Chapter 70 : The Culprit Was…
Chapter 70-Unedited: The Culprit Was…
Hillan Cargill no longer had a body that allowed him to move as he pleased.
That was what the position of Argann was.
Each branch’s Branch Manager had to take responsibility for their branch.
And Argann was the position in charge of managing the heroes belonging to headquarters.
“As you roughly know, I will explain it to you in detail.”
Parni Dernium, who had been assigned to Hillan as his adjutant upon his becoming Argann, explained the duties.
“Yes.”
“The heroes who make up the guild are broadly divided into two types.”
The swords—those who directly hunted monsters, eradicated magic beasts, and climbed the Tower of the Demon King.
And the shadows—those who did not engage in hero activities directly, but scattered across the land to gather information and track demons.
Those called Argann were the ones who managed these swords and shadows.
“The swords, truthfully, require very little management.”
Most heroes belonged to the swords. And among them, not many desired to be under the guild’s control.
“Therefore, unless it is the hero’s march, there is no need to concern yourself with all the other heroes. The ones Hillan-nim must focus on are the direct heroes who pledged themselves to the guild.”
Those who chose control and authority over freedom, who received support and wished to walk a faster path.
“The 11 Arganns are each assigned 30 heroes.”
At first glance, it might seem few. But one must not overlook the fact that these were selected from among the heroes, and together they numbered as many as 330.
And the heroes affiliated with the Hero Guild were not limited to the swords who engaged in combat.
“The shadows are those who are heroes but do not fight. And regardless of whether they cooperate with the guild or not, they are obligatorily attached to guild headquarters.”
They numbered around a thousand.
“The guild utilizes most of them as informants.”
To search for demons and track magic beasts.
It had been their efforts that led to the succubi being discovered in Dormunt.
They were the foundation that allowed the Hero Guild to earn a reputation as the great adversary of the Demon King.
“And they are divided into 11 departments and placed under the control of the Arganns.”
“Which ones will be under my charge?”
“Vair Fornian was responsible for the shadows of Hilderan.”
“...I have one question. Is it my misunderstanding?”
“It is not. It is indeed the Grand Elder’s consideration. The Grand Elder wishes to maintain a good relationship with Hillan-nim.”
Ha, look at that?
Hillan showed a subtle smile.
There was no kindness without reason. Every favor came with a price.
Although he felt an awkward discomfort, he expressed his gratitude.
“And lastly, there are those who are not heroes yet are affiliated with the guild.”
Some were mercenaries, some were knights, some were nobles, and some were merchants.
These individuals, extending like a spiderweb, were the primary contributors that expanded the size of the Hero Guild and allowed it to become an organization unaffiliated with any single nation.
“Officially managing them is the role of a Branch Manager, but these days the boundaries have become faint.”
Heroes were under Argann.
Non-heroes were under the Branch Manager.
That had been the original structure of the Hero Guild. However, placing branch heroes under the Branch Manager’s management had little true meaning.
It was simply the difference between headquarters and branch.
Afterward, Hillan met the 30 members of the 5th Assault Unit and the shadows assigned under him.
“We greet Argann Hillan Cargill.”
“……”
Some showed goodwill, others showed hostility. Just as he was thinking he had been dragged into troublesome power struggles within the guild and was working hard to adapt—
That was when Gordon contacted him.
“Parni.”
“Yes.”
“What is the relationship between the Hero Guild and the Berfht Kingdom?”
“Though we are on friendly terms, no formal agreement has ever been established. The party in the weaker position is usually the one to request it, but when it comes to the dwarves who produce high-quality equipment, the weaker party is always us.”
“If an agreement were made with the Berfht Kingdom and it resulted in benefits for the guild, would everyone welcome it?”
“That goes without saying.”
“And if the one responsible for it were the Grand Elder?”
Parni understood the implication.
“Would that be possible?”
“I can’t be certain, but I did find a lead.”
Hillan’s words were delivered directly to the Grand Elder.
And the Grand Elder regarded the boldness of the new Argann with interest.
“He claims he can achieve what no one else has ever pulled off.”
“It did not sound like empty boasting.”
