Surviving As The 5Th Prince Of Hellman Kingdom [EN]: Chapter 114

Heigh-ho!

The horse carrying the Runtia Knight Commander foamed at the mouth and struggled.

“Damn it.”

A curse escaped the Commander’s lips.

He glanced back.

The murderous aura emanating from the Elf made his spine tingle. She made no attempt to hide the fact that she was chasing him.

He had heard rumors of the Elf in black clothes and a black mask.

A hit squad composed of at least 5-star warriors.

The moment he blocked the Elf’s attack, who had ambushed him and his men single-handedly, he knew.

He couldn’t win.

The force that restricted his movements severely injured his left arm. If it had been a little deeper, he would have become a one-armed man.

‘At least squad leader level.’

He jumped off the struggling horse, his face contorting with pain from his tattered arm.

‘Just a little further.’

The Runtia Knight Commander, abandoning his horse, sprinted with all his might.

The Elf, presumed to be the squad leader of the hit squad, was still on his tail. He had a hunch about what the item he was carrying was.

‘It must be an elixir made from the World Tree’s fruit.’

Having been brainwashed since childhood to be blindly loyal to the Runtia family, he had no desire for it.

His mind was solely focused on delivering the elixir to Moria.

“Haa, haa…”

As his breath grew ragged and a metallic taste filled his mouth.

「…Crackle… Knight Commander! Crackle… Situation report!」

Moria’s anxious voice came from the magic tool on his wrist.

He was focused on running with every ounce of strength he had, leaving him no room to respond. If he slowed down even a little, the pursuer would catch up.

As the Runtia Knight Commander ran.

He suddenly felt a strange sense of incongruity.

He quickly realized the reason.

‘Why isn’t the distance closing?’

From some point on, the distance between him and the Elf had remained constant. It was as if… she was deliberately letting him escape.

– If you run a little further, you can reach outpost 9.

The words he had told Moria echoed in his ears like thunder.

‘It’s a trap!’

The Runtia Knight Commander stopped abruptly. He hurriedly brought the communication magic tool, the bracelet, to his mouth.

“Duke! It’s a trap! Do not leave the lord’s castle!”

「…Crackle… Crackle…」

Only static could be heard.

As he was about to shout again.

“It’s no use.”

A familiar voice reached his ears.

“Fifth Prince…”

The Runtia Knight Commander looked at Evan walking towards him from the front.

It seemed he had been waiting.

As if he knew he would stop here.

“You should call me Crown Prince now. Well, the coronation hasn’t taken place yet, so I’ll let it slide this once.”

「…Crackle… Crackle…」

The bracelet continued to emit static.

“Can’t you turn that noisy thing off? For about 30 minutes, you won’t be able to communicate with anyone in outpost 9, so you can turn it back on after that.”

“What exactly is in the outpost…”

“I ordered them to activate a magic tool that disrupts the flow of mana around the area when Duke Moria appears. It doesn’t completely prevent the use of magic, but it makes spatial teleportation and communication a bit unstable? That alone cost enough to build a small airship. Amazing, isn’t it?”

Thud, thud. Feeling the presence of someone approaching from behind, the Runtia Knight Commander slightly turned his head.

“Baron Reina… Haha, I’ve been completely outmaneuvered.”

She had taken off her mask, as if she had no intention of hiding.

That meant only one thing.

“Will you surrender? If you testify that Moria was involved in treason, I will spare your life.”

“You ask knowing full well what my answer will be. And… you have no intention of doing so, do you?”

“I’m sorry.”

***

Historically, the most common method used in the political arena to eliminate rivals is to frame them as the ringleaders of treason.

『Shock! Duke Moria Runtia revealed to have been preparing for the South’s secession』

『King of the South, really trying to become a king』

『Duke Moria summoned nobles to plot the detailed plans of the rebellion』

That’s how well-proven it was. There was no need to consider other methods.

While Moria, having left the lord’s castle, was engaged in a bloody battle with the kingdom’s two 7-star knights, Count Hobert, under Julian’s instructions, scattered fabricated evidence throughout the lord’s castle.

