The Demon King Overrun by Heroes Novel - Chapter 135

Chapter 135
## Chapter 135: The Utility of Hillun Kagil

With Ernyan finally persuaded, the next phase of the operation was ready to commence.

The primary hurdle was orchestrating her return to Hildran in a manner that wouldn’t arouse suspicion. Berge and Gordon had already determined that the most effective strategy involved utilizing Hillun Kagil.

However, the plan was not without its complications.

“If Hillun Kagil is to be the one to ‘rescue’ Ernyan Hildran, his arrival at the tower must be inevitable,” Gordon noted.

This implied a full-scale heroic crusade—an elite raiding party. But would the public find it believable for a small, isolated group to assault a newly surfaced tower that had already claimed so many lives? While Hillun Kagil’s reputation was formidable, skeptics were bound to question the logic.

Berge had poured significant resources into Hillun Kagil. He couldn’t risk having his investment ruined by a cloud of suspicion before the hero could fulfill his purpose.

“Yet, if it isn’t Hillun, the scenario becomes even more absurd,” Berge countered.

“Precisely.”

A Demon King simply liberating a princess without provocation or pressure was unheard of. It would baffle the humans and, more dangerously, provide the rival Demon Kings with ammunition to use against Berge.

“This is becoming a headache.”

The location of the tower in Erjest was the root of the logistical nightmare. Had it been situated in an accessible territory, smuggling a princess out would be a simple matter.

*Actually, if it were anywhere else, it would have been razed by an army long ago.*

Berge dismissed the useless thought just as one of his communication crystals began to pulse with light.

“Speak of the devil. The orcs mentioned he might reach out.”

“Is that Hillun Kagil?”

“Indeed.”

Berge funneled a spark of demonic energy into the device.

“What is it?”

『My Lord, I have a petition to make.』

“A petition?”

『I beg you, do not let anger cloud your judgment until you have heard my full explanation.』

“Why are you being so long-winded? Get to the point.”

『…Well, it’s about…』

“You know I despise hesitation. Out with it.”

『I implore you.』

On the other side of the magical link, Hillun Kagil bowed his head deeply.

『…Please, allow me to take Ernyan Hildran.』

—

The discovery of the tower had been a monumental event.

Hillun Kagil had been at the absolute epicenter of the journey to locate it. While the Third Prince of the Empire and the Second Prince of Korzen held the titles of commanders, it was Hillun and Daphne who had truly navigated the expedition.

With Daphne now dead, the full weight of that glory had fallen squarely on Hillun’s shoulders.

Yet, he had no time to savor the fame. A summons from the Kingdom of Hildran had arrived with suspicious haste, as if they had been tracking his every move.

“The King of Hildran has summoned you?” Martin asked.

“Yes, Your Highness.”

“Hildran must be in a state of panic. You should go.”

“My apologies.”

“Apologies? Surely you aren’t planning to abandon my crusade?”

“Never. My commitment to bringing down the Flame Tower is as firm as ever.”

“Good. I’ll hold you to that.”

After parting ways with Martin, Hillun made his way back to the Hildran capital.

“Glory to Hero Hillun Kagil!”

“The Savior of the Kingdom!”

His entry into the city was met with a grand celebration. The streets were lined with citizens chanting his name. Under normal circumstances, Hillun would have relished this—the adoration and status were things he had always craved. But today, the cheers felt hollow because of the looming confrontation.

The parade ended at the gates of the royal palace. As Hillun dismounted, a group of high-ranking knights approached him.

“His Majesty is waiting for you.”

“…I understand.”

He wished the King weren’t so eager. The scarlet carpet of the palace halls felt less like an honor and more like a path to his own execution.

*It’s obvious. Now that the tower’s coordinates are public knowledge, they’re going to demand I retrieve the princess.*

Hillun was trapped. To refuse would be to sever his ties with Hildran entirely. This wasn’t a standard monster hunt; it was a mission to save the heir to the throne. There was no valid excuse to decline.

*The excuse isn’t the problem.*

If Berge discovered that Hillun was leading a royal expedition—a move that looked like a betrayal—the Demon King might simply end his life with a snap of his fingers.

