Chapter 137
Translator: penny
Chapter: 137
Chapter Title: Off to Merlin Side
4
"That's how it happened."
In the parlor of the royal palace annex, I rubbed my brow for a moment.
It had only been ten minutes since I'd rushed over after receiving Ludwig's urgent summons while packing to head back to the main estate.
I'd wondered what it was about, but of all things, Rainer had insisted on bringing me along to investigate the Apenbru black market dealings.
Damn it. If I'd known, I would've gone down to the main estate a day earlier.
No... With a royal command, I probably would've been called back even if I'd gone.
Was this somewhat less troublesome, or was it going to be a massive pain in the ass...?
"It's going to be a hassle."
"Keep talk like that to this parlor if possible. Say it outside, and you might get executed for lèse-majesté."
"I know. Still... haa..."
It had to be a huge hassle.
No matter how much I rubbed my brow, it wouldn't smooth out.
"The goal is probably to win me over."
"Most likely."
Ludwig nodded.
Rainer was the type who boldly claimed that even if I was attached to Clemens, he could just take me if he wanted.
Like I'm some object—what's with this taking and snatching? It pissed me off just thinking about it.
Of course, Clemens was detestable in a different way.
"But there's more to it. Thanks to you before, when we purged the nobles and officials tied to Wifera, a good chunk of the Second Prince's faction got swept up. They had to bear the stigma since they were dragging around corrupt nobles and officials."
"A chance to restore their reputation, then."
Ludwig nodded again.
So go restore your own reputation—why drag me into it when I've been minding my own business?
Among the princes, Rainer was the one with the absolute worst compatibility with me.
He wasn't the sharpest, but his martial prowess was top-notch, so he tried to solve everything with brute force without thinking things through.
He had strong likes and dislikes, was autocratic to boot, lived casually with the subordinates he approved of without any pretense, but could turn intimidating in an instant.
And he had to have anything he wanted.
Looking at it all together, what the hell?
Was this guy properly socialized?
"You okay with this?"
Ludwig asked cautiously.
His green eyes, filled with pure concern untouched by any political motives, turned toward me.
As expected of the benevolent prince.
He was the only one in the palace who treated people like people.
It'd be great if Ludwig became king just like this.
If I helped, wouldn't he have a shot?
The current king would soon step down due to worsening illness, but in the original story, he didn't die.
The princes' struggle for the throne stayed within certain bounds and never escalated further.
If Ludwig joined in and I helped, he'd have decent odds.
But victory wasn't guaranteed.
If I planned to keep living in this world, I'd have to consider every possibility.
The best move was to steer clear of messy things like the succession struggle.
"Doesn't matter if I'm not okay with it."
"If you don't want to, I'll find a way to get you out, no matter what it takes."
"No need for that."
Ludwig seemed utterly sincere.
He could probably make a way out for me.
But there was no point clashing with Rainer's faction and stirring up trouble.
Especially since Ludwig's support base was so weak.
To confront them head-on, he'd need to bolster his forces first.
"No need for you to take the hit too, so I'll play along quietly... but does this mean I owe you one again?"
I said it playfully on purpose, and only then did Ludwig chuckle and shrug.
"I know. You're thorough even in times like this."
"Business is business."
Last time I got a earth dragon heart, so what would I get this time? I licked my lips and grinned.
5
The parlor after Theo Agrit left.
Today, as always, the page in pristine white armor stood quietly beside the grave-faced Ludwig.
"Your brothers will try even more openly to win over Theo Agrit from now on."
At Ludwig's quietly murmured words, the page simply nodded.
"They probably expect even the neutral Agrit Count and Duke Hilfenberg to make a move. And his name is starting to spread among the common folk."
"Letting him slip away would be a politically irreparable mistake. The ducal house might just be hoping, but the Agrit Count family figures that once Theo Agrit inherits as family head, he'll definitely side with them. Plus, they can gain the people's trust."
Two rabbits they could definitely catch.
Even if it was just hope, it was a chance to snag three if things went well.
