The Demon King Overrun by Heroes Novel - Chapter 93

Chapter 93
## Chapter: 93

## Chapter Title: Warning

—

Hillun Kagil had departed for the frozen northern territories, traveling in the company of Granada and the elite Red Hawk strike force.

As they moved, the calendar continued to turn, bringing the Tower Conclave—set to occur in thirty days—steadily closer.

However, doubts lingered regarding the feasibility of the summit.

Vivian Blunt had remained barricaded within her spire since her outburst, refusing to show herself, while Reina Sordain was currently embroiled in a fierce conflict with the White Eagles, leaving her tethered to her own domain.

“I have been contemplating the situation. I debated whether we should proceed with the Tower Conclave with only the four of us present, or if it would be more prudent to delay the gathering until Lady Reina is available.”

“Surely a postponement is the logical path when such obstacles stand in the way?”

“Usually, yes, but the recent behavior of the mortals has been highly irregular. Between Vivian’s recent actions and the pressure on Lady Reina, the landscape is shifting.”

“I believed it was imperative for us to assemble to strategize our response.”

The reasoning was sound.

“The strike force made an attempt on Vivian’s spire, did they not?”

“Indeed. However, since their primary objective of capturing the princess failed, the scale of the engagement remained limited.”

The failure to seize the princess was a personal blow to her, yet perhaps a stroke of luck in the grander scheme.

‘Hardly. That woman likely views it as a total disaster.’

Vivian almost certainly believed that kidnapping the girl was her ticket out of this miserable reality.

Regardless, the botched attempt had left the human world in a state of chaotic agitation, much like a disturbed nest of hornets.

“And your final decision?”

“A meeting that was intended for five participants should conclude with five. It feels improper to conduct the Tower Conclave without the presence of Lady Reina, who has been so dedicated to its realization.”

Essentially, the summit was being pushed back.

‘I had hoped we would forge ahead regardless.’

Even with Berge’s return to the past, the current state of Aren was unrecognizable compared to his previous life. The tiny stone he had cast into the pond was now generating massive, uncontrollable waves.

A significant rift was forming between the history he remembered and the reality the Demon Kings were currently experiencing.

‘So long as it isn’t my spire being targeted.’

“Consequently, while the official Conclave is delayed, I would like to propose a private audience with you, Lord Berge.”

“With me?”

“We have pledged ourselves to a partnership, yet we have not initiated any tangible collaborative efforts, have we?”

“There is a matter I wish to discuss with you.”

“A matter for discussion?”

“It is not a topic suited for the distance of a communication device.”

On the other side of the magical orb, Jason maintained his perennial, inscrutable grin.

Berge searched his memories, trying to anticipate what Jason might want to address.

He found nothing.

In his prior timeline, Jason had been relatively quiet at this juncture. His only notable move had been providing Reina Sordain with a massive infusion of dark energy, effectively turning her into a subservient debtor.

‘He wouldn’t have been idle just because I wasn’t watching.’

In the past, Berge had been blinded by his own ego, a tyrannical ruler who cared nothing for the movements of others.

He hadn’t bothered to track Jason’s progress or his methods for subjugating Aren.

He hadn’t even known…

Why the title of False Demon King was bestowed upon him.

He hadn’t even bothered to learn the man’s true lineage.

Such details had seemed trivial then.

Now, things were different.

Jason was clearly orchestrating something, and his tactics were far from predictable. He didn’t follow the established rules.

If Berge stayed on his current trajectory, Jason was the obstacle he was most destined to hit.

Decoding Jason’s true motives and end goals was no longer optional; it was a necessity.

“Very well.”

“Shall I travel to your domain? Or will you grace me with a visit, Lord Berge?”

“I will come to you.”

With the gravity of a commander preparing for a campaign, Berge hardened his heart.

—

The Tower of Deceit appeared exactly as it had during his last visit.

It was an opulent display of excess, crawling with a multitude of summoned beasts and demonic entities.

A group of succubi escorted him to the highest level of the fortress.

He took a seat at Jason’s circular table and waited.

“It has been some time.”

“Indeed, Lord Berge. It is good to see you.”

“Your collection of monsters seems to have grown.”

“I have you to thank for that, Lord Berge. Ah, would you care for a cup of tea?”

“I would.”

A succubus servant presented the tea along with a selection of light snacks.

“Now, what is this matter you wished to speak of?”

“Is there a reason to rush?”

