Episode 10: The Mob Prince Creates the Ideal Sword [Hypnos’s Demon Sword]
“Now, this is the magic of [Sleep] (Hypnos),” Luna-sama said.
“Wow~! The bird fell asleep!”
Inside the Prison Tower, Luna-sama was teaching us siblings magic.
When Mother cast her spell, the little bird in the cage tilted its head and fell asleep. Diana peered into the cage with sparkling eyes.
“Alright, Diana, try it.”
“Yes, Mother!”
Diana replied energetically, held her hand out towards the other bird, and chanted [Sleep] (Hypnos).
However, the bird continued to chirp as if nothing had happened.
“Muu~! Please sleep, please!”
Diana puffed out her cheeks and commanded, but nothing changed.
Mind-manipulation magic affects the target’s brain, making it difficult to handle. Unlike attack magic, it doesn’t always work.
In the game, even if you maximized the success rate of [Sleep] (Hypnos), 80% was the limit.
“Dia, I’m not good at this!”
“But it seems like the magic itself is activating. That’s amazing, Dia.”
“R-Really, Brother Luke…?”
When I praised her, Diana seemed pleased and cheered up.
“Luke is right. Besides, if you can master the magic of [Sleep] (Hypnos), you can get out of a pinch without hurting anyone. It might be tough, but do your best.”
Mother gently encouraged Diana.
Dark Elves are known as a battle-loving race that enjoys seeing blood, but Mother had a kind and gentle personality.
I’m proud of Mother for that.
“Okay, I will!”
Diana tried several more times, but the bird didn’t fall asleep.
“I-I still can’t do it… Dia isn’t a genius like Brother Luke!”
“…Genius? My magic is pretty inconvenient, though.”
Being told that by the unparalleled mage who will one day reign as the Demon Lord, I can only offer a wry smile.
“In the first place, it’s impossible for me, who has no talent, to use [Sleep] (Hypnos) magic.”
“What are you saying, Brother Luke? You’re a super genius! The strongest in the world, the coolest in the world, the best brother in the world!”
Diana, looking up at me, seemed to genuinely believe it.
Being told that by my cute little sister makes me feel ticklish.
“Then, Luke, you try it next. Put the little bird to sleep without hurting it.”
“Okay, Mother.”
While chanting [Dark Edge], I silently cast the spell of [Sleep] (Hypnos) in my mind, combining the two spells. Furthermore, I adjusted it so that the attack power was reduced to zero.
“[Hypnos’s Demon Sword]!”
When I pierced the bird with the dark blade extending from my palm, the bird instantly fainted.
However, its body was completely unharmed. I succeeded in reaping only the bird’s consciousness, putting it to sleep.
“Wow, Brother, that’s amazing! You put it to sleep in an instant! Ah, and the bird isn’t hurt at all!”
Diana looked at me with eyes full of respect.
“That’s amazing, Luke!”
“There’s still room for improvement, but it went better than I expected, Mother.”
It’s a big deal that I can now incorporate the difficult-to-handle mind-manipulation magic into [Dark Edge].
By applying [Hypnos’s Demon Sword] to the target, I could directly affect the brain through the nerves, making it more immediate and reliable than regular [Sleep] (Hypnos).
This is a useful demon sword.
“I think that [Hypnos’s Demon Sword] is the ideal form of a sword. It can end conflicts without hurting anyone!”
Mother clasped her hands together, deeply moved.
“Eh, really…?”
I was a little taken aback by her exaggerated words.
“Yes, yes, listen carefully, Luke. The reason our clan—the Dark Elves—was destroyed was because we were a race that loved to fight. That’s why we incurred the hatred of people.”
Mother continued with a serious face.
“If you hurt people, the consequences will come back to you. I don’t want Luke and Diana to live such unhappy lives. That’s why your sword is ideal.”
“…U-Um, I understand, Mother.”
I agreed because I didn’t want to hurt Mother.
