Became The Son Of The Final Boss [EN]: Chapter 163

163.

After finishing my conversation with Ken, I checked the system window.

Olivia, my bodyguard, was also staying in the headquarters barracks, so I was careful not to appear strange to her.

‘My character level has risen to 60.’

That’s welcome news. As a reward for leveling up my character, I also received an additional 1,000 bonus stats.

I was still an Advanced Spirit Master, and there were no changes to my title.

‘If I practice Spirit Swordsmanship a bit more, I’ll be able to understand the essence of spirits in more detail. That will soon lead me down the path to becoming a Supreme Spirit Master.’

Without realizing it, I glanced at Olivia.

She had set up a cot a little distance away from me and was sleeping. She usually spent the nights meditating, but even a Sword Master should get at least some sleep every other day.

‘Olivia is the same age as me but is a Sword Master. I shouldn’t be satisfied with being an Advanced Spirit Master and should strive even harder.’

I turned my gaze back to the system window.

‘My talent level has also increased significantly.’

My talent level, which hadn’t risen for a while, had increased. With the lock released, my talent level had started to rise again.

The increase in talent level also affected my skill levels.

‘My skill levels have also increased quite a bit. Was it all because my talent level was locked that they had been stagnant?’

After checking the quests one last time, I closed the system window.

I closed my eyes and thought about my future plans.

My Eastern Expedition wasn’t in the original story.

‘The changed future includes my Western Expedition, Father’s withdrawal, and now the Eastern Expedition. And even Gordon is dead.’

In the hero Karen’s novel that I wrote, the Kingdom Alliance Sword Masters Gordon, Jane, and Eric tormented my father for a long time.

The reason why Father couldn’t focus solely on containing Karen while she was raising her power and rebelling against the Empire was because of the ongoing war with the Kingdom Alliance.

‘The big picture has changed. No matter how much the future changes, Karen gaining great power and rebelling against the Empire won’t change.’

Even willing to give the Sword of Destruction to someone else for the greater good, her terrifyingly growing skills, Karen is an individual who can’t help but have influence in many ways.

And Karen has a strong antipathy towards the Empire and a strong desire for revenge against the Emperor.

‘We must conquer the Pyreon Kingdom and secure the granary to greatly increase the Empire’s finances and completely stabilize the Eastern Front.’

The mission given to me is more important than I thought. Father started the war because traces of the curse Mother received were also found in the Pyreon royal family, but I am different from Father.

Mother’s revenge is revenge, but I couldn’t help but think about the prosperity of the Empire as well.

‘Father’s justification for the war is also the stability and prosperity of the Empire. It’s a situation where personal revenge and the justification for war coincide.’

I organized my thoughts to that extent for now.

In the end, what’s important is leading the Eastern Expedition to victory.

And I’ve fastened the first button very well [taken the first step successfully].

Killing Sword Master Gordon is an undeniable achievement.

“Commander!”

I jumped up at the urgent voice coming from outside.

Olivia got up in the blink of an eye, approached the entrance of the barracks, and said,

“What’s going on?”

“Commander Hamilton has returned.”

I quickly went outside.

“Where is Hamilton?”

“He is currently in the treatment barracks due to severe injuries. Everyone who went with Commander Hamilton was also injured.”

Olivia and I ran towards the treatment barracks.

Ken and Gale were visible in the distance, having apparently already heard the news.

There wasn’t just one treatment barracks for treating the injured, so I approached Ken and Gale.

“Where’s Hamilton?”

Ken and Gale bowed their heads upon finding me.

Ken answered.

“He’s inside here.”

“Let’s go in.”

Olivia, Ken, Gale, and I entered the barracks.

Commander Hamilton and Andre, as well as Hamilton’s subordinates, were all lying down.

They struggled to get up, but I stopped them and called Elraim.

As the Wave of Purification was used, Hamilton’s expression improved. The same was true for the others.

Fortunately, no one was fatally injured.

After drinking potions and resting, and receiving the Wave of Purification, their injuries rapidly improved.

“Commander!”

“Are you okay?”

“I’m fine.”

Hamilton’s injuries were among the most severe, with a large wound in his abdomen.

