Chapter 211: Departed Once Again
“Huuaaaaaaah...!”
Vivian, who had unilaterally cut off communications with Archduke Arkaine, shed bitter tears.
“If only, if only it had been just a little faster...!”
She could have escaped this godforsaken place!
“So you regret becoming my vassal? That was sothing you brought upon yourself, you know?”
“Do you call that sothing to say right now? If we’re being precise, I was the one who took the fall for your ss! I was frad unfairly!”
“Let such trivial matters go.”
“Trivial? You cut off my tail and my horns! Trivial? And on top of that, you shalessly dumped that greedy lunatic bitch right next to —how is it strange that I’d regret it?!”
“But you don’t have what Archduke Arkaine wants.”
That ga piece called a ‘tower’.
“...You took it! Responsibility...!”
Vivian, who had been screaming at the top of her lungs, clamped her mouth shut herself.
Then she quickly checked her surroundings.
“What am I even doing talking to myself?”
“...There’s no one around, right?”
“There is Reina.”
“No, not Reina. I an, like....”
“Like what?”
Elves, or spirits, or other princesses. Especially soone like Ellena Hilderan.
Fortunately, there was no one.
“So what I ant was, as a vassal! Since you took in as a vassal, you should take responsibility, that’s all!”
“That was how I understood it.”
“No, I an.”
Vivian rambled incoherently.
“...Forget everything I said. I’m just your loyal vassal. It’s a sha I couldn’t go back, but yes, that’s all it is.”
“...What do you an?”
“Nothing! It ans nothing!”
Vivian forced an awkward smile. Berje was suspicious, but he did not bother prying further. It was hardly unusual for Vivian to act strange.
“Then Reina, you’ll likely receive contact again soon.”
“I believe so.”
“Then since the strategy using Vivian has failed, we’ll use Dorche, that one.”
Berje had heard about Dorche several tis while in the Demon Realm. But due to the nature of Demon Dragons rarely interacting even among their own kind, he only knew that ‘such a being existed’, nothing in detail.
“Can using Dorche kill Jason?”
“Who knows.”
“According to the hero Daniel, that one is stronger than Daniel. Didn’t you yourself barely seize victory after a close battle with Daniel?”
“There is an issue with calling it ‘barely’.”
“Is there?”
“There is.”
“I understand. Still, I believe it cannot be denied that Jason—no, that naless one’s power—far exceeds the common sense of both you and this woman.”
“Indeed.”
The longer humans trained, the stronger they beca. The sa was true for demons.
Several hundred years.
Just as heroes grew stronger by hunting demons, demons grew stronger by hunting heroes. And not only that—demons could also gain power by hunting their own kind.
Thus, after devouring heroes and Demon Kings for several hundred years, and amassing strength.
Unlike ordinary demons who rely absorbed a portion of another demon’s demonic energy, how strong would a Doppelgänger have beco—one that parasitized the interior of demons and absorbed their power in full?
One could not even imagine the limit.
But why was it?
He did not think he would lose.
The tower ford from three combined pieces, and resulting increase in the efficiency of interference power.
The unprecedented, massive quantities of demonic energy gained and still being gained from attacking the Empire and blocking the hero’s marches multiple tis—the rage, fear, sorrow, despair, and death that engulfed the entire continent.
And even the corpse of a Phoenix and the heart of a Red Dragon.
He had already surpassed the realm just before regression.
And even now, he was growing stronger. With triple efficiency, all interference power had already been released, yet his true martial strength continued to rise.
Demonic Points did not rely serve to release interference power; they were the fundantal reason all demons wished to beco Demon Kings, descend, and conquer dinsions.
To beco stronger. Because they could beco stronger.
“But the sa applies to Jason. In fact, he’s been doing so for a much longer ti.”
“Yes, that’s correct. But he is alone, and I am not.”
There were countless high-ranking demons rotting at his side. But the Demon Realm was a place where a small number of absolute powerhouses overwheld a large number of strong ones.
Even excluding Vivian, the Succubus Queen who was not specialized for combat, Reina Sordein alone was a giant capable of devouring dozens of ordinary high-ranking demons.
“Thank you for holding this woman in such high regard.”
“I never thought I’d say this, but there are also the Four Heavenly Kings.”
