Chapter 264
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 264
Chapter Title: Expelling the Crown Prince
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To corner my brother like that...
If asked who was the most terrifying person in the empire, Karban would name his brother, Raos.
The emperor was frightening, but His Majesty had always been indifferent toward him.
Raos, on the other hand, saw Karban as a thorn in his side, nitpicking at the smallest things to torment the young boy.
His trip to Bern Village had all been because of Raos.
Karban, go to the temple in Bern Village. If you return safely, Ill acknowledge you as my brother.
It was the first time his brother had given him an order.
He promised that if Karban returned unharmed, hed recognize him as a brother.
Not only that, but the object of his fear, Raos, vowed to stop the torment.
Of course, the young Karban didnt believe a word of it.
He suspected some trap had been laid.
But refusing meant death on the spot.
When Karban rejected the order, the bullying escalated to another level.
From that day on, poison appeared in his food, or drugs were sprinkled on his clothes, ruining his skin.
Countless other cruelties followed, until Karban finally departed for Bern.
And there, he was driven to his death.
My brother truly meant to kill me.
He realized it during the experiments.
Just as hed feared, Raos had no intention of acknowledging him as a brother.
Even so, when hed left for Bern, a sliver of hope had lingered.
Time to head back.
Jeong Hoon smiled brightly after easily subduing Raos.
Ah, yes...
Karban had no choice but to nod.
But on the way back to the annex, Karbans steps came to an abrupt halt.
Whats wrong?
Jeong Hoon tilted his head.
No... why are those guys following us?
Karban pointed at the knights trailing behind.
The two knights were Raoss personal guards.
It made no sense for them to be following.
I cast a spell on them.
A spell?
Yes. I brainwashed them to protect the Third Prince instead of the crown prince from now on.
I-Is that even possible...?
Its exactly as you see.
What kind of person is he?
Karban was curious but decided not to ask.
He doubted hed get an answer anyway.
Argh! You damn bastard!
Boom!
Raos screamed in rage, trashing the room.
......
A servant cleaning quietly slipped out.
One servant had been thrown into the underground dungeon yesterday for unsatisfactory cleaning.
Outside, he struggled to steady his trembling body.
Left alone, Raos sat on the bed, still fuming, repeatedly slamming his fist down.
What the hell happened? Shit, why wont my strength come back?!
Ever since that freak touched him, his power had been draining away.
At first, he thought it was temporary.
But even after a full day, it hadnt returned.
From muscle strength onward, everything felt like it had regressed to a childs level.
It has to be that bastards doing.
Nothing else explained it.
He was surely still with Karban.
Raos headed to the training grounds where the knights were practicing.
Jeong Hoons words had been true.
Days passed, and Raos no longer came to torment him.
The knights duty-bound to protect Raos stayed glued to Third Prince Karban Rud Hicksmeon in the annex.
Even a short walk outside brought them shadowing him before he knew it.
Karban found it deeply uncomfortable.
Your Highness, if its inconvenient, shall we hang back a bit?
The knight, perceptive, asked cautiously.
No... its not that...
Oh, Your Highness, please dont speak so formally to us. Were just swords protecting you.
Exactly. It makes us uncomfortable if you do.
No, you guys are my brother Raoss people.
Karban swallowed the words.
Finishing the walk, they returned to the annex and ran into Jeong Hoon.
Hed stayed in the annex without leaving for days.
Ill only be here a few days before I go.
He owed this comfortable stay to his benefactor.
Karban approached and bowed at a perfect ninety degrees.
Im sorry for making you stay in such humble quarters.
Its fine. Its quiet and nice here.
The annex was far enough from the palace to be quite peaceful.
It was a great spot for rest.
But that serene atmosphere shattered in an instant.
Crown Prince Raos is coming!
Karbans face drained of color at the news.
Hes back?
I figured he wouldnt stay quiet.
Jeong Hoon smiled as if hed expected it.
Youre not going to kill him this time, are you...?
Thats what hed said.
Stay in your room like a mouse, or die.
But Jeong Hoon shook his head.
That would just get me in trouble.
Killing the crown prince of the Hicksmeon Empire?
Itd brand him a traitor mid-episode quest, complicating progress.
Raos Rud Hicksmeon was meant to meet his end in the episodes latter stages.
Right now, Jeong Hoons task was protecting Karban.
Thats a relief...
He didnt want his benefactor in hot water.
So what to do about the visiting Raos?
His body naturally tensed up rigid.
Seeing it, Jeong Hoon patted his shoulder with a grin.
Of course I said I wouldnt kill him.
I-Is there a way?
Yes. Just chase him off, right?
