Vassal
"Damn it."
Granada exhaled a white puff. The biting cold reddened his cheeks.
"Back to Ergest again."
Ever since forming a contract with the Demon King and becoming one of Hillen Cargill's close associates, Granada couldn't shake the feeling that he was being worked to death.
Starting with infiltrating the first Hero Expedition led by Hillen Cargill, he had entered the Beast Tower and survived death, aided Acan and climbed to Ergest with them, joined the imperial-led search party again, and now stood as part of this assault force assembled by Hilderan—after which he was already scheduled to join the Empire's future Hero Expedition.
And of all places to return to—this frozen wasteland where snow fell all year.
'Do they not know elves live in warm, beautiful places with water and forests?'
Even if they did know, they wouldn't care. That's why he was the Demon King.
"Honestly, are you sure this isn't just you planning to betray us?"
Granada shot a glare sideways at Hillen Cargill, who walked beside him.
If not, why else would Berze repeatedly send him into Hero Expeditions or assault parties that could kill him?
"There are others around us, Granada."
"I see. Then allow me to ask more politely: isn't this simply you wanting to save your own skin by stabbing us in the back?"
"That is not polite at all, but I will answer. I only ever follow orders with sincerity."
"And is there any reason that sincerity must always include me?"
"So that was your complaint. While it's true His Majesty didn't mention you specifically, there's a human saying—'Where the needle goes, the thread follows.' If I go, then the Red Hawk assault unit that I lead—and you, Vice-Captain Granada—naturally follow."
"…Damn it."
Granada barely restrained the urge to slap Hillen's smirking face.
He steadied his breath while staring into the distance. When he saw an ogre rising from beneath the snow, a curse almost slipped out—but he forcibly shifted his thoughts.
'We were told to help Hillen Cargill rescue Ernan Hilderan.'
That meant the Demon King had decided to release Ernan Hilderan.
Sending Ernan would silence Hilderan's leadership before Jespine's—at least partially.
Given the situation, this was the best possible solution. Even so, the Empire still remained a much larger obstacle.
'They really won't kill her, right?'
And if she did die—what then? Even with the oath sworn upon the World Tree, if the target vanished, there was no longer a vow to uphold.
'But even if I might accept that, the elves won't.'
They were Demon King's servants now—bound to fight against the Hero Expedition. Would angry humans spare elves who served the Demon King? No—they would torture them even worse as traitors.
'...'
These were elves whom Granada himself had delivered into the Demon King's service. Even if he comforted himself that it was better than slavery, nothing changed the truth.
He could not let them die as Demon King's thralls. At least for the next hundred years, the Demon King must not die.
That was Granada's responsibility for dragging them into this.
'Damn it… did the Demon King predict all this and use the elves?'
Either way, he had been cornered.
Meanwhile, even as he agonized, the assault force advanced swiftly toward the Flame Tower.
The problem was—they were advancing too swiftly.
Ergest, supposedly the domain of the Flame Demon King, was far too easy.
Slash—
The massive monster's head was split clean in half. Snow turned red.
'So this is what he meant.'
Hillen Cargill shook the blood off his sword.
So this was what the Demon King meant by preparing a smooth road to the Tower.
The path was clear, the shortest route marked with signs only Hillen could decipher.
Monsters appeared, but their quantity and level were matched perfectly to what Hillen could easily handle.
Hillen's heightened strength meant even those monsters caused some trouble for ordinary soldiers, but the sharper members of the party began to feel uneasy.
"Is this really Ergest?"
"Didn't they say monsters overflow here?"
"And isn't it supposed to snow constantly? Why is the sky clear?"
With even the weather cooperating, the difficulty had dropped sharply. Hillen cursed humans for not accepting blessings even when spoon-fed, yet outwardly smiled.
"In a way, this is natural."
"Natural? How so?"
"Though the search party suffered heavy casualties, they clashed with one of the Demon King's Four Heavenly Kings. The Demon King's side must have suffered damage as well—meaning fewer monsters to obstruct us."
"That makes sense."
