Chapter 125 : Conciliation
Chapter 125: Conciliation
While Berje Deias was trying to use the entire tower as a weapon, and the two Demon Kings were engaged in a grave conversation, the Empire sent envoys to three kingdoms.
“‘We will search for the Tower of Dark Flame, so please cooperate?’”
“Yes. Here is His Majesty the Emperor’s personal letter.”
The attendant who received the letter presented it to the King of the Kingdom of Korzen. After checking its contents, the King asked the envoy.
“Do you know what is written here?”
“I merely delivered His Majesty’s letter as an imperial envoy.”
“Katarina Zespine.”
The envoy flinched.
“Do you know how I came to know your name?”
“You seem to have great interest in the Empire.”
“There is no one without interest in the Empire, but I am not so well-informed as to recognize the 11th Imperial Princess, who has scarcely engaged in outside activities, at first sight.”
“Is it the letter?”
“When I first heard the Empire’s proposal directly from your mouth, I felt both pleased and troubled.”
No one welcomed the knowledge that there was a Demon King’s tower whose exact location was unknown, right under their nose.
If the Empire would voluntarily shoulder the sword and take care of it themselves, that was naturally welcome. But the reason one could not respond purely was because there had been precedents of devouring other nations under the pretext of a hero’s march.
Even if that had been hundreds of years ago, the Empire was still a hyena that could not be trusted lightly.
“The letter contains various promises along with the Emperor’s imperial seal. And as a token of trust, they sent you.”
“....”
“What sort of answer do you think I should give?”
“You could detain me.”
“Did you hear that?”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
The knights approached. The members of the envoy group instinctively tried to resist, but at Katarina Zespine’s restraint, they stopped moving.
“Then may we take Your Majesty’s answer as affirmative?”
“I thought I had already given my answer.”
Katarina lowered her head.
“Thank you for your wise decision.”
And then she calmly walked toward the knights.
“Let us go.”
It was not only Korzen. The same thing was happening in the other two kingdoms as well.
Three imperial princes and princesses were detained.
* * *
There was no such thing as a perfect secret in this world.
Especially so as the number of people who knew the secret increased, and as the number of related organizations or nations grew.
The Zespine Empire made every effort to maintain secrecy, but it could not hide the fact that it was forming a search party.
“So the Zespine Empire is searching for the Tower of Dark Flame.”
An attendant poured Antrois Fornin 1311 vintage into an empty glass. The fragrant aroma of wine filled the room.
The Empire’s bustling movements were conveyed all the way to the Kingdom of Hilderan.
The King calmly examined the report.
“The Tower of Dark Flame.”
And the Demon King of Dark Flame.
The den of vermin that had abducted the kingdom’s heir.
Unlike the other Demon Kings, it was hidden, so even though more than a year had passed since its descent, it still could not be found.
The Demon King who had kidnapped Ellena again only a few days after she was rescued from the Gold-Steel Tower, thoroughly disgracing the kingdom.
The Demon King of Dark Flame and Hilderan had crossed a river that could never be turned back.
Hilderan would have to bring down the tower no matter what in order to rescue the two princesses, and if it did not wish to do so, then the Demon King would have to destroy Hilderan first.
They had become a relationship of hatred that would never end unless one killed the other.
And the one who started all of it was the Demon King of Dark Flame.
“What do you think?”
“If the Empire holds the reins, there is no reason to refuse. I believe lending a hand is the right course.”
The Chief Chamberlain offered his counsel.
“However, there is also a point that raises doubts.”
“A doubt?”
“That a Black Mage supposedly confessed. There has never been a case where a Black Mage betrayed a Demon King.”
“Do you think the Empire wouldn’t know that?”
The King let out a snort of laughter.
“They would know.”
“Indeed. So, setting aside what kind of scheme lies behind it, returning to the main point—do you think the Empire would readily grasp the hand we extend?”
The relationship between Hilderan and Zespine was not bad. But that did not mean it was particularly good either.
It was merely passable—yet at the same time, a relationship where neither side could stand to see the other prosper.
They would not deliberately pick a fight, but neither would they willingly share anything with the other.
“There is no particular reason to refuse.”
The hero’s march had not yet formally begun. What the Empire intended to do with the three northern kingdoms for now was, at most, to find the tower, and no one knew how much time and effort would be required in the vast and treacherous Ergest Mountains.
