Chapter 84

### Chapter 84: The Crown Prince (3)

The Crown Prince sensed something was off, but due to his drunken state, he couldn't think clearly.

"You'd better take my warning to heart! I never speak lightly!"

While listening to the Crown Prince's drunken rant, Damian began to whittle a club with his dagger.

"I hate it when people meddle in my business! So, you better not say a word to me!"

The thick, crude club quickly transformed into a hexagonal bat.

"Who would ever fit in with my father's moldy way of thinking? I absolutely won't do it!"

Next, Damian smoothed out the handle, carving it to fit comfortably in his hand.

"I'll say this one more time! Get out by tomorrow, or else..."

"It's done."

Damian gave the completed hexagonal bat a light swing. It felt good in his hand, and the sound it made was refreshing. Even though he had whittled it himself, it was perfect.

"You little brat... How dare you cut me off? Do you want to die? Hey!"

Oliver Apple bellowed. Damian looked at him for a moment before speaking.

"I understand the Crown Prince's feelings well, for I was once a troublemaker myself."

At this, Oliver Apple flinched. His fierce eyes softened slightly.

"Wh-what? Really?"

"Of course. I understand the Crown Prince's feelings very well, better than anyone."

Damian nodded repeatedly.

"It feels like the whole world is oppressing me, and I hate it when people point out my flaws."

"Y-yeah! How did you know... Yeah, you were just like me, right?"

"It only feels like I'm free when I drink, like I'm liberated, like my thirst is quenched."

"Exactly! That's exactly how I felt!"

"I know. I understand everything."

No one in the kingdom truly understood Oliver Apple. They were only focused on making sure the future king made no mistakes.

Oliver Apple's heart had become increasingly closed off.

Thinking that Damian truly understood him, Oliver Apple's face lit up with emotion.

"Damn it! I've been waiting for someone like you!"

Oliver Apple, moved, tried to embrace Damian.

At that moment, Damian realized something.

He was hitting Oliver Apple's palm with the hexagonal bat.

"Why have you been doing that all along?"

"Crown Prince, people like us can never change on our own."

"Wh-what?"

"Of course, there might be someone who can, but I've never seen one. Based on my experience, people like us need a shock treatment. A very strong one."

"Why are you coming closer! Why do you have that bat!"

"I will be the one to give you that shock treatment."

Damian smiled. Despite his smiling mouth, his eyes were extremely cold.

"Let's start with a light hour of hits."

* * *

"Did you see that crazy bastard!"

As the alcohol wore off, the Crown Prince's speech became clearer. He kept gesturing at Damian.

"How dare you hit the Crown Prince? Do you think you'll be safe after doing this? You and your family will all be ruined!"

"Crown Prince, isn't it better for me to come out like this?"

At Damian's words, the Crown Prince's face froze.

"Y-you don't mean... Father... gave you permission...?"

"No, that's not it."

"Then it's not okay! Get out now!"

As Damian slowly approached, the Crown Prince started screaming.

"Is there no one outside? Come in and stop this guy!"

"Crown Prince, didn't you order the attendants not to let anyone in?"

"Right!"

With no help coming, the Crown Prince started looking for other ways out.

He glanced at Damian and then ran towards the door.

"Ouch, what did I trip on?"

Immediately, Damian struck the Crown Prince's shins. The Crown Prince rolled on the ground.

"Ah! You really hit me! You hit the Crown Prince!"

"Please understand that all my actions are for the Crown Prince's benefit."

"Where are you barking from...!"

Damian placed the bat on the Crown Prince's shoulder. The Crown Prince's face turned pale.

"Crown Prince, you must not use informal language. As a teacher, I expect you to use formal language."

"What are you talking about! I'm the Crown Prince! I've never... ever..."

Without hesitation, Damian struck the Crown Prince's head with the bat.

"My head! My head!"

Oliver Apple clutched his head and rolled on the ground.

"Your Majesty, informal language is not allowed. Please be careful with your words."

"This... crazy guy... who would do such a thing..."

Damian struck him twice in quick succession. Oliver Apple screamed and rolled on the ground.

"Your Majesty, the next one will be four hits."

At Damian's words, Oliver Apple trembled.

"Ah, I'll... I'll be more careful with my words."

"Good. I'm very satisfied that you've corrected one of your mistakes."

Damian nodded. Oliver Apple looked at him as if he were a madman.

"Let's move on to the next part. Please repeat after me: Always be respectful to Father."

"What? Be respectful to that old man? I'd have to be crazy... to do that..."

Oliver Apple's face turned pale.

He realized he had used informal language in his excitement.

"...Sigh, it's not easy. But don't worry. I recently rehabilitated someone as troublesome as Your Majesty."

