The Demon King Overrun by Heroes Novel - Chapter 60

Chapter 60
## Chapter 60: Ugar’s Epiphany

—

### The Demon King’s Bastion

The citadel known as the Demon King’s Tower, once a symbol of absolute dread, had seen its reputation fade into the mundane. For several decades, the inhabitants of these dark spires had remained largely passive, limiting their malice to the occasional abduction of high-born nobles—conflicts that never escalated into true war.

Since royal heirs could typically be recovered by a sufficiently motivated group of champions or a specialized rescue battalion, a dangerous complacency had taken root: the public no longer viewed Demon Kings as a significant threat. Although recent disturbances had begun to stir a sense of caution, the insatiable hunger for profit continued to overshadow fear, as it always had.

Consequently, clusters of adventurers and opportunists now loitered around the perimeter of the Diamond Tower. The thick demonic miasma radiating from the structure drew in monsters, which in turn drew in heroes eager to harvest their valuable remains.

*‘They must think of us as nothing more than prey to behave like this…’*

Even the violent ends of Drakson and Vivian hadn’t been enough to change the general consensus. Berge clenched his jaw as he scanned the scavenging crowds. Pushing down his irritation, he turned to Rozel.

“Describe the nature of the Diamond Tower.”

“You’ve come to lay siege to the place and you’re telling me you didn’t bother with a basic briefing?” Rozel countered.

“The data I possess differs from the personal insights of Rozel Charnt.”

“It seems you’re finally starting to respect my expertise.”

Berge was simply curious to hear a hero’s perspective on the inner workings of a demonic stronghold.

“Based on my climb to the fifth level of this place, I’d call it tedious.”

“Tedious?”

“It’s an issue of tactical compatibility.”

“I understand.”

Ugar Belbek was a Titan, a member of the massive giant tribes of the underworld. His subordinates followed suit, favoring colossal, heavy-set demonic beasts. These creatures were typically built for brute force and possessed physical resilience that made them a nightmare for spellcasters.

“The Diamond Tower isn’t a popular choice for raids, but those in a pinch can’t be choosers, can they?”

“What defines the interior?”

“It’s exactly what the exterior suggests.”

Cragged stone floors, jagged walls, and a constant rotation of bloodthirsty monsters that lunged from the shadows.

“That’s Rozel Charnt over there.”

“And Hillun Kagil is with her.”

“Is that the Red Flame Raid Group?”

The adventurers battling lesser monsters nearby began to whisper as they spotted the high-profile figures.

“I have a question of my own,” Rozel said, her single eye narrowing.

“What is it?”

“Who actually leads this expedition? Is it Hillun Kagil, or is it you, Pale?”

“Hillun Kagil is the leader, obviously.”

“Is that so? On paper, that would make sense… however.”

Rozel looked between Hillun, one of the Ten Stars, and Pale, a man with exceptionally refined mana who held no official hero rank. The power dynamic seemed skewed.

“Then why does it feel like you’re the one pulling the strings?”

“Please refrain from such baseless speculation, Lady Rozel,” Hillun intervened. “I am the commander of the Red Flame Raid Group.”

“You’re remarkably subservient for a commander.”

“Pale is an outside consultant, not a member of the unit. He is simply a confidant I have known for many years.”

“A long-time acquaintance? How did you two cross paths?”

“That isn’t a detail I’m obligated to share.”

“Playing it close to the chest, I see.”

“Continuing this line of questioning would be uncivil.”

“Life is full of incivility. A few prying questions are nothing compared to the chaos you caused at the Beast Tower, wouldn’t you agree?”

“That situation wasn’t entirely within my control.”

“I’m aware. But it cost me an eye.”

“…I am not the person I was back then.”

“Naturally. One tends to evolve after consuming the essences of two Demon Kings.”

Rozel leaned in closer. “If you hadn’t changed, my lost eye would have been a wasted sacrifice. Am I right?”

“…I offer my sincere apologies once more for that disaster.”

“Save it. I didn’t anticipate Drakson’s hidden strength either. Besides, one can’t truly blame a person for trying their best and failing due to a lack of talent.”

“Entertaining,” Berge remarked, clapping his hands. “Claiming innocence after leaving a trail of destruction behind you. That level of audacity is almost a gift. Though I still think you’re holding back.”

“Are you making fun of me?” Rozel asked.

