Fake Holy Power and the Delinquent Crown Prince

Fake holy power and the delinquent crown prince. Mages were despised. That was the chilling thought harbored by ten-year-old Iris.

She hated them—the cold hearts and calculating minds.

"Iris…!!!"

The legion's swarm. The time when curses rained down. That was when August Hailron briefly lost his smile. The day a mother, desperate to protect her daughter, breathed her last.

Demons. Creatures that hardly appeared ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠anymore. Without the Demon King's command, they built their domains and lurked in silence. In ancient times, they wielded power incomparable to mere magical beasts. Now, they slumbered or hid away, doing nothing at all.

But that one day was different. They struck precisely when the count's family was at its weakest—when August Hailron, the greatest force of the Hailron County, was away.

The swarm's frenzy was beyond imagination. The Hailron County boasted its maximum strength ever assembled at the time, yet most of that power was lost, rendering the boast meaningless.

Still, they held out. Because there were mages present.

Even as magical beasts surged forward in endless numbers, the mages' might on the battlefield was no less formidable.

"Burn, Flurry! Flames of the world's crimson—!!!!"

Flames poured from the mage's hands after minutes of relentless chanting.

Fwoosh—!!!!

Dozens of wolf packs vanished just like that.

The mages dispatched from the Empire were strong. So the young girl believed in them. At least...

"Demons...!"

"Why would demons...!!"

...until the demons appeared.

"Demons...?"

Arrows flew. Magic bloomed overhead in a spectacular display. At a glance, there seemed no problem.

She believed without doubt.

But then.

The demon perched atop the Ice Troll waved lightly at the incoming hellfire. And the magic simply vanished.

"F-Fuck...!!!"

"Dispel...!?"

The mages gasped in horror. She learned later: demons were immune to magic. Worse, they could steal a mage's mana—the ultimate predators of mages. The demon kin were truly the mages' natural enemies.

As the demon raised its hand, the mages staggered. Proof that their mana was being drained.

The beast carrying the demon was strong. The knights had moved ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠to handle other swarms. Seeing them inch closer to the walls, someone stepped forward.

"Iris. Stay here."

"M-Mother...!"

Her silver hair whipping in the wind, the lady of the house advanced into the snowfield. She was the one who always said that if the count was absent, she would defend this place.

"N-No...! Mother!!"

Ignoring her pleas, the woman charged the front lines.

Demons could only be faced by knights. Magic didn't work on them, so mages were useless. This was knights' domain.

The woman was a knight herself. August Hailron had chosen her over other noble ladies because she was called the strongest woman in the North.

"Mother!!!!"

The woman smiled at her daughter's anguished cry.

"Don't worry. There are still mages and soldiers. We'll be fine."

But those words rang hollow.

"Fuck, demons weren't in the briefing!"

"The Magic Tower didn't mention...!"

"Run...! It's demons!"

The mages, shocked by the demons' appearance, began fleeing outright.

"N-No! Why...!!"

Iris tried to grab them. If the mages left now, the front line's collapse was inevitable.

She reached out her small hand, but—

"Fuck! Get out of the way!"

Smack—!

"Ugh!"

A mage shoved her hand away and kept running. Their steps were frantic.

"Shouldn't have come to this shithole North!"

"If they steal your mana, your circles shatter!"

"...If we'd known demons were here, we wouldn't have come."

"Leave it to the knights and run."

"August Hailron will be back soon anyway."

The mages fled en masse.

Kyaaaaah—!!!

The beasts' roars grew thicker.

"No! Don't go!"

Iris screamed, but no one stopped. The mages abandoned the North to save their own skins. Those who once boasted of the honor ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠of guarding the Empire's gateway trampled their own faith and glory upon the demons' arrival.

The footprints they left were their legacy of shame. No one's cries reached anyone amid the falling snow.

Even without mages, the front held. The lady of the house, a silver sword knight, endured for an hour with her slender blade. Then August Hailron arrived, mopping up the beasts and saving the county.

But.

"Aaaahhh!!!!"

That day, one child lost her mother. The count lost the wife he called his heart. And it became the reason mages vanished from the North for years.

