The Demon King Overrun by Heroes Novel - Chapter 123

Chapter 123
## Chapter 123: Strategy Session

The entire strength of the stronghold had assembled on the fourth level. It marked the first full gathering since the spire had been established.

“The imperial forces are going to descend on Erjest in search of my base. We must halt their advance.”

“So, the crown’s legions are marching out, personally overseen by the royalty.”

“Exactly.”

Ernyan spoke up before anyone else. “I don’t believe it’s wise to involve the Golden Moon Merchant Guild or the champion Hillun just to obstruct the empire.”

“Because they won’t be enough?”

“Correct. We risk losing all our assets if we aren’t careful.”

The situation had shifted. Before the decree for a hero’s crusade was finalized, things might have been flexible. But with the emperor’s formal command issued, the stakes were absolute. The empire didn’t negotiate with hurdles; they pulverized them.

“Have no fear, Great King! I’ll handle everything!” The dwarven master puffed out his chest.

“You?”

“I have three hundred and twenty-one mystical artilleries ready!”

“…That is a significant number.”

Previously, the weight of such weaponry hadn’t truly registered. But after witnessing the imperial legions utilize them, the reality hit home. He realized how brilliant Roger was and how vital the cannons he produced truly were. The sheer scale of over three hundred barrels was staggering.

*If we fired all 321 in a single synchronized volley…*

Even the most decorated imperial soldiers would likely be vaporized. Not to mention the hundreds of unruly adventurers—they’d be wiped out in a heartbeat. A flicker of optimism rose within him.

*No. Heavy artillery alone isn’t a silver bullet.*

They were engines of destruction, yes, but not infallible. Specifically, he couldn’t imagine a figure like Balaf Disroad falling to cannon fire, regardless of the volume of lead thrown his way.

*Furthermore, the empire’s true power isn’t just one single crusade.*

The more they were rebuffed, the more intense their fury grew. If they were repelled once, they would return with countermeasures for the cannons, twice as prepared. He needed a sustainable strategy.

“May I offer a suggestion?” Gordon requested, raising his hand calmly.

“Proceed.”

“I am unaware of the exact prowess of this imperial host you describe.”

“A direct confrontation is a death sentence. Their numbers are massive, and they won’t retreat after a few minor losses.”

“So, an opponent we cannot crush immediately, but one with immense endurance.” Then, Gordon made his point. “I propose we engage them in the open terrain, rather than staying locked inside the spire.”

“In the open?” Berge’s eyes widened.

He was shocked that anyone would suggest leaving the safety of the tower for a field battle, but he was even more stunned that the suggestion came from Gordon.

“…Why that expression?”

“It’s just unexpected, coming from you.”

“I told you before: I believe your path is the correct one now. This is merely following that path. I will do whatever is required to help you dominate this realm.”

“Why fight in the wilderness?”

“To shatter their spirit.”

“Their spirit?”

“One moment…”

Gordon ascended to the fifth level and returned carrying a crystalline sphere. He channeled dark energy into it, placing it on the floor. A massive light-projection flickered to life. It displayed a detailed map of the Erjest Mountains, curated over the last year.

“Living here for twelve months has taught me exactly what these peaks represent to the human race.”

A brutal wasteland. A forbidden zone. A place where humans do not belong. A hive of monsters and a frozen hellscape buried in eternal snow.

“Just traveling through these peaks drains them. Searching for a spire amidst the blizzards is taxing enough, but the constant monster attacks make it unbearable.”

It eroded both their physical health and their mental resolve. Initially, he hadn’t seen the logic, but Berge’s choice to plant the tower in Erjest was a stroke of genius.

“But what happens if they find the spire? They get a second wind of hope. Yes, the tower is thick with dark energy, giving us an edge, but think about the human psyche: would you rather wander forever, or see a clear target at the summit?”

“If we fight in the field, can we actually win? Open warfare has its drawbacks. People will escape.”

