The Prince Wants to Retire

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Crown Prince Wants to Retire

Side Story 5: Scary Kariel!

Days passed since Kariel arrived at the New Continent.

Countries aligned with the Pro-Empire Faction were vehemently criticized by the Anti-Empire Faction nations.

They pointed fingers at those countries, claiming they trampled the pride of the New Continent while bowing to the Empire.

Meanwhile, there were even those who said their god would triumph over the Empire’s god.

It didn’t take long for their pride to be crushed.

[KBoom!]

“How boring.”

Marquis Sicario dusted off his hands as he looked at the fallen divine being.

It was inferior, not even comparable to the remnants of the past he met upon ascending to Asgard.

“Surely, this nation lacks a Master.”

A nation without a Master merely idolized one of the ridiculously oversized creatures to avoid falling behind other countries.

“Is the real deal over with Glen?”

Marquis Sicario licked his lips as if jealous.

After a long time, he felt the urge to fight more after the intense hand-to-hand combat.

“What’s the next destination?”

“It’s two days away from here.”

“Great. Let’s go right away.”

Marquis Sicario smiled brightly at the Intelligence Department Agent’s words.

Initially tense over the possibility that this might be a divine being, he now understood for sure.

The divine beings of the New Continent were exaggerated.

While Quetzalcoatl, the strongest creature of the New Continent, might be different, most divine beings below him were likely mere illusions.

And proving that, Glen overwhelmingly injured a divine being.

“I won’t kill you.”

In order not to provoke backlash from the people of the New Continent who regarded them as gods, Kariel instructed the two not to kill unless absolutely necessary.

And Glen adhered to that command thoroughly.

After toyingly knocking out the colossal leopard with overwhelming force, he left as if nothing had happened.

Those who witnessed it nearby sat down, staring at their god in disbelief.

The being Glen just toyed with had previously defeated the Masters of the New Continent.

Seeing Glen perform such a toy-like act on such a being, he truly embodied a monster.

“He’s not a fool.”

With several divine beings falling before the monster-like Grand Masters, the Anti-Empire nations began to tighten their borders.

They also started deploying significant military forces around their gods.

The beings Kariel aimed for were all those whose spiritual consciousness was not fully realized.

Although their strength was formidable, they ultimately had limits due to their undeveloped spirituality.

In contrast, beings who had not suffered against Glen or Marquis Sicario were all spiritual entities.

“That should be enough. Bring them in.”

“Yes.”

Kariel, who smiled while sparing the leading nations of the New Continent, including Kaba, sensed it was time for the Masters to join the fun.

“How about it?”

“I’ll prepare.”

Talion bowed his head and went outside at Kariel’s orders.

Duke Devir and Duke Achelio, who accompanied him, also completed their preparations.

*

As the Masters prepared their event for the Pro-Empire Faction, chaos erupted in the New Continent.

It became clear just how powerful the rumored Grand Master was when witnessed firsthand.

“I think I understand why the East Continent is struggling.”

“They’re truly monstrous beings.”

“How strong must the Demon King be if three monsters barely defeated him?”

The people of the New Continent realized just how inconsequential the so-called gods they worshipped were compared to the monster-like Grand Masters.

Of course, there were those among them claiming the beings the Grand Masters had subdued were all weak.

They argued that unlike divine beings who communicate closely with humans, their gods were different.

But most believed they were no different.

After all, the fights were not through equal strength but rather overwhelming disparity in power.

Not to mention, not a single divine being was killed.

It is common knowledge that subduing while keeping someone alive is several times more difficult than outright killing them.

While both sides held opposing claims, there was one thing all inhabitants of the New Continent acknowledged.

“Ignit is a monster!”

The Empire, boasting three Grand Masters including the Emperor, was undoubtedly a monster.

Because of this, the Anti-Empire Faction strengthened their solidarity, while the Pro-Empire Faction bowed their heads even further.

Just as a colossal storm swept across the New Continent…

“Your Majesty, you don’t need to act this way with us…”

“Ah! Don’t worry. I won’t kill you.”

Kariel reassured them, asking to meet with the gods from the Pro-Empire side.

These divine beings were recognized through Kaba’s Master.

Though their spiritual awareness was shallow, they held a military superiority over Kaba’s Master.

The three Masters who accompanied Kariel sought these beings out.

[KABOOM!]

“How delightful.”

Duke Devir wore a broad smile, much like Marquis Sicario.

He, too, was itching for a fierce battle since he hadn’t experienced one since the Grand War.

While Duke Achelio and the younger Masters warmed up by dealing with the remnants of the past, he rarely left the capital due to his role as leader of the Aristocratic Faction.

“Nice! Very nice!”

Indeed, the gigantic eagle attacked quickly enough to feel threatening to an ordinary Master.

But Duke Devir was relaxed.

To him, this was child’s play compared to the Grand War.

Duke Devir stood at the forefront of the battlefield that cleaned up the remnants of the past causing chaos after Kariel had fallen asleep.

