The Demon King Overrun by Heroes Novel - Chapter 41

Chapter 41
## Chapter 41: Preferable in Death

During the period he remained in a state of slumber, all external contact had been severed. Consequently, Berge was met with a deluge of intelligence the moment he stepped back into the tower.

“Where have you been hiding? The whole world is in an absolute frenzy!”

Gordon’s expression was radiant as he delivered the news. The frantic report confirmed that the situation had escalated far beyond Berge’s original projections.

‘Ormus has declared a general call to arms.’

‘The Hero Guild has officially signed on, and champions are arriving in droves.’

He had intended to create a nuisance for Drakson, but he hadn’t anticipated such a flawless execution of events.

“Rosel Charnt?”

Berge rubbed his jaw thoughtfully as a new name entered the conversation.

『Indeed.』

『The Hero, Rosel Charnt.』

『Hailing from Trafarta, she is consistently ranked among the top ten most powerful individuals on the continent. She is often referred to as a celestial light.』

『While she is a mage of the highest order, specifically a pyromancer, her proficiency in close-quarters combat is so legendary that she is considered the gold standard for battle mages.』

『Interestingly, she was the original choice to lead the campaign against the Tower of Extreme Cold, but I managed to take her place. Now that the timelines have shifted, she’s back in command.』

Berge, having processed the information, finally spoke.

“So this woman is the one spearheading the crusade against the Beast Tower?”

『Correct. The expeditionary force is nearing five hundred members, with roughly two hundred of those being registered heroes.』

“…That is an absurdly high concentration of power.”

A flicker of a past memory caused Berge to scowl.

『This campaign won’t be a standard rotation of troops like the previous siege on the Tower of Lust.』

“They’re genuinely aiming to take Drakson’s life then?”

『That is where things get complicated.』

Complicated? With the Hero Guild aggressively recruiting and a massive force gathering, it seemed like an all-out war.

『The Guild’s intent is clear, but there are invisible hands at play. A significant number of heroes are staying on the sidelines.』

“Which means…?”

『Two scenarios: either certain parties want the Beast Demon King to remain on the board, or they have a deep-seated grudge against Ormus.』

“You’re saying individuals, not the Guild, are sabotaging this?”

『It is technically against the rules, but shadow patrons are a reality. A hero cannot easily turn their back on their financiers.』

The reality was simple: heroes required capital, and the elite desired the prestige of owning a hero. Despite official prohibitions, the system of lobbying and sponsorship thrived because, ultimately, many heroes valued their standard of living over their vows of justice.

“Do you not have any patrons yourself?”

『I severed those ties after I took the Lust Demon King’s head. I wanted autonomy. Money is useful, but the strings attached are suffocating.』

『Though, look where that independence got me, thanks to a certain someone.』

Berge ignored the jab and redirected the flow of the conversation.

“Who do you suspect is behind the stalling?”

『The list is long. Ormus has few friends among the neighboring kingdoms. If I had to guess, I’d point to their own first prince.』

“The crown prince?”

『From his perspective, the tower is a nuisance he’d rather ignore. With his inheritance settled, he doesn’t want to bleed the treasury dry on a Demon King. But since he can’t openly refuse to help, he’ll just claim that ‘the heroes simply didn’t show up’ and wash his hands of it.』

“Humanity is truly a fascinating species.”

In many ways, their cruelty surpassed that of demons. It was no wonder they had been on the losing side of history, he mused.

“I suppose I should sharpen my own tactics as well.”

If he continued to fight with a predictable, honorable strategy against a race that would sell out their own world for a bit of gold, he would be destined for failure.

A new question crossed his mind.

“How do you compare to her in a fight?”

『To whom?』

“Don’t play coy.”

『…She is superior.』

“By how much?”

『I would likely lose nine out of every ten encounters.』

“And here I thought you were Hillun Kagil, the great slayer of the Lust Demon King. You seem remarkably humble.”

『Is a response truly necessary?』

“It isn’t.”

Berge had already suspected as much. Hillun’s actual combat ability didn’t quite match the towering height of his reputation. He wasn’t incompetent, but he lacked the raw, overwhelming force of his peers.

‘It honestly baffles me how he managed to bring down the Lust Demon King.’

But looking back, even before his own regression, Hillun had always been known for his craftiness rather than his strength. Regardless, Hillun was still an elite asset, and with the Lust Demon King dead, the path forward looked promising.

“Regardless, I hope this mission is a resounding success.”

『…He is one of your kind, is he not?』

“The only commonality between Drakson and myself is a title.”

