Chapter 141 : Retainer
Chapter 141: Retainer
“Damn it.”
Granada exhaled white breath. His cheeks flushed red from the biting cold.
“Ergest again.”
Ever since entering into a contract with the Demon King and becoming one of Hero Hillan Cargill’s close aides, Granada could not shake the feeling that he was being worked to the bone.
Starting with infiltrating the first hero’s march led by Hillan Cargill, he had entered the Beast’s Tower and barely survived a brush with death, helped Arkan and climbed the Ergest Mountains, participated once more in an empire-led search, and now he was a member of the assault unit organised in Hilderan. In the future, he was even scheduled to take part in yet another hero’s march by the Empire.
And of all places, it had to be a land of extreme cold where snow fell year-round.
‘Doesn’t he know that elves live in warm places with good water and beautiful mountains?’
No, even if he knew, he was the sort of man who would not care. That was why he was the Demon King.
“Are you sure this isn’t just you trying to betray us?”
Granada shot a glare at Hillan Cargill, who was walking beside him.
If that were not the case, there was no way Berje would repeatedly pressure him to participate in hero’s marches and assault units meant to get him killed.
“There are other people around us, Lord Granada.”
“I see. Then I will politely ask again. Isn’t this just you wanting to live and planning to stab me in the back in a filthy way?”
“It is not polite at all, but I will answer. I have always done nothing but follow faithfully.”
“And is there some reason that I must necessarily be included in that faithfulness?”
“So that was your dissatisfaction. Of course, there was no direct mention of that point, but there is a human proverb that says, where the needle goes, the thread follows. If I go, and my assault unit, the Red Hawk Mercenary Company, and its captain, Lord Granada, do not accompany me, wouldn’t that be strange?”
“...Damn it.”
Granada barely restrained the urge to slap the smiling Hillan across the cheek.
He steadied his breathing while looking at the distant mountains. The sight of an ogre overturning the snow made a curse almost slip out, but he forcibly redirected his thoughts.
‘He told me to help Hillan Cargill and save Ernan Hilderan.’
That meant the Demon King had decided to release Ernan Hilderan.
It meant sending Ernan Hilderan back to make Hilderan, between Hilderan and the Zespine Empire, keep its mouth shut.
Given the current circumstances, it was the best possible method. Even so, the far greater mountain called the Empire still remained.
‘He won’t really die, will he?’
If he did, what would happen then? Even if it was an oath sworn upon the World Tree, once the object disappeared, there would be no reason to keep it.
‘But that might apply to me, not to the elves.’
They would have to stand in opposition to the hero party as subordinates of the Demon King. Would humans enraged at the Demon King really spare the elves? They would likely brand them traitors and kill them in even greater agony.
‘....’
They were elves he himself had turned into tools of the Demon King. He had consoled himself by saying it was better than a life of slavery, but that fact did not change.
He could not let them die while remaining tools of the Demon King. At least until a hundred years had passed, the Demon King could not die.
That was Granada’s responsibility, as the one who had dragged them into this.
‘Damn it, did the Demon King use the elves because he knew it would turn out like this?’
Either way, it was a dead end.
Meanwhile, even as his worries continued, the assault unit advanced rapidly toward the Tower of Dark Flame.
The problem was that it was too fast.
Ergest was proving to be far too easy for a place that bore the name of the territory of the Demon King of Dark Flame.
Slash-
The head of a gigantic monster was cleaved in half and fell. Pure white snow was stained red.
‘So that’s what he meant.’
Hillan Cargill, who had killed the monster, shook the blood from his sword.
He had said he would prepare a smooth road toward the tower, and now Granada understood what that meant.
The path was well maintained, and the shortest route toward the tower was marked with signs only he could recognize.
Monsters did appear, but their level and numbers were only to the extent that Hillan could adequately handle.
Hillan Cargill’s level had risen so much that, even so, it produced considerable damage for others, but a few quick-witted individuals could not help but harbour doubts.
“Is this really Ergest?”
“Wasn’t it supposed to be a forbidden land overflowing with monsters?”
“They said snow fell year-round, didn’t they? The sky’s clear blue.”
With even the weather cooperating, the difficulty plummeted drastically. Hillan cursed the humans who could not accept things at face value even when spoon-fed, yet outwardly he smiled.
“In a way, it’s only natural.”
“Natural, you say?”
“Although the search party suffered heavy losses, they clashed with the Four Heavenly Kings of the Demon King’s army. The Demon King’s side would not have escaped unscathed either, so it’s only natural that there are fewer monsters to interfere with us.”
