The Demon King Overrun by Heroes Novel - Chapter 107

Chapter 107
## Chapter 107: The Being Known as God

“A deity?”

The notion was so preposterous that Berge couldn’t even manage a sarcastic smirk.

“Do the mortals of Aren truly put stock in such fairy tales?”

Hillun, however, remained grave.

『Whispers are traveling through the noble houses. These aren’t just idle tales born of thin air.』

“People actually worship gods here?”

『In truth, no one in Aren offers prayers to divine beings.』

This was a world of sorcery and aura, of mana and ethereal spirits. The events mortals labeled as miracles weren’t boons from the heavens; they were the fruits of grueling labor and innate brilliance. No evidence of divinity existed, and the concept of holy power was nonexistent. In the harsh reality of Aren, gods had been discarded by history.

『However, there are groups who venerate a specific individual as if he were a celestial being.』

『A ‘mortal’ who purports to be a god.』

“It’s pathetic enough for a man to claim godhood, but the fact that there are fools dull enough to believe him is staggering.”

The thought that he had once been bested and slain by such delusions was irritating.

“Who is this person?”

『The champion who ended the lives of two Demon Kings.』

“I assumed you were saner than this. Did your loss to Reina break your mind?”

『…To be precise, it refers to the champion from half a millennium ago.』

Over the last thousand years, Aren had seen dozens of Demon Kings fall. Heroes capable of slaying two were uncommon, but they were documented. Hillun Kagil was one such figure in the current era, and looking back through the centuries, perhaps three others shared that distinction.

『Daniel Dayrus.』

『Roughly five centuries ago, he took down two Demon Kings and attained monumental strength. He stood unmatched, and his pride grew in tandem with his power. He began to view himself as superior to any sovereign or emperor.』

“The ruling kingdoms and the empire surely wouldn’t have tolerated such arrogance.”

『The chaos of the era shielded him. The continent was consumed by conflict back then. A war sparked by imperial expansion had set the lands ablaze, and the common folk were drowning in misery.』

When life becomes unbearable, humans desperately search for a pillar of support. But they found no comfort in the state; to the masses, the government was merely a machine for theft, exploitation, and forced labor.

『That was the moment Daniel Dayrus stepped forward. He championed the downtrodden and forged a legend. His devotees grew in number. By the time the fires of that long war finally flickered out, his reach had become a threat to the established order.』

“And what followed?”

『Ultimately, he remained a hero in name only, and the monarchs would not suffer a rival. they smeared him as a turncoat who had conspired with the Demon Kings, manufacturing a mountain of treasonous charges.』

“Highly entertaining.”

『As the world braced for a new war over his head, he decimated the coalition forces sent to seize him and issued a decree. He would hunt the third Demon King to validate his supremacy. He told them to worship him with a fervor never seen before or since, should he emerge triumphant.』

“And the crowns simply permitted this?”

『He gave them a condition: he would scale the tower entirely on his own.』

A champion cannot conquer the tower or execute a Demon King without aid. Mortal strength has its ceiling. That was a fundamental law five hundred years ago, and it remains the law today.

“What was the result?”

『The Demon King’s Tower was leveled.』

“So he won?”

『But Daniel Dayrus vanished alongside it, leaving nothing behind.』

“A mutual end, then.”

『The majority assumed he perished. Yet, his zealots maintained a different narrative. They claimed he slew the third Demon King, finally grasped true divinity, and ascended. They believe he will return one day to deliver them.』

At this, Berge let out a genuine burst of laughter.

“Kill three of our kind and become a god?”

By that logic, the First Demon Emperor would be the sole creator. The archdukes would be gods as well.

“Regardless, it seems there are still imbeciles clinging to a ghost who died five centuries ago.”

『That is the essence of it. Their madness went too far and sparked several revolts. They were subjected to numerous purges, and after the campaign 110 years ago, we assumed the cult had been eradicated.』

“Understood. I’ll keep it in the back of my mind.”

『As you wish.』

“How fares the border count?”

『Acceptable. There is now a strong likelihood they will cooperate if the incentives align.』

“Not bad at all.”

『Indeed, not bad.』

The Demon King and the champion shared a brief, knowing look before the link was severed.

‘Cultists.’

Not genuine deities, but persistent myths moving through the empire’s southern reaches.

