Torture the hero, why has the Demon King's castle collapsed again?

Across the blazing campfire, a mercenary wearing a cloak adorned with the insignia of his mercenary group beamed with delight, waving a gray trade slip in his hand:

"Someone has hired us for a huge sum of money to sabotage an item in the Dragon Hidden Mountains! The offer is higher than all our previous orders combined!"

"Once this deal is done... everyone can go back to their hometowns to get married!"

Inside the tent, the mercenary group's leader, the infamous "Wolf," lazily sipped his strong liquor.

It wasn't until he heard the price per unit from his subordinate that he began to pay attention: "Dragon Hidden Mountains? What's so special about that godforsaken place that we should bother with it?"

If it weren't for the rather attractive price and the 20% deposit that was already in hand, the wolf would have thought this was a naive sting operation by the Royal Knights.

"I don't know." The mercenary wiped the sweat from his excitement as he ran all the way. "But the employer said that during the mission... we might encounter obstacles from heroes!"

The campfire suddenly went silent.

Only the scorching air remained, shifting and distorting... Inside the tent, all the mercenaries put down their wine glasses, their eyes falling silent.

"The hero... the strongest hero in human history, Mino's sister?"

The wolf muttered under its breath.

He stood up, looked at his men around him, and saw the same thing he had in their eyes.

Looking at the crowd, the wolf said loudly:

"We are a notorious and ruthless mercenary group! We're greedy for money and will do anything to get away with anything! Even if we live right in the heart of the kingdom, under the noses of those corrupt nobles, they can't do anything to us!!!"

The wolf spread its arms, its eyes gleaming with excited fire: "But do they think we're really only after money and blood? Wrong! Completely wrong!!!"

"What we want is an infamy that is utterly wicked! A fear that will spread throughout the entire continent!"

"Are you afraid of anything?!"

"Don't be afraid!!!"

None of the mercenaries present felt fear upon hearing the name of the hero; instead, they were filled with unprecedented excitement and malice.

“Very good!” The wolf nodded, a cold glint in its eyes.

"A hero who hasn't yet received blessings is the best lamb in the eyes of wolves. Cutting off the head of a hero favored by a goddess will surely... make our infamy shake the entire continent!!!"

"Whoa!!!" The arena erupted in cheers, the mercenaries' eyes gleaming with bloodlust, their laughter wild and unrestrained.

They are a group of inhuman madmen who disregard life and death; nothing can make them lose their wolfish nature.

The wolf stepped out of the tent, glancing at the rattling trap bells around him. He knew that those weak and powerless paladins would once again be so arrogant and presumptuous as to trespass into their territory. A cruel, cold smile curled at the corner of his lips.

"You... can no longer satisfy me, just wait and see—"

He turned around, looked at the black, bloodthirsty wolf on the tent, and murmured:

"The one cloaked in 'wolf' will bring unprecedented...fear to all the people of the kingdom."

……

"This is a cloak made by dwarven craftsmanship that can completely conceal your 'features,' making it impossible for people to tell your height, voice, gender, temperament... all external characteristics."

"Put it on, and once you activate the Blood Crystal Stone to gain temporary and powerful strength, you can wipe out the Wolf Mercenary Group."

“I will secretly gather all the commoners from the outskirts of the capital to witness the moment you lift your cloak hood—”

Inside a dark house in the slums, Dane accepted the gray-black cloak handed to him by Thanaus.

"Those dwarves with the most forging skills? What a grand gesture..."

Dane nodded. Only nobles at the Grand Duke level could obtain such rare items.

"But does it have to be this complicated?" Dane wondered why it was necessary to put on the cloak in advance.

"Don't forget, I also have a group of senior scholars within the palace behind me; they are the experts at attracting the goddess's attention—"

Thanaus spoke with his usual composure: "The methods of the Hero Awakening Ceremony and the conferment of titles were developed by them."

You can think of it as a pointer.

"pointer?"

"Yes, the goddess's gaze first falls on the 'Hero's Mark' that matches the hero's abilities, and only secondly on the person who owns the Hero's Mark."

"But the 'Mark of the Hero' is merely a product of the awakening ritual. If something else with the same effect as the mark appears, won't the goddess's gaze... really not shift to it?"

"You mean... the misunderstanding that the people have of me as a 'hero' is also similar to the mark of a hero?" Dane became excited.

No one knows how much of a green shadow was cast on his heart by the Brave Mark that Shana, the one who got the win by lying down, had taken away...

"No wonder, no wonder I had to put on the cloak first. That way, I wouldn't be Grand Duke's adopted son, Dane, but rather a 'potential hero'!"

Dane understood completely.

It can be said that the Wolf Mercenary Group, the Dragon Clan's false contract information, and the Dwarf Clan's cloak were all carefully laid stepping stones for Dane!

