Chapter 70
Chapter 70
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 70
Chapter Title: Delusion (5)
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"You're going to win anyway, so aren't you trying a bit too hard?"
Early dawn. Raunel gripped his sword in the training grounds. He was so focused on that single point that he didn't even think to wipe the sweat soaking his upper body.
He couldn't remain shackled to memories of the past forever. He had to overcome them. He needed to forget everything, even himself, and become one with the sword. To that end, Raunel swung his blade without rest.
"A genius who works hard, too. The world really is unfair."
"...Kazan. What are you doing here?"
Raunel lowered his sword. He knew Kazan would just keep talking until he answered. The guy never cared about reading the room, so it was better to get a response out of him quickly and send him on his way.
The 2nd Prince, Kazan, shrugged.
"They said there's a huge party going on over there, so I got curious what you were up to."
"You must really have nothing better to do."
"Right? Even if he is the crown prince, throwing a party with nothing to do~"
"...I'm talking about you, Kazan."
Raunel let out a sigh.
Their relationship wasn't bad. But it wasn't good enough for them to joke around and kill time together, either.
The power struggle between the 1st Empress and 2nd Empress was infamous even within the palace, so it was possible there was some invisible tension between their sons, Raunel and Kazan, as well.
But from Raunel's perspective, Kazan was just a lazy, self-centered, immature little brother.
"Me? I've got tons to do. Gotta eat in an hour, and take a nap."
"That's exactly what I'mean by having nothing to do."
"It's unfair for someone with talent to work hard, too. I'm just living slyly to keep the world's balance."
"If you have no zest for life, pick up a sword. I'll give you some."
Kazan made a face like he'd seen a ghost at Raunel's words.
The man was utterly hopeless when it came to jokes.
They shared the same blood, yet how could two people be so different?
"You fire back so well, so I guess you're not planning to lose."
"No one fights to lose."
"Then you'll win, obviously. It's Reinhardt, after all. Aside from when we were kids, has there ever been a time he wasn't terrifying?"
The Reinhardt of their childhood had been a demon incarnate.
To his brothers, Reinhardt had been scarier than any ghost.
Verbal abuse and violence were the basics, and his rampaging, drooling form had been more beast than human.
Their relationship wasn't bad. But it wasn't good enough for them to joke around and kill time together, either.
"Right? Even if he is the crown prince, throwing a party with nothing to do~"
The power struggle between the 1st Empress and 2nd Empress was infamous even within the palace, so it was possible there was some invisible tension between their sons, Raunel and Kazan, as well.
He wasn't sure about the 3rd Prince Carmen or the 4th Prince Leon, but Raunel and Kazan, who had shared their childhood, knew all too well about Reinhardt's madness.
But as they grew, the gap widened. Raunel and Kazan constantly proved their genius and drew the world's attention, while Reinhardt just kept plummeting without a safety net.
Raunel chided him.
"Watch your words."
"Heh. Deep down, you hate Reinhardt more than I do. I heard a rumor you cried alone in the outhouse when he was passed over for crown prince."
"It was His Majesty's carefully considered decision for the imperial family's dignity. What would I have to be disappointed about?"
"You're so damn stuffy."
It was the Emperor who had named Reinhardt crown prince. But no one in the imperial family had accepted that choice.
He had every right to get angry about it at least once, but Raunel just bottled it up stoically.
To Kazan, Raunel was the most boring person in the world. It was like he had no emotions at all.
"Kazan, get to the point."
"I just came to hang out?"
"There's no way you'd come to the training grounds—the place you hate most in the world—at this early hour for no reason."
"Hmm... You know me too well."
Kazan nodded, hitting the nail on the head.
Then he pulled a turquoise orb from his pocket.
"This? Isn't this the Wind Jewel?"
It was a treasure from the Emperor. And Kazan was handing it over.
"Use it for a bit. It boosts mana sensitivity."
"...".
Raunel stared at Kazan silently.
Kazan was a genius. He hated standing out, but he had abilities surpassing most archmages. It'seemed he'd long known about Raunel's unstable mana.
"Can you not look at me with those eyes? Ugh, gives me chills. You're not thinking something sappy like 'He's such a good little brother,' are you?"
"I guess we'll never get along, you and I."
"...I'm just lending it for now. Don't lose this duel, no matter what."
Sincerity filled Kazan's eyes.
He genuinely wanted Raunel to win.
Or more accurately, he couldn't stand the thought of Reinhardt winning.
"Kazan. Why do you hate Reinhardt so much?"
"Just 'cause."
"Just 'cause?"
"He was so scary when we were kids, but when we grew up, turns out he's nothing special. It pisses me off that I was ever scared of a loser like that, so I just decided to hate him."
Reinhardt had just been crazy, utterly incompetent.
But.
The image of Reinhardt he'd seen in the north wouldn't leave his mind.
He still thought it was a dream, an illusion from the lich, but he couldn't figure out why Reinhardt kept nagging at him.
"What if Reinhardt isn't nothing special?"
"Unless he suddenly regresses or awakens some hidden power, that won't happen, right?"
Raunel thought the same.
People don't change overnight.
