Surviving As The 5Th Prince Of Hellman Kingdom [EN]: Chapter 88

088

Cliang, having scheduled a visit to Emerald Palace, turned to me with a serious expression.

“I want to address one thing definitively. Do you intend to introduce a republic to the kingdom in any form?”

A question that required no deliberation. The answer came instantly.

“No.”

What I desire is an absolute monarchy.

When I ascend the throne, I intend to strip the Royal Council and the Council of Nobles of their power to check the king. I want to see them united and energized at my every command.

What if I become a tyrant prone to foolish decisions?

History is replete with examples of kings who were wise rulers in their early years but devolved into atrocious tyrants later in their reigns.

The tyrant of the Hamel Empire, who burned the Elven forest to obtain the Fruit of the World Tree and sought immortality, also left behind numerous achievements worthy of historical record during the initial part of his rule.

As a human, I cannot predict when I might undergo such a transformation.

As history has demonstrated, I would be overthrown.

My hope is that even if such a scenario unfolds, it will contribute to the kingdom’s progress.

“······”

Even as I entertained these thoughts, Mars Runtia’s mouth remained sealed, as if locked shut.

He appeared to be in profound shock that I knew his name.

“Ah, the Master also instructed me to inform you that he has no intention of interfering with your origins,” I said, feigning a momentary lapse, and deactivated the magic maintaining [Silence of Sound]. Triple manifestation proved more taxing than anticipated.

“······ How can I be certain of that?”

Mars finally spoke.

Typically, most noble families harbor one or two ne’er-do-wells. Even if his origins were exposed, it would not significantly harm the Runtia Duchy.

A third son who fled the family thirty years ago? Moreover, an illegitimate one. That is worse than being a stranger.

However, I had no intention of elaborating on my reasoning to persuade him.

“Whether you believe it is your decision.”

“Judging by the fact that you employ a 6-star wizard as your shadow and possess information exceeding my comprehension, I am uncertain why your master contacted us. I can only envision a future where we dance like puppets, discarded when we are no longer useful.”

“If that transpires, it will reflect the limits of your capabilities. Freedom, equality, justice, which you aspire to. Did you expect it to be effortless? Shouldn’t you be capable of leveraging even the Emperor of the Hamel Empire, not merely my master, to realize that ideal?”

“······”

“Well, that is your prerogative. Shall we discuss the ‘deal’ in earnest?”

“Deal?”

“Yes. ‘Freedom.’ I will furnish you with a list of corrupt lords and evidence of their transgressions. I propose you use this information to deal with them collectively.”

“······ Are you suggesting we become mere hunting dogs?”

Mars gritted his teeth.

I shrugged and continued.

“Display their heads in a public square, accompanied by a bloody letter exposing their atrocities, along with the evidence. Inscribe your ideals of freedom, equality, and justice in large letters for all to see. If you execute this three times, the entire kingdom will become aware of the Tricolor Cane Society. They will be curious about your activities. Wouldn’t your ideals spread in the process?”

“Such nonsense!”

“What is nonsensical? Consider what you have accomplished thus far to realize your ideals. Creating and distributing books? Do you know how many people in the Lionel Kingdom can read and write?”

There are even individuals who specialize in reading newspapers and magazines.

Naturally, Mars could not respond.

“You mentioned that the Royal Secret Service has been pursuing the Tricolor Cane Society for over twenty years? Shall I explain why? Because you have not done ‘anything’.”

If the Tricolor Cane Society had implemented my suggestion from the outset, they would have been eradicated long ago.

“Well, I understand. You must have lacked the capacity to do anything. Even you, the highest-ranking executive, are only a 5-star wizard.”

He clenched his fists and trembled as I touched upon his vulnerabilities. He appeared visibly upset.

But what can I do when it is the truth?

“Then consider it carefully. I will contact you again soon.”

I turned my back on Mars and slowly walked away. Fortunately, no one acted rashly before I exited.

As I was departing the slums to return to the palace, someone descended from the rooftop.

It was Reina.

“Did you conclude your business?”

I nodded.

She stood beside me in silence.

“Aren’t you going to inquire why I went alone?”

“There must have been a reason. However… I would appreciate it if you would refrain from remote escorting as you did today as much as possible. Had the prince not provided prior warning, I would have stormed the temple upon detecting the fluctuating magic power.”

“There will be occasions when I must disappear alone.”

Addressing the Tricolor Cane Society’s deficiencies. I could not entrust this to the escort knights who operate openly.

It was Nave’s responsibility.

I regretted not possessing beings comparable to the shadows Damian used to command. The only one I have is Alfonso… but he lacks the capacity to handle a significant task like this.

“······ I presume you would disregard me if I attempted to dissuade you?”

“Well, yes. Because it is something I must do.”

“I see.”

Step by step.

We were nearly out of the slums when she spoke.

“I have recently taken up learning dual swords as a hobby. It is quite enjoyable.”

Why dual swords suddenly?

“If I dyed my hair, wore a mask like the prince, and wielded dual swords, no one would suspect Reina, correct?”

Ah! She is appealing to be included.

I chuckled and responded.

“I suppose so.”

The name… Anier, reversing Reina? No. Just Annie would suffice.

***

After Nave departed the temple, the Tricolor Cane Society’s free members, who had been concealed throughout the temple, gathered around Mars.

