The Prince Wants to Retire

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Crown Prince Wishes to Retire

18. A Gift for My Siblings (3)

The Empire’s “Crown Tyrant.”

A nickname subtly spreading in foreign lands regarding Kariel.

It was given after witnessing him mercilessly handle opponents and criminals, even crushing Dark Mages.

Although his own power was trivial, his extraordinary intellect, judgment, and unyielding decisiveness instilled such fear that he was deemed a disaster in foreign lands.

“… How long until the Tyrant arrives?”

“He will be here in a few hours.”

Marquis Pires of Rotheon let out a deep sigh.

According to the report from the trade king, Marquis Wilsingham, the Empire was officially exerting pressure on the Southern Allied Forces.

Moreover, under pressure from the Holy Nation and Iron as well, the Southern Allied Forces had no choice but to stand at the forefront against the Dark Mages now that Kariel himself was coming.

If Kariel truly possessed the brutal demeanor rumored about him and showed unwavering determination, the Southern Allied Forces would have to repay the price of stepping onto the Empire’s land by spilling their blood to completely annihilate the Dark Mages.

It was already famous on the West Continent that diplomatic or customary notions didn’t work with him.

“Certain results, huh…”

Duke Pires frowned in frustration.

“Ha… It’s already late, but we have to leave a good impression, at least.”

“I will prepare the grandest welcome possible.”

At Duke Pires’s words, his lieutenant bowed his head and stepped outside.

It was humiliation.

What they had considered a bloated scarecrow of an Empire had reduced the entire Southern Alliance to a position where they had to beg for mercy.

The Empire, which had gone to ruin across three generations, was rising once more.

“… A crisis army.”

To Duke Pires, the future of the Southern Alliance looked nothing but dark.

Whether it was merely dark or led to destruction would only be known once they faced the Crown Prince.

‘Please let the rumors be exaggerated…’

Duke Pires thought, desperately wishing that Kariel was not as ruthless as the gossip claimed.

And the same sentiment ran through Duke Cletta’s mind.

*

As the Southern Alliance awaited the so-called “Crown Tyrant” with trembling hearts, Kariel was meeting with the Count of the South.

“Your Highness!”

The renowned master, Lokan Versailles, who was celebrated as the Empire’s greatest tactician, greeted Kariel.

Upon seeing the greatest tactician, whom he had lost in his previous life, Kariel stepped closer and warmly greeted him.

“Pleasure to meet you. I am Kariel Friedrich von Blazer. I am thrilled to meet the Empire’s greatest master in person.”

“A master, you say? That title is undeserved,” he replied humbly.

“Not at all. You stand alone defending the South! That is commendable, don’t be so modest.”

Some complained that it was unreasonable for a non-master to hold the position of Count of the South.

However, those complaints were silenced by the prowess of Lokan Versailles, who had perfectly countered the Southern masters based solely on strategy.

Being able to see such a figure in person filled Kariel with joy.

‘I hope this life allows for a splendid retirement.’

With thoughts of living through retirement without dying, he engaged in light conversation with the Count of the South.

Throughout their journey to the Southern Allied Forces, a smile never left Kariel’s face, causing the masters following nearby to wear grim expressions.

‘He wasn’t like this when I last met him…’

‘What an excessive welcome…’

‘Hmm…’

The three masters quietly expressed their dissatisfaction while observing Kariel and the Count of the South.

Noticing the subtly jealous gazes of the masters, the nearby knights unconsciously cleared their throats.

As the Empire’s three pillars exhibited a rare sight of jealousy, the Imperial Army, having regained their formation, finally arrived at the location of the Southern Allied Forces.

“Greetings, the little sun of the Empire.”

“Greetings, the little sun of the Empire.”

Two of the Southern Allied Forces’ masters came out to greet Kariel.

As he observed the cordial welcome, Kariel dismounted from his horse, his expression now chilled, contrasting with the smile he had just been wearing while conversing with the Count.

