Reincarnated Devil's Strongest Hero Training Plan ~The baby he picked up has grown up so well that his father is confused~ - Chapter 81
Reincarnated Devil’s Strongest Hero Training Plan ~The baby he picked up has grown up so well that his father is confused~
Chapter 81 Inside the stone
Ars, who embodies the golden radiance not only in his eyes but throughout his entire body as an aura. Mermel, who had been accompanied by a large number of enemies, had disappeared without a trace, and it seemed that all of them had been scattered, as there were no longer any humans chasing after them. Saying “bye-bye,” she seemed to have gone somewhere.
However, now more important than that was Ars, who was enveloped in this golden aura, in a clearly different awakened state than usual.
“You did great, Ars… As expected of my disciple, cough…”
“Don’t push yourself too hard, Gaius. Even if it’s to deceive the enemy, those wounds must be quite painful. Leave the rest to me. Besides, I’m angry right now…”
To seize the opportunity presented by Tokoyami’s magical constraints, which required her to prioritize separating the second prince from Amanda and protecting the prince’s life.
Gaius, who feigned defeat for two reasons, confirmed the success of the plan and aimed his thumb at Ars, who continued to maintain the mysterious awakened state.
Despite suffering major injuries himself, he was an unyielding giant.
“I’m fine around here. I didn’t just get stabbed for nothing, you know. There’s a warrior’s secret technique called ‘internal organ shifting.’ Like this, temporarily relocating vital organs within the body…”
“Okay, okay. I got it, so just rest quietly. And also…”
Ars, who embodied the golden radiance not only in his eyes but throughout his entire body as an aura. Glancing at Tokoyami, who was momentarily bewildered and dumbfounded, as Gaius, still eager to start the lesson as a teacher and a warrior, was quite incredulous.
Then something unexpected happened. For a brief moment, Ars’ golden eyes sparkled intensely, and Tokoyami, who was being stared at by Ars, realized that the magical contract that should have bound him had been “broken.”
“W-What is this!? What did you do, young man…!?”
“Yeah. I’m starting to understand how to use the power of these eyes little by little. I guess this is what Mermel called the ‘Brave Engine.’ It’s the power of wishes. It’s amazing, but it’s a bit scary too. If you misuse it, it’s a terrifying power…”
The power of the eyes, the Brave Engine. The true nature of the “power of wishes” that Mermel had spoken of was still unknown, but it seemed that this power’s effects were influenced by intense emotions.
Whether it was turning Amanda’s restraints into sand or breaking Tokoyami’s magical contract, if it was all due to the “intense anger” of Ars at the moment, then there could be no more terrifying power.
The actions of Ars, who had been involved in every act that made him angry, such as framing his own mother, resisting the man who was trying to save her, and being bound by the curse named a contract until now, stirred his emotions intensely, temporarily triggering an awakened state as a manifestation of strong wishful power.
But it seemed that the contract binding Tokoyami had been broken, and the Second Prince, who had been certain of his victory, now found himself in dire straits, further losing his composure.
“W-Who are you?! And why did the binding magical tool turn into sand…!? What is that golden eye!? I don’t understand… I don’t understand, I don’t understand, I don’t understand!! Why, why, why now, when everything was supposed to go smoothly, do nothing but obstacles appear!?”
In the face of such a situation, he forgot that he was in dire straits, and in his frenzy, he tore at his hair.
He was no longer aware that the enemy was right beside him, just screaming, “Why did I fail, why?!” The eyes reflected his glory, which he should have obtained, and the murky, distorted, hideous desires. Just a little more, everything was supposed to be in his grasp, just a little more, it was supposed to be his victory. With madness creeping in, his eyes glared around, full of insanity.
“What’s going on here?! I thought by intimidating Tokoyami, weakening Father with poison, and eliminating the need for anyone to be wary, including the beautiful and capable Twilight, I could easily make even her obedient like a pet and stand at the pinnacle of this country! Why…! I don’t understand, I don’t understand you all!!”
“Huh? What a pathetic weakling. Is this the kind of person claiming to be royalty in this country? Pathetic.”
Seeing the pitiful state of the Second Prince, the undercover agents guarding the iron door fainted, and Hades, who was already in spectator mode, grimaced.
Even though she remained the Crown Princess of the Demon Realm, she couldn’t help but feel that if one were to claim royal status, they should maintain their pride to the end.
However, from the Second Prince’s perspective, he knew nothing of Hades’ circumstances. All he saw were developments not going his way, useless subordinates, and interfering meddlers.
Inherently arrogant, he couldn’t accept the reality of the situation or consider that he might be at fault. Hence, he couldn’t come to terms with reality and had to resort to his final option in this dire situation.
