Surviving As The 5Th Prince Of Hellman Kingdom [EN]: Chapter 131

131

<131>

Why Bert?

As soon as I heard Alfonso’s words, my mind raced, trying to figure out what crisis could have rendered the 7-star knight unconscious.

‘Could it be the Great Chieftain?’

The first thing that came to mind was Nurugal, the Great Chieftain of the barbarians.

If he had met and fought him, it was a relief he hadn’t lost his life.

However, the Great Chieftain’s tribe was much closer to the Hamel Empire than the Lionel Kingdom. Tearing up that side, which had more to eat than us, was his pattern of behavior.

In the past, as well as in the ‘future.’

The enemy of my enemy is my friend. He and his tribe, who plundered the Hamel Empire every winter, were my reliable allies in my heart.

“Your Majesty? Are you alright?”

It was ridiculous to be worrying alone when Alfonso, who knew the answer, was right in front of me. I snapped out of it and opened my mouth.

“Tell me in detail.”

“The Lionel Guardian Force search party under Senior Austin, who was supporting Barrington Fortress, reportedly discovered traces of an ancient ruin.”

My ears perked up at the words ‘ancient ruin.’

Before the final battle with the Hamel Empire in the ‘future,’ I remembered Austin disappearing, claiming he was chasing traces of an ancient ruin.

Could it be related to that ruin?

I focused on Alfonso’s following words.

“Senior Austin and the search party somehow managed to pass the entrance of the ruin, but they encountered the guardian of the ruin along the way. Judging that they absolutely couldn’t pass, they retreated for the time being······.”

I understood what the situation was.

“Bert happened to be on patrol at Barrington Fortress when he heard the story and headed to the ruin? And he was defeated by the guardian?”

“Yes. The guardian of the ruin seems to have been stronger than imagined.”

What an unexpected misfortune at a time when the Hamel Empire’s emperor’s health was showing red flags, and we had to prepare to reclaim the Northwest.

It didn’t make sense, yet it did.

‘If a guardian of that level is guarding it, there might be great artifacts sleeping there.’

Mirror of the Abyss.

Chalice of Infinity.

Thunder Hammer.

I recalled the artifacts that had been discovered in ancient ruins around the world.

‘Perhaps, there might be a relic of the gods.’

I shook my head.

This was a time to worry about Bert more than those things.

“So, what is Bert’s condition?”

“I haven’t heard the details. I was only informed that Count Miloa approved the use of an airship to urgently transport Councilor Bert to the royal capital.”

***

Bert was urgently transported to the royal capital.

Thanks to the archbishops and Schutz [elite guard] sticking by him, I heard the news that he had woken up after three days.

I heard that the reason he was unconscious was mana backflow. A common but dangerous phenomenon that occurs when you squeeze out more mana than your limit.

For ordinary people, it’s easy to think of it as blood flowing in the opposite direction than usual.

If emergency measures hadn’t been taken in time at the scene, we would have lost one of the kingdom’s only four 7-star knights in vain.

Two days after Bert woke up, I went to visit him.

“I apologize for causing concern, Your Majesty. Please understand that I have to greet you in this position.”

Bert, who was half-lying in bed, greeted me.

“Ah! I heard that the Queen Consort is pregnant. Congratulations.”

“Thank you. How is your body?”

“They say that if I rest for a month or two, there won’t be any major problems.”

“That’s a relief. Was the guardian of the ruin that strong? I heard it was a humanoid guardian who uses a sword.”

“I don’t even know if it’s human because it was wearing armor that covered its whole body. And… it seemed to be holding back. If that guy had been serious, I wouldn’t be here.”

“Is that so?”

“It’s just a feeling… but there’s a high probability it’s an 8-star guardian.”

I was lost in thought for a moment.

If Bert said that much, it was certain that it was an 8-star guardian.

“Don’t even think about going there, Your Majesty. Just forget about that ruin. Even though those things are under the Royal Military Academy, this old man was momentarily blinded by greed for the relics.”

He was talking about the Titans [ancient, powerful weapons].

Before magitech [magic-infused technology] developed rapidly, weapons excavated from ancient ruins often determined the outcome of wars.

But now, a medium-sized airship is worth more than most relics.

But that’s that.