‘Evidence of them meddling in the skirmishes between the alliance and the empire?’

Was Jason employing these fanatics to stoke the fires of war?

‘I didn’t notice any suspicious mortals…’

He was oblivious to the fact that a ripple effect from his own casual comments was already gaining momentum.

‘No matter. That business is handled.’

His focus shifted back to the man worshipped as a god.

‘A hero who nearly claimed a third Demon King.’

It wasn’t a detail to be shrugged off. What happened once could be repeated. Even if it was his own tower, and even if his priorities were the first floor’s mana density and the princesses’ raids… truly?

‘In my current state, could I truly overcome a champion who killed three Demon Kings?’

Back in the Demon Realm, the question would be absurd. He had total certainty in his dominance there. But here, crippled by dimensional interference, the reality was grimmer. Among the current Demon Kings, excluding Vivian, he could take any of them. But if a few arrogant humans calling themselves legends showed up, he’d have to fight for his life.

In the end, it was a question of raw power. Berge himself would be the final line of defense against a hero. If he remained frail, all other preparations were hollow.

‘The Balrogs aren’t the priority.’

The tower was safe from major sieges for the moment. Conversely, there was no telling when Berge would need to step outside again.

Therefore, until he felt secure.

‘I must lift the interference.’

⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙
[5135110pt] All magic points utilized to mitigate interference. [0pt]

—

“…The strength.”

Gordon tightened his grip as he reviewed the intelligence from the elves who had successfully slipped into the Akan Kingdom. His physical state hadn’t transformed, but it felt as though several massive anchors tethered to his soul had been cut away.

‘Could it be?’

Dimensional interference was mitigated through the tower’s inherent power. Every demon bound to the tower shared in the effect. Thus, lifting the suppression benefited not just the Demon King, but every subordinate and beast under his banner.

‘A portion of the restriction has been lifted.’

It wasn’t a total restoration, but even a marginal increase was monumental. To Gordon, it was the most profound sense of freedom he’d felt since arriving in this world. A genuine smile touched his lips.

‘To think that simply regaining what was ours could feel this liberating.’

Dimensional interference targeted foreign energies. While it affected demons and beasts, the core target was demonic energy—the fuel for their very existence. By suppressing the energy, the body itself was stifled. With even a minor release, the flow of demonic energy became more fluid, and the physical strain eased.

‘I assumed he was too preoccupied with the royalty, the elves, and the dwarves to bother with the interference.’

Regardless of his antics, the Demon King was a demon. And demons could not tolerate their own weakness.

『Gordon, report to the office.』

The summons came through.

“You requested me?”

“You felt the shift, didn’t you?”

“I did. It feels slightly more like home now.”

“Moving forward, every magic point we earn will be funneled into removing that interference.”

“Truly? But the tower’s defenses…”

“I have no intention of leaving us vulnerable. I simply won’t be relying on magic points for it.”

“……”

A heavy sense of dread pooled in Gordon’s stomach. These “ideas” rarely led to a quiet life.

“I’ve devised a plan. A way to ensure mortals and heroes face nothing but failure and bitterness. A way to halt their progression.”

Even the weakest monsters provided experience for a hero’s growth. Stronger ones were the same; they might struggle initially, but they would eventually conquer them. That was the human way.

“What is the method?”

“We ensure they have nothing to slay. Specifically, we remove the targets. No demons, no beasts, not even a stray monster. We leave the floors entirely barren.”

“……”

‘Why not just unlatch the front door and offer them tea?’ Gordon thought. Experience, however, kept his mouth shut.

“You have a strange look in your eyes.”

“…N-no, my lord. It’s nothing. So, how do we fill the void?”

“With hazards, naturally. We have Roger, the alchemist of golems, and Ravina, that human who understands demonic energy. We will use them to engineer traps for the second and third levels.”

Not the generic traps bought from a system menu, but original, sadistic designs.

“For instance, we could plummet the temperature to lethal levels while funnelling them into a labyrinth with no exit. Humans are predictable; they follow paths. They will walk in circles until they freeze—it will be quite a spectacle.”

Eventually, they would likely bash through the walls to escape.

“But then we introduce an illusion field. Make them perceive their own allies as foes. A hero might fight the hallucination, but the weaker followers will snap instantly.”

“That is certainly…”

“You will oversee this. On the second floor.”

