Became The Son Of The Final Boss [EN]: Chapter 244

244.

What I encountered upon entering the Imperial Palace weren’t ministers and nobles, but knights.

The Knights Order, which had gone to the Southern Front with my father, had taken control of the entire Imperial Palace.

Their atmosphere was strange.

They greeted me, but their wariness of me was evident.

“What is this impudence?”

Olivia stepped forward.

One of the knights spoke.

“His Majesty is in critical condition. With nothing decided, His Highness the Crown Prince is also aiming for the throne…”

Olivia’s sword stopped the knight’s mouth.

Not his neck, but the knight’s body trembled as the sword accurately halted inside his mouth.

“You know you deserve to be executed immediately for treason, right?”

“Olivia.”

At my words, Olivia withdrew her sword.

Ben Josh, the commander of the Imperial First Knights Order, commonly known as Commander Josh, appeared.

“Forgive the rudeness, Your Highness the Crown Prince.”

Commander Josh bowed deeply to me.

I nodded and said.

“It’s alright. Where is His Majesty?”

“He is currently receiving treatment in his chambers. I apologize, but even for His Highness the Crown Prince, seeing His Majesty is…”

Duke James appeared and interrupted Josh’s words.

“Josh.”

I bowed to Duke James.

Duke James also bowed to me and then spoke again.

“According to Imperial Law, from this moment on, His Highness the Crown Prince will act on behalf of His Majesty. This was decided in the Grand Council just now, so Commander Josh and all the Imperial Knights Order are to follow His Highness’s orders.”

Josh’s face hardened.

“Already?”

“Why? Are you dissatisfied with the Imperial Knights Order receiving orders from His Highness the Crown Prince? I know the Imperial Knights Order only obeys the orders of His Imperial Majesty, but this is an emergency.”

Duke James gently admonished Josh.

“If the Imperial Knights Order doesn’t show loyalty to the owner of the Imperial Family at times like this, even the nobles will waver.”

I sighed.

“Commander Josh.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

“The Grand Council is over, and it’s true that I am the commander according to Imperial Law, so what’s the problem?”

Josh shook his head.

“No, it’s just that His Majesty is in critical condition, and I thought it would be a bigger problem if Your Highness exercised command of the Imperial Knights Order without any procedure. Now that the procedure is complete, the Imperial Knights Order will faithfully follow Your Highness’s orders.”

I turned my gaze to Duke James.

“Let’s go to His Majesty.”

“Yes.”

I said to Josh.

“Lead the way.”

Josh, the Sword Master unknown to the continent, took the lead.

I asked Josh quietly.

“Was it Karen who defeated His Majesty, even breaking through the Imperial Knights Order and the Shadow Squad?”

Josh didn’t answer.

“Josh.”

When I called again, Josh nodded.

“Yes, it was a knight named Karen. We and the Shadow Squad had no chance to intervene.”

Josh gritted his teeth.

He spoke in a slightly trembling voice.

“It was a duel.”

I stopped walking without realizing it.

“A duel?”

Olivia’s face also showed astonishment.

Duke James, having heard the news first, was calm.

I was also shocked, but I tried to suppress my true feelings.

‘He lost in a duel…?’

Isn’t that the same as saying Karen’s skill has already surpassed Father’s?

My father’s defeat, who was the strongest on the continent, didn’t just mean that one place on the Southern Front was pushed back.

Why is the Empire an Empire?

Why did the Imperial Family of the Empire boast overwhelming dignity?

To be cold, Ron Carl Leord, my father’s personal power was the most solid foundation.

But such a father was defeated.

The nobles and even the people of the Empire will be shaken.

The foundation of the Empire is shaking.

I bit my lip.

I arrived at my father’s bedroom.

As I went inside, the priests hurriedly got up.

I gestured appropriately and approached my father.

My father’s appearance, unconscious as if dead, was not the strongest on the continent, but a weak human.

“What’s his condition?”

At my words, the priests answered in trembling voices.

“All external injuries have been treated, but the problem is the mana hole [a vital energy center]. The mana hole is cracked, and the aftermath is tearing apart the internal organs, making it impossible to touch rashly.”

Another priest added.

“The only way is to rely on His Majesty’s recovery power.”

“Is that what… healing priests should be saying?”

I spoke with anger without realizing it.

“I’m sorry, Your Highness the Crown Prince.”

The priests didn’t know what to do.

I suppressed my anger.

The priests were doing everything they could.

What would I gain by urging them?

I turned my gaze to my father.

I remembered when I first came to the Calpheon Empire.

When I opened my eyes then, the priests were next to me, and my father’s eyes were looking at me.

Now my father was collapsed, and I was listening to reports from the priests.

I turned my body.

“Do your best.”

“Yes, Your Highness!”

After hearing the priests’ answer, I went outside.

I turned my gaze to Josh and said.

“Summon all the Imperial Knights Order.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

I also gave orders to Duke James.

“Please summon the nobles again. We will have a Grand Council in the evening.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

I moved to the Grand Hall with Olivia.

As Josh and Duke James moved, Olivia carefully opened her mouth.

