WeTried Translations
Translator/Editor: Arsène
Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried
The Romance Fantasy’s Pushover Crown Prince Is No More
Chapter 68: War of Conquest (2)
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Strangely enough, the Empire’s northern and eastern regions did not use cultivation methods derived from Sol Velos.
If anything, their nature could be considered the complete opposite of Sol Velos-derived cultivation.
Instead, cultivation methods that seemed to stand opposite Sol Velos had taken root there.
In the North, it was the power of winter.
In the East, it was the power of the sea.
Was that why?
Northern and eastern knights did not get along well with knights who had learned cultivation methods derived from Sol Velos.
Their powers naturally clashed, so they had gradually grown distant from one another.
Things had eased considerably by now.
Back when the Imperial Crown Prince had been a pushover, though, it had been truly severe.
Naturally, the resentment from those harsh days still remained.
Still, it was resentment rooted in the belief that they were all on the same side.
We are the only ones who get to criticize them, and we are the only ones who get to hate them.
They genuinely disliked one another, but in war, they trusted one another to have their backs.
Perhaps it was a kind of affection born from dislike.
Yet that power...
“I don’t believe Kailen Marin betrayed us. He may be a fool blinded by love, and he may have committed a crime, but I don’t think he lacks that much judgment.”
When that power appeared in such an unexpected place, the Imperial Knights’ expressions darkened at once.
Some showed no expression at all, revealing only cold, settled fury.
“I understand why they brought out that power, too. They probably thought the Aura of the waves would give them an advantage against us.”
Their natures were opposites, but that was all.
If it had been anything more, the line of Sol Velos would have died out long ago.
The Empire’s central authorities would also have had to tread carefully around the Grand Dukes.
“Seeing how they used that power without knowing anything, Kailen Marin probably didn’t teach them. If he had, he would’ve made them hide it thoroughly.”
It was simply different in nature. It held no advantage over Sol Velos.
The Empire’s power was absolute, and that absolute power came from Sol Velos.
They did not believe Kailen Marin would have taught them while leaving out such vital information.
He was a fool, but his talent alone had placed him among the Empire’s very best, allowing him to become a Grand Duke at such a young age.
Had he taught them, he would have taught them properly. And part of that proper instruction would have been, “Never use that power against the Empire.”
“Besides, I don’t see the distinctive surging Aura of eastern knights. Should I say they’re only imitating waves?”
Rumble.
The Imperial Knights slowly twisted the swords buried in the backs of the Macelin knights as they continued speaking.
“I’ll put forward a hypothesis. Someone asked Kailen Marin to demonstrate the Marin Cultivation Method... and while he was demonstrating it, they copied the cultivation method.”
“Arghhh!”
They completely ignored the screams that followed.
“But it probably didn’t work well. Kailen Marin’s Mana Core was broken, after all. His Highness himself shattered it, so recovering it must be absurdly difficult... That’s why you ended up with these half-baked waves. Am I right?”
The question was not directed at any particular person.
It was thrown at every Macelin knight present.
Imperial Knights were interrogating Macelin knights in the middle of the Kanda Kingdom.
Leaving aside the difference in military strength, the knights of the Kanda Kingdom should have intervened.
‘What should we do?’
‘Stay still. Stay still. Never provoke them.’
‘We’ll even be careful when breathing.’
‘Good. You’re doing well. Don’t try to stand against a natural disaster. Can you defeat a calamity? Can you fight droughts, tidal waves, or earthquakes?’
‘No, we cannot.’
‘Just pray for it to pass. Pray desperately.’
The Kanda Kingdom’s knights knew what mattered most at this moment.
Dignity? Chivalry? Pride? Honor? Self-respect? None of that mattered.
What mattered was the survival of the kingdom.
Only if the kingdom survived could they retain the title of knight.
That was why the Kanda Kingdom’s forces watched the situation as quietly as mice.
“No one has anything to say? Speaking now is your only chance to make things easier for everyone.”
The Imperial Knights glanced over the Macelin knights.
They could clearly see how terrified they were.
“Abandon any hope that keeping silent will make us consider this an isolated act by an individual knight.”
The Imperial Knights explained what would happen next.
“We will use this as grounds to invade the Macelin Kingdom. We will hunt down every knight in the Macelin Kingdom and ask whether they know about Kailen Marin’s cultivation method. If they hesitate even slightly, we will kill them. To show that those who covet what belongs to the Empire receive no mercy, we may wipe out every living knight in the Macelin Kingdom.”
If they thought those words had simply been spoken to frighten them, so be it.
At those calm words, the Macelin knights’ faces turned pale in real time.
Some were so frightened that they collapsed to the ground and wet themselves.
