The Demon King Overrun by Heroes Novel - Chapter 52

Chapter 52
## Chapter 52: Did Such an Event Occur?

—

After being away for several months, the entrance level of the spire had been transformed.

“A labyrinth?”

It appeared far too linear to truly be called a maze. Furthermore, there were no obvious pitfalls or mechanisms in sight.

*Hidden within the masonry.*

Long rows of mana artillery, tucked away from plain view, lined the corridors.

He proceeded down the hallway. Though the path curved and wound, it remained a single route without intersections. Mid-way through, a dwarf who was busy securing the mana cannons noticed him and offered a greeting.

“Great Demon King! You have returned!”

The craftsman was not working alone, however.

“You’re back?”

A royal lady, her face smudged with grime yet her striking looks intact, popped her head up from a deep trench.

“…What is the meaning of this?”

“Roger mentioned he was short-handed, so I decided to provide some assistance.”

“Building these barricades and digging out the earth would have taken far too long by my lonesome, so I sought her help. If this displeases you…”

“It isn’t a problem.”

It was peculiar to see the princess being so helpful. Since she was participating of her own volition, he saw no reason to prevent it.

*How did she behave in my former life?*

They had barely interacted back then. He possessed no knowledge regarding her temperament or personal habits.

He shifted his focus back to Roger.

“What is your ultimate vision for this first floor?”

“Yes, well, throughout the hallways…”

The detailed briefing was lengthy, but the core concept was simple: every inch of the walls would be outfitted with mana weaponry.

He had requested something the champions wouldn’t anticipate, and this layout certainly qualified. Ambushing them with overwhelming firepower was a sound strategy.

In a perfect scenario, the heroes would perish before ever reaching a formal defense.

“This is insufficient.”

However, Berge intended to take things a step further. In his estimation, even a total barrage from mana cannons wouldn’t be enough to take down a warrior like Ralph.

“What do you suggest…?”

“To finish off anyone who manages to survive the fire in the main courtyard, we will deploy several golems. You mentioned you were skilled in the arts of alchemy and imbuing magic, didn’t you?”

“I am capable of it, yes. But the resource requirements will be steep.”

“The cost is irrelevant. What do you require?”

“Any metal will suffice, but the higher the grade of the ore, the more lethal the golems will be.”

“I will secure high-quality materials for you.”

“My thanks!”

Leaving Roger bowing low in gratitude, he ascended to the level above.

“Roger, you possess the skill to create golems as well?”

“My own martial power as a hero was lacking—it was a source of great shame for me. That is why I turned my focus toward golem engineering.”

Their voices faded as he moved higher.

He bypassed the second and third floors, which remained vacant for now, noting that he would eventually need to fill them. The fourth floor no longer held his interest now that its previous occupant was gone.

As he passed the imperial princess who was focused on her sword training, he dropped a brief comment.

“Your technique has grown sharper.”

“There is an urgent matter, Demon King.”

When he arrived at the fifth level, Gordon approached him with a look of concern.

“A message came from Cruto. It seems someone is searching for our location. He believes the Frost Orcs aren’t capable of stopping them…”

“I have already encountered them.”

“I beg your pardon?”

“Daphne Philia. One of the heroes.”

“…Surely this isn’t a full-scale hero crusade.”

“She wasn’t accompanied by a party, so likely not. It is more likely a scouting mission for a future strike.”

The enemy was clearly trying to avoid repeating their previous blunders.

“Should we not track them down and eliminate them?”

“How do you propose we do that?”

“Pardon?”

“Among the heroes, that individual is the swiftest, possessing stealth capabilities that are legendary. In the art of remaining unseen, they are the equal of Demon Kings.”

“That cannot be…”

Stealth was the primary discipline taught at the Demon King Academy, refined over years until graduation. It was not a skill one mastered casually.

To think a human could rival a Demon King in this regard…

“…So there is no way to intercept them?”

“I stated we cannot catch them, not that we lack a way to handle them.”

There was no necessity to capture them anyway. If they were seeking information, he would simply provide a false lead.

“…What are you implying?”

“The dwarf provided a specific relic. We only need to misdirect their sense of orientation.”

“I understand.”

Gordon breathed a sigh of realization.

◇◇◇◆◇◇◇

“Your technique has grown sharper.”

Kaede’s blade froze mid-swing at the casual remark. He had tossed the compliment out as if it were a simple fact before disappearing from sight.

*…Sharper?*

Of course it had. It was impossible for it not to.

Since being taken by the Demon King, she had pushed herself into a brutal training regimen, desperate to find a way to break free.

Witnessing a high-level spirit pact at close range had also pushed her skills to a new plateau.

However, receiving acknowledgment from the Demon King himself felt different.

Kaede was a princess of the Empire, and he was the Demon King.

She was a hero, and he was the great adversary.

Yet, that monster had offered her praise.

He had said it so easily, as if her progress was something to be admired.

*Does this make sense?*

It did, provided one accepted a single theory.

From Berge’s point of view, he was accustomed to the odd behavior of Princess Ernyan, so his comment was likely just a passing thought.

But Kaede interpreted it through a darker lens.

*No… am I next?*

Was he trying to mold her into another servant?

Was that the reason he granted her freedom and treated her with such civility?

A royal hero serving as a minion for the Demon King? It seemed like a wild thought.

Yet, there was proof she couldn’t disregard.

*Ernyan Hilderan.*

She was already a dedicated follower of the Demon King. She was personally decorating the fourth floor and assisting the dwarf on the first level with lethal traps designed to slaughter her own kind.

*And Roger Friedri.*

He was a hero of renown, yet he served the Demon King with total devotion.

*No.*

Kaede was the Imperial Princess. She was a woman of honor and a hero of her nation.

