Game Opportunity Becomes Reality Chapter 102
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Game Opportunity Becomes Reality Chapter 102
26. Anomaly (4)
There was some commotion, but from now on, no one will entertain the foolish thought of trying to swindle me.
As a bonus, the Black Dragon Guild, which I'm contracted with, has also come to realize my presence once more through this incident.
'Just how much did he spend on this matter?'
'Seems like around 3 billion.'
'Damn. He burned 3 billion just because he was angry?'
'That's not all. I heard Minki-nim pulled some strings with World Games. That's why this matter was quietly wrapped up.'
'Just how great a person is he?'
'Who knows. But one thing's certain—we must serve him even more devotedly from now on.'
Well, the rumors have gotten so exaggerated that things I never even did are circulating through the guild as gossip, but I didn't pay it much mind.
Whatever they imagine, I can confidently say I'm more famous than that.
Thanks to it, the guild is going out of its way to make hunting more convenient for me in various ways, so I'd say that's a decent return.
[Level: 241]
I wasted time because of some madman, but I quickly recovered the experience and leveled up.
It was a level-up a day later than planned, but not enough to significantly impact my activities.
And so I devoted myself to the game.
But even while playing, there was something I couldn't help but keep an eye on—Ibril, who participated in the final contest of the Saintess selection.
The final round, practical experience, is a round where sponsors including myself cannot directly intervene, but I couldn't just ignore the girl who was swept up in my ambitions and was struggling to do her best, and focus solely on the game.
'Still, she's doing better than I expected.'
She showed some stumbling at first since it was unfamiliar territory, but her adjutant Eric kept things steady, and Ibril herself adapted quickly—by the time a week had passed, she was putting on a good performance.
Especially yesterday, joining forces with our ally Judy Esther to purify the demonic energy that appeared in the Chase Kingdom and wiping out all the undead that arose from it was a great feat.
'Of course, the problem is that those two aren't the only ones making waves.'
The top 5 are fiercely competing in the 3rd contest as well.
What's surprising, though, is that the High Elf Grace, who had been holding the lead, is showing weakness in the practical round, while Princess Francis and Princess Sia Rin are surging forward, intensifying the five-way race.
Thanks to High Elf Grace's slump, Ibril seems to be a step ahead of the others, but I can't be entirely at ease.
'Princess Francis is something else. I thought her arrogance would just make her unlikeable and she'd drop out quickly, but thanks to her cool, grudge-free personality, her unique haughtiness is being elevated into charm.'
'Princess Sia Rin remains a powerful dark horse. Her appearance that stirs protective instincts is drawing in many believers.'
'Judy Esther is the model of a stable priest. Honestly, at this stage, you could say she suits the position of Saintess more than Ibril. And others know it too.'
'Grace Hielven is showing weakness in the late game, but her early impact was incredibly strong. She's someone with no particular weaknesses, all stats uniformly high.'
That was my assessment of the other four excluding Ibril.
Unfortunately, there's nothing I can do.
All I could do was trust in Ibril, wait, and offer prayers asking the gods to look after her.
Thanks to that, my days were spent checking on Ibril's situation from time to time while playing the game.
'If I keep up this kind of routine, I'll reach level 250, the first condition of the 8th-stage Opportunity quest, within two months—three at the latest.'
After reaching level 250, the second condition—a battle against a named monster—still remains.
But just as I've done so far, I'll find a breakthrough and climb upward somehow, so I wasn't too worried.
However...
"The time has come."
An event that poured cold water on these plans occurred.
Luke Win Rhinehearts, the Second Prince, summoned the high-ranking nobles of count rank or above from his faction—myself included—and said those words.
"Father is thinking of abdicating. This is the perfect—and final—opportunity to oust the Crown Prince and take the throne."
The power struggle for the throne of my own country, the Kingdom of Rhinehearts, was about to enter full swing.
If the King abdicates, the current Crown Prince becomes King.
So before that, Luke, the Second Prince, had to make his move.
If the Crown Prince is aware of this gathering, what follows will be a clash of strength between the two factions.
In other words, a civil war.
'There are just too many incidents and accidents...'
This was an expected event, but I couldn't help but sigh.
'Haven't I been participating in every war happening in Rondel lately?'
The war against the Croysen Empire.
The Domain War against four viscountcies.
I even joined the war between the foreign Bringham Empire and the Prius Republic, and now it's a civil war in the kingdom.
You could only say I've got some serious war luck.
"On the surface, the power balance is about 6:4—we have a solid advantage."
What the hell is the Crown Prince doing?
The gap has widened more than I expected.
If the difference in strategy were about 20%, I'd need to betray them at a critical moment and stab Prince Luke in the back just to make it even.
For someone who showed such high stats and confidence, his response is far too lacking.
I have no intention of breaking the contract we made, but his shoddy handling is going to make me suffer.
'Huh?'
But then.
While inwardly cursing the Crown Prince, I happened to turn my head and scan my surroundings—and spotted something strange.
[Marquis Alli Trenton / 7th Circle Grand Mage]
Relation: Wary / Alliance (Hostile)
Status: Tense / Watchful
[Margrave Ariel Royce / 6th Circle High-rank Mage]
Relation: Wary / Alliance (Hostile)
Status: Tense / Fearful
[Count Ariel Spinel / Supreme Administrator]
Relation: Favorable / Alliance (Hostile)
Status: Tense / Worried
The strangeness should have turned into questions.
