Became The Son Of The Final Boss [EN]: Chapter 208

208.

“Dragon?”

Lillian asked Olivia again, her voice laced with disbelief.

Olivia answered with unwavering confidence, “Yes. A dragon.”

“It just looks like a Guardian to me. I don’t see any draconic features.”

Indeed, the Guardian statue showed no trace of a dragon. Was I imagining things? But Lillian also saw it as a Guardian, it seemed Olivia had uncovered something significant.

Olivia approached the statue and ran her hand along its right arm. “This is the wing area. Do you see these seams?”

Seams on a statue? It wasn’t clothing. But because Olivia pointed it out, I examined the statue more closely.

“Magic! It’s a trace of magic!” Lillian exclaimed, the first to react.

She rushed to the statue and placed her finger on the arm Olivia had touched.

A pure white light emanated from Lillian’s finger.

*Kooooooo-!*

The statue became enveloped in smoke.

The two of them immediately stepped back.

“It was illusion magic! How foolish of me! I, who aspire to master illusion magic, couldn’t recognize it!” Lillian lamented.

“Ah, so it wasn’t a seam but a magical residue,” Olivia said.

“That’s right.”

Olivia seemed pleased by Lillian’s words. “I’m glad I could help.”

“This isn’t just helping! I’ve been struggling with this for years!”

I interjected jokingly, “Olivia is at the level of a sect leader [a highly respected and skilled leader in a particular field].”

“As expected of a Sword Master. I thought the statue was simply old. I never imagined it was an illusion,” Lillian admitted.

With Lillian’s words, the light faded.

Olivia, Lillian, and I gasped in surprise, our mouths agape.

The statue split in half, revealing a very large entrance.

“Looks like it leads somewhere, right?”

Lillian agreed. “It’s a dungeon. The Magma’s Fury [likely a powerful artifact or creature] will probably be at the end.”

Lillian turned her gaze to the remaining statues.

With the one whose magic had been dispelled now open, three statues remained.

“There are probably dungeons inside those statues as well. Your Highness, it looks like we need to form a party.”

“Hmm.”

I pondered the situation. In my heart, I wanted to explore the dungeon with Lillian. However, my direct territory was just beginning to stabilize, and I had launched several businesses, making it difficult for me to leave.

‘Olivia would have a hard time too.’

If the Crown Prince was actively engaged elsewhere, the Crown Princess’s absence would raise eyebrows. Moreover, Olivia was currently managing high society.

Gale couldn’t abandon his post at the border.

Since the three strongest individuals besides Lillian were unable to leave their duties, I considered whether to send David or Riorden to assist her.

‘Riorden has more experience, so he would be more helpful in conquering the dungeon than David.’

Since one of them needed to remain to manage the territory’s affairs, I decided to send only one person.

“It would be good to discuss it tonight, but it seems like forming a party with Riorden as adjutant, a knight, and a mage would be best.”

Lillian nodded. “It doesn’t matter who comes with me since I’m going anyway. But don’t underestimate it just because it’s a dungeon with traces of a dragon.”

Lillian’s face radiated confidence.

Was there really no need to worry with an 8th Circle mage [a mage of extremely high rank and power]?

In any case, having solved one of the ruins’ secrets, Lillian, Olivia, and I left with lighter hearts.

As we exited, we encountered Gale and Ken, who were patrolling nearby.

I told them about the dungeon.

Ken immediately suggested, “How about quickly conquering it with Gale and Lillian, along with about twenty knights?”

Gale opposed Ken’s idea. “Stabilizing the border takes priority. Magician Lillian can handle it sufficiently.”

Ken fell into thought. “Isn’t it a dungeon where we don’t know what’s inside yet? It might be dangerous for Lillian alone.”

Lillian shook her head. “It’s okay, no matter how dangerous it is. I even passed the World Tree’s test [a significant trial or achievement]. You seem to have forgotten, but I’m an 8th Circle mage.”

“That’s why I’m saying this. It’s presumed to be a dungeon where magic books are sealed, so we don’t know what spells might be set up inside. Lillian can respond to the magic, and Gale can handle other unforeseen variables.”

Ken paused before continuing. “With the combination of a Sword Master and an 8th Circle mage, any dungeon can be easily conquered.”

“What about border defense?”

“The current forces are sufficient. We’ll be replenishing the soldiers soon.”

Gale looked at me. In the end, the decision rested with me.

I sided with Ken’s opinion. “Let’s do as Ken says. I was only going to send Lillian, but it would be much faster to conquer it if Gale goes with her than if Lillian does it alone for a long time.”

Ken was the military advisor of the Crown Prince faction.

If I started to prevent the military advisor from making suggestions, even minor ones, his authority could be undermined.

Fortunately, Lillian and Gale no longer opposed Ken’s opinion.

“Then Gale will select about twenty knights to take with him, and Lillian, you’ll go in tomorrow morning, right?”

“Of course.”

“Good. Let’s start conquering the dungeon tomorrow morning. Olivia, please take care of border defense while Gale is away. It will be difficult to manage high society as well, but it’s a special situation.”

“Of course.”

Things were settled, more or less.

The royal palace soon came into view.

“Those extravagant things must be removed.”

Every time I saw the royal palace adorned with unnecessary gold decorations and jewels, I felt a surge of anger.

Ken smiled. “We’ve already started working on it. Bican [likely a treasurer or financial officer] is about to have his mouth torn off. He says we can secure funds from unexpected places.”

* * *

When I returned to the royal palace, a letter had arrived from the imperial palace.

-I hear news from the direct territory every day.

“It’s from Father.”

It was a letter written in my father’s own handwriting. Although short, it contained significant news.

“The entire Pyreon Kingdom will be incorporated into the direct territory.”

