I was reincarnated as the carefree duke’s second son, and somehow, my random remarks got me treated like a hero
《Side Brid Slayer Harkens》
I was born a strong individual.
As I grew older, I realized that I was different from others. I was far stronger, more exceptional, and possessed power that surpassed everyone else.
Some called me the “Mad Prince,” Brid Slayer Harkens, but what of it? Madman, eccentric, oddball—it didn’t matter. I had abilities that set me apart from the rest, and I wielded them without restraint.
I lived a far more interesting life than those ordinary, dull people. It was magnificent.
Indeed, from a young age, I exuded overwhelming charisma and the aura of an absolute powerhouse.
I was ten years old when I visited the Imperial Army’s training grounds. There, I fought against the Sword Saint, known as the Empire’s strongest knight.
Even I, as exceptional as I was, couldn’t win at first. But it was thrilling. Losing made the joy of defeating my opponent all the more exhilarating—far more satisfying than an easy victory.
That’s why I spent every day training alongside the adults.
By the time I turned fifteen, I crossed swords with the Sword Saint once more.
“If you don’t give it your all, your life has no value,” I declared, forcing him to fight seriously. The result? My victory.
After five years, I had defeated the Empire’s strongest Sword Saint with my blade. How sweet and satisfying it was.
After the battle, everyone at the training grounds knelt before me, uttering “The Emperor’s Sword” with awe and reverence.
In the Empire, there was a tradition: “The prince must slay the King Beast during his coming-of-age ceremony.”
An ancient tradition, but an intriguing one.
At fifteen, during my coming-of-age ceremony, I had to slay the King Beast.
In recent times, it had become a mere formality. My elder brother, for instance, had an elite army of knights weaken the King Beast before delivering the final blow.
They claimed to have subdued a ferocious monster.
But I needed no such help. I took down the lion-like King Beast alone and returned, presenting its heart to my father.
“I offer this heart as proof of my loyalty to you, Father.”
The Emperor and the nobles were pleased, but some feared me, whispering, “Why is he so cold and cruel?”
There was no one else who could slay a beast of that caliber. If anyone could surpass me, it would have to be a dragon.
As I grew older, I immersed myself not only in swordsmanship but also in strategy, tactics, and magic. I realized that ruling through fear and cruelty alone was not enough.
“The Empire is rotting due to the weak. It must be corrected by those with strength and ability.”
I developed my own ideology, understanding that I must lead as the symbol of the Empire.
Yes, this world is one of survival of the fittest—the strong thrive, while the weak are oppressed. But even among the weak, there are those with talent.
Wouldn’t it be a waste to let such talent go unnoticed?
An incident made me think this way.
“Hey, kid. What’s your name?”
“Ike.”
This happened while I was traveling across the land, honing my martial prowess by battling monsters.
Ike was around my age, a child from a rural village who, to my surprise, deflected my sword.
“Ike, you have talent with the blade. I’ll take you under my wing! Come with me.”
“If I follow you, will I get to eat my fill?”
“Of course, I promise.”
“Then I’ll follow you.”
Ike’s swordsmanship improved rapidly. In just a year, he defeated the Sword Saint it had taken me five years to overcome.
Of course, part of it was due to his growth, but I could sense the difference in talent. In other words, everyone has their own unique strengths. If I, who excelled in all areas, led those with even a single exceptional talent, what could we achieve? Unifying the continent wouldn’t be a mere dream.
That’s why I began seeking out those with talent, personally recruiting them.
With Ike as my guard, I gained many subordinates.
Then one day, I heard rumors about an eccentric from a ducal family.
“My younger brother has no talent for elemental magic, but he’s a brilliant researcher and an eccentric.”
The one who spoke so fondly of this eccentric was Eric Eltor, the heir to the ducal family. He was someone I wanted to recruit into my ranks.
When I went to scout him, Eric boasted about his younger brother, saying, “You’ll meet him at the academy. Look forward to it.”
So, what kind of person was Fly Eltor, the man I eventually met?
The answer: fascinating.
From the moment of the entrance ceremony, I exuded an intimidating presence. It was a level of pressure that only those with considerable strength or magical power could withstand.
In response, Ice from the Minty Kingdom complained, saying that many were uncomfortable.
Of course, they were. I was filtering out the weak.
Moreover, I directed even greater pressure at the hecklers who tried to provoke me. It was pure killing intent. I thought only Ike could withstand it without flinching.
Indeed, Ice’s face darkened, and he cut off his words mid-sentence before leaving.
How boring.
Just as I thought that, I noticed one student staring at me unfazed.
“Hm? You, what are you looking at?”
The girls accompanying him were sweating nervously, but they managed to keep their composure, which impressed me.
“Pleased to meet you, Brid Slayer Harkens. I am Fly Eltor of the ducal family.”
“Oh, so you’re the eccentric from the ducal family?”
“Eccentric?”
So this was the man Eric had boasted about. Even when I provoked him, he simply smiled eerily.
Suddenly, one of the girls seemed to lean on Fly for support. Perfect. I’d use her to provoke him.
“Both of these girls are quite the catch. Their magical power is impressive.”
I reached out to the girl clutching Fly’s sleeve.
But in the next moment—smack!
My hand was swatted away. I hadn’t even seen it coming. Not only was he unfazed by my pressure, but this guy possessed combat prowess on par with—or perhaps even surpassing—mine and Ike’s.
“My apologies. She is my brother’s fiancée. Please refrain from touching her.”
“Oh? Hehehe, I see. Fly, let me ask you this: do you have any interest in joining me?”
I adore those with talent. Fly had it, and he knew it. He was an intriguing man.
“Not at all. I don’t serve under anyone.”
“Hehehe, you’re even more interesting! Someday, I’ll make you submit. Farewell for now.”
I had thought academy life would be dull, but I’d already met two fascinating individuals.
There was one more person watching our exchange.
I’d scout him another day.
Today, I was in a good mood. For the first time in a while, I felt like going hunting with Ike.
