Chapter 226 : Cute

“Are you sure you said it would really come out?”

“It has already been hours!”

“If it were not true, the Demon King would have said so. He would not deceive us.”

“A-Are you saying I lied? Why would I tell a lie that would be exposed immediately!”

Roger vented his sense of injustice.

It had been five hours since he had received Berje’s orders and told everyone to prepare.

The dwarves, who had been excited at the prospect of soon seeing the Sky Tower revealed, grew angry at the open-ended wait. Yet they could not direct that anger at the Demon King, so it naturally poured onto Roger, who stood at the forefront.

“That much, I do not know either.”

“Could it be that you have some other ulterior motive?”

“With the Demon King keeping his eyes wide open right above us, what ulterior motive could I possibly have....”

“What did you say about my eyes?”

“...Everyone! At last, Berje Deias, who planned the Sky Tower and granted us dwarves the priceless opportunity to create it, has arrived! Everyone, applause!”

“Wooooah!”

“Long live the Demon King!”

Clap clap clap clap—

The dwarves shouted and cheered.

“Roger, your mouth seems to be getting slicker by the day.”

“Aha ha.... My loyalty toward the Demon King has never changed! But...?”

Roger tilted his head as his eyes met Berje’s.

“You seem to have changed somehow.”

Roger could not pinpoint it and say, ‘This is it.’ But something was definitely different.

“What changed?”

“I am not sure exactly, but it feels as though a stone golem became an iron golem—like you have been refined by one more step.”

“Do you dare compare me to that kind of junk?”

“Hiiik, I am sorry!”

Roger shrank back.

“Are the preparations done?”

“You must grant permission, Demon King. All preparations are complete.”

To install floating stones and mana cannons, modifications had to begin from the exterior. However, the tower’s exterior was extremely tough and not easy to break, so it was only possible if the Demon King, the tower’s owner, voluntarily released part of his authority.

Just like when a massive mana cannon had been mounted on the tower’s summit.

“If we are mounting them below, we will first need to erect legs.”

“Of course.”

“And the tower must be moved as well.”

“Yes.”

“How long?”

“Two days. Two days will be enough.”

“That is right! We will definitely finish it in two days!”

“Even if we cannot finish it, we will finish it!”

The dwarves exhaled rough breaths and displayed their enthusiasm.

It was not empty bravado. They had already finished all preparations...

“Is that a golem?”

“Yes, Demon King! I finally made golems using dragon bone!”

It was not merely dragon bone. The five golems were similar in size to the golems that had been showcased in Arkan.

“Their performance is better than Arkan’s golems.”

“Well, of course. We put our hands into it.”

“The dwarves’ golem-crafting techniques are the best on the continent!”

“We plan to have the golems assist with the modifications.”

“Golems, golems....”

Berje imagined it for a moment. A flying tower. Fired shells, massive lightning strikes, and all kinds of magic.

And even golems and monsters falling from above.

“A Sky Fortress.”

And one that was extremely splendid and powerful.

“Then let us begin.”

That day, the Demon King’s tower, which had been sleeping in the depths of the sea, settled onto the island destined to become a pirate stronghold.

And for two days, its lights never went out.

*         *         *

“Your Majesty! Urgent news! Aterta Fortress has fallen!”

“Your Majesty! The Imperial Army has reached the Amandal Plains!”

At the nonstop stream of bad news, the King of the Kingdom of Iasince swallowed a groan.

Just a few days earlier, an envoy from the Empire had arrived.

They demanded cooperation, saying they would attack the Kingdom of Arkan. If not, that blade would fall upon Iasince first.

No matter that the opponent was the Empire, it was nonsense not worth listening to.

It was true that Iasince was wary of the Empire, but it was not a vassal state. Nor was it an ally. Rather, it was bound together with other kingdoms, led by Arkan, under the name of an ‘alliance.’

Even aside from that, it was unthinkable for a proud sovereign nation to allow another country’s army into its lands.

Both the Zespine Empire and Iasince knew this.

The problem was that the Empire’s legions had already been deployed near the border, while Iasince was completely unprepared.

Thus, they tried to buy time.

They sent envoys to the alliance, condemned the Empire’s actions, and sought aid.

