An unexpected visitor arrived: an elf from the Golden Moon Trading Company.

"The Demon King asked me to deliver this to you, Lady Ernyan."

"To me?"

Inside the magical glass was a crimson glow radiating heat. It was utterly luminous, utterly intense.

- Wow, isn't this dragon blood?

The high-ranking water spirit recognized its value.

- If you drink this and absorb it properly, summoning the spirit king might not be so far off!

Dragon blood was a treasure containing an immense quantity of pure, wild mana. Its one drawback was its fiery heat, which did not suit Ernyan's affinity, but a few rounds of refinement would take care of that. Though much of its mana would be lost in the process, its value would remain undiminished.

But the dragon blood was only part of the gift.

"This is a robe made from dragon scales. The Demon King ordered Master Logger to make it his top priority."

"... It's beautiful."

The cloak had a soft crimson sheen. It was exquisitely noble and beautiful. Ernyan put it on, and it settled softly around her before vanishing from sight.

"Lady Charlotte personally inscribed the magical engravings together with the dwarves. It normally remains hidden by invisibility magic, but it will reveal itself whenever Your Highness wishes. Its high magic resistance and enchanted spells..."

The elf explained its various other functions.

"... Please tell him I'm grateful."

"Of course."

"No, I should thank him myself."

"Understood."

She had never imagined receiving such gifts. A smile curved Ernyan's lips, and a faint blush rose to her cheeks.

"... Is there nothing for me?"

Hillen, who stood beside her, asked. A treasure crafted personally by a dwarf from dragon materials. He wanted one so, so, so badly.

"There isn't."

"What?"

Hillen's expression stiffened.

"That can't be right. I am the Demon King's first servant and his most faithful. Surely he wouldn't neglect to make provisions for me..."

"That was a lie. He told me to give it to you once you started rambling like that."

"... I knew I could trust my lord."

The elf produced a sword. It was a dull gray, yet there was something about it that seemed to draw one in. Its keen edge seemed restrained and savage all at once.

"What is this?"

"A sword made by mixing dragon bone with several alloys to conceal the fact that it was fashioned from a dragon's bones. Master Logger proudly declared that the result is, if anything, superior to a sword of pure dragon bone, and certainly not inferior."

"... No wonder that crazy dwarf was so proud."

"Pardon?"

"Nothing. Never mind."

Hillen smiled and sheathed the sword.

"Please convey my thanks to the Demon King."

"Yes, I will. Oh, and..."

"There's more?"

"He asked you to send chocolates and candy back with me."

"Chocolates too?"

"Yes."

"I remember giving him an enormous amount..."

Several huge bundles, in fact. Even eating one a day, they should have lasted years.

"The Demon King does have a tendency to hand them out rather freely..."

"I gave them to him so he could grow closer to the princesses, but it seems he's been befriending everyone in the tower. Did you receive some too?"

"... Yes."

That was a good sign. An elf accepting chocolates from a Demon King without hesitation meant they had grown that much closer. It felt as though the tower, built by forcibly gathering different races together, was beginning to fit together piece by piece.

"Wait just a moment. I already have some prepared."

"Thank you."

It happened then.

"Hillen Cargiiiill!"

A booming voice rang throughout the detached palace.

"You can't just barge in here!"

"Let go! Are you going to let go or not?"

An anxious voice followed.

"... That voice?"

"Roselle Charnt?"

"So that's where you are!"

BANG!

With the sound of running footsteps, the door burst open. Red hair streamed in the breeze. Upon spotting Hillen, the red eye sharpened like a hawk's.

"Found you."

"What do you think you're doing, turning up out of nowhere like this?"

"Surely we're close enough for this?"

"And just how close are we?"

"Very close friends who've even beaten a Demon King together."

Roselle Charnt smiled. It was such an ominous smile that Hillen could not return it. Valuable connections were always among the things he sought, and an archmage who held the title of Star and bore seven engravings was certainly one of them. Still, he felt uneasy because he instinctively knew she had not come to him with innocent intentions.

"Please mind your manners. Her Highness the Crown Princess is present."