Damian tapped the bat against his palm. Oliver Apple's face gradually turned white.

"Let's see how you handle a beating on a rainy day."

* * *

The next day at lunch, the King and Sir Liam headed to the Crown Prince's residence.

This was because Damian had sent a message.

He said he had something to show them and asked them to visit at this time.

"Sir Liam, what do you think Sir Damian wants to show us?"

"I have no idea. What could have happened in just one day..."

The two entered the Crown Prince's residence, puzzled.

They were soon greeted with a surprising sight.

"To take care of the people, we must first understand their daily lives. What they eat, what they do for a living, and what difficulties they face..."

The Crown Prince, Oliver Apple, was sitting at his desk, deeply engrossed in his studies.

The King, overwhelmed with joy, covered his mouth with his hand.

"Sir Damian... I've read it all..."

"Then please read the 258 rules for advancing to the future society by Thomas Apple."

"Wh-what? I've already read over 50 books since yesterday..."

"I asked you to obey your teacher's words. It seems you need more education."

"No, no! I'll read it! I'll read it right away!"

Even to Damian Hassen, who had taken on the role of sword instructor, he was using formal language.

This was a stark contrast to his usual behavior, where he would speak rudely to even the most experienced scholars.

"Sir Damian!"

The King couldn't hold back and entered the room. Damian and Oliver Apple's attention turned to the King.

"Wh-what is going on here? How did the Crown Prince change so much!"

At the King's question, Damian smiled.

"Since we share a similar past, we had a sincere conversation. Fortunately, His Majesty understood well."

Oliver Apple looked at Damian with a bewildered expression, but the King didn't notice.

He was too busy wiping away the tears in his eyes.

"Sir Damian is... no, the savior of this country!"

"No, I just did what was necessary."

Damian chuckled. The King grabbed Damian's hand.

"Wait, can you spare some time? I need to discuss your reward."

"Of course."

Damian left the room with the King. Only Oliver Apple and Liam Bluegreen were left behind.

"…What are you up to this time?"

Once they were alone, Liam Bluegreen spoke in a cold tone.

"You did something similar before. Pretending to change, pretending to be different, and then ultimately betraying His Majesty to get what you wanted."

He looked at him as if he were a bug.

"If you do something like that again, I won't stand by..."

"Sir Liam! Please help me!"

Suddenly, Oliver Apple grabbed Liam Bluegreen's pants and clung to him.

"Why are you doing this all of a sudden?"

"That guy! What did Damian Hassen do to me? He... he hit me... all night long with a club!"

Liam Bluegreen's mouth dropped open.

But unlike the panicked Oliver, Liam Bluegreen maintained his composure.

"Are you saying Sir Damian hit you all night with a club?"

"Yes! He must be arrested and executed as a traitor!"

"You seem too well for someone who was beaten all night."

"Wh-what?"

Liam Bluegreen scanned Oliver Apple's body.

"Someone as untrained as His Majesty would have been seriously injured with just one hit. But you don't have any bruises, no swelling, and your limbs are moving normally."

"But... that... that's..."

Unable to say anything, Oliver Apple was met with a disdainful look from Liam Bluegreen.

"His Majesty, even if you don't like Sir Damian, accusing him of such a thing is unacceptable. I didn't expect you to disappoint me in such a new way."

"Sir Liam! No! It's true! It really is..."

Liam Bluegreen left the room, clearly not wanting to hear more.

Alone, Oliver Apple looked lost.

* * *

"Here's the other bottle I promised you!"

As soon as they reached the reception room downstairs, the King handed a stone vial to Damian.

"You can't imagine how happy I am! I've never been this happy in my life!"

The King's face was beaming. Seeing him like a father, Damian couldn't help but chuckle.

"So... if you search the royal archives, you might find another bottle. So..."

"Your Majesty, don't worry. I have no intention of leaving the Crown Prince's side."

The King's expression brightened.

"I understand. We share a similar past. He has changed, but he will still face many temptations."

"Indeed... that's inevitable."

"So, I will stay by His Majesty's side until he completely overcomes those temptations... and help him."

Damian smiled. The King was even more moved.

'This can't end here.'

While forcing Oliver Apple to study, Damian discovered something interesting.

Oliver Apple's genius was real. No matter how difficult the book, he would quickly understand and memorize it.

'He definitely has talent. But in my previous life, he ascended the throne unprepared and made the kingdom suffer.'

Damian had to stay until the kingdom's attack, so he decided to use this time to change Oliver Apple for the better.

He might not be able to turn him into a great or wise king, but at least he could make him a competent one.

'And I might as well get another bottle of royal jelly.'

Everyone was happy.

Except for one person.