Ch.259. Who Do You Think You Are!

If your strength is lacking,

Borrow the power of something else.

It’s a simple story.

Whether it becomes a tool,

Or the surrounding structures,

Or the given situation itself.

The target’s reason, emotions.

Even exploiting their mistakes.

====

“What is all this commotion?!”

“S-stop this at once!”

By the time Seras headed to the library, the situation had worsened considerably.

“Ugh?!”

Even the teachers who tried to physically restrain Kariel’s rampage were inexplicably thrown down or hurled aside.

Straddling Prince Alesius’s back as he lay pinned to the floor, Kariel gripped a fistful of the prince’s red hair while swinging punches at his face.

Whenever someone tried to intervene, he would naturally grab their outstretched hand or arm.

Or perhaps their leg or ankle.

Then, as if by magic, the person would lose balance, fall as if suddenly braking, or be dragged down.

Like toddlers who had just learned to walk, they would lose their center of gravity and collapse.

“Your Highness!”

The reinforcements who rushed in to restrain Kariel for the prince’s sake fared no better.

Some attempted to cast spells targeting Kariel, but—

“Are you insane?! What if you harm His Highness?!”

“W-well…”

“You can control it, can’t you?!”

“What if that madman uses the prince as a shield? What would you do then?”

“N-no! Even he wouldn’t go that f—huh?”

It was amid this chaos that Seras made her appearance.

“S-Seras!”

Seeing them all staring at her like lost baby birds or fawns, she felt nauseated.

“…”

Rubbing her forehead while processing the situation, Seras regretted not having come earlier to dissuade Alesius.

‘That’s not what matters right now.’

She cut off that line of thought.

Dwelling on unnecessary emotions or past events would only shorten one’s life.

By that point, Seras had simply leaned against a window to observe the situation directly.

“Hey! You should be stopping this! What are you doing?!”

“Why are you just standing there so calmly?!”

These people weren’t inherently stupid.

Individually, they were all talented.

Yet when they became part of a mob, they turned so uncouth.

Perhaps this was why, as Alesius said, crowds needed to be controlled and managed.

It was a disappointment she felt every time, a resignation.

But in times of crisis and emergency, her sense of disillusionment only deepened.

“It’s already beyond our control, so what can we do?”

If even the teachers couldn’t restrain him, what could they possibly do?

Well, nothing was impossible if they truly wanted to try, but…

‘It’s too late.’

Even if they intervened now, it was far too late for it to be considered an act of saving the prince.

Above all, at this point, with Kariel in such a state, no one could predict how things would unfold.

‘Allowing the situation to escalate like this means he has no intention of hiding his true feelings.’

If anything, he seemed intent on not just revealing but spreading rumors—and in that, his intention had already succeeded splendidly.

This wasn’t simply about him becoming arrogant due to his engagement to the princess.

Something about the situation had become strangely twisted.

Moreover, forcing an intervention now risked triggering another wave of anger.

‘I’d rather not catch any stray sparks.’

But then…

Would Alesius forgive Seras for half-watching this situation unfold?

‘That doesn’t matter.’

If he suffered due to his own incompetence and then blamed others?

That would be the end of their close relationship.

He might bow his head for now, but as resentment builds, loyalty and camaraderie naturally fade.

Seras hadn’t chosen to accompany Alesius because she had no one else to turn to.

It was because she knew him well and had a long-standing relationship with him.

What about Kariel, then?

“…”

Here, she had nothing to say.

The water had already been spilled long ago for her to fix anything.

And even then, she had…

In the end, chosen her sister Eras over Kariel.

Blood is thicker than water.

…As someone practical, she had no choice.

“Hap!”

Suddenly,

As the strong scent of mana combustion spread, a red rope fell from the air and instantly bound Kariel’s right arm.

“…”

Only then did Kariel turn his head.

Taking his eyes off the crushed Alesius, he cast an indifferent gaze at whoever had restrained him.

That calm indifference

Sent chills down the spines of all who witnessed it.

“…I step away briefly and everything falls into complete disarray.”

The library director, who also served as the academy’s magic instructor—

With his moderately wrinkled face, white hair, and matching goatee—

Was momentarily speechless at the devastation before him.

Within the fight’s radius, hardly any furniture remained intact, and some bookshelves had toppled, their contents scattered chaotically across the library floor.

The one fortunate thing was that the damage was relatively contained since it had been limited to physical combat.

