The Extra Prince Sets Out To Conquer The World

Duplion Palace, the King’s Office.

“Is it finally settled?”

The king sighed and slumped into his chair as the political strife that had begun with the queen’s whereabouts came to an end.

The queen’s impeachment vote had ended several months ago, but the impeachment was merely rejected.

Since the queen’s confinement, it took several months to resolve the underwater struggles over the rights held by the queen and the rights under the queen’s influence, as well as the minor political disputes and disturbances that resulted from it.

The queen, who had the aristocratic faction and the mysterious group called Arcana behind her, had many things in her hands, knowingly or unknowingly.

As a result, it took a long time to resolve everything.

“Congratulations, Your Majesty.”

When Sangseon, who had been put in charge of the royal household after the queen was confined to a separate palace, bowed his head and congratulated him, the king made a wry smile.

“Yes, it’s something to celebrate. Thanks to that, we’ve gained a lot.”

Behind the struggle over what the queen had left behind was the king as well.

As a result of this political strife, not only did he gain many rights, but he also dealt with some of the nobles of the aristocratic faction and grasped their weaknesses.

More than the rights, reducing the number of political enemies could be said to be the biggest gain of this political strife.

“It would have been nice if we could have struck at the body of the enemy.”

Unfortunately, they couldn’t reach the queen’s brother-in-law, the leader of the aristocratic faction, the marquis, and the core of his faction.

“Still, thanks to that, we were able to get a clue about the secret organization operating in the darkness.”

“We’ll have to see if it will remain a mere clue after being cut off, or if we can slowly weave it together.”

“I will do my best.”

The king nodded at Sangseon’s words.

“I trust you.”

“I’m deeply honored.”

At the king’s words, Sangseon bowed his head and left the office with courtesy.

Left alone, the king looked at the official document on the desk and smirked.

“Was it intentional or coincidental?”

The document was an official document stamped with the seal of the first prince, Yuan, sent from the relic management office in the constellation labyrinth of the relic city Vahanad, which was managed by the royal family.

This document was an official notification of Yuan’s survival, so it was a good counterargument for those who linked Yuan’s disappearance to his death.

For some reason, a few leaders of the aristocratic faction tried to work behind the scenes to officially declare Yuan dead.

“Is it related to the attempted assassination of the first prince?”

He narrowed his eyes, unable to know. Of course, there were also those who said that the existence of an official document did not mean that Yuan’s survival could be confirmed with certainty.

There was a sufficient possibility that the prince’s seal could be killed, taken away, and used arbitrarily, so it wasn’t wrong.

However, the important thing was that the existence of this document made it impossible to confirm the death of the first prince.

From Yuan’s point of view, it meant that he had prevented various annoying things that would happen when he returned to the palace later.

But even this would not last for many years.

“What is the first prince doing?”

He had unofficially learned that Yuan had gone to the Bastille Mountains through Horizon and Demiway, and that he had been in the resort city according to the letter from the Duke, the Protector of the Nation not long ago.

However, he had no idea what the prince was trying to do.

Whatever his intentions were, each and every move of the first prince had a great impact on the political world of the kingdom, knowingly or unknowingly.

Not only the queen’s impeachment vote but also the shackles of the Northern Army led by the Ghost of the Sword(Demiway I guess?) were released due to the subjugation of the Red Eyes.

Moreover, a secret pact between the first prince and the Protector of the Nation.

He was getting a headache.

“I already have a lot of work, and now he’s adding to my worries…”

The news of the death of the former sage and the purge of the Shadow Magic Tower by Viscount Wiesel made the magic world noisy.

In addition, while the Solar Order was carrying out the subjugation of demon worshippers, circumstances were revealed that a large-scale black magic ritual had taken place in the southern region, making the whole country unsettled.

“Haaah… I’m hungry.”

It was because he had been refraining from eating and drinking since Yuan left a warning to be careful of poison before leaving and since the queen’s confinement.

“When will Horazon come?”

Horazon, the most trustworthy close aide who could move around without anyone knowing, would secretly bring food for the king to eat.

Today, the king was hungry again.

*****

In the dark forest where not a single ray of light penetrated through the leaves.

A scarecrow wearing a straw hat stuck a long staff with a lantern containing blue ghostly fire into the ground and leaned against a rock.

Then, he reverently took out an old ocarina and blew it.

A bright and cheerful sound began to fill the dark forest.

******

The scorching summer sun beat down on the city.

About two days after Sword Demon Anastasia and Sword Fairy Nayuta had left the relic city, I sat on the window sill and asked Sophia.

“Your friend seems to be leaving; shouldn’t you see her off?”

Looking at the city outskirts with galaxy eyes, Amelia was leading the holy knights and priests out of the city.

At my question, Sophia, who was diligently kneading the power of the apostle with the Fallen Angel’s Horn, wiped her sweat with her sleeve and replied.

“It’s okay. I said goodbye yesterday.”

This girl is really shameless. After coming out of the ruins, she met and hung out with her close friend without any hesitation, even though she deceived her.

When I asked if it didn’t bother her, what did she say?

She said it was an extension of them playing pranks on each other since they were young.

Well, I didn’t have any particular feelings for Amelia either. So I ended it at the level of a “prank”.

If I had made up my mind, it wouldn’t have been difficult to kill the saint of the Sea Sect and the Mercenary King.

Because I had all kinds of gimmicks in the Constellation Labyrinth and even a “Sword Demon” as a collaborator.