Ignoring it would be a massive blunder, but Ludwig let out an uneasy sigh.
"But he said his goal is to live comfortably. I wonder if it's right to hold him back just for my own desires."
"You mustn't dismiss Your Highness's goals as mere desire. You're going to root out the kingdom's corruption and bring peace to the people's lives."
The page's words plainly stated the facts.
Ludwig's ideals, born from watching the world's corruption from the highest perch.
They were so idealistic that they were worth pursuing, but Ludwig's expression didn't soften.
"Outsiders might see me as no different from my brothers."
"Lord Theo Agrit is a wise man. He's surely gauged what kind of person Your Highness is. Above all, there's one thing Your Highness is mistaken about."
It might come off as overstepping, but Ludwig tilted his head and asked back.
"Mistaken?"
"He says he wants peace, but Theo Agrit is the first to step forward whenever trouble arises. He understands and trusts his comrades more deeply than anyone. To put it coldly, it's hard for him to live as peacefully as he hopes."
The one who jumps into incidents first, earns everyone's trust, worries about and understands others more than himself.
The world calls such people heroes, and heroes live lives marked by trials, hardships, and adversity—truth across east and west, ancient and modern.
"Even if Your Highness cuts ties, the First and Second Princes will keep trying to manipulate Lord Theo Agrit."
"Better to keep him by my side and protect him, then... is that it?"
The page nodded silently.
Ludwig raised his head and gently closed his green eyes.
"I might not be able to give him a peaceful life, but I can ensure he doesn't do anything against his principles. Looks like I'll have to make a move."
"It's not time yet."
"I know. I shouldn't act yet. But I can't help getting impatient. For now... first, we need to solidly bring the moderates and lower nobles to my side. Until then, avoid clashing head-on with my brothers."
"Everything is proceeding according to plan."
"I'll leave that to you. By the way... heading out with my little brother still worries me."
The page nodded, looking oddly uneasy.
The straightforward and autocratic Rainer paid no mind to those around him.
He was the type to drag others along at whim, making him utterly exhausting to deal with.
"It's not just his personality... Washing away his stigma while winning over Theo in one go. It's too clever for my little brother's schemes. He didn't come up with it alone."
"You mean he has a new advisor."
"Just speculation. But if someone convinced my little brother, who never listened to anyone before... it can't be an ordinary person."
If a new advisor had joined, they'd likely have planned out Rainer's actions for the journey in advance.
Considering Rainer's already tiring personality, it'd be like pouring oil on a fire.
It was easy to see things getting even more exhausting.
He hoped they'd return safely.
Ludwig quietly prayed for Theo's journey.
6
Clop clop— a lively sound different from horse hooves rang out.
Each time, my field of view bobbed up and down.
Half a day since leaving the capital.
I was riding a large bird-like creature called a porura with Second Prince Rainer, heading southwest to Merlin Side in Viscount Hedon's territory.
Hedon Viscountcy was a small domain, but prime real estate.
The current family head, Charatus Hedon, had shown remarkable talent, raising its profile in just ten years.
Especially seizing the opportunity during the recent Wifera-related noble purges.
Merlin Side, a city in Hedon Viscountcy, had boomed commercially thanks to its excellent access.
That also meant a hugely developed black market, where rumors of Apenbru dealings had started circulating.
Given the black market's scale, the rumors of Apenbru trades in Merlin Side were likely true.
Well, that was Rainer's job, not mine.
I had little interest, so I stroked the head of the black porura I was riding.
Its glossy feathers were smooth and oddly warm.
Poruras, large flightless birds, were among the most popular mounts in this world alongside horses.
Their wings were short like an ostrich's, so no flying, but their legs were well-developed for superior speed.
Bipedal, they climbed mountains horses couldn't easily handle, and their docile nature made them easier to ride than horses.
Plus, their big heads were cute.
Cute was justice.
In fact, Broken World had a side content for raising poruras.
