Chapter 88
Chapter 88
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 88
Chapter Title: Alexander Apple (2)
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A moment later, Demian and Oliver Apple moved to the audience chamber.
The king was already seated in his place. The noble officials had also arrived and taken their seats.
Demian and Oliver Apple stood right below the throne.
It was a natural right for Oliver Apple as the crown prince, and Demian stood beside him as the crown prince's mentor.
“Oliver, you've come.”
The king, who was already seated on the throne, spoke toward Oliver Apple.
“I thought you'd skip this one too... but today is different.”
At the king's praise, Oliver Apple's lips spread into a sloppy grin. Even if he hated the position, it seemed he was pleased to receive praise.
“How could I miss a gathering to discuss Uncle's achievements!”
He had been dragged here by Demian, yet his words flowed smoothly.
In any case, the king was greatly satisfied with Oliver Apple's response.
“His Excellency Alexander is entering.”
At that moment, an official raised his voice. The king, mid-conversation with Oliver Apple, straightened his posture.
The other noble officials did the same. They stopped their conversations.
Alexander Apple and his subordinate knights entered through the wide-open doors.
Unlike when they had been seen at the gates, they wore pristine uniforms instead of armor.
Alexander Apple knelt on one knee before the king. The other knights followed suit.
“I have carried out Your Highness's orders and exterminated the bandit groups in the south.”
Alexander Apple spoke in a solemn voice. At his words, the noble officials began murmuring in low voices.
“The territory folk of Baron Godrak's lands murdered their lord and turned into bandits, right?”
“More territory folk and mercenaries joined them, and their forces grew larger.”
“Not only was their scale huge, but they operated centered around forested areas, making suppression difficult.”
“To clean them out so thoroughly. As expected of His Excellency Alexander.”
The noble officials were busy praising Alexander Apple's achievements.
However, the more the officials' praise grew, the darker Oliver Apple's expression became.
“Alexander, rise.”
At the king's words, Alexander Apple stood up.
“The merit of quelling the kingdom's chaos is immeasurably great.”
“You overpraise me. I merely did what needed to be done.”
Alexander Apple replied in a calm voice. Admiration erupted from here and there.
“As expected of His Excellency Alexander. No one is as devoted to the kingdom and humble as he is.”
“No wonder even His Majesty the King relies on him continuously.”
The officials' praise kept increasing.
It was then.
“He really puts the crown prince to shame in comparison.”
“If only His Highness Oliver were half as capable...”
Oliver Apple's name began to be mentioned.
“All he does every day is drink and chase women.”
“He's of age now, so he should assist His Highness and gain experience, but it's worrying.”
As the whispers grew, Oliver Apple hunched his shoulders.
“Your Highness, there is one more achievement I wish to report.”
As the murmuring subsided, Alexander Apple spoke up. The king asked with a curious expression.
“What is it?”
“In the process of exterminating the bandits, we discovered ruins in the forest.”
At the word "ruins," the officials began murmuring again.
In the very distant past, a civilization far more advanced than the current one had existed.
Though that civilization had long perished, it occasionally revealed its presence through such ruins.
Rare items were sometimes found in these ruins, and among them, special ones could shake the entire continent.
“In exploring the ruins, we obtained a relic sword.”
Relic sword.
An ancient weapon extremely rarely discovered in ruins.
Crafted with technology impossible to replicate even now, they were characterized by their immense power.
Countless mages had tried to reproduce relic swords up to now, but not a single one had succeeded.
“I-Is that true?”
The king asked in surprise. Relic swords were so powerful they were classified as strategic weapons.
If Alexander Apple's words were true, it meant the Apple Kingdom had acquired an enormous weapon.
“That is correct. Additionally, through the relic sword, I was able to elevate my realm.”
“Y-Your realm has risen? D-Does that mean... you're now High Class?”
Alexander Apple nodded. The king's mouth slowly opened wide.
“H-Ha, could you show us once?”
“My abilities are humble, so I can only manifest High Class power when wielding the relic sword.”
It was standard protocol to surrender all weapons before the king. Alexander Apple was currently unarmed.
“That is no issue; I permit it fully. Hurry and bring Sir Alexander's sword.”
At the king's command, an attendant brought a single sword.
It was a longsword that looked extremely worn from scabbard to hilt. The weight of ages was palpable.
Alexander Apple drew the sword. Unlike the aged and worn scabbard, the blade gleamed clean and sharp, as if freshly forged.
The moment he drew it, Alexander Apple's presence underwent a dramatic change. Everyone in the room felt as if they had been thrown into the midst of a storm.
Alexander Apple struck the floor with the relic sword. Then, branches made of light began sprouting throughout the room.
