episode_0044

The Crown Prince of the Mersenne Empire.

Servis Caldebrion.

He was sitting on a rock in the dense forest, where he had stationed his army, taking a rest.

This forest was just a short distance from the capital city, Tenafel.

Compared to the vast forests of Rivengard, it was like a fresh wound, but it was more than enough to conceal an army.

Soldiers rested quietly, sparing their horses, with weapons at the ready, as if awaiting an ambush at any moment.

“…”

However, Servis had no intention of moving his troops unless necessary.

For now, he was simply waiting for a very easy task that he could handle quietly on his own.

His goal was the life of Eos, the formidable and infamous prince.

While he had obediently followed Mohu’s plans until now,

he recently became certain.

Although he was the son of the Empress, he was not the son of the Emperor.

And as long as Eos, the Emperor’s son, was alive,

everything he should rightfully possess could vanish in an instant.

It was brutal, but not an unbearable truth.

As long as he killed the man, there was nothing to worry about.

“…”

Yet why was it?

The blonde woman he saw at the meeting between the Count of Tenafel and the Elf kept coming to mind.

And incessantly, curiosity about her surged within him.

“Is she the Count’s granddaughter…?”

But the eccentric old man only had one grandson.

Of course, that didn’t necessarily mean she was related to the Elves, who despised humans.

So, in the end, she must be a friend of the prince….

Servis had not heard anything about his engagement yet.

Partly because it was not publicized, but also because until he arrived here, he had been traveling across the empire, digesting murderous schedules.

“Could she be like a lover…?”

Thinking so, a sense of discomfort arose inexplicably.

It was a feeling even more unpleasant than the resentment he harbored towards his other brother, who had happily lived as a prince in the palace alone during his childhood.

But soon, his head shook slightly, and his frowning expression softened again.

Eos was currently addicted to poison, making it impossible for him to form good relationships with anyone.

Although he somehow survived thanks to the Elf commander from the blazing Matapju, having a relationship with a woman would undoubtedly be much more difficult for Eos than surviving.

“…”

Watching the ants pass by in line at his feet, Servis continued his thoughts.

Then who exactly was that woman?

What was her name, and how old was she?

Strangely, his interest kept growing, and an unbearable curiosity kept surging within him.

Even canceling the plans he had prepared in advance, an intense desire to rush to her and have a conversation with her immediately was rising within him.

“Why am I suddenly acting like this…?”

He was extremely confused by emotions he had never experienced before, but now he had something crucial, more important than anything else in his life, right in front of him.

Prince Eos.

Now that he had stepped out of the palace, it was the best opportunity to kill him.

Crack!

As proof of regaining his shaken resolve, Servis crushed the ants underfoot.

He was convinced.

There would never be a better opportunity than today.

Of course, the war with the Elves was still a cause for concern.

When the war broke out, the Empire would undoubtedly have to endure significant losses.

However, sometimes, sacrifices had to be made for greater values.

If sacrificing the lives and properties of the people ensured his firm rule as Emperor, then enduring a war was more than worth it.

The responsibility for causing the war would have been enough if it had been attributed to the infamous prince.

People who love to criticize will soon forget once their anger is resolved.

Even his mother, who possessed innate wisdom, approved of it, so there would be no problem at all.

Sarvis laughed while looking towards the direction of Lord Tenafel.

Today, the prince will definitely die by his own hands.

The momentary worry was if there was a fair-haired woman next to the prince.

“Can I really kill the prince in front of that woman?”

However, such concerns could easily be resolved by the subsequent thought that if he took him away and killed him where he couldn’t be seen, it would be fine.

“How did you come up with such a cute idea?”

That was what King Gartagon, the Elven king, exclaimed cheerfully as soon as I put a piece of meat in my mouth at the royal dinner table.

“Creating such an intricate human-like golem, truly fitting for my daughter Wiblea’s son.”

“Cheers! Hooray!”

Thanks to him, I heard whispers, but the twelve princes and princesses seemed to already know, nodding in unison and even adding flattering remarks.

Everyone had noticed.

Looking at me, Aplatus smiled.

“Well, lad. All the brothers and sisters have already noticed. Probably anyone of a certain level has also realized. But what could we do when Father allowed it?”

I cautiously examined the faces of the royals.

Mixed in their expressions towards me were curiosity about the new nephew and a deep longing for the youngest, Wiblea.

“Oh, by the way, I’m late in thanking you.”

Gartagon looked at Elaine with a pleased smile.

“This lady effortlessly blocked a meteor with light magic. Yes, Elaine, how old are you this year?”

“I am eighteen, Your Majesty.”

Elaine answered carefully with a slightly flushed face.

“Oh, really. Such coincidences happen. My wife and I have just a one-year difference. I am 1002 years old, and the queen is 1001 years old.”

Thwack!

Then, the queen, who looked like she was in her twenties, lightly slapped the king’s arm with a flushed face.

“Really, stop bringing up age outside. You always do this. There’s nothing you won’t say in front of children.”

Gartagon forced a smile, enduring the pain.

“Perhaps they are truly meant for each other like us. But Elaine, please don’t resort to violence like the queen.”

“Yes, yes!”

Elaine shouted loudly with a somewhat embarrassed expression.

Then, one of the elven princesses spoke up.

“I heard you two are going to get married, is that true?”

“Yes….”

As Elaine shyly smiled, the princesses pounced on her like a pack of lionesses targeting prey.

“Oh, look at her blushing, she’s so cute.”

“Can I touch your cheek?”

“Stop it, you’ll scare her!”

“Her hair is golden! Hoho!”

With silver hair, similar features, and blue eyes, it was honestly hard to distinguish who was who, but the atmosphere had become warm and friendly.

Then Gartagon looked at me, his expression slightly stiffening.

“What do you think, Eos? If you wish, I can let you both live in Rivengard. Staying here for the two of you might be better than risking danger in the wilderness, right?”

Gartagon’s words were quite charming.

But it was just a case of urinating against the wind.

Whenever it happened, Sarvis would definitely try to kill me, so if I stayed here, there was no doubt that even Rivengard would eventually be endangered because of me.

“I will be leaving.”

“Okay, I understand your intentions well. You seem like you’re seeing Wibrea leaving this place. You must have resolved to walk a rough path as your mother did. But it might be a bit difficult for you to go with just your bare hands.”

“….”

Somehow, it felt like I was going to be asked to do something difficult again, and I was quite taken aback.

“Before you leave, take Wibrea’s legacy with you. Elaine, I will also give you a gift.”

However, the words that came out with a kind smile were no different from any other grandfather giving a gift to his grandson.

***

The World Tree, which looked like a cliff, extended its branches towards me.

A fruit that looked like a silver apple was hanging from that elongated thing.

“This is the power and lifespan sealed by Wibrea. You are qualified enough, so eat it here right now.”

Like chemical signals flowing through veins, the will of the World Tree transmitted through the touching hands conveyed that meaning.

Snap!

There was no seed that should normally be inside a fruit.

It was sweeter than any fruit I had ever tasted, emitting a delightful fragrance.

With each bite, strength surged from deep within my body, and even my mana was skyrocketing.

And when I finished eating it, even the sensation of perceiving the world was distinctly different from before.

Woah-

The abilities of the elf, revered as the greatest in Rivengard history, truly surpassed imagination.

Not to mention the drastically enhanced physical abilities, I could feel the vast domain of mana encompassing countless things in the forest.

From insects and small birds to wind, spirits, and even elves, everything was vividly perceived.

Then, at one moment, feeling a scrutinizing gaze, as I raised my head, something glass-like was attached to the cracked bark of the World Tree.