Became The Son Of The Final Boss [EN]: Chapter 166

166.

In this world, known as the Middle Realm, there are various races.

Various monsters appeared countless times as Karen’s enemies, and fairies also appeared quite often. Dwarves occasionally appeared and helped Karen, but dragons only existed in the setting and never actually appeared.

‘In the novel, dragons didn’t reveal their existence and stayed in the shadows, but there’s no rule that they can’t appear at all.’

It’s not an immediate problem.

What’s important now is to gather information about the source of the magic book ‘Magma’s Fury’ and bring Lilian under my control.

“You know well. I know the location of several magic books of the Reinhardt family. How about trading the location information for a ten-year contract?”

If Lilian becomes my subordinate for ten years, I can sufficiently draw out her abilities during that time and solidify my position as Crown Prince.

“The Reinhardt family has more than one magic book?”

“‘Magma’s Fury’ is the most famous magic book. It’s called a legend among magicians. Everyone questioned whether it actually existed, but I have definite information. I also know the location of the other magic books. However, I can’t be sure of the usefulness of the magic books other than ‘Magma’s Fury’.”

“Amazing. If His Highness the Crown Prince’s words are true.”

I smiled faintly.

“Let’s make a Mana Covenant.”

Lilian’s eyes widened.

“Mana Covenant?”

“Yes. We’ll make a Mana Covenant [a magical contract bound by one’s life force] regarding the deal. If Military Advisor Ken meticulously adjusts and writes the contents, and you and I sign with our blood to make a Mana Covenant, we can trust each other.”

With a Mana Covenant, Lilian doesn’t need to suspect that my words are false, and I don’t have to worry about Lilian’s betrayal during the contract period.

If I violate the Mana Covenant, I will lose my Mana Hole [the source of one’s magical power], and in Lilian’s case, her circles [levels of magical ability] will go berserk and she will lose her life.

The problem is,

“His Highness the Crown Prince is directly proposing forbidden magic?”

As Lilian said, the Mana Covenant is strictly prohibited.

If Mana Covenants that risk lives start to be abused, things will spiral out of control.

There have been more than a few times when evil magicians or knights enslaved their opponents through Mana Covenants, causing disaster on the continent.

Therefore, even the humans or similar races of the Middle Realm have prohibited the Mana Covenant itself.

“I’ll take the risk if I can have an 8-circle magician as my subordinate. Military Advisor Ken will thoroughly review the covenant’s contents before we make it, with mutually satisfactory conditions.”

Lilian smiled and said.

“I don’t think His Highness the Crown Prince’s guard will like making a Mana Covenant?”

I opened my mouth to dismiss it as unnecessary talk, but Lilian’s words continued first.

“Are you willing to risk your life?”

I answered briefly.

“It depends on how you use it. Enough with the small talk, just make a decision. I’ll tell Military Advisor Ken to write the covenant and give you time to review it.”

Lilian pondered for a moment before answering.

“Okay. I can’t deny that it’s a much better option than being dragged away by Austin. I’ll give you an exact answer after reviewing the contents of the covenant.”

I stood up.

‘If I have Lilian as my subordinate with a Mana Covenant, my influence will definitely grow.’

I decided to proceed with the capital conquest after making a Mana Covenant with Lilian.

‘I need to inform my subordinates about the Mana Covenant, but I must prevent that fact from spreading externally.’

If the fact that I, as the Crown Prince, made a Mana Covenant becomes known, I will suffer a fatal blow.

Not only will my political influence decrease significantly, but the position of Crown Prince itself could be shaken.

‘I need to discuss it with Ken.’

Lilian will definitely accept my proposal. Her desire for the ‘Magma’s Fury’ magic book was evident from her expression.

She dedicated seven years of her life to the Kingdom Alliance to investigate the Reinhardt family’s ruins.

Someone who doesn’t even know what’s in the ruins contracted to serve the Kingdom Alliance for seven years, but unlike the Kingdom Alliance, my proposal has certainty in its content.

“Then, goodbye.”

I said goodbye to Lilian and left the prison.

Olivia was waiting outside.

“What did you talk about?”

When I talked to Lilian, I summoned Sylph [a wind spirit] to prevent the sound from leaking out.

This is because soldiers or other knights might hear it.

Thanks to that, Olivia, who was guarding the front of the prison, couldn’t hear my conversation with Lilian either.

Even a Sword Master couldn’t hear it, so my conversation with Lilian wouldn’t have leaked to anyone else.

“I proposed a Mana Covenant.”

“Y-Your Highness!”

Olivia was so surprised that she even forgot the title of Commander.

I looked around and said.

“There’s no need to be so surprised. Ken will meticulously write the contents of the covenant.”

“Mana Covenants are forbidden magic. Your Highness, I suggest you think again…….”

“The reason I’m telling Olivia honestly is because I want you to trust me. After the Eastern Expedition is over, I’m considering a relationship with Olivia that goes beyond political partners. Both Olivia and I accepted Duke James’s proposal without refusing.”

It’s not a confession, but I told Olivia my honest feelings.

Olivia and I haven’t officially become lovers yet, but I was worried about her feelings.

I feel happy and my heart flutters when I’m with her.

I sincerely care about her, so I hope that she, like me, truly wants to be together, not because of my father’s arranged marriage proposal.

“Mana Covenants depend on how you use them. It’s an opportunity to make Lilian my subordinate, and it would be a waste to just throw it away. However, if I accept it without thinking, I can’t trust Lilian either, so I think it’s good to tie her down with a covenant.”