“That makes sense, too.”
“And who do you think I am? It may sound like self-praise, but I am Hillan Cargill.”
“...That’s true.”
“As expected of Lord Hillan.”
Those who had held doubts accepted Hillan’s explanation.
“Come to think of it, the monsters were strong. It’s just that Lord Hillan was stronger.”
They were mercenaries and elite troops of kingdoms cut from the same cloth. They had merely been flustered by the overly relaxed atmosphere, which did not match the fearsome reputation, but they knew that if even a single monster slain by Hillan’s blade had descended the mountain, it would have caused a major uproar.
“Anyway, I hope it keeps going like this.”
“I agree.”
And it did.
Stepping along the well-laid road prepared by the Demon King, they discovered the Demon King’s dwelling at a speed no one had anticipated.
“It’s a tower!”
“There really is a tower!”
The Tower of Dark Flame. The hottest tower on the continent revealed itself before their eyes.
There were no monsters near the tower. The assault unit calmly arrived right before it.
The relaxed mood tightened once more.
‘Back again.’
Hillan Cargill placed his hand on the door. He felt the chill that stood frozen together with the snow.
If he opened this, he would finally enter the tower.
Everything had already been coordinated in advance.
They would open the door, deal with the minor monsters, and rescue the Crown Princess, who would be on the first or second floor.
But.
‘There really will be monsters inside, right?’
Not mana cannons?
Not dazzling flashes of light, but the roars of monsters welcoming him?
Of course, he knew the Demon King would not lie. Still, the trauma that had been deeply etched did not fade easily.
Cold sweat trickled down his back.
“Lord Hillan?”
“Is something bothering you?”
At his hesitation, the members of the assault unit showed their puzzlement.
“No, it’s nothing. It’s just that being able to finally enter this tower fills me with emotion.”
“Ah, I understand. To you, Lord Hillan, this tower could not help but be special.”
The search party members, recalling his past failure, grew momentarily somber.
“Isn’t that all in the past? If we rescue Her Highness the Crown Princess now and kill the Demon King, the hero’s fame will resound across the entire continent!”
One mage hurriedly tried to salvage the mood. But Granada knew well that this was not the cause.
‘He’s scared.’
After all, the dozens of mana cannons that had poured out the moment the door opened back then had truly been like a bolt from the blue.
And now they said the number reached into the hundreds. If the tower was still in its original design, the instant the door opened, more than half the search party would be blown away.
“Thank you for the encouragement. A hero who must slay the Demon King before all of you showed an unsightly display.”
Forcing his worries aside, strength entered Hillan’s hand.
Creeeak—
With a dull sound, the massive door slowly opened.
Gulp—
The members of the search party gripped their respective weapons, bracing for the monsters that might burst out.
And when the door fully opened.
Hillan Cargill felt relief.
At the sight of a tower that was, more than anything, perfectly orthodox.
At the sight of not a single mana cannon in view.
‘Yetis?’
Snow-white clumps of fur roamed the first floor, easily numbering in the dozens. They were not weak monsters, but they were nowhere near enough to contend with the search party.
“Th-there…!”
At that moment, a knight shouted. Everyone’s gaze followed his finger.
And at its end—
She was there.
The Crown Princess of Hilderan, Ernan Hilderan.
Inside a small iron cage located in one corner of the first floor.
With an utterly pale face, her eyes closed, she slept.
“My goodness, Your Highness!”
“Your Highness!”
“Your Highness, the Crown Princess!”
The knights and mages of Hilderan who recognised her face cried out.
The one who stopped those who were about to rush forward at once was Hillan Cargill.
“Calm yourselves. This is the Demon King’s tower.”
“But Her Highness the Crown Princess is right there…!”
“Her Highness is alive. The fact that Her Highness is here means that the Demon King of Dark Flame shares the same direction as the Frost Demon King or the Gold-Steel Demon King.”
Placing abducted royalty on the lower floors to avoid reckless clashes.
“Ah…”
The search party, realizing that fact, brightened.
Their commonality did not end with merely placing royalty on the lower floors. Not once had a royal died.
“You’re fortunate. There’s no longer any need to force our way up to the Demon King’s floor.”
Hillan Cargill raised his sword.
“I will lead.”
Before the search party could even react, lightning struck.
────!
One snow-white yeti turned into pitch-black ash and collapsed. The thunderous roar that swept across the first floor ignited the yetis’ fury.
Thick killing intent signaled the start of battle. Hillan charged forward, and the Red Hawk Assault Unit led by Granada followed close behind.
