The Knight's Bride and the Prince's Obsession

The 4th floor of the Egen Tower was themed around a knight's heroic tale. The latter half of that story revolved around a political marriage quest. 'A pretty common trope, honestly.'

The empire wanted a princess from the kingdom to strengthen ties and serve as a hostage. The kingdom had no choice but to agree. Of course, that truth only came out on the 36th floor. On the 33rd floor, it was barely even mentioned yet. In other words, I had just brought up something that wasn't even confirmed at this point in the story.

"Is that really true? Has the empire already decided on it?"

The princess took the bait beautifully. Just as I'd expected. 'Of course she would.'

This wasn't something some freshly knighted nobody would say. It was coming from someone carrying the empire's blood. Anyone who didn't take it seriously would be the strange one.

"No, I've never seen someone like you before..."

The princess quickly realized the contradiction—that someone like me shouldn't exist in the current empire—but... 'Doesn't matter.'

The floor's story was bound to follow its predetermined path. The tower's coercive force guided the NPCs. Luca from the 2nd floor's sacrificial ritual was a perfect example. Besides, I'd even been given the setting of being an illegitimate child. If I played it right, the princess would fill in the blanks herself.

'Alright then. Time to reel her in.'

"There are circumstances I can't speak about."

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After a brief moment of thought, I dropped a suitably meaningful line.

"I'd appreciate it if you could understand."

A slightly bitter smile played on my face. It was the same smile I'd worn often back at the orphanage. Method acting from my days as a former heavenly orphan. I wondered if it would work.

"What? What do you mean... Ah."

"Please don't ask for more details. It's not exactly a pleasant story."

"...Understood, for now."

Okay, deception successful. Now I just had to keep talking.

"First, let me say one thing. This won't cause any trouble for the kingdom."

"What do you mean by that?"

"Even if I interfere with the political marriage, neither you, Princess, nor the Babel Kingdom will suffer any disadvantages."

I reassured her first. The female knight apparently didn't believe me and cut in.

"Rookie... Ahem, Sir Ryu Hwimin. This may be presumptuous, but I believe it's impossible."

"Why?"

"If the empire truly desires this engagement with the princess, the moment you forcibly break it..."

"Normally, yes, that would be the case."

I wet my lips and chose my words carefully. After making sure I wouldn't slip up, a pretty convincing line came out.

"I know the future."

"...The future?"

"The empire plans to give the princess to their most outstanding swordsman. In reality, that'll be the Third Prince."

A bluff that wasn't entirely a bluff, mixed with a 4th floor story spoiler. The princess's eyes widened.

"The Third Prince!? Isn't he that sword-obsessed maniac... Hup!!"

"It's fine. He's basically a sword pervert, right?"

I let out a small chuckle too. The Third Prince, Verce. The mid-boss of the Egen Tower's 4th floor. A sword-crazed deviant with abnormal sexual tendencies. From the empire's perspective, he was a nuisance, so they'd use him for a political marriage, but... from the princess's perspective?

My husband is a sword pervert.

Those six words pretty much summed up how bleak her married life would be.

"Indeed, Lord Verce is..."

"Um, well."

"He certainly possesses dignity, but I'm not sure if he'd be interested in women... or any living beings, for that matter."

The princess, the female knight, and even the maid all nodded in agreement. The Third Prince was unanimously rejected. And that created the perfect opening for me.

"I'm here to ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠prevent that."

"You, Sir Ryu Hwimin?"

"Yes. That's the only thing I want."

I held up the imperial ring. The princess's gaze lingered on it for a moment before shifting to my eyes. Our reflections stared back at each other in our pupils.

"You can send one knight to represent the kingdom, Princess. Send me."

"Isn't the outcome already set in stone? Overturning that could cause a huge problem."

"Don't worry. The Third Prince is actually..."

"...You're incredibly confident. It's almost like you've seen the future."

"I wouldn't do this without confidence."

I extended my hand. After a brief hesitation, the princess accepted the handshake.

-Squeeze.

"I'll be counting on you."

"The pleasure is mine. Truly... my knight who came from so far away."

Her fingers brushed against the imperial ring I wore for a second, but... using my Dragon Eyes, I could tell she hadn't tried any tricks. It didn't matter.

After securing the princess as my backer, my tower climb shot forward at breakneck speed.

"What are you saying!? How can someone of such lowly status join the Minet Knight Order?!"

"At the very least, he should prove his loyalty to the kingdom by serving in another knight order first..."

"Her Highness has ordered Sir Ryu Hwimin's admission into the Minet Knight Order!"

"......Ah."

33rd floor. Joining the royal knight order. Cleared with one snap of the princess's command.

"I've decided to appoint Sir Ryu Hwimin as vice commander."

"Even Her Highness cannot do this! Minet has its traditions—how can someone who hasn't even crossed blades once..."

"Do you have the confidence to defeat him in a spar?"

"......"

34th floor. Snagging the vice commander position. Another one-snap clear.

"The princess's escort will be handled solely by myself and Sir Ryu Hwimin. Any objections?"

"...But he's a man, after all."

"Is there any female knight here who can defeat Sir Ryu Hwimin, let alone me?"

"......"

"Let's go."

"Yes, ma'am."

35th floor. Being selected as the princess's personal guard knight. A smooth parachute clear. I'd climbed three floors in a row without even drawing my sword.