Selfish creatures. They wailed of honor but fell short. What of the mage's path? So pathetic.

She knew she couldn't blame anyone, yet the contempt for mages etched in her mind wouldn't fade.

Thus.

'You'll be no different.'

The worst witch. Elise Sethris, peak of mages. The young mage she'd left behind would be the same.

Iris despised mages. The North needed only warriors. They'd flee in fear anyway, so this barren land would be filled with the fitting.

That was her resolve. She just wanted to drive him out soon. Even if he seemed somewhat capable.

Meeting Colton Clay felt like a dream. When that Colton Clay told the mage to become his disciple, it secretly soured her mood.

A genius, they said. A genius worthy of Elise bringing him. Even in Colton's eyes, a genius.

'...Why.'

She thought her own talent was no small thing. To that mage of all people? Iris showed unbecoming jealousy. Her first taste of inferiority.

"Watch over Ruin."

After Colton brought a young man posing as a tutor, who got wrecked. Right after tales of chantless magic spread, August told Iris.

Watch Ruin. The subjugation team was reorganized for it.

She didn't like it. But she had no say. The count's word was absolute.

'I'll just watch.'

She could do that. She'd do just that.

So she thought.

"Not tired? Better now?"

"Ahh! D-Don't, sir mage!"

"What precious? It's just the hand that shits and wipes."

"P-Pardon...?"

"I'll help a bit. Looks fun."

When he helped the old servants.

"This mage is more reasonable than expected."

"Right? I think so too. Oh, where's that brothel again?"

When he chatted oddly well with soldiers.

"...You okay?"

"I'm... fine."

"No, why's your outfit so thin?"

When he suddenly worried about the attached maid's cold, even giving her his clothes.

'Just a mask.'

She didn't trust the mage. They were all selfish. Once the front ended, she'd kick him out.

She believed that.

"Huh? Where you going, mage?"

"Ah... gotta check something."

"Want me to come?"

"Nah, just hold the soup."

Then Iris spotted Ruin heading somewhere. She followed. To watch.

Surprisingly, a maid was there. Praying? Some prayed to the goddess now and then. Prayer wasn't the Holy Kingdom's monopoly.

Ruin stared with a strange expression. What was he thinking?

As she wondered—

Humm—!

'Huh?'

Iris's gaze snapped somewhere. Instinct. Something was there.

'What is...?'

A robed, pale-skinned thing. Goosebumps rose instantly.

'No way...?'

"Get away!"

Before she could think, Ruin yelled. The thing's hand pointed at the maid. Ruin, knowing it, rushed toward her.

Why?

'Why?'

Why rush to that maid? A mage?

Incomprehensible. And even more so—

"Loosen up."

—was herself, charging in to save them. Stupid girl. She shouldn't have.

If she hadn't—

"Guhk... Heuk..."

—this wouldn't have happened. Her throat was gripped. Immense pressure paralyzed her body.

'Demon...'

She identified her captor. The presence told her. A demon.

'A demon... why...!'

Why now, after all these years?

Her ears rang like they might burst. The alien voice invaded her mind. Dizzy. She bit her lip.

'...Father.'

August Hailron. He flashed in her mind. She had to live. If she died here, he'd be alone. Unacceptable.

But.

'How...?'

Fatal abdominal wound. Strength: average maid and mage levels. Mages couldn't fight demons. Zero chance of survival.

Thus, Iris's choice was swift.

"Run... run away..."

Better to die saving than all die. That was her creed. Mages would flee demons anyway. So hurry—

"Where the hell you think you're going!"

"...Huh?"

Ruin yelled. Only then did Iris see his face. Bloodshot eyes. Veins bulging in rage. Intense gaze like craving—why that expression?

'What the...?'

As Iris puzzled—

"Leaving that precious thing behind...! Where am I supposed to go!"

"Uh...?"

Ruin yelled again. Iris froze, forgetting her pain.

Thump—!

Thump—!

Thump—!

My heart pounded like mad. The moment I saw that unknown bastard.

Grrrrrind—!!

'Guhk!'

Heart hurts. Veins bulged all over. Fuck, why? Why suddenly?

'Still got mana...!'

Mana depletion. Mind-bending agony ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠hit.

"Kuhk..."

Dried up. Eyes widened. Trying to figure it out—

'It's draining.'

Mana was leaving my body. Where to? Following it: to the bastard holding Iris.

'That crazy fuck?'

Stealing my piss-poor mana? That thieving shit. Teeth ground.

Can't let it be stolen.

'Come back, you runaways...!'

Like from the Ice Troll. I called to the mana, and it sucked back in.

Fwooooosh—!!!!

"Kuh heok..."

Piling into my heart. Breath returned.

"Fuck... gonna live..."

Gonna live. As I tried to say—

'Huh?'

Something off. More than original mana coming in.

What? Why so much? Did I have this much?

Looking ahead in confusion—

'Oh?'

Surprisingly, even more from the bastard holding Iris.

'Well, well?'

More than mine filling my body. Pain fading, then overflowing.

'Jackpot?'

What is this? A golden opportunity? Beyond killing that Ice Troll.

'If I eat this.'

Won't just improve—

"Run... run away..."

"Huh?"

Iris urged desperately. Run? Leaving that?

What bullshit.

"Where the hell you think you're going!"

Couldn't hold back, yelled.

Leave this treasure and run? Bullshit. No mana, I'm fucked! With this, I might not die for a while.

Just run?

"Leaving that precious thing behind...! Where am I supposed to go!"

"Uh...?"

"I'd rather die...! No, without it, I will die!"

"Eh...?"

The more I spat, the weirder Iris's face got. My life hinged on his life now—what choice did I have!

"Can't leave like this. Somehow—."

Suck it dry.

Suuuuck—!!!!

Pulled the mana straight in. Pain gone.

Vrrr—! Vrrrr—!!!

Vibration in my hand. Looked: my wooden sword Mk 1. The halved one vibrating nonstop.

What vibrator is this? Why's it freaking too?

Dunno, but.

'Mana's increasing.'

My hand holding it? Or the stick devouring mana.

"..."

As I glanced—

The barbarian realized his mana flowed to me.

Mid-sentence, it reached for me.

Something condensed in its hand. Magic? Chanting now?

'Transforming then?'

Perfect timing.

Vrrr—!

Spun the circle, condensed mana.

Slash—!

Its mana-gathering arm severed. Blade sword. My translucent blade sliced the arm.

"Kuhk...!"

Iris collapsed into the snow.

It glared grotesquely. Blade swords spun around me. Mana drained fast—but refilled just as quick. Mana from it filled the void.

Plus.

'Easier to wield.'

Magic cast faster. Simpler too. Weird. Mana increase does that?

'No.'

This is.

'The stick's doing.'

Straight intuition from the wooden rod in hand. Yeah, fuck, not just a stick, right? Knew it had something.

'Sweet.'

Mages need staves!

Aimed it at the bastard.

"Dunno what you are."

"You picked the wrong fight."

Vreeeeee—!!!!

Circle spun wildly. Spells I knew: two. Thorn Arrow, Blade Sword. Use 'em.

"Spam's what makes it OP."

Shrrrrrr—!!!

Arrows above hand. Blades behind back. Mana doesn't drop, so possible.

"Si... simultaneous cast...?"

Fallen Iris gasped. Seemed I did something nuts again. Not the time.

The barbarian gathered mana frantically, speaking. I replied.

"Chant instead of yapping, you incompetent fuck."

Chantless needs focus. Unlike it, I could talk. I'm a badass chantless mage, unlike that shitstain.

"What am I?"

Hmm. What to say? One explanation fit.

"Orphan dadless bastard, motherfucker."

Sorry mom. But dadless is fact.

Fired magic with words.

Kaboom kaboom kaboom—!!!!

Blades and arrows shredded its flesh.

Mangled, it collapsed. Mana flooded me. From trickle to torrent.

Marveling at the influx. Good. Fuck, so good. Dopamine rush.

"Fuu..."

Yarigasm.

As I savored—

Crack.

"...Huh?"

Sound from heart. Hearts shouldn't make sounds, right? Panicking, clutched chest.

'Huh.'

Something felt.

'Huh huh.'

The ring in my heart.

'Grew?'

Not one, but two. 2-circle.