My Lord Who Is Being Prudent! [EN]: Chapter 67

§ 67 – Two Choices (2)

A size so vast, the expression ‘immense’ seemed fitting.

At the entrance of such a grand Imperial Palace, numerous knights stood guard.

The Royal Knights of the Empire.

Along with Elan Dure’s White Wolf Orders, they were a knightly order vying for the title of the Empire’s best.

Cyan approached the Imperial Palace.

“Halt. State your identity and purpose.”

As Cyan drew near, a knight stepped forward to block his path.

Cyan addressed the knight, “I am Cyan Elan Dure. I have come to meet His Highness the Crown Prince.”

“Elan Dure…?”

For a moment, the knight tilted his head, puzzled.

It wasn’t that he didn’t recognize the name Elan Dure.

But only for a moment.

The knight briefly cocked his head.

It was because of the statement that he had come to meet His Highness the Crown Prince.

“I have not received any specific instructions.”

However, the knight had not received any special orders.

“Huh? That can’t be right?”

Cyan tilted his head at the knight’s response.

“Could you please double-check?”

He then asked the knight.

At Cyan’s demeanor, the knight frowned involuntarily.

Because Cyan’s actions seemed to imply he was trying to push his way through, relying on the Elan Dure name.

However, even if he was an Elan Dure, such behavior was quite rude.

More than anything, his name was Cyan.

It seemed he was puffing up his shoulders after making a name for himself at the last National Foundation Day celebration…

He needed to know his place.

The Crown Prince wasn’t just any noble; he was second-in-line to the throne of the Empire.

To meet such a figure in this manner?

He needed to make sense.

“I have no instructions. Therefore, please leave.”

The knight firmly blocked Cyan’s entry.

“Just check inside once for me.”

But Cyan had no intention of backing down.

Cyan felt wronged.

Because he had contacted them in advance before coming.

Before leaving the Elan Dure mansion, Cyan had written two letters.

One was to Hans in Ruben.

And the other to Conrad.

Because the Crown Prince wasn’t someone you could just meet on a whim.

So, estimating his arrival date, Cyan had sent a letter to Conrad in advance, but…

It seemed there had been some misunderstanding.

“It’s not possible. Don’t be stubborn and go back.”

However, the knight didn’t budge.

Just then.

“What’s all the commotion?”

A strange voice came from one side.

Looking over, a middle-aged man in neat attire was walking towards them.

And a face Cyan remembered.

It was none other than the person who had guided Cyan through the Imperial Palace during the last National Foundation Day celebration.

The commander of the 13th Royal Knights Order.

Robert, was it…?

That seemed right.

“Salute!”

The knight, facing Robert, gave a sharp salute.

Robert nodded once and asked the knight, “What’s going on?”

“It’s just that this man is insisting on meeting His Highness the Crown Prince and causing a disturbance, so I was stopping him.”

“His Highness the Crown Prince?”

Robert’s gaze turned to Cyan.

And then.

“You are…?”

Robert also seemed to recognize Cyan, tilting his head.

Then he said to Cyan, “I have not received any separate instructions from His Highness, um… Just a moment. Please wait a moment.”

Soon, Robert went inside the Imperial Palace to check.

Originally, such cases were almost nonexistent.

The Imperial Palace was where the most esteemed individuals of the Empire resided.

Security had to be stricter than anywhere else in the Empire.

Therefore, without instructions, there was no other way.

Checking separately like this was rare.

However, Cyan had a history of receiving a handwritten invitation from the Crown Prince.

That’s why Robert personally stepped in to verify.

But the knight, unaware of this, frowned and looked at Cyan with an unpleasant expression.

The Robert who had entered the Imperial Palace was none other than the commander of the Royal Knights.

His position was not to be taken lightly.

Nor was he someone Cyan could order around like that.

But why?

“I, I’m sorry!!”

A loud shout suddenly echoed from inside the Imperial Palace.

Looking over, Robert was rushing towards them.

“H, His Highness said he was so caught up with work that he forgot. This way! This way, please!”

“……”

The knight’s eyes widened.

“That’s a relief. I thought the letter hadn’t been delivered to His Highness.”