Her betrayal would not just be a personal failure; it would bring eternal dishonor to the Empire. Her pride as a knight would never allow her to accept such a fate.

*I must find a way out.*

No matter the cost, she had to escape.

She hardened her heart.

◇◇◇◆◇◇◇

— Go to the Golden Moon Merchant Group and seek out Aman. Simply identify yourself as the manager of the elven business.

Granada and Red Hawk had been left out of the second hero mission.

Instead, they were dispatched to the Golden Moon Merchant Group following Berge’s instructions.

“So, our task is to purchase elves?”

“Precisely. You will investigate every slave market across the lands.”

“That task will take over a year to complete…”

“My master has extended your contract by another year. The wages remain the same as before.”

“Well, if you could increase the pay slightly… We’ve climbed the Erjest Mountains to reach the Demon King’s Tower and taken on countless risks, haven’t we?”

“You mean the time you ran away before the fighting even started?”

“I am perfectly content with the current pay!”

“As am I!”

They finalized the contract during the journey, their faces brightening at the thought of the massive payment.

Upon reaching the Golden Moon Merchant Group, Granada was introduced to their highly-regarded manager.

“A pleasure to meet you. I am Jetson, the one assigned to collaborate with your group.”

“I’m Granada.”

“Ah, the famous Granada and the Red Hawk Mercenaries! Your reputation precedes you. Purchasing elven slaves just to set them free… truly, that is a noble cause.”

“…Right.”

Jetson went on enthusiastically.

“To be honest, it breaks my heart to see elves in chains. Such cruelty was outlawed by the continental statutes long ago, yet the practice continues. Have faith in me. I will do everything in my power to rescue as many as possible!”

“…I see. Thank you.”

Jetson didn’t necessarily look like someone to trust at first glance. However, after listening to his passionate speech, a strange sense of competence seemed to radiate from him.

“I have organized a list of the primary markets known for elven trafficking. Don’t worry. Once they hear Granada’s name, they’ll be rushing to bring the elves to you.”

The first stop was the slave hub in Pelum, the capital of the Iasins.

The elven territories: Elven.

The dwarven realm: Beruft.

And the various human territories.

In the distant past, after ages of conflict, they had signed an agreement to end the enslavement of one another’s people.

On the surface, the treaty upheld by the human monarchs and the leaders of other species remained intact. But the greed of men was bottomless, and corruption always thrived in the shadows.

The Iasin kingdoms were no different.

Every major metropolis had a slave market, and hidden beneath them—accessible only to elite clientele—were auction houses dealing in rare artifacts and non-human slaves.

“Stop right there.”

Hiding their features behind half-masks, they entered the market. After exchanging coded signals and signs, they were led down a concealed corridor.

Jetson, leading the way, pulled out a small emblem.

“Credentials confirmed. Follow me.”

They descended the stone steps into the subterranean level.

Granada spoke in a low voice.

“What is that emblem?”

“These underground auctions are exclusive. You need immense wealth or influence to enter—nobility, guild leaders, or merchant royalty. This is a voucher from the Golden Moon side.”

“Understood.”

“You aren’t used to these shady dealings, are you, Granada?”

“…Not particularly.”

Granada had spent five years traveling through various slave markets. In many ways, he was more acquainted with the black market than most.

“Rely on me. I was born and bred for the merchant life.”

“That’s impressive.”

However, despite his boasting, Jetson didn’t show much expertise.

Only two elves were put up for bid, and the process was straightforward.

Jetson, who had promised he could get them for a bargain if they let him handle it, ended up paying triple the opening price.

“That greedy pig! He saw a female elf and just kept throwing money away!”

Jetson glared at the rival bidder who had inflated the price, cursing under his breath. Noticing Granada’s grim expression, he let out a nervous chuckle.

“…Haha, you might be doubting me, but this isn’t my only skill. My true talent is in selling, not buying.”

“……”

“Auctions aren’t real business. True commerce happens face-to-face, where you negotiate and reach a fair agreement.”

“……”

“Every merchant is different. Everyone has a niche. Mine is the art of personal persuasion…”

“Jetson.”

“Yes?”

“Can we just go get the elves now?”

“…Of course.”

Granada simply couldn’t stand the sight of elves being treated as toys for humans.

◇◇◇◆◇◇◇

『This is quite a predicament for me.』

The voice on the other end didn’t sound particularly bothered.

『I’ve had my own financial struggles and gathered what I could. And yet, the magic stones aren’t arriving on schedule…』

Hearing Jason’s words, Berge felt he had to provide some context.

“A complication arose.”

『What sort of complication?』

“Daphne Philia.”

『So that one is stalking your fortress.』

A light laugh followed.

『Evading her notice won’t be a simple task. What is your strategy? Keeping your location hidden is vital for your survival, isn’t it?』

“Am I required to divulge that to you?”

『Given the debt you still owe, I believe I have the right to ask.』

“I have already settled half of it.”

『And half remains.』

“I intend to summon a beast and eliminate them.”

『…I suspect there is more to it than that, but very well.』

『On another note, I have news to share.』

“What is it?”

『Tomorrow, I am convening a meeting of the Demon Kings at my spire.』

“So suddenly? I thought the tower coalition wasn’t due for some time.”

『Ah, I forgot you’ve been cut off from current events.』

『A major event has occurred.』

He paused for effect.

『Drakson Dolph is dead.』

*I am well aware. I was the one who killed him.*

Berge kept his voice neutral.

“…My word. Did such a thing actually happen?”

『Indeed. And that brings me to the point. A brand new Demon King has already surfaced.』

“…What?”

*So soon?*

This time, Berge was genuinely caught off guard.