“He is the hero who slew two Demon Kings. As he continues to rise higher and higher, he would not tarnish his own honor with some absurd, baseless brag. What is the foundation of his confidence?”
“He seems to have gained something during his time as a hero, but he said he cannot disclose it.”
That was not strange. Heroes of renown all had their own know-how or secrets they hid; there was nothing unusual about it.
But if one were to use that secret to carry out duties for the Hero Guild, the story became different.
“This will be excellent fodder for the other Elders to tear into.”
It was natural; not many welcomed the sudden inclusion of Hillan Cargill.
Even so, the Grand Elder accepted it.
“I shall enforce it with my authority. Tell Hillan to keep this firmly in mind. I am sending him even at the cost of incurring losses—he must take responsibility, and he must not disappoint me.”
Those words were conveyed to Hillan exactly as they were.
‘I was rash.’
In wanting to accomplish the Demon King’s request as quickly as possible, he had been too eager. He should have approached more cautiously, persuading the other Elders one by one to reduce the risk, but he failed to do so.
The Grand Elder suppressed all opposition with his authority, and now heavier, more severe eyes were upon him.
‘I must succeed. I absolutely must.’
He had to secure the agreement and produce beneficial results.
That was why—
Hillan Cargill, who intended to weigh the situation and move cautiously—
crashed into the princess from the very start.
No matter what happened, he had to seize the initiative in this battle of nerves with her.
* * *
“What nonsense is that?”
Louise praised herself for not immediately punching him. She forced an awkward smile, desperately denying it, while simultaneously recalling the situation at the moment she killed Max Ormus.
The surroundings had been filled with dwarves and Ormus’ bastards. Demons had invaded, and magic beasts had rushed in from all sides.
A fierce battle had erupted, and though the dwarves led by Louise suffered heavy casualties, they had returned alive.
And in case there were any witnesses, they had blocked all escape routes and slaughtered every last Ormus bastard who could flee alive.
‘There were no survivors.’
There had been no mercenaries or heroes nearby.
The fact that the Kingdom of Ormus remained quiet until now was the clearest proof of that.
However—
‘There were no surviving humans, but surviving demons…’
They existed. A lot of them.
‘Could it be… during the hero’s march, from the beast demons?’
If he truly knew the truth and spoke of it, that was the only possibility.
‘Ridiculous.’
Surely, the Demon King would not chat about such trivial matters to a hero who came to kill him.
“What you’re thinking is probably correct.”
But the moment she met his gaze—one that seemed to know everything—she realized her suspicion was not merely a suspicion.
“How do you know what I was thinking?”
Her tone naturally became harsh from the ominous chill running through her.
“I cannot fully know what Your Highness was thinking. But considering the situation and circumstances, I can deduce the general idea.”
“Ha, you’re saying some amusing things, aren’t you?”
Louise forced down the anger and anxiety boiling up inside. Showing awkwardness would be the height of foolishness.
“Go on then, speak. But if it turns out to be nothing but nonsense meant to toy with me, you’ll be punished for daring to insult a royal of a sovereign nation.”
“Do you know? Not long ago, I climbed the Beast’s Tower together with Lady Rozel Charnte.”
Of course she knew.
“Continue.”
“While defeating the magic beasts and demons guarding the tower, we climbed higher and higher. And then we encountered a high-grade demon named Quail. A bear beastman.”
‘A bear beastman…’
Right after Louise crushed Max’s skull and the battle with Ormus’ bastards broke out, the magic beasts had joined.
At that time, the demon charging at the front had been a bear beastman. One whose terrifying demonic energy suggested he might be a high-grade demon.
“And?”
“Are you not curious what that bear beastman said?”
“Why would I be curious about the words of a demon?”
“True, a mere demon’s words are far beneath the notice of the great Princess.”
“In that case, I will—”
Clatter—
Hillan rose from his seat.
“I shall take my leave.”
“Stop.”
“Do you still have more to say, Your Highness?”
He tilted his head. That innocent expression made Louise snap irritably.
“You really think you’re going to walk out of here alive after this?”
“I’m not sure what you mean, but— ah.”
