Chapter 95

Lighting the magical device on the side table, I woke Diethelm.

“Mmm… mmm…”

Letting out a breath that made me doubt if he was really a prince, Diethelm slowly opened his eyes. His deep green eyes wandered for a moment before they widened and fixed on us, and he took a deep breath as if to scream. At that moment, Basten thrust his spear forward.

“Don’t make a fuss. I don’t like noise…”

“W-Who are you… Do you know I’m the Fourth Prince, Diethelm?”

“My name is Kent Kokub. I am the Demon King summoned by your sister, Camilla, from another world.”

If Camilla thinks I’m the Demon King, I might as well act the part. Folding my arms, I stood by the bedside and looked down at Diethelm, speaking solemnly. I tried to act as if I were playing a fake version of myself in Japan.

“Demon King? That’s ridiculous…”

“Can’t you believe it even after seeing this situation?”

Surrounded by Reinhardt and the others, as well as Zae and the others, Diethelm swallowed hard and shook his head.

“Camilla was trying to bind me with various schemes, but she realized it was all in vain and became my subordinate.”

“You’re lying. There’s no way my sister would submit to someone like you…”

“Hmph, for me, it’s like twisting a baby’s hand. If you want, I can trample Camilla right in front of you.”

“Trample my sister… N-no, I won’t allow it.”

Hmm? I thought he would immediately protest when I said I’d trample Camilla, but the pause was a bit concerning. Still, let’s move on with the story.

“You won’t allow it? You don’t need your permission. Do you think you can stop me?”

Spreading my arms to show off my subordinates, I watched as Diethelm looked around frantically. Surrounded by the strong lizardmen and with Basten’s spear pointed at him, he couldn’t do anything. After a deep breath, he looked back at me and spoke.

“I’ll be your substitute. So, please don’t harm my sister…”

“Huh? Wait, wait, a substitute?”

“The Demon King will rape anyone, regardless of gender, if they like… I’ll offer my body in place of my sister…”

“Wait, wait, I don’t have that kind of fetish, and stop, you idiot prince!”

Diethelm suddenly started unbuttoning his pajamas, and his exposed white shoulders were so alluring that I felt a bit flustered. Without thinking, I stepped forward and slapped him on the head.

“It hurts, y-yeah, of course, not in a hidden place like this, but in front of the people… It hurts!”

“Are you serious? You’re just like your idiot sister. What kind of education did you receive?”

The idea that he would rape anyone, regardless of gender, made me wonder if the past Demon Kings were that cruel or if the royal family’s education was that bad. It seemed both the siblings had some strange desires.

“So, what do you plan to do with me?”

Holding the collar of his disheveled white pajamas with one hand, Diethelm looked up at me with teary eyes, and I felt a bit flustered, which I won’t tell the committee president.

“You will become my puppet and rule Reisenburg in my place.”

“Eh… I, I will rule Reisenburg…”

“Yes, you will be the next king.”

Looking down at Diethelm, I pointed at him and declared. I expected him to be happy about inheriting the throne, but he lowered his head and looked at his hands.

“It’s impossible… I can’t be a king.”

“Huh… You don’t want to be a king? Is it fine if those foolish step-brothers become king?”

“Well, I do want to be a king. I want to think more about the people and work for them. But… I’m weak… I’m not as strong as my sister…”

Looking at Diethelm, I felt a bit irritated, as if I was seeing a younger version of myself. Of course, I wasn’t as handsome, but I felt inferior and moped around, just like Diethelm now.

“You’re weak, so you can’t do it… You’re not as strong as Camilla, so you’re running away, aren’t you?”

“That’s not true. If I had a healthy body, I would aim to be a king.”

“Then there’s no problem. You can become a king as my puppet!”

“But I can’t!”

“Are you a fool who doesn’t even know the state of your own body?”

“Eh… Eh, no, why… I don’t feel any pain…”

Finally realizing his condition was improving, Diethelm opened his eyes wide and touched his chest and stomach to confirm.

“I infused my dark power into your body. You did say that if you had a healthy body, you would aim to be a king… If you swear loyalty to me, I will help you become a king.”

“Can you really do that…?”

“I am the Demon King. Making you a king or destroying you is within my power.”

Of course, I can’t easily make Diethelm king, but a bit of bluffing is necessary.

“Don’t you want to be a king who thinks about the people?”

“I do… I want to think about the people and be strong like my sister…”

“Then swear to become my puppet. Your respected sister has already knelt before me and sworn loyalty.”

“My sister knelt… Is it true?”

Diethelm seems a bit, or rather, quite siscon. I think he’s probably shocked, but the slightly blissful expression on his face is a bit concerning.

“You can doubt, but the truth is always one. What will you do?”

“I… I…”

Diethelm, determined, got out of bed, knelt before me, and bowed his head.

“I, Diethelm Reisenburg, swear loyalty to the Demon King Kent Kokub. Please, lend me your power to become a king.”

“Hmph, I will lend you my power. However, if you forget your concern for the people, I will destroy you without mercy. Be prepared for that.”

“I will not go against the Demon King’s will.”

“Good. Then, your first order…”

“Yes, please give me any order.”

Diethelm bowed his head solemnly.

“Diethelm, your first order is to act sick.”

