Reincarnated as the disaster prince

Theodore wiped the soot and green liquid from his face, glancing back at the now-calm forest where the cursed tree had stood. Anita, her ghostly yet human form fully restored, stood tall above him. For the first time, she looked peaceful, her once-tormented aura replaced with calm resolve.

"Belial, put me down," Theodore ordered. Though exhausted, he was steady as his small frame approached Anita.

Anita bent down, her towering figure kneeling before him. She placed a soft kiss on his forehead, and Theodore felt a rush of warmth coursing through him. His mana and strength returned in an instant, replenished by her touch. Around them, the souls of the children smiled and giggled as they began to ascend, their laughter echoing through the forest.

"Anita…" Theodore murmured, looking up at her.

She turned, and her expression shifted as she noticed something,or rather, someone. A warm smile spread across her face as she spotted her husband, Evan, and her son, Arthur, standing in the distance.

"Evan… Arthur…" Anita whispered, her voice trembling. Tears welled in her dark eyes as she ran toward them. Evan opened his arms wide, and Arthur clung to her leg as they embraced in a reunion filled with tears and laughter.

Theodore watched the scene with a faint smile, his heart heavy yet filled with a strange sense of closure. Anita turned back to him, her eyes filled with gratitude.

"It's time for you to finish what you started, Theodore," she said. "Expose the truth. Expose the chief. I will help."

Theodore nodded, a small smirk curling on his lips. "Don't worry. I already have a plan."

*******

Back at the Daunt village that night, Chief Smith sat at the tavern with his trusted men, a smug grin plastered across his face. He raised his mug of ale as the others laughed and drank, the flickering light of the lanterns casting shadows over their deceitful faces.

"Any sign of Mother Cry?" he asked casually, his voice dripping with false concern.

His men chuckled and shook their heads. "Nope. Not a single sign of her," one replied.

Smith leaned back, taking a long sip of his drink. "Good. It's been two weeks since that brat prince disappeared. I'd say he was the ultimate sacrifice."

One of the villagers hesitated. "But… won't the king come after us? Isn't he the prince's father?"

Smith scoffed, glaring at the man. "Don't be stupid. Prince Theodore is that kind of child. The king doesn't care about him. If anything, we did the kingdom a favor by getting rid of the weakling."

The men laughed, raising their mugs in celebration.

"I'll be back," Smith said, stepping outside to relieve himself. He walked to a nearby tree, humming to himself, when he noticed something strange. A thick black mist began to curl around his feet.

"What the—"

He turned his head and froze. Standing in the mist was Theodore, his small figure drenched in green liquid, his arms seemingly missing, and a deep, grotesque slit across his throat. Blood dripped from his mouth as he pointed a trembling finger at Smith.

"You killed me…" Theodore rasped, his voice cold and filled with malice.

Smith stumbled backward, shouting for help, but his cries were muffled by the thick mist. "Stay back! You're cursed! I didn't kill you!"

Theodore took a step closer, his voice cracking as he repeated, "Why did you kill me?"

Smith threw rocks and dirt at him, his trembling hands scrambling for anything to defend himself. As he crawled backward, he bumped into something tall and cold. Slowly, he turned his head to see the twisted form of Mother Cry towering over him, her grotesque face twisted into a wicked smile.

Before Smith could scream, Theodore lunged, stabbing him in the leg with a shadow blade. Smith howled in pain, clawing at the dirt.

"Okay, okay!" he shouted. "I'll confess! I did it! It wasn't my fault! It was my father's idea! He told me to sacrifice children to keep the village alive! I didn't have a choice! The elders knew too! I killed them and their kids to hide the truth!"

Theodore tilted his head, his smile unnerving. "And the water?" he asked softly.

Smith panted, trembling. "The water… we cursed it. To scare people away. To keep anyone from breaking the curse."

The mist lifted, and suddenly Smith realized he wasn't alone. The entire village stood around him—men, women, children, and even the teachers and students of the academy. Mr. June, his face red with rage, stormed forward and punched Smith hard in the jaw.

The chief hit the ground, spitting blood as the villagers erupted into chaos. Cries of anger and betrayal filled the air.

"You poisoned us!" one shouted.

"You cursed the village!" another cried.

"You killed innocent children!"

Smith tried to run, but the villagers pursued him, furious. He tore a page from a hidden book, muttering an incantation. A blast of mana erupted, teleporting him deep into the forest.

Smith staggered through the dark woods, laughing hysterically. "It doesn't matter," he muttered. "I'll kill them all. I'll summon her again. Mother Cry will destroy them for me!"

But as he ran, he froze. Standing in the shadows were Theodore and Belial, their eyes gleaming.

"How… How are you alive?!" Smith stammered, backing away. "No… it's just another illusion. It has to be!"

Theodore crossed his arms, smirking as Smith tried to run past him. But when Smith reached the clearing where Anita's house once stood, he fell to his knees in shock.

The entire forest had been reduced to ashes. The tree was gone. The land was barren and lifeless.

"This… This is impossible!" Smith screamed, clutching his head.

Theodore walked up behind him, clapping mockingly. "Surprised? Did you really think I wouldn't burn it all down?"

Smith turned, his face twisted with rage. "You little brat! You destroyed everything!" He lunged at Theodore, but shadowy creatures emerged, pinning him to the ground.

Belial stood nearby, smirking. "Careful, my lord. You've exhausted yourself."

"I'm fine, Belial," Theodore said with a grin. "I'm just enjoying the show."

Anita's spirit emerged from the shadows, her beautiful human form glowing faintly. Smith's eyes widened in terror. "Who… Who is that?!"

Theodore leaned closer, his voice calm. "That's the woman you cursed. The one you called Mother Cry. She's free now."

Anita stepped forward, her gaze piercing. "I forgive you, Chief Smith," she said softly. "Because the one who truly wronged me is long gone."

Theodore frowned. "Anita, you're too kind."

He turned to Smith, his smirk fading.

"But forgiveness doesn't erase what you've done. You hit me with a stick, you idiot. That hurt. So you still need to be punished."

Smith screamed as the shadows closed in, dragging him into the darkness.