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 3

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 3    Winners and Losers

In the backyard of the magic castle on the southern continent, surrounded by nature.

The son of the hero who saved the world, Abel, and the son of the sword saint, Granbelt, faced each other with wooden swords.

The adults and the fire dragon Ballus, who were cheering on these childhood friends, seemed very interested in the match. Especially Kakyu, who did not want to miss this much-anticipated first match between the childhood friends, had prepared a magic camera to record the video.

Fortunately, the children, who were concentrating on every move of their opponents, didn’t notice this and thus were spared any unnecessary tension. In fact, it could be said that knowing this, Kakyu was boldly snapping photos in broad daylight.

“Do your best, Abel. Granbelt is a very talented knight-in-training, but I’m sure this mock battle will be a great experience for you. Go all out.”

“That’s right, Abel. You are the son of me and Ars. Don’t worry about the results, just have confidence. Just be yourself.”

“Y-yes! I will definitely win! …Alright!”

Just before the mock battle began, Abel, who was nervously facing his first match, thought his parents’ words were advice on how to win and somehow managed to respond.

Ars and Hades didn’t care much about the outcome of the match; they were just hoping Abel would gain something from the experience. However, it seems Abel didn’t understand this.

As soon as this conversation was overheard, Kakyu, who had been smiling broadly and snapping photos, narrowed his eyes slightly, becoming more serious.

He probably sensed the mismatch between what the parents and child were feeling and hoping for.

And knowing what this meant, having once raised Ars, he had some thoughts on the matter.

“…Father? What’s wrong?”

“…No, it’s nothing. Continue the match. Sorry for interrupting.”

Ars noticed the change in his father Kakyu’s mood, who had stopped cheerfully snapping photos and had become more serious, but Kakyu didn’t intend to explain his thoughts at that moment.

There was no point in bringing it up just as the mock battle was about to begin, and he judged that Ars, who had grown into a mature adult surpassing him, was not a child to be taught and explained everything to.

The only one of the children not participating in the mock battle, Ekina, made a small, uninterested complaint with a seemingly disinterested expression.

“Ars and the others expect so much from Abel. He doesn’t have any talent at all, they should be more considerate…”

Her small complaint, said so that no one could hear, gently dissolved into the air.

The oddly perceptive Ekina was aware of her own situation.

She understood that as a mere child, even if she said such things, the adults would not take her seriously.

And in a way, this was correct, except for one person who didn’t miss her complaint.

“You’re a kind one, aren’t you?”

“I-I wasn’t talking to you, Dad… And stop eavesdropping!”

“Don’t be shy, don’t be shy. You’re so adorable.”

He was probably happy about his daughter’s feelings of caring for her family and friends. Kakyu, who accurately understood the situation, ruffled his daughter’s hair, and his sharp gaze softened as he gently watched over the mock battle.

“Are you ready? It’s about to start, Abel.”

“Y-yeah! Come at me anytime, Granbelt!”

And thus began the first match.

Granelt, who inherited his father’s sword skills, smoothly moved his wooden sword and struck at his opponent with a flowing motion.

Naturally, as this was his first mock battle with his childhood friend, he assumed his opponent had equal or even greater skill. He knew he had inherited talents from his mother, a saint, and his father, a sword saint, and was aware that these made him exceptional among his peers.

However, his opponent was Abel, the son of the legendary hero and the princess of the demon realm. His father, Ein, had said that no one in this world could defeat the current hero, Ars, head-on. Granbelt respected his father too much to attack lightly.

The son of the hero who saved the world. Granbelt, as the first prince of the Holy Kingdom and the child of heroes, understood deeply the pressure, responsibility, and significance of this title, even at his young age.

Therefore, he delivered an all-out strike. He knew that even his full strength might not be enough against Abel. Still, he intended to use his father’s recreation of the sword saint’s techniques as if borrowing Abel’s chest.

He unleashed the first step of the sword saint’s style, a technique called “Rhythmless.”

“──── Rhythmless”

“Wha- so fast!”

