#100. The Aftermath is Too Wholesome (4)

#100. The Aftermath is Too Wholesome (4)

The world had won its peace, but the same could hardly be said for the days unfolding for one young boy.

A boy who could neither speak nor write, ever vigilant against the possibility of unwanted brainwashing stemming from the past incident of runaway mind control.

The maids who served the saint who saved the world were plunged into profound sorrow by the boy’s decision to voluntarily confine himself to the manor for the sake of that very peace.

“To think, young Master Ian can’t speak, despite having a mouth, and can’t write, despite knowing how. It’s too cruel.”

“Even in such a state, that noble soul always greets us with a gentle smile and kind eyes. He must be aware of our worry and is doing it for us.”

“…All we can do is serve Master Ian to the best of our abilities. Let us care for him so that he doesn’t suffer any hardship in his daily life!”

Cleaning with a thoroughness that left not a speck of dust.

Clothes as free of wrinkles as their faces were of frowns.

Meals consisting of delicacies fit for a king, that he might at least enjoy the pleasure of taste.

A private carriage, meticulously maintained so that Ian could use it whenever he desired, though he never did.

Hand-painted masterpieces for Master Ian, followed by carving them into thousand-piece puzzles.

The accumulation and practice of various board games, all the better to be a worthy opponent in any pastime.

Memorizing tales of the peaceful world to recount them to the Saint.

Even to designing and providing custom fitness programs for his health.

They honed themselves until they could confidently proclaim to be the ultimate maids. Their tireless training and growth continued without end.

*Blink*.

Ian expressed his joy with smiles, sometimes even clapping his hands.

However, the ill-fortune of the young master seemed to have no end.

“Why isn’t Master Ian growing, even as the years pass?”

“Lady Cecilia said…because he emerged from the chrysalis of a Demon King evolution, his body resisted for eight years in order to maintain his current state, resulting in stunted growth.”

“So, he’ll never become an adult and will remain small and delicate for the rest of his life?”

“That’s…too good…er, not good at all…”

“Does that mean he’ll continue to grab our hands, place them on his head, and ask us to pat him…? That’s just too pitiful…!”

“There’s nothing we can do about reality. We just have to pat him lots….”

Regardless of the maids’ reactions, a mixture of joy and sorrow, Cecilia could understand what Ian was saying simply by looking at his eyes.

Cecilia responded to even the smallest gestures, which reflected Ian’s heart, with deep affection.

“Did you know? There’s no need to build up our strength, or train, or even fight since nobody is oppressing or attacking others now. It’s all thanks to my husband.”

A world that grew closer to goodness each moment, even without the use of mind control.

Listening to the news of peace dawning on the world, Ian felt a deep sense of gratitude towards everyone.

Even if the world had improved, it was the residents of this world who had taken direct action.

‘I am a sinner. For me, this is already a luxurious and extravagant happiness, a perfect everyday life.’

Ian could live contentedly with his current situation, the news he received, and the occasional visits from acquaintances to the manor.

If only he hadn’t secretly ventured out into the garden one dawn, craving a breath of the morning air.

“I only feel sorry for Ian. If I had been a more steadfast person, if I hadn’t been so weak as to be broken by Lonoa, then Ian wouldn’t have had to use so much brainwashing, and the situation of him running amok due to the amplified influence of the brainwashing would never have occurred in the first place.”

“If you’re going to point fingers, my mistake is no less significant. I didn’t provide enough strength during the previous adventure, which forced Ian to use brainwashing on formidable foes like Dracozar and Marbas.”

“You were just an ordinary person. You’ve already put in a lot of effort just to reach your current level of strength.”

Teresa and Gorgo.

Mother and guard were blaming themselves.

For Ian’s current state, in which he could not fully enjoy the happiness that others take for granted.

To be able to freely converse and write.

He pitied the situation where such normalcy had become anything but.

Only then did Ian realize.

He was content with his lot, but others were not.

His very existence was making everyone miserable.

‘Let’s research. A way to write and communicate without triggering the mind control.’

Ian carefully revised and revised the letter.

It was a letter filled with gratitude.

It contained stories about how happy he was with his daily life thanks to everyone’s dedication, and how he was always thankful and joyful.

“Is Ian trying to settle his affairs…?”

“No! Don’t die, Ian!”

“Wah… We were wrong. We should have been content just being with you, but we were consumed by excessive self-loathing and made you suffer!”

Ian’s secret weapon, a letter filled with gratitude, only made people weep buckets.

‘Ah, I haven’t earned that much trust, have I?’

Ian realized an even more important fact from the series of events.

In their eyes, he was still a miserable, pitiful child.

Even if such a child expressed gratitude, it wouldn’t be seen as genuine, but as a desperate attempt to appear cheerful while caring for their feelings.

‘This can’t go on.’

Even if he himself was satisfied with the sealing of his mind control abilities and his reclusive life, those around him were not.

And that, in turn, was making Ian unhappy.

Because of him, more people were suffering in misery.

How was that any different from the Demon King?