And then Cyan spoke.

He even had personal contact with His Highness the Crown Prince…?

The knight stared at Cyan in astonishment.

Soon, Cyan slightly bowed his head towards the knight.

“Then.”

With that, Cyan entered the Imperial Palace.

Guided by the commander of the Royal Knights.

“……”

The knight could only blankly watch Cyan’s retreating figure.

#

Cyan was able to enter the Imperial Palace under Robert’s guidance.

And the large room Robert led Cyan to.

A size that could be mistaken for a house rather than a room.

This was none other than the place where Cyan had first met Aria.

‘Surely there isn’t another Aria, is there…?’

He couldn’t help but think, but as expected, nothing like that happened.

Cyan couldn’t help but breathe a sigh of relief.

“If you wait here for a moment, His Highness will be here soon.”

With those words, Robert left.

To pass the time.

“Let’s do some whaling [spending money on in-game purchases].”

Cyan took out his smartphone.

And slyly checked the gold in his inventory.

[Gold in Possession] – 1,770,000 G

1. 77 million gold.

It was the amount he obtained by cashing the 1.5 million gold note he received from Isabel.

It seemed there was a bit more, but it must have been spent on maintenance costs.

Nevertheless, it was enough funds to whale.

“Hmm…”

Cyan briefly organized the items he would whale on.

First.

『[Ad Removal + Unlimited Growth Buff Ticket (500,000 G)]』

“Ad removal first.”

It seemed good to buy ad removal first.

Ad removal, which he had been putting off.

Not only was the price insane.

But he didn’t really feel the need for it.

But now it was different.

Because the beginner progress rate of the Demon God Asura Sword.

That progress rate didn’t go up at all!

He had to grind almost all day to barely achieve the task.

Sometimes, there were days when he still couldn’t achieve it.

Then, without fail, the task would reset.

In other words, he would lose the progress as it was.

So, the time had come to save the 1 hour spent watching ads.

Cyan pressed the purchase button without much hesitation.

Click.

《Purchase Complete!》

With a light touch, 500,000 gold evaporated.

And as always, a notification window popped up saying the purchase was complete.

And then.

“It’s fine?”

The notification window seemed to be in good condition.

Even though he had whaled an amount that could feed a family of four for 1,388 years, it was no different from usual.

Originally, with 500,000 gold, it should have caused various errors such as ‘Kkumaeeeeeeek!!’ or ‘Completeeeeeee!!’.

Now, it was just being cheeky.

“It seems to have gotten stronger since the maintenance.”

Cyan shook his head.

Then he looked for the next items to whale on.

And the second thing to whale on.

“Ah, right. I need to buy the Aura Cultivation Method too.”

It was none other than the A-grade Aura Cultivation Method he obtained as an achievement reward.

An achievement he accomplished as the soldiers of the territory developed into entry-level knights.

As a result, he was able to purchase an A-grade Aura Cultivation Method from the Knight Academy Lv.1.

To be exact, the purchase was made in Mobile Lord,

But the use and acquisition could be done at the Knight Academy Lv.1.

And the price was.

[A-grade Aura Cultivation Method] – 100,000G.

100,000 gold.

“…… The performance will be reliable, right?”

It was the grade right below S-grade, so there was no doubt about the performance.

Cyan knew firsthand what kind of power S-grade exerted.

“I roughly mentioned it in a letter to Hans, so if I buy it, he’ll learn it on his own before I go.”

Of course, Aura Cultivation Method was not something that could be easily learned just by knowing the method.

There was Lucas, an expert-level knight in the territory, so there shouldn’t be any major problems in learning it.

“Maybe Lucas will try to learn it too.”

Cyan relentlessly pressed the purchase button.

Click.

《Purchase Complete!》

With the disappearing 100,000 gold, a purchase completion notification window popped up.

And this time too, Mobile Lord was no different from usual.

“It’s a bit disappointing.”

It was a bit disappointing that it was output normally.

“And also…”

It was then.

“I’m sorry. I’ve been so caught up with work lately that I’ve been out of it.”

