Chapter 30

"Sorry to keep you waiting!

"Hehehehe, is it really tonight! I can't wait~!"

One month after sending out the party invitations to the nobles, I stood by the castle window, gazing up at the moon, eagerly awaiting the arrival of my guests!

"Hmm, I didn't realize I was so respected by so many people...!"

I picked up the stack of reply letters from the nobles that I had read over and over again during this month.

In them, it was written that they were unwell and couldn't come, but instead, 'Our hero! We'll send our youngest child, so please educate our child with your incredible hero power that surpasses a baron's!' or something to that effect!

Hahaha! You guys really understand how great Rize is! You must have an IQ of 999!

Alright then. As the hero who saved the country from the snail that turned into a dragon and as a super genius lord with an IQ of 99,999, I'll teach you the true way of being a noble!

Honestly, I don't really know much about the true way of being a noble since I hardly interact with other nobles, but I've recently come to think that I was born with the qualities of a king, so it should probably work out! Hehe!

Oh, I can hear the sound of several carriages approaching from outside the castle. It seems the guests have arrived. I must greet them with a dignified attitude as the lord of this land!

"Wait for me, you youngest kids! I, Lord Rize, will come to educate you!"

With that thought, I went out to greet them with high spirits—but—

"—You're Rize Baybalon! What's with this castle!?"

...When I went to the front of the castle gate, some kid with a feminine face started picking a fight.

Yeah... What's with this guy? And what's with 'What's with this castle?'? Does he have a problem with the castle everyone built for me? Huh?

"What do you mean, 'What's with this castle?'? It's clearly designed the same as the royal castle of this country. If you mock it, don't be surprised if the royal family gets angry, boy."

"Wh-What! I'm the royal family, the 48th prince, Johan!! You knew that, didn't you, you bastard!?"

Eh, really!? This kid who's inexplicably angry is from the royal family!?

Ah, right, I did receive a letter from the royal family saying, 'The king is busy, so we'll send a prince. By the way, to ask the king to come is truly a sign of your intelligence, Mr. Baybalon...' praising my intelligence. So, this is the prince. I didn't recognize him at all! No aura, and he seems small!

...But if I say I didn't recognize him, Johan might get hurt, so I'll cover it up!

"Hehe, just a joke, Prince. I thought it would lighten the mood. I believe someone from the royal family would see through it instantly, don't you think?"

"Wh-What, you—Are you saying I'm not fit to be from the royal family!?"

...Whoa, he's really angry!

Sigh... What's wrong with this guy? Is his head okay? By the way, he should use polite language with his elders. I, Rize, am kind and peaceful, so I won't say anything, but someone like Snail would have already snapped. Well, I'm a decent person, so I'll laugh it off.

"Haha, Prince, you seem tired. Would you like me to cast a recovery spell on your head?"

"Kill you, you bastard!!? ...Why did you copy the design of the royal castle and dye it with filthy black!? I was surprised at first that this place was lush and developed, unlike the rumors, but then I saw this ridiculous castle and was shocked again!"

"Good to be reminded of home, isn't it?"

"Shut up!! Damn it, you've been mocking me, a prince, this whole time... You, you're planning to rebel against the Gnoisia Kingdom, aren't you!?"

Haaaaa!? What is this kid saying!? I, who copied the design of the royal castle, am planning to rebel!?

Whoa... This guy is really crazy. Sigh, the king really sent me a problem child. Well, maybe it's a sign of how much he trusts me. I can't just abandon him.

As I was thinking about how to educate him, Johan, that brat, turned around and shouted at the stunned boys behind him.

"Hey, you noble brats! Say something too! Rize Baybalon is planning to ruin this country!"

As always, Johan is saying whatever he wants. But the boys just stood there, frozen.

"Hey, you guys!? Aren't you ashamed as a noble!?"

"...I don't really care about the country. Just leave us alone..."

Oh, it seems the kids behind are not in good shape. Their expressions are dead, and they seem to have no energy.

Hmm, this is a problem in a different way from Johan. I see, that's why the nobles sent these kids to learn from Rize's energy. Nice judgment, I'll praise them.

An easily angered young man and a listless young man... Alright, good! I, Teacher Rize, will take care of all of you!

"—Followers, restrain them."

"Yes, Lord Rize!"

In response to my words, black-hooded figures appeared around the kids. They are the followers of the Demiurgos religion, who are overly loyal to me.

They struck the necks of the shocked boys with the edge of their hands, instantly knocking them out.

"K-K-K...!?"

