Chapter 213: Lavinia and the Mages
Hero Hillan Cargill was summoned by the king.
It was a time when repeated failures had amplified anxiety and fear toward the Demon King, and arguments about the uselessness of the Hero Guild were once again rearing their heads.
‘Isn’t it because heroes who can do nothing but fight are put in charge that they keep falling into traps and repeating foolish decisions!’
‘The problem started from the very beginning, when too much authority was given to a mere guild.’
‘Didn’t the heroes attack first without waiting for the allied forces?’
‘The alliance must be led by nations! Only seasoned veterans who have endured war, commanding under national leadership, can avoid repeating the same mistakes!’
One person’s fear was seen by another as an opportunity.
The king of the Kingdom of Hilderan was one of them.
A man who despised the fact that all heroes and authority had been taken by the Hero Guild, and who wished to seize that authority back once more.
“Even the Empire has decided to pull out on its own, so isn’t this a fine opportunity?”
At the king’s sly smile, Hillan realized that the seditious rumors circulating among the common folk were connected to the king.
Well, it was only natural. He was not the type to let such an opportunity slip by.
“Are you saying you want me to become the commander?”
“Absurd. Rumors are spreading that failures happen because of the foolish command of heroes. There is no reason to entrust that role to you.”
“Then you want me to personally slay the False Demon King.”
“Exactly. Wouldn’t it make a splendid picture? The great hero who first killed three Demon Kings, and that hero being the pride of Hilderan.”
Just then, Balraf Dislode, known as the strongest hero, had died, leaving his seat vacant.
Implicitly, most people believed that Hillan Cargill, who had been right on his heels, was the natural successor, but being tacitly acknowledged and driving in the final nail by killing the False Demon King were entirely different matters.
“And if Ernan Hilderan, who has contracted with the Spirit King, joins you, the prestige of the homeland will rise even further. A princess and a hero defeating the Demon King as one team. Isn’t it a beautiful image?”
“I will do my best.”
“This is not a matter of effort. I desire results.”
Of course, that was exactly what Hillan Cargill wanted as well.
Yet what he could not be certain of was something he had already heard.
What kind of monster was the False Demon King?
‘You would do well to be careful. With your level of skill, you will never be able to handle it.’
And what kind of monster was coming because of that?
‘The Demon King is moving. And he has no intention of handing the False Demon King over to anyone.’
From the very beginning, the False Demon King had been cheese in a trap never meant for Hillan.
But if that were all, it would almost have been fortunate.
‘It was the first time the Demon King issued such a warning.’
And that was not all. The Demon King himself was moving, and not only the Crown Princess of Hilderan but even Lavinia Arkan would be involved.
That alone meant it would not be easy.
‘Success is….’
It should be possible.
Otherwise, the Demon King would not have told Ernan Hilderan, his lover, to join as well.
Yes, Hillan Cargill forcibly pressed down his anxiety like that.
‘But he’s not coming personally just to save the princess, is he?’
“There is no answer. Do you lack confidence?”
The king’s voice shattered his thoughts. Only then did he realize that they had been in the middle of a conversation.
“No. I will definitely behead the Demon King together with Her Highness the Crown Princess.”
“Good.”
Only then did the king smile in satisfaction.
* * *
“Trust me.”
“Is trusting enough?”
“Sir Hillan, you are one of the Demon King’s retainers, aren’t you? What would I do if you had less faith than me, who isn’t even a retainer?”
“Well, that’s true, but… weren’t you a retainer?”
“You didn’t know?”
“I did not.”
“Nope.”
“Then why the Demon King?”
“Why? Is that not allowed?”
“...No.”
He had forgotten. The Crown Princess before his eyes was not someone he should try to understand.
“Anyway, it worried me a little because it was the first time the Demon King had warned so strongly. I also heard about the nature of that monster.”
A Doppelgänger that had parasitized for three hundred years, not a mere Demon King. A being whose limits of power were unknown.