*I have to stop this. I need to find a way to prevent Hildran from launching this expedition.*

Steeling himself, Hillun entered the royal chambers.

“I offer my greetings to Your Majesty, the Great King of Hildran.”

“It has been some time, Hillun. Are you well?”

“I am, Your Majesty.”

“Your expression suggests otherwise.”

“It is merely the fatigue of travel.”

“I assume you know why you are here.”

“I have my suspicions.”

“You were never one for small talk. Tell me, what do you think I want?”

“I am the blade of Your Majesty and the shield of Hildran. I will follow your command, but I must understand your true intent to execute it perfectly.”

“The ‘Blade of Hildran’ seems to be spending quite a lot of time in the Empire’s hands lately,” the King remarked dryly.

“Was that not the strategic position Your Majesty desired for me?”

The King chuckled. “You are a sharp one. I prefer a man with a bit of wit over a mindless puppet.”

“I am honored.”

“I want Ernyan Hildran back. My daughter, the Crown Princess, must be returned.”

“Do you not wish for the Demon King’s head and the tower’s destruction as well?”

“I wouldn’t say I’m indifferent to the idea.”

But why go through the trouble?

“Hildran’s reputation has been tarnished, and it must be restored by crushing that tower. But why should I waste my own resources and blood to do it?”

Even if a Demon King was restricted in this world, he remained a terrifying entity. The Flame Demon King, in particular, had already repelled several search parties.

“You’re counting on the Empire,” Hillun realized.

“If the Empire is willing to bleed to do the heavy lifting, let them. However,” the King leaned forward, “Hildran must be the one to secure the princess before those Imperial vultures can claim the credit.”

It wasn’t a matter of capability; it was a matter of optics.

“I will not have it said that the future of my kingdom was ‘saved’ by the Empire’s charity. So, go. Retrieve Ernyan Hildran.”

This was a direct royal mandate.

“You do not have the option to refuse.”

Hillun remained silent, his mind racing.

“But Your Majesty, the tower has only just been pinpointed. The Flame Demon King has slaughtered countless legends. We have no idea what horrors lie within.”

In reality, he knew exactly what was inside—a dwarf obsessed with heavy artillery. But he had to play the part of the cautious hero to buy time.

“It wasn’t the Demon King who defeated them; it was the terrain of Erjest. They died because they were lost. Now we have a map.”

“Daphne Philian was killed by a demon. If his subordinates are that powerful, imagine the master.”

“The reports say Daphne was overwhelmed by numbers and ambushed by two of the Four Heavenly Kings. High-ranking demons are dangerous, yes, but an ambush only works once. Now that we know their faces, we can prepare.”

“But—”

“I suspect their strength is a bluff. They say a Demon King grows stronger the longer he stays, but this one has been here barely a year. He likely only has those two demons—maybe four at most. That’s his entire force.”

The King was making a dangerous assumption. The “Four Heavenly Kings” weren’t even an army; they were a collection of high-profile captives and misfits.

“Everything rests on one factor,” Hillun thought bitterly. “Will Ernyan actually cooperate?”

The idea that she would just walk out with him was laughable. She was the one who had literally betrayed him to the Demon King in the first place.

“Your Majesty…”

“I’m not sending you alone. You’ll have the Red Hawk party and my personal elite guard. You will infiltrate the tower quietly.”

“And if we encounter the Demon King?”

“That is why you are going. I’m not asking you to slay him. You are the hero who has killed two of his kind. Surely you can manage a rescue and a tactical retreat against a novice Demon King?”

Hillun couldn’t find a way to say no. His own legend had become his prison. A hero rescues princesses; that is what they do.

“…Understood.”

He finally bowed his head in submission.

—

『…And that is the situation,』 Hillun finished his report.

“So, you told him you’d infiltrate my home and steal Ernyan away,” Berge said, his voice cold.

『I didn’t use those exact words. It was a matter of survival. I had to appear loyal to the King.』

In Hillun’s mind, the choice was simple. He could reason with a Demon King, but he couldn’t reason with a King of men who would execute him for treason on the spot.

“You seem to think I’m very lenient, Hillun.”

