Chapter 123 : Countermeasure Meeting
Chapter 123: Countermeasure Meeting
All members of the Tower gathered on the 4th floor.
It was the first time since the Tower had been established.
“The Empire will come to Ergest to find my Tower. We must stop them.”
“So that means the imperial army is invading. With the imperial family taking the lead.”
“Yes.”
Ernan was the first to voice an opinion.
“I don’t think it’s a good idea to try to stop the Empire by using the Golden Moon Merchant Company or Hero Hillan Cargill.”
“Because we can’t stop them anyway?”
“Yes. If we’re careless, we could lose everything.”
If this had been before the hero’s march was decided, it might have been different, but once the Emperor’s decree had been issued, nothing else mattered.
If there was an obstacle, the Empire’s way was not to compromise and avoid it, but to smash it to pieces.
“Do not worry, Demon King. I will take care of everything!”
The dwarf hero thumped his chest loudly.
“You?”
“I have 321 mana cannons!”
“...That is a lot.”
Previously, there had been little awareness of mana cannons. But after seeing the imperial army operate mana cannons directly, the sense of scale hit hard.
Just how incredible Roger was, how valuable the mana cannons he had made were.
And how tremendous the power of over three hundred mana cannons truly was.
‘If we unleash a simultaneous barrage with 321 mana cannons...?’
No matter how formidable the imperial army was, wouldn’t they all be swept away?
Even the several hundred who strutted around under the name of a hero’s march could be wiped out completely.
Suddenly, hope sprouted.
‘No. Mana cannons alone can’t do everything.’
Mana cannons were certainly destructive, but they were not absolute.
Above all, no matter how many mana cannons were fired, he could not picture Balraf Dislode dying.
‘And what’s frightening about the Empire isn’t a single hero’s march.’
The more they failed, the more vicious their fury became.
If they were repelled once, they would come back stronger next time, armed with countermeasures against mana cannons.
This had to be viewed in the long term.
“May I offer my opinion?”
Gordon quietly raised his hand.
“Speak.”
“I don’t know how strong the imperial army you speak of truly is.”
“If we clash head-on, defeat is certain. Their forces are strong, and they will never be discouraged by just one or two failures.”
“In short, it’s an enemy we can’t face right now, and one with persistence.”
In that case.
“I believe it’s right to fight a field battle instead of defending the Tower.”
“A field battle?”
Berje’s pupils widened.
It was shocking enough to suggest fighting a field battle while abandoning the Tower, but what surprised him more was that the one saying it was Gordon.
“...What is that look for?”
“Because it’s not something I’d expect to hear from you.”
“Didn’t I tell you? I now believe that the Demon King’s way is the right one. And this matter is an extension of that. I am simply doing my utmost to help the Demon King conquer this world.”
“And the reason for proposing a field battle?”
“Because we need to break them psychologically.”
“Psychologically?”
“Just a moment....”
Gordon went up to the 5th floor and came back down carrying a crystal orb.
When he injected demonic energy and placed it on the floor, a massive hologram rose up.
It was the map of the Ergest Mountains, accumulated over a year by the Tower.
“Living here for a year, I came to understand very well what these mountains called Ergest mean to humans.”
Harsh terrain, forbidden land. A place not permitted to humans. A treasure trove of monsters. A frigid land where snow fell year-round.
“Wandering through such mountains is exhausting in itself. Even just searching endlessly for the Tower in snowy mountains would be so, and if monsters appear on top of that, it becomes all the worse.”
It gnawed at the body and gnawed at the mind. At the time, he truly couldn’t understand it, but Berje building the Tower in Ergest had been the best possible choice.
“But what if they find the Tower? A spark of hope will ignite. Of course, since demonic energy is abundant inside the Tower, we might be slightly more advantageous. But an uncertain task versus a task where the end is visible as soon as you reach the summit. Which would you prefer?”
“If it’s a field battle, can we win? In a field battle, many things are restricted. There will inevitably be those who slip through.”
Unlike other Demon Kings, Berje filled the Tower with princesses, other races, and heroes.
That could deliver a powerful psychological shock to those who first arrived at the Tower and be effective, but once it was revealed to the world, it could not be said to be superior to an ordinary Tower.
Moreover, the moment the elves and princesses were revealed to the world, Berje’s plans would be significantly disrupted.
The very fact that elves, heroes, and princesses followed a Demon King overturned the very foundation that humans had fanatically believed in until now.
If it was the Tower, all intruders could simply be dealt with. But in a field battle, that could not be hidden.
