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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 6
Chapter Title: 13 Without the 3
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"The Hildean Kingdom has been turned upside down."
"That guy's got some swollen balls."
Crunch-
Drakson took a massive bite out of the red meat dripping with blood.
"I told him to kidnap a princess, and he kidnaps one from Hildean. The crown princess, no less. What do you think that means?"
"It's proof he's arrogant and foolish."
Adjutant Casey stated firmly.
"What's your evidence?"
"First, he dared to insult the canon at the Demon King Academy graduation ceremony. Second, he bared his teeth at you, Demon King. Third, his overflowing confidence led him to not even properly research Aren. He's the type who can't see what's around him because he's so full of himself."
"I thought he wouldn't follow the canon. But then he kidnaps the crown princess, sticking to it faithfully. How should I interpret this?"
I had assumed he wouldn't kidnap a princess at all. And even if he did, I never imagined he'd target the crown princess, the highest in the line of succession, just like the canon dictates.
"A typical Demon King might do that. But this guy's the one who treated the canon like trash. Do you really think he's following it more faithfully than anyone?"
"But he broke other rules. His tower is in a treacherous wasteland that repels human footsteps, and he chose a distant kingdom instead of one nearby."
"He's unpredictable."
Crunch-
Drakson irritably chewed on the bare bone protruding from the meat.
"Still, I think his desire to follow the canon is stronger."
"Why?"
"Because aside from his adjutant, he has nothing. So he's adapting the canon to the situation in the best way possible."
No matter how much of a newbie he is who just descended, Berge has no openings where even a challenge might work.
"Adapting to the situation?"
"He has no forces, so he built his tower on the Erjest Mountains to minimize conflicts. But he wants to follow the canon, so he kidnapped the crown princess."
"Don't forget he insulted the canon at graduation. But his actions since descending to Aren do fit what you're saying best."
"Pretending to hate the canon while loving it more than anyone doesn't make sense, right?"
"Is he crazy?"
The Demon King and his adjutant fell silent. After a moment, the Demon King spoke again.
"Contact him first. Up to now, he's done well, so we should at least give him some praise."
And while we're at it, probe what his intentions are.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
I sensed something was off because the magi being converted into points through the tower was excessively high.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙
[13219pt]
······?
I rubbed my eyes. But the number didn't change.
Why is this?
For kidnapping an insignificant bastard princess that even the king ignores and just a few days after, this was a bit too much.
"Demon King. Incoming communication from Demon King Drakson."
"Again?"
That was when Drakson's contact came in.
『I'm contacting you to congratulate you. We parted on bad terms, but as a senior Demon King, I should acknowledge that achievement.』
『You hated the canon, yet you follow it faithfully. Having a gap between your outward appearance and true nature is one of the virtues of a fine demon race member, but you've surpassed mere excellence. You completely fooled me, didn't you?』
"What nonsense is this?"
『Do you want to play dumb to the end? Fine, I won't pry further if that's what you want.』
"Did you eat raw meat and lose your mind? I'm asking what you're talking about."
『Is there any need to hide it that much? Whatever. If you want, I'll say it myself.』
『I don't like you personally, but I'm impressed by your exploits. As expected of someone who already had a plan. I didn't think you'd bring the crown princess of Hildean Kingdom.』
···Crown princess?
『Whether it's part of a plan or just youthful impulse, I wish you luck. Either way, if you succeed as a Demon King, it's good for all of us, right?』
The crystal orb lost its light.
"······."
And I was at a loss for words.
What did I just hear?
Crown princess? Not the 13th princess?
A thick sense of foreboding flashed through my mind. The nape of my neck went numb.
By the time I came to my senses, I was already running toward the 4th floor.
'No way.'
She's the princess I took from the 13th princess's palace.
True to her reputation as an illegitimate child the king ignores, there was no one around the palace.
She wasn't even a knight or a mage.
'The crown princess is a spirit sorcerer.'
Hildean wasn't part of my active area in the southern continent, but its crown princess was fairly famous.
A genius spirit sorcerer who contracted with spirits of four attributes at a young age due to her outstanding talent.
The Hildean Kingdom showed insane obsession with her, so no Demon King dared to touch her.
So there's no way.
If she were the crown princess, she'd have immense mana in her body.
If she were the crown princess, she'd be surrounded by guardian knights.
If she were the crown princess, she wouldn't be in the 13th princess's chambers.
As I rationalized it to myself, the moment I set foot on the 4th floor.
I spotted something that shouldn't be there.
