“Are you really saying you’ll grant me anything?”

The white-haired boy asked, his eyes filled with skepticism.

However, seeing that look, Renyah couldn’t help but smile with satisfaction. It’s only natural, really.

This is a betrayal.

Betraying none other than a royal of the Empire, no less. It goes without saying how perilous such a move would be.

This was truly a choice that could alter the course of his life.

To accept such a monumental decision so quickly—especially without fully grasping the situation—would have been absurd.

In other words, that cautious question was a good sign. It showed that the boy was at least considering accepting the proposal.

Renyah knew he couldn’t miss this chance.

“I really didn’t want to do this,” he thought.

After all, there’s no success to be had without some sacrifice, and when it’s time to take a step, it must be done firmly.

Just looking at what he gained from the deal with Asmodeus was enough proof of that. So, without hesitation, he spoke.

“Don’t worry. I’m not like my brother.”

He said that, yet the boy’s expression was still dazed.

But the second prince remained unfazed.

“You still look doubtful. Well… that’s understandable. Anyone can say that.”

His response was precisely what he had expected. And he had already thought of a solution to it.

“So let me prove it myself. From an equal standing, in the same manner as you. In other words…”

He approached the boy slowly, looking directly into his eyes, and declared,

“I swear on my mana that if you just betray the first prince, I will support and protect you in every way.”

The sudden oath on his mana shocked the boy, turning his face pale. If he didn’t react that way, it would have been even weirder.

He would be not only diminishing his own potential but also willingly shackling himself with the unstable mana oath—that’s quite an abnormal action.

“But it’s a necessary sacrifice.”

To gain trust, you have to take such steps.

With this, the boy would certainly begin to think that unlike the first prince, the second prince is reliable.

And indeed, as if to confirm that assumption, the boy cautiously started to speak first.

“If it’s about betrayal…”

His serious expression spoke volumes.

What was that boy thinking? I could see it all too clearly.

This proposal was incredibly tempting, yet he was probably worried about what unreasonable demands would come in return.

Then, what he needed to do was simple.

“Don’t worry, there’s no need to be scared.”

Renyah reassured the boy. He had no intention of putting the boy in situations that worried him from the get-go.

“I’m not asking you for spy work. I simply want you to be fully on my side.”

He saw value in this boy.

He possessed an absurdly powerful strength.

Even the source of that power was unattainable to understand.

While he had such raw power, the boy’s swordsmanship was shockingly poor.

But that just made him more appealing.

An utterly ignorant flailing that shook the heavens and earth.

What would happen if that raw talent were combined with skill?

He was the prince of the Empire.

Everything—the people, the skills, the culture—would one day belong to him.

Well, unfortunately, the succession battle wasn’t settled yet. But still, the fact that his power was formidable remained unchanged.

In other words, if he wanted something, he could probably get it.

High-level martial arts.

Techniques inherited by renowned noble families for generations.

And even the legendary knight’s techniques secretly passed down only to heirs.

With just a word from Renyah, all of that would belong to him. And it would fall into the boy’s hands.

If that boy, blessed with such talent, received powerful skills and generous support, what could happen?

Given his extraordinarily unique and strange talent, Renyah couldn’t predict the heights the boy could reach…

Yet one thing he was certain of was that…

“This boy will become the ultimate weapon to take down Black Fangs.”

He might even measure up to the terrifying leaders of Black Fangs.

With a jaw-dropping strategy, the organization managed to conceal its identity to this day, along with that unfathomable power.

However, the boy could reach a position where he would stand equally against them.

Such confidence filled Renyah.

It had been a long time since he’d felt such good fortune.

Then, just as the second prince wore a pleased smile, a sudden voice broke through the moment.

“I’m not saying I don’t want to complete a mission.”

Out of nowhere, the boy, having stood in contemplation for some time, looked at Renyah with a determined expression.

“I want to become a Swordmaster. My dream is to stand at the pinnacle of knighthood and engrave my name in history.”

