Became The Son Of The Final Boss [EN]: Chapter 27

27.

“Even though there’s no carriage traffic, everyone’s walking on the shoulder of the road.”

As I passed by, everyone stopped and prostrated themselves.

The shoulder wasn’t just narrow and uncomfortable; it also seemed quite unsanitary. Witnessing the hygiene of the Middle Ages firsthand, I realized how clean the Imperial Palace was.

Many people didn’t hesitate to get their clothes dirty or get filth on themselves because of their social status.

“The Crown Prince’s procession was reported to the Capital Defense Force a few days ago. It’s impossible for nobles to ride carriages on the Crown Prince’s route.”

I nodded at Ken’s words.

Feeling the difference in status between nobles, commoners, and the Imperial Family, I thought of the hero, Karen.

‘If I had written these parts in more detail, would the protagonist’s motives have been explained more thoroughly?’

I was quite disappointed that I hadn’t persuasively expressed goals like a burning desire for revenge or the abolition of a social hierarchy that was difficult to touch.

‘If I acquire immense power and establish a solid political foundation… it might not be bad to seriously consider reforming the social hierarchy then. Let’s think about it slowly.’

Survival comes first right now.

‘I am a precarious Crown Prince whose life hangs by a thread.’

“We’ll be arriving at the midpoint soon, Your Highness.”

I pulled myself together at Ken’s words.

The place where the possibility of an assassination attempt was most likely, according to the preliminary investigation: the midpoint of Namdong Avenue.

“Act naturally. It wouldn’t hurt to look around. You can show a curious demeanor since it’s been a while since you’ve been out.”

This advice wasn’t from Ken.

It was from the female guild member of the Shadow Walk Guild, disguised as a knight, who planned the overall route and plan.

I took her advice and casually looked around, speaking to Ken as naturally as possible.

“It seems that’s where the nobles reside.”

“Yes, Your Highness. Many central nobles have settled in the east of the capital, centered around the Duke’s residences of the Four Guardian Families. There are also inns, entertainment bars, and various general stores that cater to nobles coming from some regions.”

Ken continued to explain as if he had been waiting for me to turn my gaze.

“That’s the slum. After His Majesty founded the Calpheon Empire and named Calpheon as the capital, many people flocked here regardless of their status. Inevitably, a slum was formed… and although they have tried to relieve them through various policies, the situation is still difficult.”

It seemed like an ordinary conversation between the Crown Prince and his subject.

Ken’s attire today was that of an attendant, not a servant, so it didn’t feel awkward.

While responding to Ken’s words, I constantly scanned my surroundings.

‘Can I feel the murderous intent carried by the wind?’

With a very strong affinity for the spirits of the wind, I secretly summoned Sylph and held it in my arms. Even Ken, who was walking right next to me, didn’t notice.

‘Although it’s not displayed in the status window, I feel like my spirit magic has progressed even further.’

Gayle, Ken, Soris, and even my father were quite surprised by my spirit magic talent itself.

Even if my father didn’t express it directly, he must have highly valued the fact that I summoned top-tier spirits.

If not, I wouldn’t have been allowed to go out this time. I can be confident.

Suppressing my tension, I opened my mouth as usual.

“Their lives will soon improve as His Majesty implements many good policies.”

That was my hope.

However, if the Second Conquest War begins, the lives of the poor will inevitably become more miserable.

War is an opportunity for a few, suffering for the majority, and hell for the powerless.

Commoners had their property taken away by nobles who squeezed them dry to procure supplies, and like slaves, they mostly lost their lives in vain on the battlefield.

‘The Second Conquest War… I only described the Conquest War as my father’s ambition. But experiencing it as reality, the war of this era is unimaginably cruel.’

Even though the war hasn’t started yet, the miserable lives of the poor are visible, so what if full-scale preparations begin?

I could guess without having to see it with my own eyes.

Ken, reading my troubled feelings from my expression, said with a strange look.

“You seem to have a lot on your mind.”

“I’ll talk about it when I have the chance later.”

“Your Highness.”

I turned my gaze at the voice of the guild member disguised as a knight.

“You must be careful.”

I nodded at the guild members’ voices.

The middle of Namdong Avenue became sharply narrower. Only one carriage could barely pass, and the stench from the western slum dwellings became even closer.

I also summoned Undine.

Still, no one else knew that I had summoned the spirits.

‘Good. The preparations are complete.’

Now all that’s left is to wait.

* * *

“They seem to be quite prepared.”

Silon chuckled at his subordinate’s words.

“It’s unbelievable that the Crown Prince has been hiding his true self all this time… it seems that everything has changed since that guy stuck with the Crown Prince.”

Silon carefully examined Ken, who was walking next to Arun.

“He’s one of the servants.”

Silon shook his head when the subordinate told him Ken’s status.

“No. He’s not just a simple servant. He’s a Sword Expert level. The lowest level, but… and the ones protecting the Crown Prince are also unusual.”

Silon narrowed his eyes.

“Above all, I can smell a very strong spirit scent from the Crown Prince.”

