Chapter 204: Recruitnt
Reina lted the frozen sea again. Berje ignited flas of mana and erased all the demonic energy.
After shoving the surrendered heroes into the tower, they dragged the floating battleship and descended into the sea.
As if nothing had happened, the ocean regained its calm.
* * *
“There aren’t enough prisons.”
“It would be better to pack the heroes onto a single floor.”
All heroes except the Stars were fitted with mana-restraining handcuffs and assigned to the 10th floor.
It was the deep sea anyway, so even if they were kept on the 1st floor, escaping would be difficult, but it was a precaution just in case.
The Frost Demon race took charge of surveillance.
Berje entered a eting to decide how they would be treated.
All Four Heavenly Kings had gathered, along with the two demons who had once been Demon Kings, and the adjutant as well.
“So you’re saying we should take all of them in as retainers?”
“The more, the better. Especially if they’re all heroes.”
At Ernan’s assertion, Berje fell into thought. The first ti was hard, but the second and third were easy.
Given that he had already taken in not only heroes but even princesses as retainers, accepting a group of heroes that had shrunk from a thousand to about eight hundred was a tempting proposition.
‘Eight hundred retainers made up entirely of heroes.’
And if those retainers all united around Hillan Cargill and seized control of the Hero Guild?
With the Guildmaster who had been disguised as Balraf already captured, the Hero Guild had beco an ownerless stronghold. There was no reason Hillan could not take control of it.
“If we bring in even the Stars as retainers, it might really be possible.”
“Not ‘might be.’ It is possible. We can put the Hero Guild entirely in the Demon King’s grasp.”
And that wasn’t all.
The Hero Guild was, in both na and reality, the greatest and strongest organization on the continent. Since its founding, it had seeped into the continent over a long period of ti, to the point where one could no longer discuss the political situation without ntioning the Hero Guild.
Nations connected to the Guild, imperial families, royal families, and even nobles and rchants.
After incidents where countries invaded others under the pretext of subjugating Demon Kings, agreents had been made to prevent recurrence, and from then on, to slay a Demon King one had to always borrow the hands of heroes and the Hero Guild.
Naturally, ties with the Guild deepened, and the Guild’s connections spread across the continent like a spider’s web.
“If their numbers grow, won’t it be hard to manage them?”
Vivian asked.
“What does it matter? Once they’re taken in as retainers, that’s the end of it.”
Once soone beca a retainer, betrayal was impossible. Over ti, retainers would naturally realize that after death, their souls would belong to the Demon King and suffer pain worse than death itself.
Except for one foolish Black Mage who had been cornered too quickly to understand that.
“But how?”
“We’ll use Armani’s Orb.”
“That’s impossible. The connection to the Demon Realm has been cut.”
Berje’s connection had been severed long ago, and Vivian had ended up the sa way after paying the price for hurling abuse at Archduke Arkaine.
“Are you stupid? Does Reina look like she’s not a Demon King?”
“Ah, right. It hasn’t been cut yet?”
“What are you all talking about? My tower disappeared. The Demon King’s authority is gone, so how could I connect to the Demon Realm?”
“Purchasing things in exchange for Demonic Points is still possible. The tower itself didn’t disappear, it was absorbed. Part of your authority remains.”
“Is that true?”
“If your body is in contact with the throne.”
Reina placed her hand on the throne. Using her authority, she connected to the Demon Realm.
“...It’s true.”
“Since you’re connected anyway, buy Armani’s Orbs. A lot of them. A ridiculous amount.”
“My Demonic Points are at zero, though.”
“Ah, is that because all of yours have been attributed to ?”
With the tower gone, could Demonic Points still be transferred?
After briefly checking the tower’s system, Berje took Reina’s hand.
“This should do it.”
Through physical contact, Demonic Points flowed over. For a mont, Ernan’s eyes sparkled, but no one noticed.
‘Mm. I should probably just stay still. Do your best, Demon King. I’m cheering for you.’
Except for Ellena, who was beside her.
“This is far too much.”
“Buy Armani’s Orbs with all of it. If it gets out that you’ve beco my retainer as well, Archduke Arkaine will definitely cut the connection.”
“Understood.”
Thousands of orbs poured out before Berje. Only then did he wear a satisfied smile.
“But I’m not sure we can persuade them.”