“…Cold has its limits, my lord. As does mental interference. Hero parties typically carry high-tier magic resistance equipment. If you or I were of the incubus lineage, perhaps…”

“That is why you make it bypass their defenses.”

“Do you have a specific method in mind?”

“That is for you to determine.”

“……”

“I provide the vision; you provide the labor. What use is a vice officer if the Demon King does the heavy lifting?”

The logic was too sound to dispute.

“Even if we perfect the designs, without magic points or tower assistance, implementation will be impossible.”

“Then why don’t you focus on building the foundation before you start whining?”

“…I will do my best.”

“I don’t value effort. I value success.”

“I will give my all.”

“The same thing.”

“May I ask one thing?”

“Speak.”

“I agree that depriving heroes of growth is wise. But defending the tower is only the first stage. Demon Kings build towers to gather strength for conquest. Your method ensures the heroes gain nothing—but we gain nothing either.”

“Why do you assume we gain nothing?”

“Don’t we?”

“I intend to press the mountain’s natural monsters into service.”

“Didn’t you previously say they were beneath us?”

“Standard monsters aren’t worth the demonic energy required to sustain them. But what if we transform them all into chimeras?”

“…Ravina Akan. You mean the princess?”

“Precisely.”

Gordon wanted to question the wisdom of trusting a human royal, but he thought better of it.

“…Fusing the traits of a succubus queen with a titan isn’t simple, even for our best mages.”

“No demon cares for chimera craft anyway.”

In their home realm, demons simply killed and consumed one another to grow; chimeras were redundant. But here, with a finite supply of subordinates, such waste was unacceptable.

“When the heroes arrive, they find a wasteland. Meanwhile, we quietly subjugate and reshape the mountain’s wildlife into a chimera army.”

“If it works, it’s a flawless plan, but…”

“She will manage it.”

“Are you certain?”

“She will.”

“…Are you sure you aren’t an incubus masquerading as a demon dragon?”

“Don’t speak idiocy.”

“I only ask because heroes, elves, and princesses seem to fall into your orbit with such regularity…”

At that moment, a pulse echoed.

A vibration came from Berge’s cloak. A sudden chill filled the room, cutting through the heat of the office.

“…Reina the Demon King?”

“Get out of sight.”

“Understood.”

Berge channeled his energy into the device.

“What is it?”

『Your office, I see.』

Reina bypassed all pleasantries, her eyes scanning the room through the projection.

“Yes.”

『This time.』

“What about it?”

The icy edge in her voice made Berge’s skin crawl, though he remained outwardly calm.

“I don’t follow.”

『You.』

“Yes?”

『Do you have nothing you wish to confess to me?』

“Confess?”

『I entered into a pact with you. And I hold the belief that sincerity is the foundation of any alliance. Even for our kind, that holds true. If you intended to act alone, you should have declined my hand from the start.』

Berge drummed his fingers on the wood. His mind was a whirlwind. ‘What? What did I miss?’

The clues were there. Office. This time. Alliance. Sincerity.

‘…Am I caught?’

Was it the trip to the frostlands to save Hillun Kagil? His stomach tightened. He looked at Reina’s image. Her gaze was sharp and freezing, simmering with a quiet rage.

‘No, that’s not quite it.’

If she had caught him trespassing in her actual territory or interfering with her subjects, she wouldn’t be talking about “sincerity.” This felt like a probe.

‘Wait. The communication orb.’

He had spoken to her from the snowfields, claiming to be in Erjest. Luckily, the spot wasn’t her direct domain. What was the play?

“…My apologies.”

『For?』

“When we last spoke, I wasn’t actually in Erjest.”

『The frostlands, then.』

“But it wasn’t your land. I simply omitted the location. It was a lapse in judgment, but I wasn’t plotting against you.”

『To rescue a creature?』

“Yes.”

He nodded quickly, his ears barely processing her words.

『…So it really was the frostlands.』

“…What?”

What did she just say?

‘No…’

Had he just walked straight into a trap? He had confirmed her suspicion when she wasn’t even sure. Berge felt the blood drain from his face.

Reina Sordain remained silent for a long moment.

‘What have you done!’ Gordon shrieked silently from the shadows.

Seconds felt like hours.

『Good.』

“Good?”