“Are we here to wage war or to have a picnic…?”

With a click of his tongue, Kariel scanned his surroundings, causing the faces of the two leaders of the Southern Allied Forces to contort.

While the remark was insulting, they could not protest against Kariel.

‘All three pillars of the Empire have truly gathered.’

‘And with the Count of the South as well…’

Making a reckless move could lead to them being stripped of their very souls by those standing behind Kariel.

At that moment, enduring humiliation was their only option.

“I’ve heard there hasn’t been progress in subduing the Dark Mages… Is that true?”

“No, we’ve currently occupied to the volcano’s midsection, so only subjugation remains.”

“Let’s discuss further inside…”

Duke Cletta tried to guide them into the tents with a forced smile.

However, Kariel firmly shook his head.

“Time is of the essence to eliminate the Dark Mages.”

As if questioning whether they didn’t understand that, Kariel’s insistence made the two masters grimace again.

Kariel deliberately spoke as if reprimanding them.

“There’s no time to dawdle. We must surround and thoroughly annihilate the entire volcano at once.”

He was openly criticizing how the Southern Allied Forces had been dilly-dallying until now.

Duke Pires pointed out Kariel’s frail physique.

“You’ve come a long way, are you okay?”

“It’s about subduing the Dark Mages. Personal concerns cannot sway this mission.”

Against Duke Pires’s concerned words, Kariel resolutely shook his head and gestured to Talion.

“The Southern Allied Forces, who know the situation well, shall take charge. We will form a siege and send a special force to the volcano’s summit.”

“Hmm…”

Hearing Kariel’s words unfold as expected, the two dukes exchanged glances in silence.

Kariel then had Talion unfold a map and began his explanation.

He forestalled any attempt to waste time with unnecessary talk.

The operation plan was simple.

The forces of the Southern Allied Forces stationed at the midsection would gradually apply pressure on the Dark Mages while the Imperial Army would form a surrounding encirclement covering the entire mountain.

Then, with the Eastern Army close enough, they would create a net from which not even a rat could escape. While the Southern Allied Forces engaged the Dark Mages, the special forces arranged by Kariel would launch a surprise operation from the volcano’s peak.

“If I personally lead the Empire’s masters to handle the Dark Mage leaders on the summit, the damage to the Southern Allied Forces will not be great.”

“You mean you’re going up there yourself?”

At Duke Pires’s words, Kariel smiled brightly and nodded.

The Crown Prince personally heading to the summit would mean they could no longer object, unable to argue against forcing the Southern Allied Forces to bear the brunt of the risk.

While the Empire’s Crown Prince took on the risks himself, they would be leading a special force that included three masters, minimizing actual damage.

Ultimately, Kariel’s strategy was to leave the Southern Allied Forces bearing the consequences while stripping them of grounds to protest.

“I figured it might be better for us, who have experience dealing with the Dark Mage leaders in the Northwest, to take this task… What do you say?”

To Kariel’s words, the two dukes could only nod in silence.

With all the justifications held, they had no choice but to comply.

Thus, without delay, Kariel concluded the strategy meeting and set off toward the volcano’s summit with the special forces.

Meanwhile, the Count of the South joined forces with the Eastern Army to form the encirclement.

“Ha… Seems I must tackle this myself.”

“Reducing even a bit of damage seems to be our last duty left.”

With Duke Cletta’s words, Duke Pires forced a wry smile.

Watching Kariel, who moved without allowing any leeway, the two masters sighed subtly.

They could already imagine the atmosphere of the upcoming Continental Conference after this war concluded.

“Let’s move. Helping them quickly finish this seems best…”

“…Agreed.”

With a small sigh, the two masters began to act.

Given that the operation had failed, the best they could do was preserve their strength as much as possible while retreating, but the Crown Prince leading the Empire showed no intention to do so.

Ultimately, their plan to withdraw with minimal losses had gone awry from the start.

