NOVEL NEXT Chapter 5
Chapter 5: Education as a Demon
“Milady! Zilbagias isn’t studying at all!”
I was reported.
Here I am, sitting on a tiny bone chair in front of my mother, the arrogant demon.
I ended up getting a serious lecture because I’ve been exploring instead of studying.
This chair is what demons call the ‘Seat of Self-Reflection’ and is painfully uncomfortable—my butt hurts!—used for scolding children or subordinates.
It’s a really tiny chair, just the right size for a child like me. For a grown-up (and a proud demon at that) to be forced to sit here, it must be quite humiliating.
What pure harassment.
“Zilbagias.”
With a snap of her fan, my mother opened her mouth.
“…Yes, Mother.”
I still resist calling this demon my mother. I have only one real mother.
Those cruel, icy blue eyes stare me down—eyes that don’t seem suited for a parent.
A coldly beautiful demon, that’s my mother, “Platiphia.”
Her nickname is “Platy,” a cute name that doesn’t match her appearance, but only higher relatives and the Demon Lord are allowed to call her that.
…That Demon Lord calls her “Platy,” and they have some kind of relationship? I can’t quite imagine it. I suspect Platy’s just claiming they’re close for appearances.
“I know you want to get stronger. That’s a good thing.”
Ignoring my inner thoughts, Platy started to speak slowly.
“It’s fine that you dislike studying. Nobody expects you to become a scholar…”
Platy leaned forward from the sofa, peering at me.
“You’ll become the Demon Lord, Zilbagias.”
Her eyes clouded with intense emotion.
The air thickened around us. Platy often hits me with these words, almost like she’s been doing it since I was a baby. It feels imprinted in my mind.
“……..”
She stared quietly, waiting for my reaction.
…I’ll say it again, I just want to kill the Demon Lord; I don’t want to become one. …Staring at me with those eyes just leaves me confused.
After a moment of my silence with an awkward expression, Platy sighed in exasperation and leaned back on the sofa.
“Goodness, even as my child… My strength is truly something, isn’t it? Don’t you think so? Sophia?”
“Yes, Milady. …I think she’s remarkably stubborn, in various ways.”
Sophia nodded in agreement, looking just as tired.
“Hey, Zilbagias. Do you really hate studying that much?”
“I dislike it.”
If asked whether I like it or not, I have no trouble answering.
“…Well, I can relate. I disliked it when I was small too.”
Platy rubbed her forehead in a motherly way, like someone troubled by parenting.
“Seriously, you need at least basic reading and writing skills for your future. Before becoming a Demon Lord, you can’t even read your subordinates’ reports. And more importantly, you’ll just be made fun of… Oh, what other princes’ mothers would say…”
Her beautiful face twisted with hatred.
“They say the first prince, Aiogias, mastered reading, writing, and math by the age of three. His mother has been bragging about it nonstop. You better learn faster than him; otherwise, I’ll be the one suffering!”
As she spoke, her mood darkened further, and she wore an expression unfit for public display. Her grip tightened, and her fan shattered due to the pressure.
It seems like the rivalry between mothers is also mixed in… I felt a strange sentiment, but at that moment, I realized something important.
I, myself, know that I can read and write at a basic level.
But these “people” believe I’m a complete illiterate who can’t even count beyond my fingers.
…That’s definitely a problem; it makes sense they’d feel a sense of crisis.
I thought studying reading and writing was a waste of time, but I’ve seen most of the areas in the Demon Lord Castle I can access now, and it might be wise to show a willingness to study a bit.
However, after all the trouble I’ve caused before, suddenly being obedient might seem unnatural for a demon, so I was at a loss…
As I was pondering this:
“Oh! I’ve thought of a great idea!”
Platy, who also seemed troubled, suddenly smacked the armrest of the sofa.
“Sophia!”
“Yes, Milady!”
“If Zilbagias refuses to study, I’ll allow forceful measures.”
Sophia jumped up with delight at Platy’s words.
“Yay! So that means if he says something cheeky next, I get to punch him in the face without holding back!?”
I couldn’t help but double-take at Sophia. While pretending to indulge my whims, she was actually about to snap! I recognized I was a brat too!!
“Hmm, that’s true…”
Platy pondered. No, just answer right away. Is there any doubt about this?
I’m a prince, right? It would be unacceptable if my attendants punched me!
“That’s still not allowed.”
Still…?
“Avoid injuries that require treatment. He’s way too young to learn the pains of battle. I won’t have him become weak out of fear of pain.”
“So how much is okay?”
“A bruise should be acceptable.”
“Yay!”
Sophia raised her hands in joy.
Her grin, displaying her canine teeth, was definitely that of a demon.
“That said, just a regular fight won’t mean anything, and if he’s too beaten up to focus on studying, that defeats the purpose. So let’s set some rules.”
As she tried to open her fan, she noticed it was broken.
Immediately, a Night Elf maid, who was in the corner of the room, offered a replacement fan.
“Zilbagias. If you really dislike studying, compete with Sophia.”
With an arrogant smile hiding behind the fan, Platy declared.
“In hand-to-hand combat, if you land even one hit on Sophia, you win. That day, you can do as you please. On the other hand, if Sophia throws you to the ground three… no, five times, you lose. Then you’ll have to study for a quiet hour. After a break, if you still don’t want to study, we’ll fight again.”
…With those conditions, I definitely…
“Isn’t that a significant advantage for Zilbagias, Milady?”
“Oh, it’s considering your abilities too.”
Well, even though I have the physique of a five-year-old human, they’d need to give me that handicap for a fair fight. Sophia’s small but still falls into the adult category.
“Zilbagias. For us demons, ‘strength is everything.’ If you want to do as you wish, resist with force.”
Ah, such an irritatingly demon-like way of speaking.
“This experience will make you even stronger… Sophia, what about today’s study?”
“Not yet, Milady!!”
Sophia is equally enthusiastic.
“…Can Sophia actually fight?”
A simple question. You can’t judge a demon by appearance, that much is certain, but compared to the demons I fought during my hero days, Sophia… just doesn’t seem suited for brawling.
“Don’t be silly, young master. I’m a demon of knowledge, you know? What do you think I learned first from all my fellow demons?”
Sophia answered with a bright smile.
“From hand-to-hand combat to spear techniques, I learned them all! I pride myself on being able to perfectly replicate them!”
Her freshness got overshadowed by her ferocity.
“So… I won’t be an obstacle to your ‘education.'”
Haha, she sure talks big.
What does an intermediate demon think she is…?
“Now, young master, will you obediently study today?”
…To be honest.
Once I realized my misunderstanding, I thought it’d be better to study obediently to avoid trouble.
But a demon who conforms to this flow—such a thing just doesn’t exist.
“I refuse.”
As I stood up, I made my answer clear.
“I see. Then…”
Sophia laughed as if she was having the time of her life.
“It’s time for your study, young master.”
In a flash, her black and red butler outfit fluttered.
Without any hesitation, Sophia’s fist slammed into me.