The Demon King Overrun by Heroes

Chapter 82-Unedited: Demon King and King

“I’m delighted. I never thought I’d get to meet the famous one in person. I did mention it, but honestly, I didn’t have high hopes.”

The prince laughed cheerfully.

“Am I famous?”

“There was a time when mana leaked once from Lady Rozel’s experiment. The purity of it was so distinct that every mage in the tower noticed and began inquiring about its owner.”

The rumor spread instantly.

“My sister was quite fond of it too. She begged Lord Rozel several times, but she was firm as ever.”

“Elven heart.”

Lavinia, who had been listening quietly, pointed to Granada’s heart.

“Hot.”

“That’s right. My sister said she could sense a faint trace of that same energy in Lord Granada as well. That’s actually what reminded me. That Lord Granada had once been in Tarta with a man named Pale.”

‘Then that time when we first met...’

So that’s what she had meant by “hot.”

‘She means I carry a trace of the Demon King’s power within me?’

Of course, he had once been with the Demon King in Pale’s form. The mana had been so pure that he had unconsciously fallen into meditation beside him, practicing his aura cultivation method.

But that had been just mana — it should have dissipated quickly.

‘Did a residue remain?’

For her to have sensed it meant Lavinia’s spiritual perception was incredibly keen.

‘Is that why she’s showing interest?’

It was just a hunch, but it seemed plausible.

“Nice to meet you. I’m Pale.”

“...Wow.”

And that hunch solidified into certainty when he saw Lavinia’s eyes as she gazed at Berje, who had awakened the mana of the Phoenix.

“Show respect to His Highness!”

A knight barked. The subtle hostility made Berje frown.

‘What did I even say?’

He had arrived, been guided, and exchanged greetings — he had said it was good to see them.

‘I didn’t think of this part.’

Before and after his regression, he had met countless royals. But not once had he ever shown them courtesy.

Because he was the Demon King.

Because he had been the Demon King.

But now, he wasn’t the Demon King, Berje — he was the human, Pale.

Even if the royalty before him wasn’t of his own nation, it was only proper to show at least minimal respect.

“......”

The problem was that he utterly despised doing so.

‘You expect me to bow to some snot-nosed human barely in his twenties?’

He couldn’t. The pride of the Demon King would never allow it.

“You’re the one who should show me respect, you idiotic knight.”

“What?”

At the knight’s stunned retort, Berje’s hand shot out first.

Crunch—

“Ghk—!”

“You bastard!”

The knight, seized by the throat, was lifted into the air, legs kicking. The other knights shouted and drew their weapons.

A flurry of different auras shot toward him, but at that instant, the mana that burst around Berje created a recoil barrier.

It didn’t push them far or deal great damage, but it was enough.

“Stop.”

Cain raised his hand. The knights hesitated.

“Who are you?”

“Someone whose position deserves the same respect as yours.”

“A royal?”

Berje didn’t answer. He merely met Cain’s gaze in silence.

A stillness filled the air, tension sinking heavy.

“Hot.”

Lavinia stepped in between them, looking up at Berje with a bright smile.

“What?”

“Really hot.”

“Hot?”

“Fire. Here.”

Her fingertip pointed at his lower abdomen — precisely where his second heart, the dormant Phoenix’s mana, rested.

“Incredible.”

“Y-Your Highness!”

“This way!”

The knights panicked. Cain let out a helpless chuckle.

But thanks to that, the tension eased slightly.

“Well, I apologize for my knight’s rudeness. He’s nearly dead — might you grant him mercy?”

“Fine.”

The pale-faced knight fell to the ground, coughing violently. The others hurried to drag him back.

“I invited you here, yet I was ignorant and allowed such discourtesy. The fault is mine. I beg your pardon.”

“I accept.”

“Please, come inside.”

A small garden had been prepared with a temporary table. The two royals, Berje, and Granada took their seats.

“I won’t pry into which kingdom you hail from, since you clearly don’t wish to say. Royals with circumstances are hardly rare.”

“Appreciated. I also apologize for my own rudeness.”

“Gratefully accepted.”

Just then, a maid brought tea and confections. After a sip, Cain spoke.

“Thank you for accepting my invitation. Lord Granada mentioned you were connected, so I thought I’d ask, though I didn’t expect you to actually come.”

“Building good relations with the royals of the Kingdom of Arkan can only benefit me.”

“Indeed.”

Cain’s eyes gleamed.

From Berje’s words, he had discerned two things — that Berje wasn’t a simple man, and that, for now, he viewed a relationship with Cain positively.

“The reason I wished to meet you was because I sensed your mana.”

“I heard. The entire Magic Tower learned of the mana I gave to Rozel Charnte.”

“I’d never seen such pure mana before — not even in a spirit. At first, I thought it was a fire spirit. When Lady Rozel told me it was yours, I was utterly stunned.”

Though Cain wasn’t a mage but a knight, the desire for pure mana was hardly limited to mages.

“I’m dying to know how you came by such mana, but asking would be rude, wouldn’t it?”

“It would.”

“Haha, I thought so. Just a shot in the dark.”

Then, Lavinia, who had been listening quietly, reached out her hand.

“Give mana.”

Truly insane.

“Why should I?”

“Want.”

“You want it? No.”

“Rozel.”

“Rozel Charnte made a proper trade and paid for it.”

“I trade.”

“If it’s a trade, I have no reason to refuse. What can you give me?”

