What One Values Most

Rudeus had heard it from his father, and according to the rumors that had spread throughout the kingdom, he heard that there was a child who rivaled his personal achievements. He was constantly reminded that there were even more impressive youths outside of his home. 

According to the rumors, Gilgamesh, who was fourth in line to inherit the throne, was a prince who enjoyed battles. Many perceived him this way, but others said that he only enjoyed killing those who crossed him, even going so far as to kill a Sword King. 

Many believed that Prince Gilgamesh was the Sword's Child, a potential Sword God who could rival even the strongest in the world. Given his young age and his status as a Sword King, a title held only by Ghislaine with the King's Sword style, Rudeus knew he must be someone very powerful. 

However, who was Gilgamesh really? Perhaps he was like Rudeus, a simple human who had reincarnated into this world with a much more privileged background. 

"An evil person who seeks only the destruction of this world..." Rudeus said these words as he walked through a dark corridor. 

But as he was walking, he felt a presence right beside him that appeared out of nowhere in his view. "Aaaahhh!" 

Gilgamesh looked at this child and smiled. "You must be Eris's magic tutor, right?" 

Rudeus looked at the young man with golden hair and eyes much more intense than Eris's, but those blood-red eyes were different from those of an innocent nine-year-old girl. Gilgamesh was different, but Rudeus quickly regained his composure and said, "Ah, I'm Rudeus Greyrat, nice to meet you." 

"I'm Gilgamesh. I just wanted to greet you since you are much stronger than a child your age should be..." Gilgamesh extended his hand to help Rudeus get up. 

"Haha, I've been learning magic since I was young." Rudeus said as he accepted Gilgamesh's hand and smiled casually. 

Gilgamesh nodded and said, "You must have heard some things about me, but I want to assure you that you don't need to worry. There are many things I must concern myself with, so you won't see me very often." 

"Ah, I can say the same. I'll only be teaching Eris magic for three years and then I'll leave this place. You don't need to worry that I'll do anything strange to your fiancée; I'll just do my job." Rudeus tried to make things clear, but the aura emanating from Gilgamesh prevented him from speaking properly. 

"There must be a misunderstanding about the idea you have in your head..." Gilgamesh let go of Rudeus's hand and approached a bit closer. "I don't mind or feel uncomfortable with someone like you around Eris. I know perfectly well what I'm worth, and if my fiancée ends up getting involved with someone else, it would be a shame, but that's how things go, right?" 

"I don't decide for Eris; she makes her own choices, and I accept that she has friends since she's just a child. But if anyone else comes with foolish ideas in their head, I'll make sure to rip that out of their soul. You can have any kind of thoughts, but when your actions are about to betray those thoughts, remember that you have two lovely sisters, surprisingly, your father has two beautiful wives, and on top of that, a charming semi-elf friend." 

"Eh?" Rudeus's eyes widened in shock as he looked at Gilgamesh, who was very close to him. The words he wanted to say wouldn't come out of his throat, as if a huge hand was choking his vocal cords. 

"Think carefully about your future, work honestly, and there won't be any problems. But be very careful with that depraved mind if you ever try something with Eris, who is just a child because I won't just take your hands but also everything you love in this world." Gilgamesh walked away with a harmonious look and said, "But of course, you're just a magic tutor. I met your father when I accompanied Ghislaine to find Eris's tutor, and I was quite surprised that it was just a child." 

"Do you know? To learn a magical spell, it takes a lot of reading comprehension, wisdom, and understanding. You researched a bit, and you achieved it at just six years old, an accomplishment that would even make the princes of this kingdom envious. Of course, that doesn't include me. If you need anything, you can come to me." Gilgamesh waved his hand and said, "See you later." 

When Gilgamesh disappeared from the corridor, Rudeus took a deep breath and sat down on the floor. His breath had momentarily stopped, causing him to lose track of what he was doing. 

"Who is he?" Rudeus asked as he wiped the cold sweat from his forehead. From what he could witness, this wasn't an ordinary human reincarnated, and he wasn't someone who could be considered a child. If he could put it into words, Gilgamesh would be a cruel monarch hidden within a child's body. 

He didn't want to get into trouble with someone like him, so it was best not to get too involved in potential problems that could inconvenience his already good life. 

The last thing he wanted was to provoke a prince. He didn't want the kind of fear and oppression he had experienced in his past life. So, once he finished his job here, he would withdraw as far as possible from this household. 

"Yes, that's what I'll do..." Rudeus muttered as he walked to his room, unaware that someone was following him in the darkness.