Chapter 124 : False
Chapter 124: False
Hero Hillan Cargill could not get a grip on the Empire’s situation.
With a single line shouted as if in desperation by a Black Mage, Berje’s existence was revealed, and the Empire was grinding its teeth.
The hero’s march would inevitably take place, and he was in a position where he had no choice but to participate in the hero’s march.
But.
‘Which side am I supposed to stick with?’
The Demon King, or the Empire.
If one judged victory and defeat objectively, it was honestly the Empire.
‘On the first floor of the Demon King’s Tower, there are mana cannons. Hundreds of them.’
The destructive power of those creations made by Roger Friedrich, a craftsman ranked among the top three in the Dwarven Kingdom, was beyond question.
But even so, they were still mana cannons. At the beginning, they would exert tremendous power, but the Empire would find a way to break through somehow.
‘The elves, the princesses as well.. everyone will be flustered by that at first, but....’
Once that initial phase passed, they would find a solution somehow. That was what humans were.
‘They can’t bring an army straight in, but the Empire’s underlying strength can’t be judged by its army alone.’
Vast territory, a large population. Resources and supplies derived from that, abundant wealth and talented individuals. Knights and mages.
Compared to what Berje possessed, the Empire was clearly ahead.
‘The Empire will win. This is absolute.’
There was no room for doubt.
But he could not readily take the Empire’s side.
It was because of the orb embedded in his head. It was a precious object that had saved his life in the snowfield, but now it was the exact opposite.
‘If I betray him....’
Vairif’s final end—whether coughing up blood with his head bursting open, or being scattered into dust without even leaving a corpse, or writhing in agony even as a soul bound to Berje—was vividly engraved in his mind.
‘I won’t go down easily. A rash betrayal is a stupid thing to do.’
Hillan first decided to faithfully follow the Demon King’s orders. Fortunately, the Demon King’s orders also made him faithful to the duty of a hero. At least for now.
“So the hero’s march won’t happen right away.”
The Empire announced the success of subjugating the Black Mage parasitizing Hapstrain Gorge.
However, there was no mention of the Demon King of Dark Flame who had been manipulating him.
It was intentionally concealed.
“It’s a matter tied to the Empire’s honor and prestige, so it has to be certain.”
Because of that, the Empire decided to first pour all its efforts into finding the location of the Tower.
“They’re dispatching secret envoys to the northern kingdoms to ask for cooperation.”
“Korzen, Horton, and Dormunt?”
“That’s right. Hortonwork is the city closest to Ergest Mountains, but Ergest is a massive mountain range that stretches across three kingdoms.”
Hortonwork was also close to the highest peak of Ergest. That was why Hero Hillan Cargill had departed from Hortonwork.
“But the Demon King’s Tower wasn’t there. Then shouldn’t we search everywhere else?”
Branches of Ergest extended into the Kingdom of Dormunt as well, but compared to the areas bordering the other two kingdoms, there were fewer monsters and the terrain was not as rugged. Because of that, the Empire judged that the Tower would be in the regions adjacent to Korzen and Horton.
“Will the search be easy?”
“It won’t.”
If it were easy, Ergest would not have been designated a forbidden zone for nothing. Let alone with a Demon King added to the mix.
“So they’re cooperating with other countries.”
“Will they cooperate?”
“The ones who grow most uneasy as incidents caused by the Demon King of Dark Flame occur are the three kingdoms adjacent to the mountain range.”
Martin took a sip of his tea.
“There can be no more failures. Slowly, but surely, we have to tighten the noose.”
Starting with Hero Hillan Cargill’s hero’s march and extending to the disappearance incident of Lavinia Arkan of the Magitech Kingdom of Arkan.
There had already been two attempts, and there had been failures. The Zespine Empire was enraged, but it had no intention of bungling matters by being swayed by emotion.
Finding the Tower would become a long-term plan.
But anger was merely set aside for the moment; it was not forgotten. The moment the Tower was found, the Empire would mobilize everything it could and defeat the Demon King.
“Is there nothing I can help with?”
“Later on, there’s a high chance we’ll move separately, but for the search, we’ve decided to pool all our strength.”
“Is even that being led by the princes?”
“From finding it to killing the Demon King. Everything is a trial, and that is His Majesty’s will.”
“Why go that far...?”
“No one knows His Majesty’s will. That said, it’s not as though there’s no support, so don’t worry.”
That, at least, was fortunate. No matter how tremendous the authority held by the princes and the prestige of the families backing them might be, the power wielded by the Emperor was on an entirely different level.
“And I—.”
Martin set down his teacup.
“I intend to find the Tower myself.”
“...Personally?”
“It’s clear I lag behind my brothers, so I have to try a little harder. The thirsty dig the well, after all.”
“It’s dangerous.”
“It will be dangerous.”
“I understand your desire to rescue Princess Kaede, but....”
