Chapter 177: The Thing He Forgot

When I got back to the imperial capital, Sebas welcomes me back.

Welcome back, sir.

Yeah, Im back.

As usual, I remove my silver mask, take off the black robe, and change into my clothes.

After that, I sit down and tiredly lean back on my chair.

You look tired, sir.

Yeah, Im tired. In the first place, the magic power I used in the battle with the Spirit Turtle still hasnt recovered and the negotiation really took a strain on my mental health too.

A negotiation, sir?

Yeah, Ive negotiated with Gordon to free Sonia. Her family that got taken hostage is under Egors protection now.

That is good news. Now there is no one we have to watch out for in His Highness Gordons faction anymore.

I nod to Sebass words.

Looking at the Spirit Turtle incident, I cant imagine Sonia comes up with any plan for Gordon but if her family is still in his hand, anything can happen.

In the worst-case scenario, Kevin himself might be the one serving under Gordon with Sonia as a hostage. In that regard, this one case is quite big.

I was able to sell a favor to Elder Egor. its not a bad deal.

A weight has been lifted off your mind as well doesnt it. Dont you think that this is a thing to celebrate, sir?

I smile bitterly at Sebass words.

After all, it seems that I cant hide anything from this butler of mine.

Well, thats right. Its great that Sonia was saved. I feel like I have been able to unload a burden off my mind for once.

She was someone who you didnt have the chance to save even though you want to after all. If possible, Id like her to be on our side though.

Its well known that Sonia is Gordons strategist. Even if she wishes to join us, we wouldnt be able to take her in immediately.

Thats true. We already have Vin-dono as well.

Right, we already caused enough fusses by recruiting Vin as our strategist, if we recruit an enemy strategist this time, our faction might be split in half after all. We dont have time to deal with that.

The 25th-anniversary celebration for my fathers coronation will begin soon.

Guests from all over the world will gather in the Empire and a big festival will be held inside the imperial capital.

At that time, we, the Emperors children will be in charge of entertaining the VIP guests of each country.

The Empire is one of the top three superpowers in the continent.

We still have two rivals to worry about.

One is the Kingdom of Perlan to the west, another is the Sokal empire in the east.

It is widely recognized that the Empire is by far the best in terms of size and influence but as long as we stay at the top, the others will come to take our place. Thats why the Empire has been keeping a certain balance.

The one who will receive one of the VIPs from those two countries will definitely be Eric. 

The problem is another one.

By the time the ceremony begins, Father will call back Gordon. Will he appoint Gordon or Leo to do that job? Looking at the result of the succession war so far, the answer is clear.

If things go well, Leo will be appointed but if a scandal occurs, that might change.

Since it is almost certain that Leo will get that job, I saved Sonia using the information that could be used to damage Gordon.

Still, without that information, Gordon might be appointed to the job. With that being the case, Leo might be seen as his substitute. We can not allow that to happen.

We have to show the foreign dignitaries that Leo has risen above Gordon. its time for people to know that Leo has climbed up to the 2nd place in this succession war and start making foreign connections.

It is finally the time.

We are not there yet. The aim is to stand at the top, the Emperors throne. Leo isnt let his guard down either. After all, our strongest enemy is still reigning at the top.

Certainly, Prince Eric is still unharmed so far.

It is not just being unharmed. Gordon and Zandras supporters are flowing into his camp. His faction is much better an option than us who were in direct conflict with them. No matter what kind of struggle we have gone through, Erics position at the top is unwavering. It was because he is fully aware of that, that he doesnt move so far.

So he simply stayed still to strengthen his power.

Yes, and he doesnt have to worry about Fathers mood as well. Zandra and Gordon wanted the seat of the Emperor. That was clear in Fathers eyes. That was why the hit they took was so strong. But Eric is different. He has shown no such ambition for the throne. He simply took it for granted that the throne would be his. Father likes how confident he is and how he is thinking about what would happen once he becomes the emperor.

In the end, Eric is still the first choice. The other two were running out of control because Eric was reigning supreme over them so they have to resort to extreme means.

Even so.

Sebas..do you think that those three have changed?

Compared to when His Highness the Crown Prince was still alive, sir?

Yeah, thats right.

Yes, they have changed. Very much so.

I seeI was told the same by Sonias stepfather. He said that there is something wrong with this succession war. Do you think so too?

.a succession war is a conflict that will occur every half a century, sir. All of the emperors have fought in such a battle before.

True. if it gets out of hands, it is the duty of the Emperor at the time to get it under control.

Yes. I have read the records of the past succession wars and I still remember the previous one as well. If I take those things into accountthis succession war is definitely strange, sir.

I turned silent at Sebass words.

Now its three people. Sebas was active as an assassin in the last succession war. Of course, he would have detailed information about it. As Sebas says, at least this succession war is different from the last one.

What do you think is strange about it?

In the past, there was rarely any candidate that would consider a move that would damage the Empire. Even if they are completely cornered, both Princess Zandra and Prince Gordon resorted to causing a civil war to create a situation where they can retain their power. Prince Eric who has been looking down at this situation from above is the same. When you become an emperor, the Empire will be yours. Intentionally damaging something that will eventually become yours is too illogical. This is certainly strange, sir.

So they think that as long as their faction survives, they can reverse the situation later huh. This is certainly unnatural.

It would be too illogical to say that they were simply too stupid.

If I use that reason then there is a question of when have they become such an idiot.

At least when the Crown Prince was still alive, both Zandra and Gordon were highly evaluated by everyone.

..this thing might be deeper than I thought huh.

Even so, the thing that you must do still hasnt changed, sir.

Exactly. If the three of them have changed, it is all the more reason that we cant let them become an emperor. Both for mine and my familys sake.

Shouldnt you say that it is for the Empires sake, sir?

Thinking about that is Leos job.

Sebas makes a troubled smile at my reply.

As we were chatting, I heard a knock from the door.

When I told them to come in, Finne came into the room with Christa and Rita behind her.

Sorry for intruding.

Whats wrong? You have quite a party with you today.

You have been turning them away because of your busy work after all, sir.

Sebas smoothly follows up for me.

I see, thats the excuse he used while I was away huh. Thinking so, I stroke Christas head.

My bad, Christa. Im sorry.

UUn..Nii-sama is busy so I asked Finne to play with me.

Is that so. Sorry about that. Finne too.

No, its nothing. I wasnt the one who played with Her Highness after all.

Saying so, Finne directed her sympathy filled eyes in the direction of Rita.

Sieg is being hugged tight in Ritas arms.

It seems that he was a toy rather than a playmate though.

He should have just arrived back on a fast horse together with Lynfia and Leo too. How pitiful.

Thats right. Nii-sama. Look.

Said Christa as she approached Rita.

He should have sensed the danger to himself but Sieg doesnt react in any way. It seems his mind has gone blank already.

To such Sieg, Christa holds his head while Rita grabs onto his foot.

Then they started slowly pulling him into opposite directions.

Im stretching, Im stretching.stretching

Sieg repeatedly mutters in a small voice.

So he has broken already huh.

However, when he was stretched to a certain level, he suddenly shouted as though he regained his consciousness.

IM STRETCHING TOO MUCH!?  IT HURTS!!!

Its amazing right!? Al-nii! Sieg can be stretched a lot you know!!

Sieg.fluffy.

Thats a weird way to play huh. How did you come up with it?

When Sieg tried to look under a womans skirtLynfia stopped him and taught us that we can play with him like this.

I see. You can stretch him more, you know.

Like hell they can!? Im stretching too much already! R-E-L-E-A-S-E-M-E!!

Sieg desperately shakes his body while shouting Like hell I would become a childrens toy.

Although he is swaying up and down, he couldnt escape the hand of the two children.

The scene was too comical so I ended up laughing at it but without missing that Sieg flares up.

DONT YOU DARE LAUGH!!?? KID! YOU ARE THEIR GUARDIAN SO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS SITUATION!!

I see. Sorry about that.

I apologize and make the collar around his neck heavier.

Unable to support the sudden weight, Christa and Rita released their hands from Sieg.

Sieg then slammed onto the ground with a loud noise.

Alright, done.

ISNT THERE ANY BETTER WAY TO DO THAT!!?? YOU MIGHT ALREADY FORGET BUT I AM STILL AN S-RANK ADVENTURER YOU KNOW!!

After proclaiming so, Sieg became frozen for some reason.

Then he clapped his hands together as though he just remembered something.

Thats right. I am an S-rank adventurer..!

So you forgot about it yourself huh.

Just how comfortable has he become with that body.

Hey! Kid! What about the deal that you would try to turn me back to normal!

Thats quite a thing you say when you forget about it yourself. I will tell Silver about you where there is an opportunity. Be patient until then.

Dont joke around! Certainly, with this body, I can do all kinds of things with cute girls and since I can see things from below, I can enjoy a lot of views too, wait, everythings good isnt it!

Then theres no problem right. Just stay like that for a while.

But I cant do the good stuff with the girls right! I want to do the good stuff with a cute girl!!

Good stuff?

Im just talking to myself. Dont mind me.

Since he was making an inappropriate joke in front of the children, I made his collar turn super heavy.

GYAAAAA!!?? Im going to sink into the floor!!!!

Christa and Rita worriedly poke at him but Sieg only gets more riled up. However, he doesnt resist the two children and completely turns into their toy.

The tea is ready.

GIVE ME ONE TOO!!!!!

Since he was trying to crawl his way toward Finne, I made the collar even heavier.

He really is a relentless guy. If I keep quiet about it for a while, he will probably forget that he is an S-rank adventurer again huh.

Lets leave him like that until he forgets.

Thinking so, I sip on my tea.

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