Side Story Chapter 134
The collision of their auras churned the air into a storm that swept away the skeletons. Their bones were shattered, sending fragments flying everywhere, but that didn’t take long for them to return to their original form. The damage caused by the battle between Kireua and the Wild King was instantly restored by Crevassed using his draconic magic. It didn’t matter if the damage was to objects or the undead surrounding them.
Another death knight, one that seemed to embody the lethal edge of a sword stepped into their fight. This death knight was smaller than the Wild King, but he exuded quite a powerful energy as well.
-Why don’t you stop there, Wild King? You’re still so childish. You were going to help him anyway.
The new death knight turned.
-Did you say your name is Kireua Sanders?
“Who are you?” Kireua asked between labored breaths.
-My name is Kasselon. Kasselon ben Britten.
Kireua instantly stopped panting. “‘B-ben Britten’?”
-Oh, no. Judging from your reaction, my master must have not informed you of our identities.
Death knights didn’t have a facial expression, but from the way Kasselon shook his head, it was obvious that his master’s choices had left him baffled.
-Ha! That’s why you can’t help but respect him even more. It means he leaves the final choice to use, even when it comes to his own children.
-I would have lent my help even if an idiot came to us since we’ll never be able to repay our debt to our master even with our lives.
-We’re already dead, so we don’t have lives to offer.
-It’s a figure of speech. Do you really have to nitpick over every word?
-Huh? Nitpick? Is there no hierarchy in Avalon?
-If you’re talking about the social hierarchy we lived in before our death, you were a duke and I was a prince, so I’m definitely not the lower-ranked person here.
-My son is older than you! Come to think of it, I don’t know what he does nowadays.
Kireua stared blankly at the silly quarrel that suddenly started between Kasselon and the Wild King.
“Seriously, knights...” Aisha quietly heaved a sigh and stepped over to Kireua. “They seem to like you, fortunately.”
“Teacher...?”
“These death knights look like they’re going to help you.”
The Wild King interrupted as if he had been waiting for her to say that.
-Aiding the baby prince is equivalent to helping our master, so there was nothing for me to think about.
“Th-Then why did you fight me?” Kireua asked.
-For fun.
Kireua stood there like a fool; the sheer audacity left him grasping for words.
-Please allow me to apologize on his behalf.
“...If your name is Kasselon ben Britten, then you’re from the deposed Imperial Family of Avalon, aren’t you? Emperor Marcus ben Britten’s...” Kireua trailed off.
-Yes, Marcus ben Britten was my father before I died.
It was just as Kireua expected. He felt a reflexive repulsion. Although he tried very hard not to reveal it, the people around him were, unsurprisingly, perfectly capable of noticing.
The Wild King tilted his head, bemused.
-He really knows nothing. This is a little unfair.
-I’m okay. Considering what the Brittens did to our master, anyone would understand if the prince drew his sword and attacked me right now
-This is not a matter you can brush off like that. You’re a victim too. If even that baby prince doesn’t know, that probably means that everyone in the world...
-Our master must have a good reason for it.
Kasselon dismissed the Wild King’s comment and stepped toward Kireua.
-I’m not sure if you’re aware of this, but I was the Third Prince of the Britten family.
“The Third Prince...?” Kireua mumbled. He tilted his head in confusion. He knew about the Britten family’s First and Second Princes fighting over the throne until the end because he had been told the story so many times. Kaiser ben Britten, the Emperor of Avalon’s biggest enemy, so of course, came up equally often, so Kireua knew about him too. However, not much was known about the Third Prince aside from the fact that he was called Tragic Prince because he had been forgotten by people...
The Wild King eyed Kireua for a moment and then nodded knowingly.
-I see. I get it now.
Kasselon gave him a questioning look.
-Our master was worried about your honor, Kasselon. Since you’re now a death knight, someone will recognize your sword style someday, and the entire continent will know that the prince of an empire has been raised from the dead.
-...I did consider the possibility.
-It’s better for ordinary people to think that the Third Prince, having lost the power struggle, went off to happily living out the rest of his life in seclusion—during which, our master took the throne, a suitable reason you would be unable to appear in the Palace.
-I owe our master once again. Thanks to him, the Britten name won’t be tainted any further.
-Hmph. Your family should be fed to the dogs for what they did. Do they even have any honor left to be tainted?
Distinctly angry red light shone from the Wild King’s eye.
