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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 5
Chapter Title: Hilde ran's Princess
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"...Why Hilde ran? Isn't it awfully far?"
"That's exactly why they won't be able to bring an army."
"Then why not the First Princess, but the Thirteenth?"
"The Thirteenth Princess is like a Grun in the Hilde ran Kingdom. I have no intention of kidnapping her and inviting danger upon ourselves."
"You mean she's completely useless? She's still a princess, nominally speaking."
Grun was one of the demons in the Demon Realm treated like trash for having no abilities whatsoever.
"There are princesses like that."
"It's against the Canon, though."
The second tenet of the Demon King's Canon.
[The Demon King must kidnap a prince or princess.]
There were no additional clauses. However, like the first, the demons had their own unwritten rule.
- Kidnap a prince or princess close to the line of succession, one with a renowned name.
The more important the person to the kingdom, the deeper their rage. And the purer the demonic energy gained from that rage.
For those who needed all processes to lead directly to greater quantities and higher quality of demonic energy, it was the natural choice.
"But you won't listen."
"Correct."
'I heard he was a devout follower of the Canon during his school days.'
What wind blew that made him go mad right after graduation?
But Gordon didn't view the situation too pessimistically.
'Compared to his words and actions at graduation, he's not completely rejecting the Canon unexpectedly. If I gradually guide him back to it bit by bit, maybe he'll return to normal?'
He was a Demon King once called the top graduate of all time. If he returned to being a proper Demon King, conquering Arein wouldn't be a dream.
'I need to serve him well.'
Gordon formulated his grand plan.
'And in the current situation, the Demon King might be right.'
There were no demonkin or monsters where there should have been. If they poked the wrong thing, it wouldn't be the kingdom that got obliterated—it would be them.
And what Gordon wanted was to conquer Arein alongside Berge, not commit suicide.
"I will serve you as well, Demon King."
"No, go alone. Someone needs to guard the tower, so you manage it."
"...Is there even anything to manage?"
"It's the Demon King's Tower, nominally. It can't just be an empty house."
Berge descended the mountain like that. Monsters prowling the snowy peaks as their territory tucked tail at the Demon King's demonic energy.
Though weakened by dimensional interference, making some that could potentially overpower him if they fought, they fled before the inherent aura of a Demon King.
'My body's not up to par. If I faced heroes in this state...'
Which was why it had to be a moderately insignificant princess from Hilde ran.
The distance was far, and due to relations with other kingdoms, they couldn't bring an army. And since she wasn't important, the king wouldn't splurge much on the Hero Guild.
Those ragtag types couldn't possibly brave the monsters of the Erjest Mountains anyway.
"Perfect."
A truly flawless early-game setup.
Afterward, he could slowly build strength feeding on the rage from the Hilde ran Kingdom (though lesser in quality and quantity than the First Princess).
'A princess isn't the only answer to begin with.'
Kidnapping a princess was merely the most efficient means to harvest the maximum negative emotions—it wasn't the absolute answer.
'And if things go south, just return the princess and take the money.'
From his experiences in his past life, he was confident he knew Arein's humans and heroes better than anyone.
'No matter how Grun-like she is, she's still a princess nominally, so they won't refuse negotiations. Hiding my identity with that money and hiring humans to play the mastermind behind the scenes doesn't sound bad.'
Mastermind. It was something from the Canon in a way, so other Demon Kings might approve.
Then there'd be less interference.
However.
"I mustn't be the fool who reveals himself as the mastermind."
Once was enough for foolish acts.
"To that end, first."
He needed to take this first step perfectly.
Berge quickened his pace.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
A faint crescent moon hid behind the clouds. A chilling wind blew.
The soldiers on the ramparts huddled by the bonfire to fend off the cold.
"Damn cold."
"On a night like this, hot tomato stew hits the spot."
"Dunking baguette in it."
"Ugh, just thinking about it is killer."
He scaled the ramparts. The soldiers' chatter faded into the distance.
The defensive magic circles were vicious, but not as ruthless as those from the Demon King Academy.
The palace grounds, lit by magical lamps, weren't that dark. Signs of life could be felt here and there.
I found a relatively secluded spot and waited for someone to pass. A servant carrying miscellaneous items was perfect.
"Mmph, who...?"
The servant, overpowered, trembled violently.
"Where are the princesses?"
"I, I can't say...!"
I gave his body a light caress. The servant foamed at the mouth and spilled everything. I shoved the unconscious man into a corner.
I took no further measures because I lacked memory-erasing abilities and to leave a minimal excuse.
A nominal excuse of leaving traces per the Canon.
'Wealthy, huh.'
Hilde ran dominated the south as a powerhouse and was quite affluent. The fact that all fifteen princesses had their own palaces to reside in was a glimpse of that.
I located the Thirteenth Annex where the Thirteenth Princess resided.
A beautiful palace at the farthest edge of the royal castle, adorned with hyacinth decorations. I opened its window.
"..."
"..."
My eyes met those of the woman sitting on the bed.
Age around twenty. Platinum hair. Two amethysts gleaming in the moonlight.
They said Hilde ran's princesses were all stunning beauties, and indeed she was.
Instead of freezing, I squeezed through and closed the window.
Until then, the princess said nothing.
"...Kidnapper? Demon King?"
Her first words were utterly calm.
Her bold question piqued my interest. I first blocked ambient noise before she could scream with that small mouth.
"Does my answer change anything?"
"It'll change my response."
"If just a regular kidnapper?"
"I'll resist with all my might."
"If Demon King?"
"Can you handle me?"
An intriguing question. Daring confidence, perhaps.
It was laughable. No matter how Demon King-friendly this dimension had become, to be taken this lightly.
"Of course. I am the Demon King."
"Then I'll come quietly."
