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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 4
Chapter Title: Advice
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"I can't believe it."
Even after the Demon King personally went to all that trouble to persuade him, Gordon denied reality.
"The Canon is not wrong. No matter how much the situation has changed, it is always absolute."
That's why it's the Canon. And yet.
"Even heroes—mere humans like them—created a canon to counter it?"
"We don't call it a canon exactly. But it's spread around like an unwritten rule."
"Someone who's only just arrived in Arelin knows it well. Are all top graduates like this?"
I barely suppressed my rising frustration and shot back.
"Then why haven't we conquered Arelin until now?"
"Because the dispatched Demon Kings lacked the ability, obviously."
Right. That's another reason the Canon has persisted steadily.
The law of the jungle.
The simple logic that if you fail and get weeded out, it's not because the opponent is strong, but because the loser is a weak piece of shit.
I only escaped it after experiencing it firsthand—after dying. Since I'd been the Canon's most ardent follower in my previous life, I never expected to convince him in one go.
I just needed to reduce these annoying interferences a bit. For now.
"All those dozens of Demon Kings who died here were all lacking, huh?"
"..."
Gordon clamped his mouth shut after that.
Having successfully quelled his fierce opposition, I slowly looked around the tower.
It was a simple structure. A basement level prison for holding princes, princesses, or captives. Then floors 1 through 4, empty lots with nothing in them. Finally, the 5th floor for the Demon King.
The plush red carpet and the throne on the dais were a courteous touch to welcome heroes with more authority.
To me, it just looked like a slightly fancier execution platform.
I entered the office behind the throne. A simple desk and chair, along with various communication orbs, sat there.
Woooong—
At that moment, one of the communication orbs began to assert its presence as if it had been waiting.
"...Greetings. This is Gordon, adjutant serving Demon King Berge."
Gordon hurriedly answered.
『Perfect timing. I am Casey, adjutant to Drakson. I am relaying Drakson-sama's wish to hold a welcome party for the newly assigned Demon King to our dimension.』
Ah, right.
'That.'
To survive in Arelin's special environment, the Demon Kings had changed. They'd broken their individualism, formed groups, and forced newcomers to join by inviting them to banquets.
They wanted them to enter the little society they'd built and become obedient good juniors.
In crude terms.
Arelin's unique hazing time.
'What a hassle.'
A sigh escaped me naturally.
"Good lord, Demon Kings holding gatherings with each other?"
Gordon's pupils shook at the contact, which was almost the polar opposite of demon nature.
"Don't worry. I have no intention of mingling with them. Even if I ignore the Canon, I'll play the lofty Demon King you want."
"...You're not just refusing—you can't, right? Since word's out that you're a rebel."
Even in his confusion, he nailed the core issue.
His ability was certainly useful in that one way.
'In my past life, the summons came a week later.'
The fact that it came this quickly meant.
'There's a problem.'
I apparently didn't sit well with them more than expected.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
Beast Tower.
The humans of Arelin name Demon King towers based on their traits and actions.
Drakson, who invited me, was a beast through and through—so much so that humans called him the 'Beast Demon King.'
In behavior and appearance alike.
Krrrr—
The moment I entered the tower, the beastly stench hit me.
Musk, heaviness, savagery, madness.
Not pleasant things. Especially with raw hostility mixed in so blatantly.
I'd barely taken ten steps from the entrance when nausea welled up.
I didn't hold back because I couldn't.
"Keep rolling those eyeballs like that, and you'll never see again, you half-sentient beasts."
The tower's weakest dwellers, filling the 1st floor, yelped and slammed their heads down.
The same happened on the 2nd and 3rd floors. Their blatant, contrived behavior made me chuckle involuntarily.
Childish as ever, past or present.
"Not just in body, but your heads are beasts too, huh?"
"...This is Demon King Drakson's tower."
"No need to mind manners with rude trash."
"True. But even for a new Demon King, inviting you and going this far is excessive."
I sensed faint anger in Gordon's tone.
Of course. Even a blockhead wouldn't stand by if his lord was insulted.
"Stay out of it. I'll handle it."
"...Yes."
We climbed the tower again. I could tolerate up to the 5th floor. They still glared arrogantly, but a hint of killing intent made them yelp on their own.
But the 6th floor was different.
Lycanthropes. At a glance comparable to beastkin, but unlike true beastkin who could fully become beasts or humans, these were wretched half-breeds in every way.
They didn't hide their fangs despite my warning. They didn't conceal their hostility.
Seeing them openly obeying some normal one's command made me snicker.
At least they'd have been better if they could hide their trembling legs.
"How loyal."
But since it wasn't toward me, no need to respect it.
Kieeeek—
The lycanthrope screamed. It clutched its face and rolled on the floor. Thick beast blood pooled.
I tossed its one eyeball.
"I had no intention of causing a ruckus in another Demon King's tower, but if you're giving me a reason, I see no reason not to."
If you're looked down on, you're used. If you're seen as easy prey, they bare fangs first.
That's the demon world and demons.
"Right?"
I turned. Amid the lycanthrope pack, a massive beast rose.
He snatched the flying eyeball aimed at him.
"Impressive."
Squish—
Disgusting fluid dripped down his gray fur.
"Rumors say you overwhelmingly dominated the other cadets to take top spot. Well deserved."
"Is this how beasts treat guests?"
