The Demon King Overrun by Heroes Novel - Chapter 122

Chapter 122
Chapter: 122

Chapter Title: The Empire’s Goal

—

The Demon King of Blazing Flames.

That specific title was more than enough to seize the focus of the imperial household.

“…The Demon King of Blazing Flames?”

“What exactly did the Demon King of Blazing Flames command you to do?”

“He ordered me to slaughter every last one of you! To murder you and throw the entire Empire into total turmoil…!”

Having been cast aside, Byrif had no reason to remain silent. He screamed out every truth he possessed with desperate intensity. Or at least, he attempted to.

*Cough—*

“…Wait?”

Byrif reached up to smear away the dark, ink-like blood spilling from his lips.

“What is happen—?”

He never finished the thought. His skull detonated. The headless remains collapsed onto the soil.

Not a single scrap of evidence was left behind. This was merely the penalty for violating his oath, a lethal trigger woven into the very fabric of his spirit.

If there was any lingering trace, it was simply the sudden discharge of demonic energy that had resided within Byrif.

Consequently, no one saw the truth.

“There are demons nearby! Locate the wretch!”

“How dare they strike here!”

Humans, however, frequently perceive only what fits their narrative. The imperial royals were consumed by fury, certain that a hidden assassin had executed Byrif.

Daphne Philian, Ballaf Disroad, Rozel Charnt, and Aina Diaphirn—alongside the Stars and Heroes, elite knights, sorcerers, and legions—fanned out in every direction.

The petty internal squabbles of moments ago vanished, replaced by a singular obsession: tracking down the phantom demon they blamed for Byrif’s death.

“The audacity…!”

While the imperial family burned with indignation, Berge mirrored their rage as he scaled the edge of the pit. He made a show of scanning the horizon while standing next to Hillun Kagil.

“Was that your doing, Lord Fail?”

“It was.”

“How? I sensed no demonic aura during the execution.”

“It didn’t require demonic energy. The punishment triggered directly within his soul for violating the terms of our pact.”

He provided the explanation with cold transparency for one specific reason.

“Do not forget—your own mind is far more vulnerable than any contract made with a black mage.”

“……”

The message was a blatant threat.

Even though Berge was the one who had decided to throw him away first.

Even though he perfectly grasped why Byrif had acted as he did in those final moments.

Understanding a betrayal did not mean he would tolerate it.

For a common familiar—a mere tool of a black mage—to turn against him? It was unthinkable.

He reserved the right to discard his servants, but no servant had the right to betray him.

That was the law of a Demon King. That was Berge.

“…I follow.”

Hillun looked away, shifting the focus of the conversation.

“What is the plan now? We are far past the point of simply using the Third Prince to bleed the Empire’s ranks, aren’t we?”

“…Byrif, you absolute imbecile.”

Hillun’s assessment was accurate.

Through Byrif’s reckless mouth, Berge’s very presence had been revealed.

He had been exposed to four separate heirs of the imperial line.

Despite his immense caution.

Despite his meticulous efforts to remain in the shadows.

“You must maintain your composure.”

“I am perfectly composed.”

Simply containing his overflowing demonic power required a near-impossible level of self-control.

The situation was baffling.

A black mage turning on a Demon King? It was practically unheard of in history.

Byrif had suffered the consequences, but the fallout was now a noose tightening around Berge’s throat.

“How do you anticipate the Empire will react?”

“They will be driven by a manic obsession to find your tower, my lord.”

“As I feared.”

“We aren’t certain of the full scope of Byrif’s actions, but that blast nearly leveled the canyon, and the First Prince’s forces are crippled and exhausted. Given that those were the finest soldiers of House Osrian, and considering the First Prince’s legendary arrogance…”

The Empire’s eldest prince—and the realm’s most prestigious noble house—had taken a devastating hit to their reputation.

The Empire functioned as a massive fortress built on centuries of ego; it would not permit even a minor blemish on its record.