“The moment it’s exposed, it won’t just be a problem for humans. The Demon Kings will have fits as well.”
“For now, the elves can be made useful by painting their skin black.”
“That won’t fool anyone with just that.”
“We grind dye mixed with contaminated mana stones into powder and then engrave markings onto their skin. There will be a time limit, but it will allow them to disguise themselves to look like Dark Elves.”
The elves who had been listening quietly flinched.
Berje stroked his chin.
The method of infusing dye with demonic energy was fairly common in the Demon Realm. The demonic energy lingered gently, making it widely used.
“Not bad. Then what about the princesses?”
“Please call them the Four Heavenly Kings.”
“The princesses?”
“Tch.”
“They can wear masks. Ones engraved with markings that naturally emit demonic energy. In the urgency of ongoing battle, there won’t be anyone with the leisure to nitpick details. Surely no one would even imagine they’re princesses of Hilderan.”
“That’s far too naive.”
Because of that naivety, this entire situation had occurred. Berje did not want to repeat the same mistake.
Especially when lives were at stake.
“I’m certain.”
“Certain?”
“No one would ever think that princesses would call themselves the Four Heavenly Kings and help the Demon King.”
Gordon swept his gaze across the gathering as if seeking agreement.
“...That is true.”
“From my perspective as well....”
“To be honest, I also....”
The elves agreed one by one. Given the elves’ nature of being unable to lie, it was safe to assume they meant it sincerely.
“Why?”
Ernan tilted her head.
“That’s right. Why?”
Charlotto, who had answered first during the combined attack of the two princesses of Hilderan, swallowed hard.
“Well, in what world would a princess help the Demon King who kidnapped her and fight against the heroes coming to rescue her....”
There were four involved parties present. Although one of them was full of reluctant resignation, the remaining three were not at all.
As Charlotto hesitated, Ernan shook her head.
“That’s right. I was taught that the world should be viewed broadly and not from just one perspective. As expected, it’s the same for you, Lady Charlotto, as an elf!”
“....”
Charlotto clamped her mouth shut, unable to find a reply. Watching that almost comedic exchange, Berje realized something.
‘Charlotto is right.’
A princess helping a Demon King made no sense by common standards. Even if she did help, doing so this actively—fighting heroes who came to rescue her—made even less sense.
Then why had he considered it natural?
His gaze naturally fixed on Ernan.
‘...I’ve been influenced.’
To the point where he could no longer accept common sense as common sense.
Berje became alert.
“Fine. We’ll let the princesses pass like that.”
“Huh? I still don’t understand?”
“Your understanding isn’t required.”
Berje brushed aside Ernan’s dissatisfaction.
“And the Peul Orcs, including Krutu, do not apply. The monsters that Demon King Reina sent are the same. The problem is....”
“The mana cannons.”
“Yes.”
Mana cannons were clearly not something that belonged to a Demon King. In the thousand-year history since Demon Kings descended upon Arein, not a single Demon King had ever used mana cannons.
However, using mana cannons as a Demon King in itself was not a problem.
There was no particular mention of it in The Demon King’s Standard. Someone like Ugar might raise a fuss about using the technology of insignificant humans, but he could simply be ignored.
The real problem was that the moment the mana cannons were exposed, their advantage would be lost.
Even so.
“We proceed as planned.”
“Is that acceptable?”
“They’ll be discovered eventually anyway. It’s better for the mana cannons to be exposed than for the Tower to be discovered. Instead, once the mana cannons are revealed, we need to sweep them away as much as possible. You’re confident, right?”
“Of course! I’ll show those impudent humans the difference in dimensions of dwarf-made mana cannons!”
Roger snorted roughly.
“And how about kidnapping the imperial family in the process?”
“What?”
“If we kidnap the imperial family and make a backroom deal....”
“Rejected.”
“Pardon?”
“Impossible.”
It was still circulating quietly, but once the hero’s march began, there was a strong chance it would be announced across the entire continent.
But if, at that point, not only did the Tower not fall but another member of the imperial family was kidnapped?
Given that prideful Emperor and Empire, there was a high likelihood they would instead brand the captured imperial as trash and press their advance even harder.
It was an extreme move that would erase even the slim possibility of an ambiguous resolution.
“...In that case.”
“Then for now, we’ll face them in the field and work out the detailed plan. Above all, it’s crucial that the identities of the elves—and the princesses—are not revealed.”
