This Bastard is Too Competent

Chapter 198: Where Are You Running To?

“And that new owner is me.”

Ian’s intense declaration reverberated through the hall.

Upon hearing it, the First Prince glanced around to assess the situation.

‘Look at this?’

The nobles who had once stood in support beside him now quivered, their loyalty shifting unexpectedly.

To see them now fearing his younger brother more than the legendary King Eloin, once known as the Blood Lion, was a startling turn of events.

Only the Southern nobles remained steadfast at his side.

‘How interesting.’

First Prince Leon felt a surge of confidence.

‘I can still feel my power at work.’

The unique ability he was born with.

It was the kind of power that no one of Kaistein’s blood could resist, for he had chosen the sword from an early age.

Not just King Eloin, but even Ian or the knights of this country should have been unable to defy him.

But now, something felt off.

‘My power no longer works?’

It was the first time his thoughts and intentions didn’t align properly.

And to think it was because of this little brat.

It was no wonder the First Prince was smirking.

“Is that so? You truly no longer wish for me, Your Majesty?”

“That is correct.”

King Eloin’s expression remained resolute.

His unwavering gaze spoke volumes; Leon’s usual influence seemed to have no effect on the King, who had previously been easily swayed.

‘Is it because of that brat?’

It certainly seemed to be influenced by that brat.

The Seven Virtues protecting King Eloin was growing stronger under the bright light emitted by the boy.

The power that should have corrupted into darkness, threatening its wielder’s life, was currently pushing back against him.

Even though the king could not move, he was surely resisting Leon’s influence.

This was something he had not accounted for in his plans.

“Then there is nothing more for me to do.”

Without hesitation, he turned his back.

He headed toward the door.

“Let’s go.”

“Y-your Highness?”

Ceres called out urgently, but Leon did not look back.

“He has made his wishes clear. It is time to leave.”

“B-but…

Ceres gave up on persuading him and quickly followed behind.

He realized that the man he served as his lord wouldn’t change his mind.

That was when…

“Where do you think you’re going?”

“Huh?”

Ian’s sudden interruption blocked their path, his smile taking on a more sinister edge.

“If you’re leaving, you should at least tell us everything you know.”

His knights, including Nathan, were glaring at them with fierce expressions.

Each one of them seemed determined not to let them go just like that.

Especially Yamanta, who bared his teeth and growled like a beast at Ceres.

‘W-what is this?’

Ceres broke out in a cold sweat.

It seemed like it was going to be a more difficult day than he had expected.

Despite the tension, the First Prince remained composed.

“Are you planning to stop me?”

“I’m just curious. I must find out who has made one who was once a Crown Prince tremble in fear.”

Of course, there were no fearful ones.

Everything was merely hidden away for the sake of the First Prince’s own plans.

But no sooner had Ian finished speaking than Galon stepped forward.

“Your Highness, it’s here.”

He pulled out an object wrapped in cloth from his back and presented it forward.

The cloth soon fell away to reveal a weapon.

Ceres’s eyes widened in disbelief.

“That… that weapon, could it be?”

The Spear of Execution—a potent weapon that could slay even royalty without consequence.

Ian smirked.

“I had brought it for the inauguration ceremony. Little did I know it would find use like this.”

It was clear that he wasn’t acting surprised.

His eyes seemed to say that he had expected this to happen.

Ceres’s face turned red as he shouted.

“Even with the Spear of Execution in your hands, this man is the First Prince and your brother! To present such a weapon to him is a disgrace. Show some respect, Seventh Prince!”

“Well, is it?”

“What do you mean?”

“Didn’t His Majesty mention it? He acknowledges him as his son but not as a successor.”

Ian took the spear from Galon and presented it forward.

“There’s no need to seek permission to kill a mere royal, someone who isn’t even in line for succession.”

“!”

“Especially someone who deceived the king and the kingdom, pretending to be dead. So you’d better speak willingly about what you know.”

Ian’s eyes seemed to convey a deeper message: ‘if you don’t reveal everything you know, you and the one in front of you will die.’

