Chapter 166 : Shackles of the Past
Chapter 166: Shackles of the Past
“Sell Roger. And use the Third Prince.”
It was the decision Berje Deias reached after grasping the seriousness of the situation and agonising over it.
『If that happens, my relationship with the Demon King will be revealed to the Third Prince.』
The reason Hillan had come to know Roger had been the Demon King’s Tower.
“No, we’ll change the story a bit. It won’t be that you met there and became acquainted—Roger was never kidnapped by me in the first place.”
Those who knew that Roger had been kidnapped were extremely few, and even those were all within Berje’s grasp.
If he decided to conceal it, it was entirely possible.
“He was fleeing here and there to escape Louise Berfht’s reach, and he sought refuge with you.”
“He voluntarily made the mana cannon to help you, but out of concern about being discovered by the dwarves, he deliberately lowered its quality.”
『...It does sound fairly plausible, but if things go wrong, it could cause even bigger trouble by sparking issues with the Berfht Kingdom.』
『If His Highness the Third Prince were to inform Berfht of Roger’s existence.』
“If he informed them, yes.”
But would he really?
“He won’t. Once he learns that Roger is in Lord Hillan’s hands, he’ll try to gain help somehow or take him under his wing. Roger would become the dagger that stabs Rufus oppa or Floyan oppa.”
Kaede’s advice, drawn from the many years she had spent alongside Martin, added conviction.
“I think the same. I only met him once, but the desire in his eyes was anything but ordinary.”
“If there is clear proof that Roger exists, he will definitely cooperate with Hillan.”
『Clear proof would mean revealing Roger.』
“Make excuses that it’s difficult to reveal him directly. Say that due to the trauma of being chased by Louise Berfht, he is extremely reluctant to expose himself to the outside. Then show proof of Roger.”
『Is there such proof?』
“Mana cannons.”
The very cause of all this trouble.
“Tell him you’ll give him a proper dwarven-made mana cannon.”
『...Certainly.』
Mana cannons themselves had originally been developed by the dwarves.
As soon as they were developed, modifications followed, and as they continued to advance, the mana cannons had become something on an entirely different level compared to the humans’, who had only just begun to catch up.
『Given the absolute control the Berfht Kingdom has over mana cannons, it would be impossible for a mere merchant company to possess a dwarven-made one.』
『Unless there were a dwarven craftsman who had defected from the kingdom.』
“Exactly. And what if we add one more weapon made by Roger?”
『If interference power is imbued into a weapon made by Lord Roger, there would be no other conclusion to draw.』
Roger was not the only hero who was a craftsman. There were heroes among the dwarves as well. But there was no one as exceptional as Roger, who was also a hero. No—there was no one who, while being a hero, focused solely on craftsmanship.
『But even if we get past it for now, in the end we’ll have to let them meet Roger.』
“That’s true.”
But that time would be very far off.
Well, by then.
“It wouldn’t be so bad to show him once. After all, that princess who tried to kill Roger is now a member of the Tower.”
Pitting the two princes against each other in earnest—at that price, it was dirt cheap.
『But we must never let the Berfht Kingdom find out, correct?』
“That goes without saying.”
『Understood. I’ll handle it that way.』
The connection was cut, and Kaede, who had been listening, spoke.
“It would be best to hand something over as soon as possible, so I think giving my sword would be good.”
The sword Kaede was currently using had been made by Roger.
“Right. Mana cannons are plentiful anyway, so we can hand over one of those, and you can ask him to make you another.”
“Yes.”
Several dwarves were churning out mana cannons nonstop, vowing to plaster the entire Tower with them.
“Come to think of it, it doesn’t necessarily have to be Lord Roger’s, does it? But is that even possible? Turning the barrel outward to fire from the inside to the outside.”
“Well.”
The Tower had no windows to begin with. And its solid outer walls did not suffer even the slightest scratch.
Why would heroes climb the Tower instead of destroying it from the outside?
They had all tried. And because it didn’t work, that was what they did.
“Theoretically, to even leave a scratch on the Tower, you’d need at least dragon breath or a grand spell....”
Even then, if the Tower deployed defensive magic using Demonic Points or simply self-repaired, it would all amount to nothing.
“Well, it’ll work out somehow.”
