Became The Son Of The Final Boss [EN]: Chapter 243

243.

I boarded the magic circle and headed to the Imperial Palace.

I was able to meet Duke James right away.

The Duke’s face, etched with fatigue, clearly showed how demanding his work had been.

“Duke, are you alright?”

Duke James offered a faint smile at my words.

“Yes. The workload is heavy, but it’s manageable.”

“That’s a relief.”

I immediately changed the subject.

“How are the other front lines?”

“In the south, His Majesty is directly involved, but it’s a stalemate. It seems that Karen and Jane’s descent from the Northeast front is having a significant impact.”

“Is that the latest news?”

“Yes.”

That the front line where Father is directly involved is in a stalemate…

It was hard to believe.

‘Well, Karen has also crossed the wall [likely referring to a magical or strategic barrier], so it’s not easy.’

I then inquired about the Western Front as well.

“How is the West doing?”

The West is like my political home.

Marquis Mike had gone down again, but the West’s forces alone could not stop the fairies [referring to magical creatures or a specific enemy faction].

Fortunately, Duke Austin had been dispatched to the Western Front, but he was not entirely trustworthy.

He also had ties to the Purifying Flames Order, and Austin’s loyalty was questionable.

Now that Duke Beregon had fallen, Duke Austin was, in a sense, my only rival.

‘Duke Yan’s power has naturally weakened with the death of Duke Beregon. Yan was essentially one with Duke Beregon.’

Currently, the only force that could independently threaten the Imperial Family was the Riverhill family of Duke Austin.

Moreover, with the war against the Undead, the need for the Riverhill family’s mages had increased.

‘Duke Austin can hardly dream of a rebellion in the current situation. He knows that the war against the Undead takes precedence, unless he is a fool.’

Duke James began to speak.

“The Western Front is being pushed back. It seems the forces themselves are being overwhelmed.”

“Didn’t you say that most of the Riverhill family’s forces went to the West?”

It was true that the number of soldiers was insufficient, but when it came to elites, the West was not to be trifled with.

Even though the Empire was handling three fronts, the Riverhill family was powerful enough to threaten the Imperial Family.

That they are being pushed back by the fairies while they are there?

If it were a stalemate, it would be one thing, but being pushed back was dangerous.

If the balance were to break in any one place, the Empire could collapse uncontrollably.

“We have dispatched additional troops. The knights of the Yan family, who were supposed to support the South, are being diverted to the West.”

“It’s difficult.”

How much of a headache must Duke James have?

It was only because Duke James was in the Imperial Palace that the entire front line could be managed.

A single misjudgment could collapse the entire front line.

“Did you come to the Imperial Palace for reinforcements or some other issue?”

I nodded at Duke James’s words.

“Yes. There are five altars in the Kingdom Alliance.”

I calmly explained the situation of the Kingdom Alliance to Duke James. Destroying the five altars would also affect the other fronts.

The Kingdom Alliance was like the headquarters of the Purifying Flames Order.

It wasn’t certain, but I told Duke James what I suspected.

“It seems they have a teleportation magic circle.”

“A teleportation magic circle?”

“Yes. A teleportation magic circle connecting the Kingdom Alliance and the South. Otherwise, I can’t explain Karen and Jane’s movements, and the exponential increase in the number of Undead in the South.”

Duke James was lost in thought.

“Aren’t the Kingdom Alliance and the South extremely far apart? A teleportation magic circle of that distance would require at least a mage of Duke Austin’s caliber.”

I nodded at Duke James’s words.

“That means there is a black magician with the skill of Duke Austin.”

I came to a conclusion.

“Anyway, there are teleportation magic circles and altars in the Kingdom Alliance. I don’t know the location of the teleportation magic circles, but I know the location of the altars… They must be destroyed.”

“How many troops do you need?”

“I need the knights of the White family.”

The knights of the White family had been participating in the front lines, but returned with Duke James’s return to the Imperial Palace.

It was to increase Duke James’s central control.

If the family’s power was all out on the front lines, Duke James’s control would weaken.

Power without force is weak.

Why would the nobles listen to Duke James?

Because the White family’s elite could come to their family at any time.

Especially in this war situation, the size of power depends on how much of the family’s strength is maintained.

I was demanding Duke James’s central control.

“Your Highness, if the White family’s elite is dispatched, my control will weaken. It may become difficult to manage the front lines here.”

As expected of Duke James.

“Isn’t there Duke Yan?”

“Duke Yan?”

“Yes. This operation must be done with trustworthy people. That’s why I need the knights of the White family, not Duke Yan’s knights.”

I quickly continued my explanation.

“Please, appease Duke Yan.”

“Duke Yan, you say?”

“Yes. With Duke Beregon dead and Duke Austin wavering, Duke Yan will be weighing between the Imperial Family and the nobles.”

Duke James nodded.

“It seems that way.”

“His Majesty is in the South. It will be alright even if Duke Yan and his knights are gone.”

“I will send a messenger to His Majesty first.”

“Yes. I will be waiting.”

