novelraw Chapter 128 : The Throne
Chapter 128 : The Throne
Chapter 128: The Throne
Many people had gathered at the inner training ground of the Canel Kingdom.
In the center of the training ground, Caldein Flavan stood and unleashed a 5th Circle Earth-element magic, ‘Gravity’.
Kugung…!
The heavy air pressed down on the ground.
The area of the pressed ground was roughly five meters in diameter—not exactly small.
“Phew…”
Caldein Flavan took a deep breath and deactivated the magic.
At the same time, the people watching from behind let out exclamations of admiration.
Among the crowd was King Laskan.
It was amazing to see a 5th Circle magician other than Frace Therondia.
“Hahaha! Truly a 5th Circle Grand Magician. How could I have failed to recognize such talent?”
In response to this question, Caldein approached King Laskan and said,
“Until a few years ago, I was nothing more than a 2nd Circle magician. I was fortunate to attain enlightenment and rise to this level.”
“Prince has fortune, indeed. And to think Sir Jade became a Swordmaster as well.”
Standing beside Caldein, Jade nodded. He had confirmed Jade’s aura directly just before seeing the magic.
Under Raion’s command, there were now two individuals with skills that a national king might possess.
The nobles aligned with the king could not help but continue expressing admiration at their display of magic and swordsmanship.
“So… what does Raion desire now? Of course, the throne is…”
King Laskan began to speak, but Raion interrupted.
“Forgive me, but I will not inherit the throne.”
“…What?”
“I said I will not inherit it.”
Currently, Raion Canel was the only legitimate heir left.
The nobles murmured at his response.
At that moment, Marquis Salad, a close royalist noble, stepped forward.
“Your Highness, how can you say this? You are now the only one fit to lead the Canel Kingdom.”
“Marquis Salad, do you think I am suited for the throne?”
“How could I not think so? Now that even the rebels have been captured, it falls to Your Highness to ascend the throne and work for a peaceful kingdom.”
Raion’s brows twitched at Marquis Salad’s words.
It was not that he did not understand the intent or that it was malicious.
“Becoming the heir is not the issue. The problem is that I cannot inherit the throne immediately.”
“Why is that?”
“I am curious as well. Raion, why do you refuse the succession?”
King Laskan painfully realized his own inadequacies through this event.
He wanted to step down from the throne as soon as possible to witness the kingdom Raion would create.
But in this situation, he could not understand.
“I will explain the reason, but in another place, not here.”
“Is it an important matter?”
Raion nodded.
They moved to the Great Hall with only the kingdom’s top officials present.
King Laskan sat on the throne and spoke.
“Now, tell me. Why?”
“Because war will break out.”
“War? With which kingdom?”
“…Dior.”
“You mean the Dior Empire?”
“Yes.”
The nobles gathered in the Great Hall murmured.
In contrast, Raion’s subordinates remained quietly in their places.
The difference in reactions was stark.
King Laskan questioned,
“On what grounds do you believe the Dior Empire will wage war?”
“The recent movements of neighboring countries have been unusual. Signs of a border dispute with Dekelan Kingdom and Moratz Kingdom have begun to appear.”
“Dekelan and Moratz… weren’t those always targets of the Dior Empire?”
Originally, the two kingdoms had been part of the Dior Empire.
They were said to have been established by the empire’s crown princes several generations ago.
Thus, the Dior Empire had waged war on the two kingdoms several times to reclaim its former lands.
However, each time, the Bachenan Holy Kingdom in the northeastern end had mediated and stopped it.
“That is true. But this time is different. I would say that the Dior Empire already controls both Dekelan Kingdom and Mineta Kingdom.”
The mention of another kingdom made King Laskan and the nobles’ expressions shift dramatically.
Raion shared information he had gathered through the Eye of the Moon.
“It may be hard to believe at first. But once you hear of the unusual situation in the Dior Empire, you will begin to understand.”
Along with his statement, Caldein Flavan stepped forward.
“I once visited Mistel of the Prios Kingdom. There, I discovered evidence in the illegal black market that a considerable number of elves and dwarves were sold as slaves.”
“What do you mean by that?”
The trade of other races as slaves was illegal on the continent.
Yet, it had happened in a port city of Prios.
“It is as it sounds. The problem is that those slaves were taken by people from the Dior Empire.”
“From the Dior Empire? Who on earth…!”
The continent’s laws regarding slaves had been spearheaded by the Dior Empire.
That someone from the Empire had broken them was a serious matter.
Of course, even knowing this, there was nothing the Canel Kingdom could immediately do against the Dior Empire.
“Would you believe me if I said these were people acting under the emperor’s orders?”
“You mean Emperor Lapis of the Empire?”
“Yes, the emperor himself.”
He was the current emperor of the Dior Empire, the only emperor on the continent.
Having ascended to the throne at a young age, he had been ruling the empire steadily.