“How can I give up on a ruin guarded by an 8-star guardian? Do you remember ‘Raindro,’ which the Aimen Empire discovered half a century ago in a ruin guarded by an 8-star guardian?”

Sometimes, things greater than weapons are discovered in ruins.

Raindro, which looks like a small umbrella used by a child, is a sacred object that summons rain. The Aimen Empire, which discovered it, was freed from the natural disaster of drought. How amazing is that?

“Hmm······.”

“And I received a report. The guardian asked a question at first, didn’t he? Whether you would challenge the trial······.”

“Your Majesty. I am a knight before I am a member of the Royal Committee and Minister of National Defense. As a knight, I must defeat the guardian.”

That’s not exactly wrong.

In fact, a 7-star knight is capable of facing most ruin guardians.

But······.

If you’re a 7-star knight, you should be able to tell to some extent whether you can handle the opponent as soon as you see them.

“Didn’t you think you couldn’t win as soon as you saw the guardian?”

“I can’t call myself a knight if I back down without even crossing swords once. And the trial of the ruin, if you make a mistake, you might never wake up, right? I thought it would be better to break through head-on.”

I couldn’t bring myself to ask why he didn’t just back down.

“I understand. Just focus on recovering. I’ll take care of the ruin.”

“So, you’re saying you’re going to the ruin after all.”

“Unfortunately, it seems that the fact that Councilor Bert was defeated by the guardian of the ruin has reached the ears of the Hamel Empire’s Dongmak [secret intelligence agency] bastards.”

That’s not a lie.

The movements of the Hamel Empire’s intelligence agency, Dongmak special agents, were suspicious. A fact confirmed through the Royal Secret Service’s intelligence and cross-verification from the [Library] [a secure intelligence database].

“That’s!”

“It seems they haven’t figured out the location of the ruin yet… but it’s only a matter of time. I don’t know what’s in the ruin, but I can’t let it fall into their hands.”

“Hmm… for this to happen when the Queen Consort is pregnant.”

“Ah! Councilor Bert is still supposed to be on patrol at Barrington Fortress. The Queen Consort doesn’t know anything about this, so don’t be upset if she doesn’t come to visit you.”

“I know.”

I chatted a little more with Bert and then got up from my seat.

“Then take care of yourself.”

“······ You must be careful. The moment Your Majesty falls, what will become of the kingdom’s future… it’s terrifying just to imagine.”

I gave him a gentle smile and turned away.

***

Barrington Fortress, the most important strategic point in the north. I arrived secretly under the cover of the dark night.

If you collect the blood shed by the Lionel Kingdom army, the Hamel Empire army, and the barbarians here, it might be more than the river that runs through the royal capital, Barona.

“I don’t feel good every time I come here. The smell of blood is overwhelming.”

Fran muttered softly as she looked at Barrington Fortress from the deck of my personal airship, Black Wyvern.

No special persuasion was needed to bring her along.

It was a ruin guarded by a guardian estimated to be an 8-star. No matter how busy she was with Titan development, she couldn’t miss this.

“Most of it is the blood of soldiers who fell while defending the kingdom, Duchess Fran Minerva.”

“I told you not to call me that. Why are you arbitrarily giving me a surname?”

“Hmm, don’t you like the name Minerva? I put a lot of thought into it… Fran Minerva. Doesn’t it sound like an incredibly talented magician just by hearing it?”

“Ha… fine, do as you please.”

“Yes, Duchess Fran Minerva.”

“No, don’t.”

“I can’t help it. Duchess Fran Minerva.”

While Fran was secluded in the secret laboratory under the Royal Military Academy, I put her name on the list of nobles.

By whose authority?

Mine, of course.

Since I only listed her name without any territory for now, no one objected. Except for her.

“I’m telling you clearly. The moment you try to drag me onto the battlefield, I’ll disappear immediately, Titan development or whatever.”

“Don’t worry, Duchess Fran Minerva.”

I reassured Fran with the kindest smile in the world.

I didn’t actually intend to drag her onto the battlefield. It was enough for her to dedicate herself to research as the dean of the Magitech Department of the Royal Military Academy.

If things go well, we might be able to operate one or two prototypes when we move to reclaim the lost Northwest this time.

While I was thinking that, the Black Wyvern completed docking.

I looked back at the group.

It was quite simple.