Jason smiled, using a small spoon to gently move the tea leaves as he spoke.

“To be perfectly honest, Lord Berge, I did not expect you to survive this long.”

Berge met the sudden, sharp observation with a steady voice.

“What leads you to that conclusion?”

“I keep myself informed of the whispers from the Demon Realm. Information is a currency I value.”

“If you are referring to my reputation back home, your skepticism is understandable.”

“And shortly after arriving here, you successfully abducted the crown princess of the Hilderan Kingdom. I am still fascinated by how you managed to navigate the fallout of that event.”

“Fortune favored me.”

“So you claimed. Do you remain certain that the humans are still in the dark?”

“That will be determined by their own actions.”

*Snap—*

Jason broke a crisp biscuit between his fingers.

“Do you employ a second-in-command?”

“I fail to see where this is going. Is there a Demon King who lacks a vice officer?”

“Given that you were the top scholar at the Demon King Academy, I assume your subordinate was the best of the Demon Aide Academy. What is their race?”

“A dark elf.”

“A dark elf. They possess a natural affinity for the arcane and a keen intellect—ideal for tower administration. You have chosen a capable assistant.”

Berge placed his cup back on the saucer. A familiar spark of irritation flickered within him.

Jason’s demeanor today felt off. Despite several magical transmissions, this was only their second physical meeting.

“Why the sudden interest in my staff?”

“Your second-in-command is surely a high-ranking demon, yes?”

“You are well aware that only those of high standing would dare hold such a position.”

“And aside from this officer, you have no other high-ranking demons in your service.”

“Speak plainly.”

“I have spent the last few days pondering the demise of Lord Drakson.”

“And?”

“The Drakson I knew was many things, but he was not an outright liar, even if he occasionally massaged the truth.”

“So you believe the claim that a high-ranking demon encroached upon his lands?”

“I do.”

“Whose?”

Jason leaned his chin on his palm, his casual gaze locking onto Berge’s.

“It might have been Lord Ugar, or perhaps Lady Reina. And I am certainly keeping you on the list of candidates, Lord Berge.”

“It was not me. My second-in-command never departs from the tower. I trust you are aware of that fact.”

“As a general rule, that is true. But we aren’t limited to high-ranking demons, are we?”

“What are you implying?”

“A Demon King.”

He offered a thin smile.

“What if the Demon King performed the deed personally, and in the chaos of the moment, Drakson mistook them for a subordinate?”

“……”

Berge exerted every ounce of his willpower to remain composed under the pressure of Jason’s accusations.

He forced his voice to remain level.

“A Demon King trespassing in another’s territory? That defies all logic.”

“The same could be said for a high-ranking demon. And then there is the matter of Luize Berft.”

Jason used a cloth to pat his lips.

“The princess of Berft was present. As was Prince Max Ormus.”

Berge’s finger drummed against the tabletop.

“Your point?”

“They were there to seize a royal, something went awry, and the mission failed. That single failure triggered a chain reaction that resulted in Drakson slaying the prince.”

It was an uncomfortably accurate deduction.

The issue remained.

“Lady Reina, Lord Ugar, and yourself—every one of you has been involved in kidnapping royalty.”

“So your suspicion encompasses all of us. We are back where we started.”

“Quite so. But in truth, the identity of the culprit is secondary.”

“Why?”

“If my theory holds, then seizing royals is simply the nature of our work. If someone happened to get caught in the crossfire through bad luck, one can hardly hold the initiating Demon King responsible, can they?”

Provided there was no malicious intent directed at Drakson himself.

His following words were even more frigid.

“Which is why I am inclined to let the matter rest.”

“Meaning?”

“As I stated, whoever is responsible was merely performing their duties. Drakson’s error lay in his misunderstanding and the resulting chaos—not in the actions of the others.”

It was a lie.

Violating another’s borders without authorization was an unforgivable breach of conduct.

“Furthermore, Archduke Alcaine has no desire to see infighting among the Demon Kings.”

He pivoted the conversation abruptly.

“The 100,000 gold pieces I provided—are they serving you well?”

Berge looked him in the eye. Jason’s smiling face revealed nothing of his internal calculations.

The skin-crawling sensation of being watched intensified.

“They are being put to excellent use.”

“If it isn’t too bold, might I inquire as to how you are utilizing the funds?”

“It is too bold.”

“Understood.”

A heavy silence descended upon the room. The only sound was the soft clink of porcelain as they finished their tea.

