and kill you?”
“....”
Roger swallowed dryly.
It was a threat. If he disobeyed, the Demon King would drag the princess here and kill him.
“...If I really hand over my equipment, you won’t kidnap Princess Louise?”
“Your mark must be engraved on it.”
“Of course.”
“Do not doubt the Demon King’s word.”
“Yes, understood.”
There was no choice to make. Roger bowed his head deeply and entered the workshop. When he emerged again, he held two swords and a single shield.
“When did you make these?”
“I grew bored making only mana cannons, so I tried crafting a few other things.”
“And the golem?”
“It’s under research, but since I’m using contaminated mana stones rather than ordinary ones, it may take some time.”
The tower converted mana into demonic energy. Even if a golem were made with mana stones as its core, it would eventually become useless.
“Do your best.”
“Yes, please keep your promise. I beg you.”
“Don’t worry. You’re still useful.”
“Yes! I’m quite useful! I will *always* be useful! You must never cut open the belly of the goose that lays golden eggs! That would be terribly foolish!”
“I won’t cut open the goose, but I can decapitate an insolent dwarf.”
“M-My apologies!”
Leaving behind the ashen-faced Roger, who screamed in panic, Berje ascended the stairs.
* * *
“...Are you seriously saying that right now?”
Hillan Cargill let out a sigh.
“I am Argann. You may not understand, but the position of Argann is not one that can move lightly.”
Its symbolism and responsibility were immense.
『It is the Demon King’s command.』
“The order to become an executive at the guild headquarters was also from the Demon King.”
『Between the former command and the current one, you know which holds more weight.』
“What is the real reason? Why must I go to the Berfht Kingdom?”
『It’s not bad for you either. The Lust Demon King, the Frost Demon King, and the Gold-Steel Demon King—one of those three will kidnap Louise Berfht.』
“...!”
『The Demon King does not wish for that, and he wants *you* to stop the other Demon Kings and protect the princess—becoming a hero.』
Why were royals so easily kidnapped by Demon Kings?
Stealth was the greatest reason, but beyond that, it was impossible to provide airtight protection around every royal at all times.
To notice a Demon King’s concealment, one needed to be at least Star-level, or close to it—and heroes of such caliber were rare.
And assigning such a hero as a royal guard merely due to vague possibilities of danger was absurd.
But what if you *knew* exactly when and where a kidnapping would occur?
“...A hero who prevented the kidnapping of a princess.”
That was invaluable.
Hillan Cargill realized the symbolic power of such a deed.
『Now it piques your interest, doesn’t it?』
“So what is the natural way for me to get close to Princess Louise?”
There was no way the Demon King would tell him to approach without a proper plan.
『Roger is a criminal wanted by the Berfht Kingdom, and Louise Berfht wants to find him more than anyone.』
『The Demon King intends to give you equipment engraved with Roger’s mark.』
“...With that, I could indeed be officially invited to the kingdom as an Argann.”
And that wasn’t all. If he used this matter to form a connection with the Berfht Kingdom, his standing within the guild would rise as well.
“But it’s not enough justification to become her guard.”
『Then threaten her.』
“...?”
『Louise Berfht is the one who killed the Second Prince of Ormus. You will claim you heard it directly from a demon who witnessed it at the Beast’s Tower...』
“You’re saying Louise Berfht killed Max Ormus?”
『You didn’t know?』
“I did *not* know!”
『I thought the Demon King had already told you.』
Apparently not.
The dark elf shrugged.
『It’s enough that you know now.』
“Is that something you should be saying at this moment?”
『In any case, the Demon King’s order is this—use that information however you like: threaten her, persuade her, it doesn’t matter.』
『Cling to her by any means and prevent the kidnapping.』
“....”
The communication cut off unilaterally. Hillan Cargill let out a hollow laugh.
“These insane demons, seriously...”
His mask of politeness cracked for a moment.
But he soon patched it back into place.
“It’s not entirely bad...”
But the fact that it wasn’t entirely good was the real problem.
Especially the near certain possibility—99% at least—that his relationship with Louise Berfht, the treasured jewel of the Berfht Kingdom, would spiral into disaster.
‘No, I don’t even need to go that far.’
He had to carry out the Demon King’s orders, yes—but he had no intention of risking his life to fulfil them.
‘Nothing is more precious than my life and honour.’
Why had he allowed a foreign object to be implanted in his head? His life. His honour.
To threaten a princess of Berfht within the Berfht Kingdom was no different from suicide.
‘If it comes to it, I’ll just throw her Roger’s traces. Creating a favourable connection and leaving—that’s the best outcome.’
If he said he had done his best but circumstances prevented success—what would the Demon King say?
He’d probably throw a tantrum and torment him through the foreign object lodged in his skull.
‘But that’s all he can do.’
Unless there existed a perfect replacement—another “Star,” another “Argann.”
‘I’ll gain what I can and abandon what I must. Even if my life is in the Demon King’s hands, I can’t let myself be dragged around too far.’
Hillan Cargill nodded to himself.
* * *
Across the continent existed countless mountains and ranges.
Among them, when one named the most treacherous and massive, nine out of ten would choose the Berfht Mountains, and the remaining one would choose Ergest.
The Berfht Mountains.
In this unforgiving, perilously steep terrain, the dwarves built their home.
They carved into the harsh and unyielding rock, constructing vast underground cities. Thus was born the dwarven kingdom—Berfht.
Whooong—
The greatest underground city, the royal capital Bertyan.
In the annex palace gardens within the royal palace grounds, Princess Louise Berfht swung a massive battle-axe.
Her fierce aura tore through the air, cleaving apart the sword hurtling toward her.