『…In all honesty, if you had maintained the lie to the end, I don’t know what I would have done. Once a bond of trust is severed, it cannot be mended. Especially between us. But you chose truth. I am relieved.』

‘…I survived?’

Berge exhaled, feeling like he’d just stepped back from a cliffside.

『I am extending an invitation.』

“So suddenly?”

『Regarding your trip to the frostlands. I will provide what you were searching for.』

The connection went dark.

“……?”

“……?”

Berge and Gordon exchanged bewildered looks.

“Did Hillun Kagil get intercepted by Reina?”

“How should I know? You’re the one who talked to her.”

What was happening? Berge immediately checked on Hillun. Thankfully, he was unharmed and secure.

—

“…I offer my regrets for the earlier deception.”

Reina Sordain said nothing. After the heavy silence became unbearable, Berge took the lead.

“Even if it wasn’t your sovereign territory, approaching without notice was a blunder on my part.”

Still no answer. The atmosphere grew even colder, the frost of the plains biting at his neck.

‘Confound it.’

He needed a way to bridge the gap, but his mind was blank. Then, Reina pulled open a small drawer and held out a sweet. He took it and slipped it into his pocket.

“The location doesn’t concern me.”

“It doesn’t?”

“It would have mattered if you had lied until the end, but you didn’t.”

Reina placed a sweet in her own mouth. The scent of cherries drifted through the air.

“A Demon King wanting to preserve a monster isn’t unheard of. Erjest is always buried in snow; the frostlands were the only logical place for you to be. I understand. Your secrecy was annoying, but you eventually came clean.”

“…I appreciate that.”

Berge felt his heart start beating again.

“So, did you find any specimens worth saving?”

“I stayed on the fringes to avoid your borders, so I didn’t find much…”

“As I thought. I told you I would give you what you wanted.”

“You can’t be serious.”

“You saw the creatures outside?”

“I did.”

Upon his arrival, hundreds of monsters had gathered at the tower entrance as if to greet him.

“They are yours. All of them.”

“…Truly? Why the sudden generosity?”

He needed more material for chimeras, but this felt abrupt.

“Because you clearly desire them. If you were willing to risk my ire by prowling near my borders, you must be desperate for them. So, I am giving them to you. It is what allies do.”

“…Then I accept them with gratitude.”

“However.”

There was a catch.

“You must provide something of equal value in return.”

“That isn’t usually how ‘giving’ works.”

“I would prefer to simply give. But one-sided relationships are fragile. For this to last, there must be an exchange.”

“One-sided isn’t always a bad thing.”

“A poor joke.”

Berge considered his options. He needed monsters, but it wasn’t an emergency. He could have gathered them slowly. He didn’t need to trade with Reina this second. But this was her way of reaching out. He had to look past the monsters.

‘The monsters are just a pretext.’

She wanted to cement the alliance that had almost crumbled.

“What is it you seek?”

“What do you think?”

“Hmm…”

Until recently, she needed military aid. But Gillian Aint and the white deer had fled; the northern clans were broken. The Chernien border count had decided to step back.

‘Wait.’

Did Reina know about the count? Berge knew because of Hillun. It wasn’t public knowledge. Given her lack of interest in human politics, she likely had no idea.

“I will provide intelligence on the empire’s northern frontier.”

“The situation in the north?”

“The conflict isn’t officially over, is it?”

“Absurd. Have we ever signed a peace treaty with mortals?”

“Which is why we need to monitor their movements.”

“From Jason? That isn’t your own achievement.”

Berge didn’t argue.

“Is there anything else?”

“Ugar.”

“Ugar?”

“He contacted me recently. Out of nowhere, he claimed that Jason isn’t the one responsible. He begged me to believe him.”

“What nonsense is that?”

“I have no idea. The link broke right after. I meant to follow up, but things became chaotic.”

“You want me to investigate?”

“It shouldn’t be difficult for you. A fair price for hundreds of monsters.”

“…Very well.”

‘Jason isn’t the one?’

What had Ugar seen or heard to make such a claim?

‘Ugar is a spineless fool, but he doesn’t have the imagination to lie about this. It’s not like he realized I’m the one behind it. Damn, I’m playing a dangerous game.’

“Thank you.”

“Of course.”

He took her hand. It was surprisingly warm, a stark contrast to the freezing aura she projected.