A sudden declaration.

Before Renyah could even ask what that was supposed to mean, the boy quickly added,

“I know that asking to be made a Swordmaster is an absurd request. And such requests inevitably come with absurd costs.”

That statement.

As soon as he heard it, Renyah barely managed to hide his surprise. But chaos stirred within his mind.

It was hard to believe, yet…

The boy was essentially saying…

“I don’t intend to settle for mediocre success. Make me the Empire’s Swordmaster. In return, I’ll handle the first prince for you.”

It sounded like he was saying he’d personally slip a blade into the first prince’s neck.

Renyah’s sharp mind began to whirl in rapid motion.

Why was such a bizarre occurrence unfolding?

If that’s the case, it must be a matter of perception.

Renyah wanted to nurture this boy.

He intended to recognize him as a Swordmaster and also give him the position of a knight bodyguard at his side.

But the boy didn’t seem to grasp this situation.

Even though he just offered comprehensive support, it seemed he hadn’t realized it meant he would actually be helping him out.

The boy wasn’t of royal blood, after all.

He had no idea what royal family members could do.

To skip all the necessary procedures and be recognized as a Swordmaster while being given the position of a knight bodyguard was intuitively perceived as impossible.

That’s why he must have declared all that.

In his understanding of the world, surely every action required an appropriate price.

So in his own way, he was trying to pay that price.

Thus, there was only one thing left to verify.

“Is it really possible for you to achieve this?”

His brother was the Archmage.

He would certainly be surrounded by guards right now.

Could he even handle his brother in such a situation? The second prince pondered this and looked once more at the boy before him.

Who was this boy, anyway?

He was none other than the spy personally raised by the first prince.

In other words, this boy must have the first prince’s full trust. Approaching him would be a piece of cake.

If you asked if this boy could take on the former Hero’s companions, the Archmage, and a Swordmaster simultaneously, he’d surely shake his head.

But if you asked if he could sneak up on an unprotected Archmage, eliminate him, and escape…

“That’s definitely doable.”

No, it would be even beyond doable—failing would be the odd part.

A disembodied puppet would do nothing. Eliminating the overconfident Swordmaster and the Archmage, thinking they were on the same side, would surely end the mission.

Given the boy’s power, it was entirely possible.

“There’s no way I’d get suspected either.”

He would try as much as he could to keep it hidden. But even if that failed, there was no problem.

His brother had foolishly proclaimed he’d go deal with Black Fangs. So even if his brother died, suspicion wouldn’t fall on him.

It was truly a perfect plan.

In this situation, there was only one thing Renyah needed to say.

“If you pull that off… I swear, I will give you your wish, by any means necessary.”

Originally, he had intended to keep some distance, but with such a clear declaration of allegiance, there was no need for any further testing.

No need to go through all the complicated verification procedures.

“……Leave it to me.”

With a resolute expression, the boy said so and promptly began descending the mountain.

Watching his retreating figure, Renyah couldn’t help but smile.

He couldn’t stop smiling.

Good fortune like this was hard to come by.

Maybe he was still young, hence the naivety.

It was utterly foolish how he had forced himself into unnecessary hardship thanks to his own misconceptions.

“To be so oblivious while being used…”

It was rather pathetic from the deceiver’s perspective, but it made him all the more fond of the boy.

There’s nothing easier to manipulate than someone who mistakenly thinks they’re smart. That foolish kid would likely remain unwittingly used for a long time to come.

This boy was sure to become the ultimate trump card.

A tremendous help both in combat against Black Fangs and in the power struggle.

Adding one more trustworthy person to his ranks.

“What a bundle of luck rolled right into my lap.”

He had no intention of kicking away this fortune, so he planned to use it to the bone.

Renyah smiled with ambition as he thought that…

…Meanwhile, the boy was also thinking the same way, grinning wickedly, wholly unaware of Renyah’s machinations.