Revelio was the emperor of the Orias Empire. He was the great sovereign who had led humanity to victory against the demonkin and ushered in the golden age of the empire. Revelio was a ruler beloved by the people, praised for establishing the most powerful imperial authority in the empire's long history.
Seven years had passed since the Demon Realm Expedition ended, and the continent had enjoyed an era of peace unprecedented in its chronicles. At the very center of that peace stood Emperor Revelio himself.
Yet such an emperor was, at this moment, facing the gravest threat to his life.
"Argh! Halo, your grip is too strong!" Revelio wheezed.
"Father," Halo said, "I heard rumors that you were thinking of taking new concubines."
"W-Who said that? I have never entertained such thoughts. You know your mother is the only one for me! Those rumors came merely from—ah—diplomatic negotiations with the Pajar Sultanate to strengthen our all—" Revelio replied nervously, but was cut off.
"Father," Halo interrupted.
"Yes?" Revelio responded.
"You know what will happen if you bring in a concubine, right?" Halo asked in a threatening tone.
"O-Of course, Halo! Hahaha! Your mother and you children are all I need," Revelio answered.
Halo Karien, prince of the empire, was the only person in the world who could threaten the emperor's life.
The young prince—soon to celebrate his eighth birthday—looked up at his father with an expression that was nothing short of disapproving.
"Hmm... Halo, are you finished with today's lessons?" Revelio asked carefully.
"Yes. And it is time for our exercise together. Why do you keep trying to change the subject?" Halo pointed out.
"...My muscles still ache from yesterday," Revelio replied nervously.
"That is normal," Halo said matter-of-factly. "You trained your lower body yesterday. Since your legs are sore, today we will train your upper body. We will work on our chest and shoulders. People always say national strength comes from physical strength. For the empire to remain strong, its sovereign must remain strong."
Halo was a frighteningly well-put-together child.
Revelio trembled slightly as he looked down at his son. He thought, Everyone calls him a genius... but something always feels off...
Halo was a lovable child, yes. But sometimes...
...Does a name shape a person? Revelio wondered.
Halo's behavior sometimes reminded Revelio of Duke Halo Leston himself. People always said a person's life followed the weight of their name... and he was beginning to think it could be true.
As a mage, he ought not to believe in superstition. And yet lately, Revelio had been learning the hard way that names mattered.
"Must we exercise?" Revelio asked desperately. "What about going to town together?"
"That only troubles the knights," Halo answered.
"No need to worry about that," Revelio said cheerfully. "I installed a secret teleportation circle. We can slip out of the palace undetected."
"Ha..." Halo let out a deep sigh, stretched lightly, and continued, "Father, if you keep this up, I will have no choice but to drag you there."
"H-How dare you! I am still your father!" Revelio shouted.
"Will you walk on your own, or must I drag you?" Halo asked firmly.
It was the scene of an unfilial act.
"Gulp," Revelio swallowed a mouthful of fear as he stared at his son.
He wondered if patricide was simply part of the Leston bloodline. He couldn't believe how a mere seven-year-old could speak such terrifying words.
Worse yet—Halo's physical ability already surpassed that of Revelio, a full-grown adult.
Halo Karien was a monster. Despite his small body, firm muscles were visible beneath his clothes. There was no doubt that the blood of the Ducal Family of Leston carried monsters within it.
Revelio wiped away cold sweat and forced a smile, then asked, "Well then... Shall we warm up a little?"
"You made the right choice," Halo said.
Revelio recalled something Mason had once said...
"Your Majesty, Prince Halo will reach a level similar to Sir Caron's. His very nature is different from ordinary people. If possible... Avoid provoking him..."
When even an 8-Star knight said such things...
"My life..." Revelio whispered bleakly.
He wondered where his dignity had gone as a father.
"Father, are you happy?" Halo asked, tilting his head.
"...Of course," Revelio said. "By the way, where is Razlie?"
"Razlie went to Azureocean Castle. Grandfather Dales took her," Halo answered.
Razlie Karien was his beloved daughter, darling to the core. Unlike Halo, she was always sweet and affectionate—a source of life's joy.
Revelio slumped his shoulders and accepted his fate. Training with Halo was a nightmare—but admittedly, it worked. He had gained muscle, and waking up in the morning felt easier.
As Revelio was dragged toward the training hall like livestock bound for slaughter, a man stepped out, speaking like a mischievous villain. "You two seem quite close. Honestly, I'm jealous."
"Caron!" Revelio cried.
"Why are you acting like this?" Caron asked.
"My brother-in-law!" Revelio added, then rushed toward Caron dramatically, and whispered as soon as he reached him, "Please save me. My son is already trying to take my throne."
