The Demon King Overrun by Heroes Novel - Chapter 108

Chapter 108
## Chapter 108: Chimera

Prior to the southern territories reaching a significant accord, the fifth prince of the Akan Kingdom, Kain Akan, successfully made his way back to the royal capital.

“His Majesty requires your presence.”

Before he could even unpack his belongings from the long trek, a summons arrived for him to report to the throne room immediately.

“The kingdom’s fifth prince, Kain Akan!”

“Proceed!”

Following the chamberlain’s booming announcement, the massive doors swung open. Kain walked along the lengthy crimson carpet, moving past rows of silent officials until he stood before the royal seat.

He dropped to one knee and lowered his gaze.

“Your servant, Kain Akan, has returned after fulfilling Your Majesty’s directives.”

“Look up.”

“Yes, Sire.”

The prince raised his eyes to meet the king’s face.

“You have done well.”

The king offered no further inquiries.

“Rest now; you must be exhausted.”

There was a glaring lack of concern regarding the fate of Lavinia Akan.

“Your Majesty.”

“Do you have further business?”

“It is only that…”

“If your words concern Lavinia, that topic has already been settled. The prince need not speak of it again.”

‘Settled already?’

Kain noticed the nobles associated with the Magic Tower were pointedly looking away, avoiding his eyes.

Why was this happening?

He was baffled, but he knew that without the backing of the Magic Tower’s faction, his individual voice held no power in court.

“I understand.”

Left with no other choice, he retreated from the hall in a submissive manner.

—

“A rescue operation has been launched already.”

“What?”

Once the royal audience concluded, Kain was blindsided by this revelation from Ekain Volbov, a high-ranking elder of the Magic Tower.

“The scouts were sent out just before you arrived in the capital. While His Majesty was frustrated, she remains a member of the Akan bloodline. You are well aware of Princess Lavinia’s strategic value.”

The ruler of Akan was not a man to let personal spite compromise the state’s interests. Had he been that shortsighted, he would never have secured the throne in the first place.

“But I was under the impression…”

“The situation in the northern reaches of the empire changed things.”

“The frozen plains?”

“Indeed. The Demon King of Severe Cold is on the move, crushing the northern tribal lands. Before that, the Lust Demon King deployed succubi against the Dormunt Kingdom, and even earlier, the Flame Demon King seized two royals from the Hildran Kingdom. The patterns of the Demon Kings are shifting.”

That wasn’t the end of it. The Vajra Demon King had also begun a spree of abducting various members of royal families.

Even if those taken were far from the actual throne, the act of kidnapping itself was a heavy provocation.

“Except for the Deception Demon King, every one of them is acting erratically. It might be a stretch, but perhaps…”

“Perhaps what?”

“They are attempting to revert the world to the state it was in a century ago.”

“…That’s impossible. That would be a death sentence for them. No one is that reckless.”

The fragile peace between humans and Demon Kings was built on a quiet understanding that humans possessed the superior hand.

This balance held because humans viewed Demon Kings as manageable assets. But if that perception shifted—if they became seen as an existential threat that required immediate destruction?

Humanity would not permit their existence. The Demon Kings would be wiped out.

“Perhaps. But a century might feel like a very short time to creatures like them.”

“I see.”

“Regardless, with the demons acting so strangely, Princess Lavinia’s worth has skyrocketed. The King has conceded that much.”

“Who makes up this search party?”

“High wizards from the Magic Tower are personally overseeing the mission.”

The Magic Tower and the royal family functioned as two distinct powers.

While technically subservient to the crown, the Tower operated with high autonomy.

Their military capacity was easily on par with the King’s own guard. Together, the Magic Tower and the royals served as the dual foundations of the Akan Kingdom.

“Ease your mind. The Magic Tower will find the Princess eventually.”

“But they are heading into Demon King lands. It won’t be simple.”

“It is a task that must be done, regardless.”

“I only pray my sister hasn’t fallen into the hands of a Demon King.”

Kain clicked his tongue, filled with lingering anxiety.

—

Back in the capital, Kain dived back into his royal obligations.

He circulated through high society, threw lavish parties, and cultivated ties with the kingdom’s sorcerers, knights, and high-ranking lords.

His days were filled with training—practicing his sword forms and immersing himself in the study of imperial law, foreign relations, statecraft, finance, and combat.

Though he was only the fifth prince, his eyes were set on the crown.

Akan was unique; it valued capability over the order of birth. It was common for the eldest to be passed over for the title of crown prince if a younger sibling proved more competent.

In Akan, every royal started on equal footing, and the throne went to the one who burned the brightest.

‘This last mission was a disaster.’

From that perspective, failing to even find the tower and losing track of Lavinia Akan was a significant stain on his record.

In a competitive environment where every success was weighed, this was a massive setback.

Still, his personal concern for his sister outweighed his political worries.

‘I can’t believe she’s actually in danger.’