With sins weighing upon them, they began at a disadvantage, outnumbered by masters, leading to an embarrassing situation where they had to comply with Kariel without even daring to rebel.

As the two renowned masters of the South sighed heavily and moved, the Southern Allied Forces faced the looming threat of a massive war against the Dark Mages with their morale plummeting.

On the other hand, the Imperial Army’s morale soared to the heavens.

Though they observed from afar, seeing Kariel apply pressure on the two Southern masters and, most importantly, the fact that the Empire’s Crown Prince was leading from the front, felt remarkably different to the Imperial Army.

It hadn’t been a few hours since the Crown Prince arrived at Kapur Volcano that a major movement began.

The Imperial Army was the first to broadly extend their encirclement.

Simultaneously, the Southern Allied Forces began their serious offensive against the Dark Mages.

“It’s said that the two masters from the South have taken the lead.”

“Are they trying to minimize damage? Well, let’s get moving.”

Upon Talion’s report, Kariel climbed onto his back.

Then, with intent to carve a bloody path just like in the Northwest, the three masters began to move first.

As the masters released their auras to clear the way, Kariel’s special forces began to move as well.

They were heading to the summit while crushing the Dark Mages and summoned creatures that had been laid in wait for them, all while the Dark Mages gathered for an all-out offensive against the Southern Allied Forces.

“Fire is suffering.”

“…What?”

Talion tilted his head in confusion at Kariel’s words.

Kariel too looked puzzled, not quite understanding why he said that. But he could certainly feel the sensation of fire in agony.

And that feeling became undeniable as they got closer to the volcano’s summit.

“They’re trash.”

The movements of the spirits, visible only to Kariel, were clear.

Things that had once been gathered now lay scattered, forming a magic circle around the volcano.

While they tried to forcibly create a rampaging spirit in the Northwest, it appeared they were now attempting to summon entities from another dimension using fragments.

– How pitiful.

Suddenly appearing, Surth gazed at the torn and fragmented Spirit King.

Seeing the mournful fragments crying out, Kariel grimaced.

“All I can do now is end that suffering, right?”

– …Yes.

It was evident that the moment they were torn apart by the Dark Mages, their demise was inevitable.

With the delay of obliteration due to dark magic, they had been turned into pitiful sacrifices for forced summoning. Kariel commanded his masters.

“Destroy all buildings similar to that one.”

Hearing Kariel’s command, the masters slightly bowed their heads and swiftly moved.

They, too, felt the disturbance of the fire’s mana, realizing it echoed the cries of the suffering spirit.

However, just as the masters scattered, a group of Dark Mages emerged from somewhere, attacking Kariel. It was the elite Dark Mages and their elder, who had been waiting for an opportunity nearby.

But Kariel, having thoroughly experienced the horrors of facing Dark Mages, wouldn’t just stand idle.

Using the Imperial Guard, Talion, and the Imperial Palace Knights to block them, the knights of the Grand Duke Family struck from behind.

A trap centered around Kariel, who had purposely acted as bait.

The Dark Mages, caught utterly unawares, perished violently.

“The… Great Plan is not over yet…”

“You can save that kind of talk for the East Continent.”

Kariel approached the elder, who spoke while half his body was missing and blood pouring from his lips, and said with a chilling expression.

“Just… back away…”

At that moment, watching the elder take his final breath, Kariel clicked his tongue.

Despite hearing such cursed words, Kariel did not waver in the slightest.

While it seemed a Dark Mage would make some final move before leaving the West Continent, it was not Kariel’s concern.

The remaining matters fell to his siblings and the deputies.

“Ha…”

In order to carry out the last task possible as the Crown Prince, Kariel gazed at the summit of the volcano.

He saw the splintered pieces, torn by the Dark Mages, beginning to glow red as they congregated towards the center.

In that moment, the dormant energy within Kariel started to resonate with it.

Like a sound calling out to him.

Guided by this resonance, Kariel began to slowly move toward the volcano’s core.