Chapter 78

The Fifth Prince’s Rise!

The competition for the next imperial throne began to flow in a direction no one had expected over the span of just a few days.

Now, no one could dismiss Fifth Prince Yurion as someone of the past any longer.

Yuwon had now firmly established himself as a very powerful contender who might very well sit upon the next imperial throne.

“Indeed… it was Yurion, that brat.”

The Crown Prince, who had long ago recognized Yuwon’s true worth and acknowledged him as his strongest rival, maintained an uncommon calm even in such turbulent times.

“That bastard finally caused a stir.”

Second Prince, who had barely obtained a clue toward fixing his arm, merely offered his usual grumbling laced with profanity, and aside from that, he devoted himself wholly to treating his ruined arm without any notable movement.

“…? Why would an Inquisitor of Heresy…?”

Fourth Prince had no time to concern himself with Yuwon’s affairs, due to the sudden notice of a visit from the Swordsage Carniel.

The absurd tales of Yuwon’s feats that spread from the mouths of the Houkijisu participants were far too unbelievable to accept at first.

However, with the inclusion of Marquis Carson and Count Valaris, alongside the Houkijisu participants’ consistent testimonies, the stories were barely accepted as fact.

Initially, stories shared by the Houkijisu participants who had returned to their respective families spread among their fathers. But soon, those fathers and their peers began spreading the stories even further.

“Have you heard as well, Count? That news.”

“In these times, if you mean that news… you must be referring to the rumors surrounding His Highness the Fifth Prince. Yes, I have heard them well enough, Viscount. My child, too, praised His Highness the Fifth Prince with spit flying from his mouth.”

“Haha, do you think it’s only my child? The family elders say that if we don’t express support for His Highness the Fifth Prince, then the next head of the family should be entrusted to another child.”

“Is it really to that extent?”

“Yes, as you know, our family originally supported His Highness the Second Prince… but with what happened to His Highness the Second Prince’s arm, and with everyone accepting as fact that the ‘Sword of the Imperial Family’ was not the Second Prince but the Fifth Prince… not only I, but even the lords of neighboring territories are troubled.”

“Heh… the Fifth Prince I remember was skin and bones, with hollow eyes like a drug addict. How did he suddenly achieve such an astounding transformation…? The rumors that all his debauchery was a smokescreen must truly have been real.”

“Of course. Otherwise, how could such a transformation make any sense? He hid his strength from the entire world for more than ten years, only to draw his blade now… he truly was a venomous one. Venomous.”

“To aim for the throne as the youngest, he would need to be that ruthless.”

Across the nation, the name Yurion was spoken dozens of times a day by the lords. Yet at that very moment, the person at the center of it all, Yuwon, remained as relaxed as ever, whether he knew any of this or not.

The world around Yuwon had changed, but Yuwon’s daily routine had not.

He went to the library to read, occasionally supervised Terrien’s training, and used any spare time to continue his own training without neglect.

“Hey, you’re doing pretty well these days, aren’t you? Anyway, when are you going to pick up the equipment you commissioned?”

Yuwon answered Third Prince Bernid’s question with a smile. Though he did not say it outright, Yuwon also had high expectations for the equipment he had commissioned from Rohan.

“I was planning to make time to check how far it’s come along. If you’re curious, you could come with me.”

“No, forget it. I’ve had enough of heat and sweat in the South. Going all the way to a smithy is a bit…”

“How bland. Then I’ll go alone?”

“When are you coming back? What if you’re late? You know there are less than ten hours left until I have to take my medicine, right?”

Having experienced several occasions where Yuwon left alone only to disappear without a word, Bernid reacted sensitively the moment Yuwon said he would step away.

Seeing Bernid’s timidly frightened expression, Yuwon gently tapped Bernid’s shoulder and rose from his seat.

“Don’t worry. It won’t take more than a few hours. And if I’m late, ask Terrien. Even though I manage most of your medicine, Terrien has a few doses too.”

“…He doesn’t even take medicine, so why does he carry mine around?”

Because Yuwon had been easier on Bernid these days, Bernid acted a little bold.

It was his small rebellion, thinking maybe he should be entrusted with a few doses himself. Of course, Yuwon—who lived for the fun of teasing Bernid—had no intention of letting that pass.

“Hmm? I gave you a bit of convenience, and you’re dissatisfied? Well then, just wait until I come back. I’ll continue managing all of it. That’s what you want, isn’t it?”

At Yuwon’s words—uncertain whether serious or joking—Bernid’s face instantly turned pale.

“No, no. I must have been thinking wrong. Yes, it’s better to leave it with Terrien. Then hurry and go safely.”

Bernid pushed Yuwon away anxiously, worried that Yuwon might change his mind. Yuwon smiled faintly as he left.

“Right, that’s how it should be.”

At the same time, in the Crown Prince’s Palace.

Knock, knock, knock—

“Your Highness, you have a visitor.”

Just when the Crown Prince was troubled by the sudden rise of the Fifth Prince’s faction, an uninvited guest arrived.

“Who is it?”

Instead of the attendant, the guest standing beside him answered.

“It is the Fourth, Brother.”

Hearing the visit of Fourth Prince Mariel, the Crown Prince’s eyebrow twitched.

“Enter.”

Clack—

With the Crown Prince’s permission, the door of the office opened, and Fourth Prince Mariel stood before the Crown Prince.

“Have you been well, Brother?”

The Crown Prince greeted Mariel’s smiling face with a cold one. He did not seem pleased by the Fourth Prince’s presence.

“What brings you here without any notice?”

