Chapter 157 : What Happened?
Chapter 157: What Happened?
“I did not know.”
When the news that the tower could not be found was delivered, it had been expected that contact would come from the other Demon Kings.
Because of that, Berje had deliberated. How should he answer?
How should he answer so that they were suitably convinced while not revealing a single piece of information from this side?
Gordon, Kaede, Ellena, and even Lavinia and Vivian. They had put their heads together and thought it through, but such an answer did not exist.
That was what it meant for the tower to have disappeared.
Something unfamiliar to humans, but even more unfamiliar to Demon Kings.
And Berje had not the slightest intention of sharing this with them.
‘Especially not with Jason.’
The initial relationship with Jason had not been bad. He had lent Berje money and joined hands.
Although he had noticed Berje’s involvement in Draxon’s death and issued a warning, he had thrown out the sweet lure of a war between the Alliance and the Empire.
At that point, Berje had clearly felt it. Jason was drawing some kind of picture, and he did not want that picture to be ruined.
And through Vivian, he had come to understand even more.
‘That he could either watch Vivian die or prevent it.’
That meant he held a certain degree of influence over the Hero Guild or nations with strong influence on the continent.
‘The Hero Guild, the Empire, or Arkan.’
It was probably one of the three. There were only two nations with that level of national power to begin with.
‘And perhaps he was even involved in the deaths of Demon Kings.’
On the surface, he cried out for the Harmony of the Towers and preached unity and cooperation among Demon Kings, but it meant that if one strayed from the picture he had drawn, he could strike down any other Demon King at any time.
Of course, seen from one perspective, he was an extremely typical demon. But for the one on the receiving end, it could never be considered natural.
Thinking that way, it was suspicious that for a hundred years, only a single seat of Demon King had been consistently changing.
He wondered if those who did not cooperate with him had been deliberately eliminated—before they could ruin the picture he was drawing.
Thus, there was only one answer Berje could give.
“My tower remains in its original location. If the tower does not exist, then it simply means they went to the wrong place.”
“Do you think that makes sense right now?”
The enormous Titan let out a roar.
“I am the one who cannot understand the question. Then what exactly is it? Are you saying that I destroyed the tower?”
“We know that Hillan Cargill saved the Crown Princess of the Kingdom of Hilderan. Do you think it makes sense that what they discovered could not be found by the Empire’s hero party? They had the same recording sphere!”
“You are the one spouting nonsensical nonsense. Why should I make excuses for their stupidity in failing to find something?”
“...I am asking what you did to the tower! Could it have been destroyed by Hillan Cargill?”
“Is that what you want to believe? Then I am truly indulging your delusions by coming along here.”
Ugar fell silent. When a tower was destroyed while a Demon King still lived, the immense interference power pressed down upon both body and soul. In such a situation, being unable to receive demonic power meant death.
“So you are saying you do not know the reason, Lord Berje?”
Jason, who had been sitting quietly in the host’s seat listening to the conversation, spoke for the first time.
“That is right. I do not even know why I must make excuses for this.”
“I apologise. Certainly, from Lord Berje’s standpoint, that would be the case. It was such an unexpected incident that Lord Ugar seems to have been flustered as well.”
“And you are not?”
“I have always trusted Lord Berje. If Lord Berje says so, then that must be how it is.”
“How many times have you even seen me?”
“There is something else I would like to ask.”
“...?”
“A few months ago, there was an incident where the princess of the Berfht Kingdom and royal craftsmen were abducted. Do you know of it?”
“Is there anyone who does not know that?”
“The Berfht Kingdom defined it as the work of a Demon King and pointed to Lady Vivian as the culprit.”
Berje tilted his head slightly. Jason continued.
“After that, the tower disappeared, and it is predicted that Lady Vivian passed away.”
“A regrettable matter. However, repeating the same mistake after already tasting bitter failure once is Vivian’s own problem.”
“Of course it is. If Lady Vivian truly was the one who abducted the princess and the craftsmen, that is.”
Jason lifted his monocle. Reina, who had been listening quietly, furrowed her brow.