Even if he had conquered the Demon King’s blood, if his very existence slowly, over a lifetime, only tormented everyone, then he was nothing more than a more insidious being than the Demon King’s blood.

“So you requested my help?”

Ian answered Hansel, who had visited his mansion, with a sad smile.

“You did well to call me. Once, you were my guide, and now I can be your guide as well. The solution to your problem is simple.”

Hansel revealed the secret to resolving Ian’s problem.

“Complete annihilation of the mind control ability. Once the ability is gone, you can always escape the communication restrictions caused by the fear of mind control outbursts.”

“…”

“Trust leads to growth. Have you ever thought about this? That mind control can also be the subject of mind control.”

“…!”

“Permanently stop the manifestation of mind control ability. If you can apply this to the mind control ability itself, you can be freed.”

Eradicate the very concept of mind control from this world.

For Ian, who didn’t want mind control, it was a reason to actively welcome it, but one fear blocked his decision.

The existence of the boy monster, still acting as the Peace Demon King in the North in Ian’s stead, was what terrified Ian.

“Are you afraid that the ‘substitute’ who is wielding mind control will be defeated by the Demon King’s blood?”

“…”

“Mind control is a rare ability. It’s uncertain whether sealing the ability will seal only your personal ability or all mind control. It’s up to you to decide. Will you seal mind control and gain freedom at the cost of unleashing the danger of the Demon King upon the world, or will you accept mind control and seal yourself at the cost of sealing the danger of the Demon King as well?”

Ian’s freedom becoming the end of peace, Ian’s sealing becoming the Demon King’s sealing – a single thread binding their fates.

The answer to the choice between his own happiness and the world’s happiness had already been decided once, when he chose to become the Demon King.

Ian is someone who prioritizes the world over himself.

However, his choices could only ensure the safety of those around him, not their happiness.

Seeing that only concerned him, regardless of his own well-being, Hansel inquired.

“Doesn’t your own happiness matter? Marbas once said, people gain the power they most desperately desire. Brainwashing is a power that exists to selfishly twist the hearts of others. Isn’t there any happiness you sought in twisting those hearts?”

[There is. And I’ve already achieved it.]

“I see. Teresa’s conversion. The normalization of your family. For you, whose happiness lay in such simple everyday life, any brainwashing beyond that was just a ‘bonus.’ Now I understand.”

Ian felt a sense of unease.

[Who are you?]

“Can’t you tell? It’s Hansel.”

[Hansel never formed a relationship with me and Mom shallow enough to need to reaffirm it.]

A being possessing Hansel’s face and Hansel’s body, but certainly not Hansel’s consciousness, smiled faintly.

“That’s not important. I merely wished to confirm it. Whether you truly deserve to be freed from the fate of brainwashing.”

A being wearing Hansel’s form, yet not Hansel.

Ian understood the answer.

[Ancestral Descent. Hansel summoned an ancestor of the vampire clan. For me.]

“A reward for a commendable young man.”

Ian’s deeds, pulling the vampire clan’s destiny from the role of tragic onlookers and out of the gloom of the sanguine forest.

That was what moved even the clan’s ancestor to bestow his favor.

“I shall revert your brainwashing level to before the runaway with Function Drain. But in return, should you use brainwashing even once more, it will run rampant again. Are you still willing to accept it?”

[A person’s heart is like the most delicate canvas. Brainwashing is the act of painting darkness upon that canvas. I never want to plunge someone’s heart into darkness at the cost of losing my own soul.]

“The answer is correct, Brainwasher. Brainwashing is a prison that calls for solitude, and the only key to unlock its door is a genuine relationship. Never forget that feeling, and cherish it dearly.”

The vampire clan’s ancestor, Nosferatu, absorbed the burden, far too great, that the pitiable mortal carried.

When the Ancestral Descent was dispelled, Hansel felt the strength of the ancestor who had possessed his body, as well as the brainwashing power absorbed by Function Drain, depart from him entirely.

Upon regaining his senses, Hansel looked at Ian and grinned, realizing his gamble had paid off.

“You did it, Ian. You’re free.”

“It really… it doesn’t feel like anything. The power of brainwashing is gone, that wicked power that twisted and warped the hearts of men.”

This wasn’t sealing the brainwashing, but rather transferring the ability to an ancestor of the vampire clan, who enjoyed eternal life.

Therefore, the brainwashing abilities of Ian’s doppelganger, the Demon King of Peace, and the boy monster wouldn’t disappear.

Ian experienced the miracle of simultaneously overcoming brainwashing, which he so desperately craved but couldn’t achieve, and achieving world peace.

“Ian. What was the first thing you wanted to do once brainwashing was gone?”

Smiling broadly, Ian answered, already thrilled by the mere thought.

“To tell everyone around me that I love them, without the worry of brainwashing warping and controlling their hearts.”

…Well, this is a fine mess.

Hansel chuckled wryly and shook his head.

Even without brainwashing, the sinister behavior of captivating women’s hearts seemed destined to continue.