Became The Son Of The Final Boss [EN]: Chapter 22

22.

I released the tension in my body.

A sylph stirred the wind beside me, and a gnome clung to my leg.

-New skill unlocked.

I flinched at the system notification. I had only just conceived the idea and experimented based on my mother’s spirit magic grimoire, yet the system unlocked the skill as if by magic.

‘Perhaps… am I a genius? Is it thanks to synchronization?’

I even suspected that the Orc shaman’s curse might have played a role.

This skill unlock was quite shocking, even to me, who knew all the settings.

Considering the case of the protagonist, Karen, it wasn’t impossible, but he is the protagonist. Skill unlocks were nothing to Karen, whose life was filled with innate talent and all sorts of fortuitous events.

After all, I had depicted Karen as an overpowered character beyond common sense.

On the other hand, Arun Carl Leord is not. He is merely a minor supporting character, and detailed explanations were omitted.

‘Let’s think about it casually. There’s no need to find a reason.’

I calmed my breathing and checked my status window.

-S Friend of the Earth (Lv2)

First, the level of my talent, Friend of the Earth, increased by one. This is encouraging. An increase in talent means that the proficiency of related skills will also increase rapidly.

-A Flow of Wind and Earth

A new skill had been created.

I used the skill immediately without hesitation. My mana core heated up, and mana spread throughout my body. The spirits absorbed the mana.

My body felt like a feather.

I immediately wanted to spar with Ken.

‘It’s a skill close to footwork.’

The skill is imprinted in my mind even without explanation. The Flow of Wind and Earth will combine the two attributes of spirits to make my movements faster and more fluid.

And if the level increases, I can sufficiently reach the realm mentioned in my mother’s spirit magic grimoire.

‘The wind reads the enemy’s killing intent first, and the earth senses the enemy’s vibrations. This means it’s possible to predict and evade the enemy’s attacks.’

Agility is a necessary element for both offense and defense. I could instinctively feel the effects of the Flow of Wind and Earth skill.

My bedroom, which felt so spacious, felt narrow within the Flow of Wind and Earth skill.

I operated the skill until the mana in my mana core was depleted. Thanks to that, I sweated a lot, but I felt very refreshed.

It feels like things are being completed one by one.

I lived in a place where the profession of spirit mage itself didn’t exist, and now I have gained an unfamiliar power in a world that cannot be defined by the logic of science.

My talent was top-notch, my affinity was something I could boast was better than anyone else’s, and all of these things brought me joy.

Protecting my position as crown prince is a headache, but there was something that made my blood boil, though not as much as spirit magic.

‘Is it because I resemble my mother?’

I smiled and headed to the bathroom attached to the bedroom.

‘I’m looking forward to tomorrow.’

Soaking in a hot bath alone cleared my head.

The spar with Ken and Soris’s advice that I will have tomorrow are something I am very much looking forward to tonight.

I didn’t forget to practice the breathing technique of the wind while looking at the moonlight.

* * *

In the novel, Karen was able to make strong people his companions based on his character level, and he knew when to step back from enemies he couldn’t handle.

I also appropriately used the character level system.

-Ken (Lv30)

-Soris (Lv33)

The level difference between a mid-level Sword Expert and a mid-level Spirit Master was not that great.

‘Character level is not simply determined by the amount of mana possessed or the realm of strength. Experience, wisdom, or even position also have an impact.’

The difference between Ken and Soris is negligible.

‘I couldn’t see Gale’s level because my level was too low… and my father is… beyond my reach.’

Just being able to check Ken and Soris’s levels and skills right now is a great development.

“Is something the matter?”

I shook my head at Ken’s question.

‘Karen could see not only the opponent’s skills but also the stats that express their abilities numerically, but I can’t see them. Or maybe I don’t have the ability to see stats yet.’

Karen could accurately see his subordinates’ loyalty. The highest number in the loyalty section was 100. These were people who truly devoted their loyalty.

I couldn’t see loyalty, let alone other stats.

‘There’s no reason to be greedy. This is enough for now.’

I cleared my throat and opened my mouth.

“Ah, it’s nothing. I felt a lot from what Soris said yesterday. I think I’ve also grasped a clue.”

Soris, who had been organizing one side of the training ground, narrowed his eyes and approached.

“Could it be that you are using different attributes of spirits…”

I smiled and nodded towards Soris, who couldn’t continue his words.

“I’ve created a decent technique.”

And I said to Ken, whose eyes were shaking as if he couldn’t believe it.

“Ken, are you ready to go right away?”

* * *

Ted smiled gently.

The men beside him trembled at that smile.

Ted’s kind and humble smile looked warm, but the men in the room felt a chill.

Behind Ted’s smile, blood always flowed.

“What are they saying from Arun’s palace?”

A knight tried hard to hide his trembling voice as he answered.

“That’s… not yet.”

Ted smiled deeply and shattered the cup he was holding. Blood flowed on his hand, but no one dared to stop him.