“I understand, Your Grace.” A wicked smile spread across Dane’s lips as he donned his cloak.

"I will stage the most spectacular... fake drama on the Dragon Hidden Mountains!"

Just you wait, everyone!

Atop the Dragon Hidden Mountains, a true... Dark Warrior will be born!

……

The capital city, the library.

Scholars' lounge.

Knock knock knock—A knock came from the door. Astrid, who was sitting at her desk, suddenly looked up like a thief, her eyes flashing with fear.

"Who?!" Astrid asked timidly, her voice trembling with fear.

"I—" The familiar voice made Astrid's heart sink, and her face turned pale... In the end, she was still discovered?

Pushing open the door, seeing Otta's serious and solemn face, Astrid stretched out her hands, her face ashen:

"I am guilty, I confess."

"Huh?" Otta was slightly taken aback. "Scholar Astrid, you wouldn't... write fanfiction about me again, would you?"

"Huh?" Astrid looked up suddenly, stunned—wasn't Ota here to capture her after discovering her demon identity?

Looking behind Ota, and seeing no knights following except for Minister Tus, Astrid immediately relaxed. Then, she looked at Prince Ota with great joy and nodded vigorously!

"Yes! That's right! I plead guilty!"

"You, you," Ota shook his head helplessly, but he was in no mood to dwell on it now.

“Scholar Astrid, I have come today to seek your help.”

"Help?" Astrid asked, puzzled.

"I'm sure you've heard about the Frost Dragon King's arrival in the capital a few days ago. I've already dealt with the contract matter, and everything should proceed smoothly... except—"

Ota raised his head, his eyes revealing the wisdom of a king:

"This is an unprecedented opportunity! A deeper collaboration with the Dragon King might allow us to... borrow another dragon rider!"

"Therefore, I need to further understand the habits and preferences of the dragons, and on the day of our contact, I need to find a way to persuade them to assist humanity once again!"

"This is inseparable from your help, erudite scholar from the capital."

Ota's tone was full of bright hope, revealing his grand ambitions as a king.

He turned his head and looked at Astrid with hope.

"Scholar Astrid, you will take this crucial step for humanity, won't you?"

Chapter 107 The Red-Haired Wife of Akarin Village

“I…I…” Astrid was stunned.

She, a wicked and corrupt demon? Helping humanity? Isn't something wrong?

Although the kingdom's library does indeed contain many ancient cryptic texts, from which some knowledge that even Svir knows very little can be deciphered, is she really going to give away useful information to aid the enemy?

Her timid nature made her hesitant to refuse, so she lowered her head, avoiding eye contact with Prince Ota. But then, remembering her dignity as a demon, she couldn't help but raise her head to meet Ota's gaze, only to quickly lower it again under his imposing stare... and so on.

"Great! You agreed!" Ota was overjoyed.

"Huh?" Astrid's eyes widened.

“Scholar Astrid, please share your research on dragons. I believe your information will not disappoint us,” Minister Tus asked from behind.

She had seen some scattered records about the dragons in a few secretarial books in the kingdom's library, which might actually be of some help to Ota and the others.

Astrid looked troubled. If these people really got the dragons' help, wouldn't the demons be in an uproar?!

But if he fabricated false information that wasn't recorded in the library's collection, and Ota found out, then his identity as a mole would be confirmed.

Just then, Astrid's little head suddenly had a brilliant idea!

Aha! All I need to do is provide some irrelevant, completely impossible information, and that will do!

“I remember now!” Astrid’s eyes lit up and she said.

She glanced at Prince Ota and Minister Tus, and then spoke in detail as she recalled:

"Some ancient scrolls record that in ancient times, pure-blooded dragons also received the help of goddesses, but unlike us, they called goddesses 'Your Majesty'."

"In the hearts of most pure-blooded dragons, the goddess still holds an unparalleled and supreme position."

"Such a thing actually happened..."

Hearing this for the first time, Ota opened his mouth, then looked puzzled:

"But why is that pure-blooded Calestron King still so indifferent to the humans favored by the goddess?"

"Ultimately, the idea that humans are favored by the goddess is just our own interpretation," Minister Tus said with a wry smile.

"After all, even we chosen heroes are merely 'those watched over by the goddess,' while the dragons at the top of the continent probably have more opportunities to hear the goddess's guidance."

"It was only because of his reputation as a dragon slayer that Mino was truly recognized by the dragon race."

Astrid nodded: "So, I think the only way for you, for us humans, to get closer to the dragons is probably by using the goddess's name."

"What should we do if we're not even good enough to be considered a hero..." Ota was somewhat troubled.

Even as a member of the royal family, he was "not even as good as Mino" in Calest's eyes. He couldn't think of anyone else who could be closer to the goddess.