Chapter 233 - Third

"The tower's master was indeed the Demon King of Hellfire."

Having returned from her resolute private audience with the Demon King of Hellfire, Ernyan stood confidently in the great hall. She faced the king proudly, relishing the nobles' attention as she recounted the results of the "diplomacy" she had conducted as "Crown Princess." Every noble in the kingdom was present, listening intently.

"He told me he wanted 'cooperation'—an 'alliance.'"

"Good heavens... Did a Demon King truly say he wanted to cooperate?"

"Yes."

"But Your Highness, that is preposterous. Our enmity began with an unprovoked invasion and has lasted a thousand years. Furthermore, the Demon King of Hellfire is a butcher who was killing countless humans until only recently. This is plainly a deception!"

The hall grew noisy. The nobles clamored to question the Demon King's motives.

"Silence."

At that single word from the king, the nobles closed their mouths.

"Ernyan Hilderan."

"Yes."

The king asked, "Is there not a shred of falsehood in what you have said?"

"There is not."

"And have you considered that you are being deceived?"

"Are you saying the Demon King lied?"

"They are called Demon Kings for a reason. Their purpose remains the same as it was a thousand years ago."

Conquering the continent. Conquering the dimension.

"They are invaders. Do you believe invaders and the humans they invaded can cooperate?"

"As I understand it, Lies cooperated with humans."

"And what was the result? Hilderan's present plight."

Lies had approached them with apparent humility. Thus, humans had believed they held the upper hand. They had been foolishly deceived. No one could even begin to estimate how many demonic creatures swarmed in the lake, and the Demon King of Lies had overcome the combined assault of several Stars.

"That is precisely why I am saying this."

"Precisely why?"

"I, too, was present in the battle against the Demon King of Lies. Hillen Cargill, Roselle Charnt, Aina Diaphrin, Pablo Barkat, Ralph Schmitz, and even Watton Collo. No fewer than six Stars fought together. We had Hillen Cargill, the sharpest blade humanity has ever forged. And what was the outcome?"

Defeat. Not merely defeat, but an overwhelming defeat. Pablo Barkat had died, and they had lost nearly twenty thousand coalition troops. Then the Demon King of Lies had begun attacking Hilderan, and now half its northern region had been swept away. Without the Demon King of Hellfire's help, that offensive would have been battering the central region by now.

"At present, we have no blade sharper than Hillen Cargill. That means we must somehow find a new one—and has one not appeared at just the right moment?"

"Use a Demon King to defeat a Demon King?"

"The shock of the Demon King of Lies thwarting the hero's journey seems to have made everyone forget, but Hellfire has stopped and crushed even more hero's journeys than he has."

Above all:

"Hellfire is on bad terms with Lies. He wants Lies dead every bit as much as we do."

"Hellfire wants Lies dead?"

"Otherwise, why would Hellfire stop the legion of Lies for us?"

"That is mere speculation."

"He told me himself."

"But Hellfire received help from Lies. Have you forgotten the testimony of the heroes who lost the levitation ship?"

"We discussed that as well. He said everything he had done thus far was because of pressure from Lies."

"A Demon King claims Lies left him no choice? You expect me to believe that?"

Unable to contain himself, the king shouted. Ernyan remained unperturbed.

"And if you do not?"

"What?"

"What will you do if you do not believe him? He stated the facts, and I am merely relaying them."

"Very well. Then surely he offered an excuse to support that claim?"

"About a hundred years ago, four of the five Demon Kings died, leaving only Lies alive. He says that ever since, Lies has helped newly descended Demon Kings while working to make them act according to his wishes."

"A flimsy explanation."

"Demons obey the rule of strength. Could a weak Demon King who had only recently descended defy Lies?"

"And now?"

"He said the things he did under Lies' orders gave him sufficient strength."

"Still flimsy."

"He is a demonic dragon. And as I understand it, the demonic dragons of the Demon Realm are like the dragons of Arain."

Extremely arrogant and domineering. They did not like anyone standing above them.

"... That makes a little more sense. But tell me."

The king tapped his throne.

"Is it my imagination that you seem to be taking the Demon King's side?"

Some nobles nodded at his words. They had, in fact, felt the same way. Crown Princess Ernyan was defending the Demon King so thoroughly that she almost seemed to have become his spokesperson.

"It makes me wonder whether the Demon King has brainwashed you."

"It is because I have seen. Because I have heard."

"What?"

"The truth about that tower."

"The truth?"

"I am told the sky tower, equipped with levitation stones, flies at three hundred kilometers per hour. Can you catch it?"

"Three hundred?"

"That's insane..."

The nobles murmured. Such was the staggering magnitude of that speed.

"It has eight hundred mana cannons in total, and lightning and fire magic are inscribed on its outer walls..."

"Wait. Just a moment."

The king interrupted her.

"The Demon King told you all of that? And you believe it?"

"Many people witnessed the tower's bombardment. Ask Count Pagan in particular, and you will know I speak the truth."

