Reincarnated Devil's Strongest Hero Training Plan ~The baby he picked up has grown up so well that his father is confused~ - Volume 2 Chapter 14

Reincarnated Devil’s Strongest Hero Training Plan ~The baby he picked up has grown up so well that his father is confused~

Volume 2 Chapter 14   The Prince’s Troubles

In the central kingdom of the Western Continent, the Calamiera Church, within the imperial palace.

Half a month after the mock battle with Abel, Granbelt had been devoting himself to his studies and training, as if to either distract himself from or dispel his worries.

While his changes were appropriate for a prince in the eyes of his tutor and attendants, his father, Ein, who saw through the persistent cloud over his son’s heart, decided to take over the contact with his son from the busy current Pope, Isha.

Despite knocking on the door as a formality, Ein sent the waiting maid outside, opting to speak to his son one-on-one.

“What’s wrong? You look so troubled. This isn’t the expression of a five-year-old. Or is it that you’re still not satisfied with the result of that mock battle, Granbelt?”

“Father… I mean, it’s just that…”

It was likely a hit on the mark.

Granbelt, who usually brightened up at the sight of his revered father Ein and responded with impeccable manners, now appeared visibly off-balance, his usual sharpness missing.

Though he maintained respect by kneeling and observing formalities as per his position as the son of the Pope and captain of the royal guard, his face clearly displayed his troubles.

Granbelt seemed to realize that hiding his feelings was pointless.

Believing that his respected father Ein might have the answers he sought, Granbelt decided to confide in him about his worries.

The dissatisfaction he felt from Abel’s performance in the mock battle. And the educational policies of the hero Ars and the Demon Princess Hades, who seemed to endorse it.

Was he, who respected his mother and father and strived to become someone who could be entrusted with the future, truly on the right path?

Understanding his son’s suffering after listening to his troubles, Ein felt regret for having let Granbelt endure such pain for the past half-month. Though he wanted to blame himself for being a failed father, he knew that now was not the time for self-reproach.

What was truly needed was to save his son’s spirit and help him look forward.

“Tell me, Granbelt. Why do you think my rival, the hero Ars, who is hailed as the strongest hero and the greatest legend, was able to save the world?”

“Isn’t it because the hero’s power was the greatest in the world, surpassing even the Demon King?”

“That’s not it.”

Ein, speaking decisively, looked into his son’s eyes with heartfelt emotion.

It was likely the first time Granbelt had seen such an emotional side of his father.

Shaken by the challenge to his previously held beliefs about strength, Granbelt, despite his confusion, listened intently to his father’s words.

“If it were just about individual strength, the Demon King would undoubtedly have been superior. Of course, our party still had options, and if necessary, the hero Ars would have found another way to stop the Demon King. But either way, it was never something that could be achieved by just the hero alone or by just my party in the final battle at the Demon King’s castle.”

So what was the deciding factor?

His father, Ein, explained the answer.

The reason the hero could defeat the Demon King and save not just the human world but the entire world was because Ars’s journey moved the hearts of people everywhere, uniting them. This included even the Demon King’s own heart. The gentle courage of Ars, who had done everything he could to protect others, lit courage in people’s hearts, and that courage in turn gave the hero strength to overcome the malice of the Demon World.

Had the hero not moved the Demon King’s heart or united the people, achieving this peaceful world would have been impossible.

It was a hypothesis, but even if the hero had defeated the Demon King without touching his heart, attacks from the Demon World might have continued in the future. Alternatively, if the hearts of the people hadn’t been united, there would have been tremendous damage to the human world, leading to a cycle of resentment and hatred.

All these unhappy outcomes were avoided, and this peaceful, loving era was reached solely because of the gentle courage possessed by the hero.

“Listen, Granbelt. What heroes defeat is not just someone evil. What the hero’s sword truly cuts through is the sad future where someone has to cry. My ally, the greatest hero in the world, Ars, strained every muscle to protect everyone’s future. And—”

—The symbol of peace born between that hero and the Demon Princess.

—Your childhood friend, Abel, also harbors the same kind of kind courage, perhaps more than anyone else.

With that, Ein concluded, reflecting that the explanation might have been a bit too difficult for his son, but feeling he had conveyed what needed to be said.

Certainly, not everything his father wanted to express had been fully understood. However, the feelings, the passion, were certainly received.

Having listened to the conversation, Granbelt, who seemed to have realized something, looked at his own hands with a new, strong resolve, his eyes filled with determination.

“It seems you’ve grasped something, Granbelt.”

“Yes… So that’s why Abel is… And Ms. Ekina is…”

“Ha… You seem to be fine now. Well, take your time to think things through.”

Understanding that Granbelt had grasped something, his father Ein turned on his heel and left his son’s room.

However, as Granbelt muttered about people’s roles, things only certain people could do, and what only he himself could do, it was probably just a figment of Ein’s imagination.

Despite his son’s precociousness and brilliance making him smile wryly, Ein felt satisfied with his son’s proper growth and looked forward to the future with hope.

Perhaps this next generation, these children who are taking on the world-saving mantle, might find something even greater and more valuable than what they themselves had achieved. That was what Ein thought.

—And the next day.

“Mother!! Father!! I have a special request!!”

“Oh, what is it, Granbelt? You seem very energetic today. Isn’t that right, Ein? Have you been hiding something from me?”

“No, it must be just your imagination, Isha. You have a tendency to think everyone is trying to involve themselves in everything, it’s one of your bad habits.”

During breakfast, Isha suspected something from her son’s sudden outburst, but Ein easily brushed off her suspicion.

It had become almost a tradition at the Calamiera Castle for the two to engage in these light-hearted squabbles.

Though, no one had pointed it out until now.

“Excuse me for interrupting your squabble, but please listen to me!!”

“Wh-what did you just say, Granbelt? Did you just—”

“Ku ku ku… Well done, Granbelt. It seems you’ve matured a bit.”

Isha, who had been caught off guard by Granbelt’s unexpected assertiveness, nearly spat out her drink. Her eyes widened in astonishment, realizing something must have happened yesterday, but she decided to hear her son’s request.

“Please, I beg you! Could I have permission to increase my free time and accompany Abel and Miss Ekina on their adventure?!”

“Oh? An adventure? Where did you get that information?”

“Last night. Lord Kakyu, Miss Ekina’s father, visited the bedroom and told me most of the details!”

According to Granbelt, a lower-class demon who visited in the middle of the night said something like, “It seems like a good time, so let me tell you some interesting information. Bwahahaha!” and then went on to share various details before leaving.

Upon hearing this, Isha and Ein placed their hands on their foreheads and seemed to come to an understanding with an expression that said, “Not that person again…”

Granbelt tilted his head in confusion but had no ill feelings towards the meddlesome lower-class demon who had given him important information about Ekina. In fact, he thought Miss Ekina’s father was a wonderful person.

“Well, if that person is recommending your journey, it should turn out to be a valuable experience…”

“Yeah, I suppose. Though, it does make me a bit uneasy, as it seems like it might end up being a more challenging experience than expected…”

And so, after a formal discussion with the high-ranking officials as a form of performance, the Calamiera Royal Family decided to grant the First Prince increased free time. They looked forward to his future growth.