Vivian and Berze
It was on a sunny afternoon when I received that message.
『Hello.』
Her face, waving her hand with a somewhat haggard expression, no longer held the confidence she once had.
Something must have happened.
『I'd like to meet for a moment. Can I come to your tower?』
What is she aiming for?
Berze pondered for a moment.
『…Is that a no?』
When he didn't answer, she muttered anxiously. He didn't particularly feel sorry for her. Considering she was the Succubus Queen, even that pathetic look could easily be an act.
"Vivian Blunt."
『Yes, Berze Deias.』
"What do you want? Since when were you and I close enough to exchange private messages or visit each other's towers?"
『Well, we aren't. But that depends on how things go from now on, doesn't it?』
"Your tone has gotten a little less arrogant."
『Hah. Hard to believe I'd hear that from some brat who graduated the Academy only a year ago.』
『Kids these days are hopeless. Back in my day…』
"I don't care about your old stories. Get to the point."
She hesitated for a moment, then spoke.
『I'm wondering whether you already knew.』
"Be specific."
『The Hero Guild.』
『In the dimension I conquered, there were barely a hundred Heroes at most. A guild? There's no way something like that would exist.』
Ha.
A hollow laugh slipped out. Her trembling pupils revealed her inner turmoil. The absurdity and shock she felt were clearly not an act.
"Among the Demon Lords who descended upon Arein, there is no one who doesn't know that."
Even if they don't at first, they eventually learn.
『So I was the only one who didn't know. Just me. I was the idiot, right?』
"What are you trying to say?"
『I told you, didn't I? Let's meet and talk!』
His ears rang at her sudden shout. He barely resisted the urge to cut the connection.
A Demon Lord is still a Demon Lord, whether you like them or not.
From his regression, Berze learned one thing clearly—relationships with other Demon Lords were extremely important.
If someone had even a scrap of use, if they could help him in any way, maintaining the relationship was the correct choice.
Arein was a place where even throwing everything you had at it didn't guarantee conquest.
Besides—
Vivian Blunt is highly likely to be Alkaine's dog.
The Grand Duke Alkaine was suspicious about Draxon's death. If anyone were to pull some trick behind the scenes, Vivian Blunt was the most likely culprit.
Keep your friends close, and your enemies even closer.
A human saying. Berze liked it.
"Fine. I'll come to your tower."
『…I'd prefer it the other way around.』
"Don't bother with such transparent tricks. If you refuse, I'll have no reason to deal with you anymore."
『…Alright. I'll leave the door open.』
***
Passing through the spatial gate, the scorching sun slammed down on him. A salty breeze brushed his cheeks.
The sea, huh.
Right—Vivian's tower was located within the Seratine Archipelago. The western sea of the continent.
"Welcome."
A five-story tower opened up to him. Inside, it was lavish. Unbelievably so, for a newly descended Demon Lord—he felt countless presences.
Succubi, incubi, various monsters.
As expected of a Demon Lord who had conquered a dimension. Forget dozens—she had hundreds of demons and thousands of monsters.
Well, I used to…
He thought back to the past that no longer existed.
Back then, he had graduated top of the Demon Lord Academy, receiving massive support.
Demons from the Demon-Raising Schools had flocked to him, eager to serve under him, and magic points and monsters were supplied in abundance.
Vivian Blunt now—this was exactly what Berze had been like before his regression: not a top graduate, but a Demon Lord soaked in the privileges earned from conquering a dimension.
While he was feeling that faint nostalgia, he arrived on the 5th floor.
"Come in."
The 5th floor, befitting the Demon Lord's chamber, was incomparably more extravagant than anywhere else. In some ways, even more than Jayson Cocmoond's tower.
But despite the decorations, there was no demon or monster present. In the spacious room, only Vivian sat on her throne, waiting to greet Berze.
"My neck hurts."
"You really have no respect for your seniors. Even so, I am a Demon Lord who conquered another dimension."
She grumbled as she stepped down from the throne and sat at a prepared round table. Red wine and a few appetizers were set out.
