It was a summer day.
Ada and I, ignoring the relationship between children who were supposed to carry the future of this village, were holed up in a secret base in the forest.
However, today something is strange about the secret base.
“…I see.”
It has been vandalized.
Judging from the torn canopy above the tree, it’s not the work of beasts or monsters.
Although there have been times when beasts or monsters caused damage, such natural creatures don’t act with malice.
They wouldn’t destroy or defile things like this.
Well, I could fix it instantly with magic… But seeing Ada crying next to me, I thought it would be a good opportunity to take action.
I arrived at the gathering place of the village chief’s brats.
The kids smirked.
“Did you do this?”
“Hehehe! Yeah! We wrecked your play area!”
“I see.”
I kicked the round belly of the village chief’s brat.
“Ughhh?! O-Oh noooo!!!”
As the kid squatted down and vomited profusely, I stepped on their head and smeared the vomit on their face.
The other kids around were too scared to make a sound.
“Apologize.”
I continued to step on the kid’s head.
“Apologize.”
Step.
“Apologize.”
Step.
“Oopsieee! S-Sorryyyyy!!!”
They apologized.
“Your sincerity is lacking. Apologize.”
Step.
“Giiii?! It’s so baaad, pleeease!!!”
“Apologize.”
Step.
“Apologize.”
Step.
“Apologize.”
Step.
“Sorry, sorry! I’m really sorry! I’m really, really sorry!!!”
The mud-covered kid desperately apologized…
“Your sincerity is lacking.”
Anyway, after beating the brat until they couldn’t speak, I left them half-dead and made the other kids kneel down in apology. Crushing weaklings with the ability I’ve honed—it’s the ultimate pleasure, you know? I got a little carried away.
So, I headed home.
And then…
“Exassu!!!” Naturally, I got scolded.
Got punched as usual.
Wow, that’s corporal punishment.
But apparently, it’s normal in this world.
Kids are disciplined by hitting them, even livestock are trained by hitting them. Seems like that’s the basic principle of this world.
And it’s normal to shout and scream when something doesn’t go your way.
In the modern Earth I lived on, both were illegal and scientifically proven to be inefficient.
When shouted at, the shouted-at person shrinks back and can’t perform well, and the abilities of teammates also decline.
Corporal punishment is out of the question.
Oh well, seems like this is still the better option though.
Apparently, even children as young as me are made to work, like slaves.
There are serfs in our village too, and they’re treated like cattle.
Kids as young as six are whipped with riding crops and made to work.
So maybe they’re being raised like this out of necessity?
But I was lucky enough to have amazing parents on Earth who spent lavishly on me.
I can’t really be grateful to the parents in this world.
It’s sad.
And now, the “lecture” begins.
Let’s sit up straight and listen attentively.
“You, you hit the children at the village chief’s place, didn’t you?”
“Yes, that’s right.”
My father scolded me while secretly rubbing the hand he used to hit me.
I’m always fine with magic, so getting hit doesn’t bother me, but for my father, who’s just an ordinary person, it must have felt like hitting a lump of iron covered in rubber.
My magical power is too high, and my natural physical abilities are quite strong too.
Even without consciously using magic, just the natural magical aura emanating from my body is enough for me to crush this father with just one hand.
Interesting, isn’t it?
“I… am ashamed as a knight! For my son to go against the chivalrous spirit! Suddenly hitting someone, it’s like madness!”
I see, so that’s how it is.
Well, I see.
“Understood! So from now on, according to Father’s chivalrous code, I won’t extend a helping hand to crying women, and even if my territory is ravaged, I’ll just smile and let it go!”
I conveyed with my usual smile.
“…What?”
“It’s marvelous, Father! Your chivalrous code demonstrates the importance of sharing with the poor! Just like the scriptures say, sacrificing oneself to help others… truly saintly, isn’t it?!”
Ugh, saying snide things to others feels soooo good!!!
I couldn’t do this during my corporate days. Well, it’s not just about company policy; it’s about being a decent human being.
In this world, I’m going to do things I wanted to do on Earth but couldn’t because they went against humanity.
Because it feels good!
To torment others, to dominate them—it’s the ultimate ecstasy!
“What… exactly is going on?”
“Um… I mean, about my land…”
I’ll play dumb.
“What do you mean by ‘your land’?”
“Well, it’s our secret base, Ada’s and mine.”
“Secret hideout? What happened to the secret hideout?”
“Yes! We’ve been building this secret base since we were four, and now it’s all ruined!”
“…Did the kids from the village chief’s place do it?”
“Yes! When questioned, they proudly admitted to destroying our play area! My playmate, a girl named Ada, was in tears seeing our secret hideout ruined!”
I proudly declared.
Ah, it feels good…
It might become a habit…
“Did you… go to fight for the sake of a woman?”
“Yes! But Father, since you say that’s wrong, from now on, I’ll surrender crying women and give away my territory to others! That’s Father’s justice!”
“Enough already!… I was wrong. I’m sorry for hitting you, Exus.”
Yes, victory!!!!
Afterward, to confirm the truth, Father questioned the village chief’s kids…
“But… but! It’s weird that he won’t be my follower! Even Dad always said, ‘Our family, being here longer than outsiders, is superior!’”
He blurted out.
Oh, what an interesting turn of events!
The village chief brushed it off with something like, “He’s just a child!” But my father warned him, half-angry.
Honestly, even if we wanted to cut ties with the village chief’s family, they’re the only ones with the know-how to run the village. So we’re stuck.
Is it really a shortage of talent to blame?
See, it’s because they don’t educate the people properly here.
This world seems oddly averse to education.
It’s like the nobles fear that educated commoners will rebel!
Ugh, that mindset won’t get us anywhere.
Well, whatever.
Sad, isn’t it?
Anyway, that’s how my victory over the village chief’s kid balanced out his slip of the tongue.
I’ll pretend I didn’t hear it, and let the kid learn his lesson!
Isn’t that fine?
Honestly, who cares…
Between beating up the kid and out-arguing my father, I’ve had my fill of ecstasy.
It’s like… after sex, you stop caring about everything else, right?
I’m satisfied now; the rest doesn’t matter.
