The Demon King Overrun by Heroes Novel - Chapter 67

Chapter 67
## Chapter 67: Be Careful

Beneath the absolute authority of the Guild Master, the true administrative heart of the Hero Guild is partitioned into three primary pillars.

First is the Elder Council, a body comprised of the five ranking elders.

Second are the branch managers, who handle the guild’s sprawling external operations.

Third is Argan, the council responsible for steering the overarching strategic path of the entire organization.

By ascending to the rank of Argan, Hillun Kagil had successfully closed the distance between himself and the pinnacle of influence he had craved for so long.

This wasn’t merely a promotion within the guild’s walls. Argan members were magnets for the world’s elite; powerful figures desperate for the guild’s favor would now come crawling to him.

‘This allows me to operate on a much grander scale.’

However, this elevation carried its own set of burdens.

The Argan is strictly limited to eleven seats, a tradition honoring the eleven legendary heroes who vanquished the initial Demon King to arrive on Aren.

Because the number is permanent, the inclusion of a new member necessitates the removal of another.

Regardless of the justification, Hillun Kagil knew his predecessor would harbor nothing but resentment for being unseated.

And he knew exactly who that was.

‘Vair Fornian.’

Until this shift, Vair had been a pillar of the Argan; now, he was relegated to the status of a common guild executive.

‘The rumors say he belongs to Elder Carlo Schwager’s camp.’

In the four-day window between his arrival at the capital and this morning’s accolades, Hillun had meticulously mapped out the guild’s internal politics, gathering intelligence from every greeting—both the warm and the biting.

The guild was a map of territories divided by the elders.

This reality made it clear why Elder Carlo Schwager, positioned directly across from him, stared with such icy disdain.

In stark contrast, Mathias Ollman beamed with apparent friendship.

‘Snarling at each other in the shadows, are they?’

Hillun’s thoughts raced, calculating how to turn this friction to his personal advantage.

—

“I offer my apologies.”

The imperial princess of the Jespaine Empire lowered her head in a deep bow.

Stripped of her former regal poise, she appeared tattered and vulnerable, a shadow of her previous self.

While he had anticipated some level of submission, her absolute humility was unexpected.

“What did you do to convince her?”

“Should I explain in her presence?”

At his nod, Ernyan, who had been lingering in the background, stepped forward to clarify.

“I suggested that pleading for mercy was a better fate than wasting away in a dungeon indefinitely. Since the Empire appears to have forgotten Lady Kaede, I told her she needed to find her own path to survival.”

“Is that all?”

“I proposed that she might find value in serving the Demon King—that a ‘deal’ could be struck for her benefit.”

“A deal?”

“I held up my own situation as proof of concept.”

“I see. That makes sense.”

That bit of logic explained why, despite her outward submissiveness, a spark of will remained in Kaede’s eyes.

He shifted his attention toward her. Kaede flinched, her gaze meeting his with visible trepidation.

“Since trust is non-existent between us, let’s skip the pretenses. We should be transparent: a fair exchange of value. Tell me. What is it you seek?”

“I wish to be released from this tower.”

“That is out of the question.”

“Then I want to be removed from the dungeon.”

“Go on.”

“I want the same guarantee of personal freedom that Lady Ernyan had before her attempt to flee.”

“And what is the price? What value do you provide in return?”

“There is something else.”

“Speak freely.”

“I have heard that you are open to negotiations.”

“I am always willing to listen if the terms are high enough. Set that aside for now.”

“Very well. Then…”

Kaede paused, steeling herself before the declaration.

“…I am aware you seek the Four Heavenly Kings. I will serve as a Dark Knight.”

“…You wish to serve? Me?”

“……”

“……”

“…To what end?”

Ernyan caught his eye, offering a nervous, sheepish grin before quickly looking away.

“…Fine. I accept.”

“I will don a mask, just as Lady Ernyan does, and provide five years of service.”

“You believe you won’t be liberated within five years, then.”

“……”

Her motives were easy to read.

Nonetheless, the arrangement held merit.

Berge was under no illusion that the tower’s coordinates would remain a secret for a full half-decade.

Regardless of their precautions, the truth eventually surfaces. If it didn’t, the history of Aren wouldn’t be littered with the corpses of fallen Demon Kings.