Since he had not made any particularly notable moves, King Laskan reacted with curiosity.
“Why on earth would the emperor do such a thing?”
“The dwarves, I presume, were for magical weapons. But the elves… I am unsure.”
Raion remained silent.
In truth, he knew the reason why the Dior Empire’s elf slaves had been rescued.
“Are you saying you intend to take the lead in the war you mentioned?”
“For now, yes.”
“That cannot happen!”
“Your Majesty, the continent will become perilous in the future. Sitting on the throne and fretting will not solve anything, will it?”
Originally, Raion had intended to overturn everything in the Canel Kingdom and confront the dangers of the continent.
That had been his initial plan and resolution.
But someone was needed to stabilize the center of the Canel Kingdom.
Over the years, his initial thoughts had changed considerably.
“I understand your intentions well. So what do you intend to do? If the Empire truly harbors ill intentions, it will not be easy.”
King Laskan trusted Raion’s words.
Thanks to that trust, the crisis facing the Canel Kingdom had been resolved as it was now.
Even if it sounded absurd, he did not dismiss it easily.
“First, reorganize the kingdom. I will speak further afterward.”
“That is necessary. Do you have a plan?”
“The first task is to remove the corrupt nobles. That is, those allied with Duke Alito and anyone who exploits the blood and sweat of the populace.”
“Remove all those nobles? But… what if it disrupts the management of the territories?”
The lords were nobles who had managed their territories for generations.
Through time, the lines of good and evil shifted, and now those who allied with Duke Alito became especially conspicuous.
They also had a hand in keeping their territories functional, making it difficult to remove them outright.
“It is possible if we have capable replacements.”
“Do you have anyone in mind?”
At that question, Patrick, standing to the side, stepped forward and handed over a parchment scroll.
Raion received it, reviewed the contents, and then passed it to King Laskan.
“Hmm… did you come up with this yourself?”
“I cannot exactly say I didn’t.”
The document contained a list of the corrupt nobles along with the names of those who would succeed them.
Of course, it included more than that.
It detailed the strengths and weaknesses of the nobles slated to take office.
It was information not easily obtained, and King Laskan could not help but express admiration.
“Ah… when did you discover all this?”
“The reason Duke Alito could push the Canel Kingdom into crisis was thanks to intelligence. Naturally, those responsible were the civil officials. From now on, you must pay attention not only to the military but also to the civil side.”
King Laskan, a man who relied on force, felt a pang of guilt at those words.
He nodded, and a smile escaped him.
“That is true. The people suffered because of me. That is why I wished to step down from the throne quickly.”
“Now is not the time for rest. And the lords will provide support to the citizens whose lives have grown difficult, along with the new appointments.”
“What do you mean?”
“The goods produced in the Kanas Territory generate considerable profits.”
“Ah… right! I heard that someone named Dragonia produces and sells extraordinary items there. In that regard too, fortune has smiled upon you.”
King Laskan still did not know the truth.
Raion and those who had been in the Kanas Territory shared a small smile.
“Ha. Your Majesty, I would like the ministers and the Royal Knight Commanders to step aside.”
“Hmm… very well.”
At his gesture, the others moved and left the room.
The surroundings quieted, and the presence of others diminished.
“It is still a matter that could cause discomfort if others find out.”
“What is it?”
“The truth is, the existence known as Dragonia refers to me.”
“…What?”
“I am the one who made those items. Thanks to that, the territory became prosperous, and the funds to rebuild the Canel Kingdom were secured.”
At the same time, King Laskan and Royal Knight Commander Trine Diego were astonished.
It was a truth they had never dreamed of.
Trine Diego’s mind flickered briefly with the name ‘Dragonia’.
“Your Highness, I heard that the name of the S-rank Swordmaster from the Praizen Territory was also Dragonia. Could that person be…”
King Laskan had also attempted to recruit that individual, sending knights to investigate.
But the traces had vanished completely, making him impossible to find.
Now that the name resurfaced, he recalled it easily.
Observing their reactions, Raion explained.
“It was a pseudonym I used temporarily to execute my plan.”
“Oh…! So you truly have reached the level of a Swordmaster? But…”
One who has reached the Swordmaster level can roughly gauge the level of another Swordmaster.
So when Jade appeared in the royal castle, King Laskan and Trine Diego were able to perceive his level.
But not Raion.
Despite the aura emanating from his entire body, he appeared completely ordinary.
“It was to deceive Duke Alito and his subordinates.”
“How skilled can you really be? No, learning the sword to that level is difficult even at a young age… perhaps I expected too much…”
It seemed he had thought the faint aura of a Swordmaster was why it was not perceivable.
Jade, realizing the implication of those words, grew flustered.
His expression was so noticeable that King Laskan tilted his head.
“Sir Jade, why are you like that?”
“I-I apologize.”