A Horrible Hybrid
He did not know exactly what words were exchanged, or how.
It was nothing more than a sudden notification—
an entirely one-sided announcement from the Empire.
A mana-stone lode was discovered in the Philerium Mountains.
The Southern Alliance illegally occupied Imperial territory, but the Empire reclaimed the lode.
However, due to the special environment of Philerium and its poor economic value, the Empire had decided not to develop the lode immediately.
And the Southern Alliance raised no objections.
They simply withdrew their troops and returned to their respective lands.
Nowhere in the Empire's statement was there any mention of the Red Dragon Knights' retreat.
No—according to the Empire, they had not even been deployed in the first place.
"Unbelievable."
To think things would turn out like this.
"Do the Imperial bastards have no pride? The Red Dragon Knights were beaten. Their commander was injured. And they're ending it like this?"
"Because their commander was injured."
"What?"
"If it were just an ordinary knight wounded, it'd be fine. The opponent is Pablo Barkat, after all. Even the Empire's Dragons aren't invincible. But the commander wasn't on the verge of death."
The weight of an ordinary knight and the commander of the Red Dragon Knights was worlds apart.
Just as an ordinary knight order was nothing compared to the Dragon Orders of the Empire.
Such was the power of symbolism.
"And besides, my lord Demon King—there was third-party interference. From their perspective, that's probably the biggest reason."
"I must've gone too wild…"
If he had known it would end like this, he wouldn't have shown off at the end.
His excessive enthusiasm had become a misstep.
After regression, he had thought he could do anything he wanted—
yet somehow, nothing went as he wished.
This matter, and Hillen…
"Retrieve the makeshift towers. We're withdrawing."
The Demon King returned to the Tower.
***
[1,513,514pt]
These were the demonic energy points he had gained from the clash between the Empire and the Southern Alliance.
For a mere battle involving only a few hundred troops, it was an incredible amount. Their hatred, murderous intent, and fury toward one another had been deeper—and of higher quality.
Adding the demonic energy stored in the original Tower, plus the constant flow of negativity coming from Hilde, Jespine, and others—
[5,135,110pt]
At last, he had enough to summon a single Balrog.
In just a little over a year—an incredibly fast pace.
No… even 'incredible' isn't enough.
If he included the demonic energy he had handed over to Jayson Corkmund in exchange for money, the total was even more astonishing.
He checked the Tower's condition for the first time in a while.
***
[Tower Master – Berze Deias
Deputy Tower Master – Gordon Dairik
Floors – 5]
[Affiliated Members]
Demons – Dark Elf, Gordon Dairik
Demonic Creatures – Feral Orc, Kurutu
Monsters – None]
[1st Floor – Dwarf Hero, Logar
2nd Floor – None
3rd Floor – Princess of Hilde, Elena Hilde
4th Floor – Princess of Hilde, Ernan Hilde
– Imperial Princess of Jespine, Kaede Jespine
– Elf of the Maple Tribe, Charlotte
– Elf of the Old Tree Tribe, Nania
– Elf of the Old Tree Tribe …
5th Floor – Demon King's Floor]
***
Kaede Jespine and Elena Hilde—who had consumed Arman's Orb—and even the elves who had sworn upon the World Tree were all recognized as members of the Tower.
A Tower that once housed only Berze and Gordon was now bustling.
It was ironic—there were more humans and elves than demons.
In the past, such a thing would have been unimaginable.
He would have slaughtered every last one of them and converted them into demonic energy points, scoffing at the idea of letting "worms of the Middle Realm" into his Tower.
"Whoa, is this something that shows the Tower's information?"
Perhaps because he had checked the status the moment he entered without thinking, Ernan—walking behind him—noticed and brightened.
Well, it shouldn't be a problem.
It wasn't a secret anyway, and even if she knew, she had no authority to do anything with the information.
"Yes."
"The arrangement is strange."
"What do you mean?"
"The Four Demon Generals should be arranged floor by floor from weakest to strongest—"
"Not even worth considering."
Four Demon Generals?
He had played along a little and she thought he was serious.
Am I the weird one, or is she the weird one?
Judging by Kaede's horrified reaction earlier—it was definitely the latter.
"Ah, you're here?"
After walking slowly through a labyrinth that wasn't even a labyrinth, the workshop came into view. Logar, who had been resting rather than hammering, greeted them.
"Hello, Demon King."
"..."
The princess missing a screw somewhere waved cheerfully, while the kidnapped golem-master cowered with fear, bowing stiffly.
