#982 The Demon Prince Sets Off

I’m Goetia, the demon prince.

I’m the eldest son of Demon King Zedan, who is also known as “the most formidable Demon King.”

As the prime candidate to inherit the throne, I’m expected to become the new Demon King one day.

That’s why I constantly undergo rigorous training to ensure I don’t embarrass myself as his son.

Whether it’s studies, culture, or martial arts, I’ve got the best tutors for each.

My peers, handpicked from the elite, are groomed to become my future right-hand men when I ascend to the throne.

My father accomplished unprecedented feats in the history of the Demon Kingdom.

It’s my duty to inherit and build upon his legacy.

So, I don’t have time for breaks.

I need to train hard and catch up to my father as quickly as possible.

One day, as I was diligently pursuing my training, Father summoned me.

***

“You’re working hard on your studies as a demon prince, Goetia.”

“Yes! I’m striving tirelessly for the day I succeed you, Father!”

As the current Demon King, Father is very busy, and I don’t get to see him often.

Even so, he makes time to meet with me, showing his renowned benevolence.

“Um... Father, you don’t have to force yourself to make time for me...”

“Hmm?”

“I understand you’re busy. If people say you’re neglecting your duties to spend time with me, it would tarnish my reputation as the demon prince. Please, focus on your kingly duties, and don’t worry about me.”

“Hmm...!”

I said what any demon prince should, yet Father made a troubled expression.

“Indeed, my responsibilities as Demon King often keep me from spending time with you. And Astres is preoccupied with taking care of your younger sister. Plus, she’s expecting our third child...”

“Having plenty of heirs secures the royal lineage, which is generally a good thing. Although all my siblings so far have been girls, if the next one is a boy, he can be the second demon prince, ensuring stability even if something happens to me.”

“Don’t say such ominous things...!”

“To ensure the Demon Kingdom’s continuity, we must be prepared for any situation.”

As the prime candidate for the next Demon King, I attend history lectures regularly.

I’ve learned about instances in our kingdom’s past where the death of a highly anticipated heir led to prolonged succession disputes.

To avoid such chaos, we must establish a clear line of succession beyond the primary heir.

“In that sense, it’s concerning that Queen Glasya is also pregnant with her second child.”

My mother, Astres, is the first Demon Queen. Glasya, the second Demon Queen, has already given birth to a daughter, who is not involved in the succession struggle.

Similarly, my sister Belzebia, born of my mother, is also not in line for the throne.

However, both queens are now expecting new children.

“If Mother gives birth to another daughter and Queen Glasya has a son, the second queen’s child will become the second demon prince. Having two princes from different mothers as the first and second heirs could ignite conflict. Shouldn’t we address this issue?”

“Hmm...”

Father seems troubled, but the solution seems obvious to me.

To prevent future disputes in the Demon Kingdom, we should declare that only the children of the first Demon Queen, my mother Astres, have the right to succession...

“Silence, Goetia. Refrain from making any uncalled-for remarks.”

“Eek-”

The stern reprimand came from my mother, Astres, who was in the same room.

She holds my newborn sister Belzebia in her arms and is pregnant with her third child.

However, Mother is even stricter than Father.

“The selection of the successor is solely the decision of the current Demon King. No one else should interfere. Especially you, Goetia, the current first candidate. If you speak too lightly, people might think you’re obsessed with your position.”

“But I only want to avoid unnecessary conflict...!!!”

“It’s not something for a child to worry about. Spineless adults who can’t voice their opinions directly are probably using your mouth to speak. Such despicable individuals.”

Oh, Mother.

Do you think I’m just a puppet easily manipulated by conniving adults?

I’m working hard day and night to be able to lead all our retainers without any problems...!

“N-Now, Astres, you don’t have to be so harsh. Goetia is learning many things now.”

“Precisely because of that, he must learn that those with great power will always have schemers trying to get close. If they can manipulate the powerful, they can control their power. Goetia needs to be extra vigilant and cautious.”

“Hmm...!”