…Though finding solace in this fact only added to his dismay, he shook his head and raised his voice to address the situation.

“This is outrageous! What is the meaning of this commotion! Anyway, quickly resolve this situation! All the culprits—”

Crack!

“…?”

When had he freed himself?

As the magical rope disappeared, Kariel nonchalantly resumed throwing punches.

The library director let out a startled squawk.

“K-Kariel, you! S-stop that violent behavior! Stop that behavior right now—?!”

The dignified elderly teacher, flustered by the continuing chaos, cast another spell.

And by then,

Kariel finally ceased resisting.

He closed his eyes.

====

Naturally,

News of this incident spread rapidly.

By sunset, Alesius, having received treatment and recovered somewhat,

Was immediately summoned to the Emperor’s office after changing into fresh attire.

Upon reaching the office door, the guard announced his arrival, and permission to enter was granted without delay.

“So you’ve come?”

On an unusually high rectangular desk,

Arranged in a ‘U’ shape, numerous documents were piled high.

Standing while examining them one by one and affixing the imperial seal, the Emperor asked:

“I heard you were badly injured. Are you alright?”

“…I am deeply sorry.”

“Better late than never to realize.”

The Emperor spoke in a calm tone.

“I’ve known for some time that you would one day suffer a major defeat like this.”

“…”

“Kariel has always been gentle and patient, enduring much, but even that has its limits.”

Even so.

“That he endured this long was somewhat surprising even to me. Yes, as I said earlier, adults will dismiss this as mere children’s quarreling.”

“…”

The fact that the Emperor quoted what Kariel had said to Alesius earlier, word for word, meant…

‘From the beginning…’

“But his remark about crossing the river too far is quite significant.”

Well. Answer me.

“Do you have any idea what feelings that child now harbors toward you?”

“…”

“Answer. I won’t ask twice.”

“Has he… harbored resentment, Your Majesty?”

“Then who provided the justification for that resentment?”

“…It was I, Your Majesty.”

“Why do you think he confronted you now, of all times?”

“That’s…”

While Alesius hesitated,

The Emperor continued calmly stamping documents with the imperial seal.

Thump!

“Do you not know?”

Thump!

“Not even one step ahead?”

Thump!

“Let alone two steps, let alone three steps.”

Thump!

“Just.”

Thump!

“Not even one step ahead can you see? When the glaring truth is right before you.”

Thump!

“Can you not see it?”

“Is it because of my engagement to Your sister, Your Majesty?”

“Wrong.”

Thump!

“It’s because you crossed the line.”

Thump!

At that point, the Emperor picked up a document that seemed to require more thought, resting his chin on his hand as he contemplated.

“Then what line did I cross?”

Yet he continued to question the prince in a calm tone.

“Is it because I… bullied him, Your Majesty?”

“Hasn’t that been going on for years? What’s new about that?”

…Indeed.

He must have known all along.

Yet he deliberately chose not to give any instructions or make any comments…

…Because it was just children fighting.

Just a battle of nerves between children.

Even if it was a conflict and struggle between those of royal blood,

It was still just children fighting.

Even if, over time, that children’s fight evolved into a bloody struggle,

For an adult to intervene in mere children’s quarrels…

Would truly be a loss of face, wouldn’t it?

Some might be prepared to sacrifice dignity for practical gain,

But that would be a misstep typical of those who don’t understand the nature of authority and dignity.

If imperial power were threatened, if noble authority were shaken,

If it were merely a meaningless game played by those with hollow power…

Then such practical decisions,

Direct confrontations and displays of force might indeed be effective in instilling fear and terror in those who inflate their importance with empty bluster.

“I could have stopped the fight. I could have personally ordered you to cease such disgraceful behavior. However, that would have been forcing you rather than letting you act of your own accord. If I had done so, would you have willingly…”

Accepted it?

Could you have accepted it?

“When the previous Emperor gathered my brothers who tormented and intimidated me and ordered them to stop, I can assure you they never ceased tormenting me for even a moment. Do you know why they behaved that way?”

“…I do not, Your Majesty.”

“Think before you speak. You don’t know? And you answer so promptly? I didn’t summon you here during this busy time to hear such irresponsible answers.”

Though his tone remained calm,

Alesius clenched his fists so tightly that his knuckles turned white.

If he didn’t, he felt his body might tremble involuntarily from tension.

