Side Story Chapter 134

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.

-...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.