Berge was the one to break the quiet.

“You continue to talk in circles. Why did you summon me? Merely to test my patience?”

“Hardly. Did we not agree to a partnership? To assist one another.”

“Assist?”

“Conflict is on the horizon.”

“Conflict?”

“Nothing global. A massive mineral vein is about to be unearthed in the Phillerium Mountains. The Southern Alliance and the Empire will inevitably clash over the rights. There will be significant bloodshed.”

“You are handing this opportunity to me?”

“I am.”

“To what end?”

“As I said: partnership. I provide you with support, Lord Berge, and I expect your support in return. To that end, I want you to strengthen your standing even further.”

The classic tactic of the carrot and the stick.

Berge felt a surge of resentment at the realization he was being handled.

“If the offer is not to your liking…”

“No, I will accept it.”

“A prudent choice.”

The remainder of their exchange was hollow—a series of pleasantries devoid of substance.

Eventually, Berge stood to leave. He tore a rift in the fabric of space, manifesting a gateway back to his own stronghold.

“I bid you farewell. I look forward to our next encounter.”

“Indeed.”

“Wait.”

Jason struck his palms together.

“There was one more thing I meant to ask…”

He gave a small shrug.

“It has slipped my mind.”

“Another tedious game.”

Berge let out a low growl, stepping through the shimmering tear in reality.

The portal snapped shut behind him.

*Crunch—*

Jason bit into another biscuit. The sugary chocolate was pleasant at first.

*Ptoo—*

He spat the remnant into a napkin. The sweetness was cloying.

“I do wonder where he is funneling all that demonic influence he has gathered…”

The summoning of beasts always left a trail. Jason had confirmed through the Archduke’s records that no new entities had been summoned to Berge’s spire.

Having secured three princesses and fought off legendary heroes, his reserves should be massive.

Jason leaned back, staring at the ceiling.

“Since you are determined to be secretive, I shall wait.”

“But my curiosity regarding your tower remains.”

What exactly was hidden in that fortress perched in the Erjest Mountains?

The mystery was becoming irresistible.

—

“…Did he see through it?”

He had.

It was currently based on intuition, and Jason had been careful to include the other Demon Kings as suspects to avoid a direct confrontation.

But he was dangerously close to the mark.

He knew Berge had trespassed on Drakson’s land.

Yet, he had offered to bury the truth.

And then he had offered the spoils of war as a gesture of “goodwill.”

“He hasn’t grasped the full picture yet.”

Perhaps Jason truly believed it was a simple case of ‘a botched kidnapping leading to accidental trespassing.’

Yes, that must be his conclusion.

If he realized that Berge had personally climbed the tower and played a role in Drakson’s death, he wouldn’t be speaking of covering it up so casually.

His relaxed attitude was born from the belief that the intrusion was a clumsy accident rather than a calculated execution.

‘So this is…’

A warning.

Berge felt a cold chill at the base of his skull.

He had long suspected Jason of playing a very long game.

Berge’s independent movements on the board were clearly an annoyance. This meeting was a summons to heel: stay in line, and accept the scraps I throw you.

‘The arrogance of this bastard…!’

Berge clenched his jaw.

In all his plans since returning, he hadn’t anticipated being looked down upon like this.

Yet, he didn’t lash out with the blind rage of his former self.

‘His knowledge is incomplete.’

Jason was unaware that Hillun Kagil was Berge’s absolute subject, or that Granada and the elven tribes were under his sway.

He had no idea that the spire was defended by advanced artillery and princesses rather than mindless monsters.

Nor did he know that Berge, wielding the Phoenix’s essence, could move across the land with a freedom no other demon possessed.

He was in the dark.

‘Since he mentioned the funds…’

He might even have eyes on the Golden Moon Merchant Guild.

But there was no way he could guess that Armani’s soul-orb was literally embedded in Hillun Kagil’s skull.

To Jason, these were just the vague shadows of an ambitious peer.

Berge would have to cultivate his strength within that shadow of ignorance.

“Even so…”

He made a sharp sound of disapproval.

“If you’re going to offer a bribe, offer something I don’t already know.”

Regrettably, the “carrot” Jason had offered was a historical event Berge already remembered.

Though it was arriving ahead of schedule. Originally, that war wasn’t meant to break out for several more years.

“Jason is the one pulling the strings.”

Or perhaps, it was a conflict Jason had engineered from the very beginning.

—

End