Suddenly, the door opened and the Crown Prince, Conrad, appeared.

And Conrad’s words about being overwhelmed with work.

Certainly, unlike the last time he saw him.

Conrad’s face was haggard.

Cyan put the smartphone he was holding into his pocket.

Then he slowly got up from his seat.

“Cyan Elan Dure of the Elan Dure family. I greet His Highness the Crown Prince.”

“There’s no need to be so overly formal. More than anything, I made a mistake this time.”

Conrad waved his hand with a small smile.

Cyan and Conrad took their seats.

“So, you said you had a request.”

Conrad immediately asked Cyan.

Because Cyan had stated in the letter he sent earlier that he had something to discuss.

However, he did not mention the specific details.

That’s why Conrad was asking now.

Cyan cautiously opened his mouth.

“I am concerned that it may be a somewhat… difficult request.”

“What is it that you’re hesitating so much about? It’s alright, tell me anything. Didn’t I even stake the Imperial Family’s name on granting your wish?”

Conrad gave a good-natured smile.

Cyan looked at Conrad and said, “I intend to abandon the name of Elan Dure.”

Thud.

Conrad’s body stiffened.

It was as if Conrad’s time had stopped.

“What… did you just say?”

Conrad asked.

Cyan opened his mouth again.

“I intend to abandon the name of Elan Dure that is attached to me. And I want to make Ruben independent from the jurisdiction of Elan Dure.”

And Conrad’s body stiffened once more.

Cyan looked at Conrad.

The hilt of the sword held by Durak.

This was the only way to take that hilt away.

Cyan abandoning the name of Elan Dure.

And making Ruben independent.

Then Cyan wouldn’t have to return to the family even after half a year.

Because he would no longer be an Elan Dure.

Also, Elan Dure could not exert any coercion on Ruben.

Because Ruben would no longer be an Elan Dure either.

The time Cyan could buy was half a year.

Within that time, Cyan had to abandon the name of Elan Dure.

In addition, he had to make Ruben independent from Elan Dure.

This was the only way to protect Ruben.

Cyan quietly waited for Conrad’s words.

Conrad said nothing.

He was just blankly standing there like someone who had been hit hard with a hammer.

Cyan waited for Conrad.

And how much time had passed.

“…… An entirely unexpected… request.”

Conrad wore a rather embarrassed expression.

“If you’re joking right now… you’re not joking.”

Conrad shook his head.

The expression Cyan was showing now.

It was definitely not an expression someone who was joking would have.

And who would he be joking in front of?

That’s why Conrad fell into deep thought.

Then he slowly opened his mouth.

“Even for me, it’s cautious to touch Elan Dure.”

Cyan nodded.

Elan Dure was one of the two families that supported the Empire.

Not just Conrad, but even the Emperor couldn’t act recklessly.

They only had the potential to touch it.

“And abandoning the name of Elan Dure. That could turn Elan Dure into an enemy. I’m sure you know what that means…”

Cyan nodded once again.

If Cyan abandoned the name of Elan Dure and became independent.

Durak would surely not stand still.

As Conrad said, there was a high possibility that Elan Dure would become an enemy.

And in the past, there were those who had turned Elan Dure into an enemy.

But they all disappeared into the annals of history.

Only the family of Elan Dure remained.

Even so.

“I will gladly bear it.”

Cyan was saying that he would oppose Elan Dure.

“May I ask why?”

That’s why Conrad had no choice but to ask.

Cyan then briefly explained what had happened at the Elan Dure mansion.

And even what Ruben meant to Cyan.

Even so, Conrad wore an expression that he couldn’t understand.

“You can bloom your talents even more with the Marquis of Elan Dure. It’s cautious to say this, but perhaps the third star of the Empire might be born [a legendary figure].”

But Cyan was trying to throw all of that away.

“Why are you trying to get out of Elan Dure?”

Conrad couldn’t understand Cyan.

If Cyan stayed in Elan Dure.

He would be on the path to success, and in the end, he could enjoy a position like a king.

But why…?

Conrad stared intently at Cyan.

Cyan faced Conrad and slowly opened his mouth.