“I have urgent matters to discuss.”

“…Because of that brat Yurion, isn’t it.”

“Yes.”

“I don’t even need to hear it. You mean to suggest we join forces to defeat Yurion. But I have no intention of doing that—so what now?”

Despite the Crown Prince’s indirect refusal, the Fourth Prince smiled brightly as he delivered his barbed reply.

“How could you think you knew everything without even listening? Didn’t Your Highness think that such an attitude of yours had invited the current situation? I mean that conceit of believing you knew and controlled everything.”

The Fourth Prince poked at the Crown Prince’s sore spot. However, the Crown Prince did not care at all and snorted.

“Hng, you come to borrow strength from me and yet you dare try to teach me? Did you think I would fall for that? Sorry, but it’s a wasted effort. I am not someone who falls for such cheap tricks. Mariel.”

“If it benefits you, then it benefits you. It’s a proposal that would never harm you—won’t you at least hear it? I still have to surpass Big Brother even if I surpass Yurion, so either way it’s one mountain after another for me. But in this situation, Your Highness only needed to surpass the youngest one to secure your position completely. Aren’t you curious what I came to say?”

“Enough. Go back. I have no reason to mingle with someone as busy scheming as Yurion. Your intention is obvious—you want me to take the risk while you reap the gain.”

“Hm… I didn’t know Your Highness thought of me so poorly. Then should I really go? If you send me away like this, you will regret it.”

“Are you still there? If you don’t withdraw properly, you will end up showing disgrace before my subordinates….”

During this entire long exchange, the Crown Prince hadn’t even offered the Fourth Prince a seat. It was an unmistakable order to leave.

‘If I don’t draw Yulia in now, it’ll be dangerous.’

They said that a thirsty man dug the well. Now, it was Mariel. Mariel subtly revealed the strongest card he had.

“…The First Sword Saint of the Church of Lehl. No, Heresy Inquisitor Karniel is targeting Yurion.”

The pinnacle of the Church of Lehl’s proud Holy Knight Order.

At the mention of Karniel—said to be on par even with Marquis Bradman, the Empire’s Greatest Sword—the Crown Prince, who had been immovable until now, flinched.

“…! What? The Heresy Inquisitor is targeting Yurion?”

The Crown Prince was startled and showed a most uncharacteristic expression.

Seeing this, Mariel smiled triumphantly.

“It seems Your Highness finally feels it worth hearing. May I sit?”

A small, unremarkable village on the outskirts of the Capital.

On a distant hill in that village, backed by a mountain, stood a tiny hut.

The man who stamped unnamed marks. It was the house of Rohan the blacksmith. And today, a visitor had come to Rohan.

Knock, knock, knock—

A suspicious man in a deeply pressed robe—as if he had forgotten the heat—knocked on the door. Yet no answer came from inside.

“Sir, I came knowing you were here. It is Karniel.”

The visitor’s identity was Karniel, the Sword Saint of the Church of Lehl.

“…It’s open. Come in.”

Karniel smirked lightly, opened the door, and stepped into the hut. He threw off the suffocatingly deep robe and a bright smile spread across his face.

“You were here. I was terribly nervous, worried the information I had might be wrong, sir.”

“I ought to move soon. Why are there so many riffraff coming to find me lately… What’s a proud Sword Saint doing here? Another witch hunt?”

Despite Rohan’s harsh reception, Karniel replied only with a smile.

“A witch hunt? No. Those I deal with are not such greenhorns, but wicked forces that threaten the peace of the continent.”

“Eh, tch tch. Call it an earring or a nose ring depending on where you hang it. I don’t want to hear it.”

Rohan did not spare even a glance at the Sword Saint, absorbed in his work.

Instead of provoking him, Karniel chose to quietly observe the interior. In one corner lay neatly stacked equipment.

‘Hmm…?’

Even at a glance, the swords and armor were no ordinary items, and they instantly drew Karniel’s attention.

“Those swords and armor in the corner. Are they new work?”

“Still in progress.”

“Each one is a masterpiece… a sword worthy of legend. If I take just one….”

Rohan cut him off.

“Tch. Don’t even think about coveting them. They already have owners.”

“Hmm… but just taking a quick look wouldn’t hurt, would it?”

To this request, Rohan drew a cold line.

“No, don’t. If you touch that sword, you won’t be satisfied with any other.”

“…? But I already have the sword you made for me, sir.”

Karniel asked in disbelief. Rohan’s reply was filled with conviction.

“It’s still in progress, but I have a good feeling. That one will be the greatest work of my life.”

“Huh… is it that much? Then I want to see it even more….”

A shift awakened inside Karniel.

Until now it had been curiosity—now it was greed. His gaze remained fixed on the sword and armor.

“I told you not to. If you touch it, be ready to get thrown out and to never see my face again.”

Rohan was never one to speak gently, but this time, his tone was truly sharp.

At that chilling warning, Karniel snapped back to his senses and turned his gaze away.

“It seems I still have far to go. At your words, a dark greed rose in my heart and blinded me for a moment.”

“Dark greed, my ass… Stop talking nonsense and take out your sword. Since you’re here, I’ll look at it. Isn’t that why you came?”

“Yes, that’s right. Then I’ll ask without reservation.”

As if waiting for this moment, Karniel unfastened the sword at his waist—sheath and all—to hand to Rohan. Or rather, he tried to.

Knock, knock, knock—

A new knock rang on Rohan’s hut.

A new visitor had arrived.

“It’s me, sir.”

It was the moment when Yuwon and the Heresy Inquisitor met.

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