It was nothing extraordinary.
The reason he had betrayed the children was simply — his own weakness.
He couldn't keep his feelings in check. He had acted on his desires.
In the end... he was no different from the nobles of this country. That was all there was to it.
He had lost a friend to the scheming of nobles, and his wife had been killed through their negligence.
Through those experiences, he had sworn to change this country.
At the same time, he understood that he couldn't do it alone. His magic was what it was, and he wasn't the kind of man who could single-handedly bend everything to his will.
His friend who had left the Royal Capital was the very embodiment of that kind of power — which was probably part of the reason — but Yurugen had long since given up on walking that path.
And above all, even if he did manage to change things, it would probably
only be to that degree —
and that wouldn't be enough to change this country. The twisted roots ran deep; merely scorching the surface would only give rise to new distortions in no time.
That was precisely why Yurugen had chosen the option of "entrusting." He wanted the children who would grow up to carry this country forward to possess good hearts, and through their will, to guide the nation in a wondrous direction.
He also believed he had been blessed with luck. His daughter Katia, even after enduring her mother's death, had never lost her resolve to be a proper noble — and that pure heart of hers had spread to those who looked up to her as well.
And above all... Ermes had come. From a direction he had never anticipated, the very trump card he had so desperately needed came rolling right into his lap.
Moreover, he'd heard that Ermes was a disciple of Rose. For once — even Yurugen, who normally never believed in such things — couldn't help but feel something akin to fate.
All the necessary cards were now on the table. All that remained was for Yurugen to draw up the map: to pit the range this country could move within against those children at the right moment, and through that trial, let them grow.
A grand undertaking using everything he had. And so Yurugen set into motion this great performance — one undertaken with the resolve to lose everything once it was done —
At the same time, he made a single vow.
That he would bear all of this country's darkness, all of its blackness, upon himself.
There were also practical reasons, to some extent. Simply put, the "bottom" of this country was far too stimulating for children whose emotions and values were still developing. If they became disillusioned and turned their backs on the country, the realization of his wife's dream — to change this country — would recede even further.
But beyond that.
...He didn't want them to see it. He wanted them to remain ignorant.
If they could live their whole lives without ever knowing about such things, that was absolutely preferable. He would keep the truly hopeless parts of this country entirely hidden from the children, carry it all himself, and take it with him straight to hell.
And then, in this country — scrubbed clean of every chain and obligation — he wanted the children to paint whatever future they desired, however they wished.
Holding that thought and making it his own dream, Yurugen swore that he would watch over them all — boys and girls alike — and become a presence that hid and kept away everything that would harm their hearts.
As long as they fought only the Second Prince, that would be enough. Compared to this country's darkness, he was a trivial matter. There was no need for them to know about the multitude of existences writhing behind him. Even the ones who deliberately overlooked that debauchery while harboring far more sinister thoughts — he would eliminate every last one of them in secret.
At the academy, he wanted them to live proper, wholesome youth. Children who hadn't yet been fully tainted — with the values and energy that Ermes possessed, it should be possible to change them.
As for the irredeemable adults — he would drag them all down with him.
He wanted Her Royal Highness Liliana as well to interact with the children who had grown up this way, and to cultivate a healthy awareness of her role as ruler. Until she had nurtured a strong enough heart to stand against things on her own, he would deflect every attempt by wicked nobles to corrupt her — even if it meant using his own body as a shield.
Under that resolve, unknown to any of the children. Without a single one of them ever catching on.
Yurugen continued to operate from the shadows like a true noble, secretly guarding the paradise he wished for the children.
The irredeemable nobles, the hopeless cases — he negotiated with them, eliminated them, bore the weight of it all himself. And he kept on doing so, endlessly...
"What truly admirable devotion. You haven't considered yourself at all."
Just as that resolve was finally about to bear fruit — moments before bringing Ermes and Liliana together.
That man arrived, carrying with him calm, penetrating eyes.
My apologies — let me change the order slightly and start with the Yurugen-named turn.
I would be grateful if you could learn what he saw behind the children's exploits.
I sincerely hope you'll read the next installment as well!