Chapter 230 : The One Who Had to Go
After the tower had roamed across the entire northern region of Hilderan and completely halted the monsters’ offensive, it came to a stop.
Naturally, public attention exploded.
【The unidentified tower that rose into the skies over Hilderan—its true identity is…?】
【An unidentified tower appears like a comet, rescuing Hilderan from crisis.】
【Equipped with several hundred mana cannons and various magical sigils. It was a fortress.】
【Testimony from a soldier of Proin Fortress: ‘When the tower bombarded them, the monsters were swept away. Even packs of gargoyles couldn’t get close and were annihilated. It was a calamity.’】
【‘Monsters’ attacking ‘monsters’? Are ‘Demon Kings’ on bad terms with each other?】
【Count Pagan: ‘That was the Demon King’s Tower. The Frost Demon King’s.’ Veteran of hero’s marches and assault units…】
【The Demon King’s Tower that suddenly appeared and saved Hilderan—‘good’ or ‘evil’?】
【A retired dwarf craftsman: ‘A Demon King? Only dwarves could make something like that. I’ve never heard of a Demon King’s tower flying through the sky and firing mana cannons.’】
【Is the tower’s owner actually the Berfht Kingdom?】
【After losing their floating battleship, did Berfht build a Sky Tower this time?】
【The King of Berfht: ‘It’s not ours!’—firm denial.】
【To the question ‘Then whose is it?!’ he replied ‘I don’t know either!’—uproar. If not Berfht, then who?】
【Hillan Cargill: ‘Regardless, it’s true that it helped us.’ Controversy—should one be grateful even if it’s a Demon King? Reckless remark from the Hero Guildmaster…】
News agencies poured out articles at a frantic pace.
That was how massive the shock to the continent had been.
A tower that flew through the sky.
A tower that appeared armed with several hundred cannons and swept away monsters.
The Demon King’s Tower.
Monsters attacking other monsters.
Everything was unknown.
It was a situation that could neither be easily believed, nor allowed to be believed.
“Come on, no matter what, there’s no way something like a flying tower could exist…”
“I saw it clearly with my own eyes! Not just me—everyone there saw it!”
“It wasn’t just Ain Fortress. Garkin, Horan, Baien, even Feln. Soldiers from every fortress under monster attack were helped by that tower. The Frost Demon King descended personally, wiped out the monsters, and vanished.”
“That makes no sense. This isn’t some prince on a white horse—it’s a Demon King riding a Sky Tower. Does that sound reasonable?”
“Then what does it mean? Is the Demon King really on our side…?”
“Since when was a Demon King on our side? Have you forgotten how many people the Demon King of Dark Flame slaughtered? They probably just fell out with each other.”
“Well, that does sound more realistic.”
“But what if that tower attacks Hilderan…?”
“…Just imagining it is terrifying.”
The marketplaces of Hilderan buzzed with nothing but talk of the Demon King and the Sky Tower. And those rumors quickly spread across the entire continent.
The Hilderan royal court was no exception.
“How on earth are we supposed to make sense of this?”
A Demon King’s tower flying through the sky and wiping out monsters.
“The Tower of Frost?”
“Given that the Frost Demon King appeared, that seems likely, but it’s not certain.”
“Not certain?”
“Because of the mana cannons. The Demon King who kidnapped dwarves and made use of mana cannons was the Demon King of Dark Flame.”
“Then are you saying the Frost Demon King is inside the Dark Flame Tower?”
“In the past that would have been absurd, but recently it’s not entirely impossible. During the Gracikal Lake subjugation, though it failed, it was reported that someone on par with a Demon King was serving the False Demon King.”
“Someone on par with a Demon King?”
“A new Demon King.”
Hillan Cargill stepped forward.
“That individual was a Demon King who newly descended after the death of the Gold-Steel Demon King.”
“Is that true, Guildmaster?”
“I swear it as a hero.”
“Hah, a Demon King fighting for another Demon King…”
“But didn’t the False Demon King once help the Dark Flame Demon King as well?”
“That’s what makes it even stranger. By your account, Dark Flame and False are fighting each other. Then why would two Demon Kings who were helping each other until recently suddenly turn on one another?”
“That is…”
Hillan fell silent, unable to say, ‘Because the two are actually on extremely bad terms, and that rumor was false.’
The king clutched his throbbing head.
