The Demon King Overrun by Heroes Novel - Chapter 126

Chapter 126
Chapter: 126

Chapter Title: Do. Well.

—

『This represents the solemn mandate of His Imperial Majesty.』

“…I accept the decree.”

The magical signal terminated. Hillun Kagil exhaled a heavy, weary breath.

‘One obstacle after another.’

Maintaining a precarious equilibrium between the Demon King and the Empire was already pushing him to his mental limits, and now Hildean had inserted themselves into the fray.

Viewed objectively, Hildean’s entry wasn’t necessarily a negative development.

Hildean was a formidable power in its own right, and the resources they would commit to recovering their abducted crown princess would be significant.

Their cooperation would undoubtedly increase the probability of toppling the Demon King.

‘However.’

From Hillun Kagil’s secret perspective as a subordinate of the Demon King, this was more of a liability than an asset.

‘They could have merely dispatched a diplomat, yet they insist on using me as their conduit.’

They likely intended to capitalize on his rapport with the Third Prince to ensure a smooth operation, but it was also a transparent tactic to reinforce his public identity as Hildean’s champion.

It was an arrangement Hillun found distasteful, yet unless he was prepared to sever ties with Hildean entirely, he had no grounds to decline.

‘And if Hildean involves themselves and they actually triumph…’

If the plan unfolded perfectly, it might be manageable, but the Berge he served was not the sort of Demon King to accept defeat gracefully.

If the hero narrative reached its climax and he found himself in lethal danger, would Berge truly permit Hillun to walk away unscathed?

He genuinely doubted it.

‘The ideal outcome would be…’

The hero’s gambit succeeds, and the Demon King is decapitated before he can retaliate against Hillun Kagil—but the likelihood of such timing was infinitesimal.

‘I need to consult the Third Prince first.’

Ultimately, he had to drift with the current for the moment. Seeking advice from the Third Prince—a man he considered a friend—felt more prudent than approaching the Emperor directly.

‘A hero credited with the downfall of two Demon Kings, yet I lack the agency to make a single move.’

He smoothed the tension from his features and walked out into the open.

Projecting the image of the ever-reliable Hillun Kagil.

◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
In a span of just over fourteen days, the Empire displayed breathtaking efficiency, rapidly organizing the search contingents.

They obtained formal pacts from Dormunt, Corzen, and Horton. Under the command of the imperial bloodline, search units originating from the Empire set out toward each respective territory.

The pace was staggering.

“The Empire’s momentum is truly something to behold.”

“It is only to be expected. His Majesty the Emperor is personally overseeing this affair. Not for matters of the imperial line, but for a different motivation entirely.”

When Hillun offered a look of confusion, Martin leaned in and spoke in a hushed tone.

“Surely you have deduced it as well? The architect of this chaos is likely not the Blazing Flower Demon King.”

“…Is that your belief?”

“Certainly. What practitioner of the dark arts would compromise the Demon King they serve? It is common knowledge now that they wager their very souls on those pacts.”

“Then for what purpose…?”

“Because the identity is irrelevant. I am unsure which Demon King presumes to manipulate the Empire, but His Majesty finds the one still concealing their tower far more offensive than the one whose name has been revealed.”

“…!”

“Is it not progressing perfectly? Using this crisis as a reason to draw in the resources of the three kingdoms and the Hero Guild. The Empire will inevitably locate the Blazing Flower Tower.”

It was a sentiment born of absolute confidence—or perhaps arrogance—that once the location was pinpointed, they could dismantle it at their leisure.

Yet, given the Empire’s might, no one could refute the claim.

Hillun felt his pulse quicken.

He could feel the net closing in; they actually might find it.

“Uncovering the Blazing Flower Tower is our primary objective. We will hunt down the true instigator afterward.”

Even with this dual focus, the search parties progressed rapidly toward Corzen Kingdom. Daphne Philia linked up with the group during the journey.

“How did you manage to recruit Daphne Philia?”

“I was not the one to persuade Lord Daphne. That was my brother Florian’s doing.”

A search operation was distinct from a full hero expedition.

There was no certainty of a result; because it prioritized reconnaissance over open warfare, the martial strength was far below that of a standard hero party.

Particularly since the destination was the Blazing Flower Tower—where Hillun Kagil and Akan Kingdom had already faced two setbacks—and the Erjest Mountains, widely regarded as the most treacherous terrain on the continent.

The prospect of failure outweighed success. Consequently, most members of the royalty were hesitant to accept the potential stain on their reputation.

Most preferred to wait for concrete data. Ultimately, history would care most about who struck the final blow against the Demon King.

However, the Third Prince showed great zeal because his situation was dire; taking the risk could result in a massive political windfall.

Meanwhile, the Second Prince, skeptical that the tower would even be found, added incentive by assigning Daphne Philia and other notable heroes to the group.

The Third Prince saw no reason to turn them away. While it meant sharing the prestige, having the continent’s premier tracker was essential in such unpredictable territory.