“As Your Highness knows, I was someone who had nothing.”

He had the name of Elan Dure, but it was just a name.

Even though it was different from the truth, he was the Marquis’s good-for-nothing.

And he was an incompetent dullard with no ability.

“Even if I wanted to do something, even if I wanted to become something. I couldn’t do it, I couldn’t become it. ‘You can’t do it. You can’t become it.’ These were the words I heard the most in my life.”

The reasons were various.

Bastard, incompetent, loser, etc.

There were dozens that came to mind right away.

If he wrote them down calmly, it would probably exceed hundreds.

“Then I became the lord of a territory. And many people who followed me appeared. Do you know why I, who was nothing, could become like this?”

Conrad did not answer.

It would be more accurate to say that he couldn’t answer.

Cyan briefly lowered his gaze.

Realistically, Mobile Lord was the biggest reason.

If he hadn’t met Mobile Lord at that time.

Cyan would have died as goblin fodder.

And there would be no development of Ruben as it is now.

So, the biggest reason could be said to be Mobile Lord.

But it wasn’t Mobile Lord that made Cyan who he is now.

“It was one thing.”

It was for one reason.

Cyan is still incompetent.

The hundreds of words that defined the old Cyan were still applied to Cyan now.

Cyan still hasn’t overcome them.

Even now, Cyan’s talent is still terrible.

He hasn’t escaped the name of Elan Dure.

And he could only offer a slight resistance in front of Durak.

Even so, Cyan was here now.

The reason that was possible was one thing.

It could have been Ellie’s shyness for saving Grayson.

It could have been Amelia’s gratitude to Cyan for believing in her so that she could move towards her dream.

Lea’s desperation, who had lived alone for a thousand years.

It was Jerry’s cry for healing his mother.

It could have been Semir’s wait for a promise without a deadline.

He couldn’t define what it was.

Cyan was able to come this far not only because of Mobile Lord.

It wasn’t the dozens or hundreds of reasons that criticized Cyan.

It wasn’t even because he had overcome them.

Only one thing.

The belief of the territory residents towards Cyan.

Their widespread smiles blooming in Ruben.

“That one reason made me who I am now. And it will make me who I will be in the future.”

Cyan opened his mouth again.

“I want to be with the people of Ruben who made me like this.”

Conrad’s expression went blank.

His focus blurred like someone who had been hit in the head with a hammer.

A deep silence fell.

Conrad didn’t say anything in that silence.

Cyan quietly waited for Conrad.

And how much time had passed.

“Hahahahahahaha!!”

Conrad suddenly burst into loud laughter.

“It’s truly… truly amazing.”

Conrad said, looking at Cyan.

“Your choice can really be said to be foolish. If someone saw it… it wouldn’t be strange to name it a new suicide method.”

Cyan didn’t answer.

Because Cyan also acknowledged it.

“But…”

Conrad continued.

“For some reason, I don’t hate it. It’s strangely captivating.”

To that momentum, to some expectation.

He was unknowingly drawn to it.

Conrad burst into laughter once again.

“In the end… your request is to become the lord of Ruben and be free from Elan Dure, isn’t it? Even if it means turning Elan Dure into an enemy.”

“That’s right.”

“It’s a truly difficult and troublesome request. I want to blame my past slip of the tongue.”

Conrad smiled softly.

Then, as if contemplating, Conrad briefly lowered his gaze.

“If it’s just you alone, it’s not a big problem. I can give you a title right now and change the Elan Dure surname.”

But.

“If the territory of Ruben is involved, the situation becomes complicated. In the end… we have to take Ruben away from Elan Dure.”

This was no different from plundering Elan Dure’s territory.

This was something that not even the Crown Prince or the Emperor could do.

“Half a year… half a year…”

Conrad muttered.

It seemed like he didn’t have any ideas.

The period was also too short.

Cyan knew that.

That’s why Cyan slowly opened his mouth to tell Conrad the plan he had been thinking about.

“So, what I ultimately want to say is this.”

And at the same time.

Ding!

『[Territory Quest] – ‘This is my world! The world I made!!’』

The cheerful notification sound of the smartphone rang out.