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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 7
Chapter Title: The Power of Money
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"...He said he won't buy the magi?"
Drakson was so shocked that he didn't even notice the meat he'd put in his mouth falling back out.
"Yes."
Casey picked up the fallen piece and tossed it in the trash. He wiped the corner of Drakson's mouth with a napkin.
"Are you sure? He actually contacted you?"
"Yes."
"He's really selling magi?"
"Yes."
"For what?"
"He mentioned human money."
"That's it? Is he really insane?"
Magi quantified from human emotions and life force was different from the magi of the demon realm.
Directly tied to life force, it was purer and more refined.
It was the only key to unlocking the chains that suppressed all demon kings due to dimensional interference.
It also served as an escape from long-stuck limits.
That was why all demonkin desperately enrolled in the Demon King Academy to become demon kings, and no demon king in history had ever sold their collected magi to another.
Let alone for something like 'money'—made by humans and usable only in Arelin?
All emotions, all life, were finite.
Even the fiercest rage.
Even the most searing grief.
Even the despair of wanting to die.
They all wore down and faded with time. Emotions toward a demon king were no different. The collected magi dwindled day by day.
That was why demon kings had to steadily kidnap new princes or princesses or intervene in the human world to stir trouble.
With the overflowing heroes, Arelin required extra caution, making magi collection even harder than in other dimensions.
Which made this proposal especially suspicious.
"Berge demanded a long-term deal. He wants to steadily convert Hildeラン's quantified rage into magi."
"Sounds like a lot."
"Hildeラン is one of the top powers even in the south. The people's adoration for the crown princess is immense. If we receive that rage and grief long-term..."
"It'd be enormous."
The canon was right after all. Mock the canon or not, kidnapping the top princess yielded results just like the canon predicted.
"What the hell is he scheming?"
"Maybe he's just crazy."
Who else would be crazy if not a demon king who mocked the canon more than anyone while following it—and selling magi to boot?
"Could be."
Drakson rested his chin on his hand, lost in thought. But he soon reached a conclusion.
"Accept it unconditionally."
No matter what dirty trick it was.
No matter how fishy it felt.
"Refusing this would be stupid."
It was an irresistibly sweet temptation.
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"...In the world. Selling magi for mere human money."
Drakson and Casey weren't the only ones thinking that.
Even the dark elf who'd directly proposed the sale on the demon king's behalf couldn't understand it.
Why did demonkin risk their lives crossing dimensions with a demon king?
Loyalty and trust in the demon king, desire to rack up achievements—sure, but the influence of magi was huge. To obtain magi purer and higher quality than the demon realm's.
"Didn't the higher-ups give us money when we first came down?"
"Spent it all going back and forth to Hildeラン. Transfer magic circles are damn expensive."
They hadn't placed much value on mid-realm money to begin with, so they hadn't gotten much—and it was a journey from one end of the continent to the other.
"Magi's important, of course. But that's only if you're alive to use it."
"Mm."
Gordon, who'd overheard the situation, nodded at that part.
"So, having human money opens up options?"
"Yeah."
"How, if even magi won't work?"
"We'll buy it."
The elf.
And then
"We'll need a stand-in."
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Demon king and hero.
Demon king and kingdom.
The era of unconditional hostility where both sides were all too familiar had passed, but it was just a transitional period—demon kings were still invaders.
Naturally, the dimension's races hated and despised demonkin.
So even if Berge threw money at humans to hire them, they wouldn't listen to him.
They'd probably report the crazy demon king who'd come down instead.
So what he wanted to say was.
"I need a front man."
To properly become a mastermind.
When Berge roared at the world as a demon king, someone to disrupt the human world in his stead.
Someone who would never betray him and follow faithfully.
'Heroes will take longer than expected to reach here, so I'll set up the board now.'
Heroes thirsted for fame, so they never hid their movements.
Naturally, rumors spread like wildfire across the continent the moment a hero stirred. Foolish as the canon's demon kings, but it worked in Arelin.
Because the canon was even dumber.
Crossing from one end of the continent to the other would take time.
It was a race against time. Whether he secured a front man first, hired humans to obstruct the heroes' movements, or the heroes arrived first.
In his deliberations, he'd already reached his destination.
The kingdom of Horton, a fortress city right next to the Erjest Mountains.
A northern continent kingdom with vast territory but sparse population due to barren land.
The defensive line guarding the kingdom's northernmost border.
"Halt! Who goes there!"
"A mercenary returning from a commission."
Berge held up the yeti pelt he'd skinned on the way. Moments later, the thick gates creaked open.
"Wandering the mountains alone? Ballsy."
"Took down a yeti solo?"
"Yeah."
"Don't recognize the face."
"Talking like you know every mercenary in the fortress."
A glint of greed flashed in the soldiers' eyes, but there was no further inspection. Hortonwork saw countless mercenaries come and go, after all.
But that was it. That was all Berge knew about Hortonwork.
He hadn't bothered learning much about humans in his previous life.
What he was sure of was.
'There's a slave market here.'
Arelin was a dimension where slavery thrived.
Humans dominated most of the continent, endless wars with other races, capturing them as slaves.
As time passed and interspecies wars ended, humans filled most vacancies—but covert otherrace trades still happened.
"Hm, how did it go again."
Some demon king had said the underworld's ecosystem was like demonkin's.
The law of the jungle. Strength ruled all, and with strength, nothing was unattainable.
And slave markets were inextricably linked to the underworld.
"Just beat 'em up moderately, and they'll spill everything."
Bonus: Ask about Hildeランの response too.
Berge moved lightly on his way.
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"Buuuurp..."
Mercenary Bark let out a long belch. The carbonation from the beer he'd just downed rose pleasantly.
