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

"No report from the Sixth Division yet."

The Grim Reaper Seventh Division was stationed far from the royal capital, waiting as the academy assault force.

The plan was for the Sixth Division to suppress the academy after distracting the enemy, then the Seventh Division would swarm in like an avalanche.

Pigdet, the captain of the Seventh Division, idly scratched his slack belly as he killed time.

"First, Duke Hezler’s covert negotiations failed, and now the Sixth Division too? Well, plans are always delayed."

"Captain Pigdeeet! I can’t wait any longer to go wild! Fufufu!"

"Tabs, you stand out too much for your brutality on the battlefield. Prioritize killing, even if they’re women."

"C’mon, that’s just how war is! Besides, the Sailrand cowards are probably already pissing themselves! Fufu!"

Tabs, the vice-captain, licked his greasy lips as he greedily devoured weeds.

Tabs would eat anything—women, grass, it didn’t matter.

The creed of the Seventh Division was simple: if you can eat it, eat it.

The Seventh Division was renowned as the strongest in close combat among all forces.

Every member stood well over two meters tall, with some even weighing over 200 kg.

Their assignment to the academy assault wasn’t just due to their size—it was their nature, the polar opposite of the Sixth Division.

In battle, most troops require split-second judgment, but the Seventh Division needed none.

If they decided to act, they acted.

Their nature was almost monstrous.

No defensive line could withstand their momentum.

"...Time’s up!"

If no good news came from the Sixth Division by a set time, they would assault the capital.

Pigdet and the Seventh Division faithfully executed the plan.

No hesitation. They tore down their tents, smashed through trees, and surged forward.

Survivors of the units they crushed would later describe it—

Not a charge, but a stampede of monsters.

Those awaiting battle had braced themselves for beasts, but what came were giants on the march, and by then, it was too late.

The Grim Reaper Seventh Division—also known as the Lamenting Giants.

Their roars, filled with fury, sounded as if they were mourning the weakness of the weak.

The strong wielding power is no sin.

The weak being weak is the crime.

Their rampage forced the trampled to admit it.

The tremors faintly reached the capital.

Had there been even one perceptive knight, it might have been different.

But most were engrossed in board games, fast asleep, or—worse—out drinking in the capital despite being on duty.

This was the rot in the knighthood that Letitia had feared, now laid bare.

Ironically, it was the common folk who first realized this was no natural disaster.

"GUHAHAHA! You maggots of Sailrand! Prepare to be crushed! I am Pigdet! Now, face me with honor—!"

Their march came to an abrupt halt.

Even they didn’t know why.

Like instinctively pausing at the sight of a disgusting bug, it was a reflexive stop.

"Dinner’s almost ready. You’re making quite a racket."

Two figures stood before them—a middle-aged man and woman.

The bearded man stepped forward, smiling faintly.

"Who are you?"

"The Lamenting Giants, hesitating to ask? At this rate, your size is just for show."

"You know of us?"

"The Grim Reaper, Allgan Kingdom’s Dark Forces. How dare you livestock trample my garden?"

Pigdet stood frozen before a man less than half his height.

His heart pounded like thunder—for the first time, he felt something purely instinctual.

The man slowly approached, raising a hand as something iridescent shimmered in his palm.

In an instant—

Half the Seventh Division jammed fingers into their ears, piercing their brains and dropping dead.

Some strangled themselves. Others crushed their own hearts. Those barely clinging to sanity pissed themselves as they crawled, childhood traumas flooding their minds before their hearts stopped.

In mere seconds, Pigdet’s forces were annihilated.

Only he, Tabs, and a handful remained—but their will to fight was already broken.

Pigdet remembered facing a dragon in his youth, said to be the world’s strongest creature.

Back then, he had charged without fear.

Now, he couldn’t move.

"Hoh. I unleashed that shockwave intending to wipe you all out. Impressive survival."

"U... UOOOOOH—!"

Pigdet swung his twin axes at the man.

His strength, enhanced by magic, could shatter castle walls—

"Hm, impressive power. Well-trained."

"Ngh! Grk...!"

"Can’t move them?"

The man stopped both axes with two fingers each.

The axes shattered instantly.

"But your size is a flaw. Your magic doesn’t circulate properly. Like here."

"GYAAAAAAAH—!"

The man crushed Pigdet’s knee with a kick.

The giant collapsed, thrashing like a child.

The man crouched, looking down at him.

"You understand trampling my garden warrants more than this, right? Hm?"

"U-ahh... I... surrender..."

"What? Surrender?"

"GYEEEEEEEEEEEEEE—!"

Pigdet’s arm was crushed, blood and piss spreading around him.

Terror-stricken, he erected a fortress-like barrier around himself and the survivors.

"I’ll kill you before you kill me—!"

"A defensive spell for someone your size? How quaint. Well?"

The man unleashed a shockwave, obliterating the fortress.

"Ah... ah..."

"Fusing air and wind creates this much force. Magic is all about creativity. Oh, and—you pests who ruined my garden don’t get to die easily."

"Ah..."

Pigdet and his men died slowly, in agony.

The few survivors couldn’t even flee, forced to watch.

Their minds, unable to process reality, had already shattered.

The woman approached them.

"Don’t be afraid. Poor things..."

"Ahh... so warm... so warm..."

She spread her arms. The fear faded from their faces as they closed their eyes.

"Lizania’s love feels good, doesn’t it?"

"Y... yes..."

"But you’ll die for receiving my wife’s love without permission."

"GACK—!"

The man blew their heads off.

Lizania, now bloodied, looked up at him and clung to his arm.

"I’m sorry, dear. I couldn’t help it—they looked so pitiful..."

"I chose you as my wife because of that kindness. But anyone who feels your love besides me must die."

"Yes... yes. Let’s love each other plenty when we get home."

"Right. And for the kids, let’s have the chef prepare a feast tonight."

The man carried her away.

The blood and filth were soon cleaned up by shadowy figures, leaving the forest silent as if nothing had happened.