The realization that a Demon King had been operating undetected within their borders was a wound that cut to the bone.

In short, the Empire would move heaven and earth to excise that stain.

“…Indeed.”

Berge let out a long breath.

“What a disastrous turn of events.”

*Isn’t it?*

“You miserable parasite. This is all your fault.”

Berge clenched his jaw. His internal focus was locked on the soul currently trapped in his metaphorical grip.

*- N-No! This cannot be! Why am I being held…!*

“You fool. Did you truly believe that passing from the living world would grant you sanctuary? That death is an escape?”

The man hadn’t even understood the weight of becoming a black mage—of tethering his eternal essence to a Demon King.

Then again, black mages had been extinct in Aren for centuries, and Byrif had achieved his status through raw talent rather than a Demon King’s direct guidance. His ignorance was somewhat understandable.

But ignorance did not grant mercy.

“Prepare yourself. You will find no peace in the void.”

*- P-Please, no…!*

Byrif’s spirit shivered in absolute dread.

And watching the scene unfold, Hillun Kagil felt a similar shiver run down his spine.

◇◇◇◆◇◇◇

To summarize the aftermath: the hunt for the non-existent demonic assassin was a predictable failure.

The only thing the expedition gained was the intelligence that “the Demon King of Blazing Flames was pulling the strings”—an insight bought with even more casualties.

However, they did stumble upon other revelations.

“There is a subterranean prison here.”

“No signs of additional black mages in the vicinity.”

The hidden dungeon where Byrif had established his lair—positioned directly under the massive crater—left the investigators stunned.

There wasn’t a single footprint of any other accomplice.

“In all honesty, could Hillun Kagil have been exaggerating? A single black mage? There is no possible way one man commanded such powerful undead.”

The First Prince, the Second Prince, the First Princess, and the Third Prince.

The leaders of each imperial division held a private council. A command tent, marked with the imperial crest, was erected near the blast site.

The Second Prince’s skepticism prompted a sharp grunt from the First Prince.

“Don’t speak of things you didn’t witness.”

“Excuse me?”

“There were two Death Knights. Scores of Dullahan. Thousands of walking dead. Even a lesser dragon.”

“Who would actually believe such a tale?”

“Step outside and ask any survivor.”

“How do I know you haven’t forced them to stick to a script?”

“Still clinging to your petty doubts, I see. You didn’t happen to miss the explosion that nearly split the world, did you?”

“…Well, that was certainly something.”

The detonation had literally rocked the canyon. Regardless of the source, the First Prince’s heavy losses were a concrete reality.

“Fine, I will accept the premise for the moment.”

“It isn’t a premise—it is the truth.”

“But one man orchestrating all of that? It’s impossible, no matter how much power he had!”

“Your brother is correct. No individual could manage that scale alone. Which leads to one conclusion…”

Martin spoke up, cutting through the bickering.

“The only logical answer is that the Demon King himself intervened on a massive scale.”

The other three royals signaled their agreement. For a black mage to exhibit that level of control, he needed one thing: a direct infusion of power from the Demon King.

“The Empire has been dangerously underestimated. For a mere Demon King to think he can play with us…”

A cold, quiet rage began to permeate the room.

“But brother, are you certain it is the Demon King of Blazing Flames?”

“What other candidate is there?”

“It could be a deception by the Demon King of Lies.”

“The mage believed until his final breath that he would be rescued. You think that was a choreographed performance?”

“Point taken. If that was acting, he should have been on a stage, not in a dungeon. Or perhaps in politics.”

The Second Prince conceded to the First Prince’s point. The sight of Byrif weeping blood while screaming curses at the Demon King—only to die the moment he named him—was an image none of them would ever forget.

“However, we should weigh why the Demon King of Lies has his title.”

“He has remained in the shadows for over a hundred years. Why would he choose such a clumsy, overt tactic now?”

“That is a valid observation.”