The goal wasn’t to destroy the Tower, but merely to turn the barrel from the inside toward the outside.
Just as the bridge had attached itself on its own, perhaps the authority of the Tower would take care of it somehow.
“And if it doesn’t work, we can just use it internally or export it the same way.”
“I see.”
“Oh, right. Take this.”
Berje pulled out five enormous bundles.
“What is this?”
“Chocolate. Ernan said to give it to you.”
“...Please tell her that I was very grateful.”
“I will.”
Berje chuckled.
* * *
“Roger Friedrich....”
Once, he had been the very person who stirred the entire continent into an uproar.
Berfht’s Second Princess had chased him while wandering across the continent; she had been swept up with the Beast Demon King and suffered greatly, and afterward, Berfht had issued a full-fledged wanted order, with their prince personally attempting to hunt him down.
His name had gradually faded due to the war with the pirate archipelago, but the wanted order was still in effect.
‘Roger Friedrich is one of the top three craftsmen in Berfht.’
His value did not stop there. The singularity of being a hero. The peculiarity of being a hero who specialized not in combat, but in creating things.
And because of that, the unique trait of being able to imbue weapons and equipment with a degree of interference power.
That was Roger’s value. That was why the Berfht Kingdom was desperately trying to find him.
‘He is extremely reluctant to meet outsiders due to the wanted order.’
In its own way, it was understandable.
Looking at the mana cannon and sword that Hillan, the Golden Moon Merchant Company, had sent as substitutes, there was no other conclusion to reach.
‘It really is Roger Friedrich.’
A superior mana cannon that only a dwarf could make, and a famed sword imbued with interference power—these were high-dimensional creations that an ordinary craftsman could never produce.
‘To think Roger Friedrich was with the Golden Moon Merchant Company.’
His body trembled with exhilaration.
If the countless masterpieces he had created, and would continue to create, all came into his hands?
If he could only make use of them?
“...This can work.”
The one thing to be wary of was the Berfht Kingdom.
‘As long as it doesn’t get exposed.’
Even if the chances of exposure were high, it had to be done.
‘To catch up to my elder brothers, I have to run.’
There was no choice.
And perhaps, even if it were exposed, there might be a way to smooth things over.
Under the pretext of rescuing a kidnapped princess and craftsmen, the Berfht Kingdom was distributing massive amounts of strategic equipment to Dormunt, Arkan, and Hessen.
The Empire, where it was unacceptable for dwarven-made weapons to flow into the three kingdoms, sent warnings expressing regret, but Berfht remained silent.
As a result, cracks were gradually forming in the relationship between the Empire and Berfht.
If he persuaded the nobles well and guided public opinion in his favor, perhaps the worst could somehow be avoided.
It was excessive optimism, nothing more than self-justification built on a predetermined conclusion. But it didn’t matter.
‘The problem is....’
Even before Hillan contacted him, he had looked into the affair between the Golden Moon Merchant Company and the Black Toad Merchant Company.
And he became certain. This was something he could never escape.
‘My elder brother didn’t sharpen his blade lightly. Was it really so displeasing to you that Hillan and I joined hands?’
A curse nearly spilled from his lips.
It wasn’t an elaborate trap, but it was so precise that not a single opening was visible. With nobles aligned with the First Prince or the Osrian Ducal House lending their hands, the Kingdom of Iasince had already abandoned them.
With it difficult to receive aid from the kingdom, they were no different from a flickering lamp before the colossal storm called the Empire.
Even if the evidence was fabricated, it was impossible to refute, so the justification lay with the other side. And so, paying compensation and returning the craftsmen was unavoidable.
However.
‘The value of the Golden Moon Merchant Company isn’t those paltry craftsmen.’
If Roger was there, it was worth enduring all of that.
“Is anyone outside?”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
“I should go out. Make the preparations.”
“Where will you be going?”
“I need to see my maternal grandfather.”
This matter was far too big for Martin to handle alone.
* * *
After dumping all matters related to the merchant company onto Martin, Berje returned to the Tower once again after delivering the mana cannon and sword.
“I should really make someone else who can come and go from the Tower besides me.”
Not being able to go outside even for trivial matters was becoming irritating beyond measure.
“If that was the plan, you shouldn’t have placed the Tower in the sea.”