“Do you really think I’m going to Ergest simply because I want to save Kaede?”
Martin’s gaze sank.
“...Is that not the case?”
“Of course, that reason isn’t nonexistent.”
It did take up a large share. But it was not only that.
“How many royals born of the imperial line do you think have no interest in the throne?”
Some might. There were certainly royals who were sickened by the infighting of the current imperial family.
But at least, not the four royals including Martin.
Especially Martin—he only seemed inferior due to his comparatively weak faction compared to the other three royals. His ambition itself was not lacking in the slightest.
“If the hero’s march begins, it has no choice but to be announced to the people. At that time, if it becomes known that one of the royals found it personally?”
“Apologies to you, but—”
“That you, and even Arkan, failed to do?”
Martin did not look apologetic at all. And Hillan could not help but nod at his words.
Between Hillan and Arkan together, the greater weight would be placed on Arkan.
Things had improved somewhat now, but long ago there had been multiple wars, and even now Arkan had obstructed Zespine at every turn, curbing its expansion.
Sentiment among the people was at its worst, and they did not even hide their hostility toward one another.
Propaganda that an imperial prince accomplished what Arkan could not would be able to draw considerable support from the populace.
And the support of the people was something the nobles could not completely ignore. After all, nobles were included among the people as well.
“That’s why I need your help.”
“Are you hoping to search for the Tower together?”
“Don’t you want to erase your failure with your own hands?”
“Of course I do.”
“Then that settles it.”
Refusal—
“I refuse.”
Strength went into Martin’s grip as he seized Hillan’s hand. Hillan forced an awkward smile.
* * *
“So the search comes first.”
『Yes, that is correct.』
Having heard Hillan’s report, Berje tapped the table with his finger.
‘At least as long as Hillan Cargill doesn’t spill the Tower’s location, there’s leeway.’
And Hillan, who had witnessed Vairif die right before his eyes without any sign at all, would not speak.
As long as he wasn’t about to lose his life immediately while harboring the sense of betrayal of having been betrayed by Berje.
‘What should I do?’
He somewhat agreed with Gordon’s opinion, but doubts still remained.
Setting up an ambush to devour the search parties was one option, but perhaps doing absolutely nothing might also be fine.
‘There’s the Ghost of Mana. Couldn’t I do it the same way as when I sent Daphne Phillian?’
He could not give a clear answer right away. When he had sent Daphne Phillian, it was true that a great deal of luck had been on his side, and not long ago he had poured all the Demonic Points he had accumulated into lifting interference power, so he did not have many points left to begin with.
“How will the search parties be formed?”
『They haven’t informed me of the details yet. However, since they said they will cooperate with the kingdoms bordering the mountain range, there’s a high chance they’ll move from Dormunt, Korzen, and Horton.』
They would probably not refuse. Humans always wanted to stand in a superior position, and the ambiguous coexistence between the Demon King and humans also existed because humans were confident they held the upper hand.
But by hiding the Tower, Berje had planted anxiety in them, and humans would all want to dispel that anxiety.
And if the Empire sheathed the blade for them of its own accord—
What nation would not step forward?
‘Among them, only Dormunt, which is closer to Arkan than to the Empire, might be somewhat passive.’
Even so, the possibility of outright refusal was remarkably low.
Three kingdoms moving under the Empire’s leadership.
‘If this keeps up, then really….’
Would the Tower end up being exposed?
His fingers tapping the table sped up with anxiety.
‘There’s no helping it.’
After much deliberation, Berje made his decision.
“You’ll be participating in the search party as well, won’t you?”
『Yes. It seems I’ll be moving together with the Third Prince.』
“Report every detail of the search party’s composition, schedule, and movements to me without missing a single thing. And no matter what happens, you must protect the Third Prince’s life.”
『Surely you don’t mean…?』
“If you dare set foot in the Demon King’s domain, you must be prepared to put your life on the line.”
『That’s a bad move! The greater the damage, the more the Empire won’t be able to give up!』
“They won’t give up anyway. Simply hiding won’t solve anything.”
The moment he had already laid hands on the imperial family, that was decided. Until a meaningful result came out, they would not give up.
And that meaningful result would, at the very least, be rescuing the princesses. The moment Berje’s Tower was exposed, things would rush toward something even worse.
By the other Demon Kings.
So that much had to be prevented. Releasing the princesses was not an option to begin with.
Either make it so they could never find the Tower, or make sure there were no survivors.
Berje chose the former. No matter the means, he would make sure they could not discover the Tower.
“I’ll make you clearly understand why Ergest has been forbidden to you humans until now.”
『…If things go well, then my life—』
“As long as you don’t betray me, that won’t happen.”
『Yes. Thank you.』
The contact was cut off. Berje immediately left the Tower. Outside, two hundred Peul Orcs were waiting.
“We pay our respects to the Demon King.”
Krutu and the Peul Orcs lowered their heads and paid homage to their king.
