The Demon King Overrun by Heroes Novel - Chapter 59

Chapter 59
Chapter: 59

Chapter Title: Ordinary Demon King

—

“Are you holding up?”

“I’m alright.”

That was a lie.

Berge wiped away the blood pooling at his shoulder with a heavy hand.

He never expected to cross paths with Daphne Philiain in a place like this. Her final projectile had glided through the inferno with terrifying precision, tearing through his hide and burying itself deep within his muscles. The concussive aura radiating from the arrow had nearly forced his true demonic essence to the surface. Just the memory made his skin crawl.

“You aren’t even close to ‘alright.’ That needs care.”

The blood wasn’t just dripping anymore; it was soaking his garment in a deep crimson. Seeing the mess, Ernyan quickly called for Nairuniel.

“Don’t bother.”

“But…”

* The man is right. It’s unnecessary.

Nairuniel pressed her face close to the open gash. Berge looked at her with a expression of pure loathing.

“What do you think you’re doing?”

* I’m just curious—what on earth have you been consuming?

The cavity in Berge’s shoulder was closing. It was slow, but the flesh was visibly knitting itself back together.

* You didn’t manage to devour a high-tier spirit or a spirit king, did you?

“Do you honestly think that’s feasible?”

* No, it shouldn’t be. Spirits don’t make pacts with demon kings, and eating one is unheard of. Yet, this energy… it feels like a spirit… Wait, could it be a familiar?

Ignoring the spirit’s rambling, Berge assessed his condition. This level of spontaneous healing was a phenomenon beyond the reach of most demon kings. However, it came at a price.

‘The drain is atrocious.’

Whether it was the severity of the wound or the residual holy aura fighting the process, the amount of mana required to fuel the regeneration was staggering. He cursed the inefficiency of it all before resigning himself to reality.

‘I suppose I should be thankful a demon’s vessel can process mana at all.’

Once the wound had stabilized, he manually severed the mana flow.

“It isn’t fully closed,” Ernyan noted.

“Then we’d have to retreat to the tower, and I have no intention of doing that.”

He discarded the ruined fabric and pulled a fresh robe from his spatial storage. Ernyan trailed closely behind him.

“Are we making for the Vajra Tower now?”

“We have a stop to make first.”

“Where…?”

“Demon kings have boundaries that must never be crossed,” Berge explained.

“Humans have those too. Lines that shouldn’t be stepped over.”

“Then you’ll grasp the situation. A demon king doesn’t simply hand over a kidnapped royal to a peer.”

“A matter of ego?”

“A matter of reputation.”

“I see. If the Vajra Demon King took her and we showed up to find her gone, it would look foolish. So, you’re taking the traditional route?”

“Traditional?”

“Building a hero’s party or a raid group to storm the tower. Since you have an arrangement with the Vajra Demon King, you aren’t actually planning to kill him, right?”

“…That kind of traditional.”

A flicker of past irritation crossed his mind.

“Exactly. We will organize a formal strike team and lay siege to the tower. In the chaos, you and I will slip into the shadows, and the princess will be ‘liberated’ by the heroes.”

“With Hillun Hero leading and the Red Hawk Mercenaries as the muscle?”

“You’re remarkably perceptive.”

“But that means Elena goes back to the palace.”

A princess returning home was the storybook ending, but it clearly didn’t sit well with Ernyan.

“The moment she steps back into that kingdom, she’ll be facing her second abduction.”

Once she was back in the capital, neither Hillun nor the mercenaries would be held accountable for her safety. Furthermore, the kingdom’s defenses would be at their weakest due to the celebration of her return.

It was the perfect window for a second disappearance.

“Am I capable of this?”

“…?”

“If you take her, Elena will be devastated. She’s a fragile soul.”

“I understand your resentment toward your home, but sometimes I wonder if this is all a grand performance.”

“I have never spoken a lie to you.”

“If I had known you were the 1st Princess when we met, I wouldn’t have let you tag along.”

“I never claimed to be Elena.”

“You didn’t deny it either.”

“You never asked.”

“The fact that I didn’t is what’s truly baffling.”