“Impatient as well? Do you want to save Her Highness that badly?”
“Of course. The one who will save Her Highness the Crown Princess is me.”
Hillan brushed aside the elf’s sneer lightly. Even if this was a staged performance, with nearly three hundred witnesses, it was only natural to be tempted.
Kwoooaaar—
The yetis roared, but they could not block Hillan’s path.
Leaping lightning blackened their fur and did not even allow them the chance to spill red blood.
A black path was carved out.
Slash—
The iron cage suspended in the air fell. Hillan caught it and carefully set it down.
He cut through the bars and gently took the Crown Princess out. Her body was colder than ice. But the faint breath he felt hinted that she was alive.
“Her Highness the Crown Princess is…”
The search party, which had followed belatedly, surrounded Hillan.
“She is alive. I see no notable injuries. However, her body is far too cold, so treatment will be necessary.”
“Where is the healing mage!”
“Attend to Her Highness at once!”
“It would be best to go down to a village first and receive proper treatment.”
At Hillan’s suggestion, the Commander of the Azure Sea Knight Order hesitated.
“But Princess Ellena…”
Their top priority was undoubtedly Ernan Hilderan, but the royal command included Ellena Hilderan as well.
She, too, was a princess of Hilderan.
However.
“The highest priority of the orders I received is Her Highness the Crown Princess, Ernan Hilderan. Now that we have found the tower anyway, we can organize a hero’s march at any time. For now, protecting Her Highness the Crown Princess comes first.”
‘The Demon King permitted only Ernan Hilderan. We must not touch Ellena.’
The moment he exceeded the mercy the Demon King had allowed, his head would explode.
“But…”
“Lord Hillan! We must descend the mountain immediately! Her Highness’s condition is not improving easily!”
Right on cue, the healing mage’s urgent cry rang out. Hillan hurried over.
“There are no external injuries. Is it serious?”
“Her ice-cold body shows no sign of regaining warmth. It is beyond my ability. It would be best to return to the royal capital and show her to His Excellency the court mage.”
“Tch, let us go at once.”
At that demand, the Commander of the Azure Sea Knight Order could not say a single word. Hillan swung his sword toward the closed door of the tower. Powerful interference power severed the force of another dimension.
The door was forcibly opened, and the assault unit safely accomplished its objective and exited the tower.
* * *
“Her Highness the Crown Princess has awakened!”
“Her condition is not good. For now, it would be best to set up camp and let her rest.”
The rescued Crown Princess awoke near the mid-slope of the mountain.
As if the ice-cold state of her body had been a lie, her complexion returned to normal.
The assault unit set up camp in an area with few traces of monsters and made camp, and Hillan Cargill received a request for a private audience from the Crown Princess.
“I heard that Her Highness has awakened.”
“Yes. Her Highness is waiting.”
Hillan Cargill entered the tent. Ernan, with a haggard complexion, was spooning soup into her mouth.
“I have come at your summons.”
“Ah, Sir Hillan.”
“Your Highness.”
“It’s all right. May I greet the hero who rescued me from the hands of the wicked Demon King while lying down?”
She struggled to raise her body. The knight guarding her tried to stop her, but Ernan shook her head.
“Are you feeling all right?”
“Thanks to you. If it weren’t for you, Hillan, I might have died.”
Ernan turned her head toward the knight.
“Sir, could you leave us for a moment? I wish to speak with Sir Hillan.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
The knight obediently left. At that moment—
- Ah, that was stifling.
A spirit peeked its head out. A translucent film of water enveloped the two of them, blocking all sound.
“How was it?”
Ernan’s manner of speaking changed.
Her pitiful, weak appearance—
Became utterly playful and brimming with vitality.
“My acting.”
Ernan smiled.
Hillan smiled as well.
“It was perfect.”
“Really?”
“If your complexion was as dire, I would have had to go up to the upper floors to rescue Princess Ellena.”
“That wouldn’t do. That’s not what the Demon King wants.”
And for now, it was better for Ellena to remain in the tower.
“Congratulations on returning as Ernan, the Crown Princess.”
“I heard it from the Demon King. That you value honor more than anyone, Hillan.”
“No one dislikes honor.”
“What about money?”
“No one dislikes money either.”
“Then how about the title of benefactor of the Queen of Hilderan? If that queen were to spare no support in making you not just a mere Argann, but the Guildmaster of the Hero Guild?”
“I was a retainer of Her Majesty the Queen from the beginning.”
Hillan Cargill knelt down.