“The Demon King is stepping in to make sure that warning does not become reality, right? Me too.”
“That is true, but….”
“More than that, something else bothers me.”
“What would that be?”
“Why did he go to Arkan first?”
“...Pardon?”
“After separating like that, why Arkan instead of Hilderan….”
“Hmm.”
Hillan left her to her contemplation and exited the office.
At times like that, the best course was simply not to engage with her.
* * *
Rozel Charnte’s warning did not cause a great stir.
‘Does that mean the Empire has some other scheme? That they plan to betray us?’
‘I understand what you mean, but unless the Empire has collectively gone mad, that seems impossible.’
With reactions like that, Rozel Charnte had nothing more with which to persuade them. In truth, that was the orthodox view.
“You can’t exactly shout, ‘The Emperor has gone mad!’ at them.”
“He has gone mad, though.”
“Really?”
“It’s a guess.”
“See? You’re not certain either.”
“I would say joining hands with the Demon King is madness enough.”
“You do realize you’re calling yourself a Demon King, right?”
“I’m different.”
“What’s different? Is there such a thing as a good Demon King and a bad Demon King?”
“I didn’t join hands on equal terms. I turned them all into retainers.”
“...You really leave me with nothing to say.”
Rozel let out a hollow laugh. Berje changed the subject.
“Then is there no problem with Hillan Cargill?”
“What problem? You sound like you wish there were one.”
“You looked like you were about to kill Hillan Cargill and left the tower.”
“I just postponed it briefly because I had no time. Are you telling me not to touch him?”
“Problems between two people should be resolved by the two of them. When a third party intervenes, it only worsens matters.”
“A third party? I think some conscience fell on the floor here.”
Rozel snorted.
Because they had gone straight on a hero’s march the moment they left the tower, she had not been able to visit Hillan. And that brief gap gave Rozel time to cool her anger.
Thinking about it, Hillan Cargill had merely carried out orders from Berje and bore no great guilt. More than anything, Hillan’s Crown Princess had also been present.
And yet it was Hillan’s fault?
That would amount to nothing more than goading him into a fight.
“What are you scheming?”
“Nothing particularly meaningful. I merely wish to know which of my hero retainers is the strongest.”
“Hah, when you put it like that, I can’t just let it pass.”
Rozel steeled his fighting spirit.
‘Hillan needs to have discipline enforced once in a while.’
He was the type of rebellious fellow who would harbor other intentions the moment he had a little leeway. Thanks to the strengthened connection of a retainer reinforced as Berje grew stronger, that could not truly happen, but it was still necessary to break his will from time to time.
Berje wore a sly smile.
* * *
“Where have you been, and what have you been doing all this time?”
“Er, research.”
“Research in Ergest. I heard you modified Cher?”
“Yeah.”
At her innocent gaze, the king of Arkan let out a sigh.
His daughter was impossible to read. If only she would speak properly like his other children.
And if only she would stop that wretched chimera research.
No matter how displeased he might be, a daughter was still a daughter. She was someone who always vanished like a ghost and then returned, and this time the absence had been especially long. There was no way he could not worry.
But at this moment, the king’s concern was not about his daughter herself, but about the new problems she had brought back with her.
“I hear Cher’s aura has become far stronger than before. Many mages are curious about how you modified Cher. Can you share those results?”
“No.”
“No?”
“Yeah.”
“You are a princess of the kingdom and a mage of the Mage Tower. As much as you have received, devoting yourself to the kingdom is also your duty as royalty and as a member of the Mage Tower.”
“No.”
But Lavinia shook her head once more.
The king’s brow furrowed.
She was a somewhat unusual daughter, but she was not someone completely impossible to reason with. Knowing how much she had received as a princess, she had always offered her research results to the kingdom without hesitation.
That was why he knew well that she had only an obsession with research and new knowledge, not possessiveness over them.
And yet a refusal?
So resolute, at that?
