Ruined.
"Be careful of Jayson ."
That was the first thing Reina Sordein said after Berze arrived at the Tower of Frost.
It was almost certainly coincidence, but Berze could not comprehend why Vivian had told him the exact same thing earlier.
Why are they all acting like this?
"What do you mean?"
"I heard about the deal between you and Ugar. And that Roselle Charnt and Hillen Cargill were involved in the process. I don't believe you would have any direct connection to Heroes with stellar fame. Most likely, Jayson Corkmundo arranged it for you, did he not?"
…Who arranged what?
"But those two are the Heroes who killed Draxon. It might have been coincidence—they may simply have taken on a Guild request. But there's no harm in being cautious, in my opinion."
"Hold on, Jayson killed Draxon? Isn't that a baseless assumption?"
It was so absurd that Berze ended up defending Jayson instead.
"Before Draxon died, he said a high-ranking demon had infiltrated his territory. He even dug through the Tower's records to prove his innocence. So I don't consider it mere speculation. Ugar agrees."
"…"
Just what on earth had been discussed among the Demon Kings while he was gone visiting Hilderan?
And what kind of reputation Jayson now had among them?
Before regression, Berze had dismissed those four Demon Kings as pathetic fools who simply hung around together. But was that wrong?
"Did Jayson not help you as well?"
Jayson had been the first Demon King to survive more than a hundred years in Arein, where Demon Kings died endlessly.
After Jayson descended into Arein, the survival rate of the other Demon Kings rose as well. Berze had assumed they had exchanged some kind of aid.
"Of course, I am grateful for what he did. But helping us does not grant the right to kill another Demon King."
"There isn't any definitive evidence that Jayson was involved in Draxon's death, is there?"
"There isn't. Which is why we are suspecting only."
It was a surprisingly reasonable answer.
"I'm curious. If Jayson helped you, how exactly did he help?"
"You likely do not know."
Reina placed a candy between her lips. A faint cherry fragrance drifted out.
"Do you know that Demon Kings who descended into Arein used to die within mere decades?"
"Of course."
"It was Jayson who stopped that."
No matter how dangerous Arein was, all Demon Kings shared the same truths:
To them, Doctrine was absolute. The Demon Emperor was divine.
The Doctrine had never failed in any dimension except Arein. Thus, no Demon King ever doubted it.
If a Demon King died, they believed it was simply because that Demon King was weak.
That was the Demonfolk. Weakness was shame.
But the reason Arein devoured so many Demon Kings was not simply the Demon Kings' own shortcomings.
Because they worshiped the Demon Emperor, his Doctrine must always be correct. And anything he designated must also always be correct.
Therefore, the truth was twisted: Arein was merely a "difficult dimension," and the Demon Kings who failed were simply "incompetent."
That lie drove more Demon Kings to their deaths. Meanwhile, the higher-ranked Demonfolk who learned the truth continued shoving clueless newcomers into Arein.
Worship of the Demon Emperor combined with deception from the upper ranks.
That was the true nature of the Arein dimension.
And the first one who disrupted this disaster was Jayson . As a senior, he helped the Demon Kings that descended after him.
"How?"
"In my case, he first offered advice."
Not to kidnap any random royal.
"Did you listen?"
"Of course not. Why would I?"
"That sounds like you did listen."
"When I descended, aside from Jayson and Draxon, there were two other Demon Kings present."
"So Ugar wasn't one of them."
"Jayson made me a proposal. He asked me to wait exactly one year."
"Did you?"
"I waited. He swore by the First Demon Emperor and the Doctrine that it would not harm me."
"To that extent?"
"So I decided to trust him, just once. A year is not long for Demonfolk."
And one year later—
"The one they called the Demon King of Void followed the Doctrine, failed to withstand the waves of Heroes, and was beheaded. That's when I understood. In Arein, the Doctrine cannot be followed."
"So Draxon and Ugar too?"
"I do not know how they were helped. But likely in a similar manner."
As the conversation progressed, one question surfaced.
"Then why didn't he do the same for me?"
"Your actions were too fast."
"Fast?"
"Before anyone could even speak to you, you immediately kidnapped Hilderan's crown princess. Normally, even Demon Kings conduct proper investigation before kidnapping royalty."
Even Demon Kings took time to gather information first.
But Berze had skipped that entire process.
"You launched a Hero Quest before anyone could advise you. After that, the timing was lost."
"I see."
"We've strayed. That is not the main point."
"Then what is?"
"I agree Jayson helped me and the other Demon Kings. But that does not give him the right to betray us. And there is always the possibility that Draxon lied. So we must find the real culprit first."
A faint chill filled the room.
"Do you have a concrete plan?"
"Vivian Blunt. We will assist her search. Ugar agrees."
It was not a particularly clever solution. Neither Reina nor Ugar had deep connections with humans, unlike Jayson or Berze.
Reina remained isolated in the far north, and while Ugar was active, he lacked the resources Jayson had and relied on Jayson 's aid.
Their available options were limited.
"How do you plan to help? Draxon's tower is destroyed. You cannot know if any of this is true."
"The Kingdom of Verft."
"Verft Kingdom?"
"To be exact—Louise Verft."
"The second princess of Verft?"
"Draxon's Hero Quest began because a high-ranking demon killed Ormus's second prince. Draxon claimed that demon was not his subordinate. The answer must be at that scene."
"…And the only witness is the second princess of Verft."
"Exactly."
"What do you intend to do with her?"
"There is only one thing a Demon King can do to a princess."
Kidnap her.
"We will hand her over to Vivian Blunt. Dwarves are tight-lipped, but Vivian Blunt is a succubus with unmatched mental magic."
"But doing that makes Verft a direct enemy. You know what it means to turn the Dwarf Kingdom into an enemy."