“The White family is always on Your Highness’s side.”

At least Olivia took my side.

“I’m really grateful for that. But to be honest, the power of the White family alone is not enough. The influence of the noble faction nobles is great. To protect the position of Crown Prince, I have to win not only against the noble faction nobles but also against my brothers who they are sponsoring.”

Olivia hesitated and then said with a determined expression.

“I trust you, Commander.”

“I can promise Olivia. I will never abuse the Mana Covenant. This is the last time.”

* * *

I called Ken, Gail, David, Riorden, and Hamilton and shared the conversation with Lilian.

Ken was delighted, Gail had an expression that he trusted me, and Riorden was surprised by my skills.

Hamilton was in a mood to completely follow my judgment.

And David opposed.

“Even if we put aside the fatal blow we will suffer when it becomes known externally that we have made a Mana Covenant, there is a reason why the Mana Covenant itself is forbidden.”

I nodded at David’s words.

“It causes serious problems when abused.”

I finished speaking briefly.

“That means there’s no problem if you don’t abuse it.”

“Well, yes.”

David didn’t strongly oppose it either.

I smiled and opened my mouth.

“Ken, please write about the contents of the covenant.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

“Write it thoroughly. Lilian’s rumors are the worst. There are rumors spreading that she committed unforgivable acts such as black magic and human experimentation.”

“Many people will use Lilian to politically attack you, Commander.”

I nodded at Ken’s words.

“That’s right. Hamilton.”

“Yes. Your Highness.”

“Move the information organization to dispel Lilian’s rumors within our camp first. That what she received from the Kingdom Alliance was not permission for black magic and human experimentation, but research on the Reinhardt ruins.”

“Yes.”

Hamilton didn’t ask about the facts.

Riorden said.

“The rumor that Lilian is an evil magician is something I heard even during my mercenary days, so I don’t think it will be easy for Commander Hamilton to dispel the rumors.”

Riorden’s mercenary experience is always helpful.

Through his words, I realized that the rumors about Lilian were spreading more widely than I thought.

“First, we need to erase the rumors about Lilian, at least within our camp.”

“I can do it.”

I nodded at Hamilton’s determination.

“Good. Let’s think about what to do after that later. Lilian didn’t say it, but there must be a reason why she is thinking positively about my proposal to make a Mana Covenant.”

Ken added.

“Perhaps there is something going on with the Kingdom Alliance. Lilian was tied to the Kingdom Alliance for seven years on the condition that she be allowed to research the ruins. Perhaps if she were another wandering magician, she would have broken the contract the moment she realized there was nothing special in the ruins.”

I agreed.

“That’s right. The fact that Lilian is tempted by the conditions I presented is also true, but even if Lilian, who kept her contract with the Kingdom Alliance, is now in a situation where she will lose her life, there must be a fundamental reason why she is changing her mind separately. Regarding that, it’s not too late to ask after signing the Mana Covenant.”

“I will prepare the covenant by evening.”

“After making a Mana Covenant with Lilian, we will conquer the capital of the Pireon Kingdom. I will inevitably have to rest for another day.”

* * *

As the sunset approached, I summoned Lilian to the lord’s castle office.

The magic corps magicians were tightly guarding her, but they couldn’t refuse my orders.

Lilian said as soon as she sat down in front of me.

“The Riverhill magicians were acting like I had already fallen into their hands.”

“It was one of the family head’s long-cherished wishes. Considering the praise and rewards you will receive from the family head after returning to the family, it is natural for them to monitor you so closely.”

Lilian shrugged.

I, Ken, and Olivia were in the office together.

“Then shall we take a look?”

At Lilian’s words, Ken handed over the Mana Covenant.

Lilian calmly read the Mana Covenant.

“Not bad.”

Lilian added with a smile.

“But there’s nothing about my treatment in the conditions?”

“The condition was the location of the Reinhardt family’s magic book. Your treatment depended on your actions.”

“I was going to build my own magic tower in the Empire, but it seems that His Highness the Crown Prince’s generosity is lacking more than I thought?”

“If you keep the contents of the covenant well, the treatment for an 8-circle magician will naturally follow.”

“Okay. I’ll sign it.”

Ken approached Lilian and first released her seal [magical restraints].

Olivia was already holding a sword to her neck.

This is because Lilian, whose circle seal has been released before signing, might use other means.

Lilian didn’t feel particularly bad and held out her index finger to Ken.

Ken cut Lilian’s finger with a dagger.

Blood flowed from her finger and she signed the covenant.

I also cut my finger.

‘Concentrate mana on your hand.’

The contents of the Mana Covenant will only take effect if the flowing blood contains mana.

As soon as I finished signing, the letters on the paper emitted light as if the two people’s signatures were properly done.

‘Basically, if you can’t handle mana, you can’t make a Mana Covenant.’

It is not something that anyone can do to put their mana into their flowing blood.

That’s why the Mana Covenant was not easily written and caused great danger if abused.

It was a difficult covenant to make because there were not many people who could handle mana, and if abused, it meant that at least those who could handle mana could be used as complete slaves.

“Now I’m truly Your Highness’s subordinate.”

“Call me Commander. Because it’s a battlefield.”

I turned my gaze to Ken.

“Prepare a general meeting. Including Lilian, we will establish a strategy to conquer the capital of the Pireon Kingdom.”

Lilian stood up.

“The king is mine. I have a debt to repay to that bastard.”

I narrowed my eyes.

‘As expected, the reason for breaking the contract with the Pireon Kingdom was not necessarily because of the magic book. It seems there are some circumstances.’