"You prefer alcohol over tea, right?"
"Don't pretend to ask when you've already prepared it."
"I could pour tea if you actually wanted it."
"I'll pass."
Vivian opened the wine bottle. A crisp pop sounded, releasing a sweet aroma.
"What do you want to talk about?"
"Impatient, aren't we? You could relax a little."
"You acted like you were about to die in the call, yet your confidence is back now that you're in your own territory."
"…Honestly."
She held out the wine bottle. As she pushed a glass toward him and poured the red liquid halfway, she spoke.
"I called you because I have something to ask."
"Ask?"
"Your actions."
She raised her glass. It looked like she wanted a toast, but Berze snorted and simply drank. Vivian sighed and drank on her own.
"After all my succubi were exposed in the Dormunt Kingdom, I started looking into your movements."
"And your thoughts?"
"I was shocked."
After getting warned by Jayson Cocmoond, she couldn't believe the information.
Three thousand one hundred ninety-eight Heroes.
No such dimension existed. No such dimension should exist.
Though she had conquered only one dimension, she had interacted with many Demon Lords. And no matter how many Heroes a world produced, she had never seen one with more than 500.
It made sense.
Heroes were chosen by the dimension itself—like mercenaries hired by the world to protect it.
And a dimension's power was far from infinite.
But realizing Jayson's words were true—realizing something was terribly wrong with Arein—came far too late.
Officially, once dispatched to a dimension, the only way back was by dying and having your corpse dragged home, or by completely conquering the dimension.
So she chose the next-best option.
Just survive. Even if I can't dream of conquering the dimension right away, at least don't die.
It was only natural that Berze would catch her attention.
"You've only been here a year, yet you're showing unbelievable results."
Kidnapping the Crown Princess of Hilderan, then the Imperial Princess of Jespine, and recently yet another princess from Hilderan—
Kidnapping princesses wasn't unusual for Demon Lords. But now Vivian understood. Kidnapping not just any princess, but a Crown Princess, was unimaginably dangerous in Arein.
"And yet you're alive. And don't seem anywhere close to dying. Even though you've caused bigger incidents than I ever did."
"So?"
"I was curious. How you managed it. What you're thinking. What your plans are."
"And you think I'd tell you?"
"…Honestly, I didn't expect you to. But I'm desperate."
He understood.
Whether the Hero surge truly developed into a catastrophe or not, Dormunt was still in chaos because of Vivian.
Overlay that with the number 3198… of course she would be terrified.
"And you already know this, right? That it's too late for you to copy me."
"Hiding the tower, you mean."
Vivian forced an awkward smile.
"That goes against protocol."
"If you're going to cling to such stiff rules, we can't even have this conversation."
"Is there truly no other method? I still don't believe hiding your tower alone could stop the Hero surge."
"Even if there is, why would I tell you?"
"I heard… you like money."
She pulled out a massive pouch from subspace.
Already?
"Although they got caught, the succubi targeted nobles. I robbed their vaults."
All together, 411 gold.
She muttered quietly.
"I wouldn't say it's a lot, but I also wouldn't call it little. At the very least, I think it's enough for you to give me one more piece of advice."
"It's definitely not a small amount."
It was enough money to buy nearly a hundred elf slaves. If she was offering it, there was no reason to refuse.
What would be best?
Advice that sounded like advice yet somehow didn't.
"You chose a good location."
"Unlike you, mine is already exposed everywhere."
"It's an island. They can only reach you by sea."
"That's true."
"Buy some aquatic monsters and release them. Or take in sea monsters as your vassals."
"You want me to intercept Heroes in the ocean?"
"It won't be perfect. But it'll be easier than fighting the ones who've already landed. Humans, in the end, are land creatures."
"Hmmm… as advice goes, that's a bit too textbook."
"What do you want me to do."
Before Vivian could say more, Berze snatched the pouch of money.
"I said what I had to say, and you heard it. That concludes the deal."
