#099. The Aftermath is Too Kind (3)

#099. The Aftermath is Too Kind (3)

“Oppa, how could you cast a brainwashing spell!”

Anna shrieked in horror.

Of course, that didn’t undo the brainwashing that was already in place.

“We need to tell him to undo the brainwashing, no, before that! If it gets out that we cast a brainwashing spell, this could start a war with the Empire!”

For Ian, who had thought he had already lived a lifetime of adventures at a young age and intended to enjoy a leisurely slow life, this was an unintended catastrophe.

[Sorry. It wasn’t my intention.]

Brainwashing Rampage.

It is a brainwashing spell that the hypnotist cannot control, and is cast even if they don’t intend to.

One careless word is enough to change someone’s life.

If, angered by a cruel prank, you say you hate someone enough to want them dead, that person might actually commit suicide.

If you shout, “Dig the ground, will money come out?” they might dig until money appears.

A dangerous power that can ruin a person’s life in an instant, that is brainwashing.

The Empire, the whole world, might realize the terror of a power they hadn’t been aware of because of Ian’s inherent goodness, treating Ian like a demon king and targeting him for subjugation.

[I’ll contact the Empire.]

“…No. Oppa, you only tell Mom and Clumsy Unni about this, and don’t tell anyone else.”

[Anna?]

“Oppa, you’re in danger too. The Empire won’t miss this chance and might threaten Oppa, considering him a potential danger, and invade the kingdom!”

[But I can’t just stand by and do nothing.]

Anna knew Ian’s strong sense of duty all too well.

Wasn’t he the one who, with his stubbornness alone, bent the will of his stubborn mother, and overturned the intentions of the enormous web of intertwined interests and benefit-seeking groups that spanned nobles, guilds, races, and nations?

“Mr. Dracozar of the Beastman Alliance knew how to undo brainwashing spells. If we take him to the Empire before it’s too late, he can undo it.”

[I can do that too. I don’t want you to be in danger because of me.]

“You fool. No wonder Clumsy Unni is always calling you clumsy! Oppa has indebted himself to the entire world. My desire to introduce you to my boyfriend and be acknowledged caused Oppa’s condition to worsen and created this mess, so how can I rely on you even more here?”

Anna’s eyes even welled up with tears.

“When I was little, Mom and Oppa took care of Anna. Now, let Anna take care of Mom and Oppa. Okay? Please.”

“…”

“Besides, brother, you’re terribly famous now. Too many people recognize your face. It’d be less conspicuous for me, the sister of a mind-manipulator, to go to the Empire than you, the mind-manipulator himself. I’m strong, and I’ve mastered many techniques. And with Uncle Dracosar accompanying me, there’s nothing to worry about. So please? Hm?”

It was a plea from his younger sister, whom he’d raised and protected like a child.

Separate from the desperation, he could also feel the marks of genuine, deep consideration.

[Alright.]

“Really?!”

No parent can win against their child, and no older brother can win against a younger sister he raised like a child, it seemed.

Ian released a soundless sigh.

[Alright. But you promise me this: If it becomes too much, you request help, no matter what. If you’re late, I’ll be there without you needing to call me.]

“Thank you, brother!”

He couldn’t just send Anna off alone.

Even without Nina telling her to, she’d already packed all her gear.

“Trust us. Anna will come to no harm, absolutely none.”

Although he’d sent the two off, Ian still called his mother and Cecilia, informing them of the current situation, just in case things went south.

Now, all that remained was to wait. If Anna failed to resolve the situation within the promised month, he would go to the Empire himself and sort things out.

That process might require him to use his powers as a mind-manipulator, but this concerned his precious little sister and an innocent boyfriend, and furthermore, the peace between the kingdom and the Empire was at stake.

‘If someone’s hands must be dirtied, let it be mine, not the citizens of either nation.’

The wicked mind-manipulator would simply return to his original calling.

As Ian steeled his resolve, Cecilia sniffled beside him, a mournful look on her face.

“Why does lame-ass Ian always get caught up in these big messes? He’s never done anything bad, he’s only ever been nice. I hate mind-control so much. It’s trash. Irredeemable. This useless power should just disappear from the world.”

All Ian could do was take Cecilia’s hand and try to soothe her.

“Maybe we’ll be lucky, and things won’t escalate. Even if one person is swayed by mind control, how much trouble can they cause in a month if they weren’t seriously considering a revolution to begin with?”

Teresa’s words offered a glimmer of hope.

And they were right, actually.

There’s only so much one person can do.

Even someone of high standing.

Everything has its procedures and steps.

Especially when it comes to participating in a struggle for succession to the throne.

Gaining support, building power, battling rival factions for legitimacy, engaging in political struggles, and securing the strongmen and legions needed to protect oneself and one’s allies…

If you could accomplish all that in just one month, you’d be fit to be the Emperor of the Empire, not merely some Prince wandering the backwaters.

“Breaking News! Third Prince Rivers Goldroad gave a speech denouncing the Empire’s violent actions toward its border regions and received overwhelming support from the Empire’s immigrants!”

