Surviving As The 5Th Prince Of Hellman Kingdom [EN]: Chapter 55

055

“Let’s dissolve it, the Northern Liberation Army.”

Clian felt like he’d been struck by lightning at Evan’s words.

From guilds of artisans and merchant caravans that had lasted for hundreds of years, to hobby clubs and small gatherings, the signs they hung carried the memories and pride passed down from their predecessors.

If two groups accidentally using the same name found out about each other, they would wage a fierce war until one of them collapsed.

‘How could he come up with such an idea!’

Once you hear it, it’s nothing special.

But what Evan just said was a groundbreaking statement that shattered people’s preconceptions.

Clian swallowed hard, watching Evan look at the buzzing attendees of the State Affairs Council as if they were pathetic.

‘He’s gotten taller.’

He had grown so much that he could now look down on most adult men. His broad shoulders and the muscles that could be glimpsed here and there were comparable to those of a knight.

Although his youthful face remained due to his age, Evan’s eyes, which were difficult to read, seemed to see through those who had been in politics for decades.

‘It’s not just his appearance.’

The neutral faction, comprised of former royalists, had united around the Fifth Prince. Led by Representative Bert, they were a force to be reckoned with.

Of course, it was impossible for the Fifth Prince to aim for the throne directly. However, the moment he declared his support for either the First or Second Prince, he would have the power to end the succession battle quickly.

‘I made a misjudgment.’

Moth? Butterfly? Viper?

Clian wanted to kick his blanket in the middle of the night when he thought about how he had compared the Fifth Prince to such insignificant creatures in the past.

Evan, who had been beaten by the reckless Fourth Prince about every two months, had been wearing the mask of a ghost prince for five years.

Thinking that he had been sharpening his sword inside, waiting for his time, made him feel a little chilly.

Clian frankly admitted that Evan was special.

‘Dangerous if left alone.’

But it was too late to trample on him.

Clian glanced at Miloa.

Miloa and Evan had been exchanging glances as if they were about to stab each other with invisible knives. To him, it was like watching children play with toy knives.

They had even finished on a friendly note, promising to play together again next time.

Clian had been watching Miloa since she was a child. He noticed that she avoided conflict with the Fifth Prince as much as possible.

That’s why he decided to step in instead of the Second Prince, who was trying to launch a fierce offensive against the Fifth Prince this time. Weren’t they the ones who had become friends with Evan first?

After organizing his thoughts, Clian slowly opened his mouth.

“That’s an amazing idea that awakens my stiff mind. But I don’t think the Empire will just let it go if we only change the name of the group. Have you thought about a solution for that?”

“Dissolve it, but not completely.”

“What do you mean by that?”

“They are the ones who think the kingdom has abandoned them. And it actually did, didn’t it?”

Evan paused and looked around the room. The State Affairs Council participants were busy avoiding his gaze.

“Ahem, ahem.”

Coughing sounds were heard here and there.

Evan looked at them with indifferent eyes and then turned his gaze back to Clian.

“Surely there will be those who refuse the kingdom’s proposal. Those people should remain in the Northern Liberation Army as they are.”

“So, you’re saying that we should only recognize those who accept our offer as official groups like the Northern Militia or the Self-Defense Force? And the Northern Liberation Army, who refused, will continue to do what they’ve been doing. Still, they used to eat from the same pot, so they’ll probably run into each other a lot.”

“Isn’t that how things are in life? They can greet each other and get along. Sometimes they can go to a friend’s house and borrow clothes.”

“Good. The Empire will definitely try to pick a fight, but we can get out of it.”

***

After lightly submitting the answer to the first question Clian presented, I waited for the next question.

“Then, what are you going to do to help those who have been harmed by the Northern Liberation Army’s activities? Surely, you, the Fifth Prince, who loves the kingdom’s people, are not going to play the same word games with them that you played with the Empire, are you?”

I had prepared an answer that would achieve three effects with one stone.

“The Northern Liberation Army should repay them themselves.”

“How so?”

“They can go to the areas that have been harmed by them and do something to make up for the past. For example… recently, pirates landed on the eastern coast, avoiding the eyes of the Seokham Island Navy, didn’t they? They can wipe them out for the sake of the eastern residents who are suffering from it.”

I smiled and looked at the Second Prince, who was watching from next to Clian. He had been leaning back in his chair, but he leaned forward with interest.

Recently, a large pirate group, the Joe Bailey Pirates, was formed by integrating pirates in the east of the kingdom.

The pirates who were rejected in the process were causing headaches due to violent crimes such as murder, looting, and arson in the east.

The Seokham Island Navy, which was already having difficulty moving due to the Joe Bailey Pirates, was in a dilemma.

In that situation, I offered my hand.

– Are you sulking because I played with Miloa for a while? Let’s play pirate extermination together this time. But please take care of our youngest, the Northern Liberation Army.

The Second Prince, who read my eyes, whispered something to Clian. Clian nodded and opened his mouth to me.

“That sounds like a good idea. However, you shouldn’t think of them as mere leftovers pushed out by Joe Bailey. There are also several who were knights but are being chased for killing nobles. The Northern Liberation Army, which will be cut in half, will have a hard time handling them.”

“Count Clian, I’ll answer that.”

Representative Beiern, who was looking at me with admiring eyes, stepped forward.

