The Demon King Overrun by Heroes Novel - Chapter 42

Chapter 42
## Chapter 42: A Target of Distrust

“…Identical twins?”

“Don’t be ridiculous.”

Their hair shades and internal pressures were worlds apart. Yet, the physical molding of their faces was almost indistinguishable.

“…It can’t be. Is that you, Great Demon King?”

Granada finally pieced it together, recognizing the specific cadence of the stranger’s voice.

“Is it not obvious?”

“Even staring at you, I wouldn’t have guessed.”

How could this possibly be the sovereign of the tower? He looked more like a peer. The magical energy radiating from him felt remarkably untainted.

“You vanished from contact for quite a while. What have you been occupied with?”

Without offering an explanation, Berge dropped heavily into a nearby seat. With a sharp glance, Granada moved to serve some tea.

“This scent is lackluster.”

“What level of quality do you expect from a mercenary’s kettle?”

“You’re a mercenary, perhaps. But you are also an elf.”

“…Hmph.”

A concealed jar of high-grade leaves was produced. This batch was far more aromatic than the first.

“Explain this property.”

“We acquired it to serve as a centralized hub for our mercenary outfit.”

“Liquidate it.”

“Excuse me?”

“I won’t be returning to this location for the foreseeable future.”

“What are you implying?”

“Gather the Red Hawks and enlist in the hero’s crusade.”

“I thought that venture was scrapped?”

“The objective has merely been redefined.”

“Word is that Hillun Kagil has stepped down from leadership.”

“A crusade isn’t a one-man show.”

“Do you believe Hillun Kagil would stand for that? That isn’t his style.”

“I’ve given my word to expose the vulnerability of Drakson.”

“……”

The look on Granada’s face shifted. He looked exactly like Hillun Kagil had through the communication orb—as if he were staring at a madman.

“…Aren’t you both Demon Kings?”

“Do mortals refrain from killing one another just because they share a species?”

“A valid point. I have no rebuttal for that.”

Berge took a slow sip of the brew. The complex, bittersweet notes were actually quite pleasant.

“What is your assessment of the current heroes?”

“I believe my knowledge is current, though they usually emerge in five-year cycles.”

“What of Rozelle Charnt?”

“Her reputation was already established five years back.”

“According to my records, she has never claimed the head of a Demon King. Yet her prestige eclipses even Hillun Kagil’s.”

“Beheading a Demon King isn’t the only path to glory.”

Savior figures don’t gain status solely through the rare expeditions that actually reach a conclusion. There is a surplus of heroes and only five Demon Kings; total victories are infrequent.

Most earn their keep by purging monsters, acting as high-priced blades in wars, or leading small strike teams into specific sections of the towers.

“The Crimson Flame Raid she commands is particularly famous.”

“A raid?”

“If a crusade is a massive undertaking to kill a Demon King, a raid is a surgical strike for profit and reputation.”

Instead of attempting to dismantle the tower and its master, they scale specific tiers to extract rare materials and treasures.

“They are elite, compact squads designed to avoid alerting the Demon King. They never aim for the peak. To encounter the Master is to fail the mission.”

“I see… so that’s the trick…”

Those vermin have been nibbling at the edges of my domain and laughing about it?

Berge’s jaw tightened.

How was he only now discovering that they had been systematically looting the towers under the masters’ noses?

‘It makes sense that they perished.’

He let out a weary breath.

“…Are you alright?”

“No. Continue.”

“Rozelle Charnt first made waves by breaching the seventh level of the Tower of Lust.”

That structure only has eight levels. This meant she had reached the very doorstep of the throne before retreating.

“Standard logic dictates you don’t do that, but her audacity is her trademark.”

“She was allowed to get away with it.”

“I beg your pardon?”

She might have pretended to fear the Demon King, but she was likely mocking him. The masters would have simply assumed she fled in terror.

“I speak from personal history.”

“History? What are you referring to?”

“…It’s nothing. Regardless, tell me more of Rozelle Charnt.”

He had crossed paths with her once in his previous life.

She had attained the fifteenth floor before deciding to descend. At the time, he had laughed from his seat of power, assuming she had reached her limit.

He hadn’t realized it was a calculated withdrawal.

“Do you think she possesses the strength to fell Drakson?”

“It’s hard to say. Heroes are formidable, but Demon Kings are hardly easy prey.”

“And if Hillun Kagil joins her?”

“It would bridge the deficit. It’s a better prospect than the current one.”

“Deficit?”

“Balraf Disrod was part of her team but withdrew abruptly. Even when he was eager to fight in Ormus, he was sidelined. There are political machinations at work.”

Legitimate crusades don’t usually limit themselves to one top-tier hero, regardless of who holds the title of leader.

No single hero is capable of soloing a Demon King.

Successful ventures of the past followed this rule, including the breach of the Tower of Lust.