There was a 'spirit' patting an earth wall blocking the corner of what should have been empty space.
A hollow laugh escaped me.
"You're here?"
In perfect timing, a door made of earth opened. Out came the princess, looking somewhat disheveled yet retaining her undimmed beauty, acting perfectly natural.
I shoved her aside and entered.
Earth bed, earth furniture, earth chairs. This was beyond what the powerless 13th princess could achieve.
The clear traces of spirits were impossible to ignore.
And even funnier.
'···Mana is abundant.'
Things I hadn't sensed at all until the moment I kidnapped her and brought her to the 4th floor now made my blood boil.
"···What are you?"
"I don't understand the definition of your question."
"13th princess."
I glared at her.
"···You're not."
"Of course I'm not Elena."
That short exchange shattered my last hope. Her eyes widened.
"You don't mean you mistook me for Elena···?"
"Your name."
"I'm Ernyan Hildean."
The 1st princess. The crown princess, that renowned spirit sorcerer from my previous life.
"Why the hell are you here?"
"Because you kidnapped me."
Wrong question.
"Wasn't that the 13th princess's palace?"
"Yes."
"Why were you there?"
"Does that matter?"
It does. A lot.
"That's why I asked. Can you handle kidnapping me?"
She definitely said that. Why didn't I ask what gave her the confidence back then? Why didn't I confirm if she was really the 13th princess?
"I thought it was weird, but it was just a mistake? Well, even crazy Demon Kings don't touch heirs of kingdoms."
She gave a self-deprecating smile.
"What, will you send me back now?"
Her naturally flowing words touched my reverse scale.
"Nonsense."
She assumes I'll naturally send her back.
She thinks the me, who once toppled multiple kingdoms and achieved feats no other Demon King could, is scared.
"I did intend to kidnap the 13th princess, but it doesn't change anything if it's you."
How dare a puny human.
'I'm not scared.'
Just a temporary retreat. A crouch before advancing ten steps.
She said nothing. But her subtle gaze was annoying.
"I won't be sending you back."
So I gave her a firm answer.
'Hildean and Erjest are polar opposites.'
Northern continent and southern continent. True geography where they can't bring an army even if they wanted to.
'Plus, the Erjest Mountains themselves are a natural fortress.'
A treasure trove of monsters untouched by human hands.
Even I, a Demon King, can't deal with some due to interference right now, and blizzards rage endlessly.
How many heroes could even climb it?
Besides, it's hidden in a basin. Even if they climb, they won't find it.
So.
"I'm the Demon King, and you're the princess. If you want to go back quietly, don't provoke me further."
"···Understood."
Princess Ernyan acquiesced.
"But how did you fool me? I felt no mana at all."
"···That."
Ernyan hesitated briefly, fiddling with her ring.
At that moment, the spirits vanished. The swirling mana disappeared without a trace.
"···A sealing artifact."
Even in my weakened state, to fool my eyes.
"It's a treasure passed down in the royal family. I heard it's an artifact once used by a hero."
"A hero's sealer···."
Even weakened, if it can fool a Demon King's eyes, it's no ordinary item.
Greed stirred.
At that moment.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙
Lost emotions have found their target. The wrath of many toward Demon King Berge Dayas has been detected.
They've pinpointed me.
The full-scale magi collection has begun.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
A lavish palace. The atmosphere in the grand hall filled with dozens of nobles grew icy cold.
"What in the···."
The king swallowed his rage.
"What were those so-called guardian knights doing?"
There was no shout, but the low fury in his voice sent chills.
"···We apologize. While the princess shook off the knights and headed to the Iasins Palace."
"So."
The king slammed the throne. Shattered fragments littered the hall floor.
"You're saying the guardian knights didn't even notice the kingdom's crown princess disappear? Does that make sense?"
"Execute us!"
"Execute us!"
The knights prostrated flat.
"If you truly wish to die, I can behead you myself."
"······."
"Your Majesty, first we must identify who kidnapped the princess."
"Who else? Obviously a Demon King."
No matter how impulsive Ernyan was, this was the royal palace. Only Demon Kings could breach the guards and knights silently to kidnap her.
Demon Kings are specialists in kidnapping like no one else.
That's why he's sparing the guardian knights who deserve broken necks right now.
"However, why would the Demon Kings break taboo and kidnap Princess Ernyan···."
"That's my question too. They wouldn't unless they'd gone mad."
"Didn't the Demon King of Lust touch Akan Kingdom's crown prince recently and get his head chopped by hundreds of heroes? They saw that example and··· ah."