“We start by persuading the Stars. Then we use the Stars to persuade the rest.”
“Ralph.”
Lavinia raised her hand.
“You want to persuade Ralph yourself?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“.”
“Because he recognized who you were?”
“Secret. Promise. Couldn’t kill.”
“You made a promise and couldn’t keep it because you couldn’t kill him? So you want to take responsibility?”
“Yes.”
Did Lavinia have this kind of side to her?
“Pinky.”
“You linked fingers, so you have to keep it no matter what.”
What was this? Did hooking fingers really an that much to Lavinia?
‘Have I ever ignored a promise made with a hooked finger?’
After a mont of thought, Berje concluded that he hadn’t.
“Fine.”
“Yes.”
“I’ll help too.”
“I know your skills very well.”
“Why are you looking at ?”
“I didn’t say anything.”
“I didn’t say you did either.”
Kaede’s gaze sharpened. Berje turned his head away.
“But Balraf Dislode—no, Daniel Deyrus—that one is out of the question.”
“That’s not the na of the Guildmaster I know.”
Ernan, the Crown Princess of the Kingdom of Hilderan, had plenty of information and connections related to the Hero Guild. The Guildmaster was never called by such a na.
“Is he really Daniel Deyrus? The one who killed two Demon Kings hundreds of years ago and vanished along with the third tower?”
“He said it himself, so it’s probably true.”
“But the outer shell was....”
“Balraf Dislode. I suspect that was just one of his identities. Who knows how many more he has?”
“...I had no idea he was wearing a shell.”
“Neither did I.”
That was the chilling part. Demon Kings, Stars—no one had known.
More than anything, Berje was horrified that even he himself had failed to realize it. A Demon Dragon whose senses were unmatched.
Regardless of whether that was Daniel Deyrus’s ability or not, it was sothing that could never be taken lightly.
“I’ll interrogate him personally.”
“Yes. Then what will you do about the main force that’s coming later?”
The heroes had arrived first only because the floating battleship’s speed was beyond imagination; the hero’s march was not yet over.
“Is there any need to worry? There’s no way those without a floating battleship can find the tower.”
“I’m asking whether you’ll ignore them completely, or whether you’ll rge the stragglers before they retreat.”
“The latter would require conditions.”
“At least two days until the main force arrives, and then several more days wandering the sea while searching for the floating battleship.”
They would never imagine that the hero contingent and the floating battleship had been annihilated and all captured. They would just think they had missed each other slightly.
“If it drags on too long, they’ll sense sothing’s wrong and retreat. Then it’ll be awkward to rge the heroes. You’re not going to send the floating battleship back, are you?”
“Obviously not.”
All of the floating battleship would be dismantled to extract the floating stone. Then it would be combined with the tower to create the Sky Tower.
It had been the dwarves’ grand ambition, but it had now beco Berje’s as well.
“Then you have to persuade them within those few days. You’ll need to get the story straight—that Balraf Dislode was defeated by the Demon King and retreated.”
Only then would there be justification for heroes surviving after the floating battleship vanished in the open sea.
It would make no sense for them to have their floating battleship stolen by the Demon King and still swim hundreds of kiloters across the ocean alive.
Maybe the Stars or top-ranked heroes, but not all seven hundred.
“Ah, you’re not going to release Balraf Dislode, right?”
“Obviously not.”
The debate between Berje and Ernan grew increasingly heated.
Reina listened quietly, then whispered to Vivian beside her.
“If what I’m sensing is correct, that princess seems to be leading the eting.”
“That’s right.”
“Why?”
“Because she’s Berje’s lover.”
“...A human? Even if he takes humans in as retainers and uses them, isn’t that a different matter?”
“Don’t expect common sense from Berje.”
“...That’s true. Berje’s tower and actions were completely different from what I knew and learned.”
“And we’re retainers now, right? Bluntly speaking, what would we do even if Berje dated an orc?”
“...That would be a bit much.”
Reina believed that just as her own dignity and honor mattered, so too did the dignity and honor of Berje, whom she served.
Everything he showed would beco the pride of his retainers. He had to be a model.
From that perspective, Ernan was acceptable. She was human, but a contractor of the Spirit King. Not now, but given ti, she would grow strong enough to face even a Demon King alone.
But an orc, rely a monster, was still unacceptable.