"And who am I? I may be boasting, but I am Hillen Cargill."
"…Fair enough."
"Truly admirable, Hillen."
Those who doubted were satisfied by his explanation.
"Thinking on it, the monsters were strong. It's just that Hillen is stronger."
These were mercenaries and elite kingdom soldiers. They were simply startled that the infamous territory felt too easy, but they understood that the monsters slain by Hillen would have caused havoc had even one reached the base of the mountain.
"In any case, I hope it stays like this."
"Agreed."
And it did.
Following the smooth path the Demon King prepared, they reached the Demon King's abode far more quickly than anyone expected.
"The Tower!"
"There really is a Tower!"
The Flame Tower—the hottest tower on the continent—stood before their eyes.
No monsters lurked near it. The assault force calmly approached the entrance.
The relaxed atmosphere tightened at once.
'I'm back.'
Hillen Cargill placed his hand against the door. Even through his gloves, he felt the biting cold.
Once he opened this door, they would enter the Tower at last.
Everything had already been arranged in advance.
Open the door, eliminate minor monsters, find the Crown Princess on the first or second floor—simple.
But—
'There are monsters inside… right?'
Not mana cannons… right?
Surely he would be greeted by monster roars rather than blinding volleys of artillery?
Hillen trusted the Demon King not to lie—but deep trauma did not vanish easily.
Cold sweat ran down his back.
"Hillen?"
"Is something bothering you?"
His hesitation made the others look at him curiously.
"No, it's nothing. I am simply overwhelmed that we are finally entering this Tower."
"Ah, understandable. This Tower must be special to you."
The search party members grew somber, recalling his past failure.
"That's all in the past! Once we rescue the Crown Princess and slay the Demon King, your fame will shake the continent!"
A magician hurried to lift the mood. But Granada knew that wasn't the issue.
'He's scared.'
Understandable—after all, when the doors last opened, dozens of mana cannons had fired at once, like thunder out of a clear sky.
And now there were hundreds. If the Tower were in its original configuration, opening the door would wipe out half the assault force instantly.
"Thank you for your encouragement. A Hero who must stand at the front of this army cannot afford to disgrace himself."
Hillen tightened his grip, pushing aside his fear.
Creeeeak—
With a dull groan, the heavy door slowly swung open.
Gulp—
The soldiers tightened their grasps on their weapons, ready to repel whatever rushed out.
And when the door fully opened—
Hillen Cargill was relieved.
A perfectly ordinary Tower interior.
Not a single mana cannon in sight.
'Yetis?'
Dozens of white-furred creatures roamed the first floor. Not weak—but nowhere near enough to challenge the assault force.
"Th-there…!"
A knight shouted. Everyone followed the direction of his pointing finger.
And at the end of that path—
She was there.
The Crown Princess of Hilderan, Ernan Hilderan.
Inside a small iron cage tucked into a corner of the first floor.
Her face was utterly pale, and her eyes were closed in sleep.
"Good heavens, Your Highness!"
"Your Highness!"
"Crown Princess!"
Recognizing her face, the knights and mages of Hilderan cried out.
Just as they were about to rush forward, Hillen Cargill stepped in front of them.
"Calm yourselves. This is the Demon King's Tower."
"But Her Highness is right there…!"
"Her Highness is alive. The fact that she is here means the Flame Demon King operates similarly to the Frost Demon King and the Adamantine Demon King."
Placing abducted royalty on lower floors to avoid unnecessary confrontation.
"Ah…"
Realizing this, the search party brightened.
Their common pattern was not merely placing royalty on the lower floors—but that not a single member of royalty had ever been killed.
"We're fortunate. There's no need to strain ourselves climbing to the Demon King's own floor."
Hillen Cargill raised his sword.
"I'll take the lead."
Before the search party could respond, a bolt of lightning crashed down.
────!
One of the white-furred yetis was reduced to black ash. The thunderous roar engulfed the first floor and enraged the remaining yetis.
A thick, murderous intent signaled the start of battle. Hillen charged forward, and the Red Hawk assault unit—with Granada at the front—followed behind.