If Hilderan were to lend a hand in sharing that burden, the likelihood of refusal was low.
“Moreover, in the hero’s march, the Empire’s regular army cannot be deployed anyway. They could participate while hiding their identities, but only in limited numbers. Ultimately, the core of the hero’s march is the heroes themselves.”
“That’s right. And we just so happen to have a suitable hero, don’t we?”
“That is correct.”
A hero from Hilderan who was currently standing on the Empire’s side and deeply involved, while also receiving Hilderan’s support.
The hero of Hilderan who had declared before all the people that he would one day definitely rescue the two princesses.
“Send an envoy to the Empire and make contact with Hillan Cargill.”
“I will carry out your command.”
The King clenched his fist tightly. Unable to withstand the grip, the glass shattered.
Even so, he did not care.
“Finally.”
Finally.
“Is the day coming when we tear that damn Demon King bastard’s limbs apart?”
The day to repay the humiliation the kingdom had suffered, that he himself had suffered, was not far off.
Nor was the day to reclaim the kingdom’s heir.
* * *
Berje mulled over his memories from before his regression.
The Empire had surged forward, and he had tried to block everything. But no matter how much he blocked, there came a point where he could not.
That was how he died.
‘I can’t repeat the same mistake.’
He had concluded that blocking was necessary for now, but he knew better than anyone that merely blocking would not lead to victory.
Simply blocking was not enough. Something fundamental was needed to prevent the Empire from continuing the hero’s march.
‘But how?’
The Empire had already begun to act, and the more the conflict intensified, the more it would accelerate, turning into a carriage that could no longer be stopped.
‘I can’t stop it from starting in the first place. I just need to make them give up at an appropriate point.’
To do that, he would need to create a justification for giving up—or make it so they had no room to concern themselves with it.
‘Cause trouble within the Empire?’
But by what means?
Then suddenly, Hillan Cargill’s words came to mind.
‘Martin Zespine.’
He would come to Ergest together with Hillan. His ambition was by no means small.
What if his desire to become Emperor was not actually less than that of the First Prince? What if it had simply been hidden behind the mask of gentleness because circumstances were unfavorable—and he had died early, never getting the chance to unfold it?
And if Berje himself were to help him…
‘If things go according to the original plan?’
By empowering Martin and driving the Empire toward division.
‘Capture him and make him a subordinate.’
It would not be a kidnapping. He would send him back.
And if the Martin who returned were to stop the Empire’s hero’s march by any means necessary—
‘Wouldn’t that be the best outcome?’
Of course, the possibility was remarkably low. By common sense, there was no reason for the Empire’s Third Prince to become a Demon King’s subordinate at all…
“...Or is there?”
If his greed toward the Emperor’s throne was greater than anything else, and if he understood his own position better than anyone, then perhaps it was not impossible.
And if a light seasoning of persuasion from close blood relatives were added on top of that.
Berje summoned Kaede.
“...Are you saying my elder brother will participate in the search and come here? Not the hero’s march?”
“To search for the tower, the Empire and the three northern kingdoms will cooperate. And on the Empire’s side, the Third Prince will step forward.”
“...I see.”
“There is something you must do.”
“I do not understand what you mean.”
“You will persuade the Third Prince.”
“...Did I hear you wrong?”
Kaede’s eyes widened more than at any time since she had heard about the Dark Knight.
“You heard correctly.”
“...My elder brother is an imperial prince of the Empire.”
“And you are an imperial princess.”
“....”
Kaede swallowed her words, fidgeting.
She clearly had much she wanted to say, but the fact that he was a Demon King and she was his retainer made her visibly restrain herself.
“I am neither ‘asking’ you for a favour nor ‘ordering’ you. I am simply ‘informing’ you.”
“...What do you mean?”
If he issued an order, Kaede would obey. She was immersed in chivalry, and above all, she was his retainer.
But she would never persuade Martin with sincerity and her full effort. Berje wanted her to give it everything she had.
“Do you know? When dealing with an enemy, killing the commander of the legion is the most basic strategy.”
That was why it was neither a ‘request,’ nor an ‘order,’ nor a ‘persuasion,’ but a notice.
“If the Third Prince climbs the mountain together with the imperial army, I will make finding him my top priority. I will give Krutu the order to behead him.”
“I will pour every monster in that direction.”
