It was useless, that's true.
Ten vials of highest-grade Seniel Powder. And two vials of corrupted Seniel Powder.
With all 12 in hand, Berze returned to the tower. On the 1st floor, the earthbound spirit Logar was the first to greet him.
"You've returned?"
"Nothing special happened, right?"
"No, sir."
"The mana cannons?"
"I reinforced their firepower even further. I also managed to make a few more."
Twenty mana cannons were proudly aimed toward the entrance.
Not bad.
But the rest of the floor felt completely barren. He had built a makeshift workshop in a corner of the 1st floor, but that was all.
No matter how you looked at it, it was far too lacking to call it the Demon King's Tower.
"I want the 1st floor remodeled a bit more."
"We lack equipment. I built a temporary workshop, but everything's in poor condition…"
"Sounds like you're telling me to go buy something."
"…Of course not, haha."
Let's see.
[319092pt]
A fair number of points had accumulated during his brief absence.
Thanks to Hillen Cargill's failure and the kidnapping of the imperial princess.
Most of it would go to paying off creditors, but he could afford to spend some.
[Forge of Hell – 50,000pt
A reproduction of the standard workshop of demonic blacksmiths. Contains all the equipment a workshop should have. It assimilates into the tower and adapts to a fitting form.]
[Interference Release (lowest-grade) – 10,000pt
Uses demonic energy to slightly suppress dimensional interference.]
In his previous life, he had never summoned a forge. All his Magi Points had been consumed on releasing dimensional interference and summoning demonic beasts.
[Balrog – 5,000,000pt]
[Hydra – 10,000,000pt]
Back then, I used to have tons of balrogs…
But now such things were impossible. What he truly missed compared to back then was the overflowing horde of demonic beasts.
He bought five lowest-grade Interference Releases.
[Dimensional interference partially fades.]
It made no major difference. Just made breathing a little easier.
Annoying, but Magi was terribly inefficient at dealing with interference, so he accepted it.
[Installing Forge of Hell.]
[Location – 1st Floor.]
Kugugugu—
The tower began to shake. Logar stumbled in surprise. The ground churned as the workshop materialized.
A roaring smelter, blazing hellfire, demonic glacial facilities exuding extreme cold, and countless tools filled the space.
[The Forge of Hell automatically conceals itself from anyone not permitted by the Demon King.]
Logar blinked at the sudden appearance of the Forge of Hell, which crushed the temporary workshop he had made.
"…Uh, this is…"
"This should do."
"So I can… use this?"
"Don't just leave mana cannons standing around. Remodel the entire 1st floor however you like, so it can annihilate heroes more effectively."
"Of course!"
Haaaah—
"This… this is the workshop of the Demon Realm…!"
Logar let out rough breaths. He rushed past Berze toward the smelter.
"This smelter—its structure is incredibly unique!"
"In the Demon Realm, there's something called Bloodfire Stone. When infused with Magi, it heats up far hotter than ordinary magma. The entire smelter is made from Bloodfire Stone. No need to create fire—just fill it with Magi and it melts metal."
"Heat from a mineral instead of flame—how fascinating. Oh? This one feels… alive?"
"The core inside is a creature called a Fryloth, which parasitically inhabits demon-realm glaciers. It feeds on heat and releases cold. Its unique nature makes it practically semi-permanent. It's often used during quenching."
"Perfect! This is absolutely perfect!"
It wasn't only the novelty that excited him.
Logar, who had spent most of his dwarf life inside workshops, instantly recognized that every piece of equipment here was top-grade. The placement of the smelter, refinery, and workbenches took a craftsman's movement patterns into account.
"I'll do everything I can to remodel the 1st floor!"
He chuckled, drooling slightly.
…This should be fine, right?
Well, he had already screwed over a hero squad with a primitive mana cannon setup—he'd figure things out.
Berze was starting to understand Logar's personality. A lunatic completely devoted to his craft. As long as his desires were satisfied, he was simple.
Berze climbed to the next floor. Still empty.
How should I fill this one?
Previously, he had just plastered it with monsters. Added traps here and there, turned it into a maze, probably?
That wouldn't be bad either.
The heroes, shocked by the mana cannons on the 1st floor, would climb to the 2nd floor on high alert.
But if what awaited them wasn't another gimmick but a traditional layout?
That confusion alone would be effective. They'd waste stamina second-guessing everything.
