The Demon King Overrun by Heroes Novel - Chapter 125

Chapter 125
Chapter: 125

Chapter Title: Persuasion

—

While Berge prepared to utilize the entire structure as a literal weapon, and the two Demon Kings remained locked in a somber dialogue, messengers from the Empire had already reached the borders of the three kingdoms.

“You believe you have located the Ashflower Tower, and thus you seek our assistance?”

“That is correct. I bring a confidential message from the Emperor himself.”

The royal aide took the parchment and handed it to the Sovereign of Corzen. After scanning the text, the monarch fixed his gaze on the messenger.

“Are you aware of the contents within this scroll?”

“I am but a carrier tasked with delivering His Majesty’s word.”

“Catarina Jespain.”

The messenger stiffened.

“Are you curious as to how I recognized you?”

“It appears your knowledge of the Empire’s affairs is extensive.”

“Few are indifferent to the Empire’s movements. However, identifying the Eleventh Imperial Princess on sight—a woman who famously avoids the public eye—is a distinct matter.”

“And the response to the letter?”

“When I first heard the Empire’s proposal from your lips, I felt a mixture of relief and apprehension.”

No ruler felt comfortable with a Demon King’s stronghold looming so closely, especially when its precise coordinates remained a mystery.

Naturally, the ideal scenario involved the Empire drawing its blades to handle the threat. Yet, total trust was an impossibility; history was stained with instances where the Empire used ‘heroic expeditions’ as a facade to annex neighboring territories.

Even if those events were centuries old, the Empire was still viewed as a predatory scavenger, a force to be handled with extreme caution.

“This missive bears the Emperor’s official signet and lists numerous guarantees. It further states that your presence here is a gesture of sincere commitment.”

“……”

“In your estimation, what should my reply be?”

“You should place me under house arrest.”

“Did you catch that?”

“Indeed, Your Majesty.”

The palace guards stepped forward. The princess’s personal guard instinctively reached for their hilts but froze when Catarina Jespain signaled for them to stand down.

“May I interpret this detention as your consent to the alliance?”

“I believe my actions have already provided the answer.”

Catarina inclined her head respectfully.

“I am grateful for your prudent choice.”

She then followed the guards without resistance.

“Lead the way.”

This sequence was not unique to Corzen. In the other two realms, the exact same drama played out.

Three members of the imperial bloodline were now held in foreign custody.

◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
True confidentiality is a rare commodity in this world.

It becomes even scarcer as the number of participants grows and the geopolitical stakes rise.

The Jespain Empire had attempted to shroud their movements in secrecy, but the logistics of mobilizing a massive search operation could not be masked forever.

“The Jespain Empire is actively hunting for the Ashflower Tower.”

The servant poured a glass of Anturua Porin 1311 vintage. The room was immediately graced by the wine’s sophisticated bouquet.

The ripples caused by the Empire’s mobilization had finally reached the shores of Hilderan.

The King scrutinized the intelligence report.

“The Ashflower Tower.”

And its master, the Ashflower Demon King.

That den of monsters that had dared to abduct the royal successors.

Unlike his peers, this Demon King had remained a ghost—undiscovered even after a full year of presence.

The very being who had snatched Elena from the Diamond Tower only to spirit her away again days later, dragging the kingdom’s reputation through the mud.

The bridge between the Ashflower Demon King and Hilderan had long since burned.

Hilderan’s survival required the demolition of that tower—otherwise, the Demon King would eventually see Hilderan erased.

They were trapped in a cycle of vengeance that could only conclude with the total ruin of one party.

And it was the Ashflower Demon King who had struck the match.

“Give me your assessment.”

“If the Empire is willing to lead the charge, we have no reason to decline. We ought to provide support,” the chamberlain suggested.

“Yet, there are elements that do not sit right.”

“Such as?”

“The information supposedly came from a black mage’s confession. I have never heard of a practitioner of the dark arts betraying their master.”

“Do you think the Empire is blind to that inconsistency?”

The King let out a dry, cynical laugh.

“They are well aware.”

“Regardless of their true motives, will the Empire actually welcome our cooperation?”

The relationship between Hilderan and Jespain was neither hostile nor warm.