“Guhhk!”
A dwarven knight spat blood as he was flung back.
“Just when it was starting to get interesting...”
Louise frowned.
“Next!”
The waiting knights carried the injured man toward the infirmary. Another knight stepped forward, face stiff, gripping shield and sword.
“Well, now? Why are you trembling? Is the knight order so lacking in talent?”
“There is plenty of talent, but the problem is that Your Highness is far too exceptional.”
Bolbof, who had been observing the spar, sighed.
Ever since the incident in the Beast’s Territory, the princess had repeatedly replayed what had happened with Max.
‘I was too weak, and the soldiers died because of it. Yes, that’s it. If I had been stronger, I could have wiped them all out myself.’
That was her own way of relieving the guilt.
Her mourning for the knights and soldiers who died because of her recklessness—Louise forced her body mercilessly, turning it into sheer determination.
She drove herself even harder.
Perhaps that was why. Watching her from the side, Bolbof could say for certain—Louise now was a completely different dwarf from the one before her seclusion.
Louise crooked a finger.
“You should come out yourself.”
“I am Your Highness’s guard knight. My blade will never be pointed at you.”
“It’s just a light spar.”
“Your Highness’s spars are never light—that is the problem.”
“There’s no point unless it’s like real combat.”
“I agree with that to a degree, but at that point it’s no longer a spar.”
Just then, a knight ran over in haste and whispered something. Before Louise could respond, a dwarf stepped into the annex garden.
The knights all bowed at once.
“We greet the First Prince!”
“Raise your heads.”
“Brother.”
Louise welcomed him.
“You’re working hard again today.”
“It’s only a light morning exercise.”
“May I speak with you for a moment?”
“Yes.”
At Louise’s signal, the knights withdrew. A table and chairs were set in the garden, and refreshments were brought out.
“I bring good news.”
The prince drank the hot tea in one gulp.
“What is it?”
“Roger Friedrich. You know that His Majesty and I issued a bounty for him, yes?”
“Yes. Don’t tell me…”
“We haven’t found him.”
Louise’s face filled with disappointment.
“But someone has appeared—someone who found a clue.”
“Who is it? No, what sort of clue?”
Tak—
The prince set a sword on the table. Louise examined it.
Srrng—
The blade that slid from its sheath was impossibly smooth. Killing intent and mana intertwined, forming a hardness beyond ordinary steel. And woven within was another power.
“Interference power of dimensions···”
The exclusive domain of heroes—something only they could wield.
All equipment crafted by hero-artisans like Roger Friedrich always contained traces of that power. When mixed with mana, even faintly, it produced a far stronger result.
“Look at the handle.”
At the end of the antiquely forged grip was a familiar cloud pattern engraved in relief.
“It’s definitely Roger’s. Where did you get this?”
“It’s not from the royal vault, nor from any buyer who purchased from him before he vanished.”
Roger had not been directly under the kingdom but belonged to the Artisan Guild—yet the kingdom had managed him meticulously.
They catalogued everything he ever created, but this sword was not among them.
There was only one answer.
“He’s been hiding somewhere and made this newly?”
“As they say, a dog doesn’t change its ways.”
The prince smirked.
“Where is he?”
“Don’t be impatient.”
“We must catch him. Immediately—he must be—!”
Louise growled. The prince placed his hand gently on his younger sister’s head, calming her before she could erupt.
“Steady yourself.”
“···But.”
“Capturing Roger won’t be difficult.”
“The mark. Since he left his mark, tracing him will be easy, correct?”
“Yes. He’s spent his life locked in a workshop—there are limits he couldn’t overcome. Even if he had erased the mark, it would’ve been the same. A hero-artisan who refuses to use a signature mark only draws more attention.”
In the end, it was only a matter of time.
“So where is he?”
“That, he didn’t say.”
“Yes? What kind of insolent—”
Louise frowned.
“He set a condition. He said he must meet you in person.”
“Me?”
Now that the conversation had reached this point, Louise picked up on what it implied.
“Someone you couldn’t lightly dismiss either, Brother?”
“It’s Hillan Cargill.”
“···Hillan Cargill.”
She might have been in seclusion at the annex, but she hadn’t severed all connections to the outside world. Louise knew exactly how much Hillan Cargill’s reputation had grown.
“The hero who slew the Beast Demon King.”
“You could say he cleaned up after you.”
“That is far too much.”
“···When you were little, you’d shyly say ‘Brother,’ and it was adorable. Of course, you’re still adorable and lovely now.”
“···Please stop.”
“Will you meet him?”
“I will. I don’t know what he wants, but since he has come this far, we *will* catch Roger. I won’t overlook even the smallest clue.”
“He asked for a private audience, but if you prefer, I can be with you.”
“I’ll be fine alone.”
“He is no longer just any hero—he is also an Argann of the Hero Guild.”
“I’ll be cautious.”
“Very well. Wait here. He will come to you.”
“Yes. Thank you, Brother.”
The prince waved and began to leave—but paused.
“···If, by chance, he tries anything improper because he finds you cute—”
“Brother!”
“Ahem. I’m going.”
The prince disappeared. And about ten minutes later—
The hottest name on the continent appeared before her.
“I heard you wished to see me?”
Louise resolved to be as polite as possible.
He was the one who had brought a lead to finding Roger, and as her brother had said, he held the status of an Argann of the Hero Guild.
Even without that, he was one of the ten Stars—a man she could not treat carelessly.
However—
Her resolve—
“Princess Louise. I heard you killed Max Ormus.”
—was shattered instantly by Hillan Cargill’s very first sentence.