The Demon King Overrun by Heroes Novel - Chapter 75

Chapter 75
## Chapter 75: Eternal Fame

The associate of the kin-slayer was a powerhouse. A total monster in combat.

She had decimated the tide of chimeras that surged toward her, but her rampage was finally halted there.

Crutu had no alternative but to retreat, his body slick with his own blood.

Upon his signal, his remaining followers scattered into the blizzard. Luckily, both the girl and her beastly companion focused their killing intent solely on Crutu.

“A sorceress? A monster? Or one of the demon race?”

Crimson droplets marked the pure white snow, leaving a trail that was impossible to miss.

Boom. Boom. Boom.

The heavy, rhythmic pounding of the chimera’s feet crushed the bloody path beneath it.

‘I must reach the Demon King.’

His survival instincts were screaming. It was his only hope.

“Ugh.”

Spotting a silhouette in the distance, Crutu let out a strangled cry before his legs gave out, and he hit the frozen ground.

Swoosh—

Abyssal flames roared down from the sky, carving a wall of heat between Crutu and the pursuing chimera.

“My King!”

Crutu shouted in relief.

Berge stood before him, wearing a look of deep irritation.

“…Forgive me. I failed to execute the task you gave me.”

“Get behind me.”

Berge stepped past the trembling Crutu. The chimera shook the dark embers from its hide as the girl sitting atop its shoulder whispered.

“The Demon King?”

Berge let out a heavy, tired breath.

‘What a headache.’

His gut feeling had been right on the money.

He recognized that face instantly. He’d known her before his regression, and he knew her now.

He had prayed their paths wouldn’t cross again, but it seemed the Founding Demon Emperor had a cruel sense of humor when it came to his deviations from the timeline.

‘How spiteful.’

Pushing those thoughts aside, Berge scrutinized her.

Her tangled, pale violet hair reached her waist, filthy and unkempt. Her eyes, red like a chimera’s, were alight with a terrifying mix of fascination and obsession.

That innocence was nothing short of insanity.

It was the primary reason he wanted absolutely nothing to do with her.

‘Should I just end her here?’

There were no observers and zero evidence.

She was essentially an outcast; her own kingdom might not even care if she vanished.

‘No, they definitely know she’s out here.’

She wasn’t the type to move quietly. The kingdom would have tracked her at least as far as the Erjest Mountains.

Whatever happened next was up for debate, but even a hint of involvement from his side would bring unwanted heat.

“Does the Akan Kingdom know you’ve traveled this far?”

“You recognize me?”

“How could anyone not?”

“I don’t recall you.”

“Does it change anything?”

“No.”

She tilted her head.

“Father is aware.”

“Mother is aware.”

“The Knight Captain.”

“The Lord of the Magic Tower.”

“Brothers, sisters.”

“The little one.”

She listed them off one by one. In short: everyone knew.

“So this wasn’t one of your solo escapes?”

“I escaped, yes. The little one. Followed.”

“The little one?”

“Over there.”

‘…Don’t tell me.’

Had Akan actually dispatched a security detail to tail her?

If that were the case, knights were likely scouring the mountains right now.

Akan was a nation of sorcerers.

With a princess as volatile as her, they would have certainly assigned their best trackers.

A cold shiver raced down his spine.

His survival drive told him to sever this connection immediately.

‘Akan is a titan, even more formidable than Hildean.’

Their magical prowess was enough to make an Empire rethink its plans. They had suffered at the Beast Tower, but that was a mere fraction of Akan’s true military strength.

“That one.”

She raised a pale hand, her finger pointing directly at the wounded Crutu.

“Hand it over.”

“Absolutely not.”

“Why?”

Her finger drifted toward Berge.

“I require it.”

“……”

How was he supposed to handle a princess whose “purity” was this twisted?

The impulse to kill flickered in his mind again.

He looked back at Crutu. The orc was a mess of lacerations. The path he had crawled along was a gruesome map of a slaughter.

Cleaning up that mess would take too long.

Was it safer to kill her and hide the bodies, or would the Akan search parties arrive before he could finish?

It was a coin flip. Berge wasn’t about to gamble his life on a wildcard like her.

‘Luckily…’

They were deep enough into the mountains. If he left now at full speed, they couldn’t possibly keep up.

The moment the plan solidified, he acted. He grabbed Crutu and unfurled his wings.

“Ah.”

The princess watched him go with a blank stare.

“……”

She hopped down from the chimera’s back. Walking through the slush where her gaze had melted the snow, she searched for lingering mana.

Marvelous.

“A sorcerer.”

Incredible.

“Materials.”

I want them.

A glint of unadulterated greed burned in her crimson eyes.

—

“Do not move until I say so. Keep the orcs under control and do not initiate any conflict.”

“I understand. I am grateful for your mercy.”

After sternly lecturing Crutu, Berge sent him back to his tribe.

He then ascended to the fourth floor to consult Ernyan.

“What can you tell me about Lavinia Akan?”

“Lavinia Akan? You mean the third princess of Akan?”

“The very one.”

“Well, it’s blunt, but the girl is utterly deranged.”

It was a rare moment of candidness from Ernyan. Berge couldn’t help but agree.