Mother’s unyielding demeanor doesn’t budge, even with Father’s intervention.

As I thought, Mother is far stricter than Father.

Before I was born... Before she became the Demon Queen, she was known as a ruthless general feared by all, and I can believe it.

“Shall we get to the point, Your Majesty? Neither you nor this child has much free time, so we should use it wisely.”

“You say that, but since we rarely have family time, I wanted us to bond a bit more...!!!”

“Goetia, there’s been talk of preparing a new place of learning for you.”

“Don’t make decisions on your own...!”

Mother?

A new place of learning? What do you mean?

I’ve been learning under the best tutors in the Demon Kingdom and take pride in my unparalleled educational environment.

I can’t imagine a better place for learning.

“Do you really think so? If you do, then your perspective is still very narrow. Future Demon Kings after the great Zedan must have a broad view that extends beyond the Demon Kingdom. Maintaining good relations with other nations like the New Human Kingdom and the Mermaid Kingdom is crucial.”

That’s certainly true, but...

“Thus, learning only from domestic scholars is insufficient. Your father has arranged the best place for your education.”

...I somewhat understand your concern.

But where exactly is this ‘best place for learning’ you’re referring to?

“Hmm, do you remember last autumn? The Demon King’s family left the capital, except for you.”

“Ah, I felt terrible about that! We didn’t mean to exclude you! There were deep, deep reasons for it!!!”

Father hastily tries to make amends, but for me, it’s just a vague memory.

Father, Mother, my sister Belzebia, along with the second Demon Queen Glasya and her daughter Marine, all left the capital for a while.

That was last year.

I stayed behind because I had indispensable lessons and duties as the demon prince.

The maids pitied me, saying, “The poor prince...” but their sympathy was unwarranted.

I stayed in the capital because of my essential studies and duties, unlike my younger sisters, who had lighter responsibilities as princesses.

“True, but there was a more significant reason why we didn’t take you. That reason is now becoming relevant.”

?

What are you talking about, Mother?

Could you be more straightforward, please?

“In short, you’re going to learn at the place we visited last autumn. That place is... the Saint’s Farm!”

The Saint’s Farm?

Isn’t that the rumored utopia everyone in the city talks about?

Wealth, fame, power... It’s said to hold all the world’s treasures, and those who find it can control everything.

But no one has found it, and it’s said to exist only in dreams.

“Only fools dream of such fantasies. As the demon prince, Goetia, you should not associate with such people but instead use and control them.”

...That’s what my tutors told me.

But Father and Mother believed in the Saint’s Farm’s existence...?!

No, they actually visited it?

“You, too, have set foot in the Saint’s Farm before, Goetia. You were just too young to remember.”

“Pardon?!”

“But since you’ve become more conscious, we avoided it. It’s too unique a place, and getting accustomed to its norms too early might warp your judgment as the future Demon King.”

For Father, the “most formidable Demon King,” to say this...

The Saint’s Farm really does exist.

And it must be an extraordinary place if Father acknowledges it.                

My tutors never mentioned a word about this...!

Then Mother chimes in.

“But it’s time to lift that restriction. Learning only in the Demon Kingdom will make you a frog in a well. To break those rigid views, there’s no place better than the Saint’s Farm.”

“Before winter, we made all the arrangements. Goetia, you will study at the Farm School starting this spring. You’ll encounter experiences like never before.”

But Father...!

I’m in the middle of lessons with my current tutors.

Studying abroad means stopping those...!

“You can drop those lessons.”

Mother?!

“Lectures from scholars cozy in the capital are nothing compared to what you’ll experience on the farm. If you truly want to be the next Demon King, go to the farm without hesitation. Otherwise, you’ll end up living a mundane life.”

“Well, it’s not that dramatic...!”

Kuh.

I understand, Mother.

If you insist, I, Demon Prince Goetia, will head to the Saint’s Farm.

To follow in Father’s footsteps and become a great Demon King!

I’ll see if the Saint’s Farm lives up to the rumors!!!