"Treatment of the Vein"
That someone had seen a human who resembled Berze—
It wasn't suspicion. Not even close.
Armand had said he sensed no aura from the man other than pure mana.
A Demon King would never be like that.
It was merely a "strange little incident worth mentioning."
Reina was distressed after the collapse of her carefully planned scheme, and Berze was the only one she felt comfortable speaking with.
That was all.
And yet—
"It was the snowfields. I'm sure of it."
Why was he in the snowfields?
Why did he lie?
"Are you truly certain it was the snowfields, Your Majesty?"
"Without a doubt."
"Ergest also receives heavy snowfall. At higher elevations, it snows year-round, just like the snowfields. And although mountainous, it does have some flat terrain."
"Is that so? Yes… that must be it."
Reina forced herself to nod.
Yes— logically, that explanation made far more sense.
She was clearly stressed by Armand's failure and the appearance of a human who resembled Berze.
"But… does Ergest have a snowfield wide enough to show a visible horizon?"
"…That…"
Nina could not answer right away.
"..."
"..."
Silence lingered.
"…What did Demon King Berze look like?"
"As usual."
He was exactly the Demon King he always was.
Besides, Demon King communicators only worked through demonic energy.
"I don't think it's possible. It makes no sense. And yet…"
Once doubt began to bloom, it didn't fade easily.
"Even if it was the snowfields, if it were within Your Majesty's domain, you would have sensed it."
If it were still outside her territory, then there was no major issue.
Nina wasn't wrong.
"No."
But Reina shook her head.
"If it was the snowfields, then he lied to me."
He said it wasn't the snowfields even though it was.
A pact— an alliance— is built on mutual trust.
Berze had said so, and Reina believed the same.
But Berze had broken that trust.
"It is taboo for another Demon King to approach a Demon King's domain without permission. Even if it wasn't your domain, it was close. If he had told the truth— that he came near your territory— how would you have reacted?"
"I wouldn't have reacted well. So you're saying he wanted to hide it."
"That is my thought."
"That is no excuse."
"But since it was not your territory, it is not a crime."
That was true. There was nothing inherently wrong— and if he hid it simply to avoid unnecessary friction, she could understand.
But the question remained:
Why?
"Why would he step into the snowfields?"
"For what purpose?"
"With what intent?"
The questions piled upon one another.
"Is there a royal of the Empire nearby?"
"No Imperial royalty has traveled north recently."
"Then…"
Why did Draxon's words suddenly return to her mind?
The upper demonkin who had trespassed.
What if it hadn't been an upper demonkin—
but a Demon King?
What if it had been Berze?
Reina thought deeply. Nina did the same.
"…Perhaps…"
After a long pause, Nina spoke hesitantly.
"Perhaps?"
"It might truly be because of monsters."
"Monsters?"
"Yes. Demon King Berze said he left to gather monsters as subordinates. What if that was true? It's just that it wasn't Ergest— but the snowfields."
"Why the snowfields?"
"Ergest and the snowfields share similar environments— cold, snowy. But the natural environments of mountain and plains differ. Different monsters live there. Perhaps… he had his eyes on a different type."
"That is a ridiculous reason."
"Is it?"
"But for now… I cannot think of a more plausible one."
Reina stroked her chin.
"…Monsters, hm."
It might be true, or it might not.
But since the excuse came from Berze's own mouth first, it made for a very convenient reason to approach him.
"I should probe him—see how he reacts."
Using monsters as the pretext.
***
Unaware that Reina Sordein was beginning to doubt him, Berze returned to the south.
In some ways, the south was even more chaotic than the north.
"It's war!"
"The Southern Alliance and the Empire clashed in the Philerium Mountain Range!"
The Empire and the Alliance tried to hide the existence of the mana-stone mine— the sweetest treasure imaginable— but as tensions escalated, complete secrecy became impossible.
Rumors of the mana-stone mine spread, and armies from both sides gathered around the Philerium Mountains.
"The Empire invaded Southern Alliance territory and is plundering natural resources! They ambushed Prince Pablo Barkat during his resource survey!"