“I will command Roger to designate him as the highest-priority target of the mana cannon.”
“Him.”
“Without fail.”
“I will kill him.”
He spoke each word with force. Kaede’s face growing pale was no illusion.
“...Demon King.”
“The future assigned to him has many paths. Whether his head is taken by Krutu, whether he is devoured by monsters, whether he is swept away by an avalanche and crushed to death, or whether his body explodes and he dies from a mana cannon.”
“Demon King.”
“But the result is one. He will never leave the Ergest Mountains alive. I will make sure of it.”
“Demon King!”
Kaede shouted. Her flushed face burned with agitation.
“...I will try to persuade my elder brother.”
“There is no need to go that far.”
“No. I will. I will definitely... definitely succeed.”
“Indeed, you are worthy of being my loyal knight.”
Berje smiled in satisfaction.
“There are two things I will promise him.”
“Two things?”
“One is his life.”
“Yes.”
“And one is the Empire.”
“...Yes?”
“I swear upon the great First Demon Emperor and The Demon King’s Standard that if the Third Prince becomes my collaborator, I am willing to make him Emperor.”
“...There is something Ernan says.”
“What is it?”
“That one should be most wary when the Demon King swears upon the First Demon Emperor and the Standard....”
“....”
That little brat.
Had he used it too often?
“...Then does that mean he would become the Demon King’s retainer?”
“Well.”
Since he was not a hero, he could be made into a Black Mage or a Dark Knight.
But the moment they used their power, a Black Mage or Dark Knight—whose demonic energy was immediately revealed—was never a good method.
‘I will have to use Armani’s Orb.’
Unlike Black Mage or Dark Knight contracts, which exchanged demonic energy, Armani’s Orb was merely an artifact that imposed restrictions on the soul.
It neither revealed demonic energy, nor did it even use demonic energy simply by being consumed.
The drawbacks were that it could not grant power, consumed a large amount of Demonic Points, and was so fragile that even slight resistance would cause it to melt instantly—but if Kaede persuaded him well enough.
“...But, Demon King, do you not lack the ability to make my elder brother Emperor?”
She was not belittling Berje. She had watched closely how meticulous and vicious a Demon King he truly was.
She merely knew well the power of the Empire. There was also a pride that neither Berje nor any other Demon King would dare interfere in the Empire’s succession.
“Of course, that would be so.”
And on that point, Berje agreed as well. He spoke as he had, but no matter how much he tried, he could not arbitrarily place someone on the imperial throne.
However.
“I am a Demon King. As long as humans and demons are officially enemies, I can make him accumulate greater merits. If it is the Third Prince, wouldn’t he be able to use that help one way or another?”
“...I will obey the Demon King’s will.”
“As expected of a Dark Knight.”
“...I would appreciate it if you did not call me a Dark Knight.”
“Ernan already regards you as one.”
“...If the Demon King were to stop her.”
“That part I cannot guarantee.”
“....”
Kaede pondered sincerely.
Whether this Demon King was truly the meticulous and vicious Demon King she had seen until now.
* * *
‘With my own hands, my elder brother....’
Persuade him to become the Demon King’s dog?
‘My elder brother is different from me.’
Though they shared the same father and mother, unlike her—who had no particular desire for the throne—Martin had a strong yearning to become Emperor.
He was undoubtedly a good elder brother to her, but he was by no means purely kind or free of ambition.
That he desired the imperial throne more than anyone else—she, who had watched him from close by, knew best.
That was why she wanted to be his strength. As a knight, as his sword.
If even that was impossible, she had sought to support him through a political marriage.
But of all things, the target of that political marriage had been the dying King of Ormus, which she could never accept.
She had not intended to abandon being a hero, being a knight, just to become an ornament of Ormus.
So she had fled, seeking to become a great hero and be Martin’s strength. That had failed, and she had been kidnapped by a Demon King and ended up serving him, but her feelings for Martin remained unchanged.
That was why she hesitated.
Berje Deias did what he said he would do. He never lied.
‘To save my elder brother’s life, I must persuade him no matter what.’
But would that be what her elder brother wanted?
Would his desire for the throne, his longing for life,
be greater than becoming the Demon King’s dog?
That much, she did not know.
‘Still, for now....’
Just as she had told the Demon King, she intended to try her best.
To her, Martin Zespine was the only warmth she could feel within the frost-edged imperial family of the Empire.