Became The Son Of The Final Boss [EN]: Chapter 29

29.

-Arun Carl Leord (Lv20)

My character level jumped to 20 in an instant.

The journey back to the Imperial Palace was by carriage. I pretended to be deep in thought, but I was actually scrutinizing my status window.

It’s great that my character level went up. It means I’ve become that much stronger, and the level of skills or quests I can draw with bonus stats will increase in the future.

-Low-Grade Spirit Magician

-Crown Prince

I’ve shaken off the ‘lowest grade’ label and moved up a step.

It was just one practical exercise, but many gifts followed.

And talent.

What I’m focusing on now is my affinity as a spirit magician, which I can feel myself.

-S Companion of the Wind (Lv3)

-S Guardian of the Water (Lv3)

-S Friend of the Earth (Lv3)

-S Dominator of Fire (Lv3)

The newly unlocked Dominator of Fire was level 3 from the start. Perhaps it’s because Ifrit directly exerted his power?

The other top-tier spirits of different attributes simply exchanged a few words with me and returned to the spirit realm, but Ifrit was different.

He defeated my enemies with ‘his’ power according to my will.

It wasn’t that I cooperated with Ifrit using my power after contracting with him, but rather that Ifrit purely showed goodwill.

In any case, the talents related to the four attribute spirits were all matched to level 3, and the fact that my affinity with the four major spirits, which I had only guessed at, was overwhelming was proven.

Considering that the most important thing for a spirit magician is affinity with spirits, my talent was truly absurdly great.

All skills, including the Breath of Wind, also increased significantly.

The Breath of Wind was at 12, and the remaining attack and defense skills were at 7.

All levels increased so much that it could be called bizarre.

“Your Highness.”

“In a moment.”

I intentionally turned my gaze out the window of the carriage, interrupting Ken’s words.

Inside the carriage were only myself, Ken, and Soris.

Ken didn’t say anything more and waited for me to finish my thoughts.

-Current Bonus Stats 700

It was a number that made power surge on its own. I had no intention of immediately unlocking skills or quests with bonus stats.

Since there wasn’t much time left until both quests ended, I planned to use bonus stats mainly for quests after they ended.

And finally, there was one change in the status window.

It was a new title.

-One Who Walks the Path of the Great Spirit Magician (Provisional)

What could that title possibly mean?

It couldn’t be interpreted simply. Ifrit also mentioned the great spirit magician, and considering that I could hear the voices of other top-tier spirits or even lower-grade spirits, it was definitely a title that made me feel something.

‘Provisional… Does that mean it’s not now, but it can be achieved with effort?’

Since there was no way to confirm it right away, I closed the status window for now. I confirmed that I had gained a lot from the practical exercise, and now the plan after returning to the palace was also important.

I immediately turned my gaze to Ken.

“Ken.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

“You must have a plan, right?”

Ken started answering as if he had been waiting.

“There are several possibilities, but if we return to the palace, you will probably be summoned by His Majesty the Emperor.”

Even if my father is indifferent to me and doesn’t consider me the true Crown Prince, it was not an incident that could be ignored and passed over.

I nodded in agreement with Ken’s words.

“Probably. Not only the captain of the Capital Defense Force but also the nobles and even the commoners residing nearby will be summoned to the Imperial Palace in droves.”

“There are two methods.”

I tilted my head at Ken’s words.

“Two methods?”

“Yes. The first is to build Your Highness’s position by borrowing His Majesty’s authority.”

As I waited without answering, Ken immediately said the second.

“The second is to build your position with Your Highness’s own skills.”

Upon hearing the story, anyone could feel that the second method was better.

It was obvious that a position built on one’s own ability was much more solid than building a position by borrowing someone else’s authority.

As I narrowed my eyes, trying to find the hidden meaning of the methods Ken mentioned, Ken smiled.

“It’s not bad to build Your Highness’s position by borrowing His Majesty’s authority. First of all, externally, it can give the impression that His Majesty recognizes Your Highness as the Crown Prince. There is no way to protect the Crown Prince’s position as stably as that.”

Ken paused for a moment before continuing.

“On the other hand, His Majesty may take a deeper interest in Your Highness. Since he has lent his authority, he will naturally have to examine Your Highness in detail to ensure that his authority is not damaged.”

I asked.

“What about the second method?”

“If Your Highness builds his own position, there are naturally many positive effects because it is his own ability. It’s an easy problem that doesn’t need to be explained. However, there is one definite disadvantage.”

I felt like I knew what it was.

“The competitors will be even more nervous.”

“That’s right.”

I chuckled and added.

“His Majesty is not one to easily use his authority, and I have already summoned the top-tier spirit Ifrit in front of everyone and defeated the enemies with his power, so the second method will be much easier.”

Ken bowed his head.

“You are wise.”

And I went one step further from Ken’s thoughts.

“There is a third way, Ken.”

At my words, Ken’s eyes sank deeply. As expected, there was no way Ken couldn’t think of what I was thinking.

I am a person who has lived in modern times, so my perspective is bound to be different from that of people in the Middle Ages, and the direction of my thinking is bound to be newer or more daring.

But Ken is a talented person who can bridge the gap between modern and medieval people.

Without hesitation, Ken proved that fact.

“You’re thinking of taking advantage of this opportunity by using His Majesty’s authority and proving your own abilities at the same time?”

“That’s right.”

But there was something even Ken couldn’t guess.