“What would the fallout be if someone killed her?”

“I’d expect a global hero mobilization.”

“I heard the royals turned their backs on her.”

“The King might have, sure. But to the magical community, she’s a national treasure. She is the leading expert on chimera research in the world.”

“She’s only in her twenties. Is Akan that desperate for geniuses?”

“It’s not a lack of talent—it’s that she’s the only one brave or crazy enough to go that deep. Most mages, even those who study beasts, have a moral line they won’t cross regarding the sanctity of life.”

Even the most eccentric mages were usually squeamish about bio-engineering.

But the field of chimeras persisted for one vital reason.

Studying monsters and beasts eventually exposed their structural flaws.

In the ongoing war between humans and demons, heroes were the vanguard—but chimera mages were the secret weapon.

“She’s a necessary evil. And a brilliant one. The Tower Lord once said she’d be a grand mage if she just practiced standard magic.”

Ernyan cocked her head.

“But… why the sudden interest? Did you?”

“I did.”

“…I knew she wandered off to hunt specimens, but I didn’t think she’d make it to Erjest.”

“Neither did I.”

“Is she at the tower?”

“No, she’s still a fair distance away.”

“That’s a relief. Just ignore her. Erjest is a deathtrap; she’ll likely get stuck or turn back on her own. No sense in poking a hornet’s nest.”

Berge felt the same. He let out a dry, cynical laugh.

‘Worrying about a princess. I wouldn’t have cared about this before the regression.’

He was evolving. Whether that was good or bad remained to be seen.

But so far, the changes were working. Ernyan’s insight was proving invaluable.

He just hoped this storm would blow over.

He wasn’t ready for a war with Akan.

—

“Okay, start talking.”

Louise crossed her legs and gestured impatiently.

“I’ve paid out every reward we agreed on.”

The bounty for rescuing the princess had been substantial.

In Hillun’s name, a major arms deal had been brokered between the Hero Guild and the Berft Kingdom. Per the deal, the Golden Moon Merchant Company got a significant piece of the pie.

Personally, Hillun had secured both the gold and the right to have a master smith from the kingdom craft his equipment.

But those were just side benefits. The real win was the prestige. The tale of rescuing a princess from the clutches of a Demon King had spread across the lands in record time.

Berft had publicized the story at Hillun’s specific request.

“I appreciate it.”

“Then show it. Where is Roger Friedri?”

“Can I ask you something first?”

“What now?”

“Why are you so intent on finding Roger?”

“You’re asking for my private business now?”

“I’ve built a rapport with Roger. If your plan is to execute him, I can’t help you find him.”

“Relax. I’m not going to kill him.”

“Then what?”

“I’m going to chain him to an anvil and make him forge for me until his hands give out.”

Maybe break a leg? Just to ensure he stays put.

“…Then I definitely can’t tell you.”

“Ha! Are you trying to pick a fight? You already got your rewards, remember?”

“That isn’t the point.”

“Roger Friedri ignored my commands and ran away. I have every right to capture and discipline him.”

It wasn’t a runaway; it was a kidnapping.

“If he completes your orders now, wouldn’t that settle the debt?”

“Are you kidding? That’s not how the world works. Don’t play stupid, Hillun.”

Louise struck the table, sending tea flying.

“What is your actual goal here?”

“I want to act as a middleman between you and Roger.”

This wasn’t a command from Berge—this was Hillun’s own ambition.

Roger Friedri was one of the three greatest dwarven smiths, the only hero-tier artisan among them.

He was a genius who could craft gear capable of dimensional interference. His work was priceless, and Hillun wanted a piece of it.

But using him openly would draw the ire of the Dwarf Kingdom.

If the Demon King asked, Roger would forge. They would just have to hide his signature cloud emblem.

But that was a temporary fix.

Dwarven eyes were sharp, and interference-capable gear was legendary.

People would notice. The Guild and the Dwarves would investigate. It was a problem for the future, but one that needed a solution now.

“Mediation is fine, but I want him in my custody.”

“If you use force, Roger won’t give you his best work. You know how stubborn master smiths are.”

“Nonsense. Roger is the type who only works well under pressure.”

“……”

His time in the tower suggested she wasn’t entirely wrong. But Hillun wouldn’t budge.

“Will you listen to my proposal?”

“Why should I bargain with you over a man who belongs to Berft? You’re a hero, but you’re overstepping your bounds.”

“Don’t you want your vengeance?”

“Vengeance? Against who?”

“The Lust Demon King.”

“……”

The kidnapping had been resolved, but Louise had still been a victim. A woman with her ego wouldn’t just let that go.

Never.

She was likely dreaming of tearing that Demon King apart.

‘Louise Berft killed Prince Max. She won’t let this slide.’

Berge wanted the Lust Demon King to live, but if Berft mobilized, even he was in danger.

“I’ll assist you.”

Saving the princess had brought him fame.

But humans are never truly satisfied.

Hillun wasn’t going to pass up a chance to elevate his status even further.

A hero who killed two Demon Kings was a legend—but one who killed three? That was unheard of in a thousand years of history.

Hillun.

He wanted his name carved into history forever.