Became The Son Of The Final Boss [EN]: Chapter 60

60.

Ram was slender and quite handsome.

He wasn’t as good-looking as his father, but unlike his expressionless father, he always wore a smile, making him much more likable.

His voice was also pleasant.

“Isn’t everything new to Your Highness? That’s why the support of those around you is important, and you should listen to their advice. If you are to lead the empire in the future, wouldn’t you have to learn many things?”

It seemed like an acknowledgment of my position as Crown Prince, coming from a knight loyal to Aetran, but I wasn’t particularly flustered.

‘Ram is Ted’s maternal cousin, Duke Beregon’s nephew. And what’s Thompson’s lineage again?’

Ken had already investigated them, and I knew all the basic information.

Ken had also told me about their personalities, which aligned with the investigation’s findings.

Thompson was hasty for a mage and couldn’t hide his true feelings well.

Perhaps it was a characteristic of the Riverhill family.

Chen was also from the Riverhill family on his mother’s side, so he had Riverhill blood.

On the other hand, Ram had a calm personality.

‘Maybe he’s wearing a mask like Ted. Duke Beregon also seems like the kindest person on the outside.’

I didn’t bother refuting Ram’s words and drank my wine.

Count Boaffen stepped in to mediate.

“Your Highness is also a Leord. I’ve heard rumors about Your Highness.”

At Count Boaffen’s blunt words, even Thompson seemed slightly surprised.

I showed no reaction.

“But rumors are just rumors. The evaluation tournament isn’t something anyone can win easily, and you’ve overcome several crises admirably.”

Only then did I smile faintly.

“I did show a lacking side as the Crown Prince.”

Boaffen gently consoled me.

“Your Highness, the past is not important. You’ve already shown a good side, and from now on, you just need to demonstrate that you have the qualities to become the emperor of this country.”

There was a hidden barb in his words.

Boaffen was a pro-emperor noble, but that didn’t mean he absolutely supported me.

To put it nicely, he was saying he would watch me in the future.

Boaffen didn’t seem skilled in flattery.

Nevertheless, I felt a liking for Boaffen.

He didn’t flatter me, nor did he insult me with rumors.

He gave me an honest assessment and encouragement for the future.

At least, he was the first among the nobles to say such things to me.

“I’ll have to work hard not to disappoint you.”

I smiled and finished the conversation, then continued eating.

The power struggle with Ram and Thompson seemed to end there.

There were still many days left, and by the end of this war, we might not be dining together again.

I got up from my seat first.

“Thank you for arranging such a pleasant dinner.”

Count Boaffen nodded.

“I will finish all preparations by the time you depart tomorrow. Your Highness, you just need to depart at the scheduled time.”

I smiled and replied.

“Then, farewell.”

Guided by a servant, I headed to the bedroom prepared by Count Boaffen.

The bedroom was truly luxurious.

“Is this the Count’s room?”

At my words, the servant bowed and replied.

“No, it’s originally the bedroom used by the former lord, but the Count does not use it.”

Indeed, judging from Count Boaffen’s personality, he didn’t seem like he would use such a lavish bedroom.

It seemed he chose to have guests stay there rather than renovating it.

“Prepare some tea and call Ken and David.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

After the servant left, I opened the window and took a deep breath.

I had received the position of Commander-in-Chief, but the feeling wasn’t much different from when I first realized I was the Crown Prince.

It felt like it wasn’t my place, and the responsibility weighed heavily on my chest.

‘I’m not the same as before.’

I had become Arun Karl Leord upon coming to the Calpheon Empire.

Living as Arun Karl Leord, I was completely different from the original Arun Karl Leord.

I believed I could fulfill the position of Commander-in-Chief of the Western Defense Forces.

“Your Highness, it’s Ken.”

Ken’s voice came from outside.

“Come in.”

The door opened, and Ken appeared.

He looked around the room and clicked his tongue.

“This room feels like a completely different world.”

I smiled and replied.

“I think so too. Who was the lord here originally?”

At my question, Ken paused to think before saying.

“It was someone from the Aetran family, but I don’t remember the name exactly.”

“The Aetran family, huh.”

I involuntarily felt bitter.

He wasn’t an important figure in the Aetran family to the point that Ken couldn’t remember him, but he had the wealth to create a room like this simply because his surname was Aetran.

Perhaps he wouldn’t have willingly given up this territory if it wasn’t for my father’s orders.

“Sit down.”

Ken brought tea himself, seemingly having received it from a servant.

He poured tea into my teacup, holding the teapot, and then took a seat.

“You have to leave early, but what’s the matter that you’re not resting?”

“It’s about Gale.”

I decided to bring up the Gale issue.

This A-class quest seemed impossible to clear alone, and I felt Ken’s wisdom was needed.

* * *

How should I bring it up?

I pondered for a moment and concluded that it should be about the Orc Shaman.

“When I was lost in the Forest of Darkness and returned cursed, I thought I was as good as dead.”

“At the time, Your Highness was not a spiritist, and it couldn’t be helped. But how about the curse…….”

Only then did I realize a serious error.

‘Wait, the curse? The curse etched into the soul left Arun with the gift of the system window, a violent temperament, and immense resentment towards his father. But why am I…….’