『You know that’s not it. This could actually benefit you, My Lord. If I ‘rescue’ Ernyan, the Kingdom of Hildran will lose its motivation to attack. One of your biggest threats disappears.』

“Enough with the excuses. You are my servant before you are a human hero.”

『My Lord, please!』

“The plan isn’t even realistic. How do you expect to ‘rescue’ her from the heart of Erjest?”

『I won’t be alone! The King has promised his most elite knights. They rival the Empire’s Five Dragon Knight Orders.』

“Rivaling means they are second best.”

『Perhaps, but with the support of the Hero Guild via Argon’s influence, we will have more than enough power.』

“Power to survive a barrage of hundreds of mana cannons?”

『That…』

It was impossible. The destructive power of those cannons was beyond anything a standard knightly order could withstand. Hillun might survive, but the others would be incinerated.

『…If I may suggest… perhaps you could move the defenses from the first floor to a higher level?』

“You’re asking me to let you win?” Berge snorted at the audacity. He gestured for Hillun to continue, curious to see how deep the delusion went.

『If you clear the first few floors of major threats, I can ‘storm’ them and retrieve Ernyan. Assuming you move her to a lower floor for the exchange.』

“You’re making a lot of demands. You want me to pull a ‘Reina’? People will notice the pattern.”

『It’s not just the Frost Demon King anymore. Recently, Wharton Kollo rescued a prince from the Adamant Tower on the third floor. It’s becoming a known tactic.』

*Ugar?* Berge thought. He had given that coward some advice once, and it seemed the fellow was putting it to good use.

“And?”

『Since other Demon Kings have done it, it won’t look suspicious. It solves your problem with Ernyan and removes the target from your back!』

“And it keeps you alive.”

『Primarily, it is for your benefit, My Lord…』

“Loyalty. You only bring this to me after you’ve already committed to it. You aren’t asking; you’re reporting.”

『No! My loyalty is absolute! The King forced my hand, and I didn’t have time to consult you. But I am certain this is the best path forward!』

“Fine. Do it.”

『…Wait, really?』

Hillun was stunned. He had prepared an hour’s worth of arguments, but Berge had agreed instantly.

“Change your mind? I can always cancel the arrangement.”

『No! I will begin the preparations immediately!』

“Contact me when you are ready to move.”

『Yes, My Lord!』

The connection went dark. Berge looked over at Gordon, and both shared a knowing smirk.

“You were right, My Lord,” Gordon said. “Hillun Kagil has his uses. He even came up with his own version of our plan.”

“The fact that it’s a royal decree from the King himself is perfect. It removes any doubt about Hillun’s motivations.”

“He’ll never realize that you had already convinced Ernyan to leave and were just looking for a delivery method.”

“It doesn’t matter what he realizes,” Berge said. “What matters is that Hildran is no longer a problem.”

—

“Absolutely not! Do you have any idea how much effort I put into the first-floor layout?!”

Roger the dwarf was practically screaming.

“Moving everything to the third floor? That’s madness! It’s an insult to my craft!”

“Your job is to make the madness work,” Berge countered.

“My Lord!”

“This isn’t a suggestion, Roger. It’s a command.”

“But…!” Even trembling under Berge’s pressure, the dwarf held his ground. Just as Berge was about to lose his patience, Roger shouted, “If we do this, I don’t get to use the mana cannons on the invaders!”

“…Of course. You’re just as crazy as the rest.”

“I have three hundred cannons ready! If they don’t fire, they’ll rust! It’s a tragedy!”

“Didn’t we just use them recently?”

“That was a few test shots! Mana cannons are meant to be fired in massive volleys! Overwhelming, world-ending firepower! That is the soul of my work!”

Berge sighed. He was annoyed, but he couldn’t help but respect the dwarf’s singular obsession. He decided to pivot from threats to an incentive.

“If you move the facilities to the third floor, I’ll give you permission to modify and expand that section of the tower structure itself.”

Roger’s eyes lit up instantly.

“I will relocate the entire first floor to the third by morning! It will be a masterpiece of defensive engineering! I’ll make it a fortress!”

“That’s enough. Go.”

“Yes, My Lord!”

Roger vanished, his eyes sparkling with the greed of a creator given a blank check.

[Chapter 135: The Utility of Hillun Kagil] End