"Vivian Blunt will bear all responsibility."
"Oh? Well then."
Berze forced a smile.
"A fine idea."
Ruined.
***
Louise Verft.
The fiery-tempered second princess of the Dwarf Kingdom would indeed make for a reliable witness.
Because she had seen the face of the Demon King Berze.
And because she would insist—without hesitation—that the demon who smashed the skull of Ormus's second prince was Berze.
"Gordon! Gordon!"
Returning to the Tower, Berze searched for Gordon. Ignoring the puzzled looks of three princesses, he rushed to the top floor.
"What has happened, my lord?"
"Contact Hillen and Granada immediately. Find out where Louise Verft is right now."
"What? Why all of a sudden…?"
"We must kidnap Louise Verft!"
"Please, calm down and explain in detail."
And after Gordon heard the entire story, he was horrified.
"Good heavens! We absolutely cannot allow that to happen!"
"That's what I'm saying! But if we lay a hand on a dwarven princess without any preparation, the consequences will be catastrophic."
"Is that the issue? If word spreads that you were involved in the death of Demon King Draxon, every power placed upon the Tower will be sealed immediately."
If they kidnapped Louise Verft, there was still a sliver of possibility.
But if the Tower was sealed, even that sliver would vanish.
Between the worst possible outcome and the second-worst, the second-worst was the obvious choice.
"You're right."
"I'll contact Granada right away."
"Do it."
Gordon dashed into his office.
Berze suppressed a groan.
Choosing the lesser evil was correct—but he didn't want to choose either evil.
What am I supposed to do?
How could he resolve this without causing an even bigger disaster?
After much thought, only two solutions emerged.
Option one:
Before Reina or Ugar can kidnap Louise Verft, I kidnap her first—without anyone knowing.
If not that…
Option two:
Make it so that no one—absolutely no one—can kidnap Louise Verft.
But how?
Time is running out…
No clear answer emerged. His worry deepened.
***
Two days later, news arrived.
"Louise Verft is apparently in seclusion inside the royal capital of the Verft Kingdom."
"Seclusion?"
"Yes. By royal order, she has been confined to the palace ever since the death of Ormus's second prince."
"…Damn it."
The curse slipped out instinctively.
All dwarven cities were underground. Their entrances were tightly secured, and naturally their comings and goings were completely controlled.
He could infiltrate like he had before—disguised, hidden. They didn't check every single identity thoroughly.
But the difference between sneaking into a normal dwarven city and sneaking into the royal capital was like heaven and earth.
And the difference between the royal capital and the royal palace was even greater.
Sneaking in? Possible.
Kidnapping the princess? Not impossible.
But—
"There is no way to kidnap her without revealing my identity."
The shabby Phoenix power wouldn't be enough. And if he unleashed demonic energy, he would be exposed instantly.
If it were some ordinary princess, it wouldn't even be a problem.
He let out a dry laugh.
What was he supposed to do?
At that moment, Gordon spoke.
"There is a way to prevent Louise Verft from being kidnapped."
"With what method? Reina has no need to hide her identity as a Demon King."
Reina Sordein had already said she'd pin all responsibility on Vivian, and Vivian had agreed.
Since neither had anything to lose, there was nothing holding them back.
"What if we send the natural enemy of Demon Kings into the palace?"
"A Hero?"
"Yes. A strong Hero—one that even a Demon King would have difficulty dealing with."
"Hillen Cargill?"
Berze thought it over. If Hillen Cargill were to go to the dwarven royal palace… and protect the princess…
It could work.
A Hillen Cargill who was currently growing after consuming two Demon Kings, together with the dwarven elite and perhaps other Heroes—if they protected the princess, even Reina and Ugar might be unable to touch her.
Demonfolk weakened outside the Tower. Demon Kings too.
Even with perfect stealth, the moment a Demon King used any power, Hillen would sense it immediately.
"But the Dwarf Kingdom is closed-off. They wouldn't just let Hillen Cargill in."
"Hillen told me something. Logar Friedri might seem lacking now on the first floor of the Tower, but he was once a renowned artisan in the Dwarf Kingdom."
"That's true."
"I heard that artisans each have their own unique marks."
"Marks?"
"A symbol they engrave on the weapons or gear they craft—so anyone can know who made it. The better the artisan, the more important the mark."
"Ah, I've heard of that."
A master artisan leaving their signature mark—nothing secret. Almost like a brand.
"We have Logar create equipment with his mark."
"And give it to Hillen?"
"Yes."
"And Hillen would deliver it to the Verft Kingdom…"
Princess Louise Verft would probably faint from happiness.
And the king—who cherished her and had even placed a bounty on Logar—would be thrilled as well.
This would give Hillen a perfectly valid reason to enter Verft and meet the princess.
"But that alone isn't enough reason to stay by her side as her protector."
"That is the issue…"
Gordon groaned as Berze closed his eyes and thought.
"Then."
His eyes opened again.
"We'll use blackmail. Make Louise unable to refuse keeping him close."
"What kind of blackmail?"
"Some of Draxon's subordinates saw Louise Verft smashing the skull of Ormus's second prince. And Hillen Cargill climbed the Tower of Beasts and met them."
"Ah, and during that meeting, some unjustly accused demons may have said a few things… very plausible."
"If Hillen uses that as leverage to demand she keep him close?"
"Given Hillen Cargill's new position, they wouldn't dare mishandle the situation! They would be forced to cooperate!"
The Demon King and his adjutant cheered.
"The problem is that the princess will inevitably resent him afterward."
"A bit of resentment is a cheap price."
"That's true. I'll contact Hillen Cargill right away!"
Gordon vanished.
Berze slowly rose from his throne.
"Then I shall…"
Time to harass a dwarf.
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