“The Demon King of Blazing Flames has a history of keeping his tower completely hidden. It would be strange for the other Demon Kings to start using such transparent methods now.”

The consensus among the imperial heirs began to solidify around the First Prince’s theory.

“This has moved beyond a simple black mage hunt. The Empire is being mocked by a single Demon King. If Hillun Kagil hadn’t been here to assist, we might be looking at a total catastrophe.”

“Is this you offering praise to the Hero who chose to back you?”

“I am merely acknowledging the facts.”

“Facts are objective. But aren’t you being a bit hasty in ruling out the Demon King of Lies?”

The Second Prince shrugged, momentarily siding with the Third Prince.

“I am only pointing out what doesn’t fit.”

“Perhaps.”

“Your display of sibling unity is quite touching to an older brother.”

“The fact that you’re resorting to sarcasm means you are absolutely livid.”

The Second Prince gave a knowing, sharp grin.

“Enough with the childish prodding. What is your next move?”

“And yours, brother?”

The First Prince and the First Princess had suffered the most significant damage. Their desire for retribution was the most intense.

“I am returning to the capital to brief His Majesty. I will then formally request a crusade to eliminate the Demon King.”

The First Prince wanted to destroy the source of the corruption that had humiliated his house.

“I will remain to scour the area for any remaining black mages and bleed them for information.”

The First Princess remained convinced that more clues were buried in the dirt.

“Everything is wrapped up nicely, then. Since there is no body of the black mage to present, we have no physical trophy. I suppose I’ll have to see the face of this arrogant Demon King for myself.”

The remains of the black mage—destroyed by a demon—had turned to ash. There were no demonic residues left to track, meaning they had no proof of their victory.

However, Byrif’s dying words had named the target, giving their anger a clear direction.

Even if it was just a name, the people in that tent were of imperial blood—each holding a claim to the crown.

If they declared it was so, the world would treat it as law.

The second the name “Demon King of Blazing Flames” left Byrif’s mouth—and the royals accepted it—the sentence was passed.

“Is there anything else to discuss?”

The meeting ended.

The four imperial rivals were now united by a single goal.

Their objective: the Demon King of Blazing Flames.

This was the absolute worst-case scenario for Berge.

◇◇◇◆◇◇◇

“Hahaha…”

A dry laugh broke the silence.

“Hahahahaha…!”

It became a frantic, manic sound.

Suddenly, memories of the past flooded back.

The incident of kidnapping Jespaine’s crown prince, the endless waves of imperial troops that seemed to swarm like mindless zombies.

You defeat one group, a more powerful one appears; you break them, and an even greater nightmare follows.

On paper, the mission was a success.

The black mage was dead, the undead were neutralized—this was technically the truth.

But this wasn’t a conclusion. It was a prologue.

“Lord Hillun.”

Martin, having returned to the capital, called for Hillun and Berge.

“I didn’t expect to be able to fulfill my commitment to you so quickly.”

To Berge, the promise had been a hasty excuse—a way to pawn Hillun off on Martin—something he never intended to actually happen.

“We have reached a decision to initiate a Hero’s crusade against the Demon King of Blazing Flames.”

…Good heavens.

He had suspected this was coming. But hearing it confirmed by the prince in the heart of the capital just days later? The reality hit differently.

“First he abducts Kaede—and now this? The Demon King of Blazing Flames who thought he could insult the Empire will find no more peace.”

That was certainly true. Berge felt as though his very life force was being drained. His mind was racing with plans that led nowhere.

“However, the Blazing Flames Tower is not like the towers of old.”

“True, the structure itself is magically masked. That is why even your efforts failed.”

“Exactly.”

“That is the primary hurdle we face.”

If they could pinpoint the tower, the Empire could level it in an afternoon.

Regardless of his title, a Demon King summoned barely a year ago was a novice.

Against the full might of the Empire, he was just a troublesome pest.

But the territory of Erjest was a different beast entirely.