“We succeeded in capturing Lillian alive.”

“Rest for now.”

Elraim cast the Wave of Purification on Hamilton once more.

With considerable mana consumed, Hamilton’s wounds quickly disappeared.

“Thank you.”

Hamilton bowed to me.

“Ken, prepare for a meeting. Hamilton, rest well until the afternoon and then attend the meeting to report on the results.”

“Yes, Commander.”

Hamilton had once again achieved a feat that would go down in history, following the assassination of Sword Master Carion.

He had captured the 8th Circle mage Lillian alive.

‘Victory is approaching.’

I felt the victory of the Eastern Expedition as I left the treatment barracks.

* * *

Lillian was imprisoned in a temporary barracks.

The mages of the Magic Corps guarded the barracks tightly, bowing their heads when they saw me.

“Leave for a moment.”

At my words, Paul hurriedly replied.

“Commander, Lillian is…”

“It’s okay.”

“We’ve blocked her magic with a powerful magic circle, but please be careful. She’s a dangerous mage.”

I asked Paul.

“Is sealing her magic with a magic circle all you’ve done?”

“We’ve also used several items. Items that twist the mana flowing into the circle and items that cause extreme pain when magic is used. Of course, we’ve also confiscated her staff, which is the medium for using magic.”

I nodded.

“Appropriate measures. She won’t be able to escape with that much. With Olivia and Gale here, we can handle any emergencies. You must be tired from suddenly waking up at dawn, so go and rest.”

“Thank you, Commander.”

Paul and the mages moved away.

I entered the temporary tent.

Lillian was lying in the middle of the tent, and she got up when I entered.

“The reunion is faster than I thought?”

Lillian smiled brightly.

Dust was thick on her red hair, and her robe, which looked like high-quality silk, was also quite dirty.

Perhaps because of the measures Paul had taken, Lillian’s mana couldn’t be felt either.

Despite her unkempt appearance, Lillian’s smile and voice were still comfortable.

“Kidnapping me was quite a brilliant idea. I knew that His Highness the Crown Prince didn’t have a good relationship with the Riverhill family, but to kidnap me using items that they treat like treasures.”

Lillian frowned.

“The greedy Riverhill family wouldn’t give up their treasures, but seeing His Highness the Crown Prince, who doesn’t have a good relationship with them, using the Riverhill family’s treasures, did you form an alliance with the Riverhill family on the condition of handing me over to Austin?”

Lillian knew the internal affairs of the Empire in detail.

“You know a lot.”

At my words, Lillian nodded.

“That’s right. The Sword Masters were trying to capture His Highness the Crown Prince using all sorts of methods because they said the main family was in danger. In the meantime, I used the information I had accumulated, and I heard about it too.”

Ken said that Lillian was needed.

And Hamilton brought Lillian to me in a splendid manner.

‘As a lord, can I accept Lillian as my subordinate?’

I thought that relationships were important in giving and taking. The relationship between a lord and a vassal is no different. What can I give as a lord, what can the vassal give me, and whether giving and taking something from each other gives great benefits to each other.

In the end, the relationship between a lord and a vassal is smooth only when the interests align.

“Leave the room.”

“Commander!”

Olivia objected in a sharp voice.

“It’s okay.”

Lillian shrugged her shoulders as she looked at Olivia.

“What are you worried about when I can’t use magic? Surely I wouldn’t seduce the Crown Prince…”

I cut off Lillian’s words.

“Stop.”

When I looked at Olivia and Gale, they had no choice but to leave the tent.

I summoned Silphend [a spirit] and made sure to let Lillian know that I was blocking the surrounding sounds.

Curiosity filled Lillian’s eyes.

“Wouldn’t His Highness the Crown Prince’s bodyguard be sad? I’m too beautiful to share secret stories with just the two of us.”

I wasn’t swayed by Lillian’s unreserved words and got straight to the point.

“I heard that the reason you’re loyal to the Kingdom Alliance is because of the permission and support for forbidden magic research, is that correct?”

Lillian wore an inscrutable smile.