“I understand.”

Hillun gave a knowledgeable nod and moved toward Daphne. Since their paths would be intertwined for the foreseeable future, establishing a connection was a logical move.

“Our paths cross once more.”

“It is good to see you. But where is that other individual?”

“Which individual?”

“His name was… Fail, I believe. The one with the crimson hair…”

“Ah, you are referring to Lord Fail?”

“Precisely. Is he not also a member of the Red Hawk Mercenaries?”

“No. He is simply a private associate providing me with independent assistance.”

“I see.”

Hillun quickly changed the subject to ensure the focus didn’t linger on Berge.

“Reflecting on our last meeting, I spoke mostly of my own experiences. I was unaware you were also investigating the tower. Had I known, I would have queried you extensively.”

In the past, following his own failed expedition, Daphne Philia had tracked down Hillun Kagil to compare notes.

Hillun had been entirely forthcoming then, but he had received very little information in return from Daphne.

“If it interests you, I can share those details now.”

“I would be grateful.”

With Hillun’s agreement, Daphne extracted a map from his tunic. It was an intricate, hand-drawn chart of the Erjest Mountains, based on his own extensive travels.

“I can state with certainty that I have investigated almost every quadrant, beginning from this point.”

He traced several regions of the mountains. Hillun exerted every ounce of his willpower to keep his expression neutral.

‘…He marked the exact location of the tower?’

Daphne’s finger had passed directly over the site of the tower before moving on.

“And you found no trace of the tower in these locations?”

“Nothing yet.”

‘The tower is undeniably there. Yet he failed to see it?’

The logic didn’t hold. For that to be true…

‘The Demon King possesses some means of total concealment.’

Could an entire tower truly be hidden from sight?

He had never encountered a record of such magic.

Stuck between the might of the Empire and the secrets of the Demon King, Hillun felt his loyalties shifting slightly toward the latter’s mystery.

They continued their discussion as they marched.

◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
After a long trek through the wilds, the group returned to Hortonwork.

Of all the urban centers in Corzen Kingdom, it was the one closest to the Erjest Mountains. Naturally, it served as the staging ground for any ascent.

“It is an honor to meet you. I am Belov Corzen, leader of the White Ermine Company and the official representative for Corzen Kingdom.”

The White Ermine Company was among the elite ranger divisions of Corzen.

Stationed in Hortonwork and other northern outposts, they were experts in navigating the Erjest Mountains and managing the local monster population—scouts without peer.

Corzen had mobilized their finest to ensure the tower was found.

“I never anticipated meeting the Second Prince of Corzen in person here.”

“Locating the Demon King’s stronghold is a priority of the highest order. It was only right that I lead the effort.”

The reinforcements didn’t stop there. One order of knights, two divisions of mages, and two additional ranger units joined the White Ermine.

The presence of three hundred elite soldiers made their desperation to find the Blazing Flower Tower palpable.

And that determination was quickly put into motion.

Only three days later.

The unified search coalition took a brief respite in Hortonwork before entering the shadows of the Erjest Mountains.

◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
Coordinated search efforts were now active across all three kingdoms.

Berge was unable to observe all three fronts simultaneously. However, Hortonwork was a special case.

Because it contained his personal assets: Hillun Kagil and the Red Hawk Mercenaries.

Berge decided to focus his primary strategic efforts on the Hortonwork contingent.

It was the closest threat to his tower, and it contained his specific target, Martin Jespain.

“The Third Prince has reached Hortonwork.”

The force was substantial.

Three hundred troops from Corzen, another three hundred from the Empire, and fifty high-tier heroes, including Daphne Philia.

These were not conscripts—they were knights, scouts, and sorcerers of the highest caliber. They were far more dangerous than the Akan search party previously commanded by Cain.

“Is the presence of Lord Daphne not beneficial for us? He previously surveyed the area, found nothing, and moved on.”

“That would be the best-case scenario.”

People rarely double-check a location they have already cleared. However, overconfidence was a death sentence.

“Our objectives are twofold.”

First: Prevent the search party from getting close to the tower.

Second: Isolate the Third Prince from his protectors so he can have an audience with Kaede.

“This is easy.”

the dwarf grunted dismissively.

“We just hit them all with the mana cannons! They’ll scatter like rats! Princes? High lords? Under a heavy bombardment, titles don’t mean a thing! Everyone focuses on surviving—primal instinct takes over, and they’ll be separated instantly!”

“Denied.”

The Third Prince was capable, but he wasn’t invincible. Under a barrage of hundreds of mana shots, he was more likely to be vaporized than successfully isolated.

“An avalanche! We should cause a massive snowslide!”

Ernyan suggested loudly.

“We’ve utilized that tactic repeatedly. Unless they are fools, they will have developed defenses against it.”

Akan’s forces, in fact, had handled such obstacles quite efficiently.

“Then we make it so large and spectacular that no preparation can stop it!”

