I was Reincarnated as the Youngest Child of a Villainous Noble Family Who Controls the Kingdom from Behind the Scenes

"Seriously, don't make me go through all this trouble."

In front of me, Dale, stands my older brother Deniro and his group of second-year followers from the Deniro faction.

We're at the magic tool warehouse on the outskirts of the academy, a place rarely visited by anyone, making it the perfect hangout for my brother and his crew.

"I went out of my way to catch this bratty underclassman who dared to mess with my cute little brother. Do you understand the effort I put into this?"

"Mmmph! Mmmph!"

At my brother's feet, Esty is tied up and rolling on the ground, desperately struggling against her restraints, her mouth gagged.

Deniro, the eldest son of the Brooks family and its next heir, is a second-year at the academy. Yeah, my brother is the kind of guy who goes this far.

"Couldn't you guys handle some commoner brat on your own? Huh?"

"We're sorry..."

Me, Dale, and the other two—Kater and Biz—are kneeling in seiza in front of my brother, trembling. After all, the Deniro faction is known as the radicals within the academy, always quick to challenge anyone they don't like to a duel. And they always have a plausible reason, so the teachers hardly ever suspect anything.

If you refuse, things get even worse than the outcome of a duel. For example, they might dig into your background and show up at your house. My brother Deniro doesn't even spare me, his own brother.

When I was a kid, I thought I might actually be killed if I defied Deniro. Our father holds him in high regard, so he gets away with whatever he wants.

"Hey, Dale. Where were you born again?"

"T-the Brooks family..."

"Right. The Brooks family motto: 'Turn those who oppose you into corpses and stepping stones.' In other words, don't let anyone walk all over you. That applies to the Deniro faction too."

"Y-yes... Gyaaaaah!"

Electricity courses through my body. It's my brother's signature lightning magic. As I writhe in agony, he steps on my head.@@novelbin@@

"This lightning magic, passed down through the Brooks family, has been used for torture since ancient times. But I don't want to use it on my cute little brother. Do you understand how I feel?"

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry, brother..."

"It was this lightning magic that allowed the Brooks family, originally commoners, to rise to power faster than anyone else. Some say lightning magic isn't as versatile as other elemental magics, but..."

"L-lightning... is unleashed at the speed of light... In terms of lethality, it surpasses all other elements..."

When I mutter this, my brother grins.

"That's right, that's right, that's right! You really get it, my little brother! Maybe you're the one who deserves to be the next heir!"

Instantly in a better mood, my brother pats my head. Then he makes me sit back in seiza and takes a seat on a nearby magic tool.

"Princess Leticia, huh? She's something else. I can see why my little brother is so obsessed. Right, guys?"

"Yeah, when I heard she was enrolling this year, I was thrilled."

"Just looking at her is enough to drive me crazy."

The seniors from the Deniro faction chime in. The other two guys with me are still trembling, unable to even speak.

"Alright then. Let's kidnap Princess Leticia."

"B-brother! That's going too far!"

"What are you talking about? This is all your fault for letting those brats walk all over you. Do you understand how I feel about my little brother?"

"But how would we even...?"

"We'll just get the whole Deniro faction to..."

As my brother starts to say this, I feel something off. Is there someone behind us?

"Hey, who are you?"

There, standing in the corner of the magic tool warehouse, is someone watching us with cold eyes.

"A-Alphiss ... ?"

"Hey, Dale. Looks like you and your brother are getting along well. I'm kinda jealous. Things are a bit awkward in my family."

"Uh, did you hear...?"

"Nah, I only caught the part about kidnapping Princess Leticia."

I feel my butt clench. A chill runs down my spine, and I can't help but remember Alfis and Lilycia's mock battle. Back then, he completely shut her down without even showing his hand.

"Alphiss ! Please don't report this to the student council!"

"Report to the student council? This is way beyond breaking school rules."

Alphiss  looks at my brother. My brother smirks and gathers magic in one hand.

"Alfis... you're the rumored Balfonte family, huh? They say you're one of the pillars of the kingdom, but no one really knows the truth. There are even rumors that you were involved in the Demaseka family's disappearance eight years ago."

"So what? You think I'm just gonna say, 'Yeah, we did it'?"

"Wouldn't that be interesting? Right, guys?"

At my brother's signal, the second-year seniors all draw their weapons.

"Hey, Dale. Quit spacing out. You're in on this too."

"Uh, but... okay, got it."

Reluctantly, I agree. After all, there are so many of us, and the seniors are here too. Even though we're only a year apart, the difference in strength is huge.

Especially the Deniro faction—they've been dueling since their first year. Their win rate is high even compared to others in their grade. And among them, Roguid, one of the faction's executives, is a monster with an over 80% win rate.

"Deniro, , leave this to me."

"Roguid, huh? With your skills, this should be no problem."

Roguid's weapon of choice is the knife. At first glance, it seems plain and short-ranged, but he carries countless knives hidden all over his body. He can throw them, slash with them—his body is a weapon. Almost no one is foolish enough to challenge him in close combat.

"So you're the number two in the Deniro faction?"

"Whether you're from the Balfonte family or not, if you can only fight by the book, you can't beat me."

"You don't fight by the book? Heh..."

"I'll shut that arrogant mouth of yours right now!"

Roguid strikes first. One knife, two knives, three knives—he juggles them in both hands as he slashes. The advantage of knives is their maneuverability.

Even without reach, their lightness allows for free movement. The speed of his attacks is overwhelming, and the sheer number of strikes...

"Gah...!"

"Hey, if you want to do juggling, you should join the circus."

"W-what... I didn't even see..."

"No matter how light and free your weapon is, if you're too free, it's pointless. You're full of openings, idiot."

Roguid is slashed deeply and then enveloped in a black mist-like substance. Before any blood can spill, his body disappears, leaving my brother and the others speechless. And then there's Alfis's sword.

Its ominous design and jet-black blade are unsettling just to look at. It's clearly no ordinary weapon.

"You... what is that sword...?"

"The Demon Sword Dispareid. You've heard of it, right?"

"There's no way it's the real thing..."

"Real or fake, I won't let a single one of you escape."

As Alphiss raises the demon sword, we finally realize the gravity of the situation. The rumors about the Balfonte family are true. We had no understanding of their power. But now, it's too late for regrets.