“What do you think I’m like, Your Highness the Crown Prince? Do you think I’ll catch people, cut out their hearts, take out their organs, and do terrible experiments?”

“I don’t know since I haven’t seen it with my own eyes.”

“Oh, you don’t believe anything unless you’ve seen it yourself?”

I sat down on the opposite side of Lillian. It seemed like my conversation with her would be quite long.

“A lord is not someone who makes hasty judgments.”

“Talking about lords and trying to confirm the truth about my rumors, testing my loyalty to the Kingdom Alliance… are you perhaps saying these things because you want to recruit me?”

“I won’t deny it.”

Lillian’s smile deepened.

“What if it’s true that I’ve done forbidden magic experiments?”

“You’ll be executed after tomorrow’s meeting. Or I’ll hand you over to Duke Austin for a political deal.”

Looking at the reaction of the mages of the Magic Corps, the Riverhill family’s obsession with Lillian is considerable.

Austin would definitely want to secure Lillian, even if it meant giving up many things to me.

“You’re talking about quite cruel measures without any hesitation? I’ve seen His Highness the Crown Prince in a new light.”

Lillian continued.

“Okay. Then if it’s true that the forbidden magic research is all nonsense and that I have no loyalty to the Kingdom Alliance, how does His Highness the Crown Prince plan to recruit me?”

“I can give you the title of the Empire’s best mage.”

In a fleeting moment, I caught Lillian flinching.

“Ron Karl Leord, Duke Austin, and Lillian.”

The meaning of me saying the three names was clear.

“Currently, Father is considered the best, followed by Duke Austin, and Lillian is at the bottom.”

At my words, Lillian’s eyes sank deeply.

I drew the Sword of Destruction.

“Have you seen it before?”

“Gordon, Eric, and Jane also have mithril swords.”

I smiled at Lillian’s answer.

“No, what you’re paying attention to isn’t the mithril, but this insignia [a symbol or emblem].”

Reinhardt.

“You must have seen the movements of those who kidnapped you? I’m talking about Commander Hamilton and his subordinates.”

Lillian replied briefly.

“Yes.”

“Assassination Secrets. That’s the name of the technique they learned. I think you know the story of Hamilton killing Sword Master Carion? It’s quite famous.”

Lillian didn’t deny it.

“The reason Hamilton was able to kill Carion was also thanks to the Assassination Secrets. And the insignia engraved on this sword is drawn on the cover of the Assassination Secrets book.”

Lillian’s body trembled.

“The Reinhardt family didn’t just leave behind items, but also training methods like the Assassination Secrets?”

Looking at Lillian, who was even trembling in her voice, I smiled deeply.

“That’s right. They also left behind assassination methods like the Assassination Secrets, and you know what kind of family the Reinhardt family originally was, right?”

It was time to use my knowledge of the settings.

I got up and said.

“The ancient mage family, the Reinhardt family. They even left behind books for raising assassins, so wouldn’t they have left behind magic books?”

Lillian took a moment to catch her breath with a stiff expression.

“Think about it, Lillian. I know the exact location of the Reinhardt family’s magic books. Maybe the order of the continent’s mages will change? Maybe I’ll surpass not only Austin but also Father.”

“You can surpass Ron Karl Leord… Does His Highness the Crown Prince speak as if he knows his father’s magic skills? Ron mainly uses swordsmanship and spirit magic on the battlefield?”

‘Of course, I know. I set it up.’

I left the barracks and said.

“Everyone is afraid of Father’s swordsmanship, which looks beyond the realm of Sword Master. But people don’t know that Father is also looking beyond the 8th Circle.”

Of course, Father won’t reach the 9th Circle until he kills Karen.

Lillian, who couldn’t know such a fact, was just shocked by the fact that Father had grasped the concept of the 9th Circle and bit her lip tightly.

“In many ways, it will be Father who leaves his name in history. As the Emperor of the Empire, as the first knight beyond Sword Master, and as the first 9th Circle mage in human history.”

I left the barracks. My voice flew towards Lillian, piercing through the tent’s cloth.

“I am the only one who can give you the opportunity for the 9th Circle. Even Father doesn’t know the location of the Reinhardt magic books.”