Of course, he was grateful that the dangerous situation had been resolved for now. But because the one responsible was a Demon King, he couldn’t accept it readily.
Moreover, it wasn’t even clear whether the tower belonged to Frost or Dark Flame—and if it was Dark Flame, that was an even bigger problem.
Though it had been temporarily overshadowed by the False Demon King, the true culprit who had brought about this situation was Dark Flame.
Countless heroes and troops had been devoured by Dark Flame, leading to this crisis.
“Where is the tower now?”
“It is still roaming northern Hilderan, repelling monsters that attempt to invade the territory.”
“Damn it! What in the world is that thing plotting?!”
“It is the Dark Flame Tower.”
At that moment, Ernan stepped forward.
“How can you be so certain?”
“Even though Demon King towers look similar, each has subtle differences. And I stayed in that tower for quite a long time.”
“…The Dark Flame Tower, then. Does that mean the Frost Demon King truly became Dark Flame’s subordinate?”
“I will find out.”
The king’s brow furrowed deeply.
“What do you mean by that?”
“There must be a reason they are helping Hilderan. Perhaps they are hoping that we will knock first.”
“A Demon King, you say.”
“Because they are a Demon King. They know our hostility, so instead of barging in after helping us, they may be waiting for us to accept them.”
“…Hmm.”
'That does sound plausible…'
'But no matter what, isn’t it still a Demon King?'
'Still, considering they haven’t left Hilderan even after driving off the monsters, it does seem like they want something.'
The ministers whispered among themselves. It wasn’t that Ernan’s words were unquestionably right—it was simply that nothing else came to mind.
“Even if they are waiting for us to approach, does the Demon King of Dark Flame have any reason to do so?”
“That is what we must find out now. Which is why I will go.”
“No!”
The king shouted.
“No matter how accurate your guess may be, you are the Crown Princess of this kingdom!”
“I am not boasting, but I was held captive in the Dark Flame Tower for quite some time. There is no one who knows the Demon King of Dark Flame better than I do.”
“Which means you could be kidnapped again.”
“I am a contractor of the Spirit King. If I wish to escape, even a Demon King would not be able to stop me.”
“The Demon King of Dark Flame is different! Look at that tower. Who would have ever imagined the Dark Flame Tower flying through the sky and firing mana cannons?”
And there was also the Frost Demon King. No matter that Ernan was a contractor of the Spirit King, Dark Flame and Frost were not opponents to be taken lightly. Moreover, the tower was their domain.
“That is precisely why I must go. Is there any guarantee that a Demon King who grows tired of waiting won’t turn the barrels of those mana cannons toward us instead of the monsters of False?”
“…That is only your conjecture.”
“It is a certainty. I had quite a few conversations with the Demon King of Dark Flame.”
“What in the world happened in that tower?”
“A great many things.”
The gazes of the king and the Crown Princess collided.
“Even so, I cannot send you. If something were to happen to you, I would regret this day for the rest of my life.”
“Is that the sorrow of losing a daughter? Or the sorrow of losing an heir?”
“Both.”
“Then I will go together with Lord Hillan. If necessary, the other Stars as well. Most of the Stars are in Hilderan right now. With all of them and me together, you don’t truly believe we couldn’t even manage an escape, do you?”
“……”
Faced with that, even the king found himself without words. He deliberately turned his head away and asked the others.
“What do you all think?”
“…It is unsettling to send Her Highness the Crown Princess into such danger, but it is difficult to deny that this is the most certain method.”
“Understanding the Dark Flame Demon King’s intentions is of utmost importance.”
It wasn’t the answer the king wanted. Meeting his furious gaze, the ministers hurriedly avoided eye contact.
They had their own excuses.
When faced with the Sky Tower—an object that utterly defied common sense—no answer presented itself. To the point that they almost wanted to believe, without reason, that if the Crown Princess went, everything would somehow work out.
“You.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
The court mage bowed his head.
“I ask you, as the greatest mage of the kingdom. If we were to fight the Demon King of Dark Flame, could we destroy that tower?”
“…I humbly beg your pardon, but it would be impossible.”
“Impossible?”
“Did you not see the recording orb sent by Count Pagan? The number of mana cannons mounted on that tower alone is several hundred. If they fired a simultaneous barrage, an entire city would vanish in an instant.”
“I asked whether it could be destroyed or not.”