“Though a bit disappointing, I suppose I should hold back for now.”

He eyed the already wounded eagle, licking his lips in disappointment.

As one rumored to possess the highest level of skill among all the continent’s Masters, he demonstrated superiority over the colossal eagle opposing the New Continent’s Masters.

When the eagle showed it had no will to fight anymore, its initial excitement gradually faded.

Thus, the first victor of the battle between divine beings and Ignit’s Masters was Duke Devir.

“Truly strong.”

“Indeed worthy of the next Grand Master.”

“Right?”

Everyone nodded vigorously, expressing their admiration for Ignit’s strength.

But when both Achelio and Talion also triumphed, they were left in astonishment.

Achelio’s victory was somewhat understandable.

He had long since achieved the rank of Master and had performed magnificently during the Grand War. But not Talion.

As a relatively newly minted Master, he too secured victory, leaving everyone in shock.

Their common belief that divine beings are stronger than Masters was profoundly shattered.

“It has been made clear.”

Kariel intentionally spoke loud enough for all to hear, smiling at Talion as he returned from battle.

“That was quite even, was it not?”

“Undoubtedly a ‘Master’ level.”

Talion emphasized their rank as “Master level,” causing the nobles of the New Continent to flinch.

They understood what Kariel and Talion implied.

“The beings you revere as gods are merely at the ‘Master’ level.”

In comparison to Ignit’s Masters, they were inferior beings.

If those superior to the New Continent’s Masters were weaker than Ignit’s Masters, what then are New Continent Masters?

They would surely be stronger than beings who aren’t Masters.

But still, they were bound to be weaker than those from the West Continent and East Continent.

They had not experienced the Great War.

Having undergone countless life-and-death battles had fortified the Masters, unlike those huddled in peace neglecting their training.

“That was fun.”

“……I’m glad to hear you enjoyed yourself.”

As Kariel nodded, attempting to smile at the ruler of the New Continent, he headed towards the lodging.

Following behind him were Glen, Marquis Sicario, and the three Masters, causing everyone gathered to part ways for them.

As if cutting through waves, Kariel leisurely arrived at the accommodation, lauding those who struggled through the fight.

“Thanks to you, we won’t need to resort to war.”

Kariel had contemplated using Ignit’s main forces to deliver overwhelming strength to the Anti-Empire Faction in the worst-case scenario.

But now, there was no need.

Seeing the Pro-Empire Faction’s behavior today, the Anti-Empire Faction would undoubtedly be shocked.

“The ‘gods’ have fallen!”

“The god defeated by Masters, not even Grand Masters. Do we really need to follow them?”

These questions appeared in the New Continent’s newspapers just hours after the three Masters brutally defeated the divine beings.

They were indeed powerful entities.

Strong enough that even Ignit’s Masters acknowledged them as such.

But were they worthy of worship as gods?

There were questions to be asked regarding this and people responded immediately.

[KABOOM!]

People began discarding the offerings they had prepared in reverence.

In the past, only nobles or law enforcement would have apprehended them, but that was no longer the case.

They too were shocked.

The most shocking aspect was the power of Ignit.

“Do the Masters of the New Continent truly possess the strength befitting their title?”

Whereas the divine beings they worshiped showed strength equal to or beyond theirs, the defeated Masters of the New Continent had fallen.

With only two Masters remaining, they were indeed rare beings in the New Continent.

Perhaps because of this, they were tightly hidden away, not sent to any battlefield, treated like treasures.

Instead of honing their swords, they prioritized their political lives.

Thus, their skills had not improved but rather atrophied.

Among the two Masters and the four revered creatures from Kaba and the other nations, could they truly halt the Ignit army that had crossed over to the New Continent?

“Was opposing Ignit truly the right decision?”

“The New Continent without experience from the Great War can never defeat Ignit!”

These sentiments began amongst the Pro-Empire Faction, soon spreading throughout the New Continent.

And finally, a nation began to break away from the seemingly solid Anti-Empire Faction.

Was it luck for Kariel?

A country encircled by mountains where Quetzalcoatl sojourned reached out to Kariel.

“The division has begun.”

Kariel smiled pleasantly, finding it entertaining.

Their division was now underway.

As long as Kariel remained on the New Continent, their division would accelerate even further.

But he shouldn’t forget the true purpose of his arrival.

“Convey that I will accept their apology. And also express my wish to meet the colossal serpent of the New Continent immediately.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Talion bowed and left at Kariel’s command.

Upon seeing the Messenger waiting outside, Talion conveyed Kariel’s intentions, leading the messenger to shed tears and bow deeply.

“Your Majesty’s mercy moves me! I am ever grateful!”

“Get in touch right away.”

“Yes! I will do so.”

The messenger, though Kariel was not present, bowed several times before hurriedly contacting the homeland.

And shortly after, an imperial airship secretly crossed the borders of the Pro-Empire nation.