After I gave my command, all the viscounts bowed their heads and left the palace. Only Gefrit, Nanagi, Kortus, and I remained. Wanting to rest for a while, I sat on my throne and started reading a book. Kortus was staring at me while holding a red flag.
Kortus: "Young master, why are you sitting there? Have you forgotten your duties?"
Tokito: "Leave me alone, woman. I just want to sit. Isn't that something a child should be allowed to do?"
Kortus: "No excuses. We have to go. Nanagi is waiting."
Tokito: "If I'm your master, then let me rest a little. Gefrit is here—I'll talk to him."
Gefrit: "What would you like to talk about, Your Majesty?"
Tokito: "Don't call me that. Since you're family, I'm giving you special permission. Just call me cousin."
Gefrit: "Cousin… Sometimes you remind me of your father. And sometimes, your mother. Actually, there's something you should know about them."
Info about my family...? Looks like I'm about to gain something useful. He's not just my cousin—he's a treasure trove of knowledge. Family really is amazing sometimes!
Gefrit: "Your mother… She wasn't a demon. She was a dragon. You were born with dragon blood, and she was their former leader. Your father, the previous Demon King, was drawn to her."
Tokito: "Why would a demon be with a dragon?"
Gefrit: "That's what everyone asked. There was heavy opposition, but due to your father's authority, no one dared defy him."
Tokito: "Are you saying they might betray me too?"
Gefrit: "Just keep it in mind and be cautious. I believe your mother left the kingdom because she couldn't stay here any longer."
Tokito: "If she left me behind, then I don't care about her."
…Of course I care. She's my real mother, after all. But I can't say that out loud. If the demons knew I intended to interact with humans, they might turn against me. I need to claim the throne quickly, blend into human society, and gather information. I'll defy everything if it means protecting my family.
Gefrit: "It's only natural you feel that way. But if you can't command authority like your father, the kingdom has no future."
Tokito: "Don't compare me to my weak father!"
Even though… I'm far weaker than him right now. If he wanted, he could grab me and toss me to the moon—then leap up and throw me back to Earth. Let's pretend I never thought that. I'm just playing a video game where I can't control the character's stats yet.
Gefrit: "You resent him for dying to the Hero, don't you? But the Hero isn't what you think. Even though people called your father a monster, the Hero was the only one who could kill such a beast."
Tokito: "Do I have any siblings?"
Gefrit: "None that I know of. You're an only child. That's why the throne is yours."
Being an only child is both a blessing and a curse. No throne struggles, but... I've always wanted a sibling. Someone I could raise and protect. Whatever—enough of this. I stood up and began wandering the palace with Gefrit.
Tokito: "Forget the pointless stuff. Are there any interesting places in this house?"
Gefrit: "Hmm… Now that you ask, nothing really comes to mind. Your family rarely came here, so I don't know much."
Ugh, you hopeless case, Gefrit. Sometimes I doubt your usefulness as a walking database. He scratched his head for a bit, seemingly trying to remember something—and then he looked at me with a sudden spark in his eyes.
Gefrit: "There's one place you might find interesting. Want to see your mother's old sword?"
…My mother's sword? What does it look like? I'm already excited—I want to see it now!
Gefrit grabbed my hand and pulled me along. When we reached the door to the basement, he turned back and asked:
Gefrit: "It's behind this door. Do you think you can enter?"
Tokito: "You go first. Be the bait. I'll follow."
As he descended, I slowly followed down the grey stone steps. When we reached the lowest floor, torches lit the damp hallway. At the end stood a wooden door. Nothing unusual at first. But when I touched the handle...
"A sealed door. A deep power lies beyond. Breaking the seal is dangerous."
"Break the seal?" [Y/N]
A seal? Why would my mother place a seal on the door? It's just a sword... or is it? Now I'm even more curious. If I break the seal, I can get inside—so, yes!
"Breaking the seal..."
"Seal could not be broken. Required traits not met."
