The Demon King Overrun by Heroes Novel - Chapter 77

Chapter 77
## Chapter: 77

### Chapter Title: False

—

“Sister, is it true? You actually encountered the Demon King?”

“I did.”

“What did he look like? Give me some details about his appearance.”

“He was attractive.”

“…His looks aren’t exactly the priority here, Sister.”

“You are as well.”

“Well, I appreciate the compliment, but still.”

The military forces of Akan had pulled back to Hortonwork to tally their losses and take a necessary moment to reorganize. After washing away the grime of travel and eating a proper meal, Cain made his way to Lavinia’s private quarters. He wasn’t alone; the leaders of the Blue Meteor Mage Corps and the White Wolf Knight Order accompanied him.

The Demon King was supposed to be a nemesis—a shadow they could never live alongside. Yet, somehow, a strange form of coexistence had emerged. This peace, however, was built entirely on a sense of human dominance. People believed the Demon King was no longer an invincible threat, but a tool to be utilized or a nuisance to be erased whenever it became convenient.

Because of that, a Demon King who could successfully hide his seat of power was an anomaly that couldn’t be tolerated. If such a place existed, they were duty-bound to uncover it at any cost. The fifth prince had arrived at Hortonwork prepared for a grueling search that might span years.

Yet, that timeline had been shattered in a matter of days. Lavinia had actually laid eyes on the Demon King. While it would have been a catastrophe if she had been captured or slain, she was here, unharmed and standing right in front of them. Cain couldn’t deny the relief he felt.

“What species did he appear to be?”

Identifying the race of a Demon King was a tactical necessity. Strategies differed wildly depending on whether they were facing titans, beastkin, or frost demons. The race often dictated the temperament of the ruler and the magical properties surrounding their stronghold.

“Since he rescued those Frost Orcs, is it possible he’s an orc himself? No, orcs don’t typically rank among demons…”

Lavinia simply shook her head in disagreement.

“You aren’t sure?”

“It was a type I’ve never encountered.”

“A demon you don’t recognize, Sister…?”

Lavinia was a wildcard, often causing headaches for the Akan crown by chasing monsters across every corner of the continent. However, her recklessness meant she had encountered more varieties of demons than almost any living human, perhaps rivaled only by the most legendary veterans of the Hero Guild.

“Could it be an anomaly? Something like the Demon King of Falsehood?”

“The circumstances surrounding the Demon King of Falsehood were unique; it’s unlikely to happen again. Besides, the Guild labeled this one the ‘Flame Fiend.’ If he commands fire, we can likely rule out dark elves or certain spirit tribes,” the captain of the Blue Meteor Mage Corps interjected.

The former were known for fire sorcery, while the latter possessed innate authority over flames.

“His ears were normal,” Lavinia noted.

“A standard demon then?”

“That’s a flawed assumption. If he were just a standard demon, Sister would have identified him immediately.”

“Fair point.”

“But the fire authority is confirmed, right?”

“The reports of his pyromancy have already spread to every ear.”

“And yet, has anyone actually survived a face-to-face meeting?”

His reputation was monstrous, fueled by the abduction of three princesses and the humiliation of hero parties, but the master of Erjest remained a mystery.

“We don’t always need a face-to-face meeting to gather data,” Cain remarked, though he harbored doubts about the reliability of indirect intelligence.

“He used black flames,” Lavinia added.

“Are you certain it was fire?”

“It was demonic fire.”

If Lavinia was testifying to it personally, Cain was inclined to believe her.

“Can you point to where you saw him on the map?”

Cain rolled out a map of Erjest. It was mostly a collection of blank spots and vague outlines, as the region was a restricted, unexplored territory, but it was their only reference.

“I can’t.”

“Then, which way did he go when he left?”

“Straight ahead.”

“Was there anything else? A specific detail that stood out?”

“Human.”

“Many high-ranking demons look human, Sister. That doesn’t help us narrow it down. Is there nothing else?”

Lavinia paused, tilting her head as she thought.

“Dark hair?”

“Anything else?”

“Dark eyes.”

“And?”

“Cher…”

“Cher? You mean that chimera you’re so fond of?”