"You're strangely composed."
"Demon Kings kidnapping princes and princesses isn't a one-time thing. I've thought this day might come someday."
Though I never imagined someone would actually show up.
She murmured.
'What?'
Of course, Arein was an extraordinarily Demon King-friendly dimension, and there were cases of Demon Kings and heroes playing poker together. But even accounting for all that, this reaction was beyond expectations.
At least in my previous life, no princess had been this brazen before me.
No matter how accustomed, or even if they feigned politeness to survive, a Demon King was an evil stained with negative imagery for humans.
I wondered if I was being tricked.
"If you're lulling me into lowering my guard for a backstab, forget it. I'm desperate too—no intentions of falling for cheap tricks."
"No such thing. How would I know you'd come here today to set a trap?"
Fair point.
I spread my senses to probe her, but befitting the sickly Thirteenth Princess, nothing unusual was detected.
She might be completely fooling my senses, but I doubted it. Weakened by interference or not, I was a Demon King. I wasn't some pathetic existence to be underestimated by a mere princess, not even a hero.
As I said nothing, she turned the question on me.
"But how did you know I was here?"
"Easy."
"...Easy?"
Truly a Demon King. She nodded slightly.
"What happens to me as a prisoner?"
There are many cases.
The Demon King's Canon doesn't specify treatment of prisoners, as Demon Kings vary in personality and disposition.
Some treat kidnapped princes and princesses with a modicum of courtesy, some worse than rags, some just kill them.
Actually, the Demon Realm recommends the latter two. Witnessing their broken states fuels greater rage in the kingdom.
But the prevalent method in Arein is the first.
Perhaps knowing that made this princess so nonchalant.
Or maybe resignation.
"I'll treat you like any other princess. Cooperate, and I'll be cooperative; otherwise, the reverse."
"Scary. Guess I have to obey the Demon King."
She rose from the bed. Slowly approached and held out both hands. Her pale wrists caught my eye.
"Shall we go?"
"Yes."
I took her and escaped the royal castle.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
The kidnapping went smoother than expected.
I left the Hilde ran Kingdom diligently before they noticed and caused issues.
After that, it was a breeze. I used high-paid inter-kingdom teleportation circles to head north swiftly.
"Demon King, congratulations on your safe return."
Erjest Mountains. Back at the tower after a week, Gordon greeted me.
"You captured the princess."
"Fix up a room-like space in the corner of the fourth floor for her."
"Not the dungeon?"
Gordon, about to drag her underground, paused.
"She came willingly, so I'll compromise while she's cooperative."
"Understood."
"Wow, nothing here? I heard Demon King Towers are usually swarming with monsters."
The princess, arriving on the fourth floor, exclaimed innocently.
"Beauty of emptiness."
"It's all emptiness."
"Stay here."
"No bed."
"The floor is your bed."
"Even for a princess..."
"Anyone'd think you were on a picnic."
I tossed the grumbling girl onto the fourth floor and headed to the office.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
"..."
The princess watched his receding back.
Demon King. How startled she'd been when he suddenly appeared through the window.
But it wasn't that special.
Arein's Demon Kings always targeted princes and princesses. Sometimes failing, sometimes succeeding, but the need to always be vigilant never changed.
But that was long ago. Demon Kings were no longer just objects of fear, and humans had advanced enough to track their movements.
That's why she was surprised.
She thought she knew all Demon King faces, but this was a new one.
The Hero Guild wouldn't miss a Demon King's movements, yet no news.
At first, she thought it was fake. But the thick demonic energy screamed he was a Demon King.
The tower on the snowy peaks was truly a Demon King's Tower.
She'd heard the Demon King of Lust died recently. A new one had come.
"...I really got kidnapped."
She soon recognized her situation.
"Escape..."
Impossible.
No apparent guards, but the location was the issue. Descending Erjest Mountains alone was suicide.
"Hm."
She was a hostage. Expecting good treatment was luxury.
"Hard."
Even so, this was too much. She tapped the floor. Dirt floor—not great.
"No pillow."
"No blanket."
"No maids."
"No pretty garden."
"No bathroom."
Her fine brow furrowed.
But.
"...Not bad."
Her mind was at ease. The pressures weighing on her had vanished with it.
She smiled happily.
She removed her ring and stirred mana. Her friends poked their heads out.
Pat pat—
She caressed the rising earth and began making a bed.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
"How did it go?"
"Mm."
I nodded to the question right as I entered the office.
Everything went smoothly. Planning, kidnapping, escape.
It ended up looking like I did it due to Alkain's threats, but I'd planned to start this way from the beginning.
Either way, to gather demonic energy and reduce interference, I needed humans' negative emotions.
But not so much hatred as to become a subjugation target. Hilde ran's Thirteenth Princess was the perfect specimen for that balance.
Thus, I was satisfied.
The first button was fastened perfectly.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
Knock knock—
A lavish palace.
Escil, the princess's guard knight, knocked on the door. No response.
"Princess, I brought breakfast."
Still no response.
"Still sleeping?"
"This has never happened before."
He tilted his head at the chef's question who brought the food.
"Pardon the intrusion."
He knocked again and cracked the door. No signs of life.
'Still asleep?'
He gently pulled back the bed curtain.
Pillow visible. Blanket visible. That was it.
'...?'
Instinctively, he lifted the blanket. Nothing.
He checked under the bed, the bathroom. Opened every drawer, looked out the window.
The princess was nowhere.
"...Uh. So..."
Escil swallowed. His mind reeled.
"Sir Escil!"
Servants caught him as he collapsed in panic. Their faces paled upon confirming the princess's disappearance.
"The Crown Princess has vanished!"
The news of the kingdom's heir's disappearance spread through the palace in an instant.