『Midnight raid to suppress the rebels. Azure Lion Knights secretly moved by airship』

『Evidence of rebellion found in the secret vault』

The nobles from the South who had come to the Runtia ducal estate for the meeting were captured by the Azure Lion Knights led by Gallard.

The nobles, who were being escorted to the capital one after another, were awaiting a trial with a predetermined outcome.

“Good work, Julian.”

I folded the newspaper and placed it on the desk, praising Julian.

“Not at all. It is thanks to His Highness the Crown Prince, who entrusted full authority to me, a street rat from a back alley with no lineage.”

“You don’t have to be so humble.”

I took out a few documents from my pocket and handed them to him.

“This is…”

It was about his new identity.

“Julian Cowar. From now on, your family name is Cowar. It’s the baronial family that was wiped out during the Hamel Empire’s northern invasion.”

The day after Moria’s head fell, Lucas conveyed his intention to work as Nave through Miloa, along with a request not to touch the First Queen.

It was one of the identities he had chosen and left behind at that time.

“Read the details later. And focus on treatment for the time being.”

“Are you really… really going to use the World Tree’s fruit on me?”

“Did you think I would break my promise?”

“I thought you might with the World Tree’s fruit.”

“Get treatment quickly before I change my mind.”

“…Thank you.”

While Julian was caressing the documents I handed him, deeply moved, I slightly lowered my gaze to look at his status window.

His name, which was originally displayed as just ‘Julian,’ had changed to ‘Julian Cowar.’

It seemed he had accepted himself as Cowar.

There was nothing else to see.

He had already become a [Vassal] from the moment I entrusted him with handling the South, and I also knew that he possessed skills like [Talented but Short-Lived].

Will [Talented but Short-Lived] disappear if the treatment goes well?

“Now, go out. Make sure to go see Schuetz right away.”

Even with my words, Julian did not readily get up.

“Why? Is there something you want to say?”

“I heard that the kingdom’s knights will compete with the knights of the Hamel Empire who are coming as envoys.”

“That’s right.”

“May I ask the reason?”

“Isn’t it a good event to unite the people of the kingdom and boost their pride? Of course, we have to win.”

“Is that really all?”

He had an expression that was convinced there was another reason.

I chuckled and was about to open my mouth when.

Eerie.

I felt as if unrecognizable beings were staring intently at me.

The moment I uttered that the Empire’s 19th Prince, Charles Han Hamel, who is now called the Red Wolf, would be called the Red Emperor in the future, it was clear that an unpredictable backlash would occur.

“Well, there are some minor things I’m aiming for, but try to think about it while getting treatment from Schuetz.”

“…Understood. Thank you once again.”

After sending Julian out, I got up from my seat and approached the window. Adol, Vernon, and Berok, the trio, and Reina’s 3-on-1 sparring were in full swing in the training grounds.

I opened the window.

Clang! Clang!

“Uwaaa! Just take one hit! Sun Moon Spear!”

“Azure Flame Gale Strike!!”

“Shut up, you bastards!”

The voices of the trio, which I couldn’t hear thanks to the excellent soundproofing of the office, could now be heard.

Clang! Clang-! Claaaaang!

“Kuh! My body is stiff!”

“That’s cheating!”

“I’m not using aura.”

Reina was overwhelming the three of them.

She was worthy of being called a 6-star knight.

‘But she wouldn’t be able to handle him.’

Charles Han Hamel, outwardly known as a 6-star knight. To be precise, he is known to be close to 7-star level like Reina.

I intend to make him participate in the friendly competition’s captain’s match without fail.

But what if that twisted bastard decides to kill Reina under the guise of an accident during the sparring?

It’s dangerous.

‘I need to prepare.’

***

The northwestern part of the Hamel Empire.

A village of the minority group, the Dark Clan.

– Kkyaaaaak!

– Sa, save me- Keok!

– You sons of bitches!!

Knights wearing black armor and wielding spears with flames emblazoned on them were massacring the dark-skinned people.

It was due to intelligence that the leader of the Dark Clan, who had condemned the Hamel Empire’s oppression of minorities, had taken refuge there.

There was no need to search every nook and cranny to catch him. The Black Knights were capable of burning down the entire forest to catch a rat hiding in it.