After a moment of thought, Lavinia reached into her subspace. When she withdrew her hand, she held a bright red scale.

“Scale.”

“From a Red Drake? Don’t need it.”

“Horn?”

“Same.”

She pulled out something else — a still-beating heart.

So, the princess carried such things around? Her room must’ve been no different.

“A werewolf’s heart?”

“Mm.”

“And what would I do with this?”

“Chimera?”

“Don’t compare me to you.”

“I.”

“You’re saying you’ll give me a chimera you made?”

“Yes. Horn, heart, scale.”

“You’ll make one with those three?”

That piqued his interest. It wasn’t greed for the chimera itself, but after hearing from Ernane about the significance of chimeras, Berje had wanted to research them himself.

All the more so if it was a chimera created personally by Lavinia Arkan, known to be the best in the field.

However, he hesitated to accept it outright because of the prince’s watchful gaze. There weren’t many humans who publicly liked chimeras.

“Sister, there aren’t many people who are fond of chimeras.”

“Not like?”

“Of course not.”

Cain added a word to Berje.

“If such things are displeasing to you, I can contact the homeland and offer gold coins or any treasure you desire instead.”

“Quite generous for mere mana.”

“It’s not mere. Among Arkan’s mages, I doubt there’s a single one who wasn’t enthralled by that mana.”

“Money, huh. Do you know how much I might demand?”

“Of course not. But as a prince, I do have a bit of authority.”

That was tempting. After all, money was always better in greater amounts.

“Fine.”

So, he didn’t refuse.

“I want it all — the money, the treasure, and the chimera.”

The Demon King didn’t hide his greed.

“I’m delighted you agreed.”

“How much are you thinking?”

“I intend to meet your expectations as much as possible. Perhaps we should discuss that matter in proper detail later?”

‘He plans to squeeze every drop, huh?’

Berje let out a dry chuckle. Well, royal humans were never ones to make a losing deal.

“As much as you want.”

But the same went for Berje.

One concern lingered — Rozel Charnte’s growth due to his mana.

Then perhaps it was better not to make an enemy of her at all.

‘If I use this chance to build ties with Arkan...’

If the identity of Pale became that of a friendly figure to Arkan—

If he could move Arkan through that—he could do far more.

“Good boy.”

“Don’t spout nonsense.”

After Lavinia’s ridiculous comment, Berje changed the topic.

“By the way, I heard you’re looking for the Demon King’s Tower.”

“Yes. There are some concerns, so we’re preparing thoroughly. Ah, would you perhaps join us?”

To Cain, Pale’s strength didn’t seem ordinary. In a perilous region like Ergest, every capable person mattered—and the stronger, the better.

“That might be difficult. That’s not why I came.”

“Ah, I overstepped. My apologies.”

“But what sort of preparations are you making?”

“I’m sorry, but if you won’t be joining us, I can’t tell you.”

“And even if you did, I wouldn’t join.”

“Hmm, I thought you’d take the bait, but it’s not so easy.”

The conversation continued for quite some time. As the sun began to sink, Cain ended the meeting.

“Shall we end here for today? I’d like you to join us for dinner later.”

“I’ll accept the invitation.”

“Yes. Escort them to the annex palace.”

Berje and Granada disappeared with the knights.

“Contact the homeland and find out about this royal named Pale. We don’t know which nation he’s from, so search them all.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

Cain’s eyes gleamed sharply.

Berje and Granada arrived at the annex palace assigned to them. Once he confirmed there were no presences nearby, Granada exhaled the breath he had been holding.

“I nearly died of anxiety.”

“Anyone watching would think you were the one talking.”

“Of course not, but seriously, how do you even understand the princess?”

“You can’t? For an elf, your comprehension skills are pathetic.”

“That’s a bit unfair.”

If you gathered a hundred humans and asked, more would say they didn’t understand her.

“You’re not human—you’re an elf.”

“...You really leave me speechless sometimes.”

Clicking his tongue, Granada changed the subject.

“Ah, come to think of it, were you really royalty?”

“The Demon King is also a king.”

“Ah, I’ve always wondered—are Demon Kings truly royalty in the Demon Realm?”

“Of course not. They’re just vanguard commanders. Equivalent to a human officer, you might say.”

“Then why call them Demon Kings?”

“Because it frightens humans more. ‘An officer from the Demon Realm invaded’ doesn’t sound as terrifying as ‘the Demon King invaded,’ does it?”

“That’s really all?”

“For something that simple, it’s surprisingly effective.”

“Well... true.”

“And originally, it was humans who first called us Demon Kings. Thousands of years ago, when they trembled in terror shouting ‘Demon King,’ we just adopted the name.”

Though, in Arein, that name no longer held meaning.

“It’s nice being a subordinate to a Demon King. You’ve answered my biggest curiosity. So, Your Majesty isn’t truly royalty either?”

“Demon Kings are the most elite of the Demon Realm’s demons—chosen from the best. In power, they are no different from kings.”

Meaning, he could easily tear apart that smug grin climbing up Granada’s face.

“...Can’t a man make a joke?”

“You and I aren’t in the kind of relationship to joke around.”

“...Tch.”

Granada dropped his curled lips.

“By the way, what are they preparing for?”

“No idea. They haven’t told me either.”

“Really?”

“How could I know the intentions of such highborn people? But since they’re preparing for monster attacks at night, I assume it’s related.”

“Hmm.”

Then maybe an attack during the day would work better?