Mother is kind, but even so, I think that idea is too naive.
I knew that there were hopeless scumbags in this world, and kindness and pacifism were completely useless against them.
My father from my previous life and Emperor Alvaise are prime examples of that.
If it’s to protect Mother and Diana from them, I won’t hesitate to get my hands dirty.
“Diana, you understand too, right? That’s why you have to work hard on the magic of [Sleep] (Hypnos).”
“Yes, Mother!”
Diana seemed to be nodding without fully understanding the meaning.
I took this opportunity to emphasize it.
“That’s right, Diana. You must never hurt others, let alone take their lives.”
Diana’s flag for falling into darkness and becoming the Demon Lord must be completely crushed.
To that end, education from a young age is important, and it’s enough for me alone to get my hands dirty and be hated by others.
“Yes, of course! I will never do something like last time again! People die when they’re embedded in walls, right!”
“If that’s the case, then good.”
As a reward, I patted Diana’s head.
Diana smiled happily.
“Luke, that’s wonderful. Yes, that’s right. I’m so happy that you’ve grown up to be such a good boy!”
Mother hugged both of us tightly.
I smelled a good fragrance like flowers, and I felt the utmost bliss.
“Hehe. Dia also wants to become an amazing mage like Brother someday.”
“If you work hard, Diana, you’ll surely catch up to Luke.”
“If it’s Dia, you can definitely become one 100%, so don’t worry.”
“Really!? I’m so happy!”
At that moment, there was a knock on the door.
“Excuse me, may I have a moment, Princess Luna?”
The voice was Count Saint-Germain.
He’s about the only oddball who comes in and out of this Prison Tower.
“It’s fine. Please, come in.”
Mother cast [Dispel] on the bird to awaken it.
This was a measure to erase the traces of my [Hypnos’s Demon Sword].
Mother was taking every precaution to ensure that my true power was never known to others.
Mother hoped that one day, I alone could escape from here and live freely.
Knowing that Diana would eventually be sent to the battlefield, Mother seemed to be in constant pain.
I think this training in the magic of [Sleep] (Hypnos) is Mother’s best effort to resist the Emperor.
“Actually, this maid has expressed her desire to serve Luna-dono…”
“Eh, she wants to serve me?”
“Excuse me, Luna-sama.”
Entering with Saint-Germain was the maid I had helped with Mother from Empress Camilla.
The maid bowed respectfully.
“My name is Miseria. I have asked Empress Camilla for leave. From now on, I would like to serve Luna-sama.”
“Ah, I appreciate the offer, but… if you do such a thing, you will become isolated in the Imperial Court. Besides, I can’t even pay you a decent salary, is that alright?”
Mother seemed perplexed.
“Of course. If I stay by that person’s side any longer, I might lose my life, and I want to repay Luna-sama for her kindness, even if just a little!”
Miseria said with flushed cheeks. It seemed she was serious. It’s a blessing that someone has appeared who will side with Mother.
“That’s great, Mother.”
“Oh, well then, I’m in your care, Miseria.”
“Yes! Thank you very much, Lord Luke, as well.”
Miseria said that and bowed her head over and over again.
Perhaps, at this rate, the number of people who side with us will increase.
“Muu! Miseria-san. Even if Brother Luke is handsome, don’t make any strange advances!”
Diana puffed out her cheeks.
“Haa…?”
“Diana is really attached to her brother, isn’t she? It’s heartwarming.”
Yeah, it is, but…
Miseria is dumbfounded, and hasn’t Diana’s brother complex been accelerating lately?
“Also, Lord Luke. Permission has been granted by His Majesty the Emperor. The renowned S-rank adventurer, Lord Gaine, will be your swordsmanship instructor.”
“Is that so? Thank you very much, Count Saint-Germain!”
Even more good news was conveyed.
Alright, with this, I can climb to even greater heights.
My chest swelled with anticipation.