Chapter 58 - Damn Reincarnation

Nineteen Years Old

If Hamel's tomb existed somewhere in the world...

'... Helmuth?'

Eugene thought of the place where he had died in his previous life.

After the promise made three hundred years ago, the Demon Kings and demons had ceased their invasions. The monsters driven mad by the Demon Kings' whispers had regained their senses, and every last demonic beast that had spread across the continent, indiscriminately attacking people, had returned to Helmuth.

A hundred years passed. The Demon King of Destruction remained silent, while the Demon King of Incarceration stepped forward as the demons' representative to repair the damage.

Of course, it did not go well. Too many nations had been destroyed by demons, and too many people had lost someone dear to them. Even with a Demon King personally bowing his head, the loathing and hatred toward demons did not subside.

So the Demon King of Incarceration used the other Demon Kings' names to his advantage.

He claimed that even the Demon Kings had been divided into moderates and hardliners: the deceased Carnage, Cruelty, and Fury had been hardliners, while he alone had been a moderate. The Demon King of Destruction, who maintained absolute neutrality and silence, had not wanted war either.

The dead Demon Kings' chief lieutenants had long since been killed by the Hero's party, and their few remaining subordinates had all entered the Demon King of Incarceration's service.

Those Demon Kings were dead anyway. No matter how much Incarceration insulted them, how could the dead bastards object?

Alongside his persistent claims, the Demon King of Incarceration offered unstinting aid. He built an enormous city on Helmuth's outskirts for war refugees who had lost their homes. He dispatched his subordinates to devastated countries to construct new buildings and lay roads. Enormous war reparations filled the afflicted nations' coffers.

He also purged countless demons, declaring that they would be held responsible for the disaster. This continued for a hundred years. No, the reparations continued even now. Three hundred years later, Helmuth's neighboring countries were still receiving the Demon King's support.

And so the demon lands of Helmuth became a vast empire.

'... An empire.'

Eugene did not consider Helmuth an empire. It was merely a hell where demons, Demon Kings, demonic beasts, and the black mages and other races who had sold their souls to them all mingled.

But regardless of what Eugene thought, the world recognized Helmuth as an empire. The neighboring countries feeding off its aid were practically its colonies.

Helmuth's capital, Pandemonium.

The Demon King of Incarceration's castle stood there.

'Surely my tomb isn't in Pandemonium.'

In Helmuth's capital, crawling with demons and ruled by the Demon King of Incarceration? Impossible. If his tomb were there, it would be an insult to Hamel.

If they had killed the Demon Kings of Incarceration and Destruction and exterminated every demon in Helmuth, he would not have minded having his tomb right in the middle of it. He would have welcomed it.

But they had failed to do that. Both Demon Kings were still alive and well.

'Was there even a body left in the first place?'

Well, a tomb did not necessarily require a body. But considering that Senya had stationed a familiar there and become furious at an intruder... she seemed to have hidden it somewhere in the world.

Where? Weren't tombs usually built somewhere closely connected to the deceased? It couldn't be the Demon King of Incarceration's castle...

'... My hometown?'

Wouldn't his hometown be a likely place for a tomb? Eugene recalled the home he had never felt particularly attached to, even in his previous life.

Hamel's hometown lay on the frontier of the Kingdom of Turas. He did not know what it was like now, but in his previous life, it had been an utterly shitty place. Monsters occasionally emerged from the nearby forest, and pirates would cross the sea from Turas to pillage it.

"Eugene?"

He had been strolling around Akron to clear his head. At the sudden voice, Eugene clenched his teeth. The mages interested in him seemed awfully fond of "coincidence." Were they trying to arrange a natural encounter? Then they could at least conceal their presence properly. Instead, they practically begged to be noticed, letting their presence spill everywhere, then lost patience and spoke when he ignored them.

"What brings you here at this late hour?"

"I followed you."

Still, Balzac was better than the commander of the court mage corps or the Green Tower Master. Stepping out from beneath a magical streetlamp, he smiled at Eugene.

"Ever since you left Akron. Didn't you notice?"

"I noticed ages ago. Since you weren't saying hello, I was simply keeping my mouth shut."

"You seem to be in a bad mood."

"As if that's anything new."

"True. You have always been in a bad mood whenever we meet. Surely it isn't because of me?"

"You know it."

During his two years in Aroth, Eugene had run into the Black Tower Master quite often. They had never discussed much. The Black Tower Master always greeted him first, and Eugene returned the greeting perfunctorily, making his displeasure plain.

That was how it went. They had never had a lengthy conversation. Fortunately, the Black Tower Master had never criticized his attitude, nor did he pester Eugene like the commander of the court mage corps or the Green Tower Master.

"I hear you're leaving Aroth."

"Where did you hear that?"