Unlike typical dark lords, Berge had populated his home with royalty, different species, and even former champions. It was a massive mental shock to intruders and worked well initially. But if it became public knowledge, the tower would lose its unique advantage.

The moment the high elves and princesses were seen by the world, Berge’s grand design would fall apart. An elf, a champion, and a princess serving a dark lord would destroy the very world-view humans relied on. Inside the spire, witnesses could be silenced. In the field, there were too many eyes.

“The second the truth is out, it won’t just be humans. The other dark lords will react as well.”

“Initially, we can disguise the elves as dark elves using pigments.”

“That won’t hold up under scrutiny.”

“We can use mana stones ground into dyed powder, infused with energy, and mark their skin. It’s temporary, but they will pass for dark elves.”

The elves watching the discussion recoiled slightly at the thought. Berge rubbed his jaw. Using energy-infused dyes was a common practice in the dark realm. The residue was stable, making it a viable plan.

“Reasonable. And what about the princesses?”

“Label them as the Four Dark Sovereigns.”

“The princesses?”

“Hmph.”

“Masks will suffice. We can craft ones that emit a steady stream of dark mana. In the chaos of a long war, no one will be checking for fine details. They certainly won’t imagine they are looking at the Hilderan royalty.”

“That sounds incredibly reckless.”

It was exactly that kind of overconfidence that had caused problems before. Berge wasn’t going to let history repeat itself—not when his people’s lives were on the line.

“It’s a sure thing.”

“Sure?”

“Nobody would ever believe that princesses calling themselves the Four Sovereigns are actually assisting the Dark Lord.” Gordon looked around the room for confirmation.

“…He has a point.”

“Even I find it hard to believe…”

“Honestly, me too…”

The elves began to concur one by one. Since they were incapable of deception, their agreement was sincere.

“Why?” Ernyan asked, tilting her head.

“Yes, why exactly?” Sharloto, the first to acknowledge the two royal sisters, spoke with a dry throat. “Because in what world does a princess help the monster who took her… and then fight the very heroes coming to save her?”

There were four such princesses in the room. One looked hesitant, but the other three? They seemed perfectly fine with it. As Sharloto trailed off, Ernyan shook her head in agreement.

“Exactly. The world is a big place—you can’t judge it by one standard. Even Sharloto the Elf agrees!”

“……”

Sharloto stayed silent, unable to argue. Witnessing the conversation, which felt more like a farce, Berge had a realization.

*Sharloto is right.*

A royal aiding a dark lord defied all logic. Actively killing her rescuers was unthinkable. So why had he stopped seeing it as strange? His eyes moved toward Ernyan.

*…She’s been completely changed.*

She had moved so far from social norms that she couldn’t even recognize basic common sense anymore. Berge felt a new wave of wariness.

“Fine. The princesses are handled.”

“Wait? I still don’t follow.”

“You don’t need to,” Berge said, ignoring Ernyan’s protest. “The Frost Orcs and Krutu are no problem. The beasts Reina sent are fine too. The real issue is…”

“The magic artillery unit.”

“Yes.”

Cannons weren’t traditionally the weapons of a dark lord. In a millennium of conflict on Aren, no dark lord had utilized them. There was no rule against it—the Code didn’t forbid it. Someone like Ugar might complain about using ‘human toys,’ but he could be ignored. The true risk was losing the element of surprise once they were revealed.

Even so.

“We move forward.”

“Are you certain?”

“It has to happen eventually. Better to reveal the cannons than the secrets of the tower. Once they are deployed, we finish them. Are you ready?”

“Naturally! I’ll show those prideful humans what a dwarven-engineered battery can really do!” Roger declared with a fierce snort.

“And what if we seize some of the royals during the battle?”

“What?”

“We could use them as leverage for deals…”

“Denied.”

“Eh?”

“It won’t work.”

The crusade was currently a secret, but once it began, the whole continent would know. If the empire failed and lost even more royals to capture, the emperor’s pride would be wounded. He would likely disown the captives as failures and double his efforts. It was a scorched-earth tactic that would kill any hope of a peaceful resolution.

