#987 A Child’s Duty  

“Okay, so...”

Thus begins the new term at the Farm School.

Sensei introduces the new student to the class.

“Everyone, meet your new friend, Goetia. Let’s all get along and help each other learn.”

“OKAY, SENSEIIIIIIIIIII!!!”

The kids at Farm School are generally nice, so it looks like Goetia will be welcomed just fine.

Phew, glad to know our school doesn’t have any bullies...!

“Restrain yourselves, peasants! I am Demon Prince Goetia!!!”

Though, sometimes the problem lies with the one being welcomed.

Goetia quickly dampens the warm reception with his sharp words.

“Do you think someone of my noble status, destined to rule the Demon Kingdom, should sit among you commoners? Preposterous! I, the demon prince, demand special treatment! Create an elite class for me and a select few top students!”

“Hey, Goetia!!!”

“Ow!”

The panicked Demon King bonks Goetia on the head.

Well, can’t blame him for that.

“I’m so sorry for my son’s arrogance...! I tried to teach him to treat everyone equally, but the moment I look away, he starts with these elitist ideas...!”

Honestly, this isn’t the first time I’ve met Goetia. Last time, he was a cheerful kid playing with model kits with other children.

Now, he sounds like a stereotypical villain with delusions of grandeur.

What happened to him?

“...Hah, just because you’re the Demon King’s son doesn’t mean you can act all high and mighty.”

“What?!”

Who dared to say that provoking line?!

It came from one of the students in the class...!

“The only reason you’re important is because of your dad, right? Using your title to step on others is just pathetic.”

“Are you mocking me, the demon prince?! Who do you think you are?!”

“Want to know? Fine, I’ll tell you. My name is Tetra! I’m the second son of the former Mermaid King, Nagus!”

Oh, it’s Tetra.

Right, he’s also attending the Farm School.

He’s the younger brother of the current Mermaid King, Arowana, and my wife Platy’s younger brother.

He’s a bit of a rascal and gets disciplined by Platy sometimes, but he’s a lively and promising kid.

“The Mermaid King’s brother...?!”

“Yeah, scared? You’re trying to scare people with your title, so it’s only fair if you get scared by titles, too, right? But I don’t usually boast about it. My dad and brother always tell me not to look down on people just because of my royal blood.”

Wow, Tetra’s saying something really wise from a royal perspective.

That’s a critical hit for Goetia!

“Royalty or commoners, it doesn’t matter here. We’re all rivals in learning. If you can’t get that, there’s no point in you being here. Go back to your castle and let your maids and butlers pamper you!”

“...!”

Goetia is left speechless, biting his lip.

The Demon King’s not saying anything, either. He knows Tetra is right.

“No bullyinggggg.”

“Huh? What?! Aaaaaaaaah! Stop with the Parospecial! My arm’s gonna tear off! My armmmmmmmm!!!”

My kid, Junior, swoops in to break the tense atmosphere.

He came out of nowhere and locked Tetra in a fierce submission hold.

“Hey, I wasn’t bullying him! I was just stating facts...!”

“Moral hawassmentttt.”

“Gwaaaaaaaah!”

Junior and Tetra are uncle and nephew, so they get along really well.

All right, their playful antics have lightened the mood!

Now, let’s get back on track!

“Sensei, if you would, please!”

“Mm.”

And then, the star of the show, Sensei the Lifeless King, takes the stage.

Goetia still looks nervous, but really, Sensei isn’t scary.

“Sensei is the head of the Farm School and our best educator. Being immortal, he’s literally a living history book with over a thousand years of knowledge! Hahaha!”

For some reason, the Demon King is boasting.

He’s here today as an observer, but he’s being quite vocal. Is he trying to be a doting parent, or what?

“Of course, his knowledge is broad and deep! Even I, his father, studied under this very teacher. The wisdom and knowledge I gained were invaluable in ruling the Demon Kingdom.”

“What? You did, Father?!”

Goetia looks back and forth between his father and Sensei, utterly stunned.

He finds it hard to believe.

Who can blame him? If you only know the legend, a Lifeless King isn’t exactly someone you’d expect to teach humans.

“Ahem, ahem...”

After being praised to the skies, Sensei finally speaks up.

“Our Farm School generally admits young men and women starting at age fifteen. All our students meet this age requirement when they enroll. Prince Goetia, though not even ten years old yet, has already gained substantial knowledge as a demon prince and is expected to lead his country in the future. Therefore, an early enrollment was proposed to continue his education.”

“Yes!”

Gone is the frightened boy from a moment ago, replaced by a lively and confident Gotia.

Maybe being called capable boosted his confidence?

After all, skipping grades is a sign of talent.

“However, I... I do not approve of Goetia’s admission to the Farm School!!”

“WHAAAAAAAAT?!”

Both Goetia and the Demon King are shocked.

The unexpected rejection left them bewildered.

“Wh-What do you mean, Sensei?! Did my child do something wrong? Or was it that arrogant comment from earlier?!”

“There are always a few cheeky kids like him every year. But through learning and perseverance, they all grow to be more considerate. What concerns me is... his age.”

“But Goetia, though young, already possesses knowledge rivaling that of adults...”

“Children of his age should experience more. And that means... playing!!!”

Playing?!

Sensei’s eyes sparkle with excitement.

“Playing?! That’s a waste of time! I don’t have time to waste as the future Demon King!!!”

“There’s necessary ‘wasting’ of time. Most kids your age play with their parents and carry those memories into adulthood. How can you govern people who share such memories if you lack them?”

“?! “

“The Farm School is a boarding school. Once you enroll, you won’t see your parents often. Separating a child who still needs their parents’ love is not something we permit here.”

Senseiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii!

Sensei is right!

When the Demon King suggested it, I thought about providing Goetia with the best environment for his future. But what he needs most now are the happy memories spent with his parents.

The happiness that only this time can bring!

“Now, Lord Saint! Show the Demon King and his child the bond between parent and child!”

All right!

Let’s do this, Junior! Let’s show them the bond between a father and his child!

The quintessential father-son activity is a game of catch!

Simple yet filled with love—throwing the ball and catching it!

Come on, Junior! Your old man can handle whatever you throw!

“Here I goooo—Thunder Vacuum Balllll.”

Junior’s pitch is a super ball with a speed and power that could be quantified as exceeding 300 meters per second.

But a father can’t miss. I catch Junior’s fastball with my whole body, my legs digging into the ground, smoke rising from the sheer force.

“Ha ha ha, that’s a great pitch, Junior! Future Major Leaguer, perhaps!!!”

Being praised indiscriminately is a privilege of childhood!

My kid’s a genius!

“All right, now’s my turn! Can you catch it?!”

“I’ll try my bestttt.”

“Here it goes! Vanishing Magic Ball!!!”

The ball disappeared from my hand and didn’t reappear.

“You can’t just make the ball vanish completely, Dear!!!”

Platy’s sharp retort echoes, making me think we’d shown Goetia a proper father-son moment.

“This farm... it’s terrifying.”

***

In the end, it was decided that Goetia could attend the Farm School while commuting from home three times a week using teleportation magic.

The remaining four days would be family time.

The Demon King, touched by Sensei’s words, decided to spend more time with his family despite his busy schedule.

This change would surely lay a better foundation for Goetia to become a great Demon King, more than any classroom study could.

And at the same time, this new environment would bring forth new challenges...