“Jason Kokemundo. What do you mean by that?”
“Before Lady Vivian died, she contacted me. She said she was absolutely not the culprit, that she was wronged.”
“Anyone can say such things.”
“Even when she swore upon the great First Demon Emperor and The Demon King’s Standard?”
“....”
Reina could not say anything and closed her mouth.
“What are you trying to say?”
“That the discovery of demonic power by the Dwarven Kingdom was likely not a lie.”
“So the culprit is certainly among the Demon Kings, but not Vivian—meaning the culprit is among us?”
And on top of that, you are suspecting me.
“Isn’t that so?”
“No. I am merely saying this because I do not believe Lady Vivian would lie after swearing upon the First Demon Emperor and The Demon King’s Standard. If Lady Vivian truly did not commit such an act, would it not be terribly unjust? At the very least, I believe we should clear the resentment of the departed soul.”
Well, well.
Berje let out a snort.
“Since when did you ever care about Vivian?”
“I have always cared about everyone.”
“Vivian contacted me as well. She said she would become my vassal and asked for my help. She also said she asked you for help first, but that you refused.”
“I had my own circumstances as well. That I could not help her at the time is my regret. Had I known she would leave like this, I should have helped her by any means necessary.”
“She contacted me, too. And I dismissed it as nonsense and refused. I do not think that is grounds to pressure Jason.”
“Ugar Velbek, when did I ever ask you a question?”
“Whether you ask or not, answering is my choice.”
Ugar growled.
“You have become quite the loyal dog.”
“What did you say?”
“This is saddening. I do not know why we are baring our fangs at one another like this. I merely wish to resolve Lady Vivian’s injustice.”
Jason mediated between the two.
“Lord Berje. Although we have not built extensive familiarity, I believe we have maintained a reasonably good relationship from the beginning until now.”
“Let’s say that is so.”
At least on the surface.
“And yet, I cannot understand why you suddenly feel so distant. I have always believed that I showed you my sincerity, Lord Berje.”
“That is what I want to say. I thought I had formed a good relationship with you, yet you suspect me.”
“I am not suspecting you, Lord Berje. As I have already said, my aim is to clear Lady Vivian’s injustice.”
“So?”
“Should we not respond to a vow made upon the First Demon Emperor and The Demon King’s Standard with a vow of the same kind?”
The corner of Berje’s mouth twisted. Jason’s smile deepened.
“Are you telling us to swear right now?”
Reina’s eyes sank coldly. A vow upon the First Demon Emperor and The Demon King’s Standard was something that had to arise purely from one’s own will; it could not be made under another’s coercion.
At least, that was a belief shared by all demons.
“It is merely a recommendation, not coercion, Lady Reina. And I will do so.”
Jason set down his milk-mixed black tea.
“I, Jason Kokemundo, swear upon the great First Demon Emperor and The Demon King’s Standard that I did not abduct the Dwarven princess and the Dwarven craftsmen.”
He slowly swept his gaze over the other Demon Kings.
“It is hardly difficult. I am the same. I, Ugar Velbek, swear upon the great First Demon Emperor and The Demon King’s Standard that I did not abduct the Dwarven princess and the Dwarven craftsmen.”
“...I do not like this.”
Reina snapped coldly, but in the end, she did not go against the prevailing current. At least on the surface, it was rather a matter of preserving honour.
“I, Reina Sordein, swear upon the great First Demon Emperor and The Demon King’s Standard that I did not abduct the Dwarven princess and the Dwarven craftsmen.”
“....”
Only Berje remained. Jason had said he would not force anyone.
Yet his gaze was directed at Berje, and so were those of the other two Demon Kings. A wordless pressure.
Rather than resisting, Berje chose to lower his head for a moment.
“I, Berje Deias, swear upon the First Demon Emperor and The Demon King’s Standard that I did not abduct the Dwarven princess and the craftsmen.”
“That will do.”
Jason clapped his hands, lightening the atmosphere.
“I thank all the Demon Kings for indulging my insistence.”
He bowed his head slightly.
