Be careful.
Beneath the Guildmaster, the leadership that actually moves the Hero Guild is divided into three major branches.
The Council of Elders, made up of the Five Elders.
The branch directors who oversee the Guild's external divisions.
And Argane, who determines the overall direction of the Guild.
Becoming one of those Arganes meant that Hillen Cargill had taken yet another step closer to the power he had always desired.
It wasn't just influence within the Guild. Countless powerful figures sought the Argane's favor, clinging to them for the Guild's support.
It means I can play on a much bigger board.
But it wasn't all gains.
Argane consisted of exactly eleven members—created to honor the eleven Heroes who slew the Demon King that first descended upon Arein.
That number never changed, so whenever a new Argane was appointed, it meant that someone else had been stripped of the position.
Whatever the reason, the one whose seat Hillen Cargill had taken would hardly look upon him kindly.
And—
Bair Fornian.
Hillen Cargill had already found out who that was.
Until just recently, he had been an Argane. Now he had been reduced to just another common Guild executive.
I heard he's part of Elder Karlo Schweiger's faction.
There had been four days between Hillen's arrival at Headquarters and today's merit ceremony. Through everyone who approached him—whether with goodwill or hostility—he had pieced together the ecosystem of Headquarters.
Each Elder leads a faction.
Maybe that's why Elder Karlo Schweiger, seated directly across from him, was staring at him with open hostility.
Conversely, Mathias Ollman's gaze was full of goodwill.
They said the two of them are always at each other's throats, didn't they?
How could he make use of this? Hillen's mind began spinning at full speed.
****
"I'm sorry."
The Imperial Princess of Jespine bowed her head.
Compared to her once-proud bearing, she was filthy and pitiful now.
Hillen had expected she might break, but he hadn't imagined she would appear this submissive.
"How did you convince her?"
"Can I just say it here?"
When he nodded, Ernan—who had been watching from behind—spoke up.
"I told her it'd be better to beg forgiveness than to rot away, day by day, in a prison cell. And that the Empire seems to have abandoned Lady Kaede, so she should find her own way to survive."
"And?"
"I said serving the Demon King and making a 'deal' might benefit her. That she should look at my case as an example."
"I see. I understand."
No wonder. Despite her words, the light in Kaede's eyes was still alive.
He turned his gaze toward her. Kaede flinched when their eyes met.
"We both know neither of us trusts the other. So rather than deceive each other, it's better if we openly give what we give and take what we take. Speak. What do you want?"
"I want to leave the Tower."
"Rejected."
"I want to leave the prison."
"And?"
"I want to be granted freedom—like Lady Ernan had—before she attempted to escape."
"And in exchange, what do I receive? What can you offer me?"
"There is one more thing."
"Speak."
"I heard… that you accept deals."
"That is always possible—if you bring me conditions I find satisfactory. That is separate from the matter at hand."
"Yes. Then…"
Kaede hesitated for a long moment before finally opening her mouth.
"…I heard you want one of the Four Heavenly Kings. I will become a Dark Knight."
"…That I want?"
"…"
"…"
"…Is that not the case?"
Ernan awkwardly looked away, chuckling.
"…Fine. Very well."
"I will wear a mask like Lady Ernan and serve the Demon King for five years."
"So you think you won't be rescued for at least five years."
"…"
Her intentions were painfully obvious.
Still, it wasn't a bad deal.
Berze did not believe that the Tower's location could remain hidden for five whole years.
No matter how well you hide it, you cannot hide it forever. If everything went as it should, there wouldn't be so many Demon Kings who died in Arein.
Humans would find the Tower by any means necessary. Berze was certain—within five years, Heroes would come.
If Kaede Jespine proved useful even once within that time, that alone would be enough.
After all, Berze was giving her nothing of real value in return.
But that didn't mean he could accept her without restrictions. Unlike Ernan, Kaede had already caused trouble once. Berze was not merciful enough to overlook that.
Especially toward a Hero.
"There is something called the Orb of Armani. Eat it."
"What happens if I eat it?"
"It settles in your mind and prevents betrayal. Eat it and serve as a Dark Knight for five years—or return to the prison."
"I am a Hero."
"This is different from contracts for Dark Magicians or Dark Knights. As long as you don't resist when swallowing the orb, there will be no issue."
Kaede was clearly shaken by the unexpected choice. Did she think deceiving a Demon King would be easy?
As she hesitated, Berze threw her a carrot.
"If you survive the five years safely, I will remove the orb and release you."
"Truly?"
"I swear on the Doctrine revered by the Great Demon Emperor and all Demon Kings."
"The Demon Emperor and the Doctrine…"
Kaede was a Hero. She knew well how the Demon Kings and the Demonfolk regarded the Demon Emperor.
A god. Perhaps something even greater.
Higher than her loyalty to her Emperor. Greater than her chivalric ideals.
"Yes. I will do it."
Kaede bowed her head.
"With this… two of the Four Heavenly Kings are now—"
—No matter how I think about it, that play was suspicious.
Ernan's tiny fist clenched tightly.
***
After accepting Kaede and making her swallow the Orb of Armani, the first command Berze issued was training.
Kaede was not like Ernan.
Though she had a five-year limit, swallowing the Orb made her effectively his completely loyal subordinate.
And Berze did not want a weak subordinate. When a princess or imperial noble stands before a Hero, the Hero hesitates. And the stronger the noble's combat ability, the greater the effect.
So Berze intended to make Kaede strong.
"Gordon. You will train the princess."
"…Me? Train a human princess?"