"How's the progress?"
"Not within a few days, but within a few months, I'm confident I can show you what you want. Princess Lavinia has been a great help."
"My contribution."
Lavinia cleared her throat proudly and held out both hands politely.
"Demonic creature."
"You entrusted it to her?"
"The core."
"The tail is payment enough. Do you even understand what that is? It belongs to the Demon King. You'd have to work here a hundred more years and it still wouldn't be enough."
"..."
Lavinia puffed out her cheeks in a sulky pout.
What was this—
was she protesting, demanding her cheeks be smacked or something?
Berze's expression twisted sharply.
"Chimera."
"You want to make a chimera?"
"Yes."
"Just finish the golem."
"If I make it. Demon King."
"You'll make one and give it to me?"
"Yes."
"Princess!"
Lavinia nodded. The golem artificer recoiled in horror.
"You mustn't! What on earth are you thinking?!"
He was so frantic that he even forgot the Demon King was standing right there.
"I like making things."
"No, no matter how much you like making—ugh!"
Berze threw the golem artificer far across the room.
"So you simply enjoy the act of creating itself."
"Yes."
"And once you finish something, you don't get attached?"
"No. Here. Like."
"You mean chimeras would like it here more?"
"Yes."
That was obvious.
Chimeras were, in the end, living creatures altered from demons, demonic beasts, or monsters to suit human tastes. Their essence never changed, so of course they would prefer a Tower full of demonic energy.
"Cher."
"Cher said so."
Cher—that was the Titan Chimera's name, wasn't it?
She wants to convert demonic beasts into chimeras for me?
Judging by Cher, her skill was unquestionable.
If he remade demonic beasts into chimeras and added them to the Tower's roster, they would be…
…quite useful.
Tempting.
Still, he shouldn't decide too hastily.
"I'll think about it. Oh, did you attach the tail to Cher?"
"Yes!"
Lavinia's face brightened instantly.
"Cher, slim."
"'Slim'?"
"Yes!"
"A horrifying hybrid, truly."
She had actually attached a succubus's tail to a Titan.
A Titan without thick muscles—it was like attaching a dwarf's stubby legs to an elf.
No one but Lavinia Acan could have conceived such a grotesque idea.
"I'd like to see him."
"Cher, sad face. Won't listen."
"Of course he won't."
"But handsome."
"Handsome?"
"Yes."
"I'm sorry, but a Titan's sense of beauty is the exact opposite of a human's."
They did not prefer delicate beauty—they loved rugged brutality.
From Cher's perspective, he had become ugly, with a bizarre tail tacked onto him overnight.
"Ah…?"
Lavinia Acan blinked blankly as if she had never once considered this.
Berze gave a short laugh and ascended to the upper floor.
There he found Cher hunched in a corner, back turned, curled up in misery.
"You."
Krk…?
The creature slowly turned his head.
Sensing the Demon King's presence, he instinctively bowed.
Berze flinched.
"By the heavens— is that truly the Titan?"
Ernan was stunned.
The tail, originally sized for a human, had grown proportionally to match the Titan's five-meter frame.
The massive appendage wriggling down his backside was unsettling, but Berze found something else far more notable.
This is actually… pretty good…
Succubi and incubi were creatures of seduction.
They lured the opposite sex and drained vitality.
Naturally, in order to seduce, they evolved into beings of exceptional beauty. That was their advantage.
Vivian, one of the absolute queens of all succubi, bore the title of "Queen."
Which meant that among all succubi across the world, she was considered one of the greatest beauties.
And therefore—
Her tail enhanced appearance by its very nature.
Cher's appearance had changed considerably.
His muscles had not fully disappeared, but the brutish, ogre-like bulk was gone.
Not quite an incubus… more like an oversized vampire?
Balanced, refined—almost handsome.
Vampires, while not as alluring as incubi, still possessed considerable beauty.
Of course, to a Titan, this was monstrous.
Berze patted Cher's back.
"Stay strong."
Krk—
His tear-filled eyes reflected Berze.
A mischievous thought crossed the Demon King's mind.
I want to show this to Ugar.
Ugar, one of the highest-ranking Titans—
what reaction would he show upon seeing this?
Would he try to kill Cher for being a disgrace to their race?
Or would he simply refuse to accept reality?
Anyway…
Berze stroked his chin.
Just as Ernan said… she truly has skill.
