Surviving As The 5Th Prince Of Hellman Kingdom [EN]: Chapter 112

112

The knights buzzed with excitement at my declaration to participate in the friendly competition.

“Hahaha, it seems the Prince is overflowing with enthusiasm.”

A familiar voice chimed in.

It was Bert, one of the few who still used honorifics with me even after I was designated as the Crown Prince.

He approached with Gert, the commander of the White Lion Knights, so I nodded lightly in greeting.

“When did you arrive?”

“We’ve been here for a while. I was in the barracks discussing matters with Commander Gert. The commotion outside drew us out. You’re going to participate in the friendly competition?”

“The Empire’s 19th Prince, Charles Han Hamel, who is coming as part of the delegation, is the vice-commander of the Black Knights. Those accompanying him will also be members of the Black Knights. Isn’t this a good opportunity to cross swords with them? I thought it was an opportunity no knight could pass up.”

“I see.”

Gert, who had been listening quietly beside Bert, tilted his head and cautiously asked, “Your Highness, there’s something I don’t understand.”

“What is it, Commander Gert?”

“The knights selected to represent the kingdom in the gauntlet match are 5-star knights. Your Highness is currently a 4-star, isn’t that right? Of course, I know you can hold your own against 5-star knights who use Sword Aura with the ‘Howling’ you created. But rules are rules.”

“You worry too much, Commander Gert.”

I drew [Barisada] from its scabbard.

The five stars dormant in the core vibrated, and threads of mana began to adorn the sword with a splendid aura.

Woo-oong- Woo-oong-

And [Barisada] resonated, proving its name.

Proof of a 5-star knight, in name and reality.

– The Prince is already a 5-star knight?

– It was only a matter of time… Even as a 4-star knight, he frustrated many senior knights.

– Is he really going to use Aura before his coming-of-age ceremony?

The knights became boisterous.

「It’s dazzling. Put it back in its scabbard quickly. And from now on, I wish you’d use a normal sword for things like this.」

And Barisada grumbled.

I chuckled and sheathed the sword.

“When did you… Did Father know?”

“I suspected as much,” Bert said, wearing an ‘I knew it’ expression at Gert’s question.

“I had a major breakthrough recently, Commander Gert. So, there shouldn’t be any problem with me participating in the friendly competition, right?”

“There is a problem.”

I asked Gert, but the answer came from elsewhere.

I turned my head toward the voice.

Galarad, the commander of the Blue Lion Knights, was approaching.

“His Highness is the one who created Howling, a technique of blocking Sword Aura with Sword Energy, which only Baron 레이나 [Reina] has succeeded in so far. Surely, he can do the same using Sword Aura, right?”

It seemed he, like Bert, had noticed that I was hiding my martial prowess.

I smiled awkwardly and nodded.

“Are you planning to break all the swords of the knights who will spar with you, Your Highness? We’ll have to proceed with only four selections today.”

He turned his head to look at the knights who had been selected in the first round.

“Anyone with complaints can voice them after the final four are chosen.”

It was a statement that brooked no argument.

***

The criteria for the knights selected in the first round were simple.

Every quarter, the kingdom’s two Royal Guard knight orders, the Blue Lion Knights and the White Lion Knights, evaluate their members.

The top 10 knights from each knight order were selected in the first round.

There was some commotion due to my declaration to participate in the friendly competition, but the brackets were quickly finalized.

I leisurely watched the selections.

The 20 knights who fought in the selection matches gave it their all. After fierce battles, the final four were selected.

– Take this! Crescent Moon Spear!

First, Adol Smith, with his shaggy hair, wielded the 월아극 [Wol-ah-geuk, a type of glaive] as if it were an extension of his limbs, skillfully executing Moonlight Spear techniques.

– I can’t lose! Azure Flame Gale Strike!

Next, Vernon Styler, with his bulbous nose, specialized in powerful attacks using Azure Flame Armor.

– Get lost!

Finally, the arrogant Berok Biden, who had mastered his family’s greatsword techniques to their limits.

As expected, my three escort knights were easily selected as finalists, and the remaining spot was taken by a female knight from the Blue Lion Knights named Sophia.

“Adol, Vernon, Berok, and Sophia. Congratulations on being selected as the knights to represent the kingdom.”