“…I understand.”

“We will fight them in the open and refine the specifics. Above all, the identities of the elves and princesses must remain a secret.”

The standard procedure was to lock royal captives in a cellar and wait for heroes at the top. The usual script was “The prize is at the summit with the Dark Lord.” Some lords changed locations based on the terrain, but it was always within the spire’s walls.

But using them as combatants outside? Using heroes? If word got out, the other dark lords would interfere. Ugar might be too occupied. Jason could be bartered with—he’d want something in return, but he might look away. But Reina… the frost lady was traditional.

“She won’t ignore this.”

First, she would try to convince him, then she would threaten, then she would strike. The issue was that Reina was currently the lord closest to Berge’s territory.

“We will do everything to mask the truth. But to succeed…” Gordon looked at Ravina Akan and Sharloto. He knew his way around mana, but he needed specialists—specifically Ravina, who was a master of dark energy.

“Ravina.”

“Yeah.”

“I need your assistance.”

“Yeah. There are many beasts. I will help.” Luckily, the gift of monsters from Reina had put Ravina in a fantastic mood.

“Also, I should mention—the imperial forces are splitting into four wings. They might merge later, but for now, they are divided. We should plan to take them out one by one.”

“Understood!”

“We will!”

—

“My Lord.”

Berge had outlined the main strategy and left Gordon to handle the logistics. Now, back in his private quarters, he was nursing a headache. That was when Kaede Jespain signaled at the door.

“Enter.”

She walked in with a heavy heart.

“What is on your mind?”

“…Well.”

He already suspected. It was about the 3rd prince. He knew how much the 3rd prince cared for his family, and Kaede was the same.

“You are unable to fight the 3rd prince, correct?”

“…I apologize, but yes.”

“You swore to be my follower. Now you are disregarding an order for personal reasons? Is that how a knight behaves?”

“……”

Kaede hung her head low. A knight’s code dictated that the lord’s word was law. She had no excuse for her hesitation.

“Is it only the 3rd prince?”

“I’m sorry?”

“I am asking if he is the only family member you won’t touch.”

“…My brother Floyan as well.” The 2nd prince. Their bond had always been stable, and Kaede clearly valued him.

“And what of the 1st princess?”

Kaede’s demeanor shifted instantly. Her gaze became sharp and filled with a cold, poisonous rage.

“…Leave her to me. I will hold nothing back.”

“To what extent?”

“Whatever you command, My Lord.”

“Crush her head, tear her open? She is your sibling.”

“…That may be extreme, but I can certainly break her limbs.”

“Forget it. Your devotion is clear. You will stay and protect the spire.”

“…Pardon?”

“Why the confusion?” Berge asked. “You are royalty, but you are also a hero. Do we really want to announce to the world that a hero is working for me?”

“…Ah.” Kaede stared at him, momentarily speechless.

—

While Berge was planning his defense against the empire…

The oldest living dark lord in Aren received the news about the imperial movements.

『I am going to ask this once.』 A tremor of irritation vibrated through the communication crystal. 『Did you place a practitioner of the dark arts in Hastrain Gorge to undermine the empire?』

“No. You know I didn’t. I have no motive. I understand the empire better than any of us.”

『…What if it was a ploy to weaken them?』

“If that were the case, I wouldn’t have made such a messy job of it.”

『……』 Silence followed.

『One final time. It wasn’t you?』

“No. If you were certain, you wouldn’t be asking.”

『I will accept that for now.』 But the voice grew colder. 『This won’t be as simple as the situation with Lust. You have overstepped.』

The link went dead. Jason gripped the edge of his mahogany desk until it cracked.

“Berge, Berge, Berge!”

He was furious.

“What have you done?”

Why touch the one thing that was strictly off-limits? Why?

“Are you trying to destroy my entire plan?”

His gaze turned icy and dark.