Became The Son Of The Final Boss [EN]: Chapter 32

32.

In the current situation, a private audience with the Emperor held significant meaning. It was a clear sign of favor and influence.

Even though the Crown Prince existed, many dismissed him as either a fool or a puppet, believing the true successor remained undecided.

The mere act of frequently meeting with the Emperor could create the impression of being favored, which is why the princes and princesses desperately sought such meetings with their father.

This also explained why everyone diligently visited the Emperor’s palace, located far from their own residences, to attend breakfast.

However, I wasn’t particularly pleased with this private audience with my father.

Having already attracted attention in the Grand Hall, frequent meetings with my father could intensify the vigilance of my rivals.

The position of Crown Prince that I currently held was already a significant burden to them, a symbol of power they coveted.

Legitimacy. The influence of the eldest son in the selection of a successor was paramount, a tradition deeply ingrained in the Empire.

Nevertheless, I showed no displeasure and bowed respectfully to my father.

“You summoned me.”

“Raise your head.”

My father’s voice was low but strangely piercing.

I raised my head and looked at him.

The absolute ruler of the Empire was silently looking down at me.

Just meeting his gaze was enough to weigh down my heart with the sheer force of his presence.

It wasn’t merely the pressure from the position of Emperor.

The flow of mana that naturally formed around a transcendent being beyond human limits was pressing down on me, a tangible weight.

Before, I couldn’t even feel that flow; I was simply overwhelmed. Now, I could sense it. I had improved enough to at least perceive the extraordinary mana surrounding my father.

“Come closer.”

At my father’s words, I moved forward, feeling doubtful.

In the long, rectangular Grand Hall, the Emperor’s throne was positioned at the top of more than ten steps.

When I reached the steps, my father spoke again.

“Come to my side.”

What was going on?

My wariness must have been evident.

A smile spread across my father’s lips.

My father’s smile, which I was seeing for the first time, was captivating, making it hard to believe he was middle-aged. It was also unsettling.

“You seem to have grown more than I thought.”

What had he seen in me to say such a thing?

I desperately wracked my brain, trying to recall the persona I had created for Ron Carl Leord and interpret his principles, but I couldn’t guess his intentions.

At that moment, the eerie feeling became a reality.

Whoosh-!

I shuddered as a sharp blade grazed my cheek.

“If you don’t want to show me, I have no choice but to see for myself.”

My father rose to his feet.

A presence like a mountain enveloped me.

The spirits were summoned on their own, reacting to the immense power.

Two Sylphs [air spirits], one Undine [water spirit], a Gnome [earth spirit], and the Salamander [fire spirit] I had just contracted with appeared and surrounded me.

The mana from the Mana Hole was drawn into them, empowering them.

My father silently took a step.

I couldn’t just stand still.

In my father’s hand was an ordinary longsword, but it radiated a suffocating aura.

“Sylphs!”

The two Sylphs simultaneously used Wind Chains and rushed at my father.

Good heavens!

I couldn’t believe it, even as I used the skill myself. If anyone saw this scene, they would immediately accuse me of treason.

To dare attack the Emperor in the Imperial Palace!

But as if my attack was merely self-defense, my father’s longsword tore through the Sylphs’ bodies.

Kkyaaaa!

The Sylphs’ screams echoed in my ears, and I felt intense pain. The Sylphs were instantly dispelled with a single move.

I bit my lip tightly.

Anger surged.

What was this all about, suddenly calling someone in and doing this?

He was clearly trying to kill me.

Was he going to eliminate the incompetent Crown Prince now?

I didn’t know the reason, but I couldn’t just stand by and do nothing, so I squeezed the mana from the Mana Hole.

‘Curtain of Fire.’

As the Salamander spun around, flames erupted from near its tail.

The flames drew a circle around my father.

The Curtain of Fire was a skill designed to restrain the enemy.

My father nonchalantly swung his longsword.

“Move. When fighting a swordsman with spirit magic, you must constantly move. Sitting still and summoning spirits is suicide.”

My father’s figure disappeared in an instant.

“Feel the flow of mana, not just follow with your eyes.”

Along with a voice that seemed to come from everywhere, I felt an intense aura from the right.

I entrusted my body to the wind, letting it guide me.

The flow of wind and earth created by the Gnome and one Sylph that had returned separated me from the aura.

I moved constantly to create as much distance as possible. The Grand Hall was a spacious enough area to fight in.

Before I knew it, I was moving endlessly, just as my father had said.

I dodged my father’s attacks while looking for an opening.

I could now summon the remaining Sylph.

Although they had been dispelled to the spirit realm, the Sylphs regained their strength as I supplied them with enough mana.

I didn’t use Wind Chains carelessly. I planned to circle the Sylphs around my father and attack at the most opportune moment.

“For a low-level spirit mage to control spirits like his own body…”

My father’s smile deepened.

* * *

I ran around until I was drenched in sweat.

My father said to me, who was panting for breath, “Let’s stop here for today.”

My whole body was covered in sweat, and I could barely catch my breath, but my father hadn’t broken a sweat, and his clothes were perfectly in order.

There was no reason to be surprised by the obvious result, but I felt angry for some reason.

I came to the Calpheon Empire, learned spirit magic, grew stronger through the system window, and was told by a few people around me that I had great talent.

Then, when I met a real powerhouse, I felt that my talent was insignificant, and I felt resentful.