The mages of the tower were obsessive beyond reason, and even among them, Lavinia Akan was an anomaly.

In his mind, he simply couldn’t envision her being defeated or killed.

*Clang—*

A sharp vibration rattled his hand, causing him to lose his grip. His sword tumbled and pierced the dirt.

“Your Highness, your mind is elsewhere.”

The seasoned knight he was training with sheathed his own blade.

“I apologize. I was distracted.”

“It’s understandable. You’ve been pushing yourself without a break since you got back from the Erjest Mountains. Shall we call it a day?”

“Yes, let’s.”

Kain retrieved his weapon. As he went to put it away, a guard approached quickly.

“Your Highness, there is someone here to see you.”

“A visitor?”

“He identifies himself as Granada.”

“…Show him to the private palace immediately.”

“He isn’t alone, Sire.”

“Who is with him?”

“He is accompanied by eleven elves.”

“Eleven?”

Elves were notoriously isolationist. Their kingdom, Elven, was buried deep within forests that repelled any uninvited guests.

During the Great War, those forests were burned to clear a path, but since the peace accords, Elven had returned to its mysterious, isolated state.

Seeing an elf outside their borders was a rare event.

“I’m coming now.”

Inside the reception hall of the private palace, Granada stood with the eleven elves. Kain was struck by the sight of the group and greeted them with courtesy.

“Welcome, Sir Granada.”

“I hope our unannounced arrival isn’t an inconvenience.”

“Not at all. You are welcome here anytime.”

Though the timing was certainly a surprise.

“And these individuals?”

“They are elves with whom I have a connection.”

“Greetings.”

Kain acknowledged each of them in turn.

“If you’ll permit it, I would like to speak with you in confidence,” Granada requested.

“Of course. Sir Alban, please show our other guests to a comfortable area.”

“As you wish, Your Highness.”

The knight, Alban, guided the elves out, stepping aside to allow for the private conversation.

“Go ahead.”

“These people were elf slaves found across the continent.”

Granada had thought long and hard after receiving his instructions from Berge. The method of introducing these elves to Akan was critical.

Should he mask the truth or be blunt?

The reality was they were slaves. Even if humans were responsible for that fate, the people he was talking to were also humans. Being a slave carried a heavy stigma.

But would lying work?

Akan’s spies were efficient. If they looked into Hillun, they would find the Golden Moon Merchant Guild, and the guild’s recent purchase of elves would be easy to track.

Granada chose transparency.

“So, these are the slaves purchased by the Golden Moon Guild?”

Kain was already informed, as expected.

“I won’t deny that is their origin.”

“Why tell me this?”

“They are currently slaves, yes. But that is a status humans forced upon them. In truth, they are respected members of Elven.”

“That changes little.”

Regardless of how they felt, Akan was a human realm.

The conflict between races had ended with humanity on top, and even with the peace treaties, humans maintained their dominance.

That kind of cultural bias didn’t vanish overnight.

There was more to it than just prejudice, however.

“Bringing elves into the Magic Tower means they take up positions that would otherwise go to humans. The anger from that would be directed at me. Why should I take that risk?”

“Consider your alliance with Faye.”

“That is a separate matter covered by our existing deal.”

“They are incredibly talented magic users.”

“Spirit mages, to be exact.”

“And spirit arts are a recognized form of magic. Akan doesn’t dispute that, does it?”

“We do not.”

“They will become a powerful asset for your faction.”

“I have my doubts.”

He wasn’t convinced they would actually work for him just because he gave them a home.

“They will support you faithfully, provided your orders don’t clash with their core values or existing vows. They are willing to swear upon the World Tree.”

“An oath that, if broken, strips an elf of all their magic, correct?”

“That is correct.”

That caught Kain’s attention. Eleven powerful mages who were incapable of betrayal due to a magical oath.

If they succeeded in the Tower and remained loyal to him, it would be a massive gain.

“But if ‘core values’ are involved, they could still turn on me?”

“They have prior commitments and duties to their own kind that come before you. For instance, they would never follow an order to attack me.”

“Understood. However.”

Kain’s eyes narrowed.

“What is the motive here? For you and for them?”

“They cannot return home. It is painful to admit, but Elven is xenophobic; they won’t take back those who have been enslaved by humans.”

“So they are refugees needing a place to stay? That doesn’t have to be Akan.”

“But why shouldn’t it be?”

“A weak point.”

“Consider it a token of friendship from Hillun.”

“…Continue.”

“I brought them together, but I did so on the command of the Hero, Hillun Kagil. He wants to ensure a positive relationship with you.”

“…So I can assume this means Hillun Kagil might support my future endeavors?”

“If you provide these elves with a safe place to thrive, there is every reason to expect his help.”

“I see.”

That was the deciding factor.

Kain sat in silence, weighing his options.

‘Hillun Kagil.’

Even with the rumors of his struggles in the north, his power was undeniable.