"There are plenty of places to hear it. Surely you didn't think word would stay secret when the Red Tower is even holding a farewell party?"

"You must have a great deal of free time, listening in on another tower's events. Wouldn't it be better to devote that enthusiasm to your own Black Tower?"

"The Black Tower's mages manage perfectly well without my involvement. It leaves me with a great deal of free time."

Even this blatant rebuke did not disturb the Black Tower Master's smile.

Eugene did not like him. Frankly, he disliked him and found him unsettling.

Balzac Ludbeth. During his two years in Aroth, Eugene had heard about the man many times. Even compared to the other tower masters, he was rather unusual.

Decades ago, Balzac had not been a black mage. He had originally belonged to the Blue Tower, an outstanding mage considered all but certain to become its next master. The current Blue Tower Master was Hiridus Uzlen, but when Balzac had been at the Blue Tower, Hiridus had been judged his inferior.

With only a few years left before he would become Blue Tower Master, Balzac abruptly left the tower for Helmuth. He said he wanted to broaden his knowledge of magic.

Ten years later, Balzac returned from Helmuth as a black mage. Immediately upon returning to Aroth, he transferred from the Blue Tower to the Black Tower. With the incumbent master's approval and overwhelming support from the black mages, he became the new Black Tower Master.

After assuming that position, Balzac had not caused any trouble in Aroth. He maintained a reasonably friendly relationship with Hiridus, who had become Blue Tower Master, as well as cordial relations with the Blue Tower itself. He respected the royal family and stayed close to parliament. He was not hostile toward the White or Green Towers either.

Only the Red Tower, led by Lovellian, kept its distance. Even that was because Lovellian loathed black mages, not because the Red Tower itself opposed the Black Tower.

In other words, despite being a black mage, Balzac got along well with those around him. From what Eugene had personally witnessed, the man handled things quite reasonably. He had even bowed his head to show respect for Lionheart, rather than invoking his patron, the Demon King of Incarceration, to seize control of a situation or pressure anyone.

At first glance, he seemed a fairly decent black mage.

But from Eugene's perspective, no such thing existed. To him, the only decent black mages in this world were corpses and crippled bastards who could no longer use magic.

"How wonderful for you, having so much free time."

Given his feelings, he could hardly say anything else. Eugene sneered openly, but Balzac merely chuckled and nodded.

"You must find it exhausting, being so busy."

Wait. Perhaps he wasn't simply letting it slide? He was human, after all. Did he resent a much younger brat acting so obnoxious? Whatever the reason, this was the first time Balzac had answered like that.

"Ah, please don't misunderstand. I'm not being sarcastic."

That only sounded more sarcastic. Eugene stared at Balzac without answering.

"As I said, I've heard about you. You're leaving Aroth the day after tomorrow to visit Ruhar and Nahama, I believe."

"You're awfully talkative today."

"Because I'm concerned about you."

"... Concerned?"

Out of nowhere? Eugene frowned and glared at Balzac.

"Ruhar in the north is close to Helmuth."

"... And what of it?"

"Lionheart's influence doesn't reach there. Originally, Ruhar strictly prohibited demons and black mages from entering, but five years ago, the royal family relented."

"..."

"There are many demons in Helmuth. Some defy the wishes of my master, the Demon King of Incarceration. And he is not the only Demon King reigning over Helmuth, after all."

"Are you saying the Demon King of Destruction is preparing to make a move?"

"Certainly not."

Balzac gave a brief laugh and shook his head.

"That isn't the case. The Demon King of Destruction... His Majesty... does not take pleasure in acts of tyranny. He also respects the Demon King of Incarceration. Unless Incarceration acts, Destruction will not act either."

The Demon King of Destruction.

The great Demon King ranked first. Recalling a distant memory, Eugene clenched his trembling fist. True to his name, the Demon King of Destruction brought destruction wherever he went. In his previous life, the Hero's party had never truly faced him in battle.

From afar, they had seen the Demon King of Destruction move. Even now, Eugene could not determine exactly what he had witnessed then.

Black... No... Red? He could not even be sure of that. He had simply seen a "color" moving... across a vast plain. In truth, he was not even sure whether it had really been the Demon King of Destruction.

He had merely thought:

If that wasn't destruction, what was? If that wasn't the great Demon King ranked first, what could possibly be?

That living embodiment of destruction had appeared briefly before vanishing beyond the plain.

Everyone who saw it briefly lost consciousness. Let's fight it. We have to kill it. No one said anything of the sort. If Anise had not prayed, had not steadied their minds... they might have descended into a disgraceful frenzy.

"... But Eugene, just because the Demon King of Incarceration does not act and the Demon King of Destruction remains silent... that does not mean every demon will remain silent."

"... Isn't that because your master is lazy and indifferent?"