It was an operation that couldn’t be executed right away anyway.

While I was holding out in Grenian, Duke James had to do several things in the Imperial Palace.

I soon got up.

“I will be waiting in Grenian.”

* * *

After finishing my work at the Imperial Palace, I focused only on the defense of Grenian.

I didn’t bother to check how the situation in the capital was going or whether preparations for the operation were going well.

Because I trusted Duke James.

I had conveyed my intentions sufficiently, so he would move accordingly.

It was definitely reassuring to have someone trustworthy managing the entire front line in the Imperial Palace.

After preventing the Undead’s attack overnight, I wiped away the sweat and headed to the training grounds.

Until the start of the operation, I tried to become as strong as possible.

‘Hoo-ooh.’

The Breathing Technique of the Wind was a mysterious breathing technique that the more I delved into it, the more I was drawn to it.

I thought I had completely mastered it, but these days, the feeling was different.

‘There are strengths and weaknesses in breathing.’

Mana flows according to breathing, and that flow stirs the whole body along the blood vessels.

Strongly in some places, weakly in others.

I closed my eyes and calmly observed the flow of mana.

The wall of the crown of my head, still blocked!

‘If I break through even this place… I can become even stronger.’

I felt it instinctively, even if no one told me.

I had experience becoming stronger by breaking through blocked blood vessels before.

Each time, I strongly rotated the mana in my body and used that force to break through the blocked wall.

This time it was different.

I didn’t force the mana in my body to flow too quickly.

I touched the wall of the crown of my head calmly, keeping the strength and weakness.

I felt pain every time the wall shook.

I bit my lip tightly.

‘There is no need to be impatient.’

I didn’t volunteer for pain that would make me lose consciousness.

I didn’t try any further because the wall didn’t show any signs of breaking after doing this much.

Finally, I rotated the mana throughout my body once more.

The mana that finally arrived at the mana hole accumulated quietly.

And then it wriggled on its own.

‘What is it?’

I felt a question, but I wasn’t flustered and entrusted my breath to the flow of mana.

It felt like the wind was brushing against my cheek.

It was a feeling I had felt once before.

What was different from that time was that the wind seemed to be blowing inside my body, and the mana flowed like the wind.

Soon, the wall of the crown of my head became flimsy.

Goo-ooo-!

The wind subsided.

I opened my eyes.

The spirit energy of the world became clearer.

Sylphid appeared.

“You have become closer to the wind.”

I nodded at Sylphid’s voice, speaking in her own voice.

“I guess so.”

Then Ifrit, Undine, and Noahs appeared.

“You have achieved some progress.”

I nodded at Undine’s words.

It was surprising that they revealed themselves on their own without me even calling them.

Because the spirits themselves came out of the spirit world into the middle world through the contractor’s power.

“The power of the Wind Spirit King has weakened.”

Sylphid took Undine’s words.

“I have become closer to the King.”

My eyes widened.

I was also feeling that Sylphid’s power had become stronger, but closer to the King?

Undine smiled and answered my expression.

“You will have to cross the wall. You have only become a stronger spirit now.”

I nodded.

“Go back now. I have to fight the Undead again tonight.”

The more Undead I killed, the more the spirits’ power gradually increased.

‘Today’s training results are much greater. There is a limit to how much the spirits can be strengthened no matter how many Undead I kill.’

After the spirits returned, I operated the Breathing Technique of the Wind for the last time and got up.

Now, day and night had completely changed.

It had been quite some time since I had only fought at night.

Olivia was waiting when I went to the bedroom.

“Aren’t you asleep yet?”

“Yes. I was waiting.”

Olivia drew the curtains.

The winter sun was still hot and uncomfortable to sleep in.

The bedroom darkened as the curtains were drawn.

“How much time is left until the altar destruction operation?”

“Well. It will only happen when all the preparations are complete.”

I couldn’t be sure either.

“This time, you will be carrying out a separate mission.”

Olivia also had to command a separate unit when the operation was executed.

As a Sword Master, she was the best commander.

I lay down on the bed with Olivia.

Everyone was getting tired as this war dragged on, but Olivia and I couldn’t even show signs of fatigue.

“Your Highness, Your Highness!”

I got up at the voice coming from outside.

Did something happen again?

A messenger knelt down as I opened the door.

“His Majesty…”

I shuddered at the story of my father.

‘Could it be?’

Even though I thought it couldn’t be, I asked in a trembling voice.

“What happened to His Majesty?”

“His Majesty has been seriously injured and is being transported to the Imperial City. The South has been completely breached.”

Olivia, the messenger delivering the news, and I had similar expressions.

“N-no way.”

Olivia’s words represented my feelings.

Father was injured?

“Isn’t there any more detailed news?”

“No.”

I nodded.

“Olivia, prepare. I’m going to the Imperial City. Go and call Ken.”

“Yes!”

“Leave the defense to Lillian and Gail.”

“Yes!”

The messenger quickly disappeared, and I headed straight to the magic circle with Olivia.