Drakson had been a source of irritation since the beginning, acting like a loyal hound to Alcaine. His demise would cost Berge nothing. From a tactical standpoint, if Drakson fell, the humans would likely grow overconfident, creating the perfect opening for Berge to expand his influence elsewhere.

“What if I provided you with Drakson’s specific vulnerabilities?”

『…If the information is legitimate, I would join that expedition myself, even as a foot soldier.』

“I see the hunger in your eyes.”

『It’s for the greater good. Minimizing casualties is the priority, after all.』

The man was entirely devoid of shame.

Berge considered it. If Drakson was going to die anyway, it was better to use a hero’s hands to do it—specifically Hillun’s. If Hillun was the one to deal the blow, his fame would skyrocket, making him a far more valuable tool for Berge to exploit as he ascended.

The only drawback?

‘If he grows too powerful, he becomes harder to suppress.’

Hillun was a snake. A charming exterior masking a deadly bite. Even now, while acting the part of a servant, he was undoubtedly looking for a way to cleanse the mental corruption Berge had placed on him. It should be impossible, but heroes had a habit of breaking the laws of reality.

However, there were many ways to maintain a leash.

“Very well. I will organize the data and send it to you shortly.”

『Understood.』

“Furthermore, utilize the Golden Moon Merchant Group to funnel support to promising heroes in secret.”

『…I can only imagine the looks on their faces if they ever discover who was actually funding their heroics.』

“That is a problem for the distant future.”

『Also… regarding the Golden Moon…』

The connection eventually faded into silence.

“Interesting.”

Berge transferred the recorded audio from the orb into a storage crystal and placed it within the high-security vault of the magic tower.

*Click—*

The new crystal joined several others already nestled in the dark.

—

“What is the matter?”

“They’re saying things feel… off.”

Ernyan watched him with curiosity as Berge hurried down to the fourth floor following his debriefing. In the far corner, Kaede was practicing her forms. The fact that she wasn’t charging at him suggested their previous talks had been productive.

“Off? In what way?”

“Nairuniel mentioned that the Demon King feels different now.”

“Be specific.”

“She said he doesn’t feel like a Demon King anymore. Like he’s transformed.”

“Has that spirit lost its ability to speak? Why is it hiding behind you instead of talking to me?”

Nairuniel, perched on Ernyan’s shoulder, suddenly bristled.

*- Talking?! I am maintaining a respectful distance!*

“If you’re so eager to leave, just go back to the spirit world. Why linger here?”

*- Well, the thing is… Mmph!*

Ernyan quickly covered the spirit’s mouth.

“She says you don’t carry the aura of a Demon King.”

“Then what do I carry?”

“It sounds crazy, but she says you feel like a native of this world. Friendlier, almost…”

*- Do not ignore the instincts of a high spirit! He has changed—completely! I can’t put my finger on it, but it’s different!*

Nairuniel screeched.

“But you can’t identify the change?”

*- Correct.*

“So you’re loudly proclaiming your own uselessness.”

*- ……*

“Still, it’s a useful observation.”

If even a high spirit, sensitive to the flow of mana, couldn’t pinpoint the source, then the risk of Drakson or others detecting the power of the Phoenix was minimal.

“In that case.”

*Whoosh—*

He suppressed his primary heart and activated the second. His demonic energy was instantly replaced by pure mana. His hair and eyes shifted to a vibrant crimson.

“How do I look now?”

“…Uh.”

Ernyan was momentarily speechless.

“You’re… still the Demon King, right?”

“Do I look like one?”

“…You look completely human—no, you look like an Elf. And quite handsome, actually.”

*- How is this possible?!*

Nairuniel stared in shock, her eyes wide with confusion.

*- There’s no demonic trace—he feels like a lifeform of this dimension!*

He was radiating mana. Just as the spirit said, his presence was closer to that of an Elf than a human.

*- How can a demon—let alone a Demon King—achieve this? It’s unheard of.*

*- What have you done? Did you consume a spirit lord?*

“Excellent.”

Berge’s theory was confirmed. If a high spirit perceived him as an Elf, then the rest of the world would likely follow suit.

‘I’ll need to test this on Roger to be certain.’

If even the heroes were deceived, there was no reason for him to remain confined to the tower. Self-reliance was a necessity.

As he walked toward the third-floor stairs, he stopped briefly near Kaede, observing her technique before continuing down.

“Haaah…!”

Kaede ignored him, her breath coming in ragged gasps. Her back was drenched in sweat—not from the physical effort, but from the sheer tension of his presence.

“Is something wrong?”

“…How can you speak to a Demon King so casually?”

“He hasn’t done anything to me. I just treat him like anyone else.”

