Chapter 108
Chapter 108
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 108
Chapter Title: 34. Who Dares to Question One's Qualifications (2)
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"Hm..."
When Lionel Leonberger awoke from a nightmare, the first thing he did was fumble under his pillow.
A cool, hard texture brushed his fingertips. He yanked out whatever it was in one swift motion.
A dagger, stained with the grime of frequent handling, sprang free.
Gripping the blade eased the lingering anxiety that clung to him like dregs.
Only then did a burning thirst hit him.
He grabbed the pitcher by the bedside and pressed it straight to his lips.
Gulp, gulp.
The water had an unusually fishy tang today, making him gag. He forced it down and kept drinking. The cold liquid soothed his throat and cooled his gut, snapping his foggy mind awake.
Suddenly, he sensed a presence.
He turned his head. A woman, her appearance slightly disheveled, lay sleeping soundly beside him.
It was the Queen.
"Ah..."
Gazing at her brought back memories of the previous night.
After returning from the throne room, he'd drunk alone. The Queen had come back, they'd talked and shared drinks, and he'd passed out drunk.
That explained the off taste in the water—hangover from last night's excess.
How foolish, he chided himself. Drowning a ruler's worries in liquor was no way to act.
He shook his head with a wry sigh and looked at the Queen again.
Even in her mid-thirties, she was still stunning. But his eyes on his wife held no warmth, only dryness.
Her jade-smooth skin, crossed by a long scar over her slender shoulder, caught his eye.
A mark from something sharp grazing her. He gently pulled the blanket up to cover her shoulder.
He lingered on her for a while longer before quietly slipping out of bed.
He pressed close to the window, chasing the moonlight, and peered outside.
The dim surroundings revealed palace knights in gleaming golden armor below.
Usually standing like statues, they seemed unusually bustling tonight. The guards numbered several times more than normal.
Clank, clank!
A grating noise came from beyond the door—heavy plate armor rattling as knights marched.
The hairs on his neck stood up.
He set the dagger aside and snatched the ornamental sword from the wall.
Unlike typical decorations, this real steel blade was honed sharp for actual use.
"Your Majesty?"
The Queen, freshly awakened, called to him.
"Hush. Something's happened."
She asked nothing more. She simply rose quietly, donned an outer robe, and stood by her husband's side.
Knock knock.
Someone rapped at the door.
"Your Highness. It is I, Schrumhilde Strugart."
Lionel Leonberger lowered his sword.
It was Schrumhilde Strugart, captain of the Royal Knight Order and the kingdom's mentor knight.
"May I enter?"
He glanced back, confirming the Queen had straightened her attire, then bade him come in.
"What is this racket in the dead of night?"
The old knight caught sight of the sword in his hand, bowed his head, and reported the situation outside.
"Intruders breached the Royal Treasury. All the guarding Royal Knights and palace guards were found slain. We're pursuing the culprits now, but..."
Lionel frowned at the old knight trailing off, unlike his usual directness.
"Pursuing them?"
"The slain knights and soldiers had all their blood drained—it's impossible to tell if the killers were even human."
"You mean the intruder was a vampire?"
The old knight shook his head at the King's words.
"We cannot say at present."
"The gates?"
"All sealed, with knights of Triple Chain rank or higher posted at each. No one can enter or leave."
The Queen, who'd been listening, interjected.
"And the princes and princesses?"
"I've dispatched Royal Knights to guard their quarters. However..."
The old knight trailed off again, staring at the King before speaking cautiously.
"The 3rd Prince's whereabouts are unknown."
He added one more line.
"The Dragon Slayer Sword is also missing."
Before Lionel could respond, commotion erupted outside.
"We've found the missing 3rd Prince!"
Urgent reports from the Royal Knights followed in quick succession.
"Speak. Where is the 3rd Prince?"
At the King's command, a Royal Knight knelt and replied.
"The 3rd Prince is cutting down the knights blocking his path—he's heading straight here!"
No sooner had the words left his mouth than chaos broke out beyond the window.
"Gah!"
"Argh!"
Horrific screams rang out one after another. Then silence fell.
Below, the assembled Royal Knights raised swords and shields to barricade the door. Guards nocked arrows to their bows.
Boom!
In that instant, the sturdy palace door shattered inward as something flew inside.
Crash!
The unidentified object tumbled across the floor before rising.
It was the 2nd Prince, Maximilian, drenched in blood.
Shing.
Before the 2nd Prince could raise his sword again, a bluish flash streaked through the dust.
The King shouted urgently.
"Block it!"
Whether his voice reached them, even he couldn't tell.
He only breathed a small sigh of relief seeing the Royal Knights raise shields to protect the 2nd Prince.
Slice.
The King winced.