It was a state of stagnant neutrality—neither meddling in each other’s affairs nor offering true friendship.

“There is no logical reason for them to reject us.”

The formal hero’s crusade had not yet commenced. The Empire’s current priority with the Northern Kingdoms was the localization of the tower. No one could predict how much blood and gold the jagged peaks of the Erjest Mountains would claim.

If Hilderan shared the burden, the Empire’s costs would drop—they were unlikely to turn away free resources.

“Furthermore, the Empire cannot deploy its standing army for a hero quest. They might send specialized units in disguise, but the focus must remain on the heroes.”

“Correct. And do we not have a candidate who fits that role perfectly?”

“We do.”

A champion of Hilderan, one who was deeply embedded with the Empire’s interests while still being fueled by Hilderan’s resources.

The kingdom’s star, who had solemnly promised the public that he would one day bring the princesses home.

“Dispatch a courier to the Empire. Establish a link with Hillun Kagil.”

“It shall be done.”

The King tightened his grip until the wine glass shattered in his hand.

He didn’t even flinch at the shards.

“At last.”

Finally.

“The moment to rip that wretched Demon King apart is approaching.”

The day to wash away his kingdom’s shame—and his own personal disgrace—was at hand.

The day to bring the heirs back to their throne.

◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
Berge reflected on the fragments of his past life before the regression.

The Empire had launched an overwhelming assault; he had fought to hold them back. In the end, his strength had failed.

And he had perished.

‘I refuse to let history repeat itself.’

He had decided on a defensive posture for the moment, but he understood better than anyone that purely reactive measures led to defeat.

Survival required more than a wall. He needed a strategic lever to force the Empire to halt its crusade entirely.

‘But what lever?’

The Empire was already in motion. Once a conflict reached a certain velocity, it became a runaway train that was nearly impossible to derail.

‘I cannot prevent the start. I must make them choose to stop.’

To achieve that, he needed to either undermine their moral standing or create a massive internal distraction.

‘Could I incite chaos within the Empire?’

But through what means?

Suddenly, the words of Hillun Kagil echoed in his mind.

‘Martin Jespain.’

The prince was traveling toward Erjest alongside Hillun. His inner drive was nothing to scoff at.

What if his hunger for the crown was just as fierce as that of the First Prince? What if it was merely buried under a facade of passivity because the odds were against him—a potential never realized before his untimely death in the previous timeline?

And if Berge provided the catalyst…

‘Should I pivot to the original strategy?’

Grant Martin the power necessary to tear the Empire apart from the inside.

‘I will seize him and turn him into a pawn.’

It wouldn’t be a simple kidnapping; he would eventually set him free.

If a returned Martin could somehow paralyze the Empire’s military initiatives…

‘It would be the perfect outcome, wouldn’t it?’

Of course, the probability was slim. Logically, an Imperial Prince of the Third rank had no business serving a Demon King…

“…he would likely refuse.”

Unless his craving for the throne surpassed all other instincts, and he realized he had no other path to victory. It wasn’t impossible.

Especially with a bit of leverage applied by a sibling.

Berge summoned Kaede.

“…Are you telling me my brother is joining the hunt and coming here? Not as part of the hero’s party?”

“The Empire and the Northern Kingdoms are teaming up to find the tower. The Empire’s chosen delegate is the Third Prince.”

“…I understand.”

“I have a mission for you.”

“A mission?”

“You are to convince the Third Prince.”

“…Excuse me?”

Kaede’s eyes widened further than they had since the day she first encountered the Dark Knight.

“You heard me correctly.”

“…He is a prince of the Empire.”

“And you are a princess of that same Empire.”

“……”

Kaede bit her lip, holding back a flood of protests. There was clearly much she wanted to say, but her status as a retainer kept her tongue in check.

“I am not ‘requesting’ your help, nor am I ‘ordering’ you. I am simply ‘informing’ you.”

“…What is the distinction?”

If Berge commanded it, Kaede would comply out of her sense of honor and her current oath.

But she wouldn’t do so with her heart. She wouldn’t be at her most effective. Berge needed her fully committed.

“Understand this: in warfare, eliminating the enemy commander is the most basic tactic.”