It was the creature she used to traverse the frozen peaks.

“Yes.”

“What about Cher?”

“He was terrified of him.”

“Terrified?”

“Visibly.”

The knight, the mage, and the prince all shared a brief, hollow laugh. It was common knowledge that a chimera would fear a Demon King; the information was essentially useless for tracking. Cain realized he was hitting a dead end and shifted his line of questioning.

“How did you come across the orcs?”

“Through the dogs.”

“Ah, the demon hounds.”

These were chimeras of Lavinia’s own making, designed to sniff out demonic signatures like bloodhounds. They were the primary reason the King of Akan had sent her to lead the search for the hidden tower.

“If there was a confrontation, there should be lingering traces of energy. We can use the hounds to follow those tracks back to the source…”

“They’re dead.”

“…I beg your pardon?”

“Every one of them. The orcs are gone.”

Cain felt a headache forming. Akan’s entire strategy had crumbled before it even began.

—

### ◇◇◇◆◇◇◇

In the heart of the dwarven capital, a spontaneous celebration had taken hold.

“Hillun Kagil!”

“Hillun Kagil!”

The sky was filled with the light of fireworks and the air with drifting confetti. Dwarves, boisterous and fueled by ale, shouted his name. Hillun Kagil sat atop a massive, intricate mechanical device, waving to the throngs of people. Every wave sent the crowd into a fresh frenzy.

“The savior of our realm!”

“The hero who brought back the princess!”

Granada watched Hillun’s smug expression with a deepening scowl.

“Try to act like you aren’t loving this. People are looking.”

“Is it really that satisfying?”

“Absolutely.”

“It’s nothing but empty vanity…”

“You clearly don’t understand. Fame isn’t just a byproduct of your actions,” Hillun replied. “It’s about the value of the name itself. A name only carries weight when people speak it. Its legend is forged in the praise of others.”

He looked out over the cheering masses.

“Killing beasts, clearing out outlaws, keeping the peace, or finding gold—it’s all meaningless if you keep it a secret. You have to be seen. People need to witness the act, feel the awe, and pass the story along.”

He gestured to the parade around them.

“A rumor might start with one person, but a festival like this? This is the peak of reputation building. Why wouldn’t I enjoy it? This fame becomes my social standing. And eventually, my power.”

“Sure, sure. Happy for you,” Granada muttered, nevertheless fixing his own expression to wave back at the dwarves who were shouting his name. Then, lowering his voice to a whisper, he added, “We have news from the peaks.”

“More news?”

“Akan’s military has moved into Hortonwork.”

“There hasn’t been a hero call, and no one sends a full strike team into the mountains without a target.”

“Exactly. It’s an elite force from Akan, and Lavinia Akan is leading them. You know of her?”

“Lavinia Akan…”

The third princess of Akan. Hillun’s memory, which functioned like a directory of the continent’s elite, immediately flagged her. She was a royal one had to keep a very close eye on.

He instantly grasped the situation. “They are hunting for the tower.”

“Just like you predicted.”

“We need to interfere.”

Hillun didn’t want the tower discovered and razed. It was destined to fall eventually, but the timing wasn’t right for his plans.

*The Demon King thinks he’s using me, but the feeling is mutual.*

Because of the Demon King, Hillun had secured the backing of the Golden Moon Merchant Guild and nearly limitless resources. Because of him, he had taken down the Beast Demon King and halted the Lust Demon King. Those victories had secured his position as an Argon at the main branch.

He didn’t know the Demon King’s full endgame, but the entity had clearly gained something from their arrangement as well. Whether the Demon King gained more than he did was irrelevant to Hillun. What mattered was that the current setup was profitable, and he intended to squeeze every bit of value out of it before it ended.

If the tower’s location was leaked, the advantage Berge held would vanish. It would lead to a full-scale invasion, the Demon King’s death, and the end of Hillun’s lucrative arrangement.

“You should go,” Hillun said.

“What?”

“Lead the Red Hawk team and link up with them.”

“…To what end?”

“Tell them I sent you to assist in their efforts.”

“You think Akan is just going to welcome us with open arms?”