He climbed to the 3rd floor. The 2nd wasn't even ready—thinking about the 3rd was too early.
Finally, the 4th floor. The first thing Berze heard was the sound of slicing wind. The first thing he saw was a blade flying toward him.
Golden aura shimmered.
A decent move. If the opponent hadn't been the Demon King, and this weren't the Demon King's Tower, it might have been sharper, perhaps even inflicted a wound.
CLANG—
The aura shattered. Kaede, whose sword was caught mid-strike, swallowed a groan.
"What do you think you're doing?"
"...Filthy Demon King!"
Berze tossed Kaede aside. She landed smoothly, then charged again.
Annoyed, Berze struck the back of her neck, knocking her out.
"I told her not to do that," murmured Ernan, who had calmly watched.
"You didn't tell her strongly enough."
"I couldn't stop her. She kept yelling at me—asking how I could take the Demon King's side instead of trying to escape with her."
"..."
Honestly, Berze wanted to ask that himself.
"Get along with her."
"I'm trying."
He tossed her the pouch of Seniel Powder.
"Highest-grade? Ten of them? What's this?"
"Corrupted Seniel Powder. I got it for free."
"Thank you. Honestly, I thought you'd only bring back one."
"It was annoying to make multiple trips. So—is that enough for you to form a contract with a high-grade spirit?"
"I'll have to try."
Berze decided to voice his constant doubt.
"Summoning a high-grade spirit means your skill has grown… but honestly, this place is the worst environment for a spirit summoner."
The tower was sparse in mana. And spirits consumed pure mana.
Magi and spirits were almost polar opposites.
"That's true. But it also helped me. Because mana is so scarce, I had to maximize efficiency with the little I had. My mana control improved. And the divine elixir helped too."
And…
Ernan swallowed her last line.
As her Mana Heart repeatedly ran dry, the dormant remnants of the divine elixir scattered through her body had finally merged into one.
She didn't need to say that part. He treated her decently, but he was still the Demon King.
"I see."
Berze nodded.
"If you think contracting a high-grade spirit will let you escape, you're mistaken."
"I'm not going to try."
"If you attempt it and get caught, everything you've enjoyed until now will disappear. There will not be a second chance."
"No one contracts a high-grade spirit and then ascends to Ergest."
Descending was equally impossible.
"Take care of this airheaded woman. If she runs, it's your responsibility."
"…That's a bit unfair. I'm being nicer than anyone here."
"It's called shared responsibility."
"…Have you gone to Felto yet?"
"Not yet. I'll figure out a bit more and then strip it clean."
"Aha."
"Well, do your best."
He waved and climbed to the 5th floor. Past the empty throne, he entered the adjutant's office, where Gordon, eyes bloodshot, was flipping through documents.
"What the hell are you doing?"
"Welcome back, My Lord. Forgive me for not coming out to greet you—I was too busy."
Gordon didn't even turn his head.
"Busy?"
"You ordered me to find a way to ruin that man, Jetoson, did you not?"
"You ordered me to find a way to ruin that man, Jetoson, did you not?"
"Yeah, I did."
Berze had considered ordering Granada to handle it, but then remembered that Gordon was idle and told him to take care of it instead.
"So, did you come up with a method?"
"Not yet, but I believe I will shortly. No—I will make sure I do."
"You can take your time, though."
"No, sir!"
Gordon shouted.
"I, Gordon, will stake the honor of being top graduate of the Demonfolk Training Academy and wipe away the shame of being useless!"
Useless? I never said that.
Berze frowned. He had never thought that.
But when he thought about it… it was true.
Granada was growing her mercenary corps.
Ernan had played a major role in stopping Hillen Cargill.
But Gordon? He had done nothing. Absolutely nothing. At best, he muttered little complaints beside him. Honestly, he was a net negative.
Though after Hillen Cargill was stopped, he wasn't complaining anymore.
"Well, you have been useless until now."
"...I will prove myself!"
"Yeah, do your best."
"Yes!"
Berze entered his office. He sank into the soft chair and reviewed the situation so far.
"No need to kidnap more princesses or princes right away…"
If he did too many at once, problems would arise.
"Ah, right. The elves."
He remembered the appealing plan of buying up all the elf slaves and using them as skirmishers.
But most of the 100,000 gold was in Hillen Cargill's hands.