“Then in the end, none of the Demon Kings laid a hand on the Dwarven Kingdom, and they simply acted under a misunderstanding.”
And in that process, Vivian died.
“It seems we were made to dance to their play.”
“Impudent wretches. Using Demon Kings as chess pieces.”
“Their arrogance has gone too far.”
Reina chewed over her quiet anger. Ugar bristled with indignation.
No matter how relatively weaker they might be, they were still Demon Kings. Beings of unparalleled strength.
None of them could take lightly the notion of being used by inferior races.
“That is precisely why I believe this gathering is important. Just as humans do, we too must join forces. Coincidentally, this Harmony of the Towers opened thanks to Lord Berje is, I believe, a very good opportunity.”
“That is—”
“Of course, cooperation may seem un-Demon-King-like. However, after being used by humans, suffering humiliation and disgrace, and still doing nothing—would that not be what is truly un-Demon-King-like?”
“I agree.”
Ugar quickly raised his fork. When Berje also assented, Reina nodded reluctantly.
Thus, the Harmony of the Towers transformed into a forum of alliance that strengthened mutual cooperation.
---
The Harmony of the Towers ended.
All the Demon Kings returned to their respective territories, and Jason uncorked a refined wine in place of the black tea that had gone cold.
“Congratulations on achieving what you desired.”
The adjutant, Aina, filled the empty glass in Jason’s hand with red wine.
“Thank you.”
“Think nothing of it.”
More direct cooperation among Demon Kings had been the ideal he envisioned—to conquer the world more organically from the dimension of Arein.
It had bordered on empty delusion, thwarted by Demon Kings blinded by arrogance and individualism, unable to see reality. Yet at last, it had produced tangible results.
Vivian’s sacrifice had been an excellent catalyst.
Opening the Harmony under the pretext of Berje’s vanished tower had been the best possible choice.
However.
“Strangely enough, I do not feel all that pleased.”
“Is there something that concerns you?”
“A concern, you say.”
A taste both tart and sweet, mellow yet smooth, spread across his tongue. The rich aroma of wine stimulated his nose.
“One thing. You could say there is.”
“Indeed, it seems I cannot become close with Lord Berje after all.”
A great achievement had been made.
Yet Jason did not regard it as having drawn cooperation among the Demon Kings.
Berje’s answer—his vow—was the greatest achievement of all.
Although he did not know by what means Berje had hidden the tower, or why the heroes could not find it, it felt as though he had taken one step closer to the Demon King called Berje Deias.
Jason looked out at the lake beyond the window.
“Interesting. Truly so.”
“What do you mean?”
“Berje Deias swore upon the First Demon Emperor and The Demon King’s Standard. That it was not his doing.”
And yet.
“I was also certain.”
That Berje Deias was the culprit.
“That is…”
“It must be one of two things.”
Either he was wrong, or Berje had lied.
And Jason was convinced it was the latter.
That was why goosebumps rose. A shiver ran through him.
“Lord Berje, just what happened to you?”
Just what could have happened—
“That you, who even during your time at the Demon King Military Academy were a more fervent believer in The Demon King’s Standard than anyone else.”
You, who cried out the greatness of the First Demon Emperor.
“That you would come to regard the First Demon Emperor and The Demon King’s Standard as trash.”
The skin all over his body prickled. Overwhelmed by surging emotion, he burst into laughter.
“...My lord?”
“Perhaps.”
The laughter abruptly ceased.
“I have been too docile.”
Thinking you were different from the other Demon Kings, I watched with goodwill and greater leniency—but it seems you were different to an excessive degree.
Within his expressionless face, the adjutant could read only one emotion: rage.
“If my picture is ruined, the culprit will surely be Berje Deias.”
“Yes.”
“Crush the Golden Moon Merchant Company. Smash it to pieces and absorb it entirely.”
“Yes.”
“And.”
Jason hurled the glass to the floor. The glass shattered into fragments.
Aina poured wine anew into a fresh glass.
“Find Lord Berje’s tower.”
Without fail.
“So that the next hero’s march will not fail.”
“I will obey your command.”