“Are you alright?”

“What did he say?”

“What the hell is he?”

Mars looked at the member with the keenest hearing, a small, bald man with disproportionately large, almost elven ears.

“Woodle, how much did you overhear?”

“After that guy summoned the fire salamander, I couldn’t hear well due to the crackling. I heard you were surprised he was a 6-star wizard. Who sent him?”

Mars felt somewhat relieved.

If Woodle only heard that much, it was safe to assume the others heard nothing.

“I will inform everyone once my thoughts are organized. Everyone, take a rest.”

The members were curious about the conversation between Mars and Nave, but Mars’s tone was resolute.

Starting with Woodle scratching his head and leaving the temple, they dispersed one by one.

Alone, Mars entered a small, windowless room within the temple.

Click, he locked the door and removed his beak mask.

He was a middle-aged man with striking features. Even the deep scar around his eyes, the size of a finger joint, accentuated his mature handsomeness.

He swept back his sweat-soaked blond hair and recalled his conversation with Nave.

‘Who is the Master?’

A 6-star wizard is a rare sight for ordinary people. The commander of the Lionel Kingdom’s magic corps, comparable to the Royal Knights, is a 6-star wizard.

To have such a person working in the shadows….

‘Could it be the Hamel Empire or the Arya Kingdom?’

The possibility of a foreign plot to destabilize the Lionel Kingdom crossed his mind. He dismissed it.

That was too far-fetched.

‘It was perfect Lionel Kingdom language, specific to the capital.’

It seemed prudent to identify the Master within the kingdom.

That narrowed it down to less than ten individuals.

The most likely candidates were two people.

‘The First Prince and the Fifth Prince.’

It was more plausible that they were being manipulated in the succession battle than a foreign conspiracy.

They, who advocate for a republic where the people elect their ruler, embroiled in a succession battle? It was a joke.

Mars let out a hollow laugh.

***

Fifteen days later.

Mars stood before a man wearing a mask with an unsettling smile etched onto it.

It was someone Nave had dispatched.

Speaking perfect Lionel Kingdom language, he introduced himself as Osno.

‘A 4-star assassin.’

That was Mars’s assessment after witnessing the Tricolor Cane Society’s free members, who had provoked him, being subdued.

“Nave instructed me to give you this.”

Mars accepted the envelope Osno offered.

“Feel free to read it. I will wait here for a while.”

“Wait?”

“He told me to obtain an answer regardless.”

Osno sat on a nearby rock and casually surveyed the surroundings.

“Did it hurt? That is what you get for mistreating strangers upon first meeting them. Be more careful next time. It was only me, but had you done that to Nave, you might have been beheaded.”

He even offered advice to those he had beaten up, with a good-natured smile.

Mars, observing the scene from behind his beak mask, was dumbfounded. He quickly regained his composure, opened the envelope, and reached inside.

Swish-

The moment he withdrew the thick document and saw the face on the first page.

Mars’s hand froze.

It was a familiar face.

‘Radwan Runtia.’

He extracted the remaining documents.

Detailed information about Radwan Runtia was listed.

The second son of the current Runtia family head.

The child of the legal wife.

Unmarried.

Studied magic at the Green Tower.

Managing Ronswell, an estate the size of a baronetcy.

6-star wizard.

Having read that far, Mars looked up at the members who were examining their wounds inflicted by Osno.

“I need to speak with that man alone for a while, so everyone go out and seek treatment.”

The sprawled members stood up hesitantly at his serious tone. Only after everyone had left did he turn the document to the next page.

Missing persons cases from across the country were listed in a row. He swallowed hard and turned to the next page with a trembling hand.

Pictures that even he, who thought he had witnessed all manner of hardship, found repulsive.

Centipede human.

Human with six heads.

Spider human with eight legs.

.

.

.

Those were preferable, as they were still chimeras derived from humans.

Turning to the next page, he found numerous images of grotesque creatures combining various monsters and humans.

Mars felt a wave of dizziness.

Then he noticed small letters inscribed on certain parts of some chimeras, primarily on the ‘head’ of the human component.

Returning to the first page, he examined the spider human with eight legs.

He read the small letters next to the head.

‘Rex Taylor, missing March 28, 497.’

After rummaging through the documents, Mars looked at Osno.

“Do you know the contents of this document?”

“You are bold. Human experimentation, forbidden by the Pantheon. Did the Runtia family know, or were they unaware?”

“······ They would not have tolerated it if they knew. The head of Runtia is a terribly cold person. He would not have allowed something that could cause this much political damage.”

Mars said, almost convinced that Nave’s master, whom he had been speculating about, was the Fifth Prince.

“Freedom! Equality! Justice! What answer should I convey to the person in charge of freedom?”

“Radwan Runtia is a 6-star wizard. A wizard’s workshop is like a fortress. I doubt that man, even with Nave, has much chance of success.”

“Ah! If you give a positive answer, he said he would add one more person.”

“Even with one more person….”

“Annie of the dual swords. A skilled individual close to 7 stars.”

Mars fell silent at Osno’s words.

The Fifth Prince, whom he had been convinced was the Master, was now a source of confusion.

Because the forces working in the shadows for the Fifth Prince were too formidable.

After a moment, he spoke.

“Did you come alone?”

Osno, who had been relaxed, flinched.