Vmmm—
Just then, the crystal orb vibrated.
"How timely. I was just about to contact you."
It was Hillen Cargill.
『Me, my lord?』
"Elves. Go to the slave market and buy every elf you can find."
『Elves? You plan to use them like Granada, I see?』
『Then my timing was perfect.』
"What's going on?"
『Aman Catrash has returned to his main family. He repented for his past, and the family head forgave him.』
『He has become the heir.』
"Oh?"
Good news. It felt like taking a major step toward continent-wide conquest.
"Didn't you say he was a delinquent? Even if he's an only son, they wouldn't forgive him so easily."
『Who do you think I am? Even if I failed once, the reputation I built is not that light.』
『And I invested some money into them. I made it very clear it was because I trusted Aman Catrash.』
Of course.
Even if he had been a delinquent, he was still the ailing only son whose Aura Hall had been shattered. Pity would be inevitable, and if you added the endorsement and investment of the famed hero Hillen Cargill?
That sealed the deal.
There were few merits greater than that.
"Good."
『I'll pass your order to him. And I'll contact you again if anything unusual happens.』
"Alright."
Berze smiled pleasantly.
Everything was going smoothly.
"Though the Hero Guild staying quiet is a little unsettling…"
Even in his previous life, they didn't move until everything was nearly over. Only after he toppled several kingdoms did the heroes get dispatched in earnest—and ultimately killed him.
Which means I still have plenty of time.
Back then, he had assumed they were simply cowering in fear. But humans always had their own complicated reasons.
I'll ask Hillen about it later.
And also investigate the Hero of the Red Blade, who killed him.
Berze sank even deeper into his chair.
***
The failure of the Demon King subjugation.
And the failure to rescue the princess.
Naturally, the ones who reacted most sensitively to these two events—alongside the Hero Guild—were the ones who commissioned them: Hilderan.
At first, when Watton Collo and half the hero party returned down the mountain after taking heavy losses, their hope had not yet died.
"Watton Collo has no right to be considered a hero."
"To think he ran while failing to even find the tower after the princess was kidnapped."
"We still have Hillen Cargill. Watton Collo is nothing compared to him. He's a far stronger hero!"
Hilderan's ministers desperately disparaged Watton Collo and his party. Despite their internal anxiety, they prayed that Hillen Cargill would bring back the crown princess.
"Your Majesty! Hillen Cargill has descended the mountain! Failure—complete failure!"
Even Hillen Cargill's failure was the absolute worst outcome they could've imagined.
"...Where is Hillen Cargill now?"
"He is holding a press conference in the Principality of Asoin."
The Principality of Asoin was one of the members of the Trafarta Union.
"The insolent wretch! He accepted Hilderan's commission, failed the hero's mission, and instead of immediately kneeling before the King to confess everything and beg for punishment, he holds a press conference?!"
The ministers exploded.
"Your Majesty! We cannot let Hillen Cargill go unpunished! Summon him immediately and hold him accountable!"
"He must be held accountable!"
"…We shall."
Hilderan's king's eyes turned icy.
"Request cooperation from the Principality of Asoin and dispatch the knight order. Bring Hillen Cargill back."
"Your Majesty, it is custom to overlook a hero's failure. If we punish those who risk their lives, who else will fight the Demon King for Hilderan?"
"I have endured enough!"
The king roared. The admonishing minister bowed his head.
"The crown princess is the foundation of the kingdom. Its future. Even taking the army and flattening the snowfields wouldn't be excessive. Yet I endured. Because that was the custom! Because I cannot raise the army under the excuse of fighting the Demon King! Because I believed that if I waited, Hillen Cargill would return with the princess!"
The king growled, furious.
"And what was the result? Is this what I desired? Or what you desired?"
"Your Majesty…"
"If you understood what she means to me—what she means to Hilderan—you would not tell me to endure any longer. I am already enduring far too much. The only reason I am not marching north with the army right now is—"
"The Hero Guild will not remain silent."
"Are you a minister of Hilderan, or a spy of the Hero Guild? Do you fear that pathetic guild more than you fear your King?!"
"..."
"What are you waiting for? Send the Cheon-hae Knight Order at once! Retrieve the hero! If he resists, drag him back by force!"
"We obey!"
One of the top five knight orders in the Kingdom of Hilderan departed toward the Trafarta Union.
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