“An opponent?” I asked, furrowing my brow.
“You may have heard rumors that under the castle in the capital is a dungeon.” Prince Edward spoke slowly. “This is a partial truth. What we have is an artifact in our treasury under the castle. This object opens up periodically. Anyone who touches it during this period is brought to another world. I believe you have a familiarity with sothing like this?”
“A soul dungeon,” I responded, leaning forward.
He nodded. “Yes, I believe I heard father call it that once. Your soul is separated from your body, and you’re put into a series of challenges. We’ve traditionally used these challenges to help train knights. However, it has another purpose as well. This artifact has existed for a long ti, since before the demon lord back when the country was known as Osteria. It is because the Ost Republic does not have this artifact that the humans ford a council rather than selected a king. This is because this soul dungeon has traditionally been a ans of selecting the king. Every five years, the artifact begins the period known as the king selection.”
“You need the king selection to be king?”
“Not exactly…” He scratched his head. “My father had naturally completed the selection several tis during his reign. In theory, had he not abdicated the throne, the idea was as he got old and his soul weakened, there would be a ti that he would eventually be outperford by soone else. Since he left, he put in charge, and so I was the king-elect. I could have taken the throne then, but for various reasons, I put it off. First, I wanted to wait until my dad was found again, and then there was the ongoing issue with Alerith, and then the wedding and the ss with the Ost Republic. I had been putting off the ceremony so long, that the lords have decided that my ability to take the throne is now dependent on succeeding with the dungeon.”
I frowned. “Didn’t you have to succeed anyway?”
“Originally, once I was on the throne, winning the king’s selection would have been more of a technicality. The dungeon rates people. Only one of them is the victor and they are given the right to rule. Usually, the opponent would be a friend of the king, soone who could hold their own, but would make the king look good.”
“That’s what you want from ?”
He shook his head. “Things are different now. As I said, many of the lords are not happy with how Aberis is going these days. The fact the country almost went to war because of your actions has made my support of you slightly stressful.”
“That…” I didn’t know how to respond, but I did realize I had caused a lot of issues then.
“Relax…” He lifted his hand. “You’ve done more than your share of good for this country. Whether it was stopping the battle, stopping the demon lord in the capital, destroying dungeons in the west, claiming territory, or fixing the issues with Alerith, I don’t regret being on your side in the least. That said, so lords are stirring up trouble, stating that perhaps a new family should beco the royal family. They want to verse a true challenger in the dungeon.”
“Where do I co in then?” I asked hesitantly.
“Just before the king’s selection, the lords will present their most promising family mber. It’ll be a preliminary to decide who will fight against in the king’s selection. I want you to compete.”
“So, what you’re saying is you want to beat all of the others, join you in the competition, and then lose to you on purpose.”
“No…” He shook his head. “I want you to beat the others, join in the competition, and then I want you as my true opponent. Whether I win or you win… the victor will be king of Aberis.”
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