So he used the Crown Princess as a shield. Ernyan's gaze stung, but he blinked desperately at her, pleading for help.

"The Crown Princess?"

"A pleasure to meet you, Lady Roselle."

Ernyan rose from her seat.

"I'm Ernyan Hilderan. Is this our first time meeting in person?"

"Your Highness, the Crown Princess of Hilderan? I never imagined you would be here."

"I've come as Hilderan's representative to assist with the hero's journey. I was discussing matters with Sir Hillen. May I ask why you interrupted our conversation, Lady Roselle?"

Roselle, who had been about to press Hillen, flinched at the sudden chill.

"Uh..."

It wasn't because she thought she must not offend Hilderan's future queen. The look in Ernyan's eyes and her presence made Roselle realize that she was by no means beneath her.

'So that's why they keep calling her a genius.'

How old was the Crown Princess again? Still in her twenties, as far as Roselle knew. Her thirst for that pure blood deepened further.

"I'm sorry. I've been rude."

"I accept your apology."

"I'm looking for someone."

"Someone?"

"Do you mean me?"

"Not you, Hillen Cargill. Someone you know."

"Who would that be?"

"A man named Pale."

"Pale?"

Ernyan and Hillen exchanged glances.

'Pale is Lord Berge, isn't he?'

'Yes, Lord Berge.'

"Why are you looking for Pale?"

"Because I need him."

"May I ask why?"

"This is a matter between Hillen and me."

"But you're the one who barged into my conversation with Hillen. And I know Pale as well."

"You do, Your Highness?"

"Is there something wrong with that?"

Roselle swallowed a groan. Ernyan showed no sign of backing down, and she was right: Roselle was the uninvited guest.

'It should be fine to tell her.'

It wasn't exactly a secret.

"There is a contract between Pale and His Highness the Fifth Prince of our kingdom."

"A contract?"

Ernyan looked at Hillen.

"Yes, there is. A formal agreement for Akan to purchase Lord Pale's blood."

"Why?"

Hillen shielded his mouth from Roselle and exaggerated the movements of his lips.

'Because of the Phoenix.'

'Ah.'

Ernyan nodded. She had heard about it. Berge had absorbed a Phoenix's corpse, making his mana so pure that mages went wild over it, hadn't they?

However...

"That contract isn't binding. If Lord Pale offers his blood, they buy it. If he doesn't, they don't. That was the agreement from the start. There is no reason for you to come looking for me just to find him..."

"That's what I'm saying!"

Roselle shouted.

"I want to carry out that contract. I need that blood right now!"

"Lady Roselle, being unreasonable won't get you anywhere. Lord Pale..."

"I'll pay! Shut up and take my money! That bastard loved money like crazy when I met him!"

She roared.

* * *

Rather than growing angry at the disrespect toward Berge, Ernyan thought she could use Roselle's desperation.

"Desperate people will do anything to get what they want."

And there was no substitute for Berge's blood. No one else had consumed a Phoenix's corpse.

"That's certainly true, but what are you plotting?"

"Exactly what you're thinking, Sir Hillen?"

"That's..."

That was insane!

Hillen barely managed to swallow the words rising in his throat.

"... Impossible."

"Why?"

"This is Roselle Charnt. Akan's hero, its champion. She's always led the charge in slaying demons. Surely she would never serve Lord Berge, who has made her taste bitter defeat time and again."

Berge himself wasn't even the issue. A hero serving a Demon King went against all common sense.

"Then aren't you a hero, Sir Hillen?"

"... My circumstances were different."

He had been captured by a Demon King and forced to make that choice to survive.

"Wasn't it the same for you, Your Highness?"

"No, I volunteered."

"..."

"Anyway, we simply have to put her in the same situation you were in. Roselle Charnt will certainly participate in the real hero's journey. If we turn a Star like her into the Demon King's servant, wouldn't that make things much easier for him?"

"... Sometimes I can't tell whether you're human or a demon, Your Highness."

"That's hardly something for the self-proclaimed most faithful servant of the Demon King to say. Besides, what does it matter whether I'm a demon or a human?"