Seeing how many mages were eagerly anticipating Cher’s changed form, the king already felt a headache forming at how they would react.
“Why?”
“Can’t, say.”
“You can’t even tell me the reason? Lavinia Arkan, I am not joking.”
“Something else.”
“Other things are important, but what the mages truly want is Cher.”
“No.”
“As king, I order you.”
“No.”
“As your father, I ask you.”
“No.”
“....”
At her resolute gaze, he rubbed his face. Once Lavinia made up her mind, even he, her father, could never bend her will.
And it was not as though he could torture his own daughter.
But would the mages truly understand that?
Arkan was not an absolute monarchy. In name, all citizens were subjects of the royal family, but the authority of the Mage Tower rivaled that of the crown, and the authority of the Tower Master rivaled that of the king.
A kingdom built together with mages—that was Arkan. Thus, even the king could not treat the mages of the Mage Tower lightly.
“Is it truly not possible?”
“No.”
“Then it cannot be helped. You will speak to the mages yourself.”
In the end, the king chose his final measure.
“Speak?”
“Guards! Summon the mages of the Mage Tower at once!”
At his call, the Tower Master, the Vice Tower Master, and dozens of high-ranking mages from the Mage Tower arrived in a crowd.
“Your Highness! We are relieved that you have returned safely. Did things go well on your journey?”
“Yeah.”
“Would you be willing to share the gains of your research with the tower? We will pay an appropriate price.”
By “appropriate price,” they meant monsters Lavinia desired, their byproducts, or elixirs.
Up to now, that exchange had always been valid.
“Yeah.”
“Ooh!”
“As expected of Lady Lavinia!”
This time as well. At her assent, the mages were filled with anticipation.
“Cher, excluded.”
Until exactly one second ago.
“Pardon?”
“What do you mean by that?”
“Cher, no.”
“Did you not say you would share the research gains and results?”
“Yeah.”
“Then Cher as well—.”
“No.”
“Why not!”
“No, what are you saying, Your Highness?”
“No.”
“Your Highness!”
“Your Highness, please show mercy!”
“Cher. No.”
Questions repeated hundreds of times made not a single step of progress against her resolute stance.
And then—
“Going.”
The end was Lavinia’s escape, fed up. She pushed through the crowd of mages and fled the capital.
"Cher!"
Riding Cher, who had dropped down from somewhere, she fled, leaving the mages to stare blankly.
“...That massive body flying with just one wing.”
“Oh, beautiful.”
“What on earth did she do? A drake? No, that isn’t some mere drake.”
“What kind of monster or monster species did those materials even come from!”
“Even when we try to examine it, she runs off with all her might. Damn it.”
The mages did not even think of giving chase, instead marveling at Cher’s form.
Only belatedly did they come to their senses and turn their gaze to the king.
“Your Majesty.”
“She did not answer me either.”
“Cher’s transformation surpasses all previous cases. It is the very essence of chimerology that will elevate the kingdom’s chimera research technology by an entire level!”
“Indeed! If we could learn the magic that strengthened Cher, Arkan’s name would rise even higher in the upcoming subjugation of the False Demon King.”
“I am well aware of that. However, she would not tell me either. You know this, do you not? No one can break Lavinia’s stubbornness.”
If it were possible, he would have made her stop meddling with chimeras long ago.
"Ugh."
The Tower Master and the mages groaned.
They wanted to interrogate Lavinia, but no mage had the nerve to do so.
And if they clung too persistently, Lavinia might flee again.
Still, they were not mages who would simply give up.
“She won’t grant our request, but what if we go through someone closer to her?”
“Like His Highness Cain?”
“His Highness as well, but what about that man named Pale who returned with her this time, or Lord Rozel?”
“Ooh, a fine idea.”
“Indeed, we can’t just do nothing!”
Having rallied together once more, the mages paid their respects to the king and left the palace.
In their minds, there was only one thought: how they might persuade Lavinia.