"Sleep for a while. I'll train your immature hearts."

Alright, kids, you're about to experience the loving educational techniques of the capable teacher, Rize!

◆◇◆

"—Ugh, ugh... Where... is this...?"

In an unknown room, Johan and the other boys woke up.

Their consciousness was still hazy as they looked around, but it was too dark to see the details.

"Where... where are we...!?"

"What... what's going on...!?"

Confused by the incomprehensible situation, the boys were about to ask when several candles suddenly lit up, revealing their surroundings.

They were in an underground chapel without windows, surrounded by dozens of black-hooded figures.

"Ah, aaaaaaaah!?"

The boys tried to scream and run away, but their bodies wouldn't move. They were seated in wooden chairs, with their limbs and torsos tightly bound.

Just as they were about to cast spells to blow away the mysterious group surrounding them, the black-hooded figures pressed knives to their throats, the silver blades cutting into their skin, drawing a thin line of blood.

"A-A-Ah...!?"

"—Hehe, it's better not to move. I won't kill you as long as you don't struggle, okay~?"

One of the black-robed figures whispered in a cute voice, but of course, there was no way to feel reassured.

Realizing that their lives were completely in the hands of the mysterious group, the boys trembled.

Among them, only Johan shouted at the black-robed figures holding the knives.

"W-Who are you!? Do you know I'm from the royal family!?"

With tears in his eyes, Johan glared around, his pride as a prince supporting his heart.

"Try anything... My father won't forgive you!"

Like a frightened puppy, Johan desperately shouted—when—

"—No, Johan. If you want to be a man, don't rely on your parents so easily."

The mysterious group surrounding them parted, and a man in black formal attire appeared in front of Johan.

"! You... You're Rize Baybalon!"

Facing the man with cold, icy eyes, Johan understood. It was indeed this guy who had them restrained.

"You, what are you planning!? What's your purpose in doing this to us!?"

"It's obvious. For the future of this country, I will correct your hearts.

—Hey, are you guys dissatisfied with the current situation? Tell me everything."

"H-Huh!?"

Faced with Rize's incomprehensible words, Johan was about to shout, "What are you talking about?" when his mouth moved involuntarily.

"I... I hate my father who treats me like dirt!! I hate the nobles who mock me in private because I'm the youngest among the many princes!!"

After shouting with all his might, Johan was terrified by the strange phenomenon that had occurred to him. The thoughts he had kept deep in his heart had easily spilled out of his mouth, triggered by Rize's words.

"W-What was that!? You... What did you do to me!?"

"Nothing much, I just thought it's better to vent your frustrations to correct your hearts. I amplified your 'hidden hatred' using an advanced recovery spell."

"N-No way...!?"

Johan was speechless. There's no way that's possible.

Recovery spells are the most basic magic that any mage can use to some extent. Unlike converting magic power into earth, fire, or lightning, blood and flesh are the most familiar substances to a person. Even a child can heal a minor scratch.

However... to interfere with someone's 'heart' in the same way as increasing blood and flesh was far beyond the realm of recovery magic.

"Young noble heirs, raise your voices! I, Rize Baybalon, will listen to you! Go ahead, scream until your throats are hoarse!"

"We... We hate our parents! We hate our homes!! We hate the current noble society!!!"

"A-Ah... Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh! Is being a mage so important!?"

"Dad... Don't hit me anymoreeeeeeeeee!!!"

In the dark chapel, the boys' screams and sobs echoed—!

The hatred and sorrow they had suppressed and ignored were now overflowing uncontrollably. Everyone was crying, cursing their families and society!

Moreover, the black-robed group surrounding them, led by the crazy Alicia, the radical faction of the Demiurgos religion, shouted, "Be stained with hatred! Fall into malice! Release the righteous anger!" accelerating the boys' madness and distortion—!

"Dieeeeeeeeeeeeee! Everyone who oppresses us, dieeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!"

"B-But... I... I...!"

While the others fell into a trance, Prince Johan gritted his teeth, desperately resisting the overflowing hatred.

He tried his best to restrain himself, thinking that his father was a great person and he shouldn't have evil thoughts towards him.

However—

"Hey, Johan... Don't you have something you want to shout? Tell me, Rize, without holding back."

"A-Ah—"

Gently placing a hand on his shoulder, Rize's words shattered Johan's tiny self-control—!

The evil thoughts he had never been able to express finally ran rampant in Johan!

"A-Ah... I want to kill that damn old man! I'll kill all my brothers, like cockroaches, Uuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu