Chapter 48
Chapter 48
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 48
Chapter Title: The Prince's Promise Fulfilled
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Approaching Prince Julius as he entered the banquet hall, I explained the entire situation. The prince let out a short sigh and looked at me.
His gaze seemed to say, "So that's what yesterday's conversation was about."
Well, it was a misunderstanding, but...
There was no need to correct it.
I gave a slight nod in response to the prince's look, demanding that he fulfill our "promise."
Prince Julius let out another deep sigh, and it looked like a new wrinkle appeared on his forehead—but it must have been my imagination.
"What's the problem with Heterogenous Powers? Leaving aside the duel, isn't it only natural for a noble to hone everything he possesses?"
Prince Julius barked out again.
"Heterogenous Powers were deemed ominous from the start because they could disrupt order! But Prince Saladin is a noble. Thus, there's no order for him to disrupt, so what's the issue?"
The atmosphere, which had been building to condemn Saladin just moments ago, faltered at Prince Julius's shout.
Heterogenous Powers disrupt order. This absolute preconception had birthed the notion of the Black Lions and instilled awe in so many across the continent.
Those in high positions naturally placed great importance on order. If the tower of order crumbled, those at the top would suffer the most.
Therefore, Prince Julius should have been the one most sensitive to Heterogenous Powers in this setting.
Yet here he was, openly defending Saladin. The other nobles had no choice but to hesitate.
Moreover, it was unprecedented for a noble wielding Heterogenous Powers to step forward so boldly, making judgment all the harder.
Prince Julius didn't miss that brief opening.
"Prepare the training grounds so these two princes can duel for their honor!"
The night before, as Prince Julius and I shared drinks of Sapphire Dragon...
I asked him,
"Your Highness, what do you think of the Black Lions?"
"The Black Lions? That's a sudden question. Why do you ask?"
"Just as it sounds. I'm asking what Your Highness thinks of the Black Lions."
"Hmm, the Black Lions..."
Prince Julius swirled the glass of Sapphire Dragon as he mulled over my question.
"...They're dangerous. Wielders of ominous powers that defy the natural order. Even if some among them do good deeds, they can hardly be called normal, even giving them the benefit of the doubt. That's why every nation on the continent shuns them, isn't it?"
'As expected.'
Prince Julius was renowned for his brilliance, yet even he couldn't escape the limitations of the established elite's thinking.
'Not quite on the level of Ibarella's royal genius, after all.'
Ibarella, the Holy Empire's third princess, dubbed the Monster Emperor.
She embraced anything that could strengthen the empire—Heterogenous Powers, black magic, without discrimination.
And.
With a woman's body, she could swallow the continent in a future yet to come.
'So much to do.'
As I inwardly gave a wry smile at Prince Julius's limits, his voice reached me.
"...That's what most people would think. But my view is a bit different."
He set down his swirling glass and looked at me.
"The frame of them being 'dangerous' originated from the Holy Empire's rhetoric. Yet the entrenched powers of the alliance nations know this and still refuse to reject that perception. They see the Black Lions as a threat to their own positions. But."
Prince Julius drained his glass and offered a curt assessment.
"I believe they are the variable that could allow the alliance to prevail against the Holy Empire's invasion."
I gazed steadily into Prince Julius's eyes.
His gaze remained clear.
'No deception.'
It meant he truly believed it.
Prince Julius's mindset was in no way inferior to Ibarella's.
In that case.
"Your Highness. If I may be so bold, as a close friend, could you make me one promise?"
"Speak."
"If there are those under my command who wield Heterogenous Powers, and if they one day step forward openly... could you stand by their side and defend them then?"
Prince Julius's way of thinking wasn't fundamentally different from mine.
No, mine was far more concrete.
The experimental monster squad from the Holy Empire that clashed with us while rescuing Millia, and the dwarf wielding fire without incantations.
Witnessing them, I had been certain.
'Without the Black Lions, we can't win this war. No matter what I do.'
There was no answer otherwise.
Neither in the number or quality of the strong, nor in strategic weapons' development, nor in unwavering loyalty to leadership.
The alliance lagged behind the empire in every aspect.
The only joker card to overturn this absolute disadvantage was the Black Lions.
If memories of my past life held true, many Black Lions had sided with Ibarella's faction.
If they did the same in this life, there would be no hope.
The great war would erupt someday without fail, and if a shift in thinking only came then, it would be too late.
So, now was the time.
If the perception wasn't changed starting from the kingdom's highest echelons, victory in the war would be nothing but a pipe dream.
The turbid stream Black Lions weren't the type to serve under anyone anyway, so they were a non-factor.
'At least pull the pure stream fully to the alliance side.'
Thus, perceptions needed gradual change.
I chose Prince Julius as the starting point.
And that beginning would likely be Saladin, who had done righteous deeds in the southern regions.
Right now, I was asking Prince Julius to handle this crucial first step.
But Prince Julius.
"So be it."
Accepted my request with surprising ease, making my worries seem unfounded.
"This readily?"
"For you to say this to me means you trust me that much, does it not? Then I must live up to that trust."
Prince Julius set down his glass with conviction.
"Whenever it may be, whoever it may be. If someone on your side reveals they possess Heterogenous Powers, I will take responsibility and legitimize that power. I promise it on the name of the Ikenia royal family."
'I never imagined a situation like this would arise just one day after that conversation.'
This must be why they say the world is a madhouse.
"What are you thinking?"
Prince Julius addressed me.
"Nothing, Your Highness. I just didn't expect yesterday's request to come true so quickly—it's a bit startling."
I spoke the truth, but Prince Julius didn't seem convinced.
"Tch, don't play coy. You surely knew everything. Think I'd believe otherwise?"
I really hadn't known, so it felt unfair, but I couldn't show it. The way out of this bind was simple.
"Ah, looks like it's about to start."
Change the subject.
"Tch, anyway..."
Prince Julius chuckled and looked in the same direction as me.
Our gazes turned to the royal palace's training grounds.
During the festival, knights' training halted to let nobles enjoy the banquets, making it quieter than usual.
But today, nobles flooding in from the festivities had packed the grounds tighter than ever.
Two figures stood at the center, surrounded by nobles filling the spectator seats.
Among those on the grounds, the fat one—Guren—spoke.
"Kneel and apologize now, and I'll graciously forgive you."
Saladin, who had brought Mimi and Nene with him, responded by raising his middle finger high.
"Fuck off."
Guren's face twisted at the sight.
"...It's a duel before the prince, and we're both nobles, so I won't take your life."
Shring!
A chilling sound accompanied the emergence of a razor-sharp sword.
"But I'll take an arm or so. You puppet-playing bitch."
Saladin curled his lip just like Guren.
"I won't kill you either, so don't worry. Instead."
Saladin flicked his fingertip, and Mimi—who had blocked his front—and Nene—behind him—sprang into motion.
"I'll make sure you're bedridden for two months. Look forward to it."
Crack!
Guren's movement belied his hefty build, swift as could be.
Dirty personality, ugly looks—but talent inversely proportional.
That's why the Sword Family had chosen the Poltus house as the core of southern nobles.
This morning, before heading to the banquet hall, a letter from Grand Prince Victor arrived.
Touch the Shield Family's third son tomorrow. Then I'll remember this favor.
The Sword Family heir, Victor van Dmitri, had said he'd "remember this."
Didn't that mean he'd promote him heavily within the family faction?
It was the opportunity of a lifetime.
Chosen by the kingdom's most powerful house—Guren could barely contain his swelling chest.
'Everything was going perfectly!'
Then some weirdo popped up and ruined all the plans.
He hadn't staged that clown show just to duel this nobody.
Victor said nothing about the events, but the astute(?) Guren could tell.
Victor's gaze toward him had grown colder.
'It's not too late.'
If he swiftly crushed this puppet-fondling pervert and challenged Jerome to a duel again.
Nothing would change.
With such frantic thoughts, Guren swung his sword at Saladin with full force.
As a mid-level Expert, brimming with aura, no less.
"Th-that!"
The nobles gasped at the mana gathered on Guren's blade.
Injuries in duels were commonplace, but killing was strictly forbidden.
To overcharge aura like that in such a setting!
It was tantamount to murder.
Before anyone could intervene, Guren's sword reached right beside Saladin's neck.
But.
Clang!
"?!"
Instead of a slicing sound through flesh, a dull thud rang out.
Screech, screech.
Guren's sword hung limply blocked by Mimi's shield, which had positioned itself in front of Saladin.
"What in the—!"
Guren was too stunned to speak.
Not just the shield popping from the puppet's arm that seemed it would shatter at a tap.
How could such a frail-looking doll block his aura-clad sword!
"I told you."
Ignoring Guren before him, Saladin spoke while looking toward one side of the spectator seats.
It looked as if Guren's aura sword was too pathetic an attack to warrant attention.
"It won't break now."
Saladin bared white teeth as his hand began moving gracefully, like playing an instrument.
Taking that hand motion as a cue.
Mimi, who had guarded the front, and Nene, behind, soared through the training grounds.
A chuckle escaped me at Saladin's triumphant demeanor.
After taking so much of our family's money to plate them in mithril, if they shattered pathetically against a mere aura sword like that, I wouldn't have let it slide.
But in this moment, acknowledging Saladin's efforts wasn't a bad idea.
"Yeah. It doesn't break."
Why was that?
My mutter surely hadn't reached Saladin's ears at this distance.
Yet somehow, a faint smile seemed to grace his lips.