I congratulated the selected knights and glanced at Galarad. He was looking at the Blue Lions with an expression that made him look like a demon who had escaped from the Demon Realm.

Adol, Vernon, and Berok originally belonged to the White Lion Knights.

It was as if the knights representing the kingdom had been largely selected from the White Lion Knights, whom he didn’t even consider rivals, so how could Galarad, the commander of the Blue Lion Knights, not be furious?

I shook my head and turned back to look at the selected members.

“Is there anyone who is unhappy that I was selected for the selection match through nepotism?”

Of course, there wasn’t.

I nodded in satisfaction and looked at the knights lined up behind the selected members.

“Everyone has worked hard to prepare for the selection matches. There will be a barbecue party, so eat your fill and then focus on your training again.”

“Thank you!”

The knights shouted loudly.

They began to move to the place where the barbecue was prepared, guided by the servants.

The White Lion Knights’ steps were light. On the other hand, the Blue Lion Knights’ steps were heavy, as if they were being dragged to a slaughterhouse.

I went down from the platform and approached Galarad.

He was still looking at the Blue Lions with eyes that could devour them.

“At least let them eat as much as they want before you start pushing them hard.”

“Hmm… I understand. Let’s go.”

Seats for 6-star or higher executives were prepared separately so that the knights could eat comfortably. While the servants were grilling the barbecue, I asked those gathered at the table.

“Are you sure we don’t need to hold a separate selection match for the person who will participate in the main event? No one is unhappy with 레이나 남작 [Baron Reina] going? If anyone has any objections, speak up now.”

“We know her well because we’ve sparred with her enough. She has to go.”

“That’s right. Among us, only Commander Gert can match 레이나 남작 [Baron Reina].”

“What are you all talking about? Now, I can barely win once or twice out of ten spars.”

“How proud.”

“…Father, your win rate is slowly falling below 50%, isn’t it?”

“Ahem, ahem!”

Everyone seemed to have no complaints about 레이나 [Reina] participating in the main event.

‘That’s a relief.’

After finishing lunch with the knights, I headed straight to the Emerald Palace.

Just as I arrived at the main building, I encountered Cliang escorting Miloa as she got out of the carriage.

“Did you two have lunch together?”

“It just happened that way. Has the selection of knights to participate in the friendly competition been completed?”

“Well, it went as expected.”

“Adol, Vernon, and Berok must have been selected. The remaining spot is…”

“Hey! It’s getting chilly, shouldn’t we go inside to talk?”

Miloa interjected, as if the conversation was going to be long. I smiled at her red nose from the cold and moved to the office.

“The selection match ended earlier than I thought? If I had dawdled a little longer, I would have made our Crown Prince wait.”

“Thanks to the knights’ sparring ending earlier than expected. And I picked one less person.”

“You have a bad taste. You should have said you were only picking four from the beginning. Oh, right. Who got the remaining spot?”

“Sophia Izel from the Blue Lion Knights.”

“Commander Galarad barely saved face, didn’t he?”

“He had the expression of a demon who had escaped from the Demon Realm.”

“The Blue Lion Knights will be dying for a while.”

Miloa shook her head as if she felt sorry for them.

But why isn’t Cliang sitting on the sofa yet?

I turned my head and saw him frowning in front of the coat rack, tidying up the coats that Miloa and I had casually hung up.

I decided to leave him alone, turned my gaze back to Miloa, and took out a document from my pocket and handed it to her.

“This is a list of people in the Assembly who are expected to vote against the Noble Honor Act. Compare it with the people Countess Miloa has identified.”

“Hmm… It’s almost the same. I don’t think you need to worry. The Noble Honor Act will pass without any problems.”

“We have to consider even the slightest possibility.”

“May I take a look for a moment?”

Cliang, who had finished tidying up the clothes, approached the table and examined the documents.

He took out a pen and crossed out several names. Among them were those who owned territories to which the Noble Honor Act would apply.

“These are the people who have promised me to support the Noble Honor Act. If we add these people, the probability of the Noble Honor Act passing in the Assembly is 100%.”

“When did you meet these people?”

“They came to me on their own. They must have realized that Duke Moria was a rotten rope and sought a way to survive.”

