Future Matters
With all the hellhounds dead, Acan's plan collapsed.
Naturally, their schedule was delayed.
"Big sis, can you make the hellhounds again?"
"Time."
"How long?"
Lavinia spread both hands. Kain brightened for a moment, but ten days wasn't truly ten days.
"Don't have."
"Ah, you need wolves, right?"
"Yep."
"Do you have any monster byproducts?"
"Nothing."
"I'll send word to the kingdom immediately and have the materials delivered."
They were called hellhounds, but their foundation was wolves. Onto the wolves' bodies, Lavinia overlaid a demonic beast's demonic energy, making them extremely sensitive to miasma.
Their combat ability wasn't remarkable, but in detecting demonic energy, they far outperformed most heroes or mages.
So they planned for at least two or three weeks.
Kain didn't waste the time.
"Through the Mercenary Guild and the Information Guild, search for guides who know Ergest well."
"Offer a large reward to anyone who knows even a little about the types of monsters, environment, or terrain of Ergest."
He spent large sums of money.
The Acan Kingdom had high expectations for this operation, and if a bit of spending could bring even slightly better results, they were willing to pay.
But then—
"You have a visitor."
"A visitor?"
"Yes. He says he knows Ergest very well. However…"
"However?"
"He's an elf named Granada."
"From the Red Hawk Assault Squad?"
He had not expected to reel in a big fish like Granada and the Red Hawk Assault Squad.
Especially not through coincidence—this had to be intentional.
Hillen Cargill had sent him.
***
The first time Granada and the Red Hawk Assault Squad arrived, Kain was pleased.
"Granada and the Red Hawks—that means…"
"Hillen Cargill's assault squad."
"Hillen Cargill…"
A hero who made his name known by killing the Demon King of Lust, and proved his worth by slaying the Beast King as well.
Now he was becoming Arein of the Guild, gaining not only skill but political power.
That alone made him impossible to ignore—and recently he had achieved yet another great feat, causing a commotion across the continent.
"I heard he saved the dwarf princess who was about to be kidnapped by the Demon King of Lust."
"Yes."
"Is that true? I find it hard to believe someone could know in advance that a Demon King would attempt a kidnapping."
"They say it was a coincidence. Hillen Cargill was in the dwarf kingdom as an envoy from the Hero Guild."
"He went as an envoy, got involved with the princess, and just happened to intercept a kidnapping attempt at that exact timing?"
"Yes."
"Quite lucky."
"It's not just luck. Even for a hero, finding a Demon King who is intentionally concealing himself is not easy, so eventually…"
"So Hillen Cargill is that impressive."
Well, it would be stranger if a hero who had killed two Demon Kings were anything but extraordinary.
"So he didn't know in advance about the kidnapping."
"That's impossible."
"So why are his people in Hotenwalk?"
"He said he wishes to speak with you in person."
"Then I must meet him. Bring him in."
A moment later, Granada arrived.
"I greet the Prince of Acan. I am Granada of the Mapleleaf Tribe."
"Kain Acan."
He was an elf with green hair and deep forest-green eyes. The muscles visible between his light leather armor were impressive.
"Sit. Coffee? Tea? What do you drink?"
"I'll take tea, please."
With a gesture, the knight who had brought Granada left. A little later, a servant brought tea and snacks.
"It's tea brewed from dried Jarbin leaves. The aroma should be pleasant."
"Yes, thank you."
Granada savored the aroma. Kain bit lightly into a soft cookie.
"I hear you are seeking a guide familiar with Ergest."
Granada opened the conversation himself.
"Yes."
"I believe I can assist."
"In what way, exactly?"
"Myself and the Red Hawk Assault Squad have previously joined Hillen's Hero campaign and climbed Ergest. Though we did not find the tower, we wandered the mountains for quite some time. I believe this experience would benefit Your Highness."
"Of course it would."
Kain did not deny it.
"But it is also quite suspicious."
A major figure appearing at the perfect moment, someone they never expected—was it wise to accept this without any suspicion?
"In what way?"
"I heard Hillen Cargill was in the Kingdom of Verft."
"He was. But he has returned to the Hero Guild, and only the Red Hawk Assault Squad and I came here separately."
"Why?"
"You may not know this, but the Red Hawk Assault Squad were originally a mercenary company. They spent several years living in Hotenwalk and consider this place their home. Currently, they are on a short vacation for mental rest."