The king could find no words. Ernyan continued.

"If that sky tower's bombardment fell upon Hilderan instead of Lies, could you withstand it?"

"..."

He could not. How could they possibly withstand such a weapon, beyond anything they knew?

Silence settled over the hall. After a long while, the king spoke cautiously.

"Very well. I understand everything you mean."

The strategy of using one Demon King to subdue another. And the fact that the Demon King's tower was a military force Hilderan could never hope to withstand.

"But Hellfire and Lies are not so different. Hellfire has killed countless humans."

"Most of them were imperial soldiers."

"Even if the Empire has temporarily lost its mind and attacked Iasin, they are still human."

If Hilderan joined hands with the Demon King of Hellfire, it would be a disastrous move, turning every nation on the continent against them—unless they had a sound, legitimate reason strong enough to persuade them all.

"The Demon King of Hellfire told me that the Empire's leadership has become Lies' puppets."

"... What?"

"... What did I just hear?"

"You mean Lies is the Empire's pupp—no, the Empire is Lies' puppet?"

The great hall became as noisy as a marketplace. That was how shocking Ernyan's words were.

"I demanded evidence. He told me the Empire's current actions would make it clear."

Certainly, the Empire's declaration of war was far from ordinary. It was a decision the emperor and nobles could not have made unless they had collectively gone mad.

"Not enough."

Still, they could not rule out the possibility that they had simply gone mad and the Demon King was lying.

"The Empire."

"The Empire?"

"The Demon King of Hellfire revealed Lies' true nature to me and said there would be evidence in the Empire."

"Lies' true nature?"

"The Demon King of Lies is a Doppelganger—a demon who wears another person's skin and impersonates them. And the Empire's upper ranks have all been taken over in that fashion."

"...!"

* * *

『I'm sorry. After all my big talk...』

"No, it's fine. You succeeded halfway, didn't you?"

Ernyan's demand that they join hands with Berge had not been accepted immediately. But Berge was not disappointed. It was only natural. Even he would never have considered joining hands with humans if not for Ernyan. If anything, succeeding halfway was impressive.

"So he said he would consider it if we provided clearer evidence?"

『Yes. Still, I've already begun laying the groundwork to turn public opinion against Lies, using the Heroes' Guild and my own influence.』

"Evidence. What do you think would be best?"

『A Doppelganger's skin, presumably? Or a recording revealing that an imperial noble is wearing someone else's skin.』

"Then I must go to the Empire, where we can be certain they have been replaced."

『I'm sorry to put you to all this trouble.』

"No. Just make one thing clear to the king: if he continues to feign ignorance even after I bring evidence, I will not tolerate it."

『Yes. Good luck.』

The connection ended. Berge pondered for a moment. What should he do?

"Kaede."

"Yes."

"It seems you will need to come to the Empire with me."

"I will contact my brother."

"Good."

Since Jason knew what he looked like, Berge could not wander freely around the Empire. He would have to conceal his face as much as possible and make use of someone in power. The Third Prince would be ideal.

"We will work with the Third Prince to capture the demon wearing your maternal grandfather's guise."

"... That is exactly what I wanted."

Kaede steeled herself for battle. To her, Marquis Aincheil had been more than merely a grandfather. His death had filled her with intense fury.

"Please let me cut off his head myself."

"Not yet. If he dies, Lies will notice something is wrong."

"... Yes."

"What was Martin's answer?"

"My brother said the same thing. If it truly is a demon wearing a Doppelganger's skin, he will give you his full cooperation, my lord."

"Even if it means becoming my servant?"

"Even if it means becoming your servant."

He could accomplish nothing alone, and he could not stand idly by as the Empire raced toward ruin, manipulated by the Demon King of Lies.

"Excellent."

He could thoroughly persuade both Hilderan and the next emperor in one stroke.

"Then let us go."

To the Jespine Empire.

* * *

"What—what on earth am I supposed to do?"

Martin, the Empire's Third Prince, could not understand the emperor's decision. Nor could he understand the nobles who supported it. They were attacking the leader of a coalition that had agreed to unite, however imperfectly and temporarily, under the cause of overthrowing the Demon King. It was absurd. No different from leaping into a fire with straw on one's back.

So he had opposed it. Again and again, he had opposed it. But something was wrong with the emperor and nobles. Anyone overhearing might have called it sacrilege, but, to put it bluntly, they had gone mad. Utterly, insanely mad.

That was where Martin had sensed something strange. Whatever the other nobles might be like, he knew his grandfather was not that sort of man. The warning look he had given Martin held none of the warmth of a grandfather looking at his grandson, none of the familiarity Martin had always known. He had realized something was wrong.

That was why he had risked asking the Demon King of Hellfire for help. He had hoped that if the coalition suffered few losses, the emperor might abandon his reckless course. But it had failed. Lies was alive, and instead there had been twenty thousand casualties. The demonic-creature legion was ravaging northern Hilderan like an unbridled colt, and the Empire had finally crossed the line.

