I Intend to Do Nothing
『How did you know that?』
The Hero, Gillian Aint.
And the White Griffin Raid Party he leads.
They found the Tower of Extreme Cold immediately after Draxon Doldorf collapsed.
"Everything was written in the humans' newspapers."
If he claimed he wasn't surprised when he first heard that, it would have been a lie.
The White Griffin Raid Party was originally supposed to find the Tower of Extreme Cold five years later.
Berze realized that the things he had done had altered the future.
『Is that so. Well, human Heroes are obsessed with fame and achievements.』
"Aren't demons the same?"
『True enough.』
Reina let out a short laugh. But something about it felt bitter.
"How many times has the White Griffin Raid Party found the tower?"
『Was even that written?』
Impossible.
"It was."
Before the regression, Reina Sordein suffered at the hands of the White Griffin Raid Party.
It wasn't that she died. But if one were to ask whether that was better than dying, Berze would have disagreed.
When I first learned about it, I sneered.
He told her she was getting treated like livestock by mere humans because she obsessed over outward appearance.
He used to say she'd rather die than live like that. And then she really did die.
『They invaded the tower twice, and I repelled them both times. I spent a fair amount of mana, but nothing serious.』
『I don't see any particular need to rely on your help.』
"Do you really think so?"
『…There is something I don't know. Is that it?』
"There is."
『What is it?』
"They won't end their schemes after just once or twice."
Dozens of times—perhaps hundreds—the White Griffin Raid Party would torment Reina Sordein. Slowly, little by little, they would eat away at her.
『No matter how many times they come, I can block them all. Do you think I can't?』
"No. You can. You're strong."
Reina Sordein is strong—objectively and subjectively.
Against something like the White Griffin Raid Party, not a Heroic Expedition, she could repel them countless times. No, she could annihilate them.
『…It's unlike you to flatter me like this.』
She cleared her throat and looked away.
"But it won't be easy. Gillian will use the surrounding barbarian tribes."
『I don't care how many gather.』
"That would be true—if you simply went down and killed Gillian first."
『You want me to leave the summit? Impossible. Upholding the proper order is natural.』
"When you first descended, you listened to Jayson's suggestion, didn't you?"
『That was different. It is clearly written that the Demon King must guard the summit of the tower.』
But kidnapping a high-ranking royal in the line of succession is only a recommendation.
She would try her best to follow it, but it wasn't something worth risking her life for.
"Well, fine."
Berze hadn't expected Reina to do that anyway. He only needed her to be cautious enough to keep her claws away from Louise for now.
"But postpone kidnapping Louise. You must not leave the tower right now."
『…For you to insist this much, something must be going on.』
『The White Griffin…』
Reina pondered briefly, then nodded.
『You wouldn't say such things for no reason. I'll consider your advice.』
"You made the right choice!"
『You're far too pleased. What is there for you to be so happy about?』
"…It's sad when a Demon King whose mind aligns with mine dies. The opposite is cause for joy."
『Is that so.』
"Oh, and one more thing."
『There's more?』
"If you ever run low on mana, don't go begging Jayson."
『...?』
***
After the communication cut off, Reina Sordein sat for a long time, letting the words linger.
"…Not bad."
To be worried about by another Demon King. In some ways it felt like he looked down on her, but because she could sense his sincerity, it wasn't unpleasant.
"But…"
What did he mean by not begging Jayson?
"My mana will run low?"
"And so I would beg Jayson?"
Reina denied it—but she couldn't completely dismiss the faint possibility.
If the White Griffin truly was more troublesome than expected, and if all the demons and monsters were wiped out and problems arose, then there was indeed a possibility she might seek help from Jayson Cockmoond.
Among the Demon Kings, he was the only one with any margin to spare.
At least, that had been the case in the past.
"Jayson may have been the one who killed Draxon. I can't owe a debt to someone that suspicious."
In short, Berze Dias was worrying about nothing.
Of course, he probably factored that in as well.
"Nina."
"Yes, Demon King."
Nina, who had been waiting outside, entered at Reina's call.
"Send out the demons and monitor the movements of the White Griffin. Gather the monsters."
"Will you deal with them before they enter the tower?"
"For now, we watch."
"Yes. Understood."
Nina left.
"It's best to heed sincere advice from an ally."
Reina rose from her seat.
***
Just before Berze tormented the Acan Kingdom and Reina was plagued by the White Griffin, Vivian Blunt, who had failed to kidnap Louise Berft, returned to her tower.
BOOOOM!
A massive hole formed in the first-floor ground. The monsters trembled against the wall.
"My tail! My precious tail!"
Her rampage continued for another hour. Only after spending mana points to completely restore the shattered first floor did she storm up to the fifth.