"I heard Jetoson naturally integrated into the Golden Moon Merchant Guild. And you had no part in that. Nor do you handle Tower management. Logar manages the first floor, the second and third are empty, and the fourth belongs to Ernan. Tell me—who do you think is the most useless person in this Tower?"
"…Fine. I'll do it. Satisfied?"
Gordon grumbled.
Kaede, who had been quietly listening, protested timidly.
"I believe I am capable of training alone."
Her pride as an Imperial knight flared.
"Really?"
But she didn't realize that this would strike at Gordon's pride instead.
"I was taught swordsmanship by the greatest knights of the Empire. All that remains is to polish my skill. I see no need to learn a new style."
"Demon King, may I begin her 'education' now?"
"Do as you wish."
Gordon went down to the first floor, grabbed a sword, and tossed it at Kaede.
"Ten minutes."
He held up his fingers.
"Last ten minutes against me, and I won't bother teaching you."
"…You won't take a sword yourself?"
"Do I need a sword to deal with the likes of you?"
"Please do not insult me."
"Save that for after you meet my conditions. If you succeed, I'll kneel and apologize to you myself."
"I'll add one more condition. If you last ten minutes, I'll remove the orb right now and set you free."
That was the final wedge. Kaede immediately drew her sword.
Golden aura surged along the blade. Gordon's eyes narrowed at its sharp intensity.
"So. You have some confidence after all."
"Take up a sword."
"No need."
Kaede's brow twitched.
"You're the one who said you wouldn't use a sword. Don't blame me later saying it violates chivalry."
"As if demons have anything like chivalry."
He flicked a finger.
"I'll even give you the first move."
"You brought this upon yourself. Don't regret it."
Kaede steadied her breathing and dashed forward. A golden line carved through the air.
The space itself split—yet Gordon was no longer there.
Behind!
Kaede dug her heel into the ground and twisted her body sharply.
CLANG—
Her body shook. Shattered fragments of aura scattered.
Left!
Even before she could dispel the previous shock, a chill touched her spine. Forcing her body to twist again made her muscles creak, but she managed to block the blow.
"Your instinct isn't bad."
Gordon's whisper brushed her ear.
He's fast.
And strong.
His earlier remark about not needing a sword wasn't boasting. Even when her blade clashed against his bare hand, the impact rang out like steel. Her grip trembled violently from the shock.
Even after drawing out the power of Dimension…!
It worked—but the overwhelming difference between them erased every advantage she gained.
THUD—
A tiny opening—barely a breath. His unguarded fist sank into her abdomen. Blood surged up her throat and spilled out.
Even so, she did not release her sword. Gritting her teeth, she thrust toward Gordon's flank.
Slice—
I hit him!
The faintest sensation touched her fingertips. And that—
THWACK—
—became her final memory.
***
Ernan carried the unconscious Kaede down to the fourth floor.
Left alone with Gordon, Berze asked:
"Your thoughts?"
"Her instinct is decent. Her swordsmanship is a bit stiff, but the fundamentals are there. Human sword techniques aren't as lacking as I expected."
"No surprise. Dozens of Demon Kings have died here. It's not a place to underestimate. Train her well."
"To what level?"
"To the best of your ability."
"Is that wise? She's still a Hero. Eventually she'll become an enemy…"
"Who said she will become an enemy?"
"You gave her a five-year promise. And you swore by the Demon Emperor and the Doctrine—h—huh?"
Gordon tilted his head.
He recalled what Berze had done during the Demon King Academy's graduation ceremony.
Would someone like that really keep an oath sworn on the Demon Emperor?
"…You never intended to keep it, did you?"
"I am a Demon King. Since when do I let go of something that falls into my hands?"
A Demon King who keeps promises to humans?
As if such a thing could exist.
"Now that sounds like the Demon King I serve!"
"What part of that is 'me'?"
"Mocking and using humans, of course."
"That is one of my specialties."
Well—to be exact, it had only become a specialty after regression.
"Ah, and because of the princess, I forgot to mention—Hillen Cargill has become one of the Argane of the Hero Guild. A senior executive position named after the First Hero."
"Argane, huh. Looks like my investment paid off."
"As you said, he will be the dagger you plunge into the human world."
A Demon King placing one of his own subordinates into the highest ranks of the Hero Guild.
Even as Berze's adjutant, Gordon could hardly believe it.
It was that extraordinary.
"And there was a message from Demon King Reina Sordein."
"What is it?"
The Demon King of Frost maintained a friendly relationship with Berze, but they were not close enough to exchange messages without reason.
If she contacted him, it meant something had happened.
"Well… it's a bit strange."
"Stop circling around it."
"She told me to meet her in person. When I asked what I should say on your behalf, she said this: 'I found the one who killed Draxon.'"
"…She found the one who killed Draxon?"
"Yes."
"That's Hillen Cargill."
"If that's all she intended to say, she wouldn't have contacted you."
"Then…"
"Could we have been discovered?"
"By Reina Sordein? If it were Jayson, maybe—but that's too far-fetched."
Reina Sordein never left the frozen plains of the northern Jespine Empire. She never meddled in human affairs, much less plotted them.
The chance she knew anything detailed about happenings in distant Ormus was nearly zero.
"Then…"
"We'll know when we go."
"I can't shake this unease…"
"Everything in Arein has been uneasy since the day I descended."
Berze rose from the throne.
***
The Tower of Frost remained as cold as ever.
Reina greeted Berze with a single crimson candy between her lips.
Well—if that could be called a greeting.
"Be careful of Jayson."
"…?"
Her first words—spoken through frozen, expressionless eyes—were deeply strange.
What is wrong with all of them today?
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