Train them considering temperament, diet, and all sorts of factors to get the porura you wanted.
Of course, it was trash game design—too many variables, hundreds of outcomes, so getting what you wanted was like reaching for the stars.
I half-gave up and just settled for dyeing the feathers the color I liked.
-Kwaaak~
Pleased, the porura lifted its head a bit.
So cute, a desire to raise one crept up on me.
I was already raising a suspicious raccoon-like thing and a dragon less than half a year old—why not a porura?
Better yet, dump all the incidents on Leon and live peacefully raising my pets.
Of course, talk was cheap; it wasn't feasible.
Poruras were exclusively bred by the royal family.
Unless you lucked out capturing a wild one, no way to get them.
Porura eggs occasionally hit the market... but just as hard to obtain.
"I thought about having you ride a griffon at first, but the Sky Knights are on mission, so it fell through. Too bad, huh?"
Rainer sidled up abruptly and laughed heartily.
His ash-gray porura, 1.3 times larger than normal, asserted its presence.
Quite muscular—must be a Zaimerk breed.
"It's fine. I like the ground."
Not a plane; no desire to fly on a griffon.
Griffons were cool, but I was plenty satisfied with the cute porura.
"Oh? You like poruras, eh? Want one as a gift?"
"Thanks, but no. The academy doesn't have space to raise one."
Tempting for a second, but I refused.
Taking stuff from this guy would just lead to hassle.
Right as I said it, the burly knight next to Rainer scowled.
"To dare refuse His Highness's generosity—what insolence..."
"Zaro, enough."
The knight called Zaro shut his mouth immediately.
Where had I heard that?
Joshua Zaro, right?
Rainer's guard knight.
Seemed to respect his charge quite a bit.
"Don't worry too much. I'm not trying to buy you off with a mere porura. If the academy won't work, I'll send one to your estate."
"If you're that generous, I'll gladly accept."
No reason to refuse further.
Rainer wasn't one to go back on his word.
He really wasn't trying to win me over with a porura.
Once one arrived at the estate, I'd introduce it to Choco and Pudding.
Too bad I couldn't care for it while at the academy...
Only then did Rainer laugh heartily again.
No matter how I looked, it was hard to believe he and Clemens were blood brothers.
"Haha! You thought I'd threaten you with a porura or something, so you refused!"
"Honestly, yes."
"How dare you be so irreverent...!"
Zaro bristled, body tensing.
Almost simultaneously, Rainer dropped his smile, exuding intimidation.
The poruras fell silent in the heavy air.
"You'd better stay quiet from now on. Zaro."
Zaro nodded silently and backed off.
Rainer immediately flashed his hearty smile again and drew closer to me.
That was Rainer's personality.
He ignored whatever underlings said unless it touched a nerve.
Picking your way around his landmines was tiring, but step clear and you could do anything without issue—convenient in a way.
"You faced Jeno Ulbern of Ulverhelm in Balamut?"
"Yeah."
"He's old now, but a famed knight in his youth. Plenty of experience as a veteran. Beating him— you're no ordinary guy."
"Just luck. The battlefield was desert; he couldn't use his prized swordsmanship properly."
I brushed it off, but Rainer shook his head.
Even then, his golden eyes fixed on me with some conviction.
"Not someone you beat on luck alone. Even if it was luck, that's skill. Bottom line, you're the real deal. Theo Agrit."
"...You're too kind."
This bastard—don't ask leading questions.
Correction.
Not convenient at all.
Uncomfortable as hell.
"I heard you use dimensional magic too? First in a thousand years—show me."
"I haven't fully recovered my mana control since waking from my sickbed. Next time."
"Oh? So you'll meet me again?"
Stop talking. Just stop.
He'd twist anything I said to suit him.
I brushed it off with vague replies, but Zaro's glare poked at my cheek.
What... gonna do, glare harder?
If it bugs you, take it up with your prince.
In that uncomfortable atmosphere, the poruras headed for Merlin Side.
Ah, screw it all—I just wanna go home to the estate...