Hillan rummaged through his subspace pouch and pulled something out. It was a sword. He could feel the dimensional interference power, and the cloud emblem symbolizing Roger Friedrich was engraved on it.
“I was supposed to give this to you. I almost forgot.”
“You really—!”
Louise snatched the sword. She drew it and aimed it directly at Hillan.
“You want to die?”
“Do you believe you could kill me?”
Slowly. Very slowly.
Hillan turned his head.
Roger’s razor-sharp blade slid smoothly into Hillan’s skin. A bead of red formed.
Yet Hillan maintained his calm smile.
“You think I can’t?”
“If so, do you have the resolve to bear the consequences?”
“I am the Princess of Berfht.”
“I am an Argann of the Hero Guild and a Star. Shameful as it is, I even have Hilderan’s support.”
“So you’re threatening me now?”
“I am merely stating the facts.”
Hillan’s voice grew quieter.
“Your Highness has no other options.”
“I do. I could kill you right here and become the kingdom’s mad bitch—how about that?”
“That does not sound pleasant for either of us.”
“At least I wouldn’t have to see your irritating face again.”
“If this meeting falls apart, I will simply return to the Hero Guild. And I will speak of what the bear beastman told me. It was far too suspicious to ignore.”
“You dare—”
“And that wouldn’t be all, would it? Once Your Highness’ sword has touched my neck, I must report truthfully that I was attacked. Perhaps it would be different in the past, but now I must uphold my honor as an Argann.”
“What do you want.”
“I want an agreement between the Hero Guild and the Berfht Kingdom. So that we may receive Berfht’s high-quality equipment.”
“So that’s what this is. Hero Guild—filthy worms, all of you…!”
“That is my first request.”
“Ha…!”
Louise growled.
“You’re far too greedy. You should know even receiving equipment is already excessive.”
“I believe the ‘information’ I carry is worthy of that much. And this request is not for me, nor for the guild, but for Your Highness.”
“Swindlers always say they’re acting for someone else. A hero who killed two Demon Kings turns out to be a swindler, huh?”
“If you won’t listen, I’ll leave.”
“Do you have proof?”
“If I told you I was so shocked that I recorded the scene with an artifact, would you believe it?”
“Destroy it.”
“I will—if my conditions are accepted.”
“One day I’ll snap your neck.”
“So it’s better than smashing my skull with an axe like Max?”
“Speak. Let’s hear what kind of grand bullshit you’ve prepared.”
“For the time being, I wish to remain as a guest at Your Highness’ side.”
“What nonsense is that?”
Hillan fell silent for a moment.
He had thrown the demand out there, but on the way here he had wrestled with the thought.
He could use threats to get what he wanted. But could he really stay by the princess’s side? Would someone as wild as she was truly keep near her a man who had just blackmailed her?
He would be lucky if she didn’t expel him from the kingdom immediately.
Thus, Hillan concluded—
“The Demon King is targeting Your Highness.”
He might as well be honest.
“That Demon King was the one who taught me the taste of failure.”
Tell the truth first—then mix in lies.
“He is the Demon King who built the tower at Ergest.”
“……!”
* * *
『Did something happen?』
“…No, my ear just suddenly felt itchy.”
Berje rubbed his ear with his pinky.
“So what did you decide?”
『This body intended to intervene personally, but Vivian refused.』
“The Dwarven Kingdom won’t be easy.”
Especially since Vivian was currently receiving dimensional interference power almost in its purest form.
『A Demon King must be able to take responsibility for the words they speak. That one likely knows a fair amount about the Dwarven Kingdom.』
『If not, then he’s simply a fool.』
“There’s some hostility in your tone.”
『This body does not like those vulgar succubi.』
Reina swept her hair back elegantly and sneered.
『In any case, I shall contact you again once things progress.』
“All right.”
Tap— she vanished from the crystal sphere. Berje’s face reflected on the dimming surface.
“Hillan Cargill had better do well…”
If it were Reina—who was reasonable and useful—that would be one thing. But if it were Vivian, he wished she would simply crush everything in her path.
A cold smile crept across his lips.