The subordinate flinched. Spiritists were rare, and it was hard to believe that the Crown Prince, known as a fool, an idiot, and a coward, was a spiritist.

Silon’s smile deepened.

“Is blood really thicker than water? He inherited the blood of the Emperor and Iriel, so his spirit affinity must be amazing.”

“Even so, suddenly becoming a spiritist…”

Silon pointed directly at Soris in response to the subordinate’s question.

“That guy seems to be his teacher. The spirit scent isn’t as strong as the Crown Prince’s, but the level seems much higher.”

Silon stood up.

It was the roof of a noble’s mansion, at least several hundred meters away from Arun, but Silon spoke as if he were seeing it right in front of him.

“The Crown Prince has developed much more than expected. Did Gayle make a move?”

Silon, who was from the Atran Academy and had expertise in swordsmanship as well as strategy, didn’t think Arun could have developed on his own.

“Let’s go.”

“Wouldn’t it be better to see the results before you leave?”

Silon pointed to Arun at the subordinate’s advice.

“That’s not the Crown Prince you knew. Chen is hot-tempered, but his maternal family is definitely great. But… do you know why you can’t surpass the Lord’s family?”

The subordinate shook his head at Silon’s question.

“Because they always underestimate the enemy. No matter how ridiculous the enemy is, Atran has never done that even once. Even when hunting orcs, they do their best, so when humans face an enemy, they can’t do enough even if they put in all their effort.”

Silon clicked his tongue.

“I expected a lot because the Snake Venom Guild is famous… but it seems that the elites didn’t come. That’s proof of underestimating the enemy. If the Lord had moved, he would have mobilized the entire Snake Venom Guild.”

The subordinate agreed.

“Yes. The head of the family would have definitely done that.”

“They’ve made a lot of preparations, but since they’re not skilled, the Crown Prince will overcome it without difficulty… maybe Chen will get into trouble.”

Silon laughed as if he was truly enjoying it.

“I don’t know if our cute Highness will be happy or dislike this news. He wants to take the Crown Prince position with his own hands, and he doesn’t like anyone taking his prey. On the other hand, he also likes easy victories.”

The subordinate didn’t bother to answer about Ted.

Silon jumped off the roof.

A commotion was breaking out on Namdong Avenue, visible in the distance.

* * *

Chen was really bold.

‘Or is Snake Venom bold?’

I used the Wind Chains while entrusting myself to the flow of wind and earth.

Contracting with the Gnome was truly the best choice.

The flow of wind and earth made my combat power several times stronger.

Clang-! Clang-! Clang-!

Even so, I couldn’t step forward because the number of enemies was so great that even the knights, Ken, and Soris were all working together to defend.

Slash-!

Ken cut off the arm of one of the assassins.

“Ugh!”

I couldn’t help but gag. The shock of a battle where arms and legs were cut off and blood splattered was indescribable to me, who had lived in modern times.

What allowed me to maintain my sanity was, paradoxically, the situation of battle.

Because I would lose my life the moment I lost my mind.

“Sylph!”

Two Sylphs simultaneously spun around me, knocking away the assassins’ swords.

Clang-!

“Block them!”

Soris’s spirits gently penetrated between the assassins.

Ken and the knights focused on protecting me, and Soris took charge of the attack. Because this was a pre-arranged formation in such a situation, I wasn’t flustered and unfolded the Wind Chains in succession.

Because I was also in charge of the attack.

Attacking is easier than defending.

Defense requires a certain amount of practical experience to develop a sense for it, but even I, who am still a beginner, could kill the enemy sufficiently with attacks.

“Sylph!”

At my cry, Sylph intensely absorbed mana.

The blade became even sharper and faster.

The Sylphs brushed past the waists of two of the assassins.

Slash-!

‘I definitely wouldn’t have been able to hold a sword.’

I was really glad that I was a spiritist.

Because I didn’t have to directly cut people in this bloody battlefield.

‘I feel sorry for Sylph for no reason.’

The Sylph, reading my mind, moved gracefully as if telling me not to worry. In addition, Undine, protecting my chest, conveyed a warm energy.

About half of the dozens of assassins had fallen.

It was easier than I expected and Ken feared.

“Your Highness!”

I turned my gaze at the loud shout of one of the guild members.

Dozens of assassins were stepping on the roofs from the slum side and literally flying over.

Ken’s face hardened.

“This is a full-scale war.”

The number of enemies was now too great to be described as an assassination.

And attacking the Crown Prince on such a main street in broad daylight!

Could they really be crazy? I couldn’t imagine that Chen would do something so blatant, no matter how hot-tempered he was.

“Your Highness, I think we should go back.”

Ken said, wielding his sword non-stop.

I also nodded.

“I might die.”

The situation was much worse than expected. The Snake Venom Guild came out on a full-scale war level, exceeding the power that I, Ken, and the Soris guild members could handle.

“I’ll secure a retreat route.”

Ken’s sword was shining sharply.

What happens after returning to the palace is a problem to think about later.

I bit my lip tightly.

Now was the time to think only about survival.