LIGHTNOVELWORLD Chapter 82
Chapter 82: Fools and Their Fate
Well, well, I, Zilbagias, the Demon Lord’s Prince, have become entangled with an astonishingly stupid character.
I was shocked… Even though Platy had warned me beforehand, I thought, “Come on, I’m a Demon Lord’s Prince, right? Is there really someone so foolish?”
“—There are probably a fair number,” Sophia had said regarding this.
“I don’t fully understand the ecology of the weaker demons myself…”
Ecology of the weaker demons, huh?
“If Zilbagias-sama can instill a sense of inferiority while he’s still on the same level, he can exert considerable influence for a lifetime, even accounting for the possibility of being glared at by the Reiju Tribe. It’s a high-risk, high-return gamble.”
…A Demon Lord’s Prince under the influence of such insignificant beings probably wouldn’t achieve much status in the end, and doesn’t the risk outweigh the potential return?
I mean, isn’t it a bit too much of a risk to be glared at by the Reiju Tribe, which handles all the healing in the Demon Kingdom…?
“No, those who would devise such schemes are typically the ones who have nothing to begin with. If they can find a way to claw their way up, that’s already a major achievement. After all, they would be pushed down the healing line anyway… yet intentionally slacking off in treatment is forbidden by His Majesty the Demon Lord…”
Ah, so they’re the so-called invulnerable types…
“And there are those who persistently try to incite and exploit those with nothing. They infuse them with a sense of righteousness or spread rumors that lead to underestimations, making them think they could actually win…”
With my youthful appearance and low actual age, it’s no wonder I get looked down upon. It’s only natural that someone would think, “This guy seems doable,” especially from those with comparable magical power.
“I’ve heard there’s a clan that exists merely to be used without belonging to any faction. A lineage that has no solid connections for generations, unable to acquire accurate information, only ever dancing to others’ tunes; there’s no saving those folks…”
I’m genuinely glad I wasn’t born into a family like that. Defeating the Demon Lord would have been a dream far removed from reality…
Still, how is such rudeness allowed towards a prince?
“It’s not merely violence; it’s a fight for pride. It’s not about whether you win in a brawl. A person who submits to the lower classes has no right to stand above them from the start. If tyranny is allowed, the one who imposes it wins; if not, they just face the consequences. It’s said that this attitude has been prevalent since before the demons established the Demon Kingdom. Birth and upbringing aren’t needed to rank those of equal strength…”
Hmmm… barbarians…
“So, if one is targeted by such characters and loses strength, it profits them. Even if it fails, those who incited it bear no harm.”
While I get the sentiment, am I really worth the trouble at this point?
“Even if other princes don’t think so, you can’t know what their entourages or mothers are thinking…”
Fair point.
“Hey, are you silent? Or are you too scared to even speak?”
I was lost in thought, but a raspy voice pulled me back to reality.
Unfortunately, that kind of fool was still glaring at me right in front. Did he take a gamble or got incited by someone, or is he just reckless?
…He did mention something about being a viscount thanks to “Mom,” so maybe he was incited?
Casually glancing around, I saw the older demons watching with a mix of amusement, while the Night Elf and Beastman servants looked anxious as they monitored the situation.
“Oh, you’re still here.”
In any case, my response wouldn’t change.
“If you have business with me, make it quick; I’ve got things to do.”
“…Huh?”
When I crossed my arms and shot him a glare, the blonde idiot twitched his cheeks.
…I thought it was unusual for a demon to have blonde hair, but looking closer, the roots were a bit different. Did he dye it a golden color somehow? No way, is he trying to copy the current Demon Lord Goldgias with his rare blonde hair…?
If that’s the case… the guy standing right in front of you is his son…
“You little punk, you have no manners while addressing a senior!”
Showing his teeth like a threat, the blonde idiot demanded.
“You, on the other hand, don’t seem to understand manners. Didn’t your mom teach you to greet others before speaking to them?”
I snorted, feigning laughter.
“Or do you lack the brains to remember even that?”
With blue veins popping, the demon slowly extended his hand.
Is he aiming to grab my collar? Trying to use his size to pin me down? He’s taller and built better than me, which would surely complicate things. If he lifts me off the ground, no matter what I say, I’d look pathetic, and he could do whatever he wanted with me.
But if I back away to dodge, they’ll think I’m timid…
Ah, what a hassle.
“Manners? What do you mean by manners?”
As expected, while gripping my collar, the blonde kid sneered.
“What necessity is there to show any manners to you? Just a stuck-up brat who flaunts his birth! You’re just a guy who thinks he can buy status with a dragon slain by Mom and lackeys; there’s no way I’d lower my head to you!”
The close distance made his spit fly onto my face.
In his mind, it seems I had others take down Faravgi and just swooped in for the glory.
“I took down the dragon myself. This is a rightful status regarding that.”