"You're quite the forceful man. I don't dislike that type."
Vivian let out a calm, seductive laugh. Her sultry gaze and gestures made Berze frown.
"I don't like filthy succubi."
"A proud demonic dragon, are we."
"If you're done talking, I'll be going. Any longer and I think I might die of irritation."
"Wait. I heard no one accompanied you on your way down except your adjutant."
"And?"
"You also don't summon any monsters or demons, do you? Jayson said you convert all the magic points you collect into money…"
"How would a mere Demon Lord like you even know I haven't summoned monsters or demons?"
"Didn't you already suspect that much? Picking up information discreetly is one of my specialties, after all."
Your eyes already told me you knew.
"I'll just ask plainly. Were you involved in Draxon's death?"
"If I say I wasn't, will you believe it?"
"Of course. To be honest, the Grand Duke does suspect you, but I find it strange. They said a high-rank demon infiltrated, but you don't have high-rank demons. Not even ordinary monsters."
"Maybe they came acting under someone's orders. Should I just blab everything?"
"His Excellency hid many things about Arein from me too. I think I at least deserve this much discretion."
"Interesting."
Whether her words were an intentional performance or sincere, he could not tell.
"It has nothing to do with me."
"Then I'll believe that for now."
"Do as you please."
"Oh, and one more thing."
Vivian gave him a bewitching smile.
"You'd better be careful of Jayson Cocmoond. What you see on the surface isn't everything."
"I'd say I know more than you, who only just descended."
Berze opened a spatial rift and stepped inside. Vivian watched his back and licked her lips.
"He really is suspicious."
Her grip tightened around the wineglass.
"So arrogant."
"So irritating."
Crash—
The glass shattered. Bright red wine dripped down her hand.
"Berze Deias."
"Reina Sordein."
"Ugar velvek."
"Jayson Cocmoond."
She repeated the names of the four Demon Lords.
"Jayson Cocmoond… I do understand your fury."
With 3,198 Heroes, it was only natural. She herself had been paralyzed by panic for a while.
But that didn't mean she held no resentment.
She could not accept that she had trembled even briefly in fear because of the threat of another Demon Lord.
Her warning to Berze had come from that wounded pride.
"In any case, I have my own work to do."
Her purpose for descending into Arein: she needed to uncover the culprit.
If she wanted to survive and escape this damned place—
Fortunately, a path had appeared.
"Reina Sordein… what are you plotting?"
Vivian whispered the name of the Frost Queen she had recently made contact with.
***
To those who achieve great feats, honor is given.
When one renders service to a nation, nobles or kings sing their praise.
And Heroes belonging to a guild receive official commendation from the guild headquarters.
It was natural that Hillen Cargill, who killed the Beast Demon Lord Draxon Doldorf, would be summoned by the Hero Guild Headquarters.
But this natural event could have easily turned into conflict, so Hillen demanded guild-level compensation as a condition, leading to this gathering.
"Hillen Cargill of Hilderan greets the esteemed Elders."
The Grand Assembly Hall.
A massive chamber capable of seating hundreds was filled wall to wall.
More than half of them were Heroes.
Every Hero stationed at the guild headquarters had gathered to see the rapidly rising star.
"To think we could see such a great hero in person—it is an honor."
"His aura is no joke."
"For someone who killed two Demon Lords, he seems a little…?"
Murmurs filled the hall.
"Hero Hillen Cargill, step forward."
Hillen stepped up.
An Elder unfolded a document. The High Elder read it aloud.
"Hillen Cargill! For climbing the Beast Tower, conquering it, and slaying the Demon Lord…"
His detailed achievements were listed one by one.
"For this, we grant you 5,000 gold, ten enchanted items from the guild forge, and…"
The High Elder paused, meeting Hillen's eyes.
"We appoint you as an Argane."
It was a title created after the first Guildmaster—the administrators who handled the guild's actual operations.
Those who decided the direction of the guild alongside the Elder Council.
Finally!
Hillen screamed silently inside.
He had made it at last.
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