“I’m joking. Unless Berje completely loses his mind, that’d never happen. As expected, our Frost Demon lady doesn’t get jokes.”
“I simply didn’t realize it was a joke because it wasn’t funny.”
“What did you say?”
“Your jokes are vulgar and trivial. Not worth laughing at.”
“Say that again!”
“Be quiet. We’re in a eting.”
A conversation that had started amicably and devolved into conflict ended when Berje barked at them.
* * *
Ralph Schmitz couldn’t believe the current situation.
“Retainer.”
“They want you to beco the Demon King’s retainer.”
“Fine.”
“You sound awfully pleased.”
“Rozel.”
“You, .”
“You found out the princess’s true identity.”
“Rozel.”
“So it’s unconditional.”
“Unconditional?”
“Beco a retainer or die.”
“Rozel!”
“Jeez, why are you shouting!”
Rozel Charnte irritably covered her ears.
“What is this supposed to be?”
“We’re persuading you.”
“Then why!”
Why were the princess and you together persuading to beco the Demon King’s subordinate?
“You lost to the princess. Right?”
“That’s true.”
“And you still don’t get the situation?”
“...His Highness really is.”
“Yes, a retainer of the Demon King of Dark Fla. It’s a childish na, but she holds one axis of the Four Heavenly Kings.”
“Then why are you?”
“I kind of ended up like this too....”
Rozel Charnte laughed awkwardly.
“Leave.”
“You’re saying you’ll keep your integrity? Then you die.”
“I can’t betray humanity after becoming a hero.”
“That’s harsh. Then are the princess and I traitors to humanity?”
“Aren’t you?”
“We’re not not that, but we’re not.”
“What nonsense are you spouting.”
Rozel desperately racked her brain. Lavinia had said they had to persuade Ralph sohow, and the Demon King had said the sa. He had even said he’d give a bit more of his blood if they succeeded.
“The Demon King of Dark Fla is different from the other Demon Kings.”
“Different, sure. He’s the one who slaughtered countless heroes and caused chaos, ruining the current peace.”
“Which is why we’re trying to reestablish peace. After all, a hundred years of peace was achieved through unseen collusion with Demon Kings.”
“Falsehood and Dark Fla are different.”
“They are. The Demon King of Dark Fla could destroy the continent anyti he wanted.”
“What nonsense is that?”
“The Four Heavenly Kings. Do you think only Lady Lavinia is a princess?”
“...What are you saying?”
“The Dark Knight is Kaede Zespine.”
“The 9th Imperial Princess of Zespine...!”
“And whether she’s a Giant of Hell or a halfling, that’s Louise Berfht.”
“....”
“So then, question. Who do you think the Spirit Sorceress of Darkness is?”
It wasn’t difficult. Which made it all the more absurd.
“Ernan Hilderan.”
“That’s right. The Crown Princess of Hilderan, the great spirit sorceress who summoned the Spirit King, is one of the Demon King’s Four Heavenly Kings. And that’s not all. Hillan Cargill is also the Demon King’s retainer.”
“What...did you say?”
Ralph’s brow furrowed.
“Since when!”
“Since before I first t you.”
“...We were completely played. But back then, it was the Beast Demon King’s hero’s march.”
“Exactly. They deliberately fed the Beast Demon King to Hillan Cargill to raise him. That’s what I focused on.”
“What do you an?”
“Not all Demon Kings are the sa. Demon Kings don’t necessarily oppose each other either. And from what I hear, the relationship between the Demon King of Dark Fla and the other Demon Kings is the worst. Especially with the False Demon King.”
Rozel Charnte whispered.
“You want to tear the False Demon King to pieces, don’t you? Don’t you think this is the most certain way? In fact, the humans you want to protect so badly would keep the False Demon King alive until the very end.”
Because that peace had been brought about by falsehood.
“....”
Ralph fell silent.
“...I want a mont to think.”
“No. Now.”
“Your Highness, I need ti too....”
“Imdiately.”
Ralph glanced at Rozel for help, but she shook her head.
“There’s no ti. The Demon King’s goal is to send you up once the main force arrives.”
“...That would be the most natural.”
“Acceptance, bone.”
“Your Highness, really?”
“Yes.”
“What are you talking about?”
“You’re really lucky. If you accept now, he’ll make you a shield out of dragon bone.”
“Roger.”