“It’s about saving the kingdom’s people who are suffering from the island pirates. The 1st and 2nd Knight Orders will be busy with the coming-of-age ceremony and the wedding between the 4th Princess and the Imperial Family, so… there’s only one place left. I’ll ask the 3rd Knight Order for cooperation. They’ll probably send some people.”

“Can the 3rd Knight Order and the Northern Liberation Army get along?”

There’s no way they can get along.

Just imagining what the first meeting between the two groups would be like made my head spin.

This was the point where I had to step in.

“I’ll join them. I’ll take responsibility for making the 3rd Knight Order and the Northern Liberation Army cooperate to wipe out the pirates.”

“… Are you serious? You’re taking responsibility?”

“Then would I be lying? We have a little over a month until the coming-of-age ceremony for our brothers and sisters. I’ll be sure to cut off all their heads and bring them back before then.”

***

The State Affairs Council was over.

Representative Bert and I left the conference room together. He smiled and said to me.

“You were excellent.”

“You flatter me. Representative Bert, you were also wonderful.”

My first appearance at the State Affairs Council.

We celebrated our great victory and praised each other.

It wasn’t without its crises. Miloa, who couldn’t stand seeing me and Clian working together, briefly interfered.

She quietly stepped back after I assured her that I would not turn a blind eye to difficult situations in the South in the future.

“We need to move quickly. Haven’t you decided on a new name for the Northern Liberation Army yet?”

“I’m thinking of several. Northern Commando, Northern Guard, Northern Self-Defense Force… Nothing really resonates with me. I’m thinking of listening to the opinions of those who will join from the Northern Liberation Army, but what does the name matter? It’s who the people who gather are that matters.”

“Hahaha, that’s right. I also gained a great realization thanks to you, Your Highness.”

Representative Bert seemed really happy. I don’t know what part he gained enlightenment from, but it wasn’t a lie.

A strange light was in his eyes. The kind that is often seen in those who are about to cross a wall.

There is a high probability that he will kneel in front of the wall again as always. But if he doesn’t give up and runs towards the wall again, it will look a little lower the next time he arrives in front of the wall.

“I wouldn’t be surprised if a new 7-star knight appeared in the kingdom soon.”

“Hahaha. I’d like to lock myself in the training hall and swing my sword for a while like the First Prince, but the situation is not good… But I can’t stand it just for today. I’ll go in first.”

“Please do.”

I smiled and saw him off.

In the ‘future,’ Representative Bert never became a 7-star knight, so if he overcomes the wall, it’s thanks to me.

‘It would be nice if he really overcame it.’

I have created my forces in various ways, but they are inferior to the 1st and 2nd Princes. Expressed as a ratio, it would be about 46:44:10.

Hmm… is 10 a bit much?

No, if Fran, a 7-star mage, actively cooperates with me, and I can reveal the supreme magic beast G-Dragon, that seems about right.

The problem is that they are not human.

I don’t even plan to ask in the first place, but if I ask Fran for something related to the succession struggle, she will definitely refuse. Her tolerance is probably to protect the grandson of her late friend ‘as much as possible.’ In fact, I’m grateful for that much.

The moment the fact that I control G-Dragon spreads, the Inquisitors of the Pantheon will visit Emerald Palace.

‘Was it Lawrence Firenze…’

The face of the Inquisitor, who was grinding his teeth as he dragged Beortio’s corpse out, briefly came to mind.

I quickly shook my head to get rid of the human I didn’t want to meet again.

‘If Representative Bert becomes the 7-star knight he so desperately wanted, the lack of military power right now will be solved to some extent.’

The best way is for me to recover the realm of the ‘future.’

But.

‘I’m only 4-star now.’

That was also thanks to the extreme use of the Sky Flower.

I have no complaints. Since it is still a growing body, it would be too much for my body to hold more stars than that.

I am thinking of joining the ranks of 6-star mages and knights, who are considered true powerhouses, around the time of my coming-of-age ceremony, when my body is somewhat complete.

As I was heading to Emerald Palace with such complex thoughts, a familiar face with glasses was seen at the end of the hallway.

The First Prince’s full-blooded younger brother, Theore Lionel.

He was the Third Prince, who was celebrating his coming-of-age ceremony this year with his sister, the Fourth Princess. I hadn’t seen his face since I saw him attending the royal trial.

He seemed to be waiting for someone.

Since I knew him, I nodded and was about to pass by.

“Can I talk to you for a moment?”

Was he calling me? I looked around for a moment.

“Yes, I’m calling you. Evan Lionel.”

“To be honest, I’m a little embarrassed. My memory of talking to you, Brother Theore, is vague.”

When I thought about it, it seemed like there wasn’t one, not that it was vague.

“Just for a moment, just a moment. There’s something I really want to ask.”

“Something you want to ask?”

“Um… if possible, I’d like to talk to you alone for a moment.”

The Third Prince glanced at Alfonso and the escort knight Adol, who were accompanying me, and said quietly.

“There’s a bench over there. Let’s sit down and talk. Alfonso, Adol, please wait for a moment.”

“Understood.”

I sat side by side with him on a chair near the entrance of the conference room.

To be honest, I have no idea why he wants to talk to me alone. I had no contact with the Third Prince in either my previous life or the ‘future.’

He is, well…

After the coming-of-age ceremony, he was assigned as an administrative official to the Southern Royal Direct Territory. And he was the first royal to die of the Red Star Fever this winter.