Ch.681Become the King of Dane

“Make a king…? What do you mean?”

Knut raised his eyebrows as he asked.

His expression showed he wasn’t curious about the detailed plan, but rather that he couldn’t grasp the very concept of creating a king. It was a typical reaction from someone in this world where bloodlines are considered sacred.

Like most westerners, he probably believes that without royal blood, one cannot and should not become king.

Well, in a world filled with sacred artifacts like my Durandal that can only be used by descendants of their original owners, it’s natural that bloodlines are valued more than on Earth.

Of course, it’s none of my business.

“Before I explain, try swinging that sword first.”

I pointed to Ragnar’s magic sword, Dainslief. The reddish blade looked monstrous with chips and cracks from clashing with Durandal, but it still emanated an eerie aura.

“A blood-red sword… It feels ominous just looking at it. Wouldn’t it be better to break it?”

“That would be a waste. It’s not just a piece of metal—it has abilities similar to magic.”

“Magic?”

I explained Dainslief’s abilities to them. The power to absorb blood through the blade and release crimson slashes infused with curses from the absorbed blood. It certainly had the qualities of a demonic sword.

“Seems like a magic sword only a twisted murderer would use.”

That’s your country’s national treasure, you know.

Having inadvertently insulted his own country, Knut reluctantly gripped Dainslief and swung it a couple of times. The chipped blade cut through the air with a sound resembling a wailing ghost.

“What about the blood blade? Can’t you use that?”

“Hmm… let me see… Ah, so that’s how it works.”

As Knut looked down at the blade contemplatively, he seemed to realize something and swung the sword again.

– Swoosh!

A crimson slash followed the trajectory of Dainslief and crashed into the ruins of the palace.

Just as I expected.

I raised the corner of my mouth into a smile as I watched the debris scatter from the impact of the blood blade.

—-

Ragnar had said it.

Dainslief, the national treasure of Dane, was a sword that only the king of Dane could wield.

That’s why he killed all the royals except himself to make himself the king of Dane. If there was only one royal left alive, that person would inevitably become king.

I hadn’t verified it, but he probably eliminated even the most distant relatives.

If any royal bloodline besides Ragnar’s had remained, he wouldn’t have been able to manifest Dainslief’s power.

But Ragnar died. Less than two hours after becoming king.

And so, Dane lost its king.

…Does that mean Dainslief is now just a piece of scrap metal that no one can use to its full potential?

I didn’t think so. This magic sword was for the king of the Dane people, not specifically for the “royal family” of Dane.

While it’s impossible for anyone but a god to resurrect a bloodline that has been completely wiped out… unlike bloodlines, the position of king itself is a status that can be refilled. After all, inheriting the throne from the previous king isn’t the only way to succeed to the throne.

If one cannot inherit the throne because they aren’t royalty, why not just take it by the sword?

Historically, that was the answer. How many people have cut off the heads of unwanted kings and claimed the throne for themselves?

Of course, that was the history of my original world… but things didn’t seem much different here.

Seeing how Knut, despite being a traitor to the Dane royal family, was recognized as the new king and became the master of Dainslief after cutting off Ragnar’s head.

“So, Knut, you should become the king of Dane.”

Knut blanched and threw the sword to the ground.

Not that it would break from that.

—-

Right after Prince Harald transformed into what used to be a prince, I immediately scrapped my original plan—the puppet state plan with a young and weak king.

The citizens of Dane wouldn’t want to worship a piece of meat with its head blown off either.

No, not just the head. Prince Harald’s body was caught in the opening battle and scattered like a thousand-piece puzzle dropped on the floor.

Reassembling that would be impossible even if the prince’s parents came back to life.

So I formulated a new plan, based on the idea that if there is no king, we should create someone to take his place.

“We have about three options.”

I explained the three approaches I had come up with to them.

The first option was what I called the “Nothing Happened” operation.

The plan was to strictly control rumors to prevent news of the Edric disaster from spreading beyond the capital, and to issue march orders to the Dane army by impersonating King Hestein.

It was a plan based on the idea that all we needed to do was get the Dane army moving.

“It might be effective in the short term… but controlling an entire capital is not so simple, and it would be discovered eventually anyway.”

Frigg expressed her negative opinion.

Well, I had similar thoughts. Unless all Dane people had the intelligence of monkeys, such a lie wouldn’t last long. That’s why I had come up with other options.