“Indeed. The contractor of that Spirit King is stronger than most Demon Kings. It’s astonishing that such a human is your vassal.”
“That’s right, a stroke of heavenly luck...vassal?”
Berje tilted his head.
Co to think of it, was Ernan Hilderan his vassal?
Had he fed her an orb and ford a vassal contract?
“...She’s not a vassal.”
“What does that an?”
“She’s not a vassal?”
Reina and Vivian were shocked.
But it was true.
‘With Ernan....’
He had never ford a vassal contract.
Berje realized a fact he himself had not consciously acknowledged.
‘A human with whom I didn’t even form a vassal contract, I....’
Trusted? Had trusted? Was trusting?
Why?
‘...It just happened that way.’
Yes, it had simply happened naturally.
They had been together since the first crisis, she had helped him a great deal, and she had given him trust.
Naturally, a relationship had ford.
“Why didn’t you take her as a vassal?”
“Yes, exactly. She’s the contractor of the Spirit King. What on earth were you trusting?”
‘Humans are not to be trusted.’
That thought had not changed. But when it ca to Ernan—
“I have no intention of doing so.”
He did not want to.
There was no need to.
“So you take , another Demon King, as a vassal, but just let a princess go like that? Do you think that makes sense...?”
Vivian recalled Ernan’s 모습. Wearing a crude mask, summoning the Water Spirit King, and toying with heroes.
Did that truly look like a human being forced to act against her will?
“Yes, you’re right. That’s what I think too. You’re right. There’s no need.”
“This woman trusts your choice.”
The two Demon Kings agreed.
“Reina, when Archduke Arkaine contacts you, handle it appropriately. Say that you’ll gladly join forces to deal with Jason.”
“Understood.”
“I should return to interrogating Daniel.”
He had rushed out and set things in motion upon hearing the word Doppelgänger, but he had not yet heard everything.
Daniel Deyrus still had much left to confess.
At that mont—
Knock knock—
Soone knocked on the door. Berje knew it was Kaede.
“What is it?”
“Are you busy?”
“I have ti to hear you out.”
“Uh....”
Her gaze swept over the two Demon Kings standing to either side.
“What, is it hard to speak with them here?”
“No. On the contrary, this is sothing the others should hear as well.”
“What happened?”
“I received contact from my older brother.”
“Martin? What is it?”
“An abnormal situation has arisen in the Empire.”
* * *
After hearing the full story, Berje let out a hollow laugh.
“What do you think?”
“It’s a bit extre, but I agree with my brother’s opinion that the Empire has gone mad. This is not right. Whether they win or lose, nothing remains. I can’t understand why His Majesty and the nobles made such a choice.”
At least, the nobles of the Empire she knew were not like that.
Though many were driven by greed, there were also many who were not. In particular, it was hard to believe that her maternal grandfather, Marquis Aincheil, who had always advocated peace over war, would have agreed to it.
No matter how absolute an imperial command was, not even the slightest hesitation?
“So Martin’s proposal is....”
“To help the Alliance and subjugate the False Demon King.”
“And the price?”
“He said they cannot promise anything imdiately.”
“Brazen bastard.”
“But he did convey important information.”
“That Jason’s connections aren’t limited to the First Crown Prince?”
“Yes.”
Indeed, Berje’s very premise had been wrong.
The First Crown Prince was not his connection. The Empire itself—the Emperor and the high-ranking nobles—were his connections.
‘That makes sense.’
He was not rely the False Demon King but a Doppelgänger. If he had been operating in the shadows of the continent and the Empire for several hundred years, forming ties with the Emperor would have posed no problem.
“Would it be fair to say the current situation is his handiwork?”
“That’s what I believe.”
“As a seduction specialist, what do you think?”
“Didn’t I say it felt the sa yet different from usual? Without seeing it directly, I can’t be certain, but it feels like light suggestion. Or since he’s a Doppelgänger, it could be another one wearing the shell.”
“In any case, it’s certain that Jason intervened in so way.”
That alone made Martin’s proposal worth accepting. The greatest enemy at hand was Jason, and if he could be eliminated using humans, it was right to jump in wholeheartedly.
‘It’s annoying to leave without fully interrogating Daniel or killing him, but....’
One could not ignore the sea monster planning to attack his ship just because the fish had already been caught.