The more the Wild King and Kasselon talked, the more confused Kireua became.
“Umm, Your Highness Kasselon—no, Sir Kasselon...” Kireua cautiously said.
-You can call me however you would like.
“...Then I’ll go with Sir Kasselon. Can I ask you why you died, Sir Kasselon?”
Kireua’s question cut into the heart of the problem. He was certain that he would be able to understand this situation once he knew the cause of Kasselon’s death.
He was quite right.
-It’s rather cliche.
“I would still like to hear it, if that’s acceptable to you.”
-...My trusted brother betrayed me, and I was buried in a shallow grave.
A brother’s betrayal. In other words, one of the other princes of Avalon had stabbed Kasselon in the back. The scattered puzzle pieces in Kireua’s head were slowly piecing themselves together.
-My master gave me a chance to obtain revenge.
“...I see.” Kireua nodded.
-I heard you have a brother. I sincerely hope you and your brother stay on good terms, unlike me and mine. I may sound like an old man, but both political power and revenge will seem meaningless with time.
Kireua asked himself if he desired political power. He could immediately guarantee that he didn’t and never would. However, he did desire to be recognized by the Emperor of Avalon and the world at large. Ever since he was a child, Kireua had been constantly compared to Selim; many questioned if Kireua really was the Martial God’s son. Because of all the harsh criticism and constantly being looked down on...
“...I don’t want to lose,” Kireua said.
“I have no intention of fighting against my only brother for political power, but I don’t want to lose to Selim either.”
Kasselon examined Kireua without saying anything. On the other hand, the red light in the Wild King’s eyes bobbed slightly.
-...Does that mean you are willing to hand the throne over to your brother even if you win this fight, Your Highness?
“Of course.”
Silence lay blanketed the area until Kasselon finally spoke up.
-That’s selfishness, not selflessness, Your Highness.
“...Am I being too greedy?” Kireua mumbled.
-Yes, you are.
Kasselon was so firm that he sounded cold.
-There are two candidates to become the Emperor of Avalon. Let’s say one of them is vastly better than the other one. He’s not only good in combat but also has the wisdom to rule. Nevertheless, that exceptional candidate says he’ll hand over the throne to the other candidate. What would the citizens think? The nobles? And how would your brother feel?
“That is...”
-If you’re truly a selfless person, you would have handed over the throne by losing the battle on purpose—but you don’t want to do that, do you?
Kireua nodded slightly. Every fiber of his body hated the idea of losing to Selim.
-Then abandon your wishy-washy attitude. Beat him and claim the throne. I was concerned there would be a nasty power struggle between two brothers who wouldn't hesitate to stab each other in the back, not a legitimate competition in good faith. The people would vastly prefer the latter.
-Hohoho! This conversation makes me even more convinced.
-What do you mean?
-Is there anyone else who is as greedy as our master? He reached the peak of martial prowess, took the throne, and has three beautiful wives all to himself—
Kasselon gave the Wild King a disapproving look.
-How can you say that when you know the full story?
-The world only cares for results. Who wouldn’t envy our master?
The Wild King took a step forward.
-So that’s why I like him even more. From what I’ve seen so far, he’s the spitting image of our master. I guess that's why they say blood is thicker than water.
“...Me?” Kireua tilted his head in confusion.
-Yeah, you. In that regard, you passed my test.
Kireua’s eyes widened. “R-Really?”
-Don’t be too happy yet. I told you that you have to earn the recognition of two out of the twelve of us, didn’t I?
“...Haven’t I?”
Hadn’t he already earned Kasselon’s recognition?
-Hehe—is it finally my turn? Black lizard, you heard them; why don’t you untie me now?
“Tsk.” Crevasse frowned. For some reason he looked resigned. “I really should do something about his mouth someday. Keeping a lunatic in chains is no joke. It’s several times harder than restoring the damage you’ve done to this place.”
-Now, now, now... Ladies and gentlemen, this is the moment you’ve been waiting for.
A slender death knight flitted toward Kireua, holding a long rapier that echoed his physique
-I, Arie bron Sten, will test my new master’s skills. Please enjoy.
“A-Arie bron Sten?” Kireua’s jaw dropped to the floor, but Arie rushing Kireua.
-Yes! Yes! Yes! Yes! Entertain me again, Joshua—ahem, Kireua Sanders.
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