Ernyan looked away, avoiding his gaze.

They eventually reached the city of Philer. Historically, Philer was nothing more than a backwater village perched on a rocky mountainside with terrible access. It only transformed into a bustling hub after the Vajra Demon King took up residence in the nearby peaks.

Adventurers, knights, and sellswords flocked to the area, followed by opportunistic merchants looking to drain their gold. As the population surged, the village was officially recognized as a city of the kingdom.

“Heroes everywhere you look. This place is a den of self-righteous fools.”

Thanks to Phoenix’s masking ability, the locals didn’t recognize Berge. However, Berge could feel the ripple of dimensional energy clinging to the heroes.

“It’s a city built for their kind,” Ernyan remarked.

“A demon king being farmed for spare change. This world is truly degenerate.”

Philer wasn’t an outlier; every city near a tower functioned this way. Ormus had turned it into a cornerstone of the national economy. To see a demon king, who came to dominate this realm, being exploited for profit by humans was pathetic.

“…I’ll keep my mouth shut. I need your help regardless,” she said, her fingers nervously fiddling with her necklace. “And I have this leash now. Who knows if a grumpy demon king might decide to end me.”

“Are you being sarcastic?”

“Apologies. I suppose I’m just restless after being cooped up for so long.”

“I’ll give you one pass.”

“I’ll be on my best behavior.”

Berge located their rendezvous point: an upscale inn named “Star’s Rest.”

“Welcome.”

“Reservation for Granada.”

“Of course. Your party is waiting in the back. Please follow me.”

The attendant led them to a private annex where Granada and the Red Hawk Mercenaries were stationed.

“You finally made it,” Granada greeted.

“I did.”

Berge eyed the mercenaries standing stiffly in the background. He recognized several faces, including Bark.

“The roster looks the same.”

“As you know, their will to live is… quite robust. Perhaps too robust.”

“Survival is a trait I value in mercenaries. Provided they don’t desert when things get difficult.”

The men visibly recoiled at the veiled threat. Berge gave a cold smirk. Ernyan adjusted her hood and approached the elf.

“Granada. It has been a while.”

“A while? Who are you?”

Granada went still. The face was unfamiliar, but the resonance of her mana and her scent were unmistakable.

“It’s exactly who you think it is,” Berge interjected.

“…Have you lost your mind?”

Granada checked the mercenaries before lowering his voice to a whisper.

“What if she makes a run for it?”

“She won’t.”

“How are you so certain?”

“Think back to your own trip to the tower with Hillun Kagil.”

“…Oh.”

“Besides, that necklace isn’t just jewelry. Do you think I’m reckless enough to walk out without insurance?”

“…I’ll trust your judgment.”

“You’re starting to nag. Is that a trait of your race?”

“Please, don’t associate me with that dark-skinned woman.”

Granada ushered them further into the annex, leaving the mercenaries outside. Once the door clicked shut, he poured tea and erected a sound-dampening ward.

“Where is Hillun Kagil?”

“He sent word last night saying he’d be here by dawn, but there’s been no sign of him.”

“He’s late.”

“He’ll turn up. But are you serious about taking the tower with just this group? Demon King, if I may…”

Granada glanced toward Ernyan.

“Go ahead.”

“I know you assisted with the Beast Tower, but us leading the charge is a different beast entirely, isn’t it?”

“You conquered the Beast Tower, Demon King?” Ernyan asked, surprised.

“Yes.”

“But against another demon king?”

“You’re all human, yet you helped bring down Hillun Kagil. Demons have their own rivalries. My apologies, continue.”

Ernyan dismissed the shock with surprising ease.

‘Am I the only one who finds this strange?’ Granada wondered. There was no precedent for a demon king assisting in the assassination of one of his own. To have it met with such casual indifference—as if it were just a common rumor—was maddening. If he hadn’t made his oath to the World Tree, he would have shouted this absurdity from the rooftops.

“The Beast Tower was already crippled from the first wave of heroes. The second assault had plenty of numbers. But now?”

“What about it?”

“It’s just twenty mercenaries, you, me, the princess, and Hillun. That’s the whole team.”