This was why he framed it as a notice rather than an order.

“If the Third Prince ascends the mountain with his troops, I will make him my primary target. I will instruct Kruuto to take his head.”

“I will direct every monster in this tower toward him.”

“I will command Roger to lock onto him with the mana cannons first.”

“Him.”

“I will do it.”

“Without hesitation.”

“I will kill him.”

He spoke each sentence with heavy emphasis. Kaede’s face turned deathly pale.

“…Demon King.”

“His potential deaths are many: decapitated by Kruuto, ripped apart by beasts, buried in a triggered landslide, or vaporized by mana fire.”

“Demon King, please.”

“But the result is singular. He will not leave the Erjest Mountains alive. I will personally see to that.”

“Demon King!”

Kaede cried out, her face flushed with desperation and anger.

“…I will talk to my brother. I will persuade him.”

“There is no need to force yourself.”

“No. I will do it… I will definitely make him listen.”

“I knew I could count on my knight.”

Berge offered a satisfied smirk.

“I have two guarantees for him.”

“Two?”

“First: his life.”

“Yes.”

“Second: the Empire itself.”

“…What?”

“I swear upon the Founding Demon Emperor and the Standard of the Demon King: if the Third Prince joins forces with me, I will see him seated on the throne.”

“…Ernyan mentioned something about this.”

“Mentioned what?”

“That you are at your most dangerous when you start swearing on the Founding Emperor and the Standard…”

“……”

Confound it.

Had he used that line too often?

“…Does he have to become your servant in exchange?”

“That remains to be seen.”

He wasn’t a hero, so a pact as a black mage or a knight was technically possible.

However, those paths would cause him to leak demonic energy—a fatal flaw for someone trying to rule a human empire.

‘I’ll use Armani’s Orb.’

Unlike the soul-binding contracts of dark magic, Armani’s Orb functioned as an artifact that merely tethered a soul.

It left no traces of corruption and granted no demonic aura.

The downsides were that it provided no extra power, cost a fortune in demonic points, and could be broken by a strong enough will. But if Kaede did her job well…

“…But do you truly possess the influence to make him an Emperor?”

Kaede wasn’t mocking him; she had seen his ruthless brilliance firsthand.

She simply knew the staggering scale of the Empire. No lone Demon King should be able to dictate the line of succession.

“Independently? No.”

Berge was honest. Despite his grand claims, he couldn’t just place a crown on someone’s head by fiat.

However.

“I am a Demon King. As long as our races remain at war, I can feed him victories and ‘merits.’ Do you really think the Third Prince wouldn’t use that momentum to his advantage?”

“…I will carry out your will, Demon King.”

“That is my Dark Knight.”

“…I would prefer you didn’t use that title.”

“Ernyan already considers it your name.”

“…Then tell her to stop.”

“I make no promises there.”

“……”

Kaede fell into deep thought.

Was this truly the same malevolent, calculating Demon King she had met before?

◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
‘Must I really, with my own hands, convince my brother to… become a pawn for a Demon King?’

‘He isn’t like me.’

They shared the same blood, but while she didn’t care for the crown, Martin’s soul was consumed by imperial ambition.

He was a kind brother, but he was no saint, and he was certainly not without ego.

She, who had lived in his shadow, knew his hunger for the throne better than anyone.

She had always wanted to support that dream—as his personal guard, as the sword that cleared his path.

When that seemed impossible, she considered a political union to help him.

But the prospect of marrying Ormus’s dying sovereign was too much to stomach.

She refused to be a mere trophy for Ormus, even if it meant losing her status.

So she had fled, seeking to become a legendary hero to give Martin political leverage. She had failed, been captured, and ended up in the service of a Demon King—yet her loyalty to her brother remained.

That was the core of her inner conflict.

Berge Dayas meant what he said. He was not a man of idle threats.

‘To keep my brother alive, I have to win him over.’

But would Martin accept such a deal?

Would his craving for the throne and his will to live be enough to make him accept the collar of a Demon King?

She wasn’t sure.

‘Even so…’

She would give it everything she had, just as she promised the Demon King.

Because Martin Jespain was the only source of warmth she had ever known in the freezing halls of the palace.