"We will punish the Empire for their treachery and reclaim the Alliance's stolen land!"
This was the Southern Alliance's claim.
"The Southern Alliance invaded Imperial land and covets the Empire's resources."
"They led an army to ambush Imperial forces and claim victimhood only because they are weaker."
"The Empire will not be swayed by their lies, nor will we surrender a single inch of Imperial soil."
This was the Jespine Empire's claim.
The reasons no longer mattered.
The two sides had already clashed— and the mana-stone mine, a delicious fruit, now hung before them.
Neither side would let go willingly.
"Delightful."
The chaos in the north was nearly forgotten amid this flood of pleasant news.
"So, what's the situation now?"
"Uh, Demon King, my mage cannons…"
"I buried them well in the snowfields. Just answer the question."
"Prince Pablo is— wait, what? What do you mean you buried them in the snowfields?"
"Figure it out yourself."
"…Ernan? Please tell me he doesn't mean what I think he means."
"...…."
Ernan avoided Logar's eyes.
The dwarf clung to her desperately, and she pushed him away with a spirit.
"Lady Ernan!"
"I don't know anything!"
"At least tell me whether my children—my cannons—are alive!"
"…If I had to choose… the 'death' side is probably closer…"
"That— that's impossible…! D-do you know what it took for me to send them…!"
Logar collapsed to his knees.
Berze clicked his tongue and looked to the elves.
"Annoying creature. You explain."
"Yes, Demon King. The Southern Alliance, led again by Pablo Barkat, launched another assault on the mine."
This time, it was nothing like the previous rushed attempt.
They gathered elites from each kingdom, expanding their forces even at the cost of horrific casualties inflicted by monsters.
Though not every kingdom's finest had gathered, the army was formidable.
"The Empire fought well, but the mine was taken."
"Oh?"
"The Empire retreated and immediately sent reinforcements to reclaim it, but they failed twice. That is the current situation."
"So for now, the Southern Alliance is ahead."
The Alliance lost the first battle defending the mine, but reclaimed it in the rematch—
and won the subsequent conflict as well.
"What's the mood?"
"After losing three times, the Empire is being cautious. Ten Imperial knight orders have gathered at the Philerium border, and more continue to arrive. They are recruiting mercenaries and mobilizing noble armies. They have no intention of backing down."
"And the Southern Alliance?"
"The same. Additional forces from each kingdom are arriving in Barkat and immediately heading to the mine. Both sides are ignoring casualties entirely."
"Interesting."
"At this rate, it may escalate into a full-scale war."
"I see."
Exactly the outcome he wanted.
But at this pace, it might take longer than expected— he might need to purchase several more portable towers.
Then he caught the calm expressions of the elves.
"Doesn't this trouble you? You all side with humans, don't you?"
"We side with elves, not humans. Their war is theirs alone."
"And we swore an oath to the World Tree. For the next hundred years, unless something threatens the Tree, our loyalty belongs to you, Demon King."
As expected.
This was why elves were worth employing.
Berze whistled.
"Good thing I planted them around the mine."
Just imagining how much negative energy had collected in the portable towers delighted him— and imagining how much more would gather was even more satisfying.
But it was too early to relax.
Yes, Berze's intervention had driven the conflict into extremes.
But the importance of the mana-stone mine existed regardless of his involvement.
So why had the Southern Alliance abandoned it so easily before his regression?
It wasn't easy. There were several battles, and they simply never managed to take the mine, so they eventually gave up.
But compared to now, that was nothing.
There's something there.
And Jayson Cockmundo was almost certainly involved.
What had he done?
What could have made the Southern Alliance withdraw from such a colossal resource?
Does he have connections with the Alliance kings?
Or the Empire? Did he negotiate with Imperial nobles?
No— more fundamentally—
Why stop it at all?
Why end this, of all things?
This golden chance to obtain immense demonic energy?
Was there something I didn't know?
He had no answer.
Back then, he hadn't cared about the war.
Because Ugar was involved.
And Berze hadn't been desperate enough to steal someone else's bread— nor was that his nature.
