“Could you stop there? I feel sorry for my little sister.”
Oh…?
Uh, if I remember correctly, this is… the second prince?
“Uh… Sir G-something?”
“It’s Gilbert.”
Ah, right, right. That was it.
I didn’t bother remembering because I thought I’d never meet him again.
“How’s your brother doing, kid?”
“Oh, he was all fired up, saying, ‘Next time, I won’t lose.’”
“Oh? I see. Then tell him this: ‘If he pulls another stupid stunt, I’ll kill him.’”
“…You really have no fear of the royal family, do you?”
“Do you get scared of buzzing insects?”
I said this without even glancing at him and started coding a new game in the M language.
“I’m a coward, you see. Just thinking those insects might be poisonous terrifies me, so I can’t make a move.”
With that, Prince Gilbert took a piece of fried chicken from the tower in front of me and popped it into his mouth.
“Hmm, this is delicious…”
I ignored his muttering.
“Hmm, true, poisonous insects would be frightening. I agree with that. But you can tell whether they’re poisonous just by looking at them.”
“Can a mere mortal, not a god, really ‘tell’ just by looking?”
“You people are seriously lacking in imagination, aren’t you?”
“…What do you mean?”
“‘Analyze Magic,’ also known as ‘Appraisal Magic.’”
The moment I said that, everyone around us turned to stare at me.
Why are they so surprised?
“‘Skilled mages can sense the amount of magic a person holds just by looking at them,’ right? So why not turn that into a formal spell? I can’t understand the lack of logic here.”
“…Only you or those atheist scholars from the Adon Magic Nation would think like that.”
Ha, that’s amusing.
“You lot blame your incompetence, your lack of thought, your lack of creativity on the gods and give up on thinking. That’s why I said, there are no gods.”
“You mentioned Appraisal Magic. What exactly can you tell?”
“I’m not some comic book villain who’s going to reveal everything about myself. But, since I’m in a good mood today, I’ll indulge you.”
“Much appreciated.”
“With Appraisal Magic, I can tell things like weight, size, the amount of magic contained, its properties, and even bone density and muscle fiber density, allowing me to estimate physical abilities. I can also gauge intelligence from synapse activity, read pheromones and electrical signals to detect goodwill or malice, and check for injuries or illnesses. There’s more, but do you want to hear it?”
“So, in other words… in front of you, everything about what someone can do and plans to do is laid bare?”
“I didn’t say that. But I can tell how much magic someone can use and whether they have hostile intent toward me. Well, with future updates, the functionality might expand.”
“So, are you saying you fear no one because of this?”
“No, in addition, I have layered defense and detection magic in place 24/7. Even if a meteor capable of wiping out a city fell on me while I slept in my room… I wouldn’t get a scratch.”
Also, I’ve fortified my family’s territory and left it under my brother’s management, ensuring it remains a sustainable asset even if I lose my magic.
That territory is my safety net in case of a downfall.
That’s why I’m connecting him with nobles who might prove beneficial.
With all that, there’s nothing to fear.
“It’s not a lie, is it? You truly believe you have the power to take on an entire nation.”
Prince Gilbert’s soft, handsome face twisted slightly, a drop of cold sweat running down his temple. He looked quite different from his more hot-headed brother.
What’s wrong? You don’t look so good.
“Take on a nation, huh? You lot don’t have that kind of power. Proof of that is how, despite your royal status, the nobles look down on you.”
“…I see.”
Ah, so he’s aware.
Judging by Princess Drill-Hair’s shocked expression, it seems only the second prince is in on this.
Interesting. I thought the whole royal family was a bunch of muscle-brained fools, but it looks like this prince has a bit of intellect.
“The royal family is certainly impressive. You control the Miclef River and its fertile lands, you’re at the heart of trade, and with your wealth and authority, you maintain a large army and many mages.”
However…
“But that’s all. The church holds more authority. The Klein Marquisate matches your military numbers. The Carenheit Margraviate’s troops are more skilled. And in terms of economic power, with the right governance, houses like the Byteman and Spencer earldoms or the Carpenter viscounty could catch up in two or three decades.”
In short…
“A coalition of nobles could topple you. No wonder you’re underestimated.”
The second prince didn’t flinch.
“Yes, that’s true. But I’m confident the nobles won’t betray the royal family. Do you know why?”
Oh, so he gets it.
The answer, of course, is…
“‘Because it’s not worth it,’” we both said simultaneously.
Yeah, that makes sense.
The royal family is just the biggest noble house. They don’t have absolute authority.
So why do the nobles follow them? Because it’s more convenient.
There’s no compelling reason to actively betray the royal family.
“But how long can that last? Wars upon wars… these chaotic times… a corrupt church and the nobles steeped in wrongdoing… The footsteps of ruin are already echoing.”
No.
“You’ve already heard them, haven’t you? Every night, shaking in your bed. You know the footsteps of death, named ruin, are already at your bedside.”
Yes, I had seen it.
With my Appraisal Magic.
Prince Gilbert, the second prince, suffers from severe insomnia.
His royal healers had managed to keep up his appearance, so I hadn’t noticed until now… but his brain and organs were suffering from extreme fatigue, abnormal nerve sensitivity, and respiratory problems from the stress.
…It’s almost tragic that the king and the first prince are in perfect health. Just kidding, it’s hilarious.
The prince probably senses the country’s impending downfall with his keen intellect, and it haunts his dreams, keeping him awake at night.
Poor guy…
He looked at me, his eyes trembling.
Ah, yes.
He realized it.
I’d uncovered his greatest secret.
In a nation that values military strength, the prince, of all people, cries himself to sleep. And I had figured it out.
This must be his greatest weakness.
His face was as expressionless as a mask.
“Exus-kun, would you care to talk for a bit?”
