The wide, circular arena was filled with the thunderous cheers of the people. However, the main characters of that cheer seed to have little interest.
Amidst the cheers pouring in from all directions...
The Black Prince, with the crown on his head, stood up from his seat with an expressionless face. The King took a few steps back and looked the crowned third son up and down.
"Hmm. It suits you quite well."
"Is that so."
The Black Prince replied nonchalantly. It was a crown that only one person in the kingdom could wear, but he seed to have no particular emotion about it. In reality, the Black Prince did not find any special aning in the crown itself. To him, the crown was just an overly extravagant and flashy symbol of a king, nothing more, nothing less. His mind was focused on what he had to do after wearing the crown.
The King did not find the Black Prince's indifferent appearance strange. Because he knew his disposition better than anyone. Instead, he looked him over and offered his thoughts.
"The look of a typical monarch, worn down by work. It suits you very well."
"...."
The Black Prince glared at the King with sunken eyes. For soone who had dispatched three Royal Knights to the First Prince's side, he was being far too shaless. The Black Prince was not one to beat around the bush, so he asked directly.
"Father. Weren't you trying to place my eldest brother on the throne?"
As he said, if the devil hadn't crushed the Royal Knights, it would have led to his certain defeat.
The King, upon being asked, answered as if it were no big deal.
"My eldest?"
The King glanced at the First Prince, who was sitting there in a daze, and said.
"That one is too narrow-minded to sit on the throne. He doesn't know how to see the world broadly. He would lead the kingdom according to the frawork he sees. A new era needs a new king. Don't you think?"
The Black Prince glared at the King, who was smiling inscrutably, with cold eyes.
"...Are you saying you intended to pass the throne to ?"
The King scratched his chin and replied.
"Hmm... I am worried about your cruel nature... but you will certainly bring a wind of change. Not bad."
The King nodded as if he had convinced himself.
"It would be more accurate to say it's the best choice rather than the perfect choice."
The Black Prince snorted.
"What nonsense."
The King grinned.
"Look at the way you talk."
The father and son stared at each other, each with their own smile. The Black Prince, with a sneer full of ridicule, glared at the King with blazing eyes.
It was absurd. No one had predicted he would win. Not even the Black Prince himself. It was a miracle brought about by the Red-Eyed Devil. Moreover, these were not words that should co from the mouth of soone who had dispatched three Royal Knights.
"Then why did you dispatch the Royal Knights to my eldest brother?"
The King asked back with a shaless face.
"Royal Knights?"
The Black Prince's expression hardened.
"Stop playing dumb. It's all over, isn't it?"
"What are you talking about..."
"The last three knights who ca out. Weren't they all Royal Knights? Rutie of the Swift Sword, the taciturn Victor, Van Dyke of the Iron Spear. Am I wrong?"
"Why are you asking about my eldest son's knights?"
"...."
The Black Prince glared at the King, who was feigning ignorance, then asked another question.
"Then did you expect to win anyway?"
A question asking if he had expected the Red-Eyed Devil to perform a miracle. Of course, it was an absurd question.
The King answered with a bewildered expression.
"What do you an? Who can predict what will happen in the future? I'm not a god."
"...."
"Of course, I didn't know. Is that even a question?"
"Then how..."
The King cut him off and changed the subject.
"By the way, you kept staring at that guy whether I ca or not. Did you fall in love or sothing?"
The Black Prince gritted his teeth as he watched the King chuckle and lightly brush off his questioning.
"What nonsense..."
The King, unconcerned, looked at the red-eyed swordsman who was staring at the sky and said.
"He is a coveted talent. Considering the performance he showed in the decisive battle, there's nothing more to say."
"...."
"Furthermore, he is still young. I can't predict how much stronger he will beco."
The King looked at the Black Prince.
"So, what do you plan to do with him?"
The Black Prince answered imdiately.
"I plan to make him my knight."
The King snorted.
"He is not a vessel you can contain."
The Black Prince stared at the King with wide eyes, then glanced at the Red-Eyed Devil, who was still looking up at the sky, and asked.
"Do you know him?"
"No. I don't know him well."
"...."
The King grinned and answered.
"How can a re human understand the will of the gods?"
"What does that..."
"Third son."
"Yes."
The King smiled aningfully and patted the Black Prince's shoulder.
"Lead the kingdom well. I hope you do not beco a worthless king like ."
He said that and then turned and left.
"Hahahaha..."
The King's laughter echoed. The Black Prince watched his retreating back with a displeased face.
As far as he knew, the King was a man who did not believe in any religion. He was of the opinion that one should do what one can in the ti it takes to fathom the will of the gods. Due to the King's such disposition, the Blake Kingdom had various religions spread evenly without any particular one gaining dominance. The Black Prince also agreed with that.
But suddenly, gods? Did his thoughts change as he neared death? It wasn't that strange. It was only natural for humans to rely on gods as death approached. But... as far as he knew, his father was not such a weak human.
"...."
The Black Prince watched the King's retreating back with deepened eyes. What on earth was he thinking? What did he know, and what did he not know?
But soon, the Black Prince shook his head and brushed off the thoughts about him. That was that. He had to do what he had to do.
The Black Prince approached Aron and snatched the voice-amplifying magic tool he was holding. Then he spoke into it.
The Black Prince's voice bood throughout the circular arena. He waited until the overheated arena gradually quieted down before continuing.
At the words "rotten kingdom," the people began to murmur.
The murmuring grew louder. The Black Prince, unconcerned, spoke.
The Black Prince pointed to the Red-Eyed Devil, who was standing on the side of the arena, being supported. He was still looking at the sky.
The audience stirred. They had suspected it, but it was just a guess. But the Black Prince had revealed his identity with his own mouth. It was quite a shocking event.
The murder of a noble was a grave cri among grave cris. Therefore, the Red-Eyed Devil was currently the worst criminal in the kingdom... For the newly crowned king to say such a thing with his own mouth.
It was an expected reaction. The Black Prince, unconcerned, continued his speech.
Another wave of murmuring spread. A man who deserved to die? No one had ever described a noble as deserving to die before. Even if it was the king of a country.
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