Chapter 81
Chapter 81
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 81
Chapter Title: Yielding the Crown
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"Please take me to where my eldest brother is."
"Pardon?"
"I don't know how to ride a cockatoo, so I'm asking you, Minister of the Hunt, to take me along with you."
Deanin shook his head at Kyle's words.
"That's out of the question. We can't afford to look after you, Your Highness, when every moment counts."
"Think about it, Deanin. I'm not talking nonsense."
Kyle looked up at Deanin with clear, earnest eyes.
'Is he saying that while Yacheon is targeting Prince Basen, this minister could be threatened if he just lets Basen go? So he's telling him to listen to him?'
Deanin furrowed his brow.
'No, that's not it.'
Only now did Deanin catch his breath fully and speak.
"Very well."
"Why do you think that?"
"If Yacheon is truly targeting the first prince, it must be to give the crown prince position to another."
Lately, miracles from Yacheon had become rare.
But it was clear fact that Yacheon's power influenced the royal family of Heukrin.
"If I'm not mistaken, Yacheon probably believes the crown prince position should go to the third prince, not the first."
"Oh, so that's what you think, Minister of the Hunt?"
Deanin felt a twinge of unease at those words, but Kyle quickly added,
"In any case, even if Yacheon lures Manun perfectly, if I'm right by big brother's side, it won't be easy to take him out. Manun's paws or jaws aren't that precise, after all. One slip, and they'd lose two princes at once."
"Yes, I thought the same."
In truth, Deanin wondered if defying Yacheon's will like this was acceptable, but now wasn't the time for such concerns.
'No, Yacheon might even be pleased. With a prince who reads His will so well. This is a rare chance, after all. He wouldn't blame someone struggling to survive.'
Deanin said,
"Then I'll quickly check on the hunting party and bring the cockatoos back."
"I'll wait here. Big brother left just moments ago, so we can still catch up."
Deanin prayed that was true.
"Your Highness, it looks like this way."
"'Looks like'? At this rate, I could track it blindfolded."
The first prince, Basen, chuckled.
Manun's body was 25 meters long, but the trees in these mountains towered far above its shoulder height.
Even in these front mountains, the range stretched deep, crossing the Jidong Mountains all the way to the continent's center.
Finding Manun in the woods if it had simply dropped into the mountains and stayed still would be no easy task.
But Manun, for whatever reason full of vigor, had left traces of its rampage everywhere.
Trees snapped in its wake, and the ground gouged where its tail had swept—no one could miss it.
Basen could understand Manun.
'It's lived over a century in the gardens, so of course. Must've been stiff all over, poor thing.'
The gardens where Manun lived were vast, but to it, a few steps from one edge reached the other, so it must have felt cramped.
'Impressive it held out this long.'
-Crack...!
Birds burst into flight at the breaking sound, followed by the thunderous impact on the ground.
-Boom!
Dust rose into the sky.
"Looks like we're almost there. It didn't go as far as I thought."
As Basen suspected, cresting the hill revealed Manun.
But Manun, perhaps curled up asleep, had glanced at a tree its tail had accidentally snapped in its sleep, let out a lazy yawn, and drifted off again.
"Ha, I underestimated it as a mere beast, but it has the spirit of the Dragon-King."
However, Basen's hunting companions—excluding himself—gulped at the sight of Manun, even from afar, tension gripping them.
They'd followed boldly on liquor-fueled bravado, but facing the drake's massive form made it real.
"W-what now, Your Highness?"
"We wake it and drive it back to the palace, no?"
Their faces hardened at that.
But being sons of noble houses, some had wits about them.
"I have another idea."
"What is it?"
"It seems like it ran wild until exhausted and collapsed. We didn't see any prey it hunted on the way. How about we catch a deer or boar to lure it?"
"Hm, good thinking."
Basen turned to his companions and said,
"I'll watch Manun to make sure it doesn't wake and wander off. You lot catch something to tempt it."
They, who might normally scowl at such errands, welcomed it this time and urged their cockatoos down the hill.
Watching their backs, Basen snorted.
'Scared faces. Lucky if they don't make excuses to run. They'll probably stall until the hunting party or palace guard arrives.'
Basen hadn't expected much from them anyway.
'If I rely on others to bring Manun back, it won't truly count for me.'
Basen pondered 'recognition' briefly.
As a child, Basen hadn't cared much for praise.
His parents, the Left Prime Minister, even the ministers—he'd gotten applause for every accomplishment.
But as he grew and brothers came along, he realized it was all because of his bloodline.
Especially his third brother's existence taught him what true recognition—not superficial praise—really was.
'People don't make a fuss or gasp in awe when they truly recognize something. They don't say sweet words either. That's not real recognition.'
Studying with his brothers under Lavin, Basen saw it happen.
They read Sairan Muel's theological text 'Yacheon', and Lavin posed questions to the princes.
The third prince Kyle, who had stared silently at the book, spoke up.
"Teacher Lavin, Yacheon is benevolent?"
"Yes?"
"And omnipotent too?"
"Indeed. Your Highness, is there a problem...?"
"Just a simple question."
Kyle said,
"If Yacheon is truly omnipotent and benevolent, why does He allow war, suffering, sorrow, and misfortune?"
"Ah, well... that's..."
Lavin hesitated.
Even Basen understood.
Lavin didn't know the answer.
Lavin admitted honestly,
"Your Highness, forgive me. I'm no Yacheon priest, so I'm not well-versed in theology. I'll find the answer next time."
That day, Lavin had them read while he gazed out the window in thought, then hastily ended the lesson.
That was true recognition.
The more painful truth: if that was recognition, Basen had never received it once in his life.
So he lost interest in studies and dove into dangerous, reckless acts.
Even as crown prince, his mad stunts drew not false praise, but raw, genuine reactions.
It wasn't recognition, but at least it was real.
'I know it's wrong. But...'
Palace folk called Basen unwise, but he wasn't.
He had a hunter's sharp instincts.
He caught the subtle glares better than anyone.
You're not crown prince material.
Not king material.
'What can I do about how I was born?'
Basen teased those with such looks but didn't hate them.
He truly hated the others.
Those who fawned with false recognition because he was firstborn, chasing their own gain.
If he became king, he'd sort them for rewards, but mirrors showed even he wasn't crown prince material—or king material.
His own eyes looked at him that way.
'No confidence. But that's fine.'
Basen planned to bring Manun back alone.
Anyone gets irritable when woken.
His plan: wake Manun, lure it, lead it to the palace.
Manun was huge, but Basen's cockatoo was swift, and he was skilled with it.
If not enough, he'd trust Yacheon.
'Then let's see if I'm truly fit to be king.'
Basen tugged the reins toward Manun.
His cockatoo glanced back as if questioning, but resigned after a nudge to the flank and descended.
"Brother!"
If only Kyle's voice hadn't called out.
"Brother, stop!"
Kyle leaped off Deanin's cockatoo as it halted.
But he misstepped, clutching his ankle and crouching upon landing.
"Ow."
"Your Highness! Are you all right?"
"Kyle!"
"I'm fine. Just a sprain, I think."
Basen glanced between Manun and Kyle, sighed, dismounted, and ran to him.
Basen said to Deanin,
"Minister, why'd you bring the kid?"
"Well, that's..."
"Never mind. You know the mountain warden's hut on that ridge?"
"Yes. I'll fetch what we need."
The hut stocked essentials for travelers, including swelling salves, clean cloths for wounds or splints.
Basen loved hunting mountains; Deanin, as hunt minister, knew them well.
"Let me see, little one. Should've been more careful."
Kyle, holding his ankle, saw Deanin spur his cockatoo to the hut and smiled.
"I'm fine, brother."
"Huh?"
"It's not sprained. I faked it so Deanin wouldn't hear our talk."
"What?"
Basen narrowed his eyes at Kyle.
Kyle hopped lightly on both feet to prove it.
"Talk? Why'd you come here first? Manun's right there—dangerous, you know."
"That's why I came."
"Explain."
Kyle repeated his reasoning to Deanin.
The insect-eaten spots on Manun's wooden cage; without them, escape would've been noisy, so deliberate; too divine for human work; thus Yacheon's will luring Manun to the mountains.
Hearing it, Basen hesitated.
"...So Yacheon wants me dead?"
"It could be interpreted that way. Deanin seemed convinced."
"So you think sticking by me protects me."
"Yes. For your safety."
Basen felt bitterness—and pride.
An undeniable brother.
"...But if so, why do this?"
"Pardon?"
"If true, you become king by doing nothing. First prince dead, second a Yacheon priest—throne's yours naturally. Kid, don't you want to be king?"
Kyle smiled shyly.
"I do."
"You could desire it without blame. Reasonable. So why come?"
Kyle turned to sleeping Manun below.
"Know this?"
"What?"
"Old texts show Yacheon rarely fails. He succeeds in all He intends."
"Well..."
"Not because He's a god. Look at other nations' gods. They twist words to mask defeat. Especially during Demon King Shaiven."
"What's your point?"
"Since some gods fail plans, Yacheon can too. He just prepares more. Manun targeting you was one chance."
Basen widened his eyes.
Kyle continued,
"Then He arranges this alone time. You rushed when I faked the injury. I'm young, but with a poisoned dagger? You'd be done. Would Yacheon's plan have only two chances? Manun capture's already failed—palace guard mobilized. He can demand payment in lives lost, strip your throne. My view's narrow, but more chances will come. I'll warn you each time."
Basen said in a trembling voice,
"...You'll foil Yacheon's three chances—and more?"
"Yes."
"Why? Beyond throne ambition, aren't you afraid of Yacheon?"
Kyle met Basen's eyes with dark ones.
"No. I know His will, so no fear. Paths He makes lead to kingship, but against my will and harm you. So I discard them for better paths that please Him without hurting you."
"What paths?"
"I'll foil all Yacheon's plans and humbly request."
"Speak."
Kyle said to Basen,
"Brother, yield the crown prince position to me."
"...!"
Basen burst laughing.
He clutched his stomach, collapsing, roaring with laughter.
Kyle, unprepared, said awkwardly,
"Brother?"
"Ah, sorry. Too funny."
"What's so funny?"
Basen waved it off, silent.
Not without words.
'Your wise, unyielding heart delights me. That's why I laugh.'
But as elder brother, he preserved face.
Basen wiped laughter-tears.
"Kid... no, Kyle."
"Yes."
"As you say."
Basen believed a brother he recognized deserved it.