The hair of some began turning white from the tips, while others lost consciousness after imagining the future awaiting them.
“So speak, before you leave the Empire’s shade and face the true sun.”
“Ugh... ngh... ughhh...”
The first knight to use the Marin Cultivation Method wept without even realizing a blade was lodged in their back.
Their legs had been severed, and they could no longer feel their lower body, yet a fear far worse than that consumed their mind.
So...
“...Y-yes. That hypothesis is correct... That is what happened...”
They spoke the truth.
“Was Mirne the one who asked Kailen Marin to demonstrate the cultivation method?”
A mere knight spoke the Crown Princess’s name without an honorific.
No one could point out the disrespect.
“...More precisely, Kailen Marin’s Mana Core was broken... It happened while they were trying to restore it.”
“Restore a broken Mana Core?”
“Y-yes. Her Highness the Crown Princess... asked Kailen Marin to demonstrate the cultivation method in order to restore his Mana Core... It wasn’t just for a day or two, so it naturally began taking place in public as well... Naturally, knights saw it...”
“So among the knights who saw it, there were knights who imitated it like you?”
“...I’m not certain. I only know about myself.”
“I thought so.”
Slice.
With those words, the knight’s head rolled helplessly across the ground.
“It can’t be helped, given the situation.”
The Imperial Knights continued discussing what would happen next through exchanged looks.
It did not take long. What had to be done was obvious.
“All knights of the Macelin Kingdom must undergo an Imperial inspection.”
“....”
“If there are many who learned the Marin Cultivation Method, then we have no choice but to inspect them all.”
Of course, this plan could only be carried out after receiving the Imperial Crown Prince’s final approval.
“Staff No. 1 Theo! I’ve just received a message from His Highness!”
Theo, who understood that better than anyone, had been reporting the situation to the Imperial Crown Prince in real time.
As soon as the knights reached their conclusion, Theo prepared to convey the Imperial Crown Prince’s will.
“All of you, bow your heads to the ground.”
At that moment, the knights released fierce pressure.
“Consider it the honor of a lifetime that the noble will of His Highness the Imperial Crown Prince reaches your ears.”
Any place where an Imperial command was received had to be solemn.
It did not matter whether it was in the middle of a battlefield or another kingdom.
How could one choose the location when a supreme will descended upon the earth?
Thud!
The knights of the Macelin and Kanda Kingdoms hurriedly pressed their heads to the ground without exception.
After confirming that everyone had lowered their heads, the Imperial Knights respectfully waited for the Imperial Crown Prince’s decree.
“My swords, listen.”
Rumble.
My swords.
At those words, the Imperial Knights barely restrained the corners of their mouths from rising to their ears.
This was a place to receive an Imperial command. They knew they should maintain solemn expressions.
Still, they were incredibly happy that His Highness the Imperial Crown Prince had called them “my swords.”
Theo continued speaking without a word of complaint.
“Do as you see fit. Do not hesitate. Remember that the sun stands behind you.”
The moment Theo finished speaking, the Imperial Knights released their full pressure in unison.
In an age when a Swordmaster was the pillar of an entire kingdom, a Swordmaster in the Empire was no more than the basic qualification required to be called an Imperial Knight.
“Gasp...”
“Urgh...”
The knights of other nations, who had barely managed to endure until then, collapsed without resistance beneath the full force of their pressure.
“We obey!!!”
Remember that the sun stood behind them.
Keeping those words in mind, the Imperial Knights looked down at the Macelin knights, who had their heads pressed to the ground and were trembling.
“All of you will become prisoners.”
They did not bother tying anyone up.
“Resistance will not be tolerated.”
There was no need to.
“If you’re curious, feel free to try.”
A large number of Swordmasters possessed overwhelming military strength.
“Lead us to the Macelin Kingdom.”
They began preparing to head to the Macelin Kingdom to verify the cultivation method.
+++++
Immediately after receiving the report that the Imperial Knights were heading for the Macelin Kingdom.
‘Now I understand why Mirne placed such importance on following the original story.’
I understood why Mirne had tried so faithfully to carry out the original story’s progression.
Things had gone like this the moment the story’s progression strayed even a little.
‘Originally, I was planning to go to Macelin myself with Ailoren.’
I would have to postpone that for a while.
If I intervened now, the knights might think I did not trust them.
I decided to leave them time to prove themselves. Instead, what I needed to do now was...
“I need to resolve the third Covenant.”
[ The World Tree says that it remembers its regression with you. ]
[ If you consume the World Tree’s root, you will be able to read clearer memories of the regression. ]
[ As a reward for saving Ailoren, a root containing memories related to the Covenant with Pavan is marked. ]
I needed to clearly determine what Pavan’s Covenant was.
Footnotes:
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