Even for a chimera artisan, attaching the Demon King's tail so naturally to a Titan was extraordinary.
He found himself sincerely impressed by the human—no, by Lavinia Acan's craftsmanship.
I should consider this seriously.
Not just as a joke—
populating the Tower with reinforced chimeras might be a worthwhile strategy.
***
Hillen stepped onto pristine white snow.
Fresh flakes fell from above, covering his footprints.
A sight he had grown used to by now.
Two weeks already…
His grand plan—to turn the Tower of the Frost Demon King into his hunting ground—had failed.
Gillian lost an arm, five northern tribes were annihilated, and Hillen Cargill barely escaped with his life.
A painful experience, but one that made him realize just how far he still had to go.
"You've come? Come inside."
The attendant—now somewhat familiar—opened the door.
A table laden with extravagant dishes awaited.
At the head sat the Margrave, surrounded by his nobles and retainers.
"Come in."
"Thank you for inviting me."
"You always say that. Isn't it time you relaxed a little?"
"This is comfortable for me."
"Good grief, you stubborn thing."
"Take a seat."
He whispered softly.
As always, Hillen sat at the place second closest to the Margrave—the seat reserved for the Margrave's direct heir.
It showed exactly how highly the Margrave regarded him.
"Welcome."
The Margrave's eldest son greeted him.
Hillen responded with a polite smile.
"Now that we're all here—let's eat."
The Margrave lifted his knife and fork; the meal began.
Hillen silently chewed a salad.
I never imagined it would come to this when it all began…
Berze had fled, yet the Margrave did not grow angry. He merely asked for the reason, listened, accepted it, and continued to treat Hillen with his utmost sincerity.
Just as Hillen had done, the Margrave also wished to maintain a mutually beneficial relationship.
Not bad at all.
Of course, it was still a bilateral contract where clear compensation was exchanged.
But relationships like that were only possible when there was trust between both parties.
In that sense, the two weeks he spent in the North had been immensely valuable.
"Ah, Father—there's some interesting news from the South."
The Margrave's eldest son spoke. The Margrave gestured for him to continue.
"What is it?"
"You are aware that the homeland clashed with the Southern Alliance recently."
"I heard a mana-stone lode was discovered in the Philerium Mountains."
"Yes. The Empire initially secured the lode, but the Alliance launched a surprise attack, after which a fierce struggle took place. Ultimately, the Empire won, but due to monsters and harsh conditions, they deemed it economically unviable and decided not to mine it."
"Is this not already known?"
"Isn't it strange? They say the war ended after the Southern Alliance withdrew, but a mana-stone lode isn't something you just give up. The Empire has several mines, yes—but the Alliance does not. They fought to the death for it, yet folded their tails after a single defeat far too easily."
"That is true."
"But I heard the Southern Alliance actually proposed reconciliation first."
"After losing?"
"No—before the lode was taken back."
"Before? That is indeed strange."
Securing a base in Philerium—a treacherous land—was a major advantage.
Why would they voluntarily abandon it and declare surrender?
Especially when the prize was a mana-stone lode.
"Perhaps the monsters in Philerium were worse than expected."
The Margrave murmured. That was the normal assumption.
"No. There is another reason."
"Another reason?"
"Yes. I heard it from the eldest son of Viscount Tights…"
Viscount Tights was a Southern noble.
He owned several mines and merchant guilds and had long-standing ties with the Chernian Margrave.
"He said that on that battlefield, a third party intervened—someone neither from the Empire nor from the Southern Alliance."
"Demons, I presume."
Battlefields called for blood.
And demons desired blood.
It was common for demons to fan the flames whenever war arose.
"At first, that was my thought too, but apparently that's not the case."
"Not the case?"
"My young lord, please stop dragging it out and speak plainly. This old man will die from the frustration."
At the retainer's scolding, he continued.
"One of them invoked the name of a god."
"...!"
"...!"
"…Surely those cockroaches aren't still alive?"
"That is impossible to know for certain. But once the name of a god is invoked, they clearly decided it cannot be ignored."
The nobles' expressions darkened.
Hmm…
"It must be one of three things."
The Margrave chewed a piece of steak and muttered after a moment of thought.
"One—someone used deception to confuse both the Empire and the Alliance."
"Two—the actual cockroaches truly survived and schemed."
"Three—the Demon King used fanatics."
Whichever it was—
"Anyone who dares make light of the Empire must be crushed. Completely. The Southern Alliance made the right choice."
A cold, lethal aura filled the room.
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