A refreshingly simple solution.
...Understood.
Bolstered, Karban headed to the annex entrance to greet Raos.
There, Raos waited with fifty knights.
So you were here after all.
But Raoss gaze wasnt on Karbanit was fixed on Jeong Hoon.
His stats had plummeted to an untrained adult males level.
I warned you. Dont get cocky.
Jeong Hoon swept back his hair and approached Raos.
Raos flinched and hid behind the knights.
C-Capture that bastard!
Your Highness?
Your Highness... whats wrong all of a sudden?
The knights were baffled.
The hot-blooded crown prince whod normally charge with sword drawn was cowering in fear.
But with the order given, the knights drew their blades.
Brainwashing activated.
Jeong Hoon cast it on the knights.
Their eyes glazed over in an instant, their stats being relatively low.
You protect Third Prince Karban Rud Hicksmeon.
The knights nodded at Jeong Hoons words.
Then step aside.
They parted at his next command, revealing Raos Rud Hicksmeon cowering behind.
W-What?! I said capture that bastard now!
His intelligence had dropped with his stats.
With proper wits, he wouldnt act so foolishly.
Jeong Hoon stepped forward with Heavenly Demon Supremacy, closing in on Raos instantly.
Raos gasped, his body shaking like a leaf.
I warned you, didnt I? Live like a mouse, or die.
Jeong Hoons voice dripped with killing intent.
His glare pinned Raos, promising immediate death.
Raos hiccuped, face ashen.
Hic! Th-Thats...
Die? Or go home quietly?
I-Ill go home... Hic!
Get lost before I change my mind.
Y-Yes... Yes!
At Jeong Hoons chin flick, Raos spun and fled.
He stumbled and fell repeatedly but never stopped running.
Wow...
Karban, watching from afar, was awestruck again.
No force used this time.
Yet subdued so easily.
His benefactor was incredible.
He wont bother us for a while now.
Karban nodded gratefully.
Thank you so much! I want to repay you, but the favors keep piling up.
Dont worry about it.
Three days remained.
Survive them, and the next episode quest would unlock.
You have completed the quest.
You gained 10,000,000 EXP.
You may undertake the next quest.
Seven days passed, and the quest cleared.
From there, it was smooth sailing.
As the Third Princes benefactor, he aided in solidifying his position.
A long-term quest, but Jeong Hoon skipped skippable parts to progress swiftly.
Now, the final quest loomed.
Episode Quest: Fall of the Hicksmeon Empire
- Prerequisite: New Heir Quest completed
- Rewards: Next quest unlock EXP
- Description: Execute the seed of ruin, Raos Rud Hicksmeon.
It appeared.
Normally, hed assist the Second Prince to take down Raos Rud Hicksmeon and end the episode.
The path had shifted slightly, but the finale remained.
From the original dimensions tale, the prince shouldve fallen early, but his wits let him surround himself with allies, eroding Raoss base.
As the succession race turned against him, Raos grew desperate and made the worst choice.
He summoned a Transcendent and made a pact.
Raos, empowered by the pact, lost reason, rampaged, and destroyed the Hicksmeon Empire.
Even progressing the episode quest to stop him wouldnt restore the ruined dimension, but completion demanded his death.
Accepting the quest, Jeong Hoon stormed Raoss barricaded room.
Boom!
The door burst open to a foul stench and rising black smoke.
Jeong Hoon drew Leviathan and swung at Raos.
Clang!
Raos parried with his sword.
Despite drained stats, he blocked perfectly.
Too late.
Kukuku, its done. Ive got the ultimate power! Now I can kill you!
Raos leered, aiming his sword at Jeong Hoon.
Was it that hard to live like a mouse?
Jeong Hoon sighed softly, stepping into Heavenly Demon Supremacy.
Kruku, shut up. You die by my hand.
Clang!
Swords clashed again.
Power enough to topple a mighty empire alone.
No mere ordinary Transcendent pact.
Black Field activated.
All stats boosted by 1.8x.
Black Field reduces all invading monster stats by 15.
Jeong Hoon deployed his upgraded Legendary Black Field.
Unique grade had been 1.5x; Legendary jumped it to 1.8x.
He layered stat amp ring, Celestial Aura, and more.
Final episode quest.
Full power to end it quick.
Slash
Jeong Hoons swing severed Raoss right arm with a chilling cut.
Gaaah!
Raos screamed belatedly.
Slash
Next, his right leg.
Raos toppled, off-balance.
Guhhh! Why! Why!
Why? Because youre weak.
Jeong Hoon swung to finish.
Clang!
Someone appeared, blocking his blade.
The Transcendent Raos had pacted with.