"That's wonderful news," Caron said cheerfully. "Then hand over the throne and come travel with me."
"I still have so much work left!" Revelio replied.
"Halo will handle it," Caron said.
Caron Leston, the hero of the continent, had returned to the palace after a long time. His skin was slightly sun-tanned. Only a few days ago, he'd returned from vacation on a southern island.
Caron slipped a basket from his pouch of dimensional space—filled with fresh tropical fruits.
"A gift," Caron said. "Share these with Leon."
"The palace already has these fruits," Revelio replied.
"They're blessed with holy water. Seria poured it for me on my way here. They're blessed fruit, so they should be good for you. Make sure Leon and Razlie eat them," Caron explained.
At that, Halo frowned and asked, "What about me, Uncle Caron?"
"You? You little brat, get your own. Must I spoon-feed the prince of the empire?" Caron snapped.
"That's hurtful," Halo replied.
"Anyway, what were you two doing?" Caron asked.
Revelio answered with desperate eyes, "I have work—important work—and Halo wants me to exercise. If you, his uncle, tell him no, he'll listen. He listens to you even when he ignores me!"
Caron was his last hope. If Caron had saved the world from the Demon Realm, surely he could save Revelio from his terrifying son.
But that hope shattered instantly.
"That's a great idea," Caron said. "No matter how busy you are, you must train."
"...W-What?" Revelio stuttered.
"Revelio, physical strength is national strength," Caron added.
"W-Why are you saying the same thing he does...?" Revelio asked.
"Come on. Stop stalling and let's train. I need to stretch, too. Halo? Grab your father's arm. I'll take the other side," Caron said.
"Yes, Uncle," Halo answered.
The emperor was escorted away by two monsters. Revelio couldn't even resist. He was dragged helplessly toward the training yard.
One of the Imperial Guards, watching the scene unfold in silence from afar, asked worriedly, "Vice-Commander... Should we intervene? I fear His Majesty's body may not withstand this..."
The vice-commander of the Imperial Guards, Amy Altura, let out a long sigh and said, "Even if His Majesty gets hurt, Sir Caron will fix him."
"I don't quite understand. If they injure him, they injure him—how would he fix—" one of the Imperial Guards began, but was cut off.
"That way, he can bully His Majesty for a long, long time," Amy interrupted.
"...Ah."
"Remember this," Amy said sharply. "The most dangerous man in the empire—the one you must never provoke—is that madman. And next is... His Highness the Prince standing beside him. Understood?"
"Yes! I will remember!" the Imperial Guard answered.
They were the mad dog of the Imperial Palace and the mad dog of the Ducal Family of Leston. Halo Karien and Caron Leston had already become names of terror among the palace staff.
Amy sighed again—deep enough to crack the floor. The duties of the Imperial Guards seemed to grow harder with every passing day.
***
To put it bluntly, Emperor Revelio was carried straight to the medical wing, groaning about muscle pain from head to toe.
In truth, it was nothing serious. The muscle pain sounded dramatic, but his constitution was simply weak; his recovery had always been slow. That was all.
After the emperor was hauled away, Caron and Halo strolled out together into the Imperial Garden as if nothing unusual had happened.
Caron glanced around to make sure no ears were close, then asked quietly, "I've been dying to ask you something."
"Go ahead, Uncle," Halo said politely.
"How long are you planning to keep up that innocent act? Seriously, how did you maintain that persona for seven whole years?" Caron asked.
"I honestly have no idea what you're talking about, Uncle," Halo said with a pure, earnest face. Then he asked, "Uncle Caron, may I ask you something? Just one thing, really seriously?"
"Sure," Caron said.
"Seeing how you keep suspecting me... I think you might be one of those conspiracy-theory fanatics. Shouldn't you go get counseling? Maybe visit Saintess Seria and ask for healing? That kind of obsession is definitely an illness. A real illness," Halo said.
Halo Karien spoke with an incredibly shameless expression. The prince—still tiny, barely reaching Caron's waist—was openly playing him like a fiddle.
Caron briefly considered drawing the sword at his hip and whacking the brat with it. Commitment to the bit, truly. Halo had practically been born declaring that he was Halo Leston, and yet he acted as if playing dumb was a sacred duty.
It was an invincible shield.
He could verbally beat up his uncle and then say, Oh, but I'm not Halo Leston, and everything would reset.
"But Uncle," Halo added.
"What, you little brat?" Caron replied.
"Did you bring liquor? You drink out here every day," Halo asked.
"Of course I did," Caron answered, then sat down at his usual spot.