Because in the Myriad Mirror's display of my relations with these people, some were marked as "Alliance (Hostile)."
They were the ones in the Second Prince's faction called the "Trenton clique."
These were the ones who had insisted I should be punished when the Prius Republic announced economic sanctions against our kingdom.
They've been losing ground to me in various ways, but they're undeniably the backbone of the Second Prince's faction.
So I tilted my head and checked the others.
[Marquis Douglas Hamington / Supreme Administrator]
Relation: Neutral / Alliance
Status: Joy / Expectation
And lo and behold, his mark simply read "Alliance."
Since I follow the Crown Prince but am outwardly part of the Second Prince's faction, being recognized as "Alliance" was correct.
Some are "Alliance," and some are "Alliance (Hostile)"...
As I sorted my thoughts, a possibility came to mind, and my eyes widened.
'Don't tell me... them too?
I've met many people and seen their stats, and the Crown Prince isn't just smart—he has top-tier talent in politics and administration.
It was inconceivable that such a man would just sit back and let the Second Prince have his way.
And sure enough.
'The "Alliance (Hostile)" marked in relations clearly means they're slated to betray.
In other words, the Crown Prince has brought in not just me, but Marquis Trenton's faction as well.
'Haha. So that's how it is... I see now.
I could see just how cunning the Crown Prince truly is.
Unlike Prince Luke, who drew a line against the Crown Prince's faction and focused on recruiting neutral nobles, Crown Prince Michael seemed to think, "Why not just steal from within the enemy camp—wouldn't that be a bigger gain?"
Certainly, if it's possible, it's the most effective method.
You hurt the enemy while growing your own forces, so stealing even one person is like gaining two outsiders.
The problem is that if the target doesn't fall for the persuasion, the plan leaks—but looking at the situation, the Crown Prince's choice of targets was masterful.
Thanks to the Myriad Mirror, I saw through the Crown Prince's scheme in advance, and I felt a chill as I admired him inwardly.
"Marquis Lawrence."
"Yes, Your Highness."
But hiding my inner laughter, I had to stiffen my expression at Prince Luke's words.
"I'm sorry, but could you hand over Count Klein?"
At the Second Prince's sudden request, which sounded like he was demanding Arcia herself, I had no choice but to ask back.
"What?"
"I'm planning to form a raiding unit centered on me and Marquis Vincent. No precious talent fits that unit better than Count Arcia Klein."
"I see."
I now understood why he had asked for Arcia, but I couldn't help feeling reluctant.
The reason was obvious—this man still hadn't let go of his feelings for Arcia.
[Status: Affection / Anticipation]
Every time he looked at her, the shift in emotions displayed above him made it impossible not to feel displeased.
"Then there's no helping it. Understood."
But in this situation, I couldn't refuse.
If I were an 8th Circle and Arcia were a Grand Master, I'd shout "Screw that!" and make the Second Prince a eunuch right then and there….
The saving grace was that the Second Prince didn't seem to harbor explosive lust toward Arcia.
Arcia nodded, knowing she had no choice either, and the Second Prince—whose head was doomed to fall before long—kept showing his satisfaction as if he were thrilled.
"This war must not drag on. If the civil war stretches out and the Kingdom's strength weakens, the Croysen Empire could invade at any moment. So we must pool our strength and strike the head quickly."
The same thought as the Crown Prince.
A civil war while facing a hostile nation across the border was a heavy burden no matter what.
More emotional than the Crown Prince, but the Second Prince still judged matters sensibly, as befits the head of a political faction.
"Marquis Vincent will conduct raiding warfare with me. Marquis Hamington will serve as Commander-in-Chief of the territorial forces, and Marquis Lawrence as Deputy Commander."
"Understood."
In hindsight, the Crown Prince's move to bring in Marquis Trenton seems like a well-made choice.
After all, the Second Prince just confirmed on the spot that Trenton ranked last among the four marquises in his faction.
It was made clear right here that he valued me—a noble of only about half a year—more than Marquis Trenton.
I glanced at Marquis Trenton, and he looked as though even the last shred of regret he'd had had vanished.
The Second Prince wouldn't know it, but he had just spurred the betrayal of a man who might otherwise have been reclaimed.
"Then I will now announce the units and duties each of you will take."
Following the Commander and Deputy Commander, the Second Prince finalized the personnel assignments.
Marquis Trenton and the Margraves became Corps Commanders, the Counts became Division Commanders under the corps, and lords above the rank of Viscount or Baron became Brigade Commanders under the divisions.
The positions were the same as those of the provincial forces in the last war against the Croysen Empire.
However, since this was not a token gesture to support the King's forces in routine skirmishes, the scale of troops involved was more than five times larger.
"The operation begins two days from now, at midnight. Everyone, steel your minds and quietly put your territorial forces on alert."
Once the meeting ended, the nobles who had been summoned hurried back to their territories to prepare for war.
My territory and Arcia's were already effectively one, so we headed to Marquis Lawrence's domain together as before.
And in the carriage on the way back, worried about Arcia being assigned to the Second Prince's unit, I said,
"If he dares try anything against you, don't hold back—beat him up. I'll handle the cleanup."
"Then I'll beat him without worry."
I nodded seriously.
If the Second Prince had heard that, he would have been dumbfounded by how he was being treated, but to us, he was nothing more or less than a discarded pawn.