Which meant—
"Too forced, isn't it?"
"Yes."
"Hillen Cargill sent us."
"That, at least, makes more sense."
But making more sense did not erase all suspicion.
"Why did Hillen Cargill send you to us? And how did he know we were here?"
"Did you know? We once attempted to find the Demon King's tower and failed."
"Everyone knows that."
"But you don't know what happened inside. How many of us were eaten by monsters, how many froze to death in the snowfields… and what it felt like to watch that happen."
"…I understand."
"Hillen, and all of us, still dream of that nightmare. We will never forget it, and we continue to chew on the thought of vengeance."
"Well, that's something anyone would…"
No one likes failure. No one wishes to repeat failure. And it is human nature to repay grievances in equal measure.
"But not many actually take action."
"Action?"
"In Ergest's nearest city—the final city reached by the Hero campaign and the place where the Demon King kidnapped Jespine's imperial princess. In this city, Hotenwalk, we planted people."
"For what purpose?"
"To find the Demon King and the demons."
"You think the Demon King will come to Hotenwalk?"
"He kidnapped the princess in Hotenwalk. If it happened once, isn't there a possibility it could happen twice?"
"That sounds overly optimistic."
Kain raised an eyebrow. The Ergest mountain range bordered three kingdoms, each with countless cities.
Among them, Hotenwalk was merely the closest and most famous; there were countless routes from the mountain into the continent.
And there was no guarantee the Demon King would even descend into a city at all.
"Well, that optimism gave us a harvest."
"Harvest?"
"How do you think we managed to rescue the Verft princess?"
"That was because the Guild—coincidentally, for diplomatic—"
Kain's pupils widened.
"That was merely public-facing information for the sake of appearances."
"No, wait a moment. Even if you planted people in Hotenwalk, the Flamebrand Demon King and the Demon King of Lust are completely different beings."
"The Demon Kings have their gatherings, don't they?"
A secret that wasn't even really a secret. Anyone of high rank in a major kingdom knew this much.
"Hah."
Kain let out a hollow laugh.
"What passed through Hotenwalk?"
"A succubus. We tracked her, and the trail led to Verft. If you doubt this, you may ask Princess Louise Verft yourself."
"There is no way I'm asking her directly."
Knowing Louise's infamous rumors, Kain had absolutely no intention of doing so.
Granada continued.
"Forgive my digression, but thanks to that, we learned what Acan is attempting to do in Hotenwalk. And Hero Hillen—we—refuse to miss this opportunity."
"…What do you want?"
"Find the tower. Please! We will aid you with everything we have!"
Just that! Only that one thing!
Granada cried out play-acting painfully earnestly.
Following Hillen Cargill around really has improved my acting.
A single tear rolled down his cheek.
***
Though uneasy, Kain was convinced, and he granted Granada and the Red Hawk Assault Squad an entire annex of the lord's castle.
"Never thought I'd live long enough to be invited into a noble's castle."
Former mercenary captain Bark stared around the estate.
"Don't act like some hick."
"He's right. We're an assault squad, not backwater mercenaries—"
"You idiots were backwater mercenaries."
Granada ignored the chatter of his squad mates and turned to look at the knight guiding them.
He doesn't seem like a Hotenwalk knight.
Though not long, Granada had spent time working as a mercenary in Hotenwalk. He had clashed with the city's soldiers and knights enough to sense that this one's aura and manner differed from theirs.
Then he must be from Acan…
In a castle with an established lord, guests receiving other guests? Certainly not normal.
"We have formally rented ten annex buildings inside the castle."
Sensing his thoughts, the knight explained first.
"You are not guests of the local lord. You are guests of Acan. Please keep that in mind."
"Yes. But that is…?"
"Monster?"
"It's a monster!"
The squad immediately drew their weapons. The knight rushed forward to block them.
"Put your weapons away! That is not a monster!"
"A chimera?"
In one corner of the garden stood a giant over five meters tall. He was crouched and staring at Granada.
The giant radiated a faint demonic aura.
The squad reluctantly sheathed their weapons.
"Yes. A chimera created by Her Highness the Princess. It won't attack first—so do not show hostility."
"Understood."
They had already heard about chimeras from the Demon King. But seeing one in person for the first time was unsettling.
Then, the giant stood up.
Heavy thuds shook the ground as he approached them.
"Uh…?"
"Is this safe…?"
