Proclamation

“I’m acutely aware that I’m growing older. Today’s version of me is more impatient than yesterday’s, and dealing with people is becoming more difficult. This must be the weight a king must bear. It’s far too massive for me to carry.”

“Not at all! Your Majesty is a wise ruler who’ll make the nation prosperous!”

At the perfunctory words, Phillena covered her mouth with her hand and laughed.

“I’m merely a proxy temporarily holding this position. All I can do is refrain from involving myself in politics to maintain the nation’s current state. This can’t be considered a normal king’s duties. Therefore, I intend to select a true successor who’ll lead the nation in the right direction.”

The hearts of succession candidates and their supporters pounded violently.

“From this day forward, I proclaim! Only one person who truly befits this position shall become the parent of countless subjects!”

“We truly pay our respects to this bold decision!”

When Breia shouted first, the supporters came forward and cheered Phillena’s decision.

The succession candidates were busy watching each other.

From now on, that trial would come.

‘Illumina’s succession candidate selection differs from other nations.’

Most countries, like Rezhen Kingdom, have siblings fight each other and the victor naturally claims the throne.

But Illumina presents a competition task.

The reason a scoundrel like Arjan could become king was precisely because he solved this task.

Moreover, because this task exists, other siblings can burn with the will to oppose Vans, who has the world’s strongest Rakis Empire backing him.

Opportunity is equal, but ultimately the strong seize everything.

Just as Illumina’s first king specified by law that any royal must be given one chance, all royals must follow whoever wins the competition.

‘There’s no need to follow Illumina’s rules.’

Pernok smiled peculiarly while examining the royals.

Vans was expressionless, Yuliana smiled, and Porla clenched his fist tight.

Everyone seemed to know what the task was.

“You’ll see a faded gem at this crown’s center.”

Phillena pointed to the colorless gem at the crown’s center.

“This is the very symbol of kingship! But when Arjan died, the symbol lost its light! The method to revive it sleeps in the first king’s tomb!”

The first king’s tomb is known only to those who inherited the throne.

It’s said all of Illumina’s history and mighty ‘power’ sleep there.

There’s a rumor that the reason Illumina joined hands with great powers yet wasn’t invaded is thanks to the first king’s tomb.

But even Pernok doesn’t know what that is.

Because even the Queen herself doesn’t know it, she didn’t call herself king but designated herself as a proxy.

“Whoever finds that place’s power and makes the crown shine again shall sit in this position!”

Phillena’s words were clear, making everyone’s hearts race.

Desire boiled over in the gazes of those looking at their respective supported royals.

The delegations from each nation were the same.

Their will to mobilize all capabilities and absolutely make their patron king was evident.

“When Arjan died, he said the king’s tomb is located where ancestors’ spirits live. Those clues are divided into five pieces total, and candidates must use them to find the king’s tomb. So I’ll make a final declaration.”

Phillena swept through the succession candidates and stopped her gaze at last on Pernok.

“Those who truly don’t fear death! Prove yourselves at this place tomorrow!”

At the words telling him to withdraw appropriately, Pernok only smirked.

* * *

The intention behind the last grace period given was too obvious.

It meant giving the other royals time to persuade the unexpected variable Pernok.

And shrewd Second Princess and Third Prince immediately caught Phillena’s intention.

A table was arranged for the three people excluding Vans.

“I’m happy to have a youngest sibling.”

Yuliana offered Pernok tea with a pretty smile.

“Older sister, are you going to act like a good person coming all the way here? Just speak plainly. That you want to have the Mercenary King under your command.”

“What’s this ‘Mercenary King’ to your younger sibling?”

“Younger sibling? No one here sees us as family. If I hadn’t grown up seeing older sister in the palace since childhood, I wouldn’t be leisurely having tea time either.”

“This child. People will criticize us.”

“Older brother Vans didn’t come to this place. Do you all have the resolve to handle that?”

Porla sneered at Yuliana’s grinning appearance and turned his gaze to Pernok.

“You’ll die first, won’t you?”

“Just state your business.”

When Pernok spoke leisurely, Porla curled up his lips’ corners.