『The Runtia ducal family of the Lionel Kingdom, which has lasted for 500 years, demoted to a marquisate!』

『Evan Lionel, who appeared like a comet. Who exactly is he?』

– Kyaaaaaaa!

– Mommaaaaa!

– Ru, run away… .

A scene of utter chaos.

A man was sitting with his legs crossed, using the corpses of the Dark Clan as a chair, reading a newspaper.

Charles Han Hamel.

The 19th prince of the Hamel Empire and the vice-commander of the infamous Black Knights.

‘Evan Lionel…’

He was very interested in Evan.

Because he thought of him as a kindred spirit.

A human who, like himself, knew how to hide his sharp teeth and bide his time.

He was looking forward to meeting Evan soon.

Would he really be the kind of person he thought he was?

If so, they could become very close friends. If he were to recognize him as the lord of a vassal state in the future, he would be useful in many ways.

What if they don’t become friends?

Then…

“Your Highness. The cleanup is complete.”

A Black Knight, who had approached Charles after shaking off the blood on his spear, respectfully said.

It was the commander of the Black Knights.

“Is that so?”

Charles folded the newspaper.

“Shall we go back then?”

He stood up and swung his spear at the corpse he had been using as a chair.

Thud. The man’s wide-eyed head fell to the ground.

It was the leader of the Dark Clan, the Black Knights’ target, who had surrendered with his bare hands, saying that he didn’t care about the villagers as soon as he noticed the Black Knights’ approach.

The commander picked up his severed head, threw it to a nearby Black Knight, and followed Charles.

“Have you decided on the personnel you will take to the delegation?”

“No.”

“I will add Yuran and Monsna to the personnel who will engage in the gauntlet match. The fact that those two handle aura is only known to a small number of Black Knight members.”

“Do as you please, Commander.”

“I will carefully select the personnel so that no harm comes to Prince Charles.”

Charles looked towards the southeast, where Evan was, looking forward to meeting him.

***

Charles Han Hamel was not the only foreign dignitary who had a deep interest in Evan.

Yandersia Arya.

The first princess of the Arya Kingdom was also very interested in him.

『Evan Lionel, the de facto king of the Lionel Kingdom. Unearthing his past』

『Evan Lionel, the ruthless prince who eliminated all four of his brothers』

『Evan Lionel, spreading the poison called the Noble Honor Law』

Numerous articles were scrapped in her secret room.

“Haa… beautiful.”

Yandersia was not very interested in the contents of the articles. Her gaze was solely fixed on Evan in the photos.

She stroked Evan in the photos with a feverish moan.

She wanted him so badly.

She wanted to lock him in a cage and make him look only at her. How could she get him into her grasp?

Yandersia, who was walking around the secret room and caressing Evan in the photos.

‘Huh?’

There was one photo left of her cousin, who was called the most handsome man in Arya, which had filled the secret room before she knew Evan.

She frowned and tore the photo to shreds. And she wept and begged Evan in the photos.

“I’m sorry, Prince Evan. Please forgive the ugly girl before she knew you.”

***

I was about to visit Fran’s lab and have a conversation with her.

Suddenly, my spine tingled.

Unconsciously, I reached for [Barisada] and turned around.

“What’s wrong, all of a sudden?”

Fran also showed a wary look at my sudden action.

“Didn’t you feel it?”

“Feel what?”

I frowned and tilted my head. The energy that had made my spine tingle was no longer felt.

“Tsk, tsk, I see.”

“Yes?”

“Go visit a priest. A vengeful spirit who was unjustly killed by you must have latched onto you.”

“Have you forgotten that I have my mother’s keepsake?”

“Looks like you’ve bought so much resentment that it can’t handle it.”

Umm… honestly, it was hard to argue.

As Fran said, I really needed to visit the temple soon and perform a ritual to appease the spirits.

“I understand. Let’s see the item.”

“Wait a moment.”

She took out a plate-sized disc from the safe. There were two holes drilled in it, each large enough to hold about half a walnut.

“It can only amplify two of the lowest-grade magic stones for now, but… you know?”

“Yes. I fully understand that the fact that it succeeded at all is amazing.”

Stella, which will bring about an energy revolution, its prototype is finally complete.