Their panic proved unnecessary—the giant stopped right in front of them.
"Elf."
A delicate, unfittingly elegant voice sounded. Granada looked up. A woman was seated on the giant's shoulder.
"We greet Your Highness."
The knight bowed. The princess lightly hopped down.
Her gaze scanned Granada from head to toe. Her red eyes, reminiscent of her chimera, were striking.
"I am Granada, vice-captain of the Red Hawk Assault Squad, Your Highness."
"Lavinia."
"I heard this chimera was crafted by you, Your Highness."
"Cher."
"So its name is Cher."
"Friend."
"You and Cher are friends?"
"Yep."
She pursed her lips as if thinking. Granada waited for her to continue, but her mouth remained closed for a long moment.
"..."
"..."
A long silence passed. The squad awkwardly looked at one another.
"Elven heart."
Then Lavinia reached out and poked Granada's chest with her pale finger.
"Warm."
"Yes?"
"Give."
"…Excuse me?"
"No, Your Highness."
A chill ran down Granada's spine as he instinctively slapped her hand away. But it wasn't he who answered—the knight stepped between them.
"No?"
"Granada came here to help us, Your Highness."
"Oh. Sorry. Mistake."
"…It's all right."
Lavinia bowed her head with a small nod, then climbed back up onto Cher's shoulder. Cher thumped the ground as he returned to his original spot.
"...My apologies."
"What just happened…?"
"Her Highness grew up only in the royal palace, so she's a bit unskilled in dealing with people. I apologize on her behalf, Your Highness. Nothing like this will ever happen again."
"...Ah. Yes."
Before the knight's polite apology, Granada could only nod stiffly.
***
『Have you heard the news?』
While Berzé was racking his brain over how best to deal with Acan's incoming troops, Reina Sordein contacted him.
She was complaining about her failed kidnapping attempt.
"I heard. Hillen Cargill stopped Vivian, didn't he?"
『She was truly, painfully unlucky. Of all times, Hillen Cargill just happened to be in the Kingdom of Verft as a Guild envoy…』
"A shame. It would've been a good opportunity to expose the culprit."
Berzé suppressed the smile threatening to curl at his lips with superhuman endurance.
『Indeed. But in some ways, I can only lament Vivian Blunt's utter foolishness.』
『She certainly heard that Hillen Cargill arrived in Verft, yet she carelessly acted anyway.』
Though to be fair, no one would imagine he'd be standing guard outside the princess's chamber door.
As the mastermind behind everything, Berzé could vividly imagine Vivian's flustered face—and he almost laughed.
"So, what are you planning now?"
『This time, I intend to step in personally.』
"…What?"
『After failing once, no one would expect an immediate second attempt.』
『And Hillen Cargill has returned to the Hero Guild. There is no better chance.』
No. Absolutely not.
This must never happen.
Louise Verft must not be kidnapped.
"That cannot happen."
『Cannot? What do you mean?』
Berzé's brain spun desperately.
He forced himself to speak with utmost calm.
"There is no need to rush. It's not as if Louise Verft is going anywhere. We can take our time."
『That may be true, but that is hardly a reason not to kidnap her.』
"I need your help. Leave Louise to Ugar and help me instead."
『Ugar Belbeck cannot operate freely in the dwarf kingdom.』
Of course Berzé knew. The dwarven underground city of Verft was small and cramped.
A titan—the Giant race—had trouble even entering.
Which was precisely why he mentioned Ugar—to deflect suspicion as far as possible.
『But help? What's going on?』
Why did I say something like that?
He could not summon Reina Sordein to the tower. If she entered and saw no monsters, only two dwarven heroes and a princess, even Reina would explode with fury.
Given her upright nature as a Demon King, she might even report it to Archduke Alkaine.
Something else—something to divert Reina's attention…
『For you to speak to me first… this cannot be a trivial matter, can it?』
Damn. This was getting worse.
『Are you embarrassed to ask another Demon King for assistance? Pride is a fine thing for a Demon King. But Arein is different. We agreed to cooperate—speak freely if you need help.』
Screw it.
"…I misspoke. It's not my problem—it's yours."
『My problem?』
"Gillian Aint."
One of the Great Heroes.
"The White Eagle Assault Squad is searching for the tower, aren't they? If you sit back and let that happen, you will face a great calamity."
It was something that hadn't happened yet—but in the world before his return, it had.
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