Eugene asked provocatively. Yet again, Balzac showed no displeasure. Instead, he burst out laughing and nodded.

"I cannot deny that. Yes, that is indeed the case. The Demon King of Incarceration does not restrain the actions of the demons beneath him. My merciful master... respects the freedom of all his servants."

Contrary to his name, Incarceration.

"However, he draws a firm line. They may enjoy the freedom he grants, but they must take full responsibility for any resulting problems. Think of Baron Olpher, who coaxed Eward. He had to answer for the trouble he caused with his life."

"..."

"Demons are violent. The stronger they are, the more violent they become. Many have grown sick of the peace that has lasted for centuries. The world is peaceful... and demons... Haha. It sounds rather amusing coming from me, but demons are not a race that delights in peace."

"Are you saying they might threaten me with the Demon King's tacit approval?"

"I'm saying there may be many demons entertaining that thought."

Balzac's voice lowered. He regarded Eugene with smiling eyes.

"And this does not apply only to the demons serving the Demon King of Incarceration. The demons serving the silent Demon King of Destruction would stop at nothing to break their master's silence."

Eugene glared at Balzac without replying. In that silence, Balzac alone continued speaking.

"Furthermore, some high-ranking demons wish to become Demon Kings themselves. There were originally five Demon Kings, and now there are two. That leaves three vacant seats, doesn't it? Duchess Giabella fervently desires one of those seats as well."

"Why not hold a vote?"

The corners of Eugene's mouth lifted in a smile.

"Gather the demons and elect a new Demon King."

"Haha... It would be nice if we could. Unfortunately, demons don't consider voting reasonable. If the result isn't what they want, they believe they can simply smash the ballot box. That's why they dislike peace."

"Thank you for the warning."

Despite his words, Eugene did not bow. He stood at a slant, glaring at Balzac.

"Since you've gone to such lengths to tell me, I'll leave Ruhar for another time."

Could he fight a high-ranking demon at his current level?

Eugene trusted his strength, but he was not overconfident. He did not want to get tangled up in some shitty mess and put himself in danger for no reason. He would go someday, but only when he was sufficiently certain of his abilities.

'There's the Moonlight Sword to consider too.'

The fragment of the Moonlight Sword he had bought at the auction had supposedly been found in the Kazad Hills. When he visited Ruhar in a few years, he intended to stop by the Kazad Hills as well.

"As for Nahama... Hmm."

Balzac had warned him about Ruhar, but he wasn't finished. After considering for a moment, he chuckled.

"Beware of the desert."

"Sandstorms?"

"Amelia Merwin."

Balzac raised his hand as he spoke. With a twitch of his fingers, shadows surged up and coiled around it.

"The Demon King of Incarceration claims to hold Lionheart dear. If Amelia Merwin, who has a direct contract with him, harms me, wouldn't that mean his affection is a lie?"

"She is special."

Balzac's smile did not change even when Eugene spoke so directly of the Demon King of Incarceration.

"She... was an exceptional black mage even before contracting with the Demon King of Incarceration. I told you that he respects his servants' freedom. Of them all, Amelia Merwin enjoys a particularly great deal of it."

"..."

"In the unlikely event that you unexpectedly clash with Amelia Merwin, give her this."

Balzac held out a pitch-black envelope.

"If you give her this, she will not harm you, no matter what you have done to her."

"What is it?"

"An envelope, as you can see."

"May I read the contents?"

"By all means."

Eugene immediately took it and broke the seal. But there was nothing inside.

"The contents are unnecessary. What matters is that you possess a personal letter from me."

Smiling, Balzac moved his fingers. The broken seal reattached itself.

"I cannot deal with whatever threats you may encounter in Ruhar, but I can handle Amelia Merwin's spite. If you insist on going to Nahama, please take this with you."

"... What do you want from me?"

Eugene could not help being wary of Balzac. First, he had abruptly appeared to warn him about Ruhar, and now he had even provided a personal letter to protect him against danger. With this much consideration, it certainly seemed he wanted something.

"Do you dislike black mages?"

"Of course I do."

"That hatred cannot be helped. But please spare a little goodwill for me."

"Are you gay, by any chance?"

Eugene asked without warning. Even the unflappable Balzac seemed not to have anticipated that. Unable to reply immediately, he stared at Eugene with his mouth half open.

"... Pardon?"

"You're being so nice to me that it's a little suspicious. Not that I have any prejudice against that sort of thing, but all this kindness is making me feel a little uncomfortable and worried."

"... Worried?"

"About my chastity and so on... Just so you know, I have absolutely no interest in that."

"... One moment. I'm rather taken aback."

Looking discomfited, Balzac adjusted his glasses.