"... A Doppelganger?"

Amid all this, the message from his sister had answered every question.

"So the emperor and the Empire's nobles are already in Lies' grasp?"

Normally, he would never have believed it. But the chain of events had made him accept it.

"He wants me to become his servant? He won't help otherwise?"

GRIND

Martin ground his teeth. He was disgusted by the Demon King trying to exploit this situation to swallow him up. And by himself, for thinking that Hellfire, whom his sister trusted, was preferable to Lies.

"Tell the Demon King this: if he can convince me that what he says is true, and thus allow me to set right the Empire that Lies is toying with, I will gladly become his servant."

And then they came.

* * *

"Kaede!"

With their robe hoods pulled low, Kaede and Berge arrived in Olgar, the Third Prince's domain. Late at night, two figures slipped through an open window. Martin, who had opened it and waited for them, welcomed them.

"It has been a long time, Brother."

Seeing Kaede after so long, he thought she looked healthier than before. Perhaps it was her bright expression, but for a fleeting moment, he seemed able to forget their bleak reality.

"Then you must be..."

His bearing was slightly different from their first meeting, but his overall appearance was similar.

"Welcome."

"It has been a while."

"Would you like some tea?"

"Let us get straight to the point."

"Just as I hoped."

Martin closed the window and sat down.

"Is it true that my grandfather is a Doppelganger?"

"If your account is accurate. And it is more likely that he is another demon wearing a Doppelganger's skin, rather than a Doppelganger himself."

There could not be many Doppelgangers who had survived that persecution.

"But what if he isn't?"

"That is what we must find out now."

"How?"

"Allow me to explain, Brother."

Kaede spoke.

"You need only secretly inform Grandfather that I have returned. Then he will certainly summon me, whether he is real or an impostor."

But the reasons would be very different. The former would rejoice at his granddaughter's safe return; the latter would suspect Berge's motives in suddenly releasing an imperial princess.

"And then?"

"We can tell by talking to him."

"Talking?"

"If he is Lies' agent, there are things he will not be able to resist asking."

"Hmm. If you are so certain..."

Martin nodded.

"What will you do if Grandfather turns out to be a demon?"

"What would you do, Brother?"

"Honestly, I have no idea."

He had never imagined such a thing. His grandfather was a marquis, one of the three nobles who upheld the Empire. He had no idea how to announce that such a marquis was actually a demon, or how to handle the aftermath.

"Then will you follow the plan my lord and I devised?"

"Do you have a good solution?"

"Of course. However, it requires your consent."

"My consent?"

"Well..."

The night deepened. The following day, a mounted courier rode for the marquis's domain.

* * *

As they had expected, the marquis summoned them in secret. Soon afterward, Martin visited Marquis Aincheil's domain with Kaede.

"Oh, it really is Kaede. Kaede!"

When they entered his office away from prying eyes, the marquis welcomed them.

"Grandfather."

"Yes, y—!"

SLICE

The dagger concealed inside her clothing danced. Golden radiance flashed, and a line of fresh blood appeared on the marquis's skin.

"W-what... is this...?"

"What are you doing, Kaede!"

Martin was horrified. He had never imagined Kaede would simply slash him without warning.

"K-knights...!"

"Be quiet."

Kaede clamped a hand over the shouting marquis's mouth.

"Kaede! You said there was a way to tell! What on earth are you doing?"

"Brother, I am sorry, but I lied. There is actually no way to see through someone wearing a Doppelganger's skin."

"W-what?"

Because it was not mere skin, but an innate "power" of the Doppelganger race. Because the one who had created that skin was Jason, an overwhelmingly powerful being.

"Except by cutting it and peeling it off to check."

"Do you even hear what you're say—!"

"Look."

"... My God."

The skin was peeling away. Through the gap appeared deathly pale skin and bright red eyes.

"He is a demon, is he not?"

THUD

Kaede struck the back of the demon's neck, knocking him unconscious.

"E-even so, what would you have done if he really had been Grandfather?"

"He would have suffered nothing more than a shallow scratch."

"A scratch? You used aura!"

"That degree of control is easy."

"Brother," Kaede murmured. "I am very different now from who I was before going to the Demon King's tower."

In an environment with sparse mana, her control of aura had reached its peak. She had trained tirelessly every day against Gordon, one of the finest swordsmen even in the Demon Realm. She had drunk dragon blood. She had broken through numerous barriers to reach where she stood now.

"I..."

She tucked the dagger back inside her clothing.

"I am confident that, at least within the Empire, there is no knight stronger than me."

Before, she had not known how strong she had become, but after defeating Pablo Barkat, she had realized it. She was extraordinarily strong. It had come as an extraordinary surprise.

"... I was not weak. I was simply surrounded by monsters."

After all, in terms of combat strength alone, she ranked third among the Four Heavenly Kings.