Became The Son Of The Final Boss [EN]: Chapter 137

137.

Leoden was quick on the uptake.

Clang-!

He blocked the wind chains conjured by Sylph and rushed toward me.

I summoned Noes and immediately triggered Earth Eruption.

The Roar of the Earth spread in Leoden’s path, slowing him down.

‘He’s not panicking.’

One might be disconcerted if the ground beneath their feet suddenly gave way, but Leoden sprang up like a coil, evading the Roar of the Earth.

I smiled and summoned higher-grade elementals.

The pressure from the knights was no joke, so lower-grade elementals alone were not enough.

The knights’ faces hardened at the sight of the Swamp Fairies created by Claim and Ellaime.

‘Thanks to the Swamp Fairies, I’m not alone.’

The training ground was instantly transformed into a swamp, and the knights’ mobility was significantly reduced.

I seized the advantage in one fell swoop.

Rustle-!

David surged forward like lightning, cutting through the Swamp Fairies.

The flow of wind and earth barely allowed me to evade David’s attack.

I clicked my tongue at the sharpness of the wooden practice sword that grazed past my ear.

‘That was close.’

A moment of carelessness could have led to my capture.

I calmly created some distance and spoke to Ignis.

‘Fire Curtain.’

Ignis’s flames engulfed the training ground.

“Scatter! Close in while surrounding him!”

At Leoden’s command, I blocked the front with the Fire Curtain and erected Ellaime’s Water Barrier behind me.

Boom-!

The sight of fire and water harmonizing to create a massive barrier was truly spectacular.

I actively utilized Noes and Gnome.

The Fire Curtain and Water Barrier not only provided simple defense but also narrowed the enemy’s field of vision.

Inside the skill, I could see through both skills like a transparent cloak.

I could clearly see the enemies, but they couldn’t see me through the Fire Curtain and Water Barrier.

Two Noeses and five Gnomes scattered.

Thud-! Thud-!

The ground cracked.

The Roar of the Earth struck true this time.

At the same time, I summoned Silwolfen.

As I climbed onto Silwolfen’s back, I summoned Ellaime and Claim simultaneously.

I intended to end the match in one go.

The moment the Swamp Fairies created by Ellaime and Claim disappeared, I soared high with Silwolfen and unleashed scattering water droplets.

I poured all the mana that would have been consumed by returning Claim and Ignis into Ellaime.

Sizzle-!

The water droplets engulfed the knights.

“Your Highness.”

It was Gale.

I hadn’t noticed at all, but he was already standing behind me, stepping on the air, bowing his head.

It was the signal that the sparring match was over.

I returned all the elementals and landed lightly on the ground.

The knights were breathing heavily.

Some knights had minor injuries, but no one was seriously hurt.

“The water droplets were a technique I’ve never seen before, and the pressure was no joke,” Leoden said, shaking his head. His words of admiration were mixed with astonishment as he clicked his tongue.

“The moment I was hit by the water droplets, I felt like my body was about to explode, and when I was trapped inside, I couldn’t breathe as if I was drowning. And the water was squeezing my body from all directions, as if it was going to crush me, which was incredibly painful.”

I smiled and replied.

“It’s a new technique I learned recently. Not bad, right?”

“Yes.”

Gale said.

“Leoden, go to the special training ground with the knights.”

Leoden groaned.

The knights’ steps grew heavy at Gale’s menacing gaze.

“Don’t push them too hard.”

Gale bowed to me and followed the knights.

I also moved toward the office.

I intended to end the afternoon training here.

‘That was a pretty good sparring match.’

I walked, reviewing the sparring match in my mind.

I was definitely different from other elementalists.

First of all, the number of elementals I had contracted with was significantly different.

I had contracted with more elementals than other elementalists of the same level, and my affinity was unbelievably high, allowing me to communicate with them through consciousness alone. This directly translated into combat efficiency.

‘Contracting with all four high-grade elementals, extremely high skill efficiency, and a decent sense of combat.’

Now that I had examined the reasons for my victory, I also considered my shortcomings.

‘The moment I give them distance, it’s over. I need to raise the level of Wind and Earth Flow even further.’

I also needed to increase my own mobility.

And I thought about a final move.

‘There’s no guarantee that there won’t be a moment when all my mana is exhausted and I can’t summon elementals.’

I separated the Sword of Destruction from my waist and lifted it.

The feeling was unfamiliar.

It was a mithril sword [a lightweight, strong, and magical metal], so it was light, but I felt a sharp energy flowing from the sword inside the scabbard.

‘Should I rely on the power of the weapon to prepare a final move? The fact that I’m an elementalist will continue to be known… and as my elementalism increases, the perception that I’m an elementalist will only grow stronger.’

Swinging a sword as a last resort.

I seriously considered it.

I didn’t need to learn much. A single slash or thrust that could instantly cut down an unsuspecting enemy would be enough.

I decided to discuss it with Gale when he returned, and by then, I had moved far away from the training ground.

Since the palace was right after the garden, I hurried my steps.

“Your Highness, Lady Olivia requests an audience.”

* * *

I widened my eyes at her appearance, having come all the way to the palace.

‘Even her casual clothes…’

Always radiant, she was not wearing a dress, unlike other noble ladies. She was wearing casual clothes that knights often wore, and they suited her very well.

“I came to see you because I have something to tell you.”

“Ah, please come inside first.”

Olivia followed me with cautious steps.

‘Should we have tea first? It’s dinner time now?’

My mind felt both empty and intensely active at the same time.

I fumbled, caught between the clash of two incompatible emotions.

“Lady Olivia, would you like a cup of tea? Ah, would you like to have dinner with me?”

I could see a question mark appear on Olivia’s face for a moment.

‘Why am I so bad at talking?’