It wasn’t certain, but could it be because the soul had changed?

Since it was a curse etched into the soul, it wouldn’t be an error to say that the curse itself disappeared when I came to the Calpheon Empire.

‘Then the system window is…….’

I briefly recalled my last memories in modern society.

Ugh, I suddenly felt dizzy and almost vomited, but barely managed to hold it back.

‘Let’s move on from that issue.’

I couldn’t solve it right away.

I made a suitable excuse.

“It disappeared on its own when I learned my mother’s unique breathing technique.”

“Your Highness’s mana breathing technique is so amazing that it can even detoxify the poison presumed to be snake venom.”

Ken easily moved on.

Indeed, that was the easiest inference to make.

“Anyway, as the curse gradually disappeared, I remembered more and more of what happened back then.”

“In the Forest of Darkness…… did you hear something else?”

I nodded heavily.

“The Orc King is just a subordinate.”

Ken jumped to his feet.

The birth of the Orc King alone was a disaster that could be called the revival of the forces of darkness, but it was hard to believe that the king was merely a subordinate.

I calmed Ken down and said in a secretive voice.

“It seems like a more detailed investigation is needed. And even if they were isolated in the Orc Legion, I can’t believe the knights died so easily.”

“Gale is missing, too.”

As Ken gradually fell into my words and chimed in, I nodded like lightning.

“That’s right. It’s likely that they weren’t attacked by the Orcs but by some being who uses the Orc King as a subordinate. Gale may have gone into hiding alone to investigate that. The worst-case scenario is…… Gale was taken by him.”

“Taken?”

“If he had died, wouldn’t his body have been found like the other knights? These Orcs are strangely not leaving any bodies behind. Orcs originally capture humans for hunting purposes, but…… Orcs tainted by evil forces only destroy.”

Ken agreed.

“That’s right.”

“Anyway, things are not right in the West this time. And there’s a high possibility that Gale is alive, and if we can find him, we can get a lot of clues. So, what I’m saying is…….”

Even though Ken and I were alone in the room, I looked around unnecessarily.

Ken focused even more.

“How about attaching the evaluation tournament participants and Count Boaffen’s subordinates to David and forming a search party to secretly look for Gale?”

At my suggestion, Ken narrowed his eyes.

“It’s not a bad idea, but if that happens, there will be too few people Your Highness can trust in the main camp. Especially with the Aetran Knights and the Riverhill Magic Corps having sinister intentions…… it’s too dangerous.”

I smiled faintly.

“They won’t be able to act rashly either. Especially if I’m separated from the main camp.”

“Yes?”

Ken’s eyes widened.

“Your Highness, don’t tell me…….”

“Yes. I’m temporarily handing over the position of Commander-in-Chief to someone else, and I’m going out as the leader of the search party myself.”

Ken immediately replied.

“Absolutely not. It’s too dangerous.”

“If I stay in the main camp, I won’t be able to achieve anything, and it’s even more dangerous among the elites of the two families. In that case, it’s better to go outside.”

I tried to persuade Ken.

“Ken, stay in the main camp. You assist the temporary Commander-in-Chief and use the elites of the two families to stop the Orc Legion. If I’m not there, they won’t be able to slack off so openly. The Western lords are also watching.”

Ken clicked his tongue.

“Your Highness, you really overcome situations in ways I can’t even imagine.”

Ken had somewhat relented.

I moistened my throat with tea and shrugged.

“It may be reckless, but…… if we save Gale and catch the traces of someone behind the Orc King, the landscape of the Western Defense could change. The Orc Shaman clearly said that that person would appoint the king and rise greatly.”

Ken reluctantly nodded.

“I’ll give it a try.”

“Yes. The Western lords don’t welcome me either, and they’ll only welcome the Aetran Knights and the Magic Corps. There’s no doubt they’re a powerful force, but the elites of the two families have no intention of fighting properly.”

Ken laughed.

“I’ll sow discord and moderately use the two forces to stop the Orc Legion. Don’t worry too much.”

As expected, Ken didn’t say he wasn’t confident.

I had given him a very difficult mission, but he spoke as if it were a piece of cake.

“It’s surprisingly easy to use people. Moreover, it’s even easier with greedy nobles like Ram, Thompson, and the Western lords.”

I finished my conversation with Ken and asked him to call David.

Ken left, and soon David entered.

The tea was already cold.

“This tea has gone cold.”

I offered David a seat and summoned Salamander.

David exclaimed in admiration as he watched my unique way of warming the tea.

“You really utilize spirits in various ways.”

“You have to see them often to get attached. I’m sorry for making you rest so late.”

David shook his head.

“It’s alright. We’ll only be marching for the time being, so I’m not that tired.”

“Indeed, there won’t be much to do until we arrive in the West. But we’ll be fighting with all our might once we get there.”

I immediately got to the point.

“When we arrive in the West, I’m going to hand over the position of Commander-in-Chief to the most influential noble among the Western lord alliance.”

David’s face stiffened.

“Your Highness!”

“Ah, I’m handing it over temporarily. I have something to do separately with you.”

David leaned forward.

“It must be important.”

I nodded.

“Yes. It’s very important. And…… we have to risk our lives.”