In an instant, Granbelt’s lightning-fast wooden sword struck Abel’s torso, sending him flying with tremendous force.

Abel, unable to comprehend what had happened, fell to the ground unconscious before he could even realize he had lost.

The match was decisively over.

“Heh. It seems that at this point, my son is a step ahead, Ars.”

“Ah, hahaha…”

“Well, at this rate, it might be my son’s turn to lose next time.”

Since they had trained together in countless mock battles in the past, they didn’t judge their sons based on the results of this one match. Winning and losing are common occurrences, but what matters most is what they can learn from the match.

However, a win is still a win. Happy that his son had done well, Ein, uncharacteristically, let a sly grin slip across his usually serious face.

“Hey, are you alright, Abel?”

“Ugh… Grandpa…”

“It was a good match. In the last moment, you completely saw through Granbelt’s strike with your eyes, didn’t you? Grandpa was impressed. Abel, you’re amazing.”

“Really? Hehe, but I got a bit careless.”

Kakyu lifted the unconscious Abel, encouraging him and casting a light healing spell to restore him instantly. Not only Kakyu but also the other adults noticed that Abel had completely seen through the ” Rhythmless ” strike.

It was just that his body hadn’t yet caught up with his keen eyesight, and he was defeated before he could react. Although he lost this time, if he used this experience to keep improving, the next match could be different. Kakyu wanted to convey that there was no need to be discouraged, but not everyone understood this.

“What… What a disgrace…”

“Huh?”

“Abel, do you understand? This mock battle was not just a friendly match. It was to determine if you are worthy of carrying the future of this world, which my parents and I have protected! And you say you got careless…?”

Granbelt, furious, closed in on his childhood friend. Ars and Ein, who hadn’t taken the match that seriously, averted their eyes awkwardly. Hades even nudged Ars with his elbow, asking silently how they should handle this situation.

However, Granbelt had a point. Despite feeling the weight of his royal status, he trained himself to the limit every day, determined not to disgrace his great parents and believing he could one day reach their level. This was why he spoke as he did.

Even if the five-year-old himself couldn’t articulate it clearly, the feeling lay dormant in his heart. And the elders and tutors of the Calamiera Holy Nation constantly told him, “It’s because you’re such a worthy prince that we can entrust you with the future.”

He had received many teachings from his father and others to prepare for this mock battle, striving to meet their expectations.

“So he fought seriously, and genuinely acknowledges Abel as a comrade who bears the future just like him.

Yet, hearing him say ‘I got careless and lost’ in this important exchange match was something he simply couldn’t accept.”

This may be a difference in educational philosophy.

Granbelt, born into the royal family with great responsibilities from birth, while Ars and Hades raised their sons as normal, happy members of an ordinary family without burdening them excessively.

Therefore, there was a feeling that they should approach this exchange match casually, just as they once competed with their sworn friend Ein. Even Ein, who initiated the match, seemed to think so.

It was this difference in perception that stimulated his anger.

Of course, no one is at fault.

On one side, there’s the sense of responsibility felt with each match, and on the other, the mentality of competing while striving to win.

Both sides have their reasons.

However, Abel, who respects his parents just like Granbelt, seems to have felt the burden and anger of a prince much more.

“…………”

“Hey! Where are you going, Abel?! … Geez, can’t be helped. I’ll go fetch that kid Abel back, so you guys wait here.”

“Yeah, take care.”

Suddenly darting off, Abel ran out of the magic castle and into the forest, followed by Ekina who chased after him.

Like Kakyu, Ekina half expected this to happen, muttering complaints like “I told you so!” while genuinely worrying.

Truly, she’s a little devil who manipulates Father Kakyu with her cuteness every day.

Despite being only five years old, she’s remarkably perceptive of the nuances of people’s hearts.

By the way, unbeknownst to the two boys and girls, a lower-class demon they sent off saying “Take care” was secretly following them from the shadows, while a little kid lying on the roof watching them chase after each other exclaimed “FHOOOOO!”—but they didn’t know.

Or rather, they were acting to ensure it wouldn’t be known.

Because, after all, children’s adventures always begin like this.