“Your role is important.”
“Please give us your orders.”
“Search the entire mountain as if combing it with a fine-tooth comb and identify every monster lair and territory that exists on Mount Ergest.”
“‘Every’ one of them?”
“Except for the place we talked about back then.”
“Understood.”
“I said it like that, but it doesn’t have to be absolutely every monster. You must not die. Still, the more monsters, the better.”
“Demon King…! We will stake our lives to carry out your command!”
The deeply moved Krutu and the Peul Orcs lowered their heads even further.
“I told you not to die.”
“Yes! We will preserve our lives as well!”
“When you find them, don’t provoke them prematurely. Remember them well and then report to Gordon.”
“Yes.”
“Go.”
Krutu and the Peul Orcs mounted Frost Wolves and disappeared.
Watching the wolves’ tracks, Berje steeled himself.
‘Princesses, elves, chimeras, mana cannons, and even the monsters of Ergest.’
There was not a single proper monster, and the only demon was Gordon, but it could not be said that their overall strength was weak.
The past year had by no means been wasted.
No matter what happened, he would prevent them from discovering the Tower.
No matter what.
* * *
『I heard you met Berje Deias not long ago.』
“That’s right.”
『What did you talk about?』
“Must I tell that to you?”
Reina’s gaze sank. Realizing he had misspoken, Ugar hurriedly corrected himself.
『No, as I said before, Jason isn’t the culprit. It’s not me, and it’s not you either, so in the end....』
“So you mean Berje Deias is the culprit?”
『That’s what I think.』
“How laughable, Ugar Velbek.”
『What did you say?』
“I cannot trust you. I cannot trust your words either. Jason isn’t the culprit? You don’t even persuade me as to why that is, yet you insist on it unilaterally and try to push it through as is?”
『No, I told you, I saw it myself? There’s absolutely no way Jason is the culprit!』
“You didn’t tell me that. If that evidence were truly decisive, would there have been any reason not to?”
Ugar could not answer.
“I still suspect Jason. The only reason Jason might not be the culprit is the single thing you say, but there are dozens of reasons why Berje is not the culprit.”
『That may be so, but....』
“I’ll ask just one thing. Was what you witnessed a clear reason that ‘absolutely’ proved Jason Kokemundo was not the culprit?”
Ugar hesitated for a moment.
『...If you ask it that way....』
“That’s enough.”
『I haven’t answered yet?』
“That hesitation is the answer.”
『Ggh.』
At a loss for words, Ugar hastily changed the subject.
『Ah, right, did you hear the news?』
“News?”
『Berje caused quite an incident.』
“Stop dragging it out and say it.”
『They say the existence of a Black Mage who had been operating in Hapstrain Gorge was revealed.』
“A Black Mage? He should know that doesn’t work in Arein.”
『It was Berje’s doing. They say the Black Mage confessed Berje’s name and died.』
『Naturally, the Empire is in an uproar, and there’s a rumor that they’re secretly searching for Berje’s Tower.』
『You can roughly imagine how the Empire will react the moment they find the Tower, right?』
『Berje Deias is finished now. To dare lay a hand on the Empire—he must have been out of his mind.』
Ugar let out a sneer. Whatever the case, he held no good feelings toward Berje.
“How utterly pathetic.”
『Right? They even said he dared to insult The Demon King’s Standard at the Demon King Military Academy. An idiot who ran wild without knowing his place in the world....』
“Not Berje. I’m talking about you, Ugar Velbek.”
『...What did you say?』
“Even if it’s the Empire, to say ‘dare’ when it comes to touching humans. It seems you’ve adapted to Arein far too well.”
『....』
At the openly contemptuous gaze, Ugar shut his mouth.
“You heard that news from Jason, didn’t you?”
『I heard this directly—』
“I’m not a fool, Ugar Velbek.”
『...Fine.』
“Did you not think it was strange?”
『What?』
“Confessing Berje’s name? A mere Black Mage betraying the Demon King? Are you telling me to believe something that absurd?”
A Black Mage’s soul belonged to the Demon King. Betrayal was impossible to begin with. Unless one was prepared for death.
No— even if one were prepared for death, it was the same.
“A Black Mage’s soul belongs to the Demon King even after death. There is no Black Mage who doesn’t know that betraying the Demon King means suffering worse than death.”
If one had made a contract with a Demon King, there was no way not to know. The more one used demonic power, the more time passed, the more naturally one would come to understand that binding, and that future.
Because of that, not once until now had a Black Mage betrayed a Demon King. No— they could not.
『...That’s—』
“Right. It’s not completely impossible.”
Reina Sordein set up one hypothesis.
“If that Black Mage was Jason’s Black Mage, acting under Jason’s instigation. I think that possibility is far more likely.”
He—
“Wasn’t he a ‘falsehood’ who never properly revealed a single thing about himself?”