Berze shook his head.
No need to dwell on useless thoughts. That was the past. The present is different.
The future had already changed.
There was no point fearing something that might not even happen.
And even if it did, he could deal with it then.
For now—
"Any elf with a clever idea to drive their war further?"
One could never have too many options.
***
Imperial Capital
"Interesting."
A man savored a pink-hued fruit wine.
In the north, the Demon King of Frost was stirring.
In the south, the Southern Alliance clashed with the Empire.
And both sides suffered losses.
As a citizen of the Empire, he should have been displeased—
yet he was genuinely delighted.
Count Mainz continued his report carefully.
"The Chernian Border Duke has submitted his official report on the situation and the Demon King of Frost."
"In summary?"
"That the Frost faction is strong enough to wipe out at least the entire northern Empire."
"Terrifying."
The man shuddered—then shrugged lightly.
"What's the likelihood the Frost Demon King will run rampant?"
"Extremely low. Even after Gillian Aint's scheme, she returned many survivors. It signals she desires peace."
"Then leave the matter to the Border Duke for now."
"Yes, sir."
"The Southern front?"
"They lost the vein to the enemy's surprise attack. They attempted to reclaim it twice but failed both times."
"They smear filth on the Empire's honor. Utter incompetents."
The man poured his wine onto the floor.
"Now the wine tastes worse."
"I'll refill your glass."
He offered the empty cup.
The count poured fresh wine.
"Still, it's not entirely bad news. The southern border duke follows Floyan."
"Yes."
"Suddenly the wine tastes sweet again."
"Border Duke Ersian is preparing a counterattack. He will want to reclaim the mine to restore his tarnished honor and achieve merit, so he can strengthen his position in the central court."
"That won't do. We can't allow that."
He clicked his tongue.
"What do you think? Is the vein worth anything?"
"We still don't know the exact scale."
"And?"
"Unless the reserves are overwhelmingly vast, it's not a particularly valuable vein."
"And why is that?"
"Because it is in the Philerium Mountains. Philerium remains largely untouched by human hands. The terrain is harsh, and monsters are everywhere. It's true that the Southern Alliance inflicted significant damage on us in the three battles, but the monsters' damage was nearly as great."
"Hm."
"Even fully armed armies on a single forward march suffered heavy losses. Imagine what mining operations would look like."
When those losses were taken into account, could it truly be called economically viable?
"Then you believe we should abandon it?"
"I wouldn't say we should, but there's no need to cling to it at the cost of such heavy casualties. Unlike the Southern Alliance, the Empire has multiple mana-stone mines."
"That is true."
The man nodded.
"Then we bury the matter."
"You intend to yield the vein to the Southern Alliance?"
"No, of course not. We can't let those ant-like rodents profit. I merely want it left so that no one can use it. Yes, just as it has always been."
"I obey."
"And how? The Empire's honor has already been scratched. We'll be forced to reclaim it somehow."
He wasn't asking out of ignorance.
His gaze, sharp with curiosity, tested the count.
"We'll restore the Empire's honor and spread word of the mine's worthlessness."
"Not bad. But those ant-rats won't sit still."
"Then… may we use the other vein—the one the lake informed us of?"
"That's precisely why it told us. So that I can use this war however I wish, and end it whenever I choose."
The man poured more wine onto the floor.
"While taking what I want from the war as well."
The Empire had seized the vein, and the Southern Alliance had immediately stormed in.
There was no way that was coincidence.
"Arrogant brat. To think he can use the Empire?"
"Everything he does is cunning. But this time, it's undeniably beneficial."
"Indeed. Floyan underestimates the Southern Alliance. They are not as weak as he thinks."
This outcome was both predicted and desired.
"Still, it's a waste to simply hand it to them."
"You must look at the larger picture."
"Yes… of course."
He nodded slowly.
"I suppose I'll have to step in myself."
"Yes."
"Then so be it."
The man poured himself another drink.
"Even the demons who eat away at the world have their uses sometimes."
This glass tasted sweeter than the last.
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