Fractured Princes and the Mad Dog's Tofu Knights
The word in spoken three times is enough to make one a member of the alliance—and the continent's sole empire, Efer. Widest territory. Largest population. Greatest power. If the Holy Nation is the heart and the kingdoms along with the demi-humans are the limbs, then Efer serves as the alliance's vital backbone, an indispensable nation. True to its imperial stature, it has held firm and will continue to do so. Yet even this crucial Efer Empire faces its share of problems.
"Bro. You out of your mind?"
"Watch your mouth, Arhen."
"I'm being careful enough as it is. Or should I just straight-up ask if you're crazy?"
One of those problems: the imperial family growing ever more divided.
"You trying to seize the crown prince spot for real this time?"
"Know the difference between what you should say and what you shouldn't."
Wilhelm glared at his younger brother, the Third Prince Arhen. How could someone so clueless spout such nonsense? This fool could probably use a good beating from Cain to knock some sense into him. Why does Cain only torment me like this? Why me alone?
"What the hell are you planning to do by unleashing that mad dog? He's already wrecked over ten knight orders!"
"He must have his reasons."
Call him a mad dog all you want—he doesn't bite without cause. Cain isn't a real dog, after all. He's human, more or less. That's why you can question him. That's why it's okay to sink your teeth in. Though honestly, sometimes I doubt if he's even human.
"Reasons? Fine, let's say he does. But this part just doesn't add up no matter how I think about it. Why target only the knight orders tied to me?"
"That's..."
"The ones loyal to you seem fine, don't they?"
Because they didn't want another thrashing from the mad dog. If something went wrong with knights who followed him, he'd come charging at me yelling it was great—just to beat the crap out of me! All I did was give them a little mental re-education to keep them alive!
"I'm just good at managing them, that's all."
"Ha! You weren't like this back at the start of the war. What wind blew up your ass?"
The reason Arhen kept watching and suspecting him: Wilhelm's personality hadn't always been like this. Arrogant. Cantankerous. Treating others like dirt. The textbook spoiled imperial prince. The villainess's destined partner. That was the fate Wilhelm was meant to follow.
The First Prince had lost the crown prince seat for some reason. Until a few years ago, Wilhelm had the worst reputation of all. Thus, the Third Prince Arhen was the frontrunner. And rightly so—Arhen was capable, with a decent personality. Sure, his ambition was a bit much, but he had the chops for it. He'd worked tirelessly to claim the throne himself.
"Looks like you want the crown prince spot after all now."
So it made sense for him to be wary of his brother Wilhelm. The man had suddenly changed into a normal person.
"Everyone knows you're tight with that mad dog."
Wilhelm could only scoff at Arhen's words. Tight? I'm his punching bag, the sack he beats whenever he's bored!
"I don't know what strings you pulled to get him on your side, but..."
You could do it too, Arhen. My dear brother. Three days and nights of beatings, and you'd be buddies. Though you'd have to beg to stay alive the whole time.
"I'm never giving up on the crown prince seat. Remember that."
Go ahead. I couldn't. I don't want to get beaten even after becoming emperor. And with our ages being the same, it feels like I'll be punching bag for life. An emperor getting thrashed by a commoner? Might as well hang myself.
"Because your knights have so many issues? Fine. I'll start watching everyone who follows you from now on. And if there's a problem, I'll call it out publicly. Let's see that mad dog do the same then."
"Do whatever you want."
Wilhelm clicked his tongue as Arhen stormed off first. If only that kid would take a beating—he'd turn into a real person...
...Damn it.
To think he was having thoughts like that. No one but him. He'd been beaten so much, he'd gone mad himself. Wilhelm could only laugh bitterly at himself.
Meanwhile—
"..."
Walking down the imperial palace corridor, Arhen bit his lip.
It was going so well. Back at the war's start, it was clear as day.
He hadn't openly shown his ambition for the crown prince seat long, but in truth, Arhen had wanted it for ages.
By imperial law, royals could only marry domestic nobles. There was one exception: the crown prince. He could wed a foreigner for the empire's benefit.
From the moment I saw her that day, my future was set.
As a child, he'd visited the Kasen Kingdom by chance. There, he'd seen her—a girl who was an angel incarnate. Arhen had lost his soul to her. Their brief conversation had been sweeter than honey. That girl became his future, his hope, his dream.
On the day he left Kasen, Arhen swore it. He would stand by her side. With the qualifications to do so. With the power to make it happen. He would become a man worthy of embracing her openly!
"Estelle."
His first love, his eternal love—the one he longed to meet even in dreams. For her, Arhen resolved to become crown prince. Princes couldn't wed foreign nobles, after all.
Interference... I won't tolerate it. No matter who.
Even if it was his own blood brother. Even if it was that legendary demon slayer of the Demon War, Cain!
Clenching his fist, Arhen strode forward.
"Did I ever mention? Before possession, I loved soft tofu. Fits anywhere. Hell, even in ramen, it amps up the flavor."
Not expensive. Easy to digest. Protein-packed. Red stews, white soups, even a dash of soy—just poke it in. Nothing more perfect, he raved on.
"Knight buddies. No replies? Am I monologuing here?"