Ceres could only swallow hard at those eyes.

Gulp.

He could clearly sense the sincerity behind Ian’s gaze.

He looked up at the First Prince in a panic.

“Y-your Highness.”

The First Prince extended his hand to stop Ceres.

Then, glancing at the king, he asked,

“Do you think Your Majesty feels the same?”

“What do you think?”

“It seems like it.”

The First Prince let out a scoff, unable to contain his disbelief.

Even though he had been away from the royal family for some time, he never expected it to come to this.

After all, Ian’s knights were surrounding them on all sides.

“This… It seems I won’t be able to leave easily.”

Moreover, the energy radiating from Ian was astounding.

‘To embody the Seven Virtues and the Seven Sins… I never thought that would be possible.’

He had previously thought it impossible.

No, not only the First Prince, but hadn’t the mage who had given him power said the same thing?

That only one person could do that.

But it didn’t matter.

“Come, my knights!”

At the First Prince’s icy voice, a powerful energy began to surge forth.

Boom!

It was a massive darkness.

The darkness poured out like a tsunami, threatening to engulf everyone around.

In its path were not only Ian and his knights but also the nobles present.

Ian shouted as if he had expected this outcome.

“Sir Fiosen!”

“Understood.”

As Fiosen stepped forward and clashed his hands together horizontally, a shining shield arose to confront the darkness.

The massive wave of darkness was soon blocked by the shield and split in two directions.

Others were also being protected by the royal guards blocking the oncoming darkness.

Ian did not hesitate and charged forward, spear in hand.

“My steps will not be halted by darkness!”

The power of Ian’s Faith merged with Galon’s Invisibility.

These similar yet entirely different powers combined and began to advance towards the black wave.

No, Ian’s spear pierced straight through the wave.

“Haap!”

The Spear of Execution transformed into a beam of light headed straight for the First Prince’s head.

But in that moment…

Clang!

Several swords intercepted the spear.

It was the royal guards.

Those who followed only the king’s orders had moved independently without the king’s command.

It was no wonder Ian’s brows twitched in annoyance.

“Now that I see, you are not His Majesty’s swords.”

“…”

But they didn’t answer.

Rather, their bodies were turning black, as if they had become the First Prince’s minions.

Even the so-called captain of the royal guard was among them.

It was only natural that the grip on Ian’s spear tightened.

Squeeze.

Slowly, Ian’s spear began to push the swords away, advancing forward.

His eyes were filled with determination to finish this here.

The spear trembled right in front of the First Prince’s nose.

Yet the First Prince remained calm, surveying his surroundings.

‘Is it too much to expect the Blood Lion Knights and the Black Lion Knights to show up?’

He had sown the seeds of his power among everyone, including the king.

But so far, the seeds had only sprouted in a handful of the royal guards who once followed him.

It was fortunate that the Captain of the Guard had sided with him.

‘According to my plan, they should have sprouted by now.’

It was a problem that King Eloin, who should have been weakened, was too healthy.

The king’s influence was still absolute.

Because of that, the Blood Lion Knights and the Black Lion Knights could not be drawn to his side.

The First Prince’s brow twitched.

“We’re retreating.”

As he spoke, the shroud of darkness began to recede, almost concealing itself.

Ian’s voice rang out in protest.

“Who do you think you are?!”

He remained locked in place with his spear, shouting at the First Prince.

“Sir Nathan! Have you not arrived yet?”

“I’m on my way!”

Nathan leaped out from behind Ian, holding a sword he had retrieved from outside.

Carrying weapons inside was prohibited, but he was not the only one who had gone to arm himself.

“Watch out, my lord!”

A massive axe hurtled towards Ian from behind—Yamanta’s battle axe.

He, like Nathan, had gone out to retrieve his weapon.

Ian swiftly dodged to the side, drawing his spear just in time.

“Dodge… dodge!”

The enemy royal guards’ faces turned pale at the sight of the flying axe.

They tried to block it, but it was useless.

Crash!

The axe shattered their formation with a single blow.

The First Prince frowned at the sight.

“Tsk.”