…It didn't open. I collapsed to my knees, feeling the crushing weight of failure, and began to cry. While Gefrit tried to comfort me, the blue screen appeared once again.
"Guardians are appearing."
I looked around. On either side of the door, black soldiers had materialized. Each held a sword. One of them placed his blade against my neck.
???: "You cannot enter. Leave and never return."
What... What is this? Not only can't I get information about my mom, now there's a sword at my throat?! Damn it… Why does everything related to my family end in failure? I knew I couldn't defeat them—so I just stood there, frozen. Gefrit stepped in, grabbing the black soldier's arm.
Gefrit: "Get your damn sword off my cousin, you cursed things!"
Tokito: "Calm down, Gefrit. I think… my mother sealed this sword so no one else could wield it. Not even me."
Gefrit: "What…? Not even her own son?"
The Demon Prince, unable to access his own mother's past, stood up with a face full of sorrow. Silent and heartbroken, he climbed the stairs slowly. Gefrit followed without a word, all the way to the door of Tokito's room. When the door closed, Tokito collapsed onto his bed—and cried enough to soak the pillow.
Tokito: "Mom… Dad… You gave me a chance. You fought to bring me into this world. What can I do for you? Would taking the throne make you happy? Do you want me to destroy our enemy, the Tafavu Empire? What do you want? Tell me… please…"
Kortus: "All you need to do is take control of the kingdom that exiled your mother—and find her. Then, avenge your father and reclaim your honor."
Tokito: "W-Were you here the whole time?! What do you want, Kortus?"
Kortus: "Don't worry, my lord. I've served the royal family for many years, and you're not the first crying king I've seen. Crying is not weakness. It means you truly care about your people."
Tokito: "Maybe… Maybe I can do this with you, Kortus. Be mine—and live at my side forever."
Kortus: "How flattering… but I must decline. My duty is to serve you. That is the final command I received from the royal family. If you die, I die. If you live, I live."
I… I've been rejected. Not the first time, but… I love you, Kortus! Even if you're older than me, I still love you! In the real world, a five-year-old saying that would be weird, but hey—this is isekai.
Anyway, time to get moving. I need to meet that so-called magic commander! I wonder what kind of person he is… Strong, I hope. But more than anything—I hope he's someone I'll come to admire.
Tokito: "Get ready. We're leaving soon. There's a place we must go."
Kortus: "Are you going to speak with the magic commander, sire?"
Tokito: "Without him, I can't take the throne. I need to level up as soon as possible—and seize power."
Kortus: "Understood. I'll notify the soldiers immediately."
Kortus rose, placed a hand over his heart, bowed, and left the room. I stood up and walked to the window. Outside, everything looked so… normal.
My people… My father really left me a beautiful kingdom. A beautiful nation. Until I find my mother, I must remain on the throne.
I know you're still alive, Mother. If you were dead, I could have reached your sword.
That blue screen… I still remember the words.
Kortus rose to his feet, placing his right hand over his heart as he bowed. Without another word, he left the room.
I stood up and walked toward the window, letting my gaze drift outside. Everything beyond the palace walls looked so peaceful—so normal. My people… Father really did entrust me with a beautiful kingdom and a kind-hearted nation.
Until I find Mother, I have no choice but to remain on the throne.
I know you're not dead, Mother. If you were, I'd have been able to access your sword by now…
Once again, my mind wandered to the mysterious blue screen that had appeared.
"What do you mean by that, screen? Just what the hell are you trying to say!?"
"The magic on the door can only be dispelled by its caster—or when that person dies."
That was it. Undeniable proof that Mother was still alive. It was the best news I'd received so far—it lifted my spirits more than anything else.
But… as a doctor, I know nothing about running a kingdom. I have no choice but to rely on those who believe in me. If I want to find my mother, I'll have to leave the palace—blend in with the people. That way, I can search for her without drawing attention.
While I was lost in thought, Kortus knocked and re-entered the room.