“You’ve been talking more lately, haven’t you noticed?”
“Have I?”
“You’re starting to resemble Ernan more and more.”
She had been quiet when Ernan was around, but as soon as Ernan disappeared, she began to change little by little.
“...That’s not true.”
Kaede replied stiffly.
“Let’s say it is.”
“I think it’s probably because of Lady Louise.”
Unlike Ernan, with whom she only exchanged occasional conversation, Louise came several times a day, axe in hand, radiating danger.
With her lively mouth, Kaede had to become not just a sparring partner, but also her conversational counterpart.
Naturally, she started talking more.
“How do you think your brother will move?”
“He’ll try to save the merchant company, or even if he can’t, he’ll try to extract something from the situation.”
“Does Roger have that much value?”
“He does. Even though in this Tower his treatment is... well, like this, Lord Roger is someone counted among the very best across the entire continent, and the added peculiarity of being a hero makes him even more extraordinary. The fact that the Berfht Kingdom still hasn’t lifted the wanted order proves it.”
“That much, huh.”
To be honest, Berje didn’t really know. He had simply snatched the one who looked the most outstanding in the workshop.
And whenever he demanded something, it was made swiftly and competently, but until recently, Roger had been the only dwarf he had ever used, so he assumed all dwarves were like that.
“But the other dwarves don’t seem that far behind Roger, do they?”
“Aren’t they craftsmen from the royal workshop?”
The royal workshop gathered the finest talents from across the Berfht Kingdom. In other words, Berje had stripped the kingdom of its core human resources in one sweep.
“In any case, it means we should first see how Martin moves and respond accordingly.”
“Yes.”
“Alright.”
Kaede went downstairs, and someone knocked on the door.
“Can I come in?”
It was Vivian. She dragged a corpse behind her.
“Is he dead?”
“He’s breathing. I found out everything. There was a pretty nasty prohibition spell on him, but who do you think I am?”
Vivian smiled seductively.
“Name: Othor Kroyan. Age: forty-three. He’s the commander of the Black Lion Knight Order of the Osrian Ducal House.”
“Commander of the Black Lion Knight Order, huh.”
No wonder the face looked familiar. So he was one of those from Hapstrain Gorge.
“Then it’s definitely the First Prince.”
“Right. He was acting on the First Prince’s orders to kidnap you.”
“What else?”
“He thinks you’re connected to the Kingdom of Hilderan or Hero Hillan Cargill. That’s why he contacted Martin, acting as a messenger for the two.”
“That’s not wrong.”
Berje wasn’t a messenger of the Kingdom of Hilderan or Hillan Cargill, but the opposite—but broadly speaking, the meaning wasn’t all that different.
“Anything else?”
“I haven’t asked yet.”
“Then make him spit out everything he knows. From one to ten, all of it.”
“He’ll be completely ruined afterward, you know?”
“Is that a problem?”
“No, I figured you’d just use him as a thrall again.”
“I’m not particularly interested.”
“Well, if that’s the case.”
Vivian dragged Othor out once more.
“The First Prince.”
The maneuver against the Golden Moon Merchant Company wasn’t particularly elaborate when viewed broadly. Yet it felt like a well-written script—appearing sloppy, but leaving no openings.
The one who had created that situation was the Black Toad Merchant Company. It was the merchant company of the Osrian Ducal House, and the Osrian Ducal House was the First Prince’s maternal family.
The Empire’s foremost noble house supporting the First Prince.
‘Martin thinks this is an attack aimed at Hillan, but....’
Was it really?
If—just if—it were the case, perhaps this was Jason Kokemundo attacking Berje Deias.
‘There aren’t many who know that merchant company is mine.’
Even so, most of them were Berje’s thralls. Except for a single person—Jason Kokemundo, who had lent money and would not have lost track of its source.
‘And Jason realized that I kidnapped the dwarves.’
The last sight of him at the Harmony of the Towers came to mind.
Those eyes filled with certainty did not look like someone who had accepted things meekly. No—rather, they looked convinced.
‘He thought Vivian had kidnapped the dwarves and was furious.’
And then, coldly, he cut ties.
The sense of kinship from being fellow Demon Kings did not matter much to Jason. Whether it helped or not. Whether it obstructed or not. That was all that mattered.