It was the very spot where he had first drunk with Halo Leston. Years had passed, but this place never changed. The cushion of neatly packed soil was still perfect.
"I swiped some whiskey from the Zion Kingdom during my trip. Want a drink?" Caron asked.
"Well, if you offer it, then yes—" Halo began, but was cut off.
"Get lost," Caron interrupted. "A kid who's still wet behind the ears wants to drink already? Just go have a glass of milk."
He laughed at Halo, uncorked the bottle, and took a hearty gulp. Caron was a lunatic—drinking in the Imperial Garden with a child prince.
That was Caron Leston.
Halo watched Caron with a look of pure disappointment. Then, from the pouch Caron had tossed him, he pulled out a strip of jerky and flicked it toward Caron's mouth.
"Ha! Look at my nephew's throwing skills," Caron remarked.
"I was trying to kill you with that throw," Halo said.
"How can you kill someone with—" Caron began, but couldn't finish his sentence.
Sshhk!
The jerky, infused with mana, punched straight through a stone wall.
Caron couldn't say anything. He agreed that, at that level, jerky could kill a man. In fact, Halo could probably kill someone with a leaf. Such was the power of someone who had once reached 9-Star.
"I'll see how long you can keep up your act," Caron said.
"Since you're already in the palace, you really should go to the medical wing. I can put in a word for you," Halo said dryly.
"Tsk tsk. You have no manners— Hey!" Caron shouted. The bottle in Caron's hand vanished.
Somehow, it was already in Halo's.
"Why drink something tasty all by yourself?" Halo asked.
"Know your place. Even I waited until I was ten to drink—" Caron began, but was cut off.
"Mm, I doubt that," Halo interrupted.
"Children who drink alcohol don't grow taller," Caron said.
"I'll just break it down with mana right away. Please mind your own business, Uncle," Halo insisted.
Gulp.
Halo briskly hid his body and took a sip from the bottle, chewing on finely shredded jerky afterward.
"This feels as if I'm committing a huge crime," Caron muttered. He wondered if it was fine, as an uncle, to let his nephew drink like this.
But calling him just a nephew was tricky. Halo was also the reincarnation of Caron's closest friend.
It was a dilemma with no comfortable answer.
As Caron grimaced, Halo said lightly, "Now you understand how I felt a little, right?"
"What feeling?" Caron asked.
"Oh, you know," Halo answered with a smile.
They felt good, though.
Halo being born a prince was inconvenient, but once he grew up, he'd be good company. He would likely be named crown prince soon, and later become emperor...
But Revelio will live a long life, Caron thought.
There was plenty of time.
The two kept drinking together, snatching the bottle back and forth.
"Oh, right, Uncle," Halo said. "Did you hear the news?"
"What news?" Caron asked.
"I heard child kidnappings have been happening more often in the capital lately," Halo said.
"Ah. Yes, I heard that on the way in," Caron said.
It was an era of peace and prosperity, but shadows never vanished completely. A string of child abductions almost certainly meant an organized group was behind it.
"The investigation is ongoing. They'll catch them soon," Caron said.
"Hmm," Halo responded.
"Why? Did you suddenly take an interest?" Caron asked.
"Children my age are getting kidnapped. Of course I'm interested," Halo replied.
Caron sensed it immediately. This insane prince was about to cause trouble.
Caron glared at him and warned him, "Don't even think about it. When a prince causes trouble, the scale grows huge."
"Um... I don't think you should be the one to tell me that, Uncle," Halo said.
"If you take a single step—" Caron began, but was interrupted by something.
It was a furious beauty storming out from behind the bushes. She glared at Caron and Halo, switching between them, then clenched her fists and declared, "You two are dead today."
"Leon! I told him not to drink! It's all Halo, that little brat—" Caron began.
"Little brat? Halo is my son, not yours," Leon snapped.
It was Leon Leston, Empress of the Orias Empire.
Halo immediately tossed the bottle to Caron and shouted, "Uncle forced me to drink!"
Leon placed a hand atop Halo's head and said, "Halo Karien."
"Yes, Mother," Halo answered nervously.
"What did I say I would do if you lied?" Leon asked Halo.
"...You said you'd bury me in the garden..." Halo answered in a quiet voice.
"That's right. And that's why I, your mother, brought a shovel," Leon said.
Leon Leston—the empress and an 8-Star knight—released a wave of Azure Mana as she smiled sweetly.
Moments later...
"Leon! I'm innocent!" Caron shouted.
"I'm sorry, Mother—!" Halo cried.
The screams of two mad dogs echoed through the Imperial Garden.