“They will. The Red Hawks have a documented history of participating in the Erjest expeditions. Plus, you stayed by my side until the bitter end, didn’t you? In a place as lethal as Erjest, your experience is a currency they can’t ignore.”

“And once I’m in…?”

“Then we lead them on a wild goose chase. We show them everything except the tower.”

“That’ll trigger red flags. The mages from Akan are notoriously suspicious.”

“So?”

“Don’t try to hide everything. Be transparent. Show them the landmarks, lead them through the dangers. Just make sure the tower is the very last thing they ever find.”

In the process of that long search, Akan’s forces would be bled dry. They might even be wiped out entirely by the environment.

“And if they actually manage to reach the end?”

“Then the Demon King will finish them off.”

Hillun had never seen magic that could literally hide a tower from view, but he had a high opinion of Berge Dayas’s intellect. It was a strange irony: as a hero, he placed a great deal of trust in the Demon King’s ability to survive.

“If you’re on the inside feeding him their routes, their strategies, and their weaknesses, he won’t lose. There is a world of difference between fighting an enemy you can see and being manipulated by one you can’t. They’ll be dancing on his strings.”

“And if they ask how we knew what they were doing in the first place?”

The Hero Guild might be in the dark, but Hillun certainly hadn’t received any official orders. It was a glaring hole in the story.

“Tell them you’ve had a scout stationed in Hortonwork ever since the first expedition failed. You know, just in case.”

“They aren’t going to believe that.”

“They’ll believe it if a credible witness backs you up.”

“Is there actually a witness?”

“Of course not, it’s a fabrication.”

“…”

Granada looked at Hillun’s casual expression with a mix of disgust and disbelief.

“A person who is successfully deceived once will defend that lie as the truth. That makes them a more loyal ally than any honest friend.”

“…You’re a piece of work.”

“Just tell them Louise Berft will confirm the story.”

“…?”

Hillun hadn’t planned on using that particular card so soon, but it fit the current situation perfectly.

“Leave as soon as the festivities wrap up. I’ll handle the logistics here.”

“Fine.”

Granada gave a curt nod. Hillun Kagil’s smile only grew wider as he looked back at the celebrating dwarves.

—

### ◇◇◇◆◇◇◇

“That’s a solid strategy.”

It aligned closely with what Berge had already been considering, though it was slightly more sophisticated. Berge had intended to use the Golden Moon Merchant Guild to buy informants and keep tabs on the military.

However, Hillun’s plan was superior. It removed the risk of their secret alliance being discovered—a concern that had been weighing on Berge. Having someone like Louise Berft, a princess known for her impulsiveness, as a witness was a stroke of genius.

“Hillun Kagil…”

Initially, the man had only cooperated because of the leverage provided by Armani’s artifact. But over time, he had fully embraced the role, even offering improvements to the schemes.

He did it because it served his own interests. The relationship between this Demon King and this hero had evolved into a symbiotic partnership for mutual profit, rather than a simple struggle for dominance. While Berge was certainly preparing for a future where he might have to discard Hillun, the current reality was one of cooperation.

This environment had molded Hillun Kagil into the ultimate version of himself: a man defined by pure, calculated ambition.

“We should probably remain cautious,” a voice noted.

“I’m well aware.”

While this plan benefited Berge, it also masked Hillun’s own desire to build a bridge to the Kingdom of Akan.

“Once this mess is sorted, I’ll need to focus all my energy on refining the interference magic for a while.”

Hillun was a predator. He wouldn’t strike unless he was certain of his target’s vulnerability. Berge knew his own overwhelming power was the only thing keeping the “viper” in check.

“Indeed.”

“But first, let’s deal with these intruders.”

“According to Cruto, they brought chimeras that can track demonic energy.”

“Most likely.”

“In that case, why don’t we saturate the entire mountain range with demonic signatures to blind them?”

“With Granada causing chaos from within? That makes it even simpler.”

“Precisely.”

“It’s a good plan.”

While the invaders were busy chasing ghosts, they could perhaps facilitate a few ‘natural’ disasters, like an avalanche. Berge began to mentally catalog every dirty trick and trap he had perfected during the previous hero incursions.