“Ha! You don’t look like someone who could take down a dragon, that’s for sure!”
The blonde idiot’s face lit up with a victorious grin.
“If you really did it, then… prove your strength!”
He grabbed my collar and slightly lifted me off the ground — then immediately swung a kick at my face.
Whoa, going for my face, huh? With this height difference, that’s some serious guts! Plus, his foot’s off the ground, so I can’t dodge! I’m a five-year-old, you know?!
“As that lady said, a retainer truly was a protective charm!”
No doubt about that.
The one sending a five-year-old viscount into this kind of environment is messed up.
I arched my body in mid-air, managing to mitigate the power of the kick as much as possible, but I still took it to the face. It hit pretty hard, sending a sharp sting to my nose, and against the shock, I got launched backward.
Rolling across the floor, the blonde idiot laughed, “Ha ha! You stood there and took it like a fool; you’re nothing but a weakling!”
As he turned back to his underlings, laughing, he sure had the nerve, considering he made it unavoidable.
“By the way, I didn’t catch your name.”
Pinching my nose to stem the blood, I got up as if nothing happened and asked,
“Huh?”
“With that big mouth, you should be some kind of warrior, right? Introduce yourself.”
He narrowed his eyes suspiciously at my faint smile, probably thinking I’d cry from this little wound.
But soon, he started mocking me.
“Don’t get cocky, kid. If you can’t even dodge that kick, you won’t be able to handle a human soldier much less a dragon!”
…Huh?
“Oh, that’s right, you’ve never been to a battlefield yet, huh? Human soldiers are super scary, you better watch out~.”
The blonde idiot and his lackeys roared with laughter—
Don’t mess with me.
I’ll kill you.
“…Is that all you have to say?”
I consciously felt my eyelids twitching as I tried my best to stay calm while asking.
“Ooops, looks like I made you mad. Sorry for being mean, hurry back to Mommy and give her some peace of mind.”
“You seem to have a low IQ. I said ‘introduce yourself.’ Or have you even forgotten your own name, you dimwit?”
I waved my hand, inviting him over.
“Come at me. I’m sick of your goblin face; I’m going to snap those horns off.”
“You’re getting too cocky!”
That must’ve hit a nerve because the blonde idiot charged in with heavy breaths.
“I’m Megalos of the Anaitos Clan! Remember it well!”
He boldly declared his name.
…I want to return the introduction, but it looks like magic is a forbidden move in such exchanges, so I have to settle this with sheer strength.
However, even without the boost from introductions, he’s sufficient on his own.
I began circulating all my magical power and charged forward.
“Huh!?”
The blonde idiot gasped, surprised by the sudden closure of distance, but quickly flashed a grin and lunged at me.
He seems intent on utilizing his size advantage. Just like with that first strike, he’s pretty underhanded.
But I would turn this around. I allowed myself to be grabbed by Megalos.
“—Heh, a weakling!”
He made a face like he was deflated. Would he lift me like last time and try to mess with me again?
“Perfect timing.”
The level of our faces matched.
This makes it easier.
I extended my right hand’s fingers sharply.
My hand became a blade, envisioning it as a sword—
And then I smashed my hand into Megalos’s temple.
“Tch.”
The annoyance crossing his face as he tried to defend with his left hand was evident.
At that moment, I channeled all my magical power into my fingertips.
Focusing all my magic. The logic stands that if I can make a sword spear, I can make a hand blade—!
My hand blade dug into his raised left arm. It pushed in, crushing the bones while continuing forward without stopping.
Just as I intended, my hand blade struck Megalos’s horn dead on—
With a loud crack!
“Ah—”
Megalos rolled his eyes back. The grip around me weakened, and he fell limply to the floor.
And right next to him, his shattered left horn rolled with a clink.
“Ah…”
“What the…?”
“Eh…?”
The spectators around, including Megalos’s followers, went speechless—
“…Ah… Ohhhhhh!?”
After a beat, once he regained consciousness, Megalos screamed while waving his arm bent at a strange angle.
“Ahhhh… My… My horn!!!”
Letting out a soundless scream, Megalos bellowed.
—That magical power had dropped noticeably compared to a moment before. Turns out, horns aren’t just sensory organs.
“Ha ha ha! Now you look more like a handsome guy than before! You’re even closer to being a goblin now!”
I flashed a wide grin at the ribbing Megalos as he writhed on the floor.
“Still, I’m surprised.”
I spread my arms wide, not forgetting to show off to the audience.
“I never expected it would break just from a light poke. Not only your head but your horn’s craftsmanship seems pathetic too! Ha ha ha!”
I laughed it off, yet the watching demons, young and old, were thoroughly repulsed.
Hmmm…? Did I go a bit too far…?
Well, whatever! Ha ha!
“I’m feeling fantastic!”
Antendeixis happily chimed in. So am I!!