Became The Son Of The Final Boss [EN]: Chapter 13

13.

I was slightly surprised that the Emperor’s office was quite simple.

‘Well, I did set Ron Carl Leord as a frugal person.’

Recalling my memories, I could understand my father’s personality well. He was a man who lived his whole life for the glory of the Calpeon Empire, caring little about any sacrifices that came with it.

One of the sacrificed families was that of the hero, Karen, the main character.

Although he didn’t directly order the destruction of Karen’s family, it was clearly a consequence of the First Conquest War that my father initiated.

Karen grows up burning with revenge towards Ron Carl Leord, whom he sees as the root of all his suffering, and eventually destroys the Calpeon Empire.

‘That’s the novel. This is reality.’

It’s a novel I wrote, and I’ve entered the novel, but now I’m just using the memory of writing the hero Karen as a source of information.

The situation I’m facing now is reality, and I’m Arun Carl Leord.

“Sit down.”

At my father’s voice, I gathered my thoughts and carefully sat on the chair.

Kyle stood behind me.

Looking at my father’s terribly cold eyes, I took a breath to avoid shrinking back.

It was only for a moment, but a strange light flashed in my father’s eyes.

But soon my father’s gaze turned to Kyle.

“You’ve improved a lot, Kyle.”

Kyle slightly lowered his head, a gesture of politeness that was neither excessive nor insufficient.

I didn’t interrupt my father’s words.

“You might be able to break through the wall soon. But there are far more people who wander in front of the wall forever.”

“I will keep that in mind.”

The wall? I was curious.

‘Ah, he must be talking about the path to becoming a Sword Master.’

If another Sword Master is born in the Empire, Kyle is currently the most likely candidate.

The power of a Sword Master is comparable to that of a nation! With the Second Conquest War ahead, my father will value Kyle’s existence more than anyone else.

“After the evaluation in the spring, we will create another direct knight order, mainly with good knights. You are the right person for the commander, but is your heart still the same?”

The father in my memory was a man who spoke even less than Kyle.

There was only one way my father treated others.

That is, with an order.

Regardless of who the person was, my father only gave orders.

‘Originally, Father in Arun’s memory is a symbol of fear, but is he the final boss for nothing? This person has the ability to lead the Empire, and that includes excellent personnel management.’

I subtly observed Kyle’s expression. Kyle answered my father’s question as calmly as usual.

“As a vassal of the Igni family, I have been serving His Highness the Crown Prince since the late Lord took his last breath, following his will.”

It was a very neat refusal.

As expected, Kyle is no ordinary person.

Who in this empire can refuse my father’s proposal so confidently?

“I understand.”

My father was also very particular in how he treated Kyle.

If it were someone else, he would have enforced his will by using the Emperor’s authority.

‘Is Kyle that special? Of course, it’s true that Kyle is an excellent knight, but… is there another reason?’

Suddenly, a question arose in my head, but I stopped thinking when my father’s gaze turned to me.

This is because my father is not an easy person to have a conversation with while thinking about other things.

Moreover, I was in a position where I needed him now.

“You look like a person.”

At my father’s words, I replied briefly.

“Yes.”

To be honest, I had no idea how to start the conversation.

I thought I knew my father better than anyone else, but when I faced him, I felt my body tremble at his gaze, attitude, and the pressure he exuded.

Just as I was about to take a breath and open my mouth, my father spoke first.

“Is it because of the knights under Ted and the people belonging to your palace?”

As expected, my father knew. The rumors had already spread quickly throughout the palace, and even if it wasn’t a rumor, there was no way the Emperor wouldn’t know what was going on in the Imperial Palace.

I nodded without denying it.

“Yes. I have detained them, but authority is needed to punish them.”

Even as I spoke, I felt ridiculous myself.

To talk about authority while dealing with knights who insulted the Crown Prince and those who embezzled the Crown Prince’s budget.

They clearly violated the Imperial Law and committed sins that cannot be forgiven.

If it were another prince, he wouldn’t have come to his father with this problem.

My case was special.

I am clearly the Crown Prince, but my evaluation is the worst, and there is a high possibility that there will be many dissenting opinions on the issue of the knights under Ted, even from the Deputy Head of the Crown Prince’s Palace, the maids, and the servants.

What if the knights deny their sins and Ted defends them?

Of course, people will doubt me.

Why would a knight under Ted, who is righteous, humble, and has excellent abilities, insult a lacking Crown Prince?

It is much more convincing to people that the Crown Prince, full of inferiority complex, is lying.

My father leaned deeply back in the chair, rested his chin on his hand, and pondered.

I focused on my father’s next words.

“No authority is needed before the Imperial Law. But it will be a different matter for you, who couldn’t even look like a person.”

Even at my father’s words that pierced my heart, I managed to control my expression.

Right now, I have nothing to show my father.

The lowest-level spiritist? That didn’t mean anything to my father.

Right now, my father is a high-level spiritist.

Sword Master, magician, spiritist… Ron Carl Leord, my father, is at the pinnacle of all abilities.

“I’ll watch until the coming-of-age ceremony.”

My father got up as if he had finished the conversation with just that, without saying anything more.

Sensing that I wouldn’t hear any more from him, I also got up.

‘That’s enough.’

I thought I could discuss the meaning of the words “watch until the coming-of-age ceremony” with Kyle.

Honestly, even though he is my father, this is only my second meeting with him.

Just before I left the door, my father added as if it were an afterthought.

“Spirits of wind and water… At least it has to be several times stronger than it is now.”

I smiled slightly as I left the door.

‘As expected… he knows everything.’

* * *

As soon as I left my father’s office, all eyes were on me, but I moved on without acknowledging them.