Humans had killed far more humans than demons ever had.

"I don't judge people by good and evil. I judge them by whether they're mine or not."

"Am I one of your people, Your Highness?"

"You're the Demon King's servant and my knight."

"... What a relief."

"And think about it. If we tell Lady Roselle no, will she simply nod and let it go?"

"... Indeed."

That convinced him at once.

"Then what is your plan, Your Highness?"

"It's simple. If she wants blood, we give her blood. If she wants to find Lord Berge, we bring her before him."

"You intend to set a trap so Lord Berge can capture her?"

"Yes. He'll handle the rest himself. He's the one who took you as his servant and created the Four Heavenly Kings, after all."

"... Your Highness created the Four Heavenly Kings, not the Demon King..."

"Let's skip the minor details. Lady Roselle is waiting, isn't she?"

They had left Roselle Charnt in the office and entered a small inner room. Using the excuse that they needed to ask Pale what he wanted, they had erected a mana barrier to block out sound.

"There is one problem."

"What is it?"

"If Roselle Charnt disappears after meeting us last, suspicion will..."

"It could fall on us. That's why I'm planning to use Erjest. That's where he met Akan's Fifth Prince as well, so she'll accept it if we give her a suitable explanation."

Demon King or no Demon King, it was dangerous terrain where even a Star could not afford to be careless. Others might suspect them, but they could not be certain the two had deliberately laid a trap to kill Roselle. That would be enough. No one would be bold enough to go after the greatest hero apart from Balaf and the Crown Princess of a powerful nation like Hilderan on uncertain grounds, nor would any nation be foolish enough to incur such losses unnecessarily.

"That's far too optimistic. Considering Roselle Charnt's value to Akan, we must account for more than that."

"The Demon King can persuade her and send her back out."

"You're certain he can?"

"Did you ever imagine, even once, that you would become the Demon King's servant, Sir Hillen? I consider you a greater hero than Lady Roselle."

She meant that if even Hillen had become a servant, someone like Roselle could hardly avoid it.

"... I'm truly glad I'm your knight, Your Highness."

"I'm glad you're my knight too, Sir Hillen."

Ernyan opened the door and stepped out. Roselle's face brightened at her return.

"What did he say?"

"He says he'll meet you. But he can't travel at the moment, so if you want to see him, you'll have to go to him."

"That's no problem at all."

Roselle nodded.

"But I wouldn't recommend it."

"Why not?"

"Because it's dangerous."

"I am Roselle Charnt."

"It's Erjest. No matter how formidable you are, Lady Roselle, you can't afford to be careless there. That's why I'd prefer you to wait until Lord Pale returns. Half a year should do it."

"You want me to wait half a year?"

That was absurd. In half a year, the hero's journey would be long over.

"I can't do that."

"Then I have a condition."

"Please tell me."

"Stop by Akan before you leave and make your destination clear. If something happens to you after meeting us, who do you think will fall under suspicion?"

"Understood."

A short while later, having learned the location, Roselle Charnt hurried away.

"Now, shall we report to the Demon King?"

* * *

"You're sending Roselle Charnt?"

『No, I've already sent her.』

"So you've arranged for Roselle Charnt to come to my tower soon?"

『No, to northwestern Erjest.』

"Why?"

『Because she's looking for you. More precisely, for you under the identity of 'Pale.'』

『She didn't seem likely to back down easily. She looked desperate, as though something was chasing her. She would have tried to find you by any means necessary.』

And above all...

『There's a good chance she knows about the 'real' hero's journey.』

"So you're telling me to..."

『Make her your servant. Just as you did with Master Logger and Sir Hillen.』

The reason she had specifically cited Logger and Hillen rather than his other servants was simple.

『You possess what Lady Roselle desperately wants.』

The utterly pure fire mana he possessed from consuming the Phoenix's corpse. The dragon blood he had obtained from the dragon's corpse.

『Mages, especially high-ranking ones, have something in common with dwarven craftsmen.』

"You mean their obsession and madness?"

『Exactly.』

Berge nodded.

"I'll gratefully accept your gift."