‘Be humble. Be humble.’

The opponent was none other than Ron Carl Leord.

My father, the Emperor, and the final boss I had set up.

In any case, I collapsed to the floor without even being aware of my father.

I didn’t even have the strength to stand.

My father went back to the throne, tilted his head, rested his chin on his hand, and said.

“You’re more familiar with spirit magic than I expected.”

“I have to survive.”

My father nodded as he looked at me, panting as I answered.

“When you went to the Forest of Darkness and came back cursed by the Orc Shaman, I was going to take away your position, but it would have been a hasty decision.”

I narrowed my eyes.

Did my father recognize me as his successor?

The question was soon resolved.

“You won’t survive the Spring Evaluation Tournament with just that much. Your brothers, who have lived only looking at this position, are by no means easy opponents.”

I struggled to get up and said.

“Why are you doing this now?”

My father was a fair person to everyone. Whether it was his sons, daughters, or even his wives.

Was that personality only applied to his family? It was the same for the nobles. Dukes, marquises, counts… even meritorious subjects were treated the same as other vassals.

Although there was a difference in position depending on merit, at least my father’s standard for treating people was based solely on ability.

He treated those with ability well.

He didn’t even treat those without ability as people, regardless of their origin or background.

Many nobles were secretly opposing my father because of his treatment of people based solely on ability, without recognizing their social status.

It was natural for the nobles to have a sense of rebellion because the Emperor showed a demeanor that did not recognize the class system itself.

Still, my father did not even deny their noble titles, so the horrific event of treason had not yet occurred.

‘To be exact… it’s because everyone fears my father.’

As I had just felt, my father possessed endless power. He reached the master level with the sword, had insight into magic, and was the best spirit mage in the Empire with spirit magic.

One-man army!

That would be one of the most fitting words to describe my father.

“You say now…”

Such a father was giving me teachings, albeit in the form of a sparring match.

In fact, I saw and learned more through the sparring match with my father just now than through all my previous training.

“I sparred with everyone; you just weren’t interested.”

I shuddered.

My father’s meaning of everyone referred to my siblings.

“If I judged that they had exceeded the minimum, I would see for myself what kind of talent they possessed.”

I thought I was receiving special treatment, but it wasn’t.

I smiled bitterly.

“Continue to improve. Only your ability will protect your position.”

I bowed my head.

I opened my mouth to leave the Grand Hall, leaving my father, who seemed to have nothing more to say.

“I will return now.”

As I turned around, my father said.

“Iriel was an excellent spirit mage.”

I stopped walking without realizing it.

It was the first time my mother’s story came out of my father’s mouth.

“She was a spirit mage who could completely entrust herself to the wind.”

With that, my father said nothing more.

I came out of the Grand Hall.

My appearance was disheveled due to the aftermath of the battle.

The knight seemed surprised to see my appearance but soon bowed his head with an indifferent expression.

“I will escort you to the palace.”

“No. I’ll go back alone.”

I refused the knight’s offer and set out alone.

‘Mother was an excellent spirit mage… completely entrust herself to the wind.’

First of all, it was never easy for my father to acknowledge someone.

My mother received my father’s recognition with spirit magic alone.

It was significant that my father, who had surpassed human limits and was walking the path of a superhuman, had acknowledged her power.

‘Mother must have been very strong too.’

She was already deceased, and there was not a single member of her family left, so it was difficult to find any further meaning.

The words “completely entrust herself to the wind” seemed to have some hidden meaning.

It didn’t seem like my father just said it casually.

‘I should look at my mother’s spirit magic book again.’

It was a book with many words that I still couldn’t understand at my level.

That was because the beginning of my mother’s spirit magic book was written in an easy-to-understand way for me to enter spirit magic.

From then on, it was described in accordance with the intermediate, advanced, and highest levels, so there were many parts that I still did not understand.

‘Should I get help from Soris?’

Soris was a better spirit mage than me, so he could understand my mother’s spirit magic book a little more.

Spirit magic books, as well as magic books and advanced swordsmanship textbooks, were treated as treasures in this era, but I didn’t care much.

Who would I trust if I didn’t trust my subordinates?

At least in my common sense, if there was a good teacher and a good textbook, it was natural to show the textbook to the teacher and ask for guidance.

No matter how precious the textbook was, what use would it be if I couldn’t recognize it?

It was already difficult to find a reliable intermediate spirit mage.

‘It doesn’t seem like my father will do it for me.’

If my father hadn’t told me about today’s sparring, I would have been mistaken for receiving special treatment alone.

“Oh, isn’t that His Highness the Crown Prince?”

I stopped thinking at the voice coming from the side and turned my gaze.

It was Duke Beregon, Ted, and Chen.

Duke Beregon and Ted were an understandable combination, but it was surprising that Chen was involved.

Because Chen was much more conscious of Ted than me.

I first greeted Duke Beregon.

“Greetings, Duke.”

“You must be coming from seeing His Majesty.”

I smiled and nodded.

“Yes.”

Chen interjected.

“You must be preparing well for the evaluation competition? It’s a matter of life and death…”

I cut off Chen’s words.

“An investigation is underway into the incidents of insulting, humiliating, and attempting to assassinate the Crown Prince, so even if you are my brother, you shouldn’t speak carelessly.”

The atmosphere froze in an instant.