He had defeated and absorbed the essence of two Demon Kings. As long as he remained standing, he was a force to be reckoned with.

“…Fine.”

He knew there would be pushback.

Dropping elves into the Magic Tower would cause an uproar among the human mages.

His rivals for the throne would use it against him. He would be under constant scrutiny.

He needed a guarantee.

“But I require a personal meeting with Hillun Kagil to confirm this pact.”

He needed to know the Hero was behind him.

Or at least, that the world *thought* he was.

“A meeting right now is impossible. The Hero is currently occupied in the northern snowfields of the empire.”

“I understand. I am willing to wait as long as necessary.”

Hillun’s personal thoughts were irrelevant. If the Demon King gave an order, he followed it.

Two months later, after cementing an alliance with the Cernian Margrave in the north, Hillun Kagil traveled to the Akan Kingdom to meet with Kain.

This occurred shortly after Berge’s meeting with Reina Sordain.

—

“Wow…”

Lavinia Akan stared ahead, her eyes wide.

The snow continued to fall, but it did nothing to dim the intense heat of the massive bonfires.

Before her lay the remains of hundreds of creatures.

These were high-tier monsters from the frozen wastes, creatures most humans never laid eyes on.

As a master of chimera creation, even Lavinia was stunned by the sheer volume of material.

“Are these… for me?”

“Try not to drool while you process them.”

“Chimera.”

“Yes, use those to build your chimeras.”

“So many.”

“That’s the point.”

Truthfully, even Berge hadn’t expected Reina to provide hundreds of specimens so easily.

It was a clear sign of how much Reina valued their partnership.

Which meant he had to be cautious.

‘I can’t afford a mistake.’

If this alliance broke, the fallout would be catastrophic. Frost demons were known for their long memories and cold grudges. And Reina was powerful enough to be a candidate for the Demon King’s throne.

“Truly.”

“Truly. They are yours to use. But there is a catch.”

“A catch?”

“You said you wanted to create chimeras for me and live in this tower.”

“Yes.”

“I have no intention of making your creations my kin.”

“No soul-bond.”

Lavinia repeated exactly what Berge was thinking.

From a human perspective, chimeras were chaotic monsters that required magical shackles to ensure they didn’t turn on their creator.

This was the obedience mark.

A specific spell woven into the creature’s being during its assembly.

While turning them into kin would override that anyway, Berge wanted to avoid any unnecessary complications.

‘Is this the right move, though?’

As the elves integrated into Akan, Granada had been sending back regular reports.

This included news about the new search party from Akan.

They were looking for Lavinia, and they were headed straight for Hortonwork. Things were quiet for now, but it was just the prelude to a confrontation.

They were determined to find her, no matter the cost.

Logically, the smartest thing would be to let her go.

But.

‘I’m getting greedy.’

In his previous life, he had avoided her out of a sense of caution, but living with her now, he realized she was just… strange. She could be handled. It wasn’t easy, but it was possible.

And a compliant Lavinia Akan was an asset beyond price.

She was indispensable for both golem engineering and chimera production.

She and Roger were the two most important people in the tower right now.

‘Not just yet.’

He wouldn’t let her go until the golems were finished and these monsters were converted.

‘Let the searchers wander.’

He didn’t need to provoke them. If he just ignored them, they would eventually give up and leave.

“Move all the carcasses to the second level.”

“Yes.”

“But the golem core comes before the chimeras.”

“…Why?”

“Because it’s a higher priority.”

“No.”

“You think the chimeras are more important?”

“Yes.”

She gave a firm nod and a thumbs-up. To her, nothing outranked a chimera.

Could she not just speak in full sentences? Was her tongue broken?

“This isn’t your tower, Lavinia; it’s mine. I make the rules, and I set the schedule. Golems first, chimeras second.”

“…Cruel.”

“I’ll take that as a compliment.”

“Labor abuse.”

“It’s my best quality.”

“Be quick.”

“The faster you work, the sooner you get to your projects.”

Lavinia slumped her shoulders and trudged into the tower.

“Move faster!”

“Your Highness, I can’t possibly go any quicker…”

“No excuses!”

“I haven’t slept since I arrived at this tower!”

“Irrelevant. Back to work.”

Lavinia shut down the golem craftsman’s protests. Under her intense pressure, the man looked like he was on the verge of a breakdown, forced to work well beyond his limits.

Berge, guiding the monster remains to the second floor, couldn’t help but smirk at the scene.

A royal princess driving a national treasure to exhaustion for the sake of a Demon King. It was a dark, amusing irony.

‘I should probably find a health potion and give it to him soon.’

He couldn’t have the man dropping dead before the golem core was finalized.

“…Ugh.”

“What now?”

“I don’t know. I just felt a sudden, terrifying chill…”

“You’re faking.”

“I’m not! Princess, surely this is crossing a line?”

“Work.”

“…Understood.”

Raymond, the golem specialist, made a face of pure misery and went back to his tasks.