Everyone gaped at the mystical sight.
“This is the relic sword Thornwood that I obtained.”
Everyone stared blankly at the Thornwood sword. Demian was among them.
‘It's no ordinary item. Grade 3 or higher.’
Relic swords were divided by grades, from 10th to 1st.
Among them, a Grade 3 relic sword possessed the power to sweep away an army of over a thousand when activated.
‘But something feels off...’
During his Death Knight days, Demian had seen many relic swords and even faced them directly. That was why he sensed something amiss.
‘A relic sword elevating one's realm?’
Relic swords were ultimately just weapons. He had heard of them enhancing physical abilities or mana, but never of them raising one's realm itself.
‘Above all, it feels heterogeneous.’
The energy the sword held felt somehow strange. Demian watched the relic sword silently, harboring doubts.
In the meantime, Alexander Apple pulled out the sword he had stabbed into the floor. The glowing branches vanished completely.
“...Incredible! Not only obtaining a relic sword, but ascending to High Class as well!”
The king exclaimed in great surprise and admiration. The other noble officials were equally astonished.
“I-It truly is amazing! The fourth High Class! A blessing for the Apple Kingdom!”
“We knew His Excellency Alexander was exceptional, but to gain such fortune as well...”
“As expected, he is the pillar of the Apple Kingdom. No one but him.”
The nobles were busy praising Alexander Apple.
“But His Highness Oliver...”
“Even with such an excellent uncle...”
“It's unsettling to have someone like that as crown prince...”
The more they praised Alexander Apple, the more they disparaged Oliver Apple.
Accordingly, Oliver Apple's expression grew increasingly dark.
It wasn't just darkening. Fury was visibly building in his eyes.
‘This isn't good.’
As a former wastrel himself, Demian could guess Oliver Apple's current state of mind.
His already twisted temper, resentful of not being acknowledged, was surely twisting even further.
He had finally started to change recently. This would only make things worse.
“Alexander, I would like to let you rest, but the world won't allow it.”
The king gestured. An official unrolled a paper and began reading.
“Recently, unusual orc activity has been sighted in the eastern region. It is presumed that a chieftain specimen has been born.”
At the word "chieftain," the officials began murmuring again.
“An orc chieftain? If true, that's no small matter.”
“The danger varies depending on the chieftain specimen...”
Orcs were unique monsters whose danger level changed based on their chieftain.
Normally, even dozens gathered posed little threat.
But occasionally, a peculiar specimen worthy of being called a chieftain would emerge, and the danger would skyrocket.
In the past, when an existence called an Orc Lord was born, the nation had to mobilize its full forces.
“Alexander, will you take this task?”
Everyone's gazes turned to Alexander Apple. They seemed to expect him to step up again.
But someone else spoke first.
“I believe His Highness wishes to take this task.”
Everyone looked at Demian Haksen in surprise. Even Oliver Apple did.
“S-Sir Demian?”
Oliver Apple asked in a trembling voice. Ignoring him, Demian continued.
“His Highness has been seeking ways to contribute to the kingdom as crown prince. Thus, he has expressed a strong desire to take this on.”
At his words, the officials reacted with admiration.
“I didn't know His Highness had such commendable thoughts.”
“They say he's shown some changes recently. This time it seems genuine.”
“Well, his conduct may be poor, but he's intelligent, isn't he?”
The officials looked at Oliver Apple with renewed interest.
As gazes of approval flew toward him, Oliver Apple's mood visibly lifted in real time.
Of course, not all officials reacted positively.
“His Highness has no experience; there's no way he can subjugate an orc horde!”
“This will only cause more damage. I oppose it.”
As they said, the matter was too important to gloss over with mere commendation.
As Oliver Apple wilted again at the opposition,
“I will vouch for His Highness's abilities. Moreover, I will accompany him on this orc subjugation.”
At Demian's words, the nobles' reactions shifted.
“Sir Demian... isn't he the knight who recently reached Middle Class?”
“Even if half the rumors about Sir Demian are true, subjugating orcs should be easy.”
Once Demian declared his participation, sentiment swiftly turned positive.
Soon, all gazes turned to the king. Ultimately, he would approve the matter.
“Oliver.”
At the king's call, Oliver Apple startled and raised his head.
“Y-Yes, yes!”
“This subjugation will involve grueling preparations and great danger. Will you still accept?”
Hesitation appeared on Oliver Apple's face at the king's question.
“Your Highness, refusing here would truly make you a coward.”
Demian whispered softly. Oliver Apple glared at him resentfully.
“What will you do?”
Demian asked Oliver Apple impassively. Clenching his fists, Oliver Apple shouted.
“I will take this task!”
Thus, the crown prince's southern expedition was decided.