The elven champion Burtein Erzen and Ain Karai—they were the rising stars of that era, far outclassing Hillun at the time.

“Morale has dipped because of those internal shifts, but Hillun’s involvement would restore confidence. I don’t care for the man, but his legend is undeniable.”

“Hillun entered my tower without backup.”

“He was accompanied by Warton Kollo, though he was insufficient. It was an anomaly; his avarice drove him to claim the glory for himself.”

Granada viewed it as Hillun attempting to monopolize the spoils of a newly emerged tower.

“And he suffered the consequences.”

Granada let out a dark laugh. The rift between them was permanent after Hillun had used him as a human deterrent.

“Try to play nice. You’ll be working under him again shortly anyway.”

Berge was indifferent to their petty feud.

“…Ugh.”

“In any case, I’m counting on you to manage things.”

“Where are you headed?”

“I intend to check in on the Golden Moon Merchant Group. Hillun claims they are thriving, but I prefer to verify things personally.”

“Good thinking! You can’t trust a word that swindler says!”

As Berge vaulted out the window, Granada’s parting shout faded into the wind.

—

What is the standard procedure for a Demon King seeking to dominate the world?

According to the grimoires: construct a tower and abduct royalty.

The structure then transmutes human terror, grief, rage, and hopelessness into Demonic Energy.

Alternatively, the life essence of fallen champions provides a surge of power.

These points are then used to stabilize the presence of demons in this realm, summon reinforcements from the Abyss, and assemble an army.

Then comes the total campaign of war.

That is the textbook method of conquest.

However, Berge had taken a sharp detour.

While he still kidnapped princesses and harvested misery, he converted those assets into currency rather than monsters. That was his innovation.

Gold.

To a demon, it was mere shiny scrap. To a human, it was everything.

The human experience begins and ends with the coin.

If one needed proof, they only had to look at Hillun Kagil. The legendary hero was a living testament to greed.

Berge placed his faith in capital, engaging in high-risk investments.

He had secured a massive loan from the Demon King of Lies and funneled every cent into commercial enterprises.

For his plan to work, the Golden Moon Merchant Group had to flourish.

“Welcome.”

Deep within the Kingdom of Iasin, a clandestine meeting occurred in the chambers of Aman Katrash, the current successor of the Golden Moon.

“Refer to me as Phail.”

Berge provided a placeholder name.

“Understood, Lord Phail.”

“The scale of this operation seems substantial.”

“It isn’t just sentiment; this is a robust organization, despite its brush with bankruptcy.”

The decline had started with a disastrous trading venture eight years prior.

A massive gamble that went south had left the group drowning in interest and debt, shattering their foundation.

They had been gasping for air for years; without Berge’s capital infusion, they would have eventually collapsed.

“I am in your debt.”

“In my debt?”

“Part of my previous defiance was because I dreaded inheriting a sinking ship.”

Who would want to lead a bankrupt merchant house? His reluctance was only natural.

“I don’t need platitudes. Would you turn your back on your own kind for my sake?”

“I am already a devoted servant of Your Majesty. You spared my life and gave me a future—there is nothing I would withhold.”

“So, you’ve been bought.”

“…Is it that transparent?”

Aman gave a strained, nervous chuckle.

“I won’t deny the money was a factor, but my allegiance to you is steadfast.”

“It would be wise to keep it that way. Betrayal is a death sentence.”

“…Gulp.”

“Are you certain of yourself?”

“Certain about…?”

“That you won’t squander my investment.”

“The board of directors is highly capable. They kept this shell of a company alive through a mountain of debt—doesn’t that prove their skill?”

“So, you’re the only one who is useless.”

“……”

Suddenly.

A vibration resonated from Berge’s chest. He gave a subtle signal with his hand.

“…Of course. I’ll ensure we are not disturbed.”

The room’s occupant retreated with an awkward bow.

**[TELEPATHY]**
“Wait, we need to converse. Are you occupied?”
“Is this vital?”

**[TELEPATHY]**
“It concerns Drakson.”
“Proceed.”

**[TELEPATHY]**
“Drakson reached out. He’s accusing me of deploying demons into his borders.”
“……!”

This was a significant development.

“This isn’t a conversation for mental links. May I visit your tower?”

The timing worked well with a theory he wanted to test.

—

“You took your time.”

“I had matters to attend to.”

The journey from the Golden Moon Merchant Group back to Erjest Tower was a long one.

As he stepped through the portal into the freezing interior, Reina had descended to the ground floor to meet him herself.

Berge opened his arms wide and posed a question.

“Do you notice a transformation?”

“…Are you mocking me? You look exactly the same. Your interference feels slightly diminished, but it’s negligible.”

Reina tilted her head in confusion.

‘Excellent.’