‘But he realized it wasn’t Vivian—and he figured out it was me.’
If so, it wouldn’t be strange for that anger to be directed at Berje.
‘If I were Jason. If there were a Demon King I didn’t like, who caused trouble at every turn, what would I do?’
The best method would be to kill him. Use heroes with ties to launch a hero’s march and deal with him outright.
‘But if that’s not possible?’
Then he would destroy the foundation of support. Even if the target hid, he’d force them to come out.
Just like the chain of circumstances unfolding right now.
Originally, the Empire had intended to use hero’s marches as tools in the imperial succession struggle. At some point, that twisted into a desperate hero’s march composed entirely of heroes.
Berje’s merchant company had been attacked twice in quick succession. Once by beast demons, and once by a human merchant company.
‘Especially the beast demons.’
The only ones who could have mobilized those demons were Jason and Ugar. But in Berje’s view, Ugar was not someone with the nerve to launch a preemptive strike so rashly.
Of course, for now, it was still only conjecture.
“What do you think?”
Gordon, who had rushed over at the sudden summons and heard everything, pondered deeply.
“I share the Demon King’s thoughts. There’s no definitive proof, but the circumstantial evidence points that way.”
Good heavens. Gordon sighed.
“For a Demon King to attack another Demon King… it seems Jason has been too thoroughly tainted by Arein.”
“Yes. Insolent of him.”
Feeling the heavy killing intent, Gordon asked uneasily.
“...What do you intend to do?”
“I can’t just take it lying down. Naturally, he’ll have to pay the price.”
“There is no conclusive proof. If you attack Demon King Jason in such a state, a report will be sent to the Archduke of the Demon Realm.”
“Don’t worry. I don’t need to strike him. I just need to crush the pawn he sent out.”
The Black Toad Merchant Company.
“I’ll turn it into a wasteland.”
“That’s madness!”
“Madness?”
“If what you say is true, the Black Toad Merchant Company belongs to the Osrian Ducal House and the First Prince. That would be a direct attack on the Empire. Didn’t you say yourself that even if five Demon Kings joined forces, the Empire is not something you could easily guarantee victory against?”
“I did.”
But—
“That was then. The situation is different now.”
This Tower.
“Isn’t this Tower moving? And right now, it’s even under the sea.”
“Ah?”
“There’s no longer any need to worry about what’s behind us. No need to concern ourselves with their reactions anymore.”
After regressing, Berje walked a completely different path from before.
That path had been shackled by fear of death, by hatred toward heroes, and by a fierce determination never to fail twice.
A path that made him passive, unbefitting of a Demon King.
But now, those shackles were gone.
There was no longer any reason for him to rampage wildly as he had before the regression—no reason at all.
“I’ll remind them why I graduated top of my class at the Demon King Military Academy.”
“....”
“When we attack the merchant company, if there’s a definite connection to Jason, there will be a reaction.”
“And if there isn’t?”
“Then it doesn’t matter. Even if Jason wasn’t involved, I can still teach those worms who dared to attack me and covet what’s mine their proper place.”
Of course, the repercussions would never be simple. Perhaps the entire continent would rise up.
No—rise up it would. For the past hundred years, humanity had not been preemptively attacked by a Demon King. That unspoken rule—that humans held the upper hand—would be shattered.
“...They’ll come swarming in droves.”
“Yes. And we’ll just devour them.”
Crushing hope to produce even greater despair. That was the very foundation of The Demon King’s Standard.
“Of course, it would be nice if things go that way, but is there a method other than simply hiding?”
At Gordon’s doubtful expression, Berje answered not with words, but by calling Roger.
“Make a ....”
“...Pardon?”
Berje drew the answer he wanted from the flustered Roger. Gordon exclaimed in admiration.
“A brilliant move! With this, no matter how exceptional the hero might be....”
“Then next....”
Berje poured demonic energy into the communication device. After a long while, a response came.
『What is it?』
“I have a favour to ask....”
『A favour?』
“A magic orb that can freeze someone. Can you get me some? I’ll pay the price.”
『Again? How many do you need?』
“The more, the better.”
Berje smiled brightly.
The demonic dragon, who had forgotten the fear of death, was finally casting off the shackles of the past.