“Through Roger Friedrich.”
“Roger? Is Roger here?”
“Yes. Roger has long since beco the Demon King’s dog and has been faithfully making mana cannons and weapons.”
“...That’s truly horrifying. But dragon bone?”
“That’s real. I guarantee it.”
Ralph nodded.
“I accept.”
Even Ralph Schmitz, who thought of humanity first, couldn’t resist revenge, and a dragon bone shield made by Roger Friedrich.
And such persuasion was being carried out on all the Star heroes.
* * *
“You persuaded Ralph Schmitz?”
“Yes.”
“Well done.”
Berje handed over chocolate. Lavinia accepted it happily.
“What about the others?”
“Aina Diaphrin was easier than expected.”
Ernan, who had taken on persuading Aina Diaphrin, smiled.
“Easy?”
“As expected of a mage. She was furious at , but when I said she could experience the Water Spirit King’s power up close, she was completely sold.”
Spirits were pure forces of nature. For mages who manipulated elental power, they were an eternal ideal, and no mage would pass up the chance to witness and feel a Spirit King’s power firsthand.
Of course, there had been jealousy and envy toward Ernan, but it had been resolved well.
“Well?”
“Yes. When I promised the sa compensation you gave Rozel, she actually wanted to join.”
“What? Who decided that! My tail is absolutely not allowed!”
“Human mages are more lacking in integrity and greater cause than I expected, with greed taking precedence.”
The words of one flailing Demon King and another who seed to have realized sothing brushed past.
“And Rozel has gotten stronger recently, hasn’t she? That influenced it too. I heard the two of them are long-standing rivals.”
“Oh? That’s interesting.”
The idea of them competing with each other to beco Berje’s retainers was quite intriguing.
His gaze shifted.
“Vivian.”
“Don’t covet my tail.”
“Shut up and report.”
“...How did my life end up like this.”
Muttering, Vivian soon fixed her expression.
“Of course it was a success. It’s my specialty. He had a strong desire to live, saying he hadn’t achieved anything yet. And he idolized Hillan-whatever too. That’s why I asked you.”
“Communication with Hillan.”
“That’s right. After talking with Hillan a few tis, he ca over.”
Of course, she had constantly layered suggestions that it was fine, that it was natural.
“Good work. Hmm.”
“Sothing bothering you?”
“No, it was just easier than expected.”
“That’s how it usually is. There really aren’t many people who beco heroes with great conviction.”
They beca heroes because they were chosen. In a world where a thousand years had passed coexisting with Demon Kings, did a Demon King really feel like an enemy that had to be slain?
Did becoming a hero necessarily an wanting to kill the Demon King and save the continent?
No. To them, being a hero was just a title and a job. Because they had much, because they were chosen, their lives were all the more precious.
In such circumstances, how many would truly leap into the profession of hero with grand ideals or a sense of mission?
“Of course, there are heroes with ideals. But there are far more who don’t. That’s why there’s even a derogatory term for heroes—‘chosen rcenaries.’”
“I see.”
“That’s how it is. Everyone values their life the most.”
“Understood. Kaede, what about you?”
“Well, he actually made an offer to first.”
“What kind?”
“He begged to be spared. He offered a deal—if we let him go, he’d reveal Balraf Dislode’s true identity.”
“A deal?”
Berje’s brow furrowed.
“Telling us an identity we already know is a deal? Is Pablo Barkat an idiot?”
“He was knocked unconscious and dragged to the tower before the Demon King and Guildmaster’s match was decided, so he probably didn’t see it.”
“Is that so? Then I should take a look.”
He couldn’t resist his curiosity about what kind of nonsense he would spout.
There might even be so usable information to pressure that Daniel Deyrus bastard.
When it was her turn, Louise shouted.
“I persuaded all the dwarves!”
“You did?”
“No, I just lightly put my axe in, and Roger did the rest. They went berserk when we said we’d smash the floating battleships, but when he said the tower would be cooler than ships, they started coming over one by one. Of course, we also promised they could work with dragon byproducts and the tower’s remains. I’m a dwarf too, but craftsn are really simple. But....”
“But?”
“You really are making that Sky Tower or whatever, right? I cooperated so eagerly because I want to see it too.”
“Don’t worry about that.”
Now, I’m serious about the Sky Tower too.
Berje muttered.
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