Bell Hyuk Project: Activation
The very first thing I did upon waking up from the Bell Hyuk Project was ponder how to handle the Second Prince.
"That Second Prince is one complicated bastard in every way."
Honestly, the fastest way to resolve everything would be to strip him of all his positions and aides, and if I really wanted to wrap it up in a flash, just kill him outright. After all, it was the quickest way to yank out the root of the problem.
But I couldn't do that.
'Can't hand the protagonist a free experience point event.'
I had zero interest in sparking some revenge storyline for him. In romance fantasies, male leads were basically heroines themselves. And someone like the Second Prince? He'd be a pretty major heroine type, vying for the main wife spot.
Just casually offing a guy like that? The moment I did, the protagonist's empire revenge arc would kick off.
'That'd only spike the doom probability even higher.'
Romance fantasy protagonists usually came packing insane talents. They'd show top-tier prowess in magic or spirits, and whenever death loomed or danger struck, helpers would pop up in droves.
So, the thought of killing the Second Prince had never even crossed my mind from the start.
On the contrary.
'Gotta use him.'
Having a direct line to the protagonist was an opportunity for the empire, nothing more.
The novel Superbae was all about the nation growing stronger as people around the protagonist kept showering him with affection.
If Mirne ever came begging for empire aid, I could flip it on her. For example.
'If she asks for something only the empire's power can handle—like excavating some ruins—I just swallow the whole site.'
Stuff like getting the intel but giving zero benefits in return.
And that would lower the doom probability too.
I was lost in these thoughts when.
Knock knock knock.
A knock echoed through the room.
"Your Highness the Crown Prince, it's the Grand Marshal. May I enter?"
"Come in."
The knocker, Grand Marshal Akhm Bellos, stepped inside and handed me a document with crisp precision.
If he was bringing work here instead of the office, it meant the matter was that urgent.
"We've decided to dispatch hunters for those impersonating empire nobles in the Maselin Kingdom."
"Confiscate their assets, and... hm, yeah, that's definitely gonna leave a lot of vacancies."
This wasn't normally the Grand Marshal's duty. Him reporting it personally was a warning to the nobles.
A reminder that the empire's blade was now carving out the rot from internal affairs.
Stay put and don't get reckless—or else.
'Hm, even with all the empire nobles we have, suddenly clearing out over twenty spots is gonna create some gaps.'
Even if we sliced through barons and below, they'd have systems in place that needed rebuilding. That alone was a headache.
Fix one thing, and another problem pops up. Classic.
As these thoughts swirled.
"Y-Your Highness the Crown Prince! May I also report on the talents dispatched to the Maselin Kingdom?"
Spotting the Grand Marshal inside, the foreign affairs officer piped up, eager to report here too.
"Go ahead."
Might as well handle it all now, I figured, and waved him in.
"Well, you see... given the sensitivity, the number of talents we sent to Maselin initially doesn't match those scheduled to return... I informed them."
"Doesn't match? You mean they're dead?"
And then came the bombshell.
"Not dead... they requested naturalization in Maselin. Some talents became Maselin citizens, so we couldn't bring them back..."
"Hahaha!"
I couldn't hold it in and burst out laughing before he even finished.
We'd sent top talents on the house, even covered their upkeep from our empire's coffers. They sweat their asses off helping, we ask for them back, and what? They naturalize?
"The Second Prince gave final approval for their naturalization, right?"
"Yes... that's correct."
How does someone sell out their country this meticulously?
I'd spared him during the Round Table purge since he was a key player.
"Looks like we need to change plans."
"...Change plans, Your Highness?"
"Yeah. I was gonna observe a bit longer before launching, but we do it now."
Learning the full extent of his multi-front idiocy ignited an unbearable rage.
And this was recent stuff. Dig into the past properly, and a flood of madness would pour out.
Can't just scapegoat the underlings every time. I'd be the one impeached.
"Grand Marshal, I need a favor."
I hadn't planned this from the start.
But this wasn't ordinary stupidity—he needed it immediate.
"No need for favors. Just give the order."
"We need to activate the Bell Hyuk Project."
Day two of possession.
The time it took to resolve never to see the Second Prince as human again.
Rrring ring ring.
The Maselin Kingdom, in Crown Princess Mirne's bedroom.
It brimmed with communication artifacts.
And the first to ring was, predictably.
Rrring ring ring.
"Oh my, Prince Bedin, up early today?"
"Something sad happened... I wanted comfort, so I called."
"What could make that sweet face look so down?"
It was Bellos Empire's Second Prince, Bedin.
The big golden retriever type male lead—literally golden-haired, so the vibe fit.
'My pup's been so mopey lately.'
Seemed like he'd taken heavy hits from recent clashes with the Crown Prince.
'This wasn't supposed to happen.'
Honestly, even Mirne was baffled.
The Crown Prince was originally the type to grant every Second Prince request with a hearty laugh.
Why the sudden empire-first shift? No clue.
'The empire needs to prop us up now to develop the kingdom easier.'
Of course, she'd successfully naturalized some empire talents.
Even recouping investments from talents onward gave breathing room.
But eyeing the Crown Prince's abrupt changes.
'He won't stop here... might take it all, but nah, that's not his character.'
No predicting his next move.
So, before diving deep with Second Prince Bedin.