“Eh, after you made me healthy, I have to pretend to be sick?”

“That’s right. It seems you were poisoned.”

“Eh! No, that’s impossible… This is the district where my mother lives, and all the cooks were chosen by her… Could it be… my mother…?”

“Don’t panic. Even if they were chosen without any ill intent, they might later be recruited by other factions. Don’t lose your composure. A future king can’t afford to do that.”

“Yes, I apologize.”

“Basten, command the kobolds to search for any suspicious individuals.”

“Understood. The Third Princess seems to be fine, so it’s likely that only Diethelm is the target. We should be able to find them quickly.”

Holding his spear, Basten nodded and responded, and Diethelm spoke up.

“Demon King, if a suspicious person is found, please inform me. I will stop their breathing with my own hands.”

Seeing Diethelm eagerly suggest this, I felt a bit irritated. While I might be too peaceful, in this world, it’s correct to kill those who oppose you like Camilla, but I can’t get used to it.

“Is that what you think a king who cares for the people would do?”

“Eh, why?”

“Would you kill someone so easily if they were suspicious?”

“Those who poison the royal family deserve death.”

It seems Diethelm thinks the same way as Camilla.

“Would you kill them without investigating the reason? What if they were forced to do it because their family was taken hostage? Would you still kill them? Would those who commit crimes no longer be citizens of Reisenburg?”

“Well, that… but…”

“Killing someone just because they were found to have poisoned you… Wouldn’t that just play into the hands of the mastermind?”

Diethelm, who had eagerly suggested this, lowered his head and fell silent, thinking.

“If you want to be a king, show a broad-minded attitude. If they were forced to poison you, shouldn’t the one who threatened them be punished? Extending a hand to help those who were threatened is the true form of a king.”

“Demon King…”

Diethelm raised his head, eyes wide… up to that point, it was fine, but then he opened his mouth slightly and blushed, which seemed a bit off…

“Demon King…”

“What is it?”

“I was wrong. A king must be strong, strict, and have a broad and kind heart.”

“Of course… Killing indiscriminately isn’t strength.”

“Yes… Demon King… I will follow you for life.”

“Umm… Yes…”

Being looked at with teary, upturned eyes made my back feel uncomfortable. Can you stop that?

“Anyway, act properly. If you’re found out, the mastermind won’t be revealed, and they might use a lethal dose of poison next time. Got it?”

“Yes, as you command…”

“Hmm… I’m a bit worried. Try acting now.”

“Yes, then…”

After thinking for a moment, Diethelm furrowed his brow and started breathing shallowly and irregularly. He was probably recalling his usual self, but he looked even more unhealthy than I imagined. This should be fine, but it’s a bit too alluring.

“Yeah, that’s good. If you act too much, you might be found out. Try to do it well.”

“Yes, as you command…”

The aftereffects of his acting made me feel very uncomfortable.

“Then, I’ll go back…”

“Are you leaving already? You could stay here…”

“No, I’m busy!”

“Yes, I apologize.”

Taking advantage of Diethelm’s bow, I dove into the shadow world.

‘What’s with Diethelm…’

‘The Fourth Prince will also join Kent-sama’s harem…’

‘No way! That’s impossible!’

I immediately rejected Fred’s comment.

‘Kent-sama, male love is not uncommon among the nobles of Reisenburg.’

‘What are you saying, Reinhardt?’

‘But, Kent-sama, from the Fourth Prince’s behavior, it seems more like he has feelings for you rather than showing loyalty to the king…’

‘Ugh… Really?’

When I was in Japan, I might not have noticed, but after receiving affection from Manon, the committee president, and Beatrice, I can somewhat tell the difference in gazes. Indeed, Basten’s observation seemed correct.

‘No way. If Diethelm joins the harem, what will the committee president and the others say… Just thinking about it is scary.’

‘Kent-sama, I don’t know now, but in our time, male and female love were considered separate, so there were fewer conflicts between wives and lovers.’

‘No, no, in our world, understanding of same-sex relationships is growing, but it’s not that open. Besides, I can understand why he might have feelings for me if I trample Camilla, but why me?’

‘Probably, the Fourth Prince’s heart is filled with conflicting feelings of love and hate for Camilla. When you said you would trample Camilla, he showed a moment of joy.’

‘That means Diethelm wants Camilla to be trampled by me?’

‘He probably imagines himself trampling Camilla. The fantasy of a weak self making a strong sister submit…’

‘Hmm… I can somewhat understand his feelings because of that despicable Camilla, but it’s still strange to have feelings for me. It seems his desire to realize what he can’t achieve himself has taken a different direction.’

‘Hmm… He seems quite twisted… Should I reconsider making him king…’

‘But, Kent-sama, you intend to make Camilla pay for her sins, right? If the Fourth Prince is not suitable, you will have to become king.’

‘No, no, that’s not an option. I’m not cut out to be a king.’

If my classmates return, I plan to stay in Volzard and enjoy a carefree adventurer’s life. I want to explore dungeons and other cities in Lanzhelt. I have no intention of taking on the troublesome job of being a king.

‘Then, Kent-sama, you will have to educate and make him a king.’

‘Eh… But, that’s the only option…’

Since I’ve come all the way to the