NOVEL NEXT Chapter 68: Speechless
The first prince of the empire, Keithwood, was a man without desire.
He had absolutely no interest in the position of Emperor, to the extent that he wanted to renounce his right to succession as soon as possible. However, fortunately or unfortunately, contrary to this, he was an extremely capable person, and his father, the current Emperor, had high expectations of him. Because of this, he found himself in a situation where he could not simply say he wanted to receive a remote territory and live quietly.
(Ahh, why do I have to deal with kingdom nobility… It’s the worst, seriously…)
He scratched his head several times, unable to help feeling gloomy.
No one from the empire would willingly interact with people from the kingdom. Keithwood was no exception.
“Let’s confirm one last time. Think of them not as nobles but as royal family members. If anyone shows even the slightest suspicion towards the kingdom, do not hesitate to punish them. Execute the death penalty if necessary.”
“Yes!”
Ever since this visit was decided, every day had truly been depressing. Why did the kingdom, which had shown no interest in the Sword Saint Festival, decide to participate this year? What was the reason?
It was natural to suspect some political motive behind it. This time, they said it was part of an educational program and would bring students, but it was hard to take that at face value.
(Really, once I guide them to the castle, I’ll sleep a lot…)
But, to be honest, Keithwood had no desire to be involved at all.
As he was thinking such things—he saw.
Two carriages bearing the kingdom’s flag, surrounded by knights in pure white.
“Could I somehow be allowed to return as is, by some mistake?” Holding onto such an impossible wish, as the prince of this country, he must give one last pep talk.
“Hey, stay sharp—huh?!”
He saw something black writhing, approaching the kingdom’s carriage.
Keithwood’s knowledge immediately identified it. It was a pack of monsters called Hellhounds.
“Draw your swords!!”
In an instant, he kicked off the ground.
Keithwood accelerated with tremendous speed.
(Damn it, this is the worst! Can I make it in time!?)
If the kingdom’s carriage were attacked here, it would be a matter of responsibility for the empire. Moreover, it could give the kingdom a good pretext to wage war.
The empire had formally requested and had adventurers thoroughly exterminate the monsters on this highway for the past few days to prevent such a situation.
Keithwood had checked it himself the day before. It was impossible for such a pack to appear when only a few were expected.
Questions bubbled up like clouds, but he instantly banished them from his mind as now was not the time to think about that.
“GRRRAAAAGGGHHHH!!”
“─ ‘Limit Break’ ‘Super Physical Enhancement’ ‘Super Acceleration’!!”
Keithwood’s speed increased even more, but he knew it. He wouldn’t make it in time.
Then, the next thing to consider was how to minimize the damage. He absolutely must avoid any fatalities.
(Why does this have to happen, damn it all!!! ─ Huh, what’s that?)
At that moment, what came into his view was a large staff sticking out from the carriage. Upon closer inspection, it wasn’t growing from it but was being thrust out through the window.
The next moment,
“─ What!?”
A piercing sound rang through the ears. The air trembled violently, and the shock brushed against his skin.
“…Huh?”
What exactly had happened? The answer became clear almost immediately.
─ Pop!
The leading Hellhound literally exploded. Starting with that, one Hellhound after another burst, and the pack turned into chunks of flesh scattered around.
“Haha… magic sure is amazing… I’m okay, right?”
Touching his body, wondering if he might explode like the Hellhounds, it seemed he was fine.
At that moment, feeling a presence, he looked up,
“Excuse me. We have come from the kingdom─”
A woman wearing a large pointed hat, truly resembling a magician, descended slowly. It appeared that the guests from the kingdom were unharmed.
(Wow, she’s flying.)
Keithwood thought this with a very light-hearted mind.
However, what was that sudden appearance of a pack of Hellhounds? It felt unnaturally strange.
This sense of discomfort remained with him until the end.
Sword Saint.
The empire’s greatest military asset, well-known without saying.
Its mere implication could exert pressure on neighboring countries, not just as a simple force but also carrying profound political significance.
─ Thud, thud, thud, thud, thud!
“…”
However, he, “Cyrus Schwarz,” himself had no interest in the world of politics. His sensibilities were very much down-to-earth.
And ever since he somewhat casually participated in the Sword Saint Festival and attained his current status, he has never had to worry about money. Still, the reason he continues to act as an adventurer is simply because he “loves it.”
─ Thud, thud, thud, thud, thud!
“Cyrus, you’re awake, aren’t you!? Trying to pretend you’re not home when I come knocking!? You’re going to make me sad, you know! Shall I start crying and wailing right here, huh!?”
“…”
For the citizens of the empire, it’s common knowledge, but surprisingly, Cyrus’s residence is not luxurious. In fact, it’s smaller than the average commoner’s dwelling.
He once tried living in a mansion given by the emperor but returned it almost immediately, saying it was too large and he couldn’t relax.
He is generally pleased with his current living situation, but if there’s one complaint, it’s the overly eager visitors whose knocks echo too loudly.
─ Thud, thud, thud, thud, thud!
“Hey, Cyrus!! CYRUUUUUUUUUUS!!”
“AAAAAHH!! SHUT UUUUUUUP!!”
When Cyrus, driven by anger, opened the door, there was the girl he expected, looking not the slightest bit apologetic, as expected.
“Stop messing around, Meety! I’ve told you time and again─”
“Come with me.”
“Huh? Hey, wait… Don’t pull meeee!”
Without understanding the situation at all and without a chance to prepare himself, Cyrus was forcefully dragged away.
The reason why Meety, a half-elf girl with the Spirit Eye, took Cyrus, the Sword Saint, with her was exceedingly simple.
It was, so to speak, merely a “hunch.”
The massive number of spirits she saw—no ordinary person could be so beloved by spirits. Whether friend or foe, or perhaps neither, was still unclear, but she thought it best to show Cyrus, whom she deeply trusted.
“…This is bad.”
Leading the way on a white horse, the first prince, followed by two carriages bearing the flag of the Myrstia Kingdom, moved slowly down the highway.
To the common folk, this spectacle was unusual enough, but what she saw was even more astonishing—spirits of all elements, including light and dark, swarmed around them.
The sheer volume of information was so overwhelming that it made her dizzy, forcing her to close her eyes momentarily.
“Wow, did some important person come or something?”
Meety sighed at Cyrus’s overly carefree comment.
“Idiot, don’t you know? That is─”
At that moment, the carriage abruptly stopped. Then, the door slowly opened.
“Luke-kun, you can’t just get off suddenly!”
One was a blonde youth with very handsome features, and the other was a black-haired youth who seemed panicked, trying to stop him.
The voices of the empire’s citizens watching this scene halted, and tension spread. They had thought the carriage carrying the kingdom’s nobility, whom they wanted nothing to do with, would pass by without incident, but now someone was disembarking.
It was indeed an abnormal situation. However, the reason everyone at the scene lost their words wasn’t just that. It was the aura. The overwhelming presence of a ruler, worthy of being called charisma, had stolen the words from the people.
“Hey, you there, girl”
The blonde youth, Luke’s words made the people part to the sides as if to say it wasn’t them he was speaking to.
In front of him stood the half-elf girl and a man yawning sleepily.
“…”
However, Meety couldn’t utter a word.
The reason was─all the spirits of every attribute except light were swirling around him.
The fact that she could swallow the word “monster” that popped into her mind without uttering it must have been fortunate for her.