I lamented inwardly, but soon Olivia smiled brightly.

“It would be an honor to share tea with Your Highness and even have dinner together.”

* * *

After having a cup of tea with Olivia in the office, we went out to the garden.

The garden, where the banquet had been held, was neatly cleaned up.

The profusely blooming flowers and the warm afternoon spring sunshine brightly illuminated Olivia’s steps.

“I heard it’s your coming-of-age ceremony this year.”

The topic I barely managed to find was her age.

Olivia, who had been walking quietly beside me, smiled and replied.

“Yes. It’s in the summer. I’ll probably have the ceremony after returning from the expedition.”

The story of the Eastern Expedition naturally came up.

I had not yet responded to Duke James’s proposal. I had glossed over it at the banquet because I was burdened by the gazes of the nobles.

“Someone of your caliber could lead a knight order on an expedition.”

I was hesitant to ask her to be my guard outright.

Was it because she was a Sword Master [a highly skilled warrior]?

I secretly shook my head.

‘Arranged marriages are common here, but I’m not ready yet.’

Was it because I had lived in modern society for so long?

I was not very pleased with Duke James’s arranged marriage proposal, which would not have sought Olivia’s permission as a matter of course.

Even an ordinary noble lady would be heartbroken by the fact that she could not choose her husband, but Olivia was the daughter of a duke.

Not only was her title high, but she was also a descendant of the White royal family, which had been renowned in the northern part of the empire.

Even if I were the Crown Prince, she might not be happy to entrust her life to an arranged marriage.

Her birth and status were great, but her skills themselves did not suit an arranged marriage.

If she was a Sword Master, she could choose the person she wanted to marry, even if her family’s influence was strong.

I cautiously continued.

“If it’s not what you want, I’ll talk to Duke James. Even if you’re not my guard, you can fully demonstrate your abilities as the commander of a knight order.”

Was she still a girl?

How sad would it be if she had to decide on a lifelong partner according to her father’s political position, without her own will?

She could spread her dream as a knight wider than the position of Crown Princess.

“What do you think, Your Highness?”

Olivia asked quietly.

I was momentarily stunned.

“About me becoming Your Highness’s guard. I’m curious to know what Your Highness thinks.”

Olivia did not avoid my gaze, to the point where it felt somewhat bold.

The emotion felt in her deep eyes was curiosity. As if she was very curious about what answer I would give, Olivia asked again with a bright expression.

“Your Highness’s intention is important, isn’t it? My father’s proposal is just a proposal, and the decision is up to Your Highness.”

Olivia was different from ordinary noble ladies.

Was it because of her skills? Or her personality?

Unlike other noble ladies who regarded their father’s orders as abstract, Olivia accurately recognized reality.

It depends on my choice.

And my choice is important, not my father’s proposal.

Olivia spoke directly to me.

“It’s been quite a while, and Your Highness hasn’t given an answer, so I came. I’d rather hear it directly from Your Highness.”

Her unhesitating words shook my heart.

I was ashamed that my heart was wavering for no reason.

“My decision is not important for the guard. Your decision is important. If you don’t want it, I’ll offer you the position of commander of the knight order.”

Olivia stopped walking.

I stopped following her.

The fragrance of the flowers in the garden spread subtly.

At Olivia’s gaze, which was quietly looking at me, I unknowingly revealed my honest feelings, unlike a moment ago.

“It may be a violation of my duty as Crown Prince, but I do not want an arranged marriage. You are a great talent of the empire.”

I took a deep breath and continued.

“It is a great loss to the empire for a Sword Master to become the partner of one individual. Isn’t it much more efficient to lead the knights into battle than to guard the commander on the battlefield?”

Once I started speaking, my voice came out smoothly.

“You are the treasure of the White family and the treasure of the empire. You are not someone who will be swayed by the political positions of the Imperial family and the White family.”

A Sword Master is called a one-person army.

The women of this era dedicate everything to their husband’s success the moment they get married.

That was no different for women who married into the Imperial family.

Just look at the mothers of my siblings.

They were forgetting their own existence in order to bring glory to their families and to make their sons and daughters take the pinnacle of power.

I could easily imagine Olivia showing off her elegant swordsmanship on the battlefield, but it was awkward to imagine Olivia chatting with other noble ladies at social gatherings.

“Wouldn’t it depend on what kind of man I meet?”

Olivia smiled faintly.

“You never know. If I meet someone who cares about what I truly want, I might be able to swing my sword freely on the battlefield.”

I moved my steps, and Olivia matched her steps as if to protect my side.

“Becoming a Master before the coming-of-age ceremony means that you truly enjoy and love swordsmanship itself, regardless of talent or effort.”

“That’s right.”

Olivia did not deny it.

“The Duke’s proposal is honestly very sweet. The influence of the White family is very necessary for me.”

Once I started being honest, I was unstoppable.

Olivia seemed to feel more favorable to me when I faced reality and spoke honestly than when I used appropriate packaging.

‘I think… I want to look good to this child.’

It was entirely my judgment, but I felt inwardly certain.

“His Majesty’s will is great, and I, as the Crown Prince who desires the prosperity of the empire, must also overcome many battlefields in the future.”

I confessed to Olivia.

“I would be happy if you would take on the role of guard for this expedition.”

Olivia smiled bashfully.

“I think it will be a time for me to get to know Your Highness, and for Your Highness to get to know me.”

Olivia boldly continued to speak to me, who was unable to say anything because my heart was pounding.

“I don’t want to be an ordinary Crown Princess. I will try to harmonize with the noble ladies, but I want to be the last knight to protect Your Highness and the knight who does not forgive Your Highness’s enemies.”

Finally, Olivia added.

“Of course, it will only be possible if we recognize each other and give each other our seats.”