"Demon King."
"What."
"A message came from Demon King Jayson. He asked that you contact him as soon as you return to the tower."
"Hah…!"
Vivian scoffed.
She could already guess what he wanted to say.
"He must be angry I ignored him?"
To raise a fuss the moment she returned.
She understood, of course. As he said, Arein was not an easy dimension. The 3,198 Heroes, the escort Hero guarding the princess—they were all formidable.
Something is wrong with this dimension.
But—
But because it was wrong—
Vivian had even more reason to kidnap Louise Berft. The only clue that could reveal the secret behind Draxon's death.
I have to get out of this damned place.
By principle, once a Demon King descends, they cannot leave the dimension unless they conquer it or die.
But principles only exist because those in power choose to uphold them.
Vivian, having secured the promise of Archduke Alkaine, had no choice but to cling even harder to that agreement.
One way or another, I must kidnap her.
There was no time. Having failed once, the humans would be furious. If Heroes like the one she encountered in the Berft Kingdom came swarming again, she would be as good as dead.
She chewed her nails and injected mana into the communicator. The moment she did, an expression—like a mask—settled over her face.
"What is it?"
A calm voice. Yet from the other side, she heard someone suppressing anger.
『Was it really so difficult to follow my advice?』
"…I have no obligation to obey you. Advice is advice, isn't it?"
『Hah. Truly, truly fascinating—you are, Vivian.』
Jayson adjusted his monocle.
『I was willing to overlook it—since you were fulfilling the mission you descended for. If you had shown even a shred of remorse.』
"You're talking nonsense. And what will you do if I don't let it go?"
『What could I possibly do to a fellow Demon King?』
Jayson smiled. Vivian felt a chill she couldn't explain.
『I've done many things until now.』
『But from this moment on… I intend to do nothing.』
『Yes. That is all.』
"…What the hell does that mean?"
『Just talking to myself. Something you do not need to know or understand.』
The connection was cut unilaterally.
"Damn it…!"
Vivian cursed.
"Do nothing? What the hell has he even been doing until now?"
She mulled over Jayson's words, trying to understand them. And the meaning—
became clear a few days later.
"Demon King! The Heroes have invaded the tower!"
The Heroes had come for the tower.
***
"The Tower Convergence, huh. So it's already that time."
Ugar received a message from Jayson.
"A month from now?"
『Yes. It is your turn. Truthfully, it is already far overdue, but we cannot open it immediately due to circumstances.』
The Tower Convergence was held once a year, with each Demon King's tower taking turns hosting the gathering.
But this time, the yearly interval had not been honored. Too many incidents had happened ever since Berze's descent.
The Tower Convergence…
Until recently, he had never questioned it.
In Ugar's view, Jayson had done more for the Demon Kings than anyone else. Without him, Ugar would not be where he was now.
The Tower Convergence was one such development. Not always beneficial, but undeniably helpful as a means of exchanging information.
But—
he couldn't help feeling suspicious. No matter how he thought about it, only Jayson could have killed Draxon.
"…Is it really necessary to hold the Convergence now of all times? Wouldn't it be better to postpone it?"
Perhaps sensing his hesitation, Jayson sighed.
『There is no reason not to.』
『I am aware that Lady Reina, Lord Ugar, and Lord Berze all harbor suspicions toward me.』
『But I swear—I did not kill Lord Draxon.』
"…But the high-ranking demon—"
『Are you certain it was truly a high-ranking demon?』
『Do you have undeniable proof?』
There was none.
It had only been Draxon's claim. Ugar had tried to confirm it by searching the tower records, but failed.
"But Draxon pressed the issue so hard. He must have had some confidence in it."
『I, too, have confidence. Confidence that I did not do it. Confidence that I was not involved in Lord Draxon's death. Confidence that I had no reason to.』
『Which is why I also desired to access the tower records.』
『Because that is the only way to end the suspicion held by you and Lady Reina.』
『Unfortunately, that is no longer possible…』
Jayson hesitated briefly, then spoke again.
『Will you come to my tower?』
"…Suddenly?"
『I have devoted myself tirelessly to conquering this dimension—alongside Lord Draxon, Lady Reina, and you. Do you truly believe I would kill Lord Draxon?』
In truth, Ugar had wondered the same.
If not for Jayson, the current Demon Kings would not exist. Would such a person deliberately kill Draxon?
『I swear upon the Great Demon Emperor and the Proper Order that I did not kill him.』
『If you come to my tower, I will show you proof. Proof that I had no reason to.』
"…I will go."
Knowing the weight of the Demon Emperor and the Proper Order, Ugar stepped into the rift leading to Jayson's tower to resolve his doubts.
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