He feared being questioned further on this point and forced to provide another answer.

So,

Suppressing even the sound of his breathing to ensure not even a sigh escaped,

Alesius realized he was standing on the edge of a precipice.

“Do you need more time?”

“…No, Your Majesty.”

“Then answer.”

“…”

“Quickly.”

One second.

Two seconds.

Three seconds.

Trying to buy time, Alesius took a deep breath.

“…Is it because Your Majesty permitted it?”

“Why do you ask that? I asked for your thoughts. Is that your considered answer? I never instructed you to respond by awkwardly probing my intentions. What’s wrong with you?”

“That’s…”

“Answer again.”

The Emperor urged without seeming to urge.

But Alesius felt as if a blade was about to touch his nape, and he was acutely aware of the cold sweat running down his skin.

“I…”

…

Tsk, tsk.

The Emperor clicked his tongue.

“Why hesitate over such a simple question? The conclusion is straightforward. It was because there was insufficient fear. The terror was inadequate.”

“…”

“Now that I’ve given you a lesson, you should be able to answer what it means that you crossed the line.”

No. Not at all.

I don’t understand.

Is it because I’m slow-witted?

Alesius suppressed the voice rising from within him.

“You still don’t understand?”

The Emperor clicked his tongue again.

“If it were Kariel, he would have already grasped my intentions and thoughts without me having to say a word.”

“…”

Again.

Again.

…It’s Kariel.

Why does he always value Kariel more highly than his own son?

Is it overestimation?

Or underestimation?

But one thing is clear:

The Emperor doesn’t know Kariel as well as he thinks he does.

“Such underestimation stems from your petty perspective.”

“…!!”

As if having read his thoughts,

The Emperor sighed with a frustrated expression.

“That’s why you suffered such humiliation today, unable to even properly defend yourself.”

“…”

“Even an emperor can die from a stray arrow on the battlefield, or suffer grave wounds from the spear of a mere cripple who catches him off guard.”

Yet you.

“Why were you careless? Why were you complacent? Why, trapped in your preconceptions, did you assume that you alone would remain unscathed today and tomorrow?”

“That’s…”

“Speak clearly. Where did you learn this habit of trailing off?”

“I’m… sorry.”

“I didn’t ask for an apology. Why apologize to me? There’s someone else you should apologize to.”

What you should fear and revere now is…

“Not me. And what you should guard against and hate is your own pettiness and malice, your injustice and narrowed vision.”

Hate the evil, not the person, they say.

“Why did you do the opposite?”

“…”

“Are you mute? Why are you silent?”

Only then

Did the Emperor’s gaze turn to Alesius.

“Don’t pretend to be disabled when you’re not. That’s deception and malice.”

Raise your head.

Open your eyes properly.

“Did I expect competence from you?”

“No, Your Majesty.”

“What did I expect from you?”

“…You told me to keep my place. To fulfill my duties. To not evade my responsibilities.”

“You speak well enough.”

“…”

“Both El and Kariel found their places without being told, so why are you in such a state?”

Kariel?

Why, why does he keep mentioning Kariel…?

What has that bastard done to earn such esteem?

Whatever he might have been in the past,

That has nothing to do with the present, does it?

Just because he was impressive in the past doesn’t guarantee he still is.

“He has yielded to you all this time, treated you with favor all this time. You still don’t understand that at all. Tsk, tsk.”

The Emperor shook his head.

“How obtuse. How much more must I point out? Had Kariel’s nature been even slightly darker or more malicious, you would never have remained unharmed.”

“Father! Why! Why would you say such absurd things… to me?”

I am your son, aren’t I?

So why!

“Both Kariel and you are like sons to me. The same goes for Lueld.”

“…”

“In childhood, Kariel stood in for El for that reason. No one asked him to do so; rather, he voluntarily convinced everyone that he should.”

At such a young age.

“Did I ever pressure you to be like Kariel? Even once? Didn’t I repeatedly tell you that you have your own path, that you should steadfastly move forward?”

“I… Your son…”

“I merely instructed you to cultivate your character and dignity.”

Tsk, tsk.

“Tomorrow morning, during the greeting ceremony, I will hear your thoughts again.”

You may go now.

…

Even as the office door closed,

The Emperor, having apparently resolved his concern, continued to stamp documents with the imperial seal.

Thump!

As the door closed,

That sight, too, finally disappeared from Alesius’s view.

——!