The minister who spoke let out an exclamation. The king and nobles, pondering his words, realized it too.
"···A new one has descended."
"If it were an existing Demon King, the Hero Guild would have noticed some sign. You're right."
"Like parasites. They keep showing up relentlessly."
The king ground his teeth.
"I'll commission the Hero Guild immediately."
"I hate thinking about how much those money-grubbing vermin will demand."
"Shouldn't we rescue the princess first?"
"Yes, you're right."
Ernyan was his hope.
Her overwhelming talent surpassing his own and imperial qualities were a vessel containing all the kingdom's long-held dreams.
With the vessel stolen, everything inside would spill. So they must retrieve it. By any means. And make an example. So no one dares covet again.
"Money doesn't matter. Track his movements, find the tower's location. Commission the Hero Guild to behead him and retrieve the princess."
"Understood!"
Hildean Kingdom's messengers galloped in all directions.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
"We've discovered traces of the new Demon King and the presumed princess!"
"Route is north! Passed through multiple kingdoms via teleportation circles!"
"D-Destination··· presumed to be the Erjest Mountains. No sightings after that."
Initially, Hildean Kingdom and the Hero Guild took the incident lightly.
They felt unbearable rage at the audacity of kidnapping the crown princess, but once they knew the truth, it was laughable.
The stupidity of a freshly summoned newbie Demon King.
He'd acted without even researching Aren. So dealing with him should be easy.
"A freshly summoned Demon King is pathetically weak. Mobilize heroes and behead him immediately."
But when the destination, presumed tower location, was confirmed as Erjest Mountains, they faltered.
"Why there?"
"Why would a guy that far away come all the way to Hildean?"
"Different from other Demon Kings."
Demon King towers weren't next to kingdoms but not in overly dangerous places either.
Nor did they tangle with distant kingdoms.
No one knew why, but it was the norm. Aren dwellers were used to that norm.
Now a new Demon King shattered that norm.
Normally, they'd shrug it off as a Demon King's whim. The problem was Hildean and the Hero Guild had to rescue the princess.
"Erjest Mountains?"
"Enter that mad place?"
The heroes refused the commission.
Erjest Mountains were a hell where nine out of ten died to eternal blizzards and snowfield monsters.
Even world-empowered heroes had limits.
"We want to catch a Demon King, not commit suicide!"
Naturally, the princess rescue stalled.
"I'll go myself. Lead the army and bulldoze the snowfields."
"Your Majesty!"
"Impossible!"
"Other countries won't stay idle!"
"Are we to abandon the princess?!"
"There's a suitable hero."
"Who?"
The king brightened.
"Remember the heroes who joined the subjugation of the Demon King of Lust recently?"
"About two hundred went and half didn't survive. Only three who faced the Demon King directly lived."
"Among them, one who contributed immensely to beheading the Demon King. Your Majesty knows him···."
"Hillun! Hillun Kargil, the Hero of Hildean!"
"Yes! He can climb the mountains and bring back the Demon King's head!"
"But will he accept? He hasn't appeared yet···."
"He obsesses over fame. Send knights to nail it in front of the people···."
"Ho."
The king and ministers nodded with interest.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
"···Damn it."
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙
[45228pt]
The converted magi rises sharply. An enormous gain, but I can't purely rejoice.
It means Hildean's rage is that great.
And their response will be certain.
The only thing I can rely on is Erjest's natural fortress.
The problem is strong heroes it won't work against.
"Guys who can climb the mountain and find the tower are beyond my current level."
Convert all the gained magi into my own power?
'No, that's not ideal.'
Magi from negative emotions, intertwined with the tower system, allows various things.
Reduce dimensional interference for Demon Kings and demons, absorb personally to boost power, assign familiars, set up magic circles and traps in the tower, expand territory via demonization.
But none are certain right now.
Magi is rising fast, but far short against a determined kingdom.
'Need another way.'
Like blocking their movements entirely···.
'Right.'
Like a lightning bolt, an idea struck.
'I'm aiming to be the black curtain anyway···.'
Can't do it myself, but borrow others' hands to hinder heroes?
'Humans prioritize personal greed above all. And greed's peak is money.'
Humans betray country, group, siblings, even parents.
If I use them to bog down the heroes in mud.
"Gordon!"
"Yes, Demon King."
Gordon, waiting outside, entered.
"Contact Drakson immediately."
"What shall I say?"
"Ask if he wants to buy Hildean's magi with human money."
No Demon King uses it, but the tower can transfer magi between us.