“Even to your eyes, we probably don’t look like a close-knit family. I also have absolutely no intention of accepting you as family. That’s probably the same for older sister too.”

“So?”

“I’ve heard all the information about you. Honestly, just looking at talent, you’re not inferior even compared to older brother. But you lack competitiveness. You seem related to Rezhen, but there’s already older brother’s ally there too.”

“Prince Zayl?”

“Right. No matter how difficult it is for that guy, he can fully utilize a prince’s rights. Blocking Rezhen’s border would be no problem at all. In short, the guild is all you have. It’s not even a game.”

“So you’re saying come under you?”

“I’m proposing a partnership.”

Even with Yuliana watching, Porla was unrestrained.

“You’ll also be given one clue. Take it and come to me. On the day everything ends, I’ll hand over all military authority to you.”

“You’re overflowing with confidence.”

“I said it. Partnership. Your talent for commanding mercenaries and reaching Magus is suitable for the military. I become king, and you become the military’s supreme commander. Then we’ll have no choice but to respect each other, right?”

The boldness of unhesitatingly spitting out such a radical proposal was truly worthy of being called royalty.

“Do you think the same?”

“Well.”

Yuliana smiled while leisurely drinking tea.

“I just want to get along harmoniously as family. If you draw a sword, I’ll have no choice but to raise a rod. But if you bring flowers, I’ll make a splendid garden in return. Making a castle just for youngest sibling would also be nice.”

Giving a territory with independent authority within the kingdom.

This too was a decision that would draw many people’s objections.

But Yuliana offered Pernok tea as if confident.

“I want to accept you as family. How about it?”

“You’re not going to attach yourself to older brother, right?”

Rezhen’s succession candidates often self-destructed, fighting stupidly while unhesitatingly revealing their desires.

But these people are ambitious enough to accept even hostile forces overnight if their intentions align.

This type can’t be manipulated from behind like with Rezhen. You must grip and shake them from the front.

‘I’ll inevitably clash with each kingdom that’s these guys’ patrons.’

How many experts will come and be absorbed as nutrients called mana and spiritual power?

Countless strong people will interfere, and as you break them down one by one, stagnant power exceeds its limits.

Just thinking about it was thrilling.

For Pernok, the throne war was not only about nation-building but also like a breeding ground to make himself stronger.

“I’ll give you an answer after carefully examining the task given to me.”

“Refusal isn’t good.”

“Ambiguous guys lose trust. Don’t test me half-heartedly.”

Pernok smirked and rose from his seat.

“Actually, I don’t get along with Vans.”

“…?”

“That guy knew about the bastard son’s existence and stuck a sword in my chest.”

“…!”

“First time hearing it? Well, what I want to say is that. At least I have absolutely no intention of joining hands with Vans. Think carefully about why I struck three count’s territories.”

Leaving the two surprised people behind, Pernok entered the bedroom.

Will the royals quietly watch the confrontation structure between himself and Vans?

Or will they interfere and disrupt, or use this to attempt more active recruitment efforts?

The ones whose worries will deepen are Yuliana and Porla.

* * *

Vans asked Breia.

“Do you like Pernok?”

“Hm?”

“I heard you walked the road together with him yesterday.”

“Attaching surveillance is something only petty guys do, you know?”

“I’m this nation’s prince. Being in this position, I hear many sounds even when I don’t want to.”

Breia openly clicked his tongue.

“I don’t like that side of you. A man being underhanded.”

“Since you have no interest in politics, Marquis, I must be very uncomfortable.”

“At least I don’t like the despicable appearance of sticking a sword in your own sibling’s chest and walking around proudly.”

“You knew?”

“Bastard son cleanup? How could I not know? All 13 Lords know.”

“Do I look ugly to you?”

“Very. Extremely so.”

Vans let out a bitter laugh.

“The Duke praised my appearance of not wanting to leave even a small sprout, yet you’re still living trapped in the framework of loyalty and righteousness, Marquis.”

“This is why you and I don’t match.”

“I think even a marquis like you is a necessary existence to me.”

“Why? Trying to preserve your conscience now?”

Instead of answering, Vans wore a smile.

People who don’t know Rakis think all 13 Lords support Vans, but they don’t know.