'Silpiner, please. Watch the Crown Prince's moves from up close... without getting caught, as far out as possible?'
'Yep, no worries!'
She tasked Silpiner—the wind spirit with spirit king potential—to spy on the Crown Prince.
"...My brother's not treating me like before lately... Wonder what happened? Does he hate me getting close to Maselin?"
"No way, why would His Highness the Crown Prince hate you bonding with Maselin? No reason at all."
"Right? Then, um... honestly, I'm worried something bad happened to bro... Otherwise, no reason to act like this toward me... Of course! I won't forgive my aides for deceiving even me with corruption, but I'm worried it'll derail our Maselin exchanges big-time."
"Like what?"
"Well, no more cozy chats with you about state affairs, for starters... that's sad enough."
Their chat dragged on like that when.
Bam!
"U-Uncle?!"
"By order of His Highness the Crown Prince. You shall answer for unilaterally deciding the fate of empire citizens."
Suddenly, a massive thud from Bedin's side, and Akhm Bellos's voice leaked through the artifact like yesterday.
Click.
Call dropped.
"...Fate decision? No way... the naturalized talents? He's going after them too...?"
What the hell was happening?
Not even a month's gap—the empire's attitude flipped daily.
'Gotta reach out more aggressively elsewhere... but is now the time?'
Mirne couldn't even grasp the situation.
'From now on, periodically discipline the Second Prince. At least an hour a day—violence, er, discipline short of building his durability.'
'How much? What's the periodicity?'
'See this... Do it till he shuts up on sight. Body memory, you know.'
'...That's a chain?'
'Yes. Whenever you whip—ahem, discipline him, show the chain. Not to hit with it—just a signal. Show the chain, discipline starts.'
'Ahh... Got it. But why Bell Hyuk?'
'A highly respected figure, an authority on correcting misbehavior. Borrowed from that.'
'Understood.'
Pow!
"Guh!"
Crash!
The Second Prince's body flew out the window like a ragged sack the instant the kick slammed his gut.
Thanks to pricey elixirs and Sol Bellos heart method since childhood.
He plummeted from the palace unscathed.
"Urgh... U-Uncle... why start with violence out of nowhere...?"
No blackout—he stood fine and questioned his uncle looming before him.
"His Highness the Crown Prince couldn't stomach your state, so as Grand Marshal and uncle, I'm here to discipline you."
Akhm Bellos glanced around, confirming his perfect spot.
The imperial training grounds, exclusive to nobility.
No issues unleashing here.
"D-Discipline? What the hell do you mean?! Yesterday we concluded it was all my aides' fault."
"Managing underlings is the superior's duty too—yet you shirked it for chats with Maselin's princess."
"Th-That's true, but!"
"Yes, it is."
Pow!
Another invisible kick crushed his head.
One full spin—heaven and earth flipped, yet back to stance like nothing happened.
"...S-Suddenly! Like this! I'm the Second Prince too! Is this how you treat imperial blood?!"
"If not for your blood, treason would've meant instant execution. Surviving with mere discipline is your privilege."
Crack!
He poured aura to dodge, but Grand Marshal's full-force kick? No chance for a lovebird half-assing training.
Boom!
Cannon-shot thud—he embedded in the wall.
Watching, Akhm belatedly pulled a chain from his robes.
The instant it appeared, their chat replayed in his mind.
The Bell Hyuk Project.
Show the chain, body remembers: discipline incoming.
One hour daily—as Grand Marshal, uncle.
Wishing his nephew well, through discipline.
And.
"For the foreseeable future, Second Prince Bedin will have zero involvement in empire affairs."
"Wh-What? Th-That's my prerogative alone!"
"Granted by His Highness the Crown Prince... Anyway, this isn't up for your opinion. Understood?"
Finally, total blockade of his empire meddling during.
In these peaceful, warless days.
Akhm figured he'd fade to old guard, pruning rot slowly.
'Fun. Slicing corrupt nobles vigorously, disciplining my nephew too.'
He felt alive for the first time in ages.
Pow! Thwack! Boom! Crunch!
'As expected, the Grand Marshal's discipline is on another level.'
Shin up! Switch smack smack smack! Palm out! Bone-crack spread! Smack smack smack!
Not some basic stuff.
Like turning the Second Prince into a soccer ball in a pro match.
'Second Prince, spinning like a top during discipline—what hilarious shit is he spewing?'
Whatever cracks him up that much.
As I watched.
Rrring ring ring.
I touched the artifact neatly stowed in the Second Prince's chambers.
No need to fuss over connecting to Maselin.
Touch it—auto-dial tone.
Click.
Receiver picked up.
"Hello? Bedin? Calling this early—what's up?"
The voice: Maselin's Crown Princess, Mirne.
I hadn't planned calling now.
Domestic cleanup first.
But.
"Princess Mirne, you've pulled off quite the stunt."
"...Crown Prince?"
"How low do you rate Bellos Empire's Crown Prince's spirit affinity to try this crap?"
I hadn't expected him to confront so directly.
"Kieeeek!"
Squeeze my hand—a translucent something screamed in agony.
No spirit withstands Sol Bellos's searing pain.
"S-Silpiner?!"
"That's its name... whatever, not important... You ready to pay for this scheme?"
Yo, you still see me as a sucker?