But the Empire waited only three days. Too short a time for reinforcements to be organized—no, too short even to properly deploy their own troops along the border.

It was even more so because they had believed, ‘Surely they would not do such a thing,’ in a situation where nearly all nations except the Empire and Ormus had formed an alliance to subjugate the Demon King.

The Empire advanced, and the eastern fortresses collapsed one after another.

“Even sworn enemies would not act like this!”

The Empire advanced while sweeping everything away. They captured fortresses and plundered supplies. They burned farmlands and slaughtered innocent civilians.

Not even a rat remained where they passed, and the land was left desolate. Out of fear of the Imperial Army, the people fled, and the kingdom’s public order worsened with each passing day.

The king entrusted full authority to a member of the royal family, the great Duke Bruse, and issued defensive orders.

“The alliance will never stand by and watch this. In particular, Arkan will know that we are merely the route toward themselves! Hold out! Please, just preserve this country’s lifeline until reinforcements arrive!”

“I will uphold Your Majesty’s command at the cost of my life! No one shall trample this nation!”

The moment the Empire invaded, the Kingdom of Iasince pulled back all forces and preserved as much strength as possible. They conscripted soldiers from across the kingdom and gathered every available man.

Thus assembled, an army of eighty thousand finally faced the Imperial Army at Palogat Fortress.

The Imperial Army numbered two hundred and fifty thousand.

*         *         *

“Your Highness, then I shall take my leave. Please forgive us for not being able to help Hilderan to the end as an alliance.”

“No. Duke Olten. Who could have known that those lawless Imperial troops would start a war under the pretext of the alliance’s defeat? Do not worry about this place. Go and protect Iasince, and repel the Empire’s ambitions.”

“Yes. Though we retreat like this, the alliance will endure until the moment we sever the neck of falsehood.”

“I will believe you.”

Duke Olten departed, along with troops from Arkan and Iasince who had heard news of their homeland’s crisis, as well as forces from five kingdoms bordering Iasince.

Though the forces from each participating nation were only a part of their armies, they were elites. Their strength could not be ignored.

From Hilderan’s perspective, it was regrettable.

It meant that a significant portion of the forces dealing with the constantly surging monsters had withdrawn.

But rather than worrying over what could not be undone, Ernan did her best in the present.

What was fortunate, at least, was that the mana cannons left behind by the alliance, the outstanding heroes, herself as the contractor of the Water Spirit King, and the False Demon King not acting directly were all of great help in allowing Hilderan to fight desperately.

Battles erupted almost daily. Two northern cities of Hilderan had been destroyed, and now simultaneous battles were raging in five cities.

The human casualties themselves were not that great. Thanks to the Demon King’s foresight, they had known in advance, and most of the citizens had evacuated or were evacuating.

The destroyed fortresses had also been strategically abandoned and retreated from after inflicting damage on the monsters until the very end.

Still, the very fact that cities had been destroyed by monsters and the north had been lost struck the people of Hilderan as a tremendous shock.

“It is chilling to think that this many monsters were hidden in the lake.”

Tens of thousands? No, more than that. Perhaps even hundreds of thousands, or millions.

Millions—such a horrifying number that it was impossible to even imagine.

Hilderan’s total military strength, scraped together to the utmost aside from forces for public order and border defense, was one hundred and ten thousand.

“What on earth is their scheme?”

The enemies were innumerable. Monsters and beasts battered the fortresses every day and killed soldiers.

Yet Hilderan endured.

Was it because of the heroes?

Because they had prepared?

Because of the alliance?

Because of the mana cannons?

No. In the eyes of Ernan and Hillan, there was only one reason Hilderan could endure.

“Why is the False Demon King not moving?”

“There may be a clue in the conversation the Demon King had with Falsehood, do you not think?”

Because the False Demon King was not acting directly. Because the demons who followed him were not appearing.

The False Demon King was strong.

Strong enough to block the combined assault of six heroes and Lavinia Arkan alone, with ease.

Hillan had sensed that if that state of battle continued, they would lose.

He thought it would be the same even with Ernan, the contractor of the Spirit King.

So why was Jason not stepping in?