“I am being perfectly serious.”

“Seriously mocking me, then. You two are two peas in a pod.”

“I’m on the side of success. And right now, we are all collaborators in conquering the Diamond Tower.”

“Fair enough. Once we’ve cleared this place, I’ll prepare the way for the next phase of your plan.” Rozel yanked her reins, and as her steed bolted forward, the Red Flame Raid Group surged after her. “Carve a path straight to the gates!”

“Understood!”

A grim red carpet began to roll out toward the entrance—a trail composed of the gore of monsters and the scorch marks of magical fire.

—

### The First Floor

“The Red Flame Raid Group is entering the Diamond Tower.”

The doors to such a place were technically open to anyone, but few dared to cross the threshold. Even for veterans, the oppressive aura of a Demon King was a different beast entirely. Without a specialized team or an official quest, entering was considered a death wish. It was a silent pact among heroes: don’t provoke the King unless you intend to finish it.

Because humans are naturally drawn to the extraordinary, the group’s entry became an instant focal point for the onlookers.

“Perfect,” Hillun noted with a smile. “We have their full attention.”

“Public interest can turn to spite in a heartbeat,” Rozel warned. “Just look at what happened when the Beast Demon King wasn’t taken down on the first attempt.”

“A hero must be prepared to endure the fickleness of the masses.”

Rozel ignored the sentiment and looked toward the entrance. “So, we just walk in? What’s the objective?”

“The third level.”

“Ambitious. Especially with this lot.” Rozel’s eyes drifted toward the Red Hawk mercenaries. Bark winced under her gaze but remained silent. Though both groups shared the color “red” in their names, the Red Flame Raid Group operated on an entirely different plane of existence.

Berge glanced at Hillun and stepped toward the massive doors. “I’ll handle the entry. Everyone, ready yourselves for combat.”

“What should we expect on the ground floor?”

“Do I look like a tour guide to you?” Rozel snapped.

“You’ve been acting like one.”

“Consider me a debt collector, then. It’s Mana Trolls.”

These creatures were similar to the Krutu—beasts that had regained some of their original intelligence and form through a gift of demonic energy. However, the energy they received was minimal, making them vastly inferior to the Krutu, though still much more dangerous than common trolls.

*Kiiiiiek—*

Hillun channeled his aura and heaved the heavy doors open. The interior ground forward, revealing the first chamber.

“…So this is the modern look for Mana Trolls?”

“…Who is that?”

Perched atop a massive jagged rock was a woman. Her skin was deathly pale, and her eyes were sealed shut.

—

### The Captive Princess

It was a bizarre sight. The first floor didn’t contain the troll armies Rozel had described or the expected defensive lines. Instead, there was only the rock and the unconscious woman.

“…Elena.”

She was the person Berge had come to save. Ernyan’s voice cracked with emotion as she reached out. Berge caught her hand, pulling it down firmly.

“Maintain your composure,” he whispered.

“…I’m sorry.”

“Is that her? Elena?” Rozel asked.

“Yes. But why is she here at the entrance?”

Berge realized Ugar had taken his warning literally. After being told not to leave her on the third floor or face the consequences, the Titan had simply dropped her off at the front door. The giant’s logic was frustratingly literal.

“Who is she? And why is the tower layout so empty?” Rozel demanded.

“She is royalty,” Hillun explained, having been briefed on the situation. “The 13th Princess of the Hildelan Kingdom. Elena Hildelan.”

“That’s the princess? This is a farce. Is the Diamond Demon King trying to play the role of the Frost Demon King now?”

“We have to secure her.”

At Berge’s nod, Hillun lunged forward. The observant Granada signaled the Red Hawks to follow in support.

“Fine, go play rescue. We’ll handle the actual work,” Rozel shouted.

Hidden behind the massive rock where the princess lay, a thousand Mana Trolls were crouched in the shadows, their teeth bared in a low growl. They had been overlooked in the initial shock of seeing Elena.

“Wipe them out!”

The Red Flame Raid Group collided with the troll horde. Berge and Ernyan reached the rock a moment later.

“What’s her status?”

“Breathing is shallow, but she’s holding on.”

“Granada, assist Rozel in the clearing.”

“On it.”

The mercenaries joined the chaotic melee, leaving only four people atop the rock overlooking the battlefield.

“Hillun Kagil. Did you recognize her immediately?”