I immediately moved on to explaining the second option.

“If we can’t deceive them, we might as well be brazen about it. We announce everything that happened here and take the throne not as rebels but as victors of a revolution.”

“…That’s impossible, isn’t it? Lords from all regions would rise up. They would say they cannot recognize a commoner who assassinated the king as their new king.”

“And if they rise up? What can they do? Punish me and Knut for being the culprits behind the royal family’s annihilation?”

I shrugged and spread my arms to showcase the palace that had fallen into ruins.

With the implication: Look at this scene. Can’t you feel the difference in power?

“They wouldn’t dare unless they don’t value their lives.”

This was the second option. The so-called “Come at Me If You Dare” operation.

Of course, this option had its drawbacks too.

“Many Dane warriors consider dying in battle a blessing. Such people won’t back down even against a stronger opponent. Above all, you don’t have the luxury of time to subdue them.”

Yes, that was the problem.

It wouldn’t be difficult to suppress rebels who refuse to acknowledge Knut…

But if I wasted time hunting them down one by one, the imperial army that was counting on me would be crushed by the Ka’har, with plenty to spare.

“Then we have no choice but the last method.”

In response to Frigg, who had rejected this option as well, I explained my final strategy.

I thought this was the most feasible plan, but it was impossible unless certain preconditions were met, which is why I had kept it as a backup.

“If the problem is that people cannot accept a traitor who killed the king as the new king… then we simply frame it not as treason but as an internal purification within the royal family.”

“You mean…”

Understanding my meaning, Frigg turned her head to glance at Knut. More precisely, at the proof of kingship—the magic sword Dainslief—tucked at his waist.

That was the precondition for the third option.

“I see you’ve caught on.”

With a smile curling at the corners of my mouth, I laid out the details of my final plan.

“Knut, from now on, you were someone who didn’t know your own bloodline… No, that’s not right. It would be more dramatic if you knew but had to hide it.”

“What are you saying…?”

“What I’m saying is that you were actually a distant relative of the Dane royal family. The reason you hid your lineage was… yes, because Ragnar was secretly assassinating distant relatives of the bloodline.”

Knut’s eyes widened.

“Me, a descendant of the Dane royal family…?”

What is this ape saying? Does he also have a two-digit IQ?

“No, we’re going to pretend that’s the case. We’re creating a well-crafted revenge story.”

I told Knut about the backstory I had created for him.

A distant royal who lost his parents to Ragnar’s scheme to eliminate all royal blood and ascend to the throne, barely escaping with his life.

The new king who, for the sake of avenging his parents and other royals and realizing justice, hid his identity and fought despite being branded a rebel… finally overthrowing Ragnar when he revealed his ambitions, restoring justice to this land.

That was the true identity of Knut, the vice-commander of the Crusader of Seals!

It was pure fabrication, but not far from the truth when you think about it.

I only fabricated Knut’s bloodline and motivation; Ragnar’s actions were facts without a single lie. It was like mixing one part lie with nine parts truth.

“Hrafn can take care of the document forgery, and those who don’t trust documents will be convinced when they see Dainslief. After all, it’s an item that only the king of Dane can wield.”

There might be some who refuse to accept it even after seeing Dainslief spew its blood blade… but Knut should be able to handle such people.

That’s why I had Knut behead Ragnar.

Having killed Ragnar and grown stronger than before, he should be able to defeat most opponents without much difficulty, and those who mistakenly believe Knut is royalty after seeing Dainslief will support him materially and otherwise.

“Not a bad plan. I also think this is the best option.”

Frigg nodded with a slightly brighter expression.

It was a natural reaction. Given the nature of intelligence work, which revolves around propaganda and fabrication, she would understand better than I how effective such fabrications can be.

However, Knut himself, far from agreeing, just stared at me with a bewildered face.

“No… aren’t you going to ask for my opinion? Telling me to become the king of Dane, I don’t want such a—”

This guy refuses a promotion even when offered one.

Don’t you understand yet? You have no right of refusal.

I sighed and “persuaded” him.

“Then I’ll have to use the last resort. I’ll kill all the royals and make this country mine. I’ll declare this country as Median’s new territory, and kill everyone who doesn’t comply—”

“I’ll become the king of Dane.”

Knut hastily replied.

Yes, even you would think it’s better for you to rule Dane than for me to do so.