Of course, the princess's influence wouldn't work after this, but... 'It doesn't really matter.'

Why else would I have planned to start climbing the Egen Tower again from the 36th floor? This way was much faster. There was no need to hold back on the easy route. The Egen Tower was an easy mode all on its own.

On the way to the empire...

"Space Slash!!!"

"GRAAAAAHHH!!!!"

For example, on the 36th floor, the horde of monsters attacking the carriage bound for the empire was shredded apart with a single snap of a stigmata.

"So you're Ryu Hwimin. I, Jenny of the Chain Sword, shall test whether you are qualified to participate in this honorable duel..."

-Slice.

"You still want to fight?"

"...No, sir!! Have a safe journey!!"

37th floor. The imperial knights who picked fights along the way had their weapons disarmed by the Ten Thousand Cut Sword.

"Please change into the designated formal attire and learn the proper etiquette. Once you have mastered the basic etiquette, you will pass."

"......"

'How is this the hardest part?'

38th floor. After finally reaching the imperial palace, I took a breather before the final battle by studying etiquette. The whole thing had taken less than a day. I'd expected ten days by bus driver standards and five days at my own pace, but I'd blasted through most of the 4th floor in just twenty percent of the expected time.

And the results of my one-day rampage?

"Sweet, so sweet~."

I'd now become the strongest in the world, beyond just Korea. The level of someone who'd cleared the 4th floor of the hard tower was 801. Meanwhile, I had achievement rewards, extra Golden Rule bonuses, and a high-tier title on top of that. Confidence surged through me like a tidal wave.

'With this, I could probably take on the 4th floor boss of the hard tower...'

'...Right?'

Even that confidence wavered a little when I thought about fighting the hard tower boss, but anyway.

'I'll finish climbing the tower first and think about it later.'

Step—

My footsteps echoed inside the safe zone. I was heading for the portal to the 39th floor. I'd already changed the tower difficulty right after receiving the rewards, so the white light of the Egen Tower enveloped me...

"Then, from now on!! We shall determine the strongest sword worthy of the flower of the Minet Kingdom!!!"

"WAAAAAAAAAAH!!!!"

The thunderous roar echoed. My gaze swept across the surroundings. It was similar to the 31st floor, but a far more extravagant colosseum filled my vision.

'They call this framing, right?'

The beginning and the end were both tournament battles. The only differences were the level of the opponents and the expression on the princess's face as she watched.

My eyes briefly scanned the VIP seats. They met the princess's, who was dressed in a beautiful gown. The body that had once looked immature was now fully matured, radiating an adult charm.

'Has it been about three years?'

To me, it had only been a single day. But according to the story's timeline, three years had passed. She'd changed a lot in that time. It felt nice, like watching my little sister grow up.

'Though Serin changes way too drastically, that's the problem.'

The sudden thought of my little sister—whose hair color and eye color had both completely changed—flashed through my mind, but it vanished just as quickly.

'Anyway, it's almost over now.'

I needed to finish this Egen Tower nonsense quickly and go back. My little sister was waiting for me, after all.

-Clench.

'Hurry up and finish this, you lot.'

I sat quietly in the waiting area. If I caused a scene like on the first day, I might get a forfeit loss, so I behaved and waited for my turn. Fortunately, I didn't have to wait long.

-Clang.

"I admit defeat."

"It was an excellent sword."

Just ordinary knights. They clashed blades a few times before it was over. It was all just formal courtesy; everyone knew the real winner was already decided.

-Click, click, click, click.

"Ahhh, swords are so wonderful♡"

"......"

But, um. How does an imperial prince get excited by drawing and sheathing his sword like that? And the way he keeps subtly rubbing his thighs together... Yeah. It's genuinely creepy.

"And in the finals, he'll..."

"Next up! The Princess Knight from the Minet Kingdom, Ryu Hwimin!!"

"Oh."

The voice ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠snapped me out of it. I stood up with a bright expression. As I stepped into the center of the colosseum, countless eyes turned toward me.

"...Do your best, my knight."

"Yep."

I returned the princess's wind-carried encouragement with a light bow, then—

Tap—!

I summoned my sword and gripped it. The knight before me let out a gasp of admiration.

"A magic sword? Impressive."

"I get that a lot. Ah, I'm Ryu Hwimin. Nice to meet you."

"Vice Commander of the Crow Knight Order, Clark. Let's have a good match."

After exchanging brief pleasantries,

"Take this!!!"

Whoosh—!!

He charged at me with incredible speed. Since I was an outsider, it seemed he planned to crush me right from the start.

-Murmur, murmur.

"Sir Clark is going all out from the very first move...!!"

Judging by the shocked reactions of the people around us, he was apparently quite a strong fighter, but...

"Hup."

"...Huh?"

With one light flick of my wrist, the Moonlight Sword drew a silver arc through the air. The weapon caught at the end of that arc was sliced clean in two—just like on the 31st floor.

"W-what is this...?"

"Impossible!! Sir Clark's sword is a famous blade passed down through his family for generations!!"

"What on earth just happened!?"

The knight was bewildered. The spectators and surrounding knights were in shock. Only I remained calm.

-Glance.

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"Third Prince. I'm sorry, but I'll be taking the princess back."

'Not that you'd care, though.'