Kidnapped royalty were kept in underground dungeons and then used to receive the hero at the Tower. That was the standard.
And usually, the phrase ‘together with the Demon King at the summit’ was added.
Due to the environment of Arein, some Demon Kings did not necessarily place royalty at the summit, but that was limited strictly to within the Tower as specified by the standard.
However, if it became known that the princesses were being sent outside, and that heroes were being used, the Demon Kings would not remain idle.
Ugar might let it slide because he was too busy saving his own skin. Jason, if negotiated with properly, might turn a blind eye for the time being, though it would cost a great deal.
But Reina—though not completely inflexible, the princess of the frost demon race, who was extremely rigid in certain respects—
“She will never stand by.”
First, she would try persuasion, then threats, and finally she would take action.
The problem was that she was currently the Demon King closest to Berje.
“I will do my utmost to ensure it’s never exposed. But for that....”
Gordon’s gaze swept in turn over Lavinia Arkan and Charlotto. Gordon was not ignorant of magic, but he needed the help of professional mages.
Especially that of Lavinia Arkan, who was adept with demonic energy.
“Lavinia.”
“Yeah.”
“I need your help.”
“Yeah. Lots of monsters. I help.”
Fortunately, thanks to the monsters obtained from Reina, she seemed to be in a good mood.
“Ah, and I forgot to mention this earlier, but the imperial family will be moving divided into four groups. They might combine forces midway, but for now they’re split up, so consider the option of defeating them separately.”
“Yes!”
““Yes!””
The Demon King and his retainers steeled their resolve.
* * *
“Demon King.”
After setting the broad framework, Berje entrusted the finer details to Gordon. He had then come into his office and was clutching his throbbing head.
At that moment, Kaede Zespine knocked on the door.
“Come in.”
She entered hesitantly.
“What is it?”
“...Well.”
In truth, he already knew.
It must have been because of the Third Prince. The Third Prince he had seen with his own eyes cherished his younger sibling to an excessive degree. And Kaede was no different.
“So you’re saying you can’t face the Third Prince?”
“...I’m sorry, but yes. That’s correct.”
“You said you would become my retainer. Yet you’ll refuse an order for personal reasons? Is that what you call a knight?”
“....”
Kaede lowered her head deeply. For a knight, the lord’s command was to take precedence above all else. Even with ten mouths, she had nothing she could say.
“Is it only the Third Prince?”
“Pardon?”
“I asked if it’s only the Third Prince you can’t attack.”
“...Elder Brother Floyan as well.”
The Second Prince. The relationship between the Third Prince and the Second Prince hadn’t looked that bad—was Kaede the same?
“Then what about the First Princess?”
At that moment, Kaede’s eyes changed.
They turned sharp and vicious. At a glance, anger could be felt.
“...If you entrust her to me, I will do my utmost.”
“How?”
“I will act according to the Demon King’s command.”
“If I ordered you to smash her head and rip open her belly to pull out her entrails, would you do it? She’s your sister.”
“...That would be impossible, but at least up to severing her limbs....”
“Pass. I understand your loyalty well enough. So guard the Tower.”
“...Pardon?”
Pardon, indeed.
“You’re a princess, but at the same time, you’re a hero. Is there any reason to proclaim to the whole world that a hero like you is my subordinate?”
“...Ah.”
Kaede blinked blankly.
* * *
While Berje was pondering how to deal with the Empire.
The Demon King, who had lived the longest in Arein, received news from the Empire.
『I’ll ask only once.』
A faint anger lay beneath the voice beyond the crystal orb.
『Was it you who planted a Black Mage in Hapstrain Gorge and dreamed of the Empire’s overthrow?』
“It was not. You know this, don’t you? I have no reason to do such a thing. I understand the Empire better than any other Demon King.”
『...So you tried to weaken the Empire all the more because of that?』
“If that were the case, I wouldn’t have handled it so sloppily.”
『....』
For a moment, no reply came.
『I’ll ask one last time. Is it truly not you?』
“It is not. If you were convinced it was me, you wouldn’t be asking like this.”
『For now, I’ll believe you.』
But.
『This time, it won’t end as easily as Lust. You have crossed the line.』
The communication was cut off unilaterally.
Jason Kokemundo pressed his forehead. Crack—under the force of his grip, the solid wooden desk shattered.
“Berje, Berje, Berje, Berje!”
Just what.
“What have you done?”
Why did you provoke the very things that must never be touched?
Why, of all things.
“Are you ruining my plan?”
His eyes sank coldly.