“Yes. I met her once before. She wasn’t in this state then…”

“She was likely using artifacts to mask her condition. Even a hero wouldn’t have spotted the rot easily.”

‘Are you familiar with the World Tree Child enchantment?’ Ernyan’s voice drifted into Berge’s mind through their mental link.

Elena’s face was ghost-white. Her life force was flickering like a candle in a gale. But beneath that frailty, Berge could sense it—a massive, coiled serpent of mana.

“World Tree Child,” Berge muttered.

Humanity’s greed knows no bounds. When they have power, they seek divinity. That was the origin of the World Tree Child spell. Just as the World Tree’s fruit was a legendary panacea, this magic was intended to create a “perfected” human from the moment of conception. It was less a blessing and more a biological overhaul.

But a spell crafted by flawed humans could never be flawless. The royal line of Hildelan was the proof, and Elena was the victim.

“Hillun, she’s in your hands. The credit for her rescue must belong to you.”

“Understood.”

“Handle her with care. She’s incredibly delicate.”

“I will.”

As Hillun gently gathered Elena into his arms, a sudden orange radiance filled the room. Berge turned to see a wall of fire consuming everything in sight.

“Kyahahahaha!”

Rozel’s manic laughter echoed through the chamber.

“The fire is spreading too fast!”

“Run! Get out of the way!”

The Red Flame warriors were carving through the trolls amidst the inferno, while the Red Hawk mercenaries scrambled to avoid being toasted by their own allies.

“…She truly is a lunatic.”

Berge had suspected it from their first meeting, but this was a new level of carnage. Setting an entire floor of a tower on fire was beyond excessive.

“Ugar is going to be livid.”

Berge briefly considered the astronomical cost in demonic points required to fix the scorched infrastructure and replace the incinerated trolls before deciding it wasn’t his problem.

—

### Ugar’s Suspicion

“…What?”

Ugar had received word that the heroes had breached the tower. He wasn’t overly concerned; he had kept his word and placed the 13th Princess right where they could see her. He expected them to grab her and leave peacefully.

Instead, the report was a nightmare.

“They’ve burned the entire first level!”

A thousand Mana Trolls were gone. The carefully constructed environment he had built for them was a pile of ash.

“Berge, you absolute snake!”

While trolls were easy enough to replace due to their high birth rates, a thousand of them was still a massive investment. The logistics of rebuilding the entry hall made his blood boil.

“Thank goodness I didn’t leave her on the third floor, or the whole place would be a ruin,” he muttered, shivering at the thought of what might have happened. He felt a brief surge of pride in his own decision to move her.

But then, a realization struck him.

“Wait… Rozel Charnt and Hillun Kagil?”

The same pair that had taken down Drakson were now here, working together? Was that really just a coincidence?

“…No.”

He dismissed the idea of a coincidence almost immediately. It was too perfect.

“Drakson met his end because he crossed the second prince of Ormus.”

Rozel had stepped into her leadership role because Ballad Disroad stepped down, and she had been competing with Hillun at the Frost Tower just before that.

“They could have formed a bond there. And Hillun is a Hildelan hero, so it makes sense for him to come for the princess… but…”

Ugar paced his inner sanctum, the unease gnawing at him. The doubts he tried to suppress kept bubbling up.

“Drakson insisted it wasn’t his doing. He said someone had planted high-ranking demons in his territory.”

Drakson had been so desperate to prove his innocence he had combed through his own tower logs. What if he hadn’t been lying? What if this entire sequence of events was a masterwork of manipulation? And if it was, which Demon King was capable of it?

“…Jason Cokemoon.”

It wasn’t Ugar’s style. Reina Sordain wouldn’t lower herself to such schemes. And Berge Dayas was too new to have high-ranking demons at his disposal.

*‘Wait… it’s not that he doesn’t have them…’*

Tower officers never left their posts, so Berge couldn’t have sent them. Furthermore, a one-year rookie like Berge couldn’t possibly have the influence to command “Star” level heroes. He would need a middleman.

And there was only one person who could bridge the gap between the demonic nobility and the human heroes. The Demon King of Lies.

“Oh, creator…” Ugar whispered, covering his mouth in horror. “It’s Jason. Jason must have paid off the heroes to eliminate Drakson.”

But why? What was the end goal?

That night, sleep eluded the Titan King.