"Guhhh..."
Unfortunately, not a single knight could muster human speech. Pain and fear had utterly paralyzed their reason. All their brains could relay through their mouths: screams of agony and pleas for mercy.
"Wish there was a penalty every time I rambled about possession. Demons get stronger or I get weaker. Ah, but soft tofu sounds good right now."
He'd once asked how to develop soft tofu here. The reply? Commoners eat whatever. Felt slighted. So he turned the guy into soft tofu. Same with these knights. A good pounding mashed their innards perfectly. Indeed, nothing reformed minds like tofu-making.
"Hm."
Ground to a pulp, so healthy spirits should have settled in by now? Time to check if their livers absorbed well, like the other orders.
"Demon!"
Like the boy shepherd crying wolf, he cupped his hands to his mouth and bellowed.
"A demon has appeared!!"
"Hiiiieeeek!!"
"A demon has appeared! Demon!!"
The tofu's effects were miraculous! The pulverized knights sprang up!
More beatings? Or hunt demons? At survival's crossroads, they chose wisely!
"Demons! Find the demons! Slay them!"
"We must kill the demons! Kill to survive!!"
"Everyone, battle stations! Exterminate every demon!"
""Exterminate!!!""
Uniform. Perfect. Knights through and through. They formed ranks, ready to charge.
At their knight commander's order, every knight moved as one.
Correction: thanks to the mad dog's special training.
"Ooh. Now that's more like knights."
Cain clapped in satisfaction. Yeah. They could do it if they tried. People just need a little prod sometimes. Poke the ribs once, and they shape up.
"Kill the demons! Where! Where are they!"
"Search! Find them! Find the demons!!"
"Waaaah!!"
He gazed fondly at the knights turned chimp-like.
"Correction. Demon captured. Situation over."
"S-situation over! The demon is dead!"
""The demon is deaaad!!-""
The knights collapsed, souls drained. They'd hustle hard for at least a year now. Expiration date up? Mash 'em again.
"How many orders does that make?"
Knight detachments stationed for demon outbreaks. Over two days, half arrived late. The rest weren't great but met deadline. Laggards got merciless mental reform. Plenty rebelled, knight pride and all—even knowing it was Cain. He didn't love the defiance, but it was fine. Guts like that stood firm before demons.
One problem: missing deadline. Dawdling to arrive late.
So what'd he do? Fixed it. Now, at the mere word "demon," they'd Pavlov's-dog leap into action.
"If the empire's like this, the kingdoms must be a mess."
Couldn't touch kingdom knights, sadly. Diplomatic issues.
—Nah, different reason.
Who'd clean up the corpses?
Efer wasn't empire for nothing. Far stronger. Neighboring Kasen could barely keep up. Others? Their elite knights matched Efer's average. Do this to them, and it'd be body cleanup.
"How the hell do I handle this."
Wanted to drill some discipline into kingdom knights too. Any mana restraining cuffs around? Those would let him beat softer.
A broad grin spread across Cain's face. That's it. Why didn't he think sooner? Teleport back to the capital via magic circle. Then find Yuris of the Special Forces.
"Yuris! One favor..."
Yuris turned at Cain's arrival.
"What is it, Cain."
"Sir Cain."
From her left shoulder across to her right chest, a long gash oozed red blood.
"The celebration party was just attacked."
The alliance formation gala lasted three days total. Cain had attended the first. Today, the finale, shit hit.
"We rescued most key figures, but..."
"Who's still trapped?"
"Five imperial nobles and two from Kasen Kingdom."
Demons weren't monsters. They took hostages.
Trouble. Cain sighed.
"Out of my way! Move it!!"
"I'll drag every last one of my border count's knights here!!"
Glancing over: Prince Frintz and Border Count Evan. Why the meltdown? He got it quick.
"Yuris. Any chance Estelle's among Kasen's unrescued?"
"How did you know? She stayed to evacuate others and got caught herself."
"Sigh."
No wonder the male leads were losing it. Yeah, if the heroine's nabbed, freak out's standard.
"Third Prince is rushing over too, upon hearing."
"Wasn't he at the party?"
"Heard he met Second Prince at the palace."
"So he stepped out, and boom."
"He's grinding his teeth over you, Sir Cain."
Over me? Not the demons?
His face twisted in bewilderment.
"You've been holding his knights for three days straight."
"I didn't hold them—they got held. Why blame me."
As Yuris treated her wound, Cain asked.
"What're the demons saying? Sudden hostage stunt."
"They have demands."
"Bet they want me, huh?"
Yuris shook her head at Cain's eager hope. He deflated like a sad puppy.
"There's someone nearby with the saint's destiny."
"Saint?"
"They say eliminate the future saint before they awaken—bring them."
"Can't they find the candidate themselves?"
"That's what I said."
"Demons, man."
Tsking, Cain stripped off his clothes. Yuris flushed, covering her eyes—though peeking through the gap.
"C-Cain? What the— I-I mean, I'm not complaining!!"
"Grab me a priest robe or something."
"...Pardon?"
"Sounds like even demons don't know who has the saint's fate."
Real or fake, who cares.
"Time for a surprise party."