It was a simple matter to persuade Anastasia to kill them.

No, it wasn’t impossible to even have them join the party, beyond simply persuading them.

However, I didn’t do that because it would have made things too troublesome.

If the one who came to the Constellation Labyrinth was “Arcana 02, High Priestess” instead of “Arcana 05, Hierophant”, I would have killed them by any means necessary, but fortunately, it was her who came to the ruins.

Because of that, I finished the job at the level of a game without any hassle.

“Well then, shall we get going too?”

At my words, the three magicians who were scattering artifacts and analyzing them with magnifying glasses began to clean up busily.

“You there, young man.”

“No.”

I refused the words of Dailhorg who spoke to me.

Then the old holy knight asked, surprised.

“How do you know what I’m going to say and refuse right away?”

At his question, I chuckled.

“There’s only one thing you would say with a serious expression while looking at me with dissatisfaction. Isn’t it that you want to accompany me on my journey?”

No matter how much there was a divine oracle from the god he served, in the end, it was humans who interpreted the oracle.

Unlike gods, he couldn’t completely trust Sophia’s interpretation, so it was understandable that he was anxious about sending only Sophia to me.

In my opinion, those so-called gods were also quite useless.

“…You’re right. I was going to ask to accompany you on your journey and attend to the young lady.”

“Nope~, I refuse~”

“Why is that? Although I am but a mere human, lacking before god, I am a transcendent who has gained the false reputation of being invincible. I am confident that I will be of help on your journey.”

If he, a holy knight called a cockroach and a transcendent, accompanied me on my journey, it would certainly be of great help.

However, it’s not going to happen.

“Then, swear by the name of the god you serve and promise me just one thing.”

“What is it?”

“Keep my party members, my journey, and everything related to it strictly confidential.”

At my request, he firmly shut his mouth.

Of course, it was natural.

As a knight guarding the saint, he had a duty to report the saint’s journey and the personal information of those around her to the headquarters for the safety of the saint.

But periodically leaking my identity was out of the question.

Arcana was still after the seal passed down to my body.

I already had the prophet, the Wheel of Fortune, to worry about, so I couldn’t increase the risk factors.

“…Is there no other request I can make?”

I shook my head at Dailhorg’s plea.

“No. You have a total of three options. One is to go back alone, the other is to ignore the oracle and take Sophia back with you.”

“I’m definitely coming with you!”

Sophia jumped up from her seat and shouted. I smiled and pointed at Sophia.

“She says so.”

“What’s the last one?”

At the old holy knight’s question, I replied as if it was no big deal.

“Being subdued here and waking up after sleeping for about half a month?”

As soon as I finished speaking, my party members began to draw mana and prepared to attack Dailhorg.

Of course, Sophia was at the forefront.

A clear aura of holy power gathered and scattered on her two fists.

“…You have a terrible personality. There’s only one real option, isn’t there?”

For a devout priest like him, ignoring the oracle was out of the question.

Sleeping for half a month and waking up was the same as going back alone, so as he said, there was only one option.

“Well, what do you think? I know there have been quite a few cases of saints traveling without being accompanied by members of the sect.”

“Do you also know that all those cases were runaways?”

At his retort, I joked.

“Oh, is that so? But it’s fortunate. This time, we’re even getting ‘permission’ before leaving.”

If a god has permitted it, how dare a mere pope oppose it?

Is the pope higher than a god? If it bothers you, why don’t you become a god yourself, pope?

“Ugh…!”

Dailhorg groaned as if he had nothing to say. I patted his shoulder and said.

“Don’t worry. I’ll still report my survival regularly.”

If we keep using holy water, it will run out, so we need to keep supplying it, right? Just because there’s a saint doesn’t mean holy water isn’t needed.

Just as no magician says they don’t need magic stones even if they’re an archmage, priests also need holy water.

Of course, the saint can produce it herself, but isn’t it faster and more efficient to mass-produce it in a factory rather than making it at home?

Making it intermittently while traveling is overwhelmingly less efficient than mass-producing it in a holy place.

“Somehow, your gaze is disrespectful.”

“Hahaha! It’s just your imagination. Anyway, please go ahead first. And don’t even think about secretly following us.”

The old holy knight, who seemed to have a lot to say, glared at me.

“If anything happens to the young lady, I’ll kill you.”

“Yes, yes, please do.”

At my nonchalant response, he sighed as if he had given up and bowed his head deeply.

“Please stay safe.”

“You worry too much. Look at my companions, how reliable they are.”

Sophia saw off the old holy knight who was still lingering until the end.

“Hah… I’ll be going then. May the blessings of the fertile earth be with the young lady.”

“May the fertile earth be with you too, uncle. Please give my regards to grandpa and uncle Sword Saint.”

“Sob sob!”

The shoulders of the old holy knight leaving at Sophia’s request slumped. He’s going to get an earful when he returns.

After confirming that Dailhorg had completely left, I said with a smile.

“Now, let’s get going too.”

“Ah, wait a moment.”

At that moment, Jade stopped me and took out a terrible metal structure.

“Let’s do this before we go, as there are still some unstable factors when doing it while moving. Mana circuit development.”

At Jade’s words, Abassael and Yard grabbed my arms.

“Wait, wait! I’m not ready yet!”

“No way~! I worked hard to make this, aren’t you curious about its performance?”

Abassael and Jade’s eyes sparkled like crazy mad scientists.

Click! Clank-!

“Aaaargh-!!”