"I came out to greet you myself, so I've shown enough courtesy."
"Lack patience, don't you?"
"That's true too. How could I wait to see famous trash like you in person?"
"Same here. I was curious what kind of worm these so-called Demon Kings had become, cowering and holding hands in fear."
"Hahaha... Indeed. No wonder Archduke Alkain told us to watch you closely."
"Think that little grip would make blood pour from an eyeball?"
"It could from yours."
He growled. Killing intent exploded out, making Gordon flinch. I pulled him behind me and sneered.
"I can't fathom what makes you so arrogant."
"You're that great top graduate you've never beaten."
"A canon-mocking idiot worm, right?"
"If the Canon matters that much, did you toss out your pride as a Demon King?"
The killing intent thickened. It pressed stickily against my skin.
I pinched my nose and grimaced.
"Clean your mouth. I'm sensitive."
"Right. A rebel who ignored the Canon at graduation should have this much guts."
"This chat's dragging, but no tea served here."
Drakson nodded to a beastkin behind him. It brought a large hunk of meat and handed it to me.
"Amazing. You beasts drink meat?"
"We eat nothing but meat and blood."
"Barbarians."
I noticed a document bundled with the meat.
"Pretending to be civilized, huh?"
"Shut up and read."
Flutter—
The official document, made of demon world paper, unfolded. Drakson recited.
"A message from His Excellency Archduke Alkain. Demon King Berge Dayas shall, per the great Canon, kidnap a prince or princess within one month and report progress."
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙
"If the order is not followed, the tower's system privileges granted to Demon King Berge Dayas will be revoked."
Ha. I shut my mouth, the one about to bite into the meat. Appetite gone.
Since I won't follow it anyway, they're nailing it down by force?
Using another Demon King to pressure me, no less?
Thud—
I threw the meat hunk. Ground it underfoot.
"Thanks for the hospitality, but my tastes are refined. Can't eat cheap crap like this."
The beasts' faces hardened viciously.
"No intention of forcing our tastes on idiots."
"How generous."
"You haven't answered yet."
"Revoke tower system privileges if I don't comply, right?"
Rip—
I tore the document to shreds.
Amid the flying paper scraps, Drakson's enraged roar rang out.
"How dare you to His Excellency's message!"
"Don't worry. Even without this bullshit order, I planned to do it."
So.
"Don't order me around, you son of a bitch."
You reek.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
"What in the world—what in the world—what?!"
Gordon screamed.
"What were you thinking?!"
"Problem? Demon King battles are forbidden anyway. Drakson won't break it. His brain's beastly, so he follows his master's word to the letter."
"I know that! I'm asking why you tore Archduke His Excellency's order!"
Ah, that.
"Don't worry. Like I said, I'll kidnap the princess anyway. The tower system won't stop."
"That's not the issue right now!"
"It is. I was going to do it anyway—now it looks like I'm obeying orders."
"What's wrong with obeying Archduke His Excellency?"
"We could've parted nicely."
In my past life, he hadn't left a bad impression. But that's the past. Now, he's just a worm stripping my rightful privileges and threatening me.
At my firmness, Gordon changed the subject.
"...But didn't you say you wouldn't follow the Canon?"
"Not fully. No need to reject the useful parts."
"Then which princess? From what I looked into before coming here, among the northern continent kingdoms..."
"I said I wouldn't follow the Canon exactly."
"...You're not kidnapping a nearby kingdom's princess?"
They think once I open with the first move, I'll have no choice but to follow the Canon.
I've already built the first step: the tower. The moment I do the second—kidnapping—the rest flows naturally, regardless of the Demon King.
The enraged king will offer money to the hero guild to retrieve the lost child, and heroes will move.
But I have no intention of fulfilling that expectation.
Closing my eyes briefly, the system popped up, showing the tower's status.
⚔ TOWER STATUS ⚔
🏰 Tower Lord: Berge Dayas
👤 Sub-Tower Lord: Gordon Dirik
📊 Floors: 5
👥 Affiliation
💀 Demons: Gordon Dirik
🐉 Familiars: None
👹 Monsters: None
📍 Floor Status
1F: Empty
2F: ...
A pathetic sight.
In this state, if things flow smoothly, I'm done for.
So, target a princess no one cares if kidnapped, or a kingdom too weak to fight back.
Fortunately, I knew one such princess.
Long ago—in my previous life, one day.
When I targeted Arelin's superpower.
Relations with other Demon Kings were at their worst, and I was struggling against the sudden hero influx.
Then one Demon King visited me.
A smug idiot among Demon Kings, especially talkative if he had something to brag about.
He relished my hardship.
'Tsk tsk, I told you not to touch the Empire's imperial daughter, but you never listen. Even if you're hot shit, Arelin is completely different from other dimensions, right? Should've etched the seniors' advice into your bones.'
'Look at me. Kidnap a princess no one cares about, and it's smooth sailing. Bet you don't know the king ignores her, so only weak heroes trickle in—pure honey.'
He vanished giggling, unaware he'd have died instantly if Demon King battles weren't banned.
"Back then, I wanted to rip out all his teeth. Now it's helpful."
"What do you mean?"
"I've decided which kingdom's which princess to kidnap."
"Which one?"
"The 13th Princess of the Hildran Kingdom, at the continent's southernmost tip."
The king's illegitimate child, too frail for political marriage.
Her. Elena.