The distance was too great to hear, yet clearly a slicing sound reached his ears.
"Don't block—get out of the way!"
The 2nd Prince's desperate yell came a beat too late.
By then, a azure glow had already swept through the Royal Knights' bodies.
The King groaned.
The knights' upper bodies, shields and all, thudded to the floor. Blood sprayed belatedly.
And from beyond the spray emerged the 3rd Prince.
His disheveled hair half-hid his face, Dragon Slayer gripped in hand. Crimson eyes gleamed through the strands.
"You bastard!"
Maximilian gathered mana at his sword tip and charged the 3rd Prince.
But anyone could see the 2nd Prince was no match.
All bluster, he barely clashed swords a few times before a kick sent him sprawling disgracefully.
"Sir Strugart. Go save Maximilian."
The King ground his teeth. The old knight replied firmly.
"Your Majesty. I cannot leave your side."
"The kingdom's future is down there!"
"To me, Your Majesty is the kingdom's future."
The old knight didn't budge at the King's words.
Lionel grimaced and looked below again.
Royal Knights blocking the 2nd Prince were bisected by a single swing. Guards' arrows didn't come close.
"Your Majesty! Where are You! Your son has come!"
The 3rd Prince bellowed, scanning around.
His shrill voice was that of a classic madman.
Who but a lunatic would swing a sword at the King's knights and his own brother before the royal bedchamber?
"Why do You hide from Your own son!"
The King thought.
Treason? No. Treason required followers. The 3rd Prince was alone, rampaging with the Dragon Slayer, slaughtering freely.
In moments, all the guards lay dead. Soldiers and knights gathered, but none could stop him.
"Will You not show even now!"
Having cleaved a Royal Knight in two, the 3rd Prince charged the 2nd Prince.
The 2nd Prince's sword shattered, sword aura and all. Pinned underfoot, he faced the Dragon Slayer's tip.
"If You do not come now, I cannot guarantee my brother's safety!"
The King gnashed his teeth at the sight.
"Sir Strugart!"
"Even if Your Majesty casts me out later for this, I cannot leave Your side now."
The King exploded in frustration.
"I'll go there myself!"
"Your Majesty!"
"Do your duty! But do not stand in my way!"
Gripping his sword, the King strode out. The Queen followed, and the old knight sighed, leading his Royal Knights downward.
"Father! You've finally come!"
Spotting the King, the 3rd Prince cried out gleefully.
"You've lost your mind. No sane man would do this. You're clearly out of your wits."
The King ground his teeth, surveying the surroundings.
Halved corpses of Royal Knights littered the ground. Shriveled husks drained of blood matched the old knight's description. No need to hunt the Treasury intruder anymore.
No— the culprit wasn't even hiding his deeds.
"How could I stay sane when a fool and incompetent is set to inherit the throne?"
The 3rd Prince practically vibrated with pride over the Dragon Slayer in his grasp.
"Do You see, Father? The Dragon Slayer, untouched by any hand for 400 years, has chosen me. Isn't this proof I should be the next king?"
He brandished the blade trailing blue wraithlight, grinning ear to ear.
"Madman. You've gone utterly insane."
Dare to butcher the King's knights and slaughter guards, then claim royal worth? The King roared.
"Think you'll get away with this unscathed?!"
"Apparently becoming the Dragon Slayer's master isn't enough. But You have no choice anyway, Father."
"What are you plotting..."
Crimson eyes flashed through his tousled hair.
"Once all men of Leonberger blood are dead, even You can't do a thing."
With that, the 3rd Prince raised his sword high. The unconscious 2nd Prince didn't stir.
"You scum! Stop! Think I'd hand you the throne after seeing this?!"
"Doesn't matter. If You won't give it, I'll take it."
The 3rd Prince drove his blade toward his brother's chest. Or tried to.
Had something not flown in from outside the door.
Shing!
A bluish glow slashed through the dark, striking the 3rd Prince.
Boom!
"Who dares!"
Barely parrying with his sword, the 3rd Prince bellowed.
"Me, you little shit."
A growling voice echoed from the doorway.
And the 1st Prince appeared, sword aglow with vivid light.
The King gaped.
The 1st Prince's sudden arrival stunned him—but that light at his sword tip, that aura, was extraordinary.
He wasn't alone in noticing.
No one present was ignorant of such presence.
So their shock deepened.
It was the privilege of knights who'd trained a lifetime, finally reaching perfection.
"Aura Blade!"
A supreme secret technique far too advanced for a mere sixteen-year-old prince.
The 1st Prince lowered his sword and walked toward the 3rd Prince.
Step, step.
In the pin-drop silence, only his footsteps resounded.
Thud.
They halted. The 1st Prince spoke.
"Who are you?"