The Villain's Reincarnation – Tired of Working Hard, I'm Slacking Off! The Peacefully Oblivious Slacker Avoids Ruin! - Chapter 6

“Father, I have arrived.”

“I see. Thank you for coming.”

Within the grand royal palace, in a secluded chamber, the king and his first princess sat across from one another.

“If you have summoned me in this manner… then this must be regarding the prophecy.”

“Yes, exactly.”

The prophecy.

A warning that could only be heard by the descendants of the founding hero—and even then, only by those who had been chosen.

The current king was one such chosen one.

Thus, he had heard it.

The warning of the Demon King’s inevitable return.

The King’s Gambit

“What would you have me do?”

Princess Liona Eustina, first princess of the Eustina Kingdom, did not hesitate.

At just eleven years old, she fully understood her duty.

She had already resolved herself—

If it was for the sake of the world, she would sacrifice everything.

The king’s gaze was solemn as he answered.

“The Mitsurugi Clan—one of the Four Great Houses—has responded to our request for a military inspection.”

“However, they have only agreed to allow an inspection of the territories governed by their leading successor, Mitsurugi Kaito.”

“…It’s a trap.”

Liona stated this without hesitation.

The Mitsurugi Clan—A Family Devoted to Power

The Four Great Houses.

The descendants of the four warriors who fought alongside the first king to seal the Demon King.

They were the pillars of the kingdom—each possessing immense power and influence.

Their privileges had been secured through an ancient contract, allowing them to rule almost independently.

To the royal family, these four noble houses had always been an obstacle—a thorn in their side.

And among them—

The Mitsurugi Clan stood out as the most dangerous of all.

The Singular Nature of the Mitsurugi Clan

If the other three noble houses pursued wealth, prestige, and governance—

Then the Mitsurugi Clan pursued one thing only:

Absolute strength.

Their entire lineage had been built on power—and the doctrine that only the strong deserved to rule.

Unlike the others, the Mitsurugi did not seek political influence.

They ruled not through diplomacy, but by subjugation.

They cared nothing for the common people.

Their power alone kept their subjects in line.

And the greatest proof of their devotion to strength—

Was their terrifying succession ritual.

The Mitsurugi Succession War

Unlike other noble houses, where succession was determined through appointment or inheritance, the Mitsurugi Clan chose their heir through a brutal battle for dominance.

Every time a new head was to be decided, a civil war erupted.

All factions within the family—and even their vassals—were drawn into the conflict.

The struggle for power was so intense, it was said to be on par with a full-scale rebellion.

Even the kingdom’s own military was often forced to intervene.

For those serving under the Mitsurugi Clan, this was a nightmare.

The moment their lord fell from power, they were either exiled, executed, or enslaved.

No one wanted this war.

Yet, it had been repeated time and time again, ever since the first Mitsurugi lord established the tradition.

Not once had there been a peaceful transfer of power.

The Unrivaled Strength of the Mitsurugi Clan

Despite this brutality, the Mitsurugi had never once weakened.

If anything—they had only grown stronger.

Their military prowess surpassed even that of the royal army.

They controlled lands bordering three nations and two perilous territories, yet—

Not once had an invasion succeeded against them.

Their counterintelligence was unparalleled—

Even the kingdom’s elite spies had never been able to infiltrate them.

And perhaps most terrifying of all—

They were said to have assassins capable of tracking and eliminating targets anywhere in the world.

Even if the other three noble houses allied with the royal family—

Their chances of defeating the Mitsurugi Clan were no higher than 40%.

And yet—

The Mitsurugi had never attempted to seize the throne.

Why Had the Mitsurugi Never Challenged the Throne?

For one simple reason—

The Mitsurugi Clan did not care about ruling.

To them, the pursuit of strength was their only goal.

The power they wielded as nobility was merely a convenient tool—

One that allowed them to train and grow stronger without restrictions.

To take the throne would mean dealing with politics, administration, and governance—

All things that were a waste of time to them.

As long as no one interfered with their pursuit of strength, they saw no reason to involve themselves in the kingdom’s affairs.

Thus—

The royal family had always maintained a careful balance with them.

They gave the Mitsurugi Clan special privileges, allowing them complete autonomy in their lands.

And in return—

The kingdom benefited from their strength—

Acting as a deterrent against external threats, and protecting the borders from enemy invasions.

It was a mutually beneficial arrangement—

Until now.