But looking at the members, it was also the best adventurer party that could be formed in the Lionel Kingdom.

8-star magician Fran.

7-star knight Gallard.

6-star poison expert Alfonso.

6-star knight Adol.

Lastly, 6-star master swordsman, me.

The absence of a priest was a pity, but it was okay.

I brought a large amount of potions with the healing effect of a bishop.

There was no grand welcome because it was a matter that required secrecy. Cliff Locke-Darren, the commander of Barrington Fortress, and Austin were waiting.

“Welcome, Your Majesty.”

The count, a 6-star knight, greeted us on behalf of everyone.

A welcome face.

In the ‘future,’ I came to Barrington Fortress as if I had been kicked out of the palace around this time. He greeted me back then too.

He didn’t particularly harass me.

He only cared about protecting Barrington Fortress.

‘That’s a great knight.’

I smiled and returned his greeting.

“Thank you for always working hard to protect the heart of the north, Count Cliff.”

“Thank you.”

“I’d like to have a meal and talk, but as Count Cliff knows, this is a matter of utmost urgency. I’ll move right away with Colonel Austin.”

“I understand. Please be careful.”

I turned my gaze to Austin.

Austin had six stars much earlier than Alfonso. It meant that his body had been reconstructed once [magically enhanced].

It wasn’t to the extent that severed limbs would grow back, but small and large scars would disappear.

But he was still wearing a fox mask.

The reason he wore the mask wasn’t because he had severely injured his face when he was young.

It was more likely that he just didn’t want to show it.

Well, I wasn’t curious enough about Austin’s face to tell him to take off the mask when he didn’t want to show it.

“I will guide you.”

Austin led the group.

The area around Barrington Fortress is a natural fortress formed by overlapping mountains. A path that warhorses cannot easily travel.

But the ones moving now were all transcendents [individuals with superhuman abilities]. If they wanted to, they could run from here to the royal capital.

Ah, Fran would be carried by Alfonso, of course.

Austin stopped when we passed cliffs, crossed streams, and arrived deep in the mountains, somewhere I didn’t know.

“That’s the entrance.”

Someone had concealed it with bushes.

Austin must have done it.

Alfonso and Adol, who had put Fran down, cleared away the bushes that concealed the entrance. A passage that looked like a cave where a bear might hibernate at first glance was revealed.

Looking closely, it was definitely artificial.

“Let’s go in. All the traps at the entrance have been removed.”

I nodded and looked at the group.

Everyone seemed strangely excited. I understood. It must feel like going on an adventure of a hero that they had only heard about in legends when they were young.

Actually, I felt the same way.

When I thought about it, I had never been on such an adventure even in the memories of my nearly 100 years of life.

With Austin and Alfonso in the lead, Fran in the middle, and Adol at the rear, we entered the ruin. Since all the traps at the entrance had been removed, we moved forward quickly.

And then, a huge space appeared.

There was no corner for light to enter, but it was as bright as broad daylight. A guardian was standing in front of a huge door that filled the field of vision.

The size of a sturdy human.

The shape of a knight wearing armor that covered his whole body.

But the aura I felt was… that of a giant.

“Councilor Bert challenged that guardian? He was full of youth.”

Gallard, the commander of the Azure Lion Knights, burst into laughter.

Fran, who was behind him, peeked out and raised both hands.

“Let’s go back. We don’t have to worry about the Empire bastards taking it. We can’t win against that. The armor that guy is wearing, it’s all made of mithril [a rare, magically resistant metal]. Austin, didn’t you know?”

“Hmm… I thought it was unusual. I didn’t think it would be all mithril······.”

“Well, you probably haven’t seen 100% pure mithril either. I don’t know what relics will come out of here, but just taking off that armor would be a treasure for generations to come, right?”

Mithril, called the metal of the gods.

Its magic resistance is enormous.

It’s not for nothing that they say a 6-star knight wearing mithril armor can catch an 8-star magician.

‘Should we retreat?’

I seriously started to consider it.

The thought that it might be a 9-star guardian crossed my mind.

At that moment.

The guardian looked directly at me.

「The successor whose gears have been rewound. Have you come to undergo the promised trial?」

His words were conveyed not to my ears, but to my mind.

My heart sank at the words ‘whose gears have been rewound.’ It was a word that pierced my secret. But······.

‘The promised trial?’