“It’s enough. I’ve already settled things with Ugart.”

“Then we’re set.”

“We aren’t going past the third floor. The princess will be there. We grab her and exit.”

“Frozen like a statue in the Frost Tower?”

“That’s for Ugart to handle. He isn’t stupid; he’ll keep her in workable condition. Don’t stress it.”

“The third floor…”

Even for a demon king’s tower, the lower floors were dangerous, but with a demon king, a high-ranking spiritist, and Hillun, it was a manageable task.

“Third floor…” Ernyan murmured, hardening her heart.

“One more thing.”

“Speak.”

“I don’t mean to be rude to Ernyan, but why go through all this for the 13th Princess of Hildean?” Granada asked.

“Because Ugart is too stubborn to hand her over quietly.”

“That’s not what I’m asking.”

“She has value.”

“Rumor has it the 13th Princess has been sickly since birth. She’s useless.”

“That is what they say.” Berge looked at Ernyan.

“It isn’t true,” Ernyan said, shaking her head. “Elena is physically weak, yes. She is a shut-in, and those rumors are mostly right. But she possesses a certain… capability.”

“So the rumors are false?”

“No, they’re accurate. They just leave out one specific detail.”

“Which is?”

A sharp knock interrupted them. Before anyone could answer, the door swung open.

It was Hillun Kagil. And he wasn’t alone.

“Finally caught up to you.”

A woman with hair like wildfire grinned, baring her teeth.

“…What is the meaning of this?” Berge asked.

“This is Rozel Charnt,” Hillun sighed.

“That wasn’t the question.”

“Sorry, I couldn’t lose her.”

Berge rubbed his temples. That explained the delay.

“And you brought her right to our doorstep?”

“What’s the problem?” Rozel barked. “The debt collector is here.”

“Debt?”

“Can you believe this guy? He promised two, so he should give two. Why take one and disappear?”

“Fair point,” Berge muttered.

“Fair point?!” Hillun cried.

“I forgot.”

“Forgot? You forgot you’re human, so I can just crack your skull open?” Rozel’s presence began to heat the room.

“I’ll provide the mana. It isn’t difficult.”

“Exactly! It isn’t hard, which is why I’m annoyed.”

“Not at this moment.”

“Are you challenging me?”

“If you followed Hillun, you know why we’re here.”

“Something about a low-level raid team? But this group looks pathetic. I only saw one mercenary unit on the way in.”

“Which is why it’s impossible right now.”

“Fine, I get it,” Rozel said, nodding. “Then I’m coming along.”

“That won’t be necessary.”

“Oh, it is. How do I know you won’t bolt? Or just drop dead? That would be a real headache.”

“I won’t be dying in a place like that.”

“I’ve heard that from plenty of arrogant humans. Most of them I never saw again.”

“Don’t compare me to those failures.”

“Think about it. Isn’t it a privilege? The great Rozel Charnt joining your little ragtag group?”

‘Actually…’

It wasn’t a terrible development. Berge felt the urge to snap the neck of the hero who dared speak to him this way, but he restrained himself. Even if everyone in the room attacked her at once, they couldn’t guarantee her capture. She would likely escape, and everything he had built would be compromised.

He suppressed his instincts and weighed the benefits.

‘I could try to ditch her later.’

He could pay her off, wait a few days, and then move. But why bother? His goal wasn’t the raid itself; it was the narrative. A hero rescues the princess—Hillun saves the 13th Princess. The details didn’t matter as long as the outcome was achieved.

‘If Rozel Charnt wants to tear the place apart, let her.’

The damage would fall on Ugart, not him. And Berge was a quintessential demon king: he took a certain pleasure in seeing his peers suffer.

“Very well.”

“Now you’re talking.”

“One thing, though.” She smirked. “Since I heard you were hitting the Vajra Tower, I brought the entire Crimson Flame squad. We’re all in.”

“Excellent.”

“You’re being awfully cooperative now. It’s suspicious.”

“Let’s just call it a sign of respect for the legendary Rozel Charnt.”

“I like the sound of that!”

The demon king and the hero shook hands, their laughter echoing in the room.