They merely submit to Duke Chris’s intense leadership; the 13 Lords each have different thoughts.

The reason Vans stayed in Rakis for a long time was to persuade all 13 Lords.

“Officially, I support you. If enemies come, I can block them. But obtaining the 13 Lords’ sincerity can’t be achieved by command.”

He persuaded ten people. But two don’t respond.

One of them is Breia.

This person who’s fundamentally a free-spirited mercenary doesn’t even show his face unless Chris’s command falls.

And he always shows an appearance that provokes Vans.

That was uncomfortable, so he’d requested other 13 Lords for the delegation, yet specifically Breia came.

‘Does the Duke want to test my qualities?’

Chris’s words came to mind—that if you gain the magnanimity to draw in even people with opposite tendencies, then you’ll finally become king.

Vans composed his expression.

“I’ll ask just one thing. Will you add strength to Pernok?”

“I’m a Rakis noble. I thoroughly distinguish between public and private. I have no intention of going against the Duke’s will.”

“I’ve firmly remembered those words.”

Breia waved his hand and entered the bedroom.

The former black-rank mercenary who entered Rakis on the condition of fighting for the empire, free from noble responsibilities instead.

When that back overlapped with Pernok who became an S-rank guild master, his stomach churned.

‘These mercenary types prancing around over this sacred royal authority are truly disgusting.’

Vans quickly erased the surging emotions.

He recalled Chris’s teaching that if you’re dominated by emotions, you spoil things that should work.

“In the end, Rakis comes with me.”

Vans’s momentum was honed as if it would cut.

* * *

The next day, Phillena shouted to the candidates lined up in the great hall.

“Will you four truly not refuse death!”

“Yes!”

Vans, Yuliana, Porla, and Pernok shouted simultaneously.

“Then I’ll select these four as succession candidates at this very moment!”

And the place they were guided to was a heavily guarded treasury.

When Phillena lowered the crown into a small groove, a small door opened on one side of the treasury.

“Only one thing can be taken from inside.”

Previous kings leave something inside here before dying.

They must find clues leading to the first king’s tomb from this place.

“Vans, start first.”

Vans respectfully bowed to the treasury and entered the small door.

Shortly after, he brought out one old dagger sheath.

“It’s the 4th King’s collection. As expected, everyone seems to have thought things through.”

Entering the treasury with a grin, she brought out a blunt candlestick.

“What, everyone had the same thought?”

Porla clicked his tongue bitterly.

Because the candlestick was also the 4th King’s collection. And he too brought out an old history book.

Likewise, it was the 4th King’s collection.

4th King Caesarus Al Illumina.

He’s evaluated as the king who achieved the most peaceful diplomacy in Illumina’s history.

In the world where war was brewing at the time, only Illumina avoided the typhoon, and it’s said the reason was because he drew out ‘power’ from the first king’s tomb.

Though it’s not recorded in actual history books, the royals seem to believe that rumor is fact.

Perhaps the one who left the most detailed clues in the first king’s tomb is the 4th King.

“Last, Pernok.”

But Pernok had no interest in the king’s clues from the start.

He was curious about the power contained in the first king’s tomb, but it didn’t particularly matter if he couldn’t obtain it.

What Pernok wanted was to massacre all the royals in this place.

Because he’d only thought about sweeping them away under the pretense of the tomb and competition.

Pernok entered the small door with light steps.

Following the musty smell and looking around, all sorts of antiques were neatly placed.

They’re all collections of kings who enjoyed each era.

‘They said only kings who achieved excellent accomplishments in Illumina’s history place collections here.’

There were no collections from the first king, who left everything in the tomb.

Naturally, collections from Ludgal, who lived a dissolute life, weren’t permitted either.

Only collections from the 2nd through 6th Kings were displayed here.

It was the moment Pernok, uninterested in old collectibles, thought to just pick up one and leave.

“…?”

Pernok’s gaze stopped at a faint light.

The space containing the 2nd King’s collections.

In the old scale placed there, specks of spiritual power that absolutely couldn’t be seen without Soul Discernment were discovered.

“This is…”

Remnants of light that don’t exist in other collections.

It was a mass of lingering thoughts where the soul’s attachment remained intensely.