But Reinhardt was clearly changing.
After returning from the north and becoming the spirit's master, he'd successfully debuted in high society, and now he was roping nobles into the special prison.
Even so, Kazan refused to change his view of Reinhardt. He dismissed it as a whim.
Especially seeing him throw a party and fool around right before this crucial duel... yeah, that sealed it.
'The results will tell.'
Raunel shook his head.
Everything would be decided by the duel.
He had no intention of losing, not even a hair's breadth.
He had to win.
Absolutely.
*
"...Your Highness. I'm sorry."
"It's fine."
"Leon kept insisting... Haah."
Empress Lia sighed.
The reason for her sigh was the prince trailing right behind me.
Leon.
Ever since Gaph rescued him in the Eternal Palace, he'd been following me around whenever he got the chance.
"Ancestor."
"I've told you a million times, I'm not your ancestor."
"You are though...".
Leon refused to drop the title.
It was amazing he'd recognized Gaph, who was just a lump of flesh.
It was like Gaph and Leon were communicating somehow.
'A being whose divine power surpasses Sword Masters just by aging.'
If I wasn't going to kill him, there was no harm in keeping him close.
Leon was truly a divine power wielder.
Good thing he'd died before adulthood; otherwise, even becoming a second Malfiel wouldn't have been surprising.
I looked at Leon's wrist and said,
"Why are you suppressing Leon's power?"
"If he can't control it properly, it could cause accidents."
Empress Lia explained why she'd sealed Leon's power.
The bracelet he wore now suppressed any power beyond a certain level.
It was holding up for now, but it'd break in a year.
"He'll get even stronger as he grows. Won't it be too late to teach him control then?"
"I taught him the sword, but he shattered it. When I tried teaching him physical techniques, everything in the palace started breaking."
"That's normal for a kid. He has no friends to play with, so he's just restless."
"We let him play with kids his age once, and he caused a huge incident...".
Empress Lia trailed off.
Of course she wanted to let Leon run around and play.
But leaving him be felt too risky.
"What if you left him to me?"
"Pardon?"
"Leon's divine power is innate. Trying to block it will just make him rebel more."
"Are you sure? Aren't you busy preparing for the... duel?"
"A few more days won't change the outcome."
Empress Lia looked at Reinhardt in surprise.
It was definitely the first time Leon had taken to someone like this.
She was a bit worried, but if he'd really slain a 'dragon,' that made him an incredible powerhouse.
'No one's ever willingly taken Leon off my hands before.'
Because of the stigma of his northern bloodline, renowned swordsmen and teachers all avoided instructing him.
And even if they tried, they'd flee in disgust after experiencing his divine power.
It was welcome news that the crown prince was stepping up, but she figured Reinhardt just didn't know better.
"Very well. But feel free to stop anytime if it gets too much."
Refusing might just hurt feelings.
Best to let him experience it and give up on his own.
But contrary to Empress Lia's expectations, even after days passed, Reinhardt didn't quit.
Leon lived without the bracelet and was quickly adapting to controlling his power.
"...H-how did you do it?"
"It's a secret."
I smiled inwardly, ignoring her shock.
Keeping Leon close meant keeping her in my pocket.
And beyond the 4th Empress's support, there were clear gains.
'Gaph. I granted your wish, so you owe me now.'
The absorbed Gaph was released as a lump of flesh inside me, pretending to play with Leon while teaching him power control.
He could only endure outside for about an hour a day, but that was plenty.
Gaph had been absorbed by me in the holy site, but he wasn't fully under my control. He wasn't an AI, after all.
But this had put him deeply in my debt.
Meeting his descendant and teaching him personally, no less.
And from that day on, Gaph kept appearing in my dreams.
He danced, showing me something.
The Demon King's steps called 'Heavenly Overlord Dominion.'
Meeting his descendant and teaching him personally, no less.
And from that day on, Gaph kept appearing in my dreams.
He danced, showing me something.
The Demon King's steps called 'Heavenly Overlord Dominion.'
*
Time passed, and the day of the duel arrived.
Countless people gathered at the Colosseum.
Over ten thousand by rough count.
"A public duel between a prince and the crown prince? Something you don't see every day."
"Isn't it a foregone conclusion that Prince Raunel wins?"
"Is he trying to publicly humiliate him and replace the successor...?"
It was the Colosseum that Deus had sealed upon ascending as emperor. Located on the capital's outskirts, it had been specially reopened for today's duel between the crown prince and the prince.
Raunel donned his armor calmly and stood at the center.
'...He threw a party and spent the week fooling around with that kid.'
What did Reinhardt think of this duel?
The rumor that Reinhardt had taken Prince Leon spread quickly through the palace.
With less than a week until the duel, he'd wasted it partying instead of training.
'I absolutely cannot lose.'
I will win this fight.
Over the past week, Raunel had not only recovered his full strength but surpassed it.
Thanks to the jewel from Kazan, his mana sensitivity had skyrocketed.
Now, he felt he could even beat the lich from the north.
"His Highness the Crown Prince arrives!"
Bwoooo!
With the trumpet blast, Reinhardt began walking out from afar.
[Delusion (5)] End