“Breaking News! Every nation outside the Empire is adopting a friendly stance toward Prince Rivers’ participation in the succession war, actively supporting him with funds, personnel, and military force using merchants, diplomats, and mercenaries planted within the Empire!”

But that began to become a reality.

“During the debate, the Second Prince’s camp cornered the Third Prince by questioning whether he intended to implant mana waste facilities in their country and kill their own citizens, but the Third Prince countered with a peace initiative, claiming that the amount of mana waste could be drastically reduced through unarmed disarmament!”

“The Third Prince’s advocacy of world peace, combined with the premature attempt to subjugate the Demon Lord and Ian’s accomplishments in ending the Demon Lord’s threat, have sparked peaceful protests in the Empire!”

“The benevolent Saintess Kasha of the Revolutionary Order has personally visited the Empire to encourage the people supporting the Third Prince, and peaceful protests are growing throughout the Empire!”

War and peace.

Armaments and disarmament.

The front-line deployment of facilities and their complete closure.

As the concepts of global citizenship and world peace emerged for the first time, humanity, just as it had united against the Demon Lord, began to unite against the Empire’s Second Prince and military-first policies.

That fervor confounded both the Second Prince, who held the reins of commerce, and the First Prince, who commanded the military, equally.

“Breaking News! An assassin, presumed to be dispatched by the First Prince, targeted the Third Prince’s life! However, thanks to the valor of Lady Anna and Lady Nina, the attempt was thwarted!”

“Breaking News! The Second Prince, exploiting friendly vassal states, spreads false war reports, defaming and denouncing the value of pacifism!”

The situation had grown far too vast.

The other Princes felt such alarm towards the Third Prince that they would plot war and send assassins.

It had reached the point where peace could never dawn upon the Empire unless the Third Prince met his end.

“Ian. If we venture into the Empire in this atmosphere, isn’t there a real risk of war igniting between our kingdom and the Empire?”

[…Direct travel is perilous, but a letter might be of some assistance.]

The severity of the situation resonated even in the capital of the Northern Independent Kingdom.

The young King, closely monitoring the Empire’s movements, keenly agreed to Ian’s proposal to dispatch a letter to the Empire, seeking peaceful mediation.

“The royal seal has been affixed to the diplomatic missive, ensuring its delivery. They, too, will have no choice but to receive the letter if they desire an amicable resolution.”

The only path Ian could hope for, as Theresa had suggested, was for the Empire to receive the letter and accept the mediation.

The letter, laden with the earnest wishes for peace from the King of the Northern Independent Kingdom and Ian, soon arrived in the Empire.

And then, the Emperor announced that a national address would be held.

The First Prince, the Second Prince, and the Third Prince.

Even the Princes, embroiled in a fierce battle for the throne, ceased their machinations and attended the national address to heed the Emperor’s will.

And then, the Emperor’s earth-shattering speech began.

“For too long, Midgard has been rife with lives unable to fully express their innate talents and dispositions, due to reasons such as race, nation, region, status, inherited family, and level of wealth.”

“I have deeply lamented this state of the world, and thus, I desire to create a world where the virtuous can live virtuously, and the talented can showcase all of their gifts.”

“This is a momentous undertaking that can only be achieved through the united resolve of all races, all nations, and all living beings within this world. Thus, embracing the will of the great thinker, Ian, and the Northern Independent Kingdom that supports him, I decree the dismantling of the Doomsday Weapon and the commencement of disarmament.”

The Emperor’s shocking address bewildered even Ian and Theresa, who were receiving the report in the Northern Independent Kingdom’s Royal Court.

“Was the Emperor always like this?”

“No. The Emperor is an extremely arrogant militarist, a tyrant who would forcibly mobilize military force to maintain his imperial authority and pass it on to his children, flaunting the Empire’s power to extract concessions from peripheral nations, even by force.”

“Then, how could the Emperor change so drastically overnight?”

Ian realized a terrifying truth.

The method of brainwashing Ian had used thus far was face-to-face brainwashing using language.

But that was merely *Ian’s* method.

There was no rule dictating that brainwashing could only be used that way.

If brainwashing went berserk.

And if the level of that berserk state were to rise even further.

It was possible to activate brainwashing ‘indirectly’ through ‘other mediums.’

For example, through a ‘letter’ containing Ian’s sincerity, sent to the Emperor.

-Furthermore, the position of the next Emperor will be entrusted to the Third Prince, Rivers Goldroad, who aligns most closely with my will. Let all high and low officials remember this and support the Third Prince, the Crown Prince.

Anna’s boyfriend had suddenly been acknowledged by the current Emperor as the Empire’s next Emperor, solidifying his power.

Anna, who had suddenly found herself in the position of Crown Princess, wore a bewildered expression, displaying her confusion in the official proceedings.

Ian was overcome with immense guilt.

‘Anna might have realized her boyfriend’s true identity and considered breaking up with him, but my unintended brainwashing has created an atmosphere that forces Anna’s marriage!’

Even today, Ian felt profound guilt for his wickedness in ruining his sister’s life.