The Prince Wants to Retire

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Chapter 17: Bloodshed in the Volcano (4)

“The Crown Prince wishes to retire.”

The resonance between the Fire Giant and Kariel was going smoother than expected.

Time wasn’t an issue, and no major problems arose, so the contract proceeded without a hitch.

But the real issue lay with the spirits.

The spirits forcibly created from the fragments of the Spirit King were unstable and needed time to settle.

During that time, Kariel was unable to take any action, and Surth, who was regulating the power in between, was in the same predicament.

This meant that Kariel was not able to respond until he fully completed the contract.

“Protect His Highness.”

“Yes!”

Following Achelio’s orders, the Central Knight Order formed a defensive line centered around the top of the volcano.

At that moment, Talion quickly issued commands as well. Using a secret message written by the Shadows, he informed them below of the current situation and joined forces with the Imperial Guard to provide protection for Kariel.

“Enemies ahead.”

“We must not allow them to hinder His Highness even a little bit.”

Hearing Talion’s words, Achelio responded by channeling power into his sword.

Then, all the knights drew their blades in unison, manifesting their mana.

To ensure that not even a single hair on Kariel was harmed by the attackers emerging from all sides, they had to give everything they had.

And the situation was no different below.

Those who arrived earlier than the Northern and Western armies were now clashing with the Imperial Palace Knights and the Grand Duke’s Knight Order.

Interestingly, the one leading the charge was Glen.

Despite being the youngest, he stood at the forefront, showcasing the fighting genius that emerged when he entered the fray.

As the most lacking aspect, ‘combat experience,’ began to fill in, his skills improved even amidst the battle.

Fueled by the thrill of combat, the genius, who was growing in real-time, led the troops to fend off those trying to invade the volcano.

“Block them! We can’t let them reach His Highness!”

After Kariel had ascended, the swirling mana stabilized, emitting a red light.

Realizing that this phenomenon was preventing the volcanic eruption, the Legion Commander bit his lip.

“At least I must hold on until His Highness descends.”

Vowing to fulfill that mission with his life on the line, he commanded the troops and drew his own sword to cut down the enemies.

However, fatigue from the continuous battles began to lead to casualties, and it was unavoidable that they gradually started to waver.

Additionally, having spread their formation wide to prevent entry into the volcano, losses began to accumulate even further.

Yet everyone gritted their teeth and held their ground.

“Legion Commander! More and more gaps are appearing in our defense!”

“We can’t let any more through! Move up and block the main paths!”

“Yes!”

At the Legion Commander’s command, everyone hustled up the volcano, successfully repelling the relentless enemy onslaught.

But even that faced limitations soon enough.

With the appearance of those clad in black robes, more breaches in their defenses began to appear.

If more time passed like this, their formation could very well collapse.

And then it happened.

“Huh?”

One of the soldiers, dazed, looked up at the sky, muttering foolishly. And at that moment, the black silhouettes filling the sky plummeted, obliterating the beings in black robes.

“…They’ve arrived.”

Just as the Legion Commander murmured with a look of near-miraculous relief, the black silhouettes swarmed more and continued to slay the enemies.

Meanwhile, Glen, still drenched in blood from the fight, stared blankly at the scene.

It was as if he couldn’t take his eyes off that spectacle for even a moment.

If Achelio was mowing down foes with his giant sword, the countless black shadows were executing precise strikes to eliminate the enemies.

A flawless execution, possible only through extreme speed and finesse.

“Sorry for being late.”

“…You arrived just in time.”

As the Legion Commander bowed his head in respect, all the soldiers saluted.

With that, the commander protecting the North slightly nodded in acknowledgment.

“Where is His Highness?”

“Up above. It seems he’s preventing the eruption.”

Upon hearing the Legion Commander’s report, Marquis Sicario gazed toward the top of the volcano, where a glowing red light shone.

“His Highness is holding it back….”

As Marquis Sicario pondered for a moment, he turned to the Legion Commander and spoke.

“I must go to His Highness. The Northern Army will arrive soon, so there shouldn’t be any significant issues holding them back.”

“Yes.”

As Marquis Sicario reassured them, saying not to worry and began to ascend, a massive flash of light split the forest below.

“It should be fine.”

“Duke Devir has arrived.”

Seeing the aura radiating like a flash, the Legion Commander finally let out a sigh of relief.