It was a land untouched by human law.

Hampstrein Canyon was dangerous, but the permafrost and lethal peaks of Erjest were on a different scale.

The creatures living there were naturally far more dangerous.

“The challenge is navigating those brutal conditions to find the tower. It will not be simple.”

Mountain ranges are formidable for a reason. These were vast chains of rock that spanned the size of entire nations.

“Giving up” wasn’t an option for the Empire.

The real questions were when they would find it and what the body count would be.

Minimizing those factors was the priority.

“Precisely.”

“His Majesty views this mission as a natural continuation of our purge of black magic.”

“…Which means?”

“It means exactly what you think.”

“If I may be blunt…”

“Speak your mind.”

“Is that not a bit overconfident?”

Even for a power like the Empire, Erjest was treacherous. If it shared a border, maybe—but it was a foreign territory.

They couldn’t just march an army in, and now they were dividing their focus?

It defied Hillun’s sense of logic.

“I understand your concern. I felt the same. But this is the Emperor’s command, and his word is final.”

“Good grief.”

Hillun was stunned. Berge felt a wave of relief mixed with a burning spark of insult.

The thinning of their forces was a benefit, but it proved how little they feared him.

Common mortals were looking down on a Demon King.

“It works in our favor. I will save Kaede, without fail. I have one request.”

“I will accompany you in the search for the tower, Your Highness.”

Whether he liked it or not, Berge was now tethered to the Third Prince’s expedition to Erjest. He had no other path.

“I am grateful.”

“It is my duty.”

The prince and the Hero shook hands, sealing the pact.

◇◇◇◆◇◇◇

There was no way to decline.

In Martin’s eyes, Hillun was the Hero most motivated to topple the Blazing Flames Tower.

Any advantage, no matter how minor, was worth the investment.

“Your Highness, the trek into Erjest will require extensive supplies. I suggest sending Lord Fail ahead to begin preparations.”

“A sound plan.”

This was Hillun’s contribution to Berge: creating a legitimate excuse to get him out of the capital.

“Curse it, curse it, curse it…!”

Berge made his exit from the Empire via a teleportation network. He switched his attire multiple times to throw off any trackers before finally reaching Hortonwork.

And there, he found more nuisances.

‘Those pathetic scavengers.’

The agents of Akan were still crawling over Erjest, hunting for Lavinia Akan.

He felt a primal urge to tear them apart, but he forced himself to stay hidden.

Slipping through the shadows, he finally arrived back at his tower. The first floor was still a vacant labyrinth. However, his vision saw through the stonework to the concealed magic artillery—they were almost finished, which gave him a small sense of security.

“Master! You have returned!”

“The Demon King is back!”

The dwarves and the unstable princess greeted him, but Berge simply brushed past them with a tired gesture.

He traversed the empty second level and walked past Elena, who was occupied with her own tasks on the third.

“My lord.”

“A successful trip?”

He reached the fourth floor. Dark mages, dark knights, and elves bowed as he approached.

He was struck by how much his forces had grown, but there was no time for pleasantries.

As he moved toward the fifth floor, Berge stopped. These people were now the core of his tower’s strength.

If they were to survive the Empire’s wrath, they would have to stand as one.

“You. Go to the fifth floor and bring Gordon here. You, find Roger and Lavinia on the first floor.”

“At once, my lord.”

The elves he signaled hurried off to fulfill the orders.

“Is something wrong? You look incredibly troubled, my lord.”

Ernyan stepped forward, her face etched with concern.

“Yes. A catastrophe is looming.”

“…If you are using words like that, the situation must be dire.”

“You have no idea.”

“What is it?”

“The Empire is mobilizing.”

“The Empire?”

“The First Prince, the Second Prince, the First Princess, and the Third Prince. All four major heirs are coming for us.”

“…Even my brother?”

*Clang—*

The sword slipped from Kaede’s hand and hit the floor.

The Empire’s Goal End