"You're awfully impatient. Do you want to rescue Her Highness that badly?"
"Of course. I am the one to rescue the Crown Princess."
Hillen brushed off the elf's sarcasm. Even if this was a rigged game, with nearly three hundred witnesses present, how could he not want the achievement?
Kwoooooor—!
The yetis roared, but they couldn't stop Hillen.
The leaping lightning turned their fur black and didn't even allow them the dignity of bleeding.
A black path opened.
Slash—
The cage suspended above the ground fell. Hillen caught it and lowered it carefully.
He sliced the bars and gently pulled the princess out. Her body was cold as ice—but the faint, subtle breath proved she lived.
"Her Highness…"
The search party, arriving late, surrounded Hillen.
"She's alive. I see no major wounds. But her body is extremely cold—she needs healing."
"Where is the healer!"
"Attend to Her Highness immediately!"
"It may be best to descend the mountain and let her receive proper treatment."
Hillen's suggestion made the commander of the Azure Sea Knights hesitate.
"But Princess Elena…"
Though their top priority was Ernan Hilderan, the royal command also included Elena Hilderan.
She too was a princess of Hilderan.
However—
"My highest orders concern Crown Princess Ernan Hilderan. And since we've found the Tower, we can always launch a Hero Expedition later. For now, protecting the Crown Princess is our priority."
'The Demon King permitted only Ernan Hilderan. We must not touch Elena.'
If they exceeded the Demon King's granted grace, his head would explode—figuratively or literally.
"But…"
"Sir Hillen! We must descend at once! Her Highness's condition isn't improving!"
The healer's urgent shout came. Hillen rushed over.
"No external injuries, but is it serious?"
"Her body is cold as ice and refuses to regain warmth. My abilities aren't enough. We should return to the capital and show her to the Royal Court Mage."
"Then we depart immediately."
The commander of the Azure Sea Knights could say nothing. Hillen swung his sword at the sealed Tower door. A powerful dimensional interference ruptured the space.
The door was forced open, and the assault force escaped safely after completing their objective.
***
"Her Highness has awakened!"
"Her condition is still fragile. We should establish a camp and let her rest."
The rescued crown princess awoke near the mountainside.
The icy coldness of her body vanished as if it had been a lie, and her complexion returned to normal.
The assault force camped in an area with few monster traces, and Hillen Cargill received a request for a private audience.
"I was told Her Highness woke up."
"Yes, Her Highness is waiting."
Hillen entered the tent. Ernan, pale and weary, was eating spoonfuls of soup.
"You summoned me, Your Highness."
"Ah, Sir Hillen."
"Your Highness."
"Please—how could I remain lying down when greeting the hero who saved me from the vile Demon King?"
She struggled upright. The knight attending her tried to stop her, but Ernan shook her head.
"Is your body well enough?"
"Thanks to you. If not for Hillen, I might have died."
Ernan turned to her knight.
"Sir Knight, could you leave us for a moment? I wish to speak with Sir Hillen alone."
"Yes, Your Highness."
The knight left without argument. At that moment—
—Ah, finally.
A spirit peeked out. A translucent water barrier enveloped the two of them, blocking sound.
"How was it?"
Ernan's tone changed instantly.
The pitiful weakness in her expression vanished—
Replaced with pure mischief and liveliness.
"My acting."
Ernan smiled.
Hillen smiled back.
"It was perfect."
"Really?"
"If your timely assistance had failed, I would have had to climb to the upper floors to rescue Princess Elena."
"That would be bad. It's not what the Demon King wants."
And Elena is better off staying in the Tower for now.
"Welcome back to being Crown Princess Ernan again."
"I heard from the Demon King. He said you love honor more than anything."
"There is no one who dislikes honor."
"And money?"
"There is no one who dislikes money either."
"How about this, then? The title 'Savior of the Queen of Hilderan.' And imagine that same queen giving her full support—not merely as a noble of Argane, but to elevate you to Guildmaster of the Hero Guild."
"I have always been Her Majesty's vassal."
Hillen Cargill knelt.
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