Even a fellow Demon King couldn’t pick up on the phoenix essence. He had been very careful to suppress the second heart. It made his Demonic Energy feel constricted and awkward, but it was necessary.

“Y-You…!”

“How dare you attempt such familiarities with the Lord Demon King…!”

He could feel the burning glares of the resident demons, who had clearly misinterpreted the gesture as a romantic advance.

“Are you trying to make me look like a criminal? Show our guest some courtesy.”

“……”

The demons lowered their heads, chastened.

“Leave us.”

“Lord Demon King…!”

As they entered the inner sanctum, she blocked the subordinate demons who tried to linger. she turned her cold eyes away from them.

The elderly demon peering through the closing door looked absolutely devastated, nearly moved to tears.

“Aren’t you a bit cruel to your staff?”

Granada would have laughed his head off hearing that.

“They’ve earned it. They committed an offense against me.”

“An offense?”

“…It’s not your concern.”

“Would you like tea?”

She quickly pivoted the conversation.

“Whatever you have is fine.”

“Would you like a sweet?”

“Not particularly.”

A few moments later, she served the tea herself. Reina took a piece of candy from her mouth and stirred it into the liquid.

Noticing Berge’s fixed stare, she looked away.

“…It’s a quirk of mine. Don’t judge.”

“You have a sweet tooth?”

“Are you going to call me immature as well?”

“Hmm.”

Reina Sordain, immature? That thought had never crossed his mind in either of his lives.

‘This is unexpected.’

He’d had no real relationship with her before his regression. Their few interactions had shown her to be a cold, arrogant monarch.

Berge had been equally prideful then, so they had mostly just ignored each other.

“Demons are allowed to like sugar.”

Watching her get defensive was oddly entertaining.

“Do you enjoy spirits?”

“I have no taste for bitter things.”

“So you are a child after all.”

“……!”

Her eyes widened as if he had just committed a great betrayal.

“Let’s get back to the point. What about Drakson?”

The subject changed, and she recovered her poise instantly.

“He claimed a high-ranking demon breached his territory.”

“And that this demon was responsible for the prince’s death.”

A high-ranking demon. It certainly sounded more believable than Princess Louise doing the deed.

“Do you find his claim credible?”

“It’s patently false.”

“False?”

“The non-aggression pact regarding territories is a fundamental rule, as sacred as the Standard. Violating it is an act of heresy against our kind.”

And suggesting she would do such a thing was an affront.

Reina bit down on her candy with a crunch.

“It sounds as though he is pointing the finger at me.”

Demon Kings hold the Standard in high regard. Even the Aren Demon Kings, though affected by their environment, kept certain boundaries.

The only exception was Berge, who was known as a volatile loose cannon due to the trauma of his regression.

“He was, at first.”

“But not now?”

“Everyone is aware you have no high-ranking subordinates. You are the least likely candidate.”

She couldn’t fathom a Demon King leaving their post to wander another’s land.

It wasn’t just her—the idea of a demon operating in secret was considered impossible.

“So he’s fabricating the story?”

“Yes. A typical weakling trying to deflect blame. It’s a mystery how someone like him attained the throne.”

“Is that your honest opinion?”

Reina blinked, surprised by the question.

“What are you getting at?”

“If you truly believed that, you wouldn’t have summoned me here.”

“…I suppose the top student is as sharp as they say.”

“I’ll take that as a compliment.”

“Most of us live by the Standard and the unspoken laws. I assumed all the masters in this region did the same.”

However.

She left a lingering doubt.

“If—and this is purely a hypothesis—Drakson is telling the truth, then Jason is the one behind it.”

“Do you have proof?”

“None.”

Berge scowled at her lack of evidence.

“But Jason is the only one with the lack of character to attempt it.”

This spoke volumes about Jason Kokmundo’s reputation among his peers.

“He’s a habitual offender. If it’s Drakson’s tower today, it could be mine tomorrow. I won’t stand for it.”

Demon Kings despise territory violations. Uninvited demons are viewed very differently than invading heroes.

“If he sends his agents into my land, there will be no mercy. I intend to fortify my defenses to ensure it never happens.”

“And?”

“I want you to stand with me.”

“Why offer me your trust?”

“I don’t trust you. I trust your circumstances—you have no allies.”

A situation where he couldn’t possibly be the culprit.

Her eyes were devoid of hidden agendas.

Reina reached out her hand.

It was strikingly white and flawless.

‘I see…’

She was going to help him pin the blame on Jason Kokmundo?

A grin spread across Berge’s face.

He took her hand. He had no reason to decline the offer.

But their joint effort never had a chance to begin.

**[CRITICAL ALERT]**
“The mission was a disaster. The hero’s squad was nearly annihilated. Rozelle Charnt has lost her left eye and only just managed to escape with her life.”

**[URGENT COMMUNICATION]**
“Lord Demon King, Drakson has called for an immediate council of the kings.”