"... Please don't misunderstand. I merely wish to establish a close relationship with you. Simply... as one human to another. Yes. Please don't misunderstand. And it isn't just me. Isn't everyone the same? You're still young, with so much potential..."

"Well, since you're offering, I'll gratefully accept."

Eugene promptly tucked the letter into the Cloak of Darkness.

"But I doubt I can give you as much in return. I'll be going now."

"... Very well."

"I'd like to at least give you an invitation to tomorrow's farewell party. Ah, but don't actually come. It's just the sentiment. The human heart is such a strange, ambiguous thing. I want to invite you... but if I saw you at the party tomorrow, I think I'd dislike you even more rather than feel any goodwill."

"... I won't come, so don't worry."

"How admirable of you to be so generous. I'll be on my way, then."

Eugene gave a slight bow and turned away. Watching his retreating back, Balzac let out a disbelieving chuckle and shook his head.

* * *

Although Eugene had spent two years at the Red Tower, Lovellian and Hera were the only people there he had truly gotten to know. As a result, his farewell party was not a grand affair in anything but name.

The venue and guests, however, were impressive. On the Red Tower's top floor, Lovellian and Hera were joined by Melkith, the White Tower Master; Honein, Aroth's crown prince; and Hiridus, the Blue Tower Master.

Six people, including Eugene. He could have invited more, but he did not want to. He was reluctant to invite the overzealous commander of the court mage corps or the Green Tower Master, and the Black Tower Master had been out of the question from the start.

"Why did you invite me?"

Honein and Melkith had grown fairly close to Eugene. Hiridus, however, had hardly ever spoken with him privately. They merely exchanged brief greetings when they occasionally ran into each other at Akron.

"We aren't complete strangers, are we?"

"Nor are you strangers with the tower masters who aren't here."

"Why ask when you already know?"

Hiridus could only chuckle at that.

"Don't be too wary of the Green Tower Master or the commander of the court mage corps. You're simply that desirable a talent."

"I suppose you didn't find me desirable, then."

"I did, but I am not so shameless as to try to steal the Red Tower Master's apprentice."

"The Green Tower Master tried."

"Generic has always been greedy. His pride and stubbornness outweigh his concern for appearances. Don't hate him too much."

Hiridus sipped his wine. Watching Lovellian converse with Honein, he sighed from deep within his chest.

'I am envious, though.'

Hiridus had an apprentice as well. It had been over three years since he had last seen that apprentice, so their skills must have improved. He had thought them an apprentice he could proudly present anywhere... but compared to Eugene, they inevitably seemed lacking.

"... I expected as much, of course, but you didn't invite Balzac."

"Yes, well. My master wouldn't like it either."

Perfect timing. Eugene looked at Hiridus, his eyes brightening.

"What sort of person is the Black Tower Master?"

"What answer are you hoping to hear?"

Hiridus was not flustered.

"I heard he used to belong to the Blue Tower."

"Do you want to hear about Balzac as he was then, or as he is now?"

"Are the two very different?"

"Not really. Even then, Balzac was peculiar and impossible to read. He still is..."

Chuckling, Hiridus swirled his wineglass. In the shifting red wine, he saw the days of decades past.

"... What I still cannot understand... is why Balzac left the Blue Tower. Back then, I... was his inferior. I believe I still am."

"Surely not."

"No, I mean it. We studied together, after all. He could have become the greatest tower master in the Blue Tower's history. But... apparently that wasn't enough. It isn't incomprehensible. However remarkable human magic may be, it is ultimately human. It cannot surpass a Demon King."

Hiridus gave a hearty laugh.

"Of course, that isn't an absolute rule. There is the exception of Lady Senya the Wise. So, Eugene, how much of her magic have you understood?"

"Understood? I simply studied it diligently."

"But you must have gained something. Don't worry. I have no desire to pry into what you've learned."

Hiridus fell silent for a moment, lost in thought.

"... I hear you're going to Nahama."

"Yes."

"The desert is an unpleasant place. Hot, with frequent sand-laden winds. This is only a small piece of advice, so you may disregard it, but if you insist on going to Nahama, conceal the fact that you're a Lionheart once you enter the country."

"My master said the same."

"These are unsettling times. Lately, I hear Nahama's assassins have been roaming in the open rather than the shadows. Surely they wouldn't persecute the Kiel Empire's Lionheart family... but there's no benefit in attracting unnecessary attention."

"I'll keep that in mind."

Eugene did not dismiss the old mage's advice. He was speaking out of concern, not trying to screw him over. For the same reason, Eugene did not intend to ignore Balzac's advice either.

'If someone arranged something, it'd be Anise rather than Moron.'

After all, Moron had attended Ruhar's founding celebrations until a hundred years ago.

Eugene could not imagine for a moment that the idiot Moron had played any part in his reincarnation.