Of course, this wasn’t public knowledge yet.

My father added that he would announce it depending on the stability of Grenian and the outcome of the war with the Kingdom Alliance.

Until then, I was to exercise practical power in the region, centered on Grenian, and manage the entire former Pyreon Kingdom.

‘An entire country as my direct territory…’

I couldn’t hide my excitement. This wasn’t just a management lesson but a gradual transfer of the Emperor’s authority to me.

My father entrusted me with complete authority over the newly conquered territory.

I showed the letter to Ken.

Ken was equally surprised. “I’m starting to get worried.”

He said that, but his face was beaming.

“Are you not confident?”

“No. I’m just going to push Soris [likely a subordinate] a bit harder. We need a lot more people.”

“Are there no useful people among the nobles of the Pyreon Kingdom?”

“There will be. The Pyreon Kingdom has a long history. It only became strange after the Kingdom Alliance was formed and they fell under its influence. Wasn’t it a relatively wealthy country?”

“Not a military powerhouse, but definitely wealthy.”

The Pyreon Kingdom had been wealthy for a long time. However, as that wealth became concentrated among a select few nobles, the country’s power gradually declined.

The Kingdom Alliance was formed due to my father’s conquest war, and the Pyreon Kingdom did not join it. Instead, it was heavily influenced by the alliance and became a vassal state.

The country’s decline began from that point onward.

Their wealth stemmed from abundant food production, but most of the tributes flowing to the Kingdom Alliance consisted of food.

Unlike the Pyreon Kingdom, the Kingdom Alliance’s production didn’t even reach the continental average. The Kingdom Alliance relied on the Pyreon Kingdom for food, creating a vicious cycle.

The Kingdom Alliance easily received food, so its own production gradually decreased, while the Pyreon Kingdom’s finances deteriorated as the food it originally sold became tributes. And the tyranny of some nobles worsened.

“There are some pretty decent families among those based in the provinces.”

Even amidst all that, there were bound to be loyal subjects. The Pyreon Kingdom wasn’t devoid of talent.

“Find them and cooperate. We need more manpower to manage not only Grenian but the entire former Pyreon Kingdom.”

“Yes.”

“We should also request people from the imperial capital.”

“The imperial capital?”

“Yes. The James Duke family. And we should also request human resources from the families of those who are classified as Crown Prince faction nobles and have strong loyalty.”

Duke James was a definite ally. The mainstream nobles of the Crown Prince faction were primarily Western nobles.

“The Western nobles don’t have the capacity, but not all Crown Prince faction nobles are Western nobles.”

“Well… there are many.”

“We don’t need to accept everyone who wants to join the Crown Prince faction, but we don’t need to reject everyone either. We need to pick out the gems among the nobles who can become mainstream and place them under Your Highness’s shadow.”

Ken seemed to view this as an opportunity. “It’s a good situation. If human resource exchanges occur, the Crown Prince faction’s power will definitely grow.”

If nobles who only had a tentative connection to the Crown Prince faction began sending human resources, they would fully integrate into the faction.

Ken was aiming for that and recommended several nobles to me.

I approved them all without hesitation.

“I’m completely relieved about my position now.”

I thought to myself, but I voiced it to Ken.

“When we first met, my position was shaky, right? Ken’s gamble back then was successful.”

Ken nodded. “I didn’t know the Crown Prince’s position would be secured so quickly. I thought we would suffer a bit.”

“The suffering starts now.”

Ken and I exchanged a knowing smile.

“First, the Magic Tower construction ceremony.”

Since there had been a festival recently, I had considered skipping the Magic Tower construction ceremony, but I changed my mind after receiving my father’s letter.

“I think it would be good to have the construction ceremony.”

“Since His Majesty is clearly supporting Your Highness, it wouldn’t hurt to showcase Your Highness’s authority at times like this.”

Ken continued, “It’s a golden opportunity to expand the Crown Prince faction’s power.”

“That’s right.”

“Since there’s a magic circle, it’s easy to travel between the Empire and here. It would be good to invite not only the nobles of the former Pyreon Kingdom but also the nobles of the Empire.”

“The nobles of the Empire too?”

“Yes. We’ll invite them all and make them realize Your Highness’s majesty. If we schedule the Magic Tower construction ceremony for about a month from now, Grenian will be much more stable.”

Ken also considered the dignity of the mages. “Since Lillian has declared a new sect, there will be many interested mages. If we hold the sect’s founding ceremony in conjunction with the construction ceremony, Your Highness’s prestige will be even greater.”

“Good. Prepare it that way.”

I then reviewed the report that Hamilton had submitted.

Hamilton diligently collected information and submitted new reports daily. Even if there was nothing particularly significant, he submitted reports to keep me informed.

“He’s intensively monitoring the Purifying Flame Order [likely a religious or extremist group].”

Ken also read Hamilton’s report. “Yes. Those guys are the biggest problem.”

Ken’s eyes narrowed. “Your Highness, just a moment.”

I paused and waited as Ken rummaged through the documents.

He soon spoke. “It seems like these guys are preparing to recapture the Reinhardt ruins?”

“The Purifying Flame Order?”

“To be exact, it seems they’re planning to incite the Kingdom Alliance to attack the Reinhardt ruins.”

I hadn’t detected any such signs in Hamilton’s report.

Ken handed me two reports. “If you look here, there are many strange things about the recent actions of the Kingdom Alliance’s Margrave of the Border.”

“If it’s the Kingdom Alliance’s Margrave of the Border, is it Jane?”

Three Sword Masters. Gordon was dead, so there were now two left.

“That guy Karen. It seems like the Jane family is orchestrating something with him at the center.”

Karen, the protagonist.

And I had a premonition.

The day I meet Karen directly is not far off.