I stroked my chin and examined the people Cliang had crossed out.

Should I give them a chance to reform?

Or should I ruthlessly cast them aside?

Noticing my concern, he cautiously asked, “These are the people who are coming in with their tails between their legs. How about giving them a chance?”

“I think so too.”

After listening to their opinions, I nodded slightly.

“Instead, classify them as specially managed targets and keep a close watch on them, Countess Miloa. Report any strange movements immediately.”

“Yes.”

“Ah, and…”

.

.

.

I lost track of time talking about political issues with the two of them.

Around the time the outside of the window was getting a little dark.

Knock, knock.

“Your Highness, Julian is here.”

The person I had been waiting for had arrived.

“Tell him to come in.”

Julian, who had been out meeting people in the south, came in with shining eyes.

“Did you have a good meeting?”

“Of course. It was quite an interesting meeting.”

***

The next day.

I visited the Noble Assembly held in the morning to directly confirm the passage of the Noble Honor Act.

I watched the nobles’ voting from the gallery.

The Noble Honor Act passed safely with 219 votes in favor, 62 votes against, and 19 abstentions.

’62 votes against?’

More votes against than expected.

It seemed that quite a few nobles had cast their votes against while pretending to be in favor. Those identified using [Library] should be included in the specially managed targets.

In any case, the Noble Honor Act had passed safely, so I returned to the Emerald Palace with a somewhat relaxed mind.

I headed straight to the office.

Julian was waiting.

As soon as I entered, he jumped up.

“Have you returned? How did the Noble Honor Act go?”

“Of course, it passed.”

Julian wore a faint smile on his lips.

“Now the axe has fallen on the feet of the trash. Now we just need to gather them in one place so they can burn well.”

“Yes, but we need to get Moria out of the lord’s castle… Do you have any ideas?”

Moria, a 7-star mage.

The lord’s castle of Runtia is different from a typical mage’s fortress. It is a family that has continued for over 500 years. The successive heads of the Runtia family have gradually added to it, making it a powerful fortress.

Even if Galarad and Derek, two 7-star knights, joined forces, it would not be easy to deal with Moria, who had his butt glued to the lord’s castle.

Julian smiled strangely.

“Wouldn’t it depend on what the bait is?”

“Bait…”

I stroked my prickly stubble and pondered the bait he mentioned.

A bait that could lure Moria out of the lord’s castle.

“Simple rumors won’t do. It has to be a bait that can make even the most rational 7-star mage momentarily lose his mind.”

My head was tingling, and something seemed to be within reach.

Suddenly, I had a thought.

Julian is the one I’m testing to do these kinds of troublesome things instead of me, so why am I straining my head?

“Tell me quickly. I have too many thoughts these days, so I don’t have the 余裕 [yoyuu, leeway/room] to use my head that far.”

“Duke Moria probably knows that there is no good way for him to escape the situation he is in now. The most realistic breakthrough he can choose is to ask for help from foreign countries. However, having witnessed how Your Highness dealt with the Second Prince, he will be reluctant to contact foreign figures right away. He will be afraid of Your Highness’s mysterious information power.”

“I don’t know. He might end up making that choice if he’s cornered.”

“I think so too. Moria will eventually make that choice. The timing will probably be when foreign delegations come to the New Year’s party. It will be easiest to ask for help from high-ranking foreign officials, and it will be difficult for Your Highness to move.”

“That won’t happen. I’m even thinking of postponing the New Year’s party if the southern problem isn’t resolved.”

“Moria doesn’t know Your Highness’s thoughts. Therefore, unless a bait comes that can change his mind about waiting for the New Year’s party, he will never easily leave the lord’s castle.”

“So, the bait that Julian is talking about is… Ah, I see.”

Halfway through speaking, I realized what Julian was talking about.

“It would be best for Moria to solve it himself rather than receive help from foreign countries. For example, reaching the level of an 8-star mage himself.”

Julian smiled pleasantly.

“That’s right. The World Tree fruit that Your Highness has. If you lend it to me, I will show you how to lure Moria out of the lord’s castle.”

“What makes you think I’ll lend it to you?”

“Trust Your Highness’s eyes.”

He was truly an interesting person to see.