Kortus: "My lord, the soldiers are ready. We may depart at any time."
Tokito: "Well done. You've finally impressed me."
As I slowly stepped outside the palace gates, a luxurious red carpet lay before me. Soldiers knelt in rows along the sides, saluting me with unwavering devotion. I smiled warmly, patting each of their heads one by one. Even a five-year-old baby receiving this kind of reception… What will things be like once I grow up?
Some of the viscounts were waiting at the gate to see me off. They all stood with their heads bowed in silence.
Haniel: "We'll be waiting for your return, my lord. When you've grown stronger… claim the throne."
Koloton: "I'll surround the capital with my army, my lord. Hurry back and show those damned fools what a real ruler looks like!"
…Hold on, hold on. Did you really just say that in front of children!? What if someone heard you? Did he seriously just curse!? You can't say things like that, Koloton!
Tokito: "I like your passion. But watch your language around me. I might just rip that tongue right out of your mouth."
Koloton: "With pleasure, my lord. I'd gladly offer you my life."
…Are you stupid? What would I do with your life? Go toss yourself off a cliff—but don't, actually. The ground deserves better than that. You big fluffy-tailed idiot. Still… your noble spirit is kind of impressive.
A smaller viscount, one who looked more like a little girl than a warrior, approached me with something in her hand. It had circles and strange letters inscribed on it.
Viker: "My lord, please take this with you. Use it if you ever find yourself in danger on the road."
Tokito: "What exactly is this thing?"
Viker: "It's a summoning magic schema. Swallow it, and using your mana, you'll be able to summon a beast. It's a B-rank creature, but as long as your mana holds out, it can't be destroyed."
Looks pretty useful… Might be good to keep it on me. But where should I put it? Guess I'll show it to the screen.
I called up the screen, and once again, the schema disintegrated into glowing white fragments and vanished into it.
"Summoned Beast Transfer Circle acquired. Contains one B-rank demon. Save into magic system memory? Y/N"
Yes.
Whoa—it vanished instantly. This system really is something. I'll definitely need this spell someday… Maybe I should test it in the throne room? It'd be a great way to show off my power.
"B-rank Vampire acquired."
Now that everything was ready, I said my final farewells to the viscounts. Nanagi and the soldiers moved toward the horses, while the other troops formed a staircase with their bodies to escort me into the carriage.
When I stepped inside, I was completely stunned.
Soft cushions lined the seats, a dining table stood ready with food, and in the back—an enormous bed fit for royalty.
I sank into the plush seat and sighed in bliss.
This chair… is softer than any bed I had in my old world. Who would miss their past life when they've got something like this? It's like sitting on a cloud—my butt's never been so happy…
Tokito: "This carriage isn't bad at all. Is it exclusive to us?"
Kortus: "Yes, my lord. This vehicle was crafted solely for the Demon King and his bloodline."
Tokito: "And what about the trash protecting us?"
Kortus: "They'll surround us on horseback, my lord. In the event of an attack, they'll serve as your shield."
Ah, I see. So that's the idea… Wait—a meat shield? Do we really need something like that?
As I stared at Kortus, a knock came from the carriage door. The wooden lock clicked, and Nanagi stepped in. She knelt before me, head bowed.
Nanagi: "My lord, we'll be departing shortly. For your safety, please remain inside. This carriage is protected by special magic—you'll be safe here."
Tokito: "And what if you trash soldiers die? Are we just supposed to waste our military strength like that?"
Nanagi: "Even if we die, reinforcements will stop the enemy at designated points. The moment we fall, others will take our place."
…What is she saying? A doctor would never abandon someone to die. I'm not following that plan—absolutely not! Even if I'm just five years old, I'll do everything I can if something goes wrong.
Tokito: "Do whatever you want."
After Nanagi stepped down, she mounted a horse and took her place. With that, the journey began. Passing through three regions, our destination was the transition from the Loropis region to Veldoria.
The journey would take five days.
And no one knew what awaited us at the end of that road.