Humanity always finds a path; he was certain of it. Within five years, heroes would inevitably arrive.

If Kaede Jespaine could prove her utility even once during that window, the investment would be justified.

Besides, what he was offering her cost him nothing.

Still, he wouldn’t grant her entry without a safeguard. Unlike Ernyan, Kaede had already attempted a betrayal. Berge was not a man of infinite mercy.

Particularly when dealing with a hero.

“There is an item known as Armani’s Orb. You will consume it.”

“What are the consequences?”

“It anchors itself in your psyche to ensure loyalty. You will serve five years as a Dark Knight with it inside you, or you can rot in the cell.”

“I am a hero. My nature—”

“This isn’t a standard contract with a warlock or a knight of shadows. Provided you do not fight the orb as you swallow it, there will be no complications.”

Stunned by the ultimatum, Kaede wavered. Did she truly believe double-crossing a Demon King would be simple?

To nudge her toward a decision, Berge offered a final incentive.

“If you complete those five years without incident, I will extract the orb and grant you your liberty.”

“Is that the truth?”

“I pledge it upon the Great Demon Emperor and the Standard of the Demon King, the holy icons of our kind.”

“The Demon Emperor and the Standard…”

Kaede was well-versed in lore. She understood the weight of those names to a Demon King.

They were divine. Absolute.

To a demon, such an oath carried more weight than a knight’s honor or an imperial decree.

“I accept those terms.”

Kaede bowed her head in submission.

“And so, we have secured the second of the Four Heavenly Kings…”

* *No matter how I look at it, that performance was bizarre.*

Ernyan squeezed her hand into a tight, frustrated ball.

—

After Kaede had ingested Armani’s Orb and been officially inducted, Berge’s first directive was her education.

Kaede was a different case than Ernyan.

While there was a five-year term on her service, the orb effectively turned her into an extension of his own will.

Berge had no patience for an ineffective tool. Using a captured princess or an imperial knight to demoralize heroes only worked if she was a credible threat.

He intended to hone Kaede into a weapon.

“Gordon. You will oversee the princess’s training.”

“…Me? You want me to instruct a human girl?”

“Jetson has successfully infiltrated the Golden Moon Merchant Group, hasn’t he? And you haven’t taken any credit for that. You aren’t managing the tower’s daily operations either. Roger has the first floor, the middle floors are vacant, and Ernyan has the fourth. Tell me, who is the most idle person in this fortress?”

“…Understood. I’ll do it.”

Gordon muttered his discontent.

Kaede, who had been listening in silence, bristled at the arrangement.

“I believe my own training regimen is sufficient.”

The pride of an imperial knight was beginning to resurface.

“Is that so?”

She failed to realize that her arrogance was the perfect spark for Gordon’s own ego.

“I was trained by the most elite knights the Empire has to offer. I have reached the level of mastery; I require no further instruction in the basics.”

“Demon King, may I begin the lesson immediately?”

“Proceed as you wish.”

Gordon descended to the entrance hall, snatched a training blade, and tossed it toward Kaede.

“Ten minutes.”

He held up his hands, fingers splayed.

“If you can last ten minutes against me, I will leave your training to your own devices.”

“…Are you not going to arm yourself?”

“Why would I need a blade for someone like you?”

“I suggest you do not mock me.”

“Earn your respect by surviving. If you succeed, I will offer a formal apology on my knees.”

“Let us raise the stakes. If I endure for ten minutes, you will remove this orb and release me this instant.”

The challenge was set. Kaede drew her blade in a flash.

A radiant golden aura coated the metal. Gordon’s expression sharpened as he felt the intensity of her power.

“Not bad. I see where that ego comes from.”

“Draw your weapon.”

“Unnecessary.”

Kaede’s jaw tightened.

“You are making a mistake. Do not complain of unfairness later.”

“Naturally. Honor is a human concept; demons have no need for it.”

He gestured for her to move.

“You have the first strike.”

“This is your choice. Do not regret it.”

Kaede drew a sharp breath and lunged. A streak of gold tore through the air.

The strike seemed to divide the very room. But Gordon had already vanished from her line of sight.

‘He’s behind me!’

Kaede planted her feet and pivoted instantly.