It was only after leaving the palace that there were fewer people, so I could ask Kyle.

“Kyle.”

“Yes.”

“What exactly does His Majesty mean by ‘watching until the coming-of-age ceremony?'”

‘His Majesty,’ a title that the original Arun Carl Leord had never used. It was my first time too, so it felt a little awkward on my tongue, but wasn’t it true? I am my father’s son, and my father is the Emperor, so of course, he is His Majesty.

Kyle didn’t seem to notice my internal monologue and only answered my question.

“Perhaps His Majesty is giving His Highness a chance.”

“A chance?”

When I asked him to elaborate, Kyle nodded.

“Yes. He is saying that he will give you the authority to directly deal with the knights, deputy head, maids, and servants who have committed crimes if you meet certain qualifications by the coming-of-age ceremony.”

“So… right now, His Majesty’s authority is temporarily postponing the handling of their problems so that there are no repercussions, and I have to rise to a level that pleases His Majesty before the coming-of-age ceremony?”

“Yes. That’s correct.”

I shook my head.

Soon, I changed my mind.

‘Certainly, Father seems to be feeling something special for me. Or… is it a feeling for my mother?’

The only person my father loved, the time when the Iron-Blooded Emperor Ron Carl Leord first changed emotionally, was when he met my mother, Iriel.

‘This is the only information I know.’

It was natural for couples to love each other, but this is a medieval fantasy world. Arranged marriages between nobles were a reasonable principle, and it was even more prevalent during the Warring States period.

My father was not much different. He took the daughters of nobles as wives to solidify the foundation of the Empire.

‘Well, that’s that… it seems like he’s saying I should be at least an intermediate-level spiritist.’

I sighed lightly. I think I’m growing fast myself, but it wasn’t easy to go from low-level to intermediate-level.

“By the way, the spring evaluation for the establishment of the Knights… when exactly is it?”

“Doesn’t a Crown Prince even know that?”

It wasn’t Kyle who answered, but someone else. A man came towards me with a retinue of people following behind him.

He was a little taller than me, and his condescending gaze was very uncomfortable. His gaze, full of ridicule, soon moved to Kyle.

“Are you still attached to a palace with no future? I’m on my way to see His Majesty, but since you’re attached to a useless eldest son, are you getting any crumbs?”

Kyle’s face hardened at the man’s terribly insulting words.

He had the talent to insult me and Kyle at the same time with a single sentence.

I chuckled.

‘Chen Carl Leord.’

He is the Seventh Prince and one of the princes who tries the most to get into his father’s good graces.

His maternal family was also powerful, being one of the four guardian families. It is slightly behind the Atran family, but Chen’s maternal grandfather is also the first chief court wizard and is still respected by the Empire’s wizards.

Of course, only for his skills. As for his personality, the expression “ruin” suited Chen’s maternal grandfather and Chen so well that no one could respect them.

“Idiot brother….”

“You’re crazy.”

Chen’s face hardened when I cut off his words. Even those who were escorting him were the same. As expected of a prince backed by a wizard’s maternal family, most of those who escorted him looked like wizards, and there were not many knights. I spoke again before Chen opened his mouth.

“There are more than one or two ears listening, yet you are privately insulting your older brother and publicly insulting the Crown Prince. Do you think that crime will be excused because you are a member of the Imperial Family?”

Chen laughed loudly at my words.

“Brother? Crown Prince? Oh, my, you’ve been locked up in your room and cursed by an orc shaman, and now you’ve completely lost your mind. I’m Chen, Chen, Chen! Do you understand, brother?”

My smile deepened as I watched Chen speak clearly while laughing.

Kyle had already drawn his sword halfway.

‘He’s definitely dumber than Ted.’

Of course, he didn’t seem to be completely stupid.

“My clumsy brother may not know, but my words are already not flowing out within a few meters” [meaning his words are being magically blocked from being overheard].

Chen pointed to the wizards behind him with his chin.

Kyle spoke calmly but without hiding his intent to protect me.

“Your Highness, your words are too harsh.”

“Seeing that you were talking about the spring evaluation, it seems that His Majesty has proposed the position of knight commander to you again? There are so many talented people in the Empire, but I don’t know why His Majesty is so obsessed with you.”

I was wondering how to deal with Chen. If others saw it, it would seem that the princes were having a minor conversation.

Anyway, we are both smiling.

“Since you seem to have refused again, I’m thinking of suggesting that he create a magic unit instead of a knight unit.”

Chen looked at the wizards as if he were proud.

I clicked my tongue at the sight of a child showing off his good toys.

‘The real experts are rather humble.’

Ted, who always presents a perfect appearance, is more outstanding and dangerous, although he was caught off guard for a moment.

I didn’t feel the need to continue talking with Chen. He wanted to tease and ridicule me, but Chen seemed to have quickly lost interest as well, as the reaction was different from before.

“Ah, there is also an evaluation of the princes and princesses in this spring evaluation, but is our Crown Prince planning to stay in his room again?”

I was so angry that I blurted out words without thinking.

“I’m thinking of going out this time.”

Chen said with a sneer.

“Why don’t you just stay in your room? I’m worried that you’ll only be embarrassed.”

I smiled deeply as I watched Chen use even honorifics in a mocking tone.

“I will use the Crown Prince’s privilege to designate Chen, the Seventh Prince, as my first opponent.”

And I just provoked Chen, who reached the 4th circle [a measure of magical ability] at a young age.

In terms of spiritists, he was already an intermediate beginner, that is, an early intermediate spiritist. He is a much more skilled person than I am now.

Chen, who couldn’t hide his emotions at all, stomped his feet at my light provocation, but I turned around lightly.

‘The evaluation in the spring….’

I tried not to show it, but worries flooded in.