“The sturdiness of Demon King towers has been renowned since ancient times. Many attempts were made, and the reason the use of heroes became the established method is precisely because the towers cannot be destroyed from the outside.”
With enough effort, it might be possible. But the Demon King would never simply allow it.
“And above all—”
“Above all?”
“Even if we possessed the destructive power to destroy it, that tower could flee at any moment. Is it not a Sky Tower that flies through the heavens?”
“…I see.”
“I believe it would be unwise to provoke it rashly. If the Demon King were to resolve himself to bombard the kingdom…”
The court mage swallowed the rest of his words, but the king and ministers all understood. A chill ran down their spines.
“But it doesn’t have to be you, does it? In that case, we could simply send the heroes—”
“Do you wish to bear the disgrace of sending heroes to their deaths?”
“Whether you go or not, it doesn’t change anything.”
“It increases the chance of survival.”
“You…”
“I am a contractor of the Spirit King and the Crown Princess of Hilderan. When the kingdom is in danger, stepping forward to save it is only natural. That is the duty of royalty.”
“……”
The king rubbed his face. But the conclusion had already been reached.
“No means no. You will not go.”
“…Understood.”
Ernan nodded expressionlessly and strode out of the great hall.
“Lord Hillan. As the King of Hilderan, I formally request that the Hero Guild go and seek out the Demon King.”
“I understand.”
Hillan bowed his head.
The next day, Hillan Cargill and the Stars went to the Dark Flame Tower.
The tower’s door opened in utter silence and swallowed the heroes whole.
* * *
“…What did Ernan say?”
Berje savored the aroma of his tea.
“She asked us to drive them away.”
“And?”
“She asked us to fire a few mana cannons near the city at a time when there would be no people.”
“A show of force?”
“Yes.”
“Interesting.”
It wasn’t a particularly pleasing method, but Berje nodded without objection.
“Eat heartily. If you were chased out by a Demon King, you should at least have a wound or two.”
“Can’t you go easy on me? A mage is high-value personnel.”
“Me too.”
Rozel and Aina put on pitiful expressions.
“No exceptions.”
“Wouldn’t a setup like ‘Ralph protected us so we were unharmed’ work just fine? We’re mages, after all.”
“That’s not bad. I don’t know if that guy will like it, though.”
Ralph, who had been eating fruit cultivated by elves, made a face as if he had bitten into excrement.
* * *
That night.
The tower appeared over the royal capital of Hilderan.
──!
The mana cannons roared. Their targets were not monsters.
The walls of a fortress that had survived thanks to the tower’s aid were destroyed.
“Enemy!”
“We’re under attack!”
The fortress jolted awake. After several volleys, the tower ceased fire—but instead, it dropped something else.
“Something’s falling!”
“People… I think…?”
The soldiers who confirmed the figures that had fallen just outside the walls turned pale.
“H-Heroes!”
“I-It’s Hillan Cargill!”
They were the very heroes who had gone to meet the Demon King of the tower under the king’s orders.
* * *
“…What did the Demon King say?”
With a deeply creased face, the king listened as Hillan Cargill—bearing light injuries—spoke.
“He said that if we wish to talk, we should bring someone of equal standing.”
“Who could be of higher standing than you, the Guildmaster of the Hero Guild?”
“…Your Majesty.”
“What?”
“…He said that Her Highness the Crown Princess must come in person.”
“……!”
* * *
“Did they let you go that easily?”
“They had no choice but to.”
“And what comes next?”
“Through me, the Demon King expressed his willingness to cooperate.”
“Will it work?”
“We have to make it work. We’ve already started working the press.”
“Thorough.”
“Because failure is not an option.”
Pop—
Berje opened a bottle of champagne. Golden liquid flowed into Ernan’s glass.
“Thank you. I’ll pour one for you as well.”
“Will you have some chocolate too?”
“Ah.”
“……”
Berje silently placed the chocolate into her mouth.
– Me too, ah.
A small clump of flame was tossed into a mouth.
– Kyaaaah! My body is vaporizing!
Nairuniel screamed as she ran around the tower.
“Well done.”
“That spirit is insolent no matter when I see her.”
“By the way.”
“What is it?”
“I heard recently that a strange rumor has been going around Arkan.”
“…I didn’t do anything.”
“I haven’t even said what the rumor is yet.”
“……”
Berje fell silent.