She folded her arms defiantly, four elves standing behind her in unison. The water spirits they had called forth copied the gesture perfectly.

“Witness the capability of a Dark Spirit Sorceress.”

“An avalanche of that scale is no different from the mana cannons.”

“We can use our spirits to locate the Third Prince beneath the snow before he suffocates.”

“That has potential.”

Ernyan’s proposal was added to the list of viable options.

Then, another princess indicated she wished to speak.

“Chimera. Ruin. Carnage.”

“I explicitly said no massacres.”

“Not for the prince.”

“So, kill everyone except the prince?”

Lavinia gave a small nod.

“There is one glaring problem with that.”

“The timing?”

“You haven’t even constructed a functional chimera yet.”

“…!”

The golems were still in production. Consequently, the chimeras—which were lower on the priority list—were far from ready.

“And let me be clear: We cannot cause massive loss of life among their ranks.”

It might seem excessively cautious, but he had to plan for the possibility of successfully recruiting the Third Prince.

A massacre would make his future cooperation impossible.

“Creatures of the wild.”

“We will utilize monsters to initiate the engagement.”

Even at this moment, Krutu and the Frost Orcs were mapping out monster territories and dens.

“What about Cher?”

“Use Cher to snatch him?”

“Yes. Quickly.”

“That is even worse.”

Cher was the signature chimera of Lavinia Akan. If Cher appeared, her presence in the tower would be exposed.

Then Akan Kingdom might shift from searching for a runaway princess to launching a full-scale holy war—a disastrous outcome.

Tensions were high between the Jespain Empire and Akan Kingdom, but humanity always unified against external threats like Demon Kings.

“Isolating the Third Prince while minimizing deaths. This is complicated.”

Ernyan sighed.

“The Demon King.”

Elena, who had been observing quietly, raised her hand.

“…Yes?”

“What is it?”

“Cannot the Demon King simply intervene personally?”

“Me?”

“He is an imperial prince. It wouldn’t be out of character for the Demon King to kidnap him, would it?”

“Unfortunately, not in this instance.”

Under different circumstances, it might have worked.

But Daphne Philia was present—the hero most adept at sensing demonic traces. He had caught even the faint trail of Berge’s energy once before.

“Furthermore, he has met me in my guise as Fail. He is familiar with my presence.”

Infiltrating as Fail or appearing as the Demon King—both paths led to complications.

“A larger problem: Regardless of Daphne, Hillun would recognize me instantly.”

No one had seen Byrif at Harstrain Gorge. Hillun hadn’t either, but as a slayer of two Demon Kings, he frequently boasted about his heightened perceptions.

That boast was now a cage.

“What about sorcery?”

“You haven’t mastered any significant spells yet.”

“Not me—Instructor Sharlurt. She possesses six sigils.”

“That won’t work.”

Kaede countered the idea.

“The Empire values knights over mages, but their magical defenses are potent. The mage unit accompanying my brother is the Platinum Shield. They are built specifically for absolute defense.”

Every member held four sigils; their leader held six.

Strength befitting the Empire’s prestige.

“Out of the question.”

Then Lavinia spoke up once more.

“Just use all.”

“An avalanche first, then the monsters, and then the kidnapping? All of it together instead of one by one?”

“Correct.”

“And the mana cannons too? As Kaede mentioned, they will protect the prince regardless?”

“Yes.”

Lavinia nodded with conviction.

“…How can you even interpret those brief fragments of speech?”

“You can’t grasp the meaning? It is quite clear.”

“It isn’t clear at all.”

“A dark elf who lacks linguistic intuition? How tragic.”

“Does it not occur to you as strange that we need specialized intuition just to understand her?”

Berge dismissed Gordon’s complaints.

‘It has merit.’

Individually, the plans were flawed; but a synchronized storm of chaos might create the necessary opening.

‘And if even that fails to break their formation, I can choose to intervene as a last resort…’

Excellent.

“We will proceed with that strategy.”

“Is it good?”

“Yes, it is a sound plan. Well done.”

Lavinia held out her hand expectantly.

“Demon King.”

“Do you believe the remnants of a Demon King are easily obtained?”

Lavinia fixed a relentless stare on Berge.

He fought back a wave of nausea.

But if he continued to provide small incentives to maximize her productivity, it was a worthwhile investment.

Lavinia’s potential was vast.

“If this mission succeeds, I will grant you one scale.”

“A scale?”

Berge channeled his demonic power. Dark scales shimmered into existence on skin that had looked perfectly human a moment ago.

“Oh…!”

She reached out toward them. Instantly, the scales vanished back into his skin.

“Give it to me.”

Looking like a treasure-hunter denied her prize, she pouted.

“I said if this succeeds.”

Lavinia’s intense gaze drifted across the others in the room.

He crossed his arms, adopting his most authoritative stance.

“Do. Well.”

He emphasized each syllable.

He gestured toward his eyes, then toward the group.

I am watching.