“Heh heh heh… I see, I see. If you’re so determined to hinder me to this extent, then I won’t stop you. Ah, it’s a defeat. Indeed, at this moment, you have the upper hand. But ultimately, I will be the one to win. Someday, I’ll make you regret ever interfering with me…”
Leaving behind such cryptic words amidst the perplexed expressions around him, he took out a blue, translucent gem from his pocket. The gem clearly contained abnormal magical power as a magical tool, indicating it was some sort of trump card.
If there had been someone knowledgeable about magical tools rather than just magic present, the situation might have been different. Unfortunately, among those present, no one clearly understood the effects of this magical tool.
Therefore, everyone braced themselves to handle the unpredictable situation, but among them, there was one who moved to prevent the Second Prince from activating the magical tool.
“I’m sorry, but before you activate that, I’ll have to take you down… Brave Blade!”
In the next moment, Ars condensed the golden aura into the form of a long sword, piercing through the prince’s heart.
“You won’t have another chance. It ends here.”
“You… you fool…”
It was already a fatal blow, unlike the wound on Gaius’s abdomen. With damage to his heart, there was nothing he could do, collapsing to the floor while coughing up blood.
It was a rather anticlimactic end for a prince of a magical kingdom, but with this, the matter was settled.
◇
After Ars and the others resolved everything, at the former Dark Guild headquarters where no one remained.
The second prince, who had collapsed from a fatal wound, twitched his fingers and spat out a large amount of blood from his mouth, regaining consciousness.
“Hah…! That was close. I never thought the constant healing magic item I had prepared just in case would come in handy. Well, if my head had been completely severed and I was dead, there would have been no chance of revival… This time, I owe my life to that blond guy’s incompetence.”
Immediately after being pierced through the chest, the second prince, Freid, whose protective magic item had activated, spoke. Though his consciousness had completely faded at that moment, his life hadn’t been snuffed out, and the effect of the constantly healing magical item had gradually closed his wound, allowing him to escape from the brink.
However, even as he made this assessment, it was likely that his brother, the first prince, already knew about the vicinity of this Dark Guild, and there should be surveillance as well. Walking away from this place and escaping seemed utterly impossible.
Thinking this, the second prince retrieved a new gemstone from his pocket and grinned.
“Ah, here it is. With this one I swiped from the treasury, there’s still a chance for a comeback. Farewell, nuisances. The next time we meet, I’ll sharpen the fangs of revenge and trample you along with this country. Spend your remaining days cowering in fear of my shadow. Hehe, I’m looking forward to it.”
-Activate National Treasure Class Magical Artifact, Emergency Teleportation!-
With that, as he activated the gemstone, the second prince, Freid, vanished from the country without a trace.
Except for a certain low-class demon’s clone that had been silently observing the proceedings…
◇
“…”
Where am I?
It’s dark, I can’t see anything.
Where in the world am I…
I understand that I used the teleportation gem stolen from the royal treasury as a last resort to escape somewhere, but could it be that I ended up teleporting into a cave without moonlight?
Damn, if that’s the case, I’ll have to start by figuring out where I am, and it will take quite some time to retrieve my assets hidden in various Dark Guilds across the country.
Seriously, between the nuisances and the teleportation destination, nothing is going my way.
Well, that magical item is meant for emergencies and can’t specify a location, so I guess that’s just how it is…
Wait a minute, that doesn’t make sense either.
Then why can’t I move?
Something’s not right.
What’s going on?
“Hey there. Are you awake, Prince Freid? I knew you’d resort to teleportation as a last resort when cornered by my son, so I decided to fix your teleportation destination inside a stone wall like this. How are you doing? Oh, you don’t have to answer. I’m just speaking to you unilaterally through your soul.”
What?
What is this mysterious voice saying?
And I’m inside a stone wall?
“Hey…!”
“Cut the jokes!”
“Release me from here right now!”
“Eh, what should I do? But if I release you, you’ll just cause trouble again, won’t you? Besides, I, as a low-ranking demon, still keep my promises. For the sake of my wife, Elsa, I feel like I need to settle things here properly.”
“Elsa, you say!?
Wait, could that be Twilight?!
I see, you wanted to dominate that woman too and enjoy everything to your heart’s content. I get it!
And then I became a hindrance, so you’re getting your revenge like this…
Then I won’t lay a finger on that woman anymore!
Of course, not on you either!
So please, won’t you let me out of here!?”
“You fool. Why should I accept such condescending conditions from you? And more importantly, what’s in it for me? Sleep in your bed of lies, you despicable scum. From now on, you’ll reflect for eternity inside this wall. …Well, rest assured, when your consciousness is worn down and nearly gone, I’ll come to devour your soul. Farewell.”
“W-Wait!
Don’t leave me here like this!
To live in eternity within these walls where I can’t do anything, see anything, feel anything—is that the living hell you want me to endure?!
Hey!
Please, say something!
I beg you!
It’s my fault!
Someone, anyone, please rescue me…
Please, someone…
Anyone…”