*Craaaack—*

The impact reverberated through her bones. Her aura shattered into flickering sparks.

‘The left!’

Before she could stabilize, a cold dread washed over her. She forced her body to twist, her muscles screaming under the tension. She managed to parry the next blow.

“Excellent instincts.”

Gordon’s voice was a mere whisper in her ear.

‘He’s too fast.’

And the power was overwhelming.

His refusal to use a sword wasn’t arrogance—it was a statement of fact. His bare fist collided with her steel with the sound of a hammer on an anvil. The sheer force made her grip falter.

‘Even with my dimensional resonance…!’

Her power was active, but the sheer disparity in raw strength rendered it useless.

*Thwack—*

A momentary lapse in her guard was all he needed. A black-clad fist drove into her stomach. She felt the metallic taste of blood rise in her throat.

Still, she clung to her sword. Gritting her teeth against the pain, she swung at Gordon’s flank.

*Ssssk—*

‘I hit him!’

A faint vibration traveled up the hilt. That sensation was—

*Thud—*

The last thing she felt before the world went dark.

—

Ernyan gathered the limp form of Kaede and moved her to the fourth floor.

Left alone with his commander, Gordon asked.

“Your thoughts?”

“Her perception of danger is excellent. Her form is a bit rigid, but the foundation is rock solid. Human martial arts have evolved quite well.”

“Many Demon Kings fell to these people. We cannot be careless. Ensure her training is rigorous.”

“To what standard?”

“The absolute limit of her potential.”

“Is that wise? She is a hero. Eventually, she will turn that strength against us…”

“What makes you think she will ever be our enemy?”

“You gave her your word. Five years. You swore on the Demon Emperor and the Standard… Wait.”

Gordon tilted his head in confusion.

Berge thought back to his behavior during his graduation from the Demon King Academy.

Would a person who acted like that truly be bound by an oath to the Demon Emperor?

“…You never had any intention of letting her go, did you?”

“I am a Demon King. Why would I ever release a prize already in my grasp?”

A Demon King honoring a pact with a human?

The idea was preposterous.

“That is the Demon King I recognize!”

“And what exactly defines me?”

“The joy of deceiving and exploiting humans.”

“It has become something of a hobby of mine.”

At least, it had been since his return to the past.

“Oh, I almost forgot to mention—due to the princess’s arrival—Hillun Kagil has been appointed as an Argan within the Hero Guild. It’s a title derived from the founding legends, a high-ranking executive post.”

“Argan. It seems my investment is starting to yield returns.”

“Exactly as you planned. He will be the blade you thrust into the heart of the human world.”

The idea of a Demon King placing a mole at the very top of the Hero Guild’s hierarchy was staggering.

Even for Gordon, his second-in-command, it felt surreal.

It was a move without precedent.

“Also, there is a communique from the Frost Demon King, Reina Sordain.”

“What does she want?”

Reina and Berge maintained a cordial relationship, but they weren’t prone to idle chatter.

A direct message indicated a significant development.

“It’s… a bit strange.”

“Go on.”

“She requested a face-to-face meeting. When I pressed for a reason, she simply said, ‘I have identified the one who killed Drakson.'”

“…She found the killer?”

“That’s what she claimed.”

“But that was Hillun Kagil.”

“If it were that simple, she wouldn’t bother contacting you personally.”

“Then…”

“Do you think our involvement has been exposed?”

“By Reina Sordain? Perhaps Jason could figure it out, but that seems unlikely for her.”

Reina Sordain was a recluse, never venturing beyond the frozen northern reaches of the Jespaine Empire. She didn’t participate in global politics or complex conspiracies.

The chance of her knowing the internal details of a plot in far-off Ormus was nearly zero.

“Regardless…”

“We will find out when we arrive.”

“I have a bad feeling about this.”

“Everything has felt slightly off since the moment we stepped onto Aren.”

Berge stood from his throne, preparing to depart.

—

The Tower of Frost remained as biting and desolate as ever.

Reina was there to meet Berge, a bright red sweet in her mouth.

However, her greeting was anything but sweet.

“You need to watch your back around Jason.”

“…?”

Her opening words, delivered through a cold and hollow gaze, felt remarkably out of place.

Why was everyone in this world acting so strangely lately?

[067. Be Careful] End