“Are you saying they are even ignoring the official visit request?”

The oldest knight among the knights in the room stepped forward.

“It’s not time to touch the Crown Prince’s palace.”

Ted’s eyes flashed with murderous intent.

As a heavy energy swirled, the knights staggered, unable to withstand Ted’s momentum.

The elderly knight smiled and waved his hand.

“Calm down.”

Ted gritted his teeth.

“Silon.”

“The Duke also said that it would be best not to touch the Crown Prince’s palace for the time being. And more than anything.”

The elderly knight called Silon said strongly.

“His Majesty has directly ordered us to ignore the Crown Prince’s palace.”

Ted jumped up at his father’s story. Unconcealable anger welled up in his chest, but there was nothing he could do.

He roughly opened the window and said to Silon.

“What on earth has gotten into Father? It’s already a bizarre thing to raise the son of a lowly woman as the eldest son and make him the Crown Prince… and to protect him so much with that personality.”

Silon smiled gently.

“The Ignis family was a prestigious family in its own right, even though it was on the outskirts.”

Ted finally lashed out at Silon.

“Are you my knight or that idiot Arun’s knight?”

Silon replied briefly.

“I am a knight of the Atran family.”

Ted smirked at Silon’s answer.

“Indeed, Silon, you are Atran’s dog. The loyal dog of my maternal grandfather.”

Even with Ted’s harsh insults, who was young enough to be his grandson, Silon still did not erase his smile.

No matter how much he adorned himself with theatrics, Silon was one of the people who knew Ted’s true nature well.

Having experienced countless wars and played a decisive role in making the Atran family the best family in the empire, Ted’s politics were nothing more than child’s play to Silon.

“Your Highness, now is not the time to be agitated. The Crown Prince has changed, and His Majesty has recognized that change. His Majesty would never bestow favors without a reason.”

Ted frowned.

Seeing Ted trying to calm down, Silon nodded in satisfaction.

‘A child who hasn’t even had his coming-of-age ceremony is already running towards the upper level of Sword Expert [a skilled swordsman], so he resembles his father and maternal grandfather’s talents. He is still immature, but his political power is also considerable.’

At least Ted was outwardly considered the most suitable talent for the Crown Prince by everyone.

Even excluding the background of his maternal family, the Atran family, he had already been recognized by many nobles with his own abilities.

Silon had no intention of ignoring Ted’s achievements themselves.

He simply wished that he would resemble his lord’s thoroughness a little more.

‘That will be solved with experience and time.’

Silon never doubted that Ted would become the Crown Prince.

“The reason why my lord doesn’t bother to find out about the Crown Prince’s palace is because of His Majesty’s orders.”

Ted’s agitation subsided when the story of his maternal grandfather came up.

Personally, Ted respected his maternal grandfather, who was both his blood relative and his swordsmanship teacher, more than anyone else.

“The Duke will be entering the palace soon?”

“Yes. I heard that he is on his way after finishing all the work on the western border.”

The western border had been noisy recently, to the point where one of the empire’s Sword Masters had to step in directly.

That part was not Ted’s concern, and naturally, the story ended quickly.

“Anyway, I have to wait for my knights to be trapped until the spring evaluation competition.”

Silon tentatively suggested.

“Isn’t there Chen?”

“Chen?”

“Yes. He’s been doing a lot of interesting things lately. Chen’s maternal family is also known for being quick-tempered… and it has been identified that there has already been one assassination attempt.”

Ted exclaimed in admiration.

“It seems he’s thinking of killing that idiot Arun before the spring evaluation competition?”

“Perhaps.”

“The fact that there’s no news of his death yet means the assassination attempt failed.”

Silon nodded.

“Yes. Arun has Gale, after all.”

Ted smirked.

“Gale is gone now. I don’t even need to step in. He’ll be dead before spring comes.”

A deep smile spread across Silon’s wrinkled face.

“We’ll have to see. Anyway, I will closely monitor Chen’s movements. It seems that Chen’s assassination attempt can be used politically later.”

Ted agreed.

“Chen is not a problem at all, but his maternal family is not to be ignored.”

Ted soon clicked his tongue.

“Even though Father needed the power of various nobles to stabilize the empire, he had too many children.”

This time, Silon disagreed with Ted’s opinion.

“His Majesty could have stabilized the empire sufficiently without the help of the nobles. He was simply saving time.”

Ted’s eyes sank deeply.

When talking about his father, Silon and his maternal grandfather always gave the same feeling.

Admiration, jealousy, and fear.

Ted tried not to point that out and changed the subject.

“Anyway, Chen has already disobeyed Father’s orders, so he will definitely move again.”

“Probably.”

Ted said.

“Silon, can you identify the next assassination attempt?”

Silon nodded.

“Yes. Chen and his maternal family are great, but they are still in the palm of the Atran family. We can identify any low-level tricks in advance.”

Ted said briefly.

“Good. I’ve thought of a way to make that idiot Arun realize his position once again and to take away some knights appropriately.”