"You filthy bastard, don't do it in my face!"
"Just instinct."
"Instinct five times a minute?"
"That's a total rabbit."
His comrades chuckled.
It was a good day. Monsters had assaulted the fortress, but they'd repelled them with minimal damage. His mercenary band had scored plenty of yeti byproducts.
"Speaking of, shouldn't we leave here soon too?"
"This sweet spot?"
They'd settled in Hortonwork three years ago, lured by big money staking their lives. They'd steeled themselves for death.
But lo and behold, it was a goldmine. Monsters appeared daily, but veteran soldiers handled them perfectly, yielding byproducts with little risk.
"True, but there's that rumor. A new demon king built a tower in the Erjest Mountains..."
"Ah, that nonsense?"
Bark snickered.
"You must not know demon kings well. They don't build towers in places too dangerous to reach. They pick spots heroes or soldiers can actually get to, right? And kidnapping Hildeランの crown princess? Why would an Erjest demon king bother? You seen demon kings trek to the continent's edge for princesses?"
"Then the rumors?"
"Wrong info. Demon kings are near Hildeラン or one or two kingdoms away at most. That's standard."
"Hero guild's in uproar, though? Even offering huge rewards, they refuse Erjest commissions."
"Showmanship. What's the crown princess to Hildeラン? Indispensable heir. They'll commission anything, so heroes are just bargaining for more. You know how money-mad those hero scum are."
"Fair point."
The mercenaries nodded one by one.
That was when it happened.
"That's an intriguing story."
A heavy voice pierced their ears. In that instant, one mercenary screamed as he flew through the air.
"Gahk."
He slumped limply.
"..."
Cognitive dissonance. Bark couldn't grasp what had just happened. His response was slow, and that brief gap was enough to take down all his comrades.
"One mouth's enough. You seem to know the most."
The shadow dusted off his hands. In the darkness, those coldly sunken obsidian eyes made Bark's legs give out.
The alcohol burned off instantly.
His long mercenary instincts screamed: No chance of winning.
"Don't be scared. Answer my questions honestly, and there won't be issues."
A pale white hand patted his shoulder reassuringly.
Bark nodded furiously.
"I-if you spare me, anything...!"
"Shh."
A pale finger pressed his lips.
"My ears work fine."
"Y-yes."
"That demon king talk was interesting."
Bark inwardly cursed the comrade who'd brought up demon kings. If he survived, he'd smack the back of their head.
"Is it true a demon king's in Erjest?"
"Rumors say so. But few believe it. Demon kings don't build towers where no one can reach."
Indeed.
A smile curved the man's lips.
"Heroes aren't taking commissions?"
"They refuse Erjest ones. Say it's too dangerous, but honestly, just haggling for more money."
"Even with the crown princess kidnapped?"
"No way. No scum greedier than heroes in this world. Guaranteed. Rumors say hero guilds collude with demon kings anyway."
"I see."
Bark sighed in relief at the satisfied look.
"One more thing. Wandered back alleys for hours. Nothing."
No subject.
"No underworld in this city?"
"N-no."
Fortunately, he knew this too.
"Hortonwork always has legions stationed, so security's tight. Too many rough mercenaries for underworld to take root."
"I see."
Wasted effort.
The man clicked his tongue.
"Then you'll guide me."
"Pardon?"
"Where's the slave market?"
"East gate side..."
"Good, you know. Lead on."
"...Pardon?"
*Click.*
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His hunch was right.
'Nesting in Erjest Mountains was the correct choice.'
No heroes stepping up. He'd bought more time than expected.
But with Hildeラン frothing at the mouth to charge, they'd send strong heroes eventually—no room for complacency.
"This way."
The mercenary led him to a massive mansion not far from the east gate. He sensed numerous presences.
Tall walls enclosed it; inside sprawled a vast garden with many tents scattered about.
Inside the tents: magically reinforced iron cages holding chained slaves.
"This the place?"
"Yes."
Berge quickly scanned the garden with the mercenary in tow. Dozens of slaves, but none he wanted.
All humans.
"...Not to your liking?"
The mercenary cautiously asked, seeing his grimace.
"This all?"
"...For now."
"Means more."
"Yes. But for VIP guests only—no randoms allowed."
"What if I must enter?"
"...That."
*Toss.*
Berge threw him a money pouch. Bark caught it reflexively, peeked inside, and gaped.
"Th-this?"
"Find me a slave I like, it's yours."
"R-really?"
It was an experiment.
Berge knew humans were money-grubbers. He'd seen them fight and feud over it.
But exactly how far? Would they betray demon king enemies for it?
So he tested. Not demon king level, but would the thug who'd knocked out his comrades treat him well for cash?
"Entrust it to me, and I'll do my utmost!"
Greed and sense of duty flickered in the man's eyes.
Success.
'At this level, it's like magi to demonkin.'
Demonkin betrayed for mid-realm magi too, after all.
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"Entrust it to me, and I'll do my utmost!"
'How much is all this?'
Not bulging, but solid gold coins—not coppers or silvers. Two of them.
Equivalent to what he'd gotten selling today's yeti byproducts. For just guiding? Of course he'd do it.
Luckily, Bark had connections. Built over three years in Hortonwork.
"Ah, really can't."
"Please, man. We're not strangers. And you're buying high-price—good's good, right?"
"Ugh, fine."
Slipping the guide a silver, he opened the door to the basement.
Descending dark stairs lit poorly by torches led to a vast cavern. Scattered iron cages dotted it.
Just five.
But Bark was certain the gold pouch was his. A smile played on his client's lips.
'What's he looking at?'
He followed the gaze.
There was an elf with snow-white skin.