‘No, leaving him behind will only make his insides burn.’
He would be hoping desperately to tell everything and be released, believing he would be freed.
‘Being released is impossible.’
After Hillan Cargill had once broken free from confinent, Berje had mobilized dwarves to reinforce it further and continued strengthening it.
‘But how do I help the Alliance?’
He was a Demon King. He could not legally assist a hero’s march. They would not accept it willingly either.
He had taken several hundred heroes as vassals, but they were individuals who would participate in the hero’s march anyway.
‘And helping with half-asures would be aningless.’
So what about joining with a small but elite force? Even if they failed to kill him, seeing his true nature would still have aning.
‘Should I participate as Pale?’
Participate in the hero’s march as Pale. With the help of Rozel or Hillan, it would be easier to blend in.
‘And if possible, more....’
As long as Jason’s strength and forces were uncertain, the more blades aid at him, the better.
“Tell him I accept.”
“You’re going personally?”
“Yes.”
“I want to help too.”
“No. You’re known to have been kidnapped. If you’re suddenly released, it’ll raise suspicion.”
But—
“Lavinia Arkan is different.”
* * *
“...I go out?”
“Yes, you go out.”
“I not go.”
“No, you go.”
“Chira.”
“You made fewer chiras? That doesn’t matter. You’re going no matter what.”
“..., abandoned?”
Lavinia’s pupils trembled.
“What?”
“, vassal. Abandoned?”
“No. No.”
What was this, a child? He tossed her so chocolate, and she munched on it obediently.
“I’m going with you.”
“Together?”
Only then did her face brighten.
“We’re joining the Alliance attacking the False Demon King. You’re not officially kidnapped, so there’s room.”
“Demon King, horn?”
“He didn’t seem to have horns.”
“Wings?”
“Who knows.”
“None?”
“He must have sothing.”
A Doppelgänger’s shell crumbled the mont it was stripped away, making it useless for proper study or use.
That said, Berje himself didn’t truly know much about Doppelgängers, who had gone extinct several hundred years ago.
“Mine.”
“Yes. If we catch him, I’ll give you a portion.”
“Yes!”
Lavinia smiled brightly.
“Cher?”
“Yes, Cher is going too.”
“Yes.”
Thus, the Demon King’s departure was decided in an instant.
“However, there is also the possibility that Jason knows about Lavinia Arkan.”
“I can’t be certain that he doesn’t.”
This was the first ti that the princesses other than Ernan had fully revealed their power as Berje’s subordinates.
All the heroes who had witnessed and experienced it had beco Berje’s vassals, but knowing that Jason was a Doppelgänger who had parasitized the world for several hundred years, it could not be guaranteed that the secret was safe.
“But it doesn’t matter. Whether he knows or not, adding another blade changes nothing.”
Even if she could not beco a hidden dagger, her strength was objectively undeniable.
“What if Jason spreads rumors that the princess is your vassal?”
“There’s no clear evidence. And we can prove otherwise by using heroes.”
Because several hundred heroes were Berje’s vassals. If they all said it wasn’t true, who would be insane enough to insist otherwise?
Six stars, no less.
“I see. This woman spoke out of turn.”
“No, it was a reasonable question.”
Leaving Reina behind, Berje spoke to Gordon.
“Gordon. Take good care of the tower while I’m gone.”
“Yes, of course, Demon King.”
“If anything urgent arises, consult with Reina and handle it.”
“Yes.”
“What about ? Why am I left out? I’m a Demon King too?”
Berje ignored Vivian.
“Please take care, Demon King.”
“Have a safe journey.”
“Ah, I’m jealous. I want to go fight too.”
“Please return quickly! I’ll have the blueprints completed perfectly!”
To create sothing and rge it with the tower required divine authority. The dwarves obsessed with the Sky Tower wished fervently for the Demon King’s swift return.
“Sister Lavinia. Please be careful.”
“Yes.”
“Don’t pick up and eat random things.”
“Yes.”
“Please help the Demon King well.”
“Yes.”
“When you et my sister, please give her my regards.”
“Yes.”
The brief yet lengthy farewells ended.
The Demon King, the princess, and the chira modified by the princess left the tower and began heading toward the Kingdom of Arkan.
User Comments
0 comments from readers