Yamanta didn’t stop at one axe.

A second one flew over the fallen guards, aimed directly at the First Prince.

Whoosh!

It was an axe spinning with incredible force, as if it would split his head in two.

But in that moment…

Thud!

The First Prince effortlessly caught the axe with just two fingers.

“Forcing me to move like this… the standard of the royal guards has truly declined.”

“Y-Your Highness…”

“But this is enough. Thanks to you, I’ve learned a lot.”

The First Prince smiled softly, masking any discomfort he felt.

Then, with a relaxed expression, he bowed his head toward King Eloin.

“I look forward to seeing you on the battlefield next time, Father.”

“Leon… you.”

“Then, I will take my leave.”

As the First Prince concluded his farewell, the darkness pervading the great hall began to converge towards him, dissipating like mist into the air.

In that moment,

“Where do you think you’re fleeing to?!”

A spear shot toward him at unprecedented speed.

Unlike the axe, there was no room for evasion this time, especially with the First Prince utilizing his power to move.

Skilled as he was, avoiding this attack seemed impossible.

Yet, he made no attempt to dodge.

Instead, he grabbed the knight beside him and pushed him forward.

“My… My lord?”

Thud!

Instantly, the spear pierced through the body of the knight who had become a shield.

Blood splattered onto the First Prince’s face.

Rather than wiping it away, he merely offered a cold smile.

“Then, until we meet again, my dear brother.”

Thud!

He tossed the knight toward Ian and then vanished like smoke.

***

The great hall was a complete mess.

Some of the nobles and servants lay injured on the ground.

However, the biggest problem was not the injuries.

“The royal guards, which is supposed to be the king’s sword, have turned against us?!”

“Is this even possible? The First Prince hasn’t been around the royal palace for long periods!”

“Is that really the issue? More than half of the royal guards have disappeared! Can you imagine what will happen if this rumor spreads?!”

The remaining royal guards were also a problem.

For the time being, they were obliged to undergo investigation due to their association with the First Prince.

It was no surprise that King Eloin’s face had hardened.

“Assess the damages, and begin an investigation into the First Prince. No, Leon.”

“Your Majesty, we are short-staffed.”

“Mobilize the Black Lion Knights and the Blood Lion Knights. Track him down.”

The kingdom’s already insufficient military power had decreased.

There would be delays in gathering information as well.

The impact the First Prince had made was shaking the entire royal family of Kaistain.

But at that very moment.

Smirk.

Only one person was smiling.

‘How did it go?’

[Tracking complete. I’ve pinpointed his location.]

‘Good.’

Ian had not simply allowed the First Prince to escape.

Using the wisdom granted by the first king’s helmet, he had instilled jealousy within the prince’s subordinates—no, the royal guards that the First Prince had used like disposable tools.

Thanks to this, he could not only locate the First Prince but also find out about their future plans.

[But why that knight? Could you not have targeted the First Prince himself?]

‘If I had planted it in the First Prince himself, he would have noticed right away. But with a subordinate, it would be difficult for him to detect.’

[Is that really the case?]

After all, the Crown Prince was gathering the Seven Sins.

If he were to absorb Jealousy, it would definitely cause trouble.

In any case, the important thing was this.

‘So, which direction is he heading?’

[East. It seems he is heading toward the Cantum Empire.]

‘As expected… I knew it.’

He had prepared to influence other countries but had failed.

The only remaining great empire was Cantum.

The current chaos in Cantum is probably also his work.

‘Then I must go capture him.’

Moreover, he might as well annex the Cantum Empire as well.

It seemed there would be numerous tasks ahead for a while.

However, first, there was something he needed to address.

“Your Majesty, I have something to discuss.”

“What is it?”

Smirk.

Ian’s lips curled into a smile.

“It seems that in order to catch the traitor, I need something.”

“What is it?”

“Please allow me access to the storeroom. Preferably, the one with the most valuable items.”

“…”

One could only wonder what treasures could be found in the royal storeroom.

Since he was at it, he intended to take everything.

Ian’s smile was brighter than ever.