“Are you alright?”

“I’m not alright. I never imagined Father would collapse.”

“I didn’t expect it either.”

My mouth tasted bitter. My voice naturally sank.

“Who would have expected it? I don’t think anyone in the Empire, or even all the humans on the continent, would have expected Father to collapse.”

I sighed.

“The future is a bigger problem. The Empire is in a bigger crisis than when it is attacked on all fronts.”

* * *

A new chair had been created in front of the throne.

It was located one step below the throne at the highest point, and it seemed to be my seat.

I naturally passed through the center of the Grand Hall and took a seat on the chair below the throne.

The nobles bowed all at once.

“Please sit.”

At my words, the nobles took their seats.

“I have visited His Majesty.”

The nobles’ faces hardened.

They are also realizing it.

The Emperor has collapsed.

The Emperor of the Empire, who had absolute power and overwhelming force, could not come to the Grand Hall.

Because he lost consciousness.

The shock of that fact is different from hearing the news and seeing the Crown Prince acting on behalf of the Emperor.

“How is the situation on the Southern Front?”

Duke Beregon was killed in action, and even my father collapsed.

“Currently, the undead have stopped advancing.”

At Duke James’ words, I hid my surprise and said.

“The undead have stopped advancing?”

The enemy had enough power to break through the South right away, pass through the Central region, and even come to the capital.

They even defeated my father.

How high would the enemies’ morale be?

It wouldn’t be enough even if they were shouting about conquering the Empire right away.

But they’re stopping their advance?

“Yes.”

Suddenly, thoughts spread to the altar.

“Has information about the five altars of the Kingdom Alliance been shared?”

Duke James shook his head.

“Not yet.”

I calmly explained the altar to the nobles.

The nobles’ expressions gradually turned to contemplation.

An altar that turns living people into undead!

As the explanation progressed, the nobles trembled as if they felt the real crisis of ‘destruction’ was upon them.

“What if the reason they stopped advancing is to create the same altar as the Kingdom Alliance in our Empire?”

Duke James agreed with my question.

“That’s highly likely.”

“Duke James, meet the leader of His Majesty’s Shadow Squad and mobilize all personnel to find out why they stopped advancing.”

“They are…”

I persuaded the Imperial Knights Order, but the Shadow Squad is different.

The Shadow Squad is only loyal to my father.

They are an organization loyal to Ron Carl Leord, not the Emperor.

In other words, even if it’s my order, there’s a high possibility that I won’t be able to move them.

“Explain the current situation accurately. If my father’s intelligence agents don’t move, I will hold them accountable according to Imperial Law.”

“Your Highness.”

Duke James stopped me.

“They are no different from His Majesty’s private organization.”

The fact that I brought the Shadow Squad to the surface now was a declaration.

Everyone knew of the existence of the Shadow Squad, but no one raised the issue.

The nobles tolerated the Emperor’s personal private organization because the Emperor’s power was so strong.

I brought the Shadow Squad to the surface.

Because I need their abilities now.

I have to stop the Purifying Flame Order by mobilizing anything.

“Duke Beregon was killed in action. Ted was brainwashed by them and became a necromancer, and Father collapsed.”

I slightly stirred up my energy.

My momentum swallowed the Grand Hall.

Duke James’ eyes shook.

The energy I’m emitting now is more than a Sword Master.

I’m also crossing the wall [breaking through to a higher level of power].

I made it clear to the nobles.

That we are now in a crisis of destruction.

And that I am ‘strong’ enough to succeed my father.

“This is not the time to be picky. If Duke James can’t persuade them, send the leader to me. I will persuade them.”

“Yes, Your Highness. I will carry out the order.”

After that, I demanded additional dispatch from the nobles who had territories in various regions, and also discussed supply.

“From now on, we will hold a Grand Council every day.”

It seemed good to meet every day for the time being to control the nobles.

‘It will take time to prepare for the Kingdom Alliance altar destruction operation.’

Lilian is on the Northeast Front, so she can somehow stop it.

“How is the situation in the West?”

“We are being pushed back.”

“Who is left in the Riverhill family?”

One of the nobles answered.

“The Duchess of Austin is currently managing the family.”

“Bring the Duchess of Austin.”

The system is gone, but my memory hasn’t disappeared.

And what was related to them was revealed even in Ken’s investigation.

‘She has been studying black magic for a long time, so she may know something about the altar.’

Duke James answered.

“Yes, I will send a messenger right away today.”

“We will mobilize all our forces to overcome this crisis. The Empire will not fall. If we fall, it is not the destruction of one country, but the destruction of the continent.”

I continued calmly.

“We are fighting on behalf of the humans of the continent. Keep that in mind and do your best in this war.”

Finally, I added.

“I hope there is no one who has other thoughts in this difficult time. In a wartime situation… if you cause problems, you will have to deal with them more strictly than at other times.”

The atmosphere of the Grand Hall froze.

I got up.

I couldn’t completely overwhelm the nobles like my father, but I needed to show at least that the Imperial Family was still alive.

I put a lot of strength into each step.