Chapter 98
Chapter 98
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 98
Chapter Title: Imperial Palace (5)
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“My companions are all as skilled as I am.”
“Of course, they must be. But I can’t quite tell yet. I suppose I’ll have to see for myself…”
His attitude was subtly provocative.
It seemed he wanted to test my skills after all.
I had expected this.
He might not be one of those who lived and died by dueling the strong.
But as a swordsman dedicated to the martial arts, he couldn't just let it go.
It was a hassle, but fine, I would accept his challenge.
Once, and only once, would be enough.
The more I tried to avoid it, the more he would persist.
Better to get it over with cleanly.
“If you truly insist… I will be your opponent.”
His face lit up as if he’d been waiting for those very words.
He seemed thrilled by the simple prospect of sparring with the Hero, without any ulterior motives.
Huh? Isn't it a bit early to be celebrating?
The Second Prince was the type who only learned his lesson after getting hit.
To speed things along…
I needed to take this opportunity to show him the true power of the Hero.
A key trait of the Second Prince:
Like a true man, he didn't hold grudges.
If I went easy on him, he’d be the type to demand why.
With a sense of resignation, I decided on my course of action.
I would beat him until the words “I give up” came from his own mouth.
His status as a prince was a bit concerning, but it probably wouldn't be a major issue.
If, by some chance, a problem arose… ah, who cares! I’ll do as I please!
The hope and savior of humanity.
The Hero ought to be an inviolable existence.
With a calm heart, I aimed my sword at the prince.
* * *
Second Prince Karl was quite strong.
He had innate talent, yes, but his environment had been nothing short of perfect.
As a prince, he would have received the highest level of training.
Having sparred with the knights of the Imperial Guard, it would be strange if he were weak.
By the Hero Academy's standards, he was a top-tier A-rank powerhouse.
But, well, that was still far from enough to face me.
I drew my personal weapon.
Unless I was exterminating a being of evil, there was no need to summon the Holy Sword.
“That sword also looks quite fine. Could it be…”
“Yes. It’s the work of a Dwarf master craftsman.”
“I see… That makes sense.”
He nodded as if he understood.
Then, as if something suddenly occurred to him, he asked playfully.
“They say a good calligrapher doesn't blame his pen. What are your thoughts on that?”
In my personal opinion, that’s complete nonsense.
A better pen will always produce a better result.
The high-ranking officials of the Demon King’s Army were incredibly strong.
If I were to face them now, even with the Holy Sword, defeat would be certain.
After finishing my business at the Imperial Palace.
I planned to travel around, acquiring hidden items.
Only by obtaining all of them could I even begin to predict a victory.
Did the phrase ‘gear-dependent’ exist for no reason?
Though some people managed to defeat bosses with only basic equipment, I was perfectly normal.
That kind of masochistic playstyle wasn't for me…
Isn't it better to get things done quickly and enjoy life?
I wanted to hurry up and start a heart-pounding newlywed life with Ceria.
And I wanted to put a chicken leg in each of our little cutie's hands!
Of course, I couldn't voice such a bold ambition.
I put on a somber expression and pointed out the Second Prince’s impudence.
“The path of the Hero is expected to be fraught with peril. Countless trials will surely come.”
“Hmm, I suppose that’s true…”
“I don’t mind if I get hurt, but the lives of my precious companions are also on the line.”
“…”
“Therefore, I wish to be as well-equipped as possible.”
A look of belated realization crossed his face.
Seeming to recognize his slip of the tongue, he offered an apology.
“Ah, I spoke too thoughtlessly. Please forget what I said.”
He seemed genuinely sorry.
Sorry? Then give me everything! I don’t need empty apologies!
Artifacts weren't only found in dungeons.
Naturally, plenty were stored away in the Imperial Palace as well.
Among them, about a dozen were worth using.
Of course, it wasn't like they would just hand them over to us.
The system was that you’d acquire them one by one as the imperial family’s favorability increased.
Well, since this world was reality, things might be a little different.
If I insisted I absolutely needed something, regardless of favorability, they might reluctantly give it to me?
Anyway, first things first, I had to deal with the Second Prince.
Given his respect for the strong,
showing him my power would surely cause his favorability to skyrocket.
“It’s alright. Shall we begin?”
The Second Prince’s demeanor changed in an instant.
As if thrilled by the prospect of a spar with the Hero, his fighting spirit blazed endlessly.
The type with a strong competitive streak…
No matter how I looked at it, he was more of a warrior than anything else.
I didn't care for much else, but I did like his integrity.
I had no intention of becoming overly friendly with him.
But having him as a backer would make things easier in the future.
“No need to hold back. I may not be on your level, but I’m confident in my own skills.”
He took his stance, asserting that he was no pushover.
His display of confidence was both manly and, at the same time, reminiscent of a frog in a well.
“Well, I am a bit concerned…”
“My status? You can forget about that for a moment. I’ve been through plenty of rough bouts already.”
He said he’d been knocked around quite a bit while sparring with the knights.
Well, I’d guessed as much, so it wasn't particularly surprising.
The Second Prince was far from authoritarian.
Even when he’d shown up unannounced, he’d only brought a single escort knight.
He must have left his followers behind, thinking we might feel uncomfortable.
He was definitely the type not to hold a grudge.
And yet, my hesitation didn't easily fade.
Was it really okay to rough up an Imperial Prince?
Put simply, it was just like beating up the landlord’s second son.
Hmm, that somehow feels even weirder.
Whatever, I’ll just end it after giving him a taste of something spicy.
Men can get a little banged up when they spar, right?
I glanced at the Second Prince’s escort knight.
He was a middle-aged knight with a taciturn look, and he seemed quite strong.
He was more than just tight-lipped.
He seemed completely unfazed, as if to say this sort of thing happened all the time.
Well, that’s a relief.
A minor incident should be fine.
My disdain for the weak flared.
As I drew up my energy to its peak, the Second Prince’s face turned pale.
“—!”
The gap between us was truly overwhelming.
He froze, as if he’d never imagined the Hero’s power would be this immense.
It was too late for regrets.
If I was going to do this, I might as well go all out.
I quietly assumed my stance.
Though the Second Prince was large and muscular,
he was as tense as a mouse before a cat.
Huh? If you were going to be this scared, why did you ask for a fight?
After that, I relentlessly hammered the Second Prince, leaving him an absolute mess.
* * *
The Second Prince, Karl, was in a good mood.
The Heroes chosen by the Holy Sword were more than he had expected.
Jace, the heir of the Crodain family.
Esterize, a girl of unknown origin.
Just looking at them, he could understand why they were Heroes.
Putting aside their favorable impressions, they exuded an extraordinary dignity.
Despite their youth, he felt an inexplicable desire to respect them.
The reason he had sought them out was to establish a friendly relationship.
After all, there was nothing to lose by getting close to the Heroes.
For now, it was important to pay the most attention to Jace.
The fact that the Crodain family had produced a Hero.
Everyone around him had voiced their concerns about it.
It wasn't an exaggeration to say it was like giving wings to a tiger.
Their power was already formidable.
And now, the family heir had become the Hero.
They would likely hold an absolute position for the next hundred years.
It was only natural to be wary.
When one family’s power grew too strong, the balance would be shattered.
Of course, there were some who were optimistic that nothing would happen, and Karl was among that minority.
‘If they were aiming for something, they would have entered politics…’
The Crodain family, true to their martial roots, sought only strength.
And even that was dedicated solely to fighting the Demon King's Army.
It was an obvious fact, but those in power were prone to preemptive fear…
They should have approached this from a different angle in the first place.
Given their great power, it was wise to build a good relationship.
With the Crodain family’s support, there would be nothing to fear.
It would be more than enough to have a decisive impact on the competition for the throne.
Jace, in particular, was the Hero of this era, making his value even greater.
It was a situation where one couldn't help but be greedy.
So he had asked Jace to become one of his people.
It would be great if he accepted, and if not, so be it.
He’d thrown it out there lightly, but the result was as expected.
Jace had rejected him flatly, as if he didn't want to get caught up in complicated matters.
—I apologize, but I have no intention of serving anyone.
—I am well aware of my position.
It was the answer he had anticipated.
Like the Heroes before him, he meant to focus on his duty as the Hero.
While he wasn't without a sense of disappointment, he also felt a sense of relief.
Judging by Jace’s attitude, he at least wouldn't side with the First Prince.
In any case, it wasn't unpleasant. In fact, it was a refreshing feeling.
The courage to refuse a prince's request to his face was nothing short of admirable.
Yes, a Hero should be that confident.
Just confirming that heroic demeanor made the visit worthwhile.
Karl leisurely observed everyone.
Jace had a strong personality, but his companions were each charming in their own right.
An incredibly cute fox beastkin.
An Elven lady of unparalleled beauty.
There were two non-humans among them.
He had encountered beastkin occasionally, but this time was somehow different.
A surging desire. It went beyond wanting to pet her; he wanted to raise her.
It was as if he was falling under a bewitching spell.
It was a good thing he remembered his dignity as a prince.
A slight misstep, and he might have done something rash.
Afterward, he somehow managed to strike up a conversation with the Elven lady.
Elves rarely left their territories, so this was his first time seeing one in person.
A mystical and exotic feeling.
Karl found he could hardly tear his eyes away from her beautiful form.
She seemed to lack a bit of formality.
But as she was of a different race, not human, he could understand that much.
Her lack of caution for a prince was surprising, but he found her vivacity rather charming.
And so, he did it.
He asked her to be his partner at the ball.
He didn't have high hopes, but she smiled brightly and readily agreed.
Things were going smoothly.
With this, an opportunity to build a friendship was secured.
It was too soon to become close with the Heroes right away.
Just forming a connection with the Elven lady was a great achievement.
Of course, separate from such calculations, he had taken a liking to Ilensia.
They had only spoken briefly, but they surprisingly clicked.
It seemed it would be fine to pursue an ongoing relationship, rather than ending it as a one-time partner.
‘If there’s a problem…’
Karl glanced at Jace.
He didn't seem to mind him having a pleasant conversation with the Elven lady.
One might expect him to feel some subtle displeasure, but there was no sign of it.
Was it because he had a fiancée?
Still, it should be normal to feel some resistance to a man he’d just met hitting on his companion.
But instead, he just looked relieved, as if it was a good thing.
His reaction was truly indifferent; it seemed the saying that heroes were lechers wasn't always true.
That aside…
After observing the Hero's party for a while, it seemed their bond was quite strong.
Since they were all students at the academy, it was natural for them to be close.
While they all tended to be conscious of Jace, the overall atmosphere was bright.
Introductions were made.
It was about time to bring up his true purpose.
Just how strong was the Hero?
More than anything, Karl was incredibly curious about Jace's skills.
It was clear he was strong enough to be beyond compare, but he couldn't get a good sense of it.
The strongest power of humanity, who could crush mighty demons,
and stand against the Demon King, the pinnacle of evil.
He wanted to experience that reality for himself.
He knew he was no match, but just once would be enough.
With a nothing-to-lose attitude, Karl slyly revealed his true intentions.
—If you truly insist… I will be your opponent.
He readily accepted the request, which could be considered rude.
His status as a prince might have played a part, but he seemed to have a magnanimous nature.
The more he saw of him, the more he liked the man.
He could only hope they would maintain a good relationship from now on.
A moment later, Karl regretted his decision for the first time in his life.
“—!”
The true nature of the Hero, Jace.
He was a brute who would beat even an imperial prince senseless…