The Prophecy’s Disruption

Everything changed when the king received the prophecy.

Since that day—

Unprecedented anomalies had begun to occur.

• • All Four Great Houses had produced prodigies of unprecedented talent.

 

• • Shadow organizations, long thought dormant, had begun to stir.

 

• • Signs of the Demon King’s return were manifesting across the land.

The kingdom was being pushed to the brink—

And the royal family had to act.

They had no choice.

To stop the Demon King’s resurrection, they needed allies.

And there was no greater force in the kingdom than the Mitsurugi Clan.

Thus—

They had attempted negotiations.

The Mitsurugi’s Response

The royal family had reached out to the Mitsurugi—

Only to be completely ignored.

Their requests were not just rejected—they were utterly dismissed.

Even for a king, there was nothing that could be done.

The Mitsurugi’s special privileges made them untouchable.

And while there were ways to force their hand—

Doing so would mean inciting the wrath of a monster.

The Royal Family’s Gamble

Thus—

The only way forward was deception.

If the Mitsurugi could not be won over directly—

Then they would be maneuvered into a situation where they had no choice but to act.

And so—

The trap was set.

The king turned to his daughter.

“Liona… your role will be to make contact with Mitsurugi Kaito.”

The young princess nodded.

She understood.

This was a high-stakes game.

If they succeeded, they would secure the kingdom’s greatest ally.

If they failed, they might awaken an enemy even more dangerous than the Demon King himself.

And so—

The first move was made.

The royal family had been waiting for an opportunity—

A way to approach the Mitsurugi Clan without provoking them.

But then—this offer came.

“So, you think the same?”

*”Yes. I believe the chances are high. Of course, there is always the possibility that they have reconsidered and wish to cooperate due to unforeseen circumstances.

However, given their privileges and sheer power, that scenario is highly unlikely.

If we analyze this logically, this is most likely either a retaliation for breaking our longstanding non-interference agreement… or a warning.”*

“I came to the same conclusion.”

The Unmatched Authority of the Mitsurugi Clan

The Mitsurugi Clan’s power was absolute.

If they wished, they could eliminate a member of the royal family without leaving a trace.

And even if proof were left behind, what consequences could they possibly face?

The royal family was merely a convenience to them.

If the Mitsurugi felt dissatisfied, they could simply join a foreign nation—or, if it suited them, crush the kingdom themselves.

In truth, there was no punishment severe enough to deter them.

Which meant—

This “invitation” was nothing more than a display of dominance.

“A trap, indeed… but we cannot refuse. For the future of the kingdom… can I entrust this mission to you?”

A Sacrificial Role

This was no ordinary request.

The King was asking his daughter to offer herself as a sacrifice.

The terms set by the Mitsurugi Clan were explicitly hostile:

• • The entourage was limited to five people, including herself.

 

• • The royal party must obey all directives given by the Mitsurugi.

 

• • Regardless of what happens, the royal family would bear full responsibility for any incident.

If Liona and her entourage were to die, the Mitsurugi would be completely absolved of any blame.

It was a blatant power play.

They didn’t even attempt to disguise it.

This offer was made with the full expectation that the royal family might refuse—

But that, too, would work in the Mitsurugi’s favor.

If the royal family rejected the offer, they could never make another demand of the Mitsurugi again.

The mere fact that the invitation had been refused would serve as an irrefutable excuse—

Allowing the Mitsurugi complete immunity from royal intervention.

Thus—

The royal family had no choice.

Even if it meant sending Liona to her possible death, they had to accept the invitation.

A Daring Possibility

However—

This wasn’t entirely hopeless.

This invitation, despite its obvious dangers, was also an opportunity.

The royal family had never been able to infiltrate the Mitsurugi’s inner circle.

If Liona could survive and leave an impact—

If she could somehow impress the Mitsurugi in a way no one expected—

Then, just maybe—

The royal family could secure their allegiance.

It was a desperate gamble.

But it was their only chance.

And so—

The king made his decision.

He entrusted the mission to his eldest daughter,

The child who inherited her late mother’s wisdom, beauty, and unshakable will—

Princess Liona Eustina.

“Of course, Father.”

There was no hesitation in her voice.

“This life of mine exists for the peace of our people.”

Her conviction was absolute.

She truly believed—

That if it was for the kingdom, then even her life was an acceptable price.

Thus—

The first princess prepared to step into the lion’s den.

Unaware of the storm she was about to unleash.