“Which method are you going to use?”

Instead of answering, I opened the carriage window and called out to Marshell.

“Marshell. Send someone ahead to inform His Majesty that I wish to have an audience immediately.”

* * *

When I returned to the Imperial Palace, many people were waiting for me.

After passing through the main gate and getting out of the carriage, at least hundreds of people came into view.

Everyone bowed to me in unison.

I was slightly embarrassed because I didn’t expect not only the nobles but also the Imperial Knights and magicians to come out to greet me.

‘It’s divided in half. Those who believe the rumors… and those who don’t.’

I calmly looked at the nobles.

It had only been a little over an hour since all the commotion ended and I returned to the Imperial Palace.

In the meantime, rumors about what happened today spread.

And it was immediately felt that what the nobles were paying attention to was not the fact that I was attacked but the fact that I survived the attack and the content about the top-tier spirit.

Some nobles openly scanned me.

“I heard you had a big incident.”

At someone’s voice, I turned my gaze.

A handsome knight approached me and bowed politely.

“That’s right.”

I didn’t recognize who the middle-aged man who came up to me and bowed was.

Soon, I remembered his name after seeing the sun engraved on the shoulder of the cloak he was wearing and the lion drawn next to the sun.

‘The head of the Atran family… Duke Atran Beregon.’

The maternal grandfather of the Second Prince Ted, the current head of the Atran family, which is called the best of the four guardian families, and one of the empire’s four sword masters along with my father.

I smiled.

“It’s alright. I didn’t expect you to come out in person, Duke.”

Have I ever met this person before? I desperately searched my memory, but there was nothing. I had all the memories of Arun as well as the memories of modern times.

The fact that it wasn’t in my memory meant that it was my first meeting with Duke Beregon.

“It’s only natural since Your Highness has had a big incident. An incident that couldn’t happen in the capital occurred, and His Majesty summoned everyone.”

Duke Beregon softly explained the current situation.

‘It seems like he’s saying that he didn’t come out to greet me but was called by my father.’

I didn’t think it was just a sense of inferiority. The streak of contempt hidden in Duke Beregon’s soft gaze was too similar to the gazes of the people in my memory.

“His Majesty is waiting. Captain of the Guard, escort His Highness.”

Beregon ordered Marshell as if he were the owner of this place.

I quietly stayed still.

It seemed that my father had heard the news and gathered all the nobles.

Not only Duke Beregon but also the heads of the remaining ducal families could be found among the people, and as I headed to the Grand Hall, the princes and princesses, that is, my siblings, joined one by one.

Among them, Chen was also visible.

I smiled brightly when I made eye contact with Chen.

Chen avoided my gaze with a stiff expression.

Soon, when I arrived at the Grand Hall, everyone held their breath.

All the dozens of nobles were high-ranking nobles, and there were just as many princes and princesses. Finally, my father, sitting on the high throne and looking down at everyone, was visible.

The nobles, princes, and princesses scattered to both sides, and I and my party stood in front and bowed to my father.

“Is everyone gathered?”

At the voice of the Emperor, the absolute ruler of the Calpheon Empire, my father, and the owner of this empire, everyone bowed their heads.

‘Starting with the Second Conquest War, the conflict between the Emperor and the nobles is slowly stretching… Is that possible?’

I felt like all the nobles were trembling at the overwhelming presence my father was showing.

I clearly included the conflict between the Emperor and the nobles as one of the settings in which the Calpheon Empire was shaken, but in the current situation, it was hard to imagine rebelling against the Emperor himself.

Even Duke Beregon, who was called the second-in-command of the empire after my father and was set to be stronger than anyone except my father in terms of skill, was holding his breath.

And it seemed that the very fact was a humiliation to him.

‘He’s clenching his fist.’

My father, however, turned his gaze to me without paying attention to Beregon.

“Crown Prince.”

I lowered my back without realizing it.

“Yes, Father.”

“I heard you were attacked on the main street heading to the south gate of the capital?”

This was important.

I told Ken.

That I would use both of the methods he mentioned to take advantage of this situation.

I slowly straightened my back.

The nobles buzzed for a moment. No matter how incompetent the Crown Prince was, it was hard to understand and too shocking that he was attacked in broad daylight in the middle of the capital.

Amid the commotion, my father’s voice sank low.

“It seems like you’re not badly hurt?”

It wasn’t a word of concern for me.

My father seemed quite curious.

The very fact that I survived the enemies’ attack was a question for my father.

Less than two months ago, I was cursed by a mere orc shaman in the Dark Forest, wasn’t I?

My father’s question was soon the question of others.

“Fortunately, I was not hurt.”

My father didn’t seem to have any emotion even though his son was attacked by assassins outside.

There was no trace of anger at the perpetrator.

“Crown Prince.”

At the low call, my body trembled without realizing it.

When I made eye contact with my father, I felt like I was naked.

Undine was summoned on its own and wrapped around my body, conveying a warm energy.

My father expressed his emotion of admiration for the first time.

“Are there any of the attackers alive?”

Suddenly, the Grand Hall became cold.

The gazes of the nobles, princes, and princesses were focused on me.

I drove away my father’s cold energy while receiving Undine’s energy.

Was that why?

Naturally, strength was put into my voice.

“I captured two of them alive.”

“There’s no way they would rob the Crown Prince in broad daylight, so it must have been at someone’s instigation, right?”

The Grand Hall was now dyed with a strange tension.