“He kidnapped people! He is a monster. His personality doesn’t excuse his nature.”

“Kidnapping is a crime, sure, but maybe some people were looking for an excuse to leave their old lives?”

Ernyan gave a knowing smile.

“Like you running away from a wedding?”

“How did you… Mmph!”

Kaede’s face turned bright red as she covered her mouth.

“The Demon King told me.”

“That despicable monster! Spreading my private business around…!”

Kaede was fuming.

*- Oh?*

Nairuniel’s interest was piqued. She leaned forward, her eyes glittering with mischief.

*- You actually fled a marriage?*

*- This is scandalous. A runaway princess and a Demon King…*

“Nairuniel, perhaps it’s time for you to return to your realm? I’m asking nicely.”

The spirit ignored Ernyan completely.

*- Was the groom that terrible?*

“…I didn’t run away. I wanted to be a hero, to hunt Demon Kings, not live as a trophy princess.”

*- You hated it enough to cross the Erjest Mountains alone.*

“……”

*- Tell me, who was the lucky man and where was he from?*

“Well…”

*- Out with it! Nothing angers a spirit more than a story cut short!*

Kaede wilted under the spirit’s overwhelming aura. she looked to Ernyan for help, but Ernyan was equally curious and stayed silent.

“…It was Ormus.”

She finally confessed.

*- Ormus. I thought their royal line was dying out—only three princes left?*

*- Was it the first? The second? The third?*

“…The King.”

The room went silent.

“I thought the King of Ormus was on his deathbed…”

*- Oh my. Don’t say another word.*

Nairuniel quickly hushed Ernyan.

—

“…There is no trace of demonic energy. It’s like I’m standing before an Elf or a master summoner. Yes, much like the Crown Princess of Hildean…”

Berge confirmed the results with the dwarf hero as well.

‘Drakson never possessed this ability.’

There were no records of Drakson masking his identity using an external power source. Besides, he had never left his own territory.

‘Actually, he never showed any affinity for fire either.’

He possessed nearly limitless regeneration and a flame that could incinerate anything. The Phoenix’s power was split, but after absorbing the corpse, Drakson never manifested fire magic. Instead, he was known for his monstrous physical resilience.

‘Drakson has no talent for magic. He likely dumped all that power into his physical form.’

It was a difference in racial traits.

“How did you manage this? I’ve never seen a Demon King hide their nature so perfectly. If it’s not too much to ask, a small blood sample…”

“…Do you fancy yourself a wizard now?”

“Not exactly, but I have a background in alchemy and runic enchantments…”

He was more capable than Berge had initially credited him for. A true master of the Dwarf Kingdom.

“You’re becoming too inquisitive. Keep it up, and I’ll shorten your height permanently.”

“M-My apologies! It was just professional curiosity…!”

“Curiosity has its time and place.”

“Understood, Great One!”

Roger bowed low as Berge walked past.

“Where are you heading?”

“Down the mountain.”

“Could you perhaps bring back some raw materials?”

Berge gave him a cold stare. He had been too lenient lately; the dwarf was getting bold.

“…I can’t go myself… I have to finish the reinforcements on the first floor…”

“If I have the time, perhaps.”

“Thank you! Truly!”

“If your work doesn’t meet my standards, you’ll regret wasting my time.”

“I will give it my all!”

Leaving the shivering Roger behind, Berge stepped outside. Feeling the crunch of snow beneath his boots, he suppressed his demonic side and drew upon his mana. He caught a glimpse of his red hair in a reflection and pulled his hood low to hide his face.

‘I intended to let others handle the field work, but…’

The Phoenix had provided an opportunity he couldn’t ignore. He recalled Hillun’s earlier report.

『Aman Katrash has secured his position as heir using his wealth and my reputation.』

Hillun’s soul was bound to Berge as a black knight, but humans were fickle creatures. Loyalty tended to fade with distance and time. The contract ensured compliance through mental pressure, but Berge knew that wasn’t enough.

‘An opportunity like this… I shouldn’t waste it rotting in a tower.’

In his previous life, he was obsessed with acting “like a Demon King.” He didn’t need to follow those rules anymore. Efficiency was all that mattered.

‘I’m almost tempted to join the hero expedition myself…’

The idea of a Demon King climbing another Demon King’s tower as a hero was amusing. But there was a risk of the other Kings recognizing him, so he dismissed the thought for now.

‘I hope Drakson is crushed.’

It would be ideal if he died. There was no camaraderie between them; Berge wouldn’t mind seeing Drakson burned to a crisp by Rosel Charnt’s magic.