“Pass on the word that the command of the Northern Army is entrusted to him.”

“Yes.”

Responding with a bow to the request of Marquis Sicario, the Legion Commander looked up, only to find that Sicario had already vanished from sight, heading toward the volcano’s peak.

Shortly after, another Master appeared before the Legion Commander accompanied by more flashes.

“Presenting Duke Devir.”

“Is His Highness above?”

“Yes.”

“I leave the defense of this place to you.”

As Duke Devir said that and ascended, Glen looked on from a distance with envy.

“One day, I too….”

The confidence visible only to those who had reached the Master level, and the awe directed toward such figures fueled Glen’s burning desire.

The wall of Master had long eluded him.

In a short time, he had encountered three Masters, igniting flames of determination in his eyes.

‘I will surely reach that height.’

Glen, having experienced rapid growth in actual combat, gripped his sword tightly.

Though as if having made a resolution, his gaze returned to focus, surveying his surroundings for what he needed to do.

His current task was to secure this passage.

To that end, he calmed the surging mana and steadied his momentum.

The Grand Duke’s Knight Order, watching Glen’s figure, clenched their fists in encouragement.

They believed that one day their lord would also become a pillar supporting the Empire……

As the Northern and Western armies joined forces to staunchly block the passage to the volcano, order was being restored at the summit.

By the time Marquis Sicario arrived, all nearby attackers had been dealt with, and the dark mages attempting to deploy wide-area magic had been obliterated by Duke Devir’s flashes.

“……This is.”

“Magnificent.”

The two Masters who arrived late marveled at the sight of Kariel resonating with the Fire Giant.

It was such an awe-inspiring sight that even the usually composed Masters couldn’t help but exclaim.

“That small fireball is controlling the enormous fire energy erupting from the volcano.”

“The power contained in that giant is also considerable.”

While the two Masters admired the Fire Giant and Surth, attackers slithered out once more from wherever they came.

Had their admiration been disrupted?

The two Masters stepped forward with expressions of rage and wiped them out.

“How unpleasant.”

“I concur. These scoundrels are ruining the atmosphere here.”

At the words of Marquis Sicario, Duke Devir furrowed his brows in agreement.

Achelio nodded as if agreeing.

At the moment when the three pairs of eyes met, each Master positioned themselves at the edges of the volcano.

It was as if they were saying that even ascending any further was undesirable, whereupon they began to slaughter anyone attempting to approach.

“A truly flawless defense formation has been created.”

Talion smiled brightly while observing the protective formation crafted by the three Masters.

Even the knights of the Central Army and the Imperial Guard were left expressing admiration.

The auras released by the Masters resonated, forming a solid barrier around the volcano.

Intriguingly, this barrier didn’t budge an inch toward where Kariel was situated.

How much time passed in such a manner?

Within a barrier constructed to ensure there would be no disturbances, Kariel, who had been resonating powerfully, finally opened his closed eyes.

The very instant he did, a surge of red light shot into the sky as the massive Fire Giant began to crumble.

[Congratulations on your contract with the baby spirit.]

[As the unstable fire energy stabilizes, you have prevented the volcanic eruption.]

[A fragment of the Spirit King has fallen asleep, while another fragment has awakened. Stop the eruption of Kapur Volcano.]

As the Translucent Window appeared, the crumbled power of the giant coalesced in front of Kariel and gradually seeped into his heart.

Suspended in mid-air, receiving power from the glowing red energy, Kariel absorbed the vast amounts of strength that constituted the giant’s body, but thanks to Surth standing at the threshold regulating the flow, it wasn’t too overwhelming.

After some time of absorbing the energy, when Kariel finally landed on the ground, Surth spoke in an exhausted voice.

-…This is brutally tiring. I think I need a nap.

As soon as Surth finished speaking, he vanished with a puff.

Simultaneously, the baby spirit transformed into a small fireball and disappeared just like Surth.

“Your Highness! Are you alright?”

Talion rushed over with concern, but Kariel nodded and replied.

“Let’s go down.”

“Can we rest for a bit…?”

“There’s no time for that.”

One of the fragments had awakened with a contract with Kariel.

They needed to move quickly to prevent it.

At Kariel’s insistence, Talion headed rapidly down the volcano, realizing there was no arguing with him.

As Kariel, once again carried on Talion’s back, descended with the Masters, the troops temporarily under the Legion Commander saluted in unison.