If he did, the war would be over. Just as a dragon ruled above a kingdom, the False Demon King could calmly abduct Ernan from above Hilderan.

Then he would hold a fairly useful card against Berje.

But Jason did not do that. Why?

“A clue in the conversation....”

“If nothing comes to mind, would it not be best to ask Berje?”

“...That is true.”

The answer came quickly.

『It is a grace period.』

“A grace period?”

『Did you not hear it yourself? He has something he wants from me, and we came to an agreement that I would grant it.』

“That is right.”

『But he cannot trust me, and I cannot trust him. So he is attacking the two kingdoms where you and Lavinia are.』

“I understand that much.”

『Yes. Attacking Hilderan and Arkan is a way of pressuring me. If I do not want you to come to harm, I should come as quickly as possible.』

“But why is he not going all out?”

『Because he must not cross the line.』

“The line?”

『That Jason fellow is now completely cut off from the Demon Realm. He can no longer know the location of my tower.』

『But if he were to kidnap or kill you and Lavinia, how do you think I would act?』

“You would rescue us, or take revenge.”

『Of course. That is the me you know. But as a demonic dragon of the Demon Realm, as a Demon King, what do you think I would be like?』

『How do ordinary Demon Kings act in such situations?』

He had made an enemy of a Demon King too strong to oppose. That Demon King was destroying all the foundations he had built and searching for him, yet he had a way to move and hide his tower.

“...So he thinks that the Demon King would not risk his life over mere humans?”

『Yes. If there is an exception, it is that you are a special human as the contractor of the Water Spirit King. But put another way, if you truly tried to flee, he would have difficulty catching you.』

“But I was also present in that conversation.”

『Even taking that into account, it is the same. In the end, you are human, and I am a demonic dragon and a Demon King.』

“So this is basically gently coaxing you, Demon King?”

『Correct. He is saying he will wait while keeping it moderate, so do not run away and come.』

Only then did Ernan nod, fully understanding the situation.

“But the problem is that this ‘moderate’ does not look moderate at all.”

From Jason’s perspective, perhaps. But not from Hilderan’s, which had to endure it.

『Do not worry. I will take care of one matter and then head there soon.』

“One matter?”

『It is an important matter that must be done beforehand to deal with him.』

『It will become a very large dagger for the one who thinks I will only devour Daniel.』

“I do not know what it is, but I understand what you mean. I hope it goes well.”

『Yes. It will not take very long to get there.』

“Is the Sky Tower complete?”

『Soon.』

“I want to ride it too!”

『Of course.』

“You can crush the False Demon King as well, right?”

『Hmm, that is....』

Berje, on the other side of the communicator, stroked his chin.

『Is that not obvious? I will pull out that fellow’s glib tongue and make known the greatness of the demonic dragon.』

“I will be waiting.”

It was then.

A thunderous roar was heard.

Urgent footsteps stopped in front of the office door.

“Your Highness! The monsters have begun their offensive again!”

“I will be out shortly!”

“Yes!”

“Hillan?”

“I will go out first.”

Hillan gathered his equipment and dashed outside.

Ernan waved her hand toward the communicator.

“I will be waiting. Do not be too late.”

『All right.』

“I miss you.”

『...We saw each other not that long ago.』

“That is not what I meant.”

『....』

With a brief silence, the connection was cut.

“...Cute.”

- There is a problem with that word. That is not cute, but rather what one would call grotesque. To think we would see such a state from the Demon King, from that arrogant demonic dragon.

- Lady Naias, you probably do not know because you have never loved anyone, but that is what they call rose-tinted glasses. It is absolutely necessary... Aaaah!

- No one may say such things to me!

- S-Spirit! You hit my spirit!

- Spirits are all souls to begin with.

Ernan sighed as she watched the two spirits bickering.

“You said you would not bring Nairuniel.”

- I am sorry, but I have opened my eyes to a new kind of amusement. It is more fun to watch while chatting together than alone.

- Indeed! Indeed! We spirits also have the right to pursue better enjoyment!

“I am not a spectacle.”

- Then do not show us such a spectacle.

- Right, we cannot exactly cover our eyes, can we?

“...Fine.”

Ernan stepped onto the battlefield.