The overwhelming number of corpses surrounding them and the injured displayed just how fierce the battles had been here.

“You all did well.”

At Kariel’s words, the eyes of those who saluted trembled.

Touched by the Crown Prince’s heartfelt words, they energetically called out Kariel’s name, while he accepted their cheers with an awkward expression.

As they shared the joy of victory together and began to move toward the defensive line of the Northwest, a single messenger hurried toward Kariel.

“Your Highness! Urgent news!”

“Urgent news?”

“Yes! The Southern Alliance is mobilizing a large army.”

“What’s the reason?”

Even if it was the Southern Alliance, they couldn’t just move troops around without cause.

Especially with dark mages running rampant, doing so could lead to them suffering a joint attack from Iron, the Empire, and the Holy Nation.

There was a risk it could escalate into a continent-wide war, so justification was crucial.

“It seems there are signs that Kapur Volcano is about to erupt. We suspect it was the dark mages, and they appear to be moving under the guise of preventing that.”

“What’s the scale of their forces?”

“It’s a coalition of seven legions, all including the Masters from Talos and Rotheon.”

At the messenger’s report, the expressions of the Masters behind him hardened.

They sent just one Master each from Rotheon and Talos, who they cherished dearly?

This was an attempt to pressure the Empire or perhaps to seize parts of its territory amidst the chaos.

“Marquis Sicario.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

As Marquis Sicario bowed his head in response to Kariel’s call, Talion quickly interrupted.

“Your Highness, he should remain in the North…”

Kariel raised a hand to stop him, replying firmly.

“It’s fine to send the Northern Army back. I just need you to join me for a moment.”

“You wish to pressure the South.”

In an instant, Marquis Sicario grasped Kariel’s intentions and nodded.

The Southern Alliance aimed to insert itself into the Empire’s outskirts under the pretext of stopping the dark mages.

Even if the standoff situation was resolved after its conclusion, their aim was to secure advantageous positions in the Continental Conference upon retreating.

Thus, Kariel intended to rush towards the South with a set of Masters, including the Count of the North.

It was a risky maneuver that could put the North in jeopardy, but the Holy Nation, which shared a border with the North, wouldn’t be pleased to see only the South gaining benefits in this situation and would likely remain silent.

An unwritten agreement secured between Iron and the Holy Nation to apply pressure on the Southern Alliance.

Kariel had figured this out right there and then.

‘He’s quite young yet….’

Marquis Sicario internally admired Kariel as he watched him.

But Kariel nonchalantly turned his gaze towards Duke Devir, as if this was all perfectly normal.

“If two Masters are coming from over there, then we can simply send three Masters over. It might be good to bring some nice gifts for my younger brothers?”

He said it in a tone as if to imply, ‘I don’t care since I’m retiring, but this is for my little brothers!’

“Do as Your Highness wishes.”

In response to Duke Devir’s words, Marquis Sicario also bowed his head.

“I will be Your Highness’s sword until I return to the Imperial Palace.”

Likewise, Achelio nodded in agreement, while Glen stepped forward.

“I would also like to assist Your Highness with the Grand Duke’s Knight Order.”

At Glen’s words, Kariel briefly looked at him before nodding.

Having heard that he achieved immense growth through real combat, Kariel willingly allowed his participation.

‘He’ll grow even faster than in his previous life.’

Having been thrust into battle at a young age and under the terror of the first Grand Duke, Glen’s growth would surely accelerate.

Thus, the Prince’s retinue consisting of three Masters and a future Master was established.

Despite a slight inadequacy in troop numbers, that could be solved with support from the Count of the South.

The crucial point was that the entire force comprised elite guards with skills above that of knight commanders, bolstered by three Masters, heading toward the South.

“Relay this to the central command. It’s urgent, so use magical communication.”

“Yes!”

Without a care that it might get intercepted, Kariel ordered the messenger to hastily turn around and run.

Thanks to the messenger faithfully executing Kariel’s directive?

Within just a few hours, the news that the Prince’s retinue was heading toward the South spread throughout the imperial capital.

As a result, the Southern Alliance, which had been advancing with great momentum, suddenly came to a screeching halt, as if their vehicles had broken down.

Simultaneously, the inherent weaknesses of the alliance began to surface.

When faced with a crisis, their tendency to fracture based on individual interests started to spread like poison through the Southern Alliance.