The Prince Wants to Retire

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The Crown Prince Wants to Retire

11. The Encounter with the Strongest Knight (3)

On this exceptionally pleasant day, things were unfolding smoothly, as if welcoming Kariel’s retirement.

Contrary to my expectation that some stubborn individuals would emerge, the nobles showed no opposition to supporting the Grand Duke Family, and the administrative tasks proceeded swiftly with the Emperor’s permission.

With heightened spirits, Kariel greeted Glen and the Grand Duke, who were arriving at the Crown Prince’s Palace, with a bright smile.

“I see His Highness.”

“Did you finish your work well?”

In response to Kariel’s question, Ducal lowered his head as if moved and replied.

“That’s right. All of this is thanks to Your Highness. Once again, I express my gratitude on behalf of the Grand Duke Family.”

Seeing Ducal speak so formally, Kariel smiled.

“The reward is something you rightfully deserve. I can’t make you work for free, can I?”

The Grand Duke Family had taken on the burden of overseeing Belphus.

Since they would undergo many sacrifices in the future, they needed to offer robust support.

“Even so, I thank you.”

At Ducal’s expression of gratitude, Kariel replied with a smile.

“The official rewards are over… now only my personal reward remains.”

Kariel quietly gazed at Glen.

Suddenly, Glen’s face began to glow with excitement.

Seeing him like that, Kariel turned to Ducal.

“Shall we move for the promised reward?”

“… Has His Majesty given permission?”

“I just got the permission,” Kariel replied with a charming smile and headed towards the wagon.

“Exporting is difficult.”

“… Just seeing it is enough.”

Instead of Ducal, it was Glen who answered.

‘Is this the confidence of a genius?’

Kariel thought to himself with a smile.

It was the same in his previous life.

He had read the Manual of the First Grand Duke repeatedly for hours and trained by himself.

Since his talent was called monstrous, he was bound to restore it.

The problem was that Glen was still too young.

In the previous life, the Grand Duke Family had suffered devastating blows and had already roamed the West accumulating real combat experience.

Additionally, having faced all sorts of wars due to the empire being in crisis had prepared him to accept the manual.

But now, he was lacking even that firsthand experience.

‘Hmm, I’m a bit worried.’

Glen from the previous life had said that if someone unprepared were to gain skills from a Master Class existence, they could easily go down a wrong path.

Still, being a genius, he would surely find his way back.

‘Well, this life has the Grand Duke, so…’

As Kariel thought that, he shook off his worries and headed towards the Imperial Palace’s library.

The royal attendants must have informed the librarians ahead, as they were already waiting outside.

“I see His Highness.”

“You must have heard His Majesty’s orders?”

“Yes, Your Highness. You may enter.”

As one librarian bowed and spoke, Kariel walked in front.

Upon reaching the door, an inner court attendant carefully spoke up.

“Which of you plans to enter?”

“What do you mean?”

Kariel looked at the attendant with a confused expression.

“According to royal protocol, only one person other than royalty can enter.”

Hearing that, Kariel glared at the attendant quoting laws, causing the attendant to sweat profusely and hurriedly open his mouth.

“I-I’m saying the other person will go to report to the Imperial Palace.”

At the attendant’s words, Kariel sighed.

He had forgotten about the law that had vanished in the previous life.

As the empire began to decline, they had opened the library and freely allowed entry to reports to try and save themselves, causing him to forget this for a moment.

Originally, any noble would need to follow strict rules when entering the Imperial Palace’s reports and library, leading him to turn back to Ducal with an awkward expression.

Then Ducal smiled and said, “I’ll leave the manual to Glen.”

As Ducal said this, he looked at Glen.

“Are you alright?”

With concern, Kariel asked, and Ducal calmly nodded.

Kariel gestured to the librarian.

“I’ll go in with Glen, the Young Duke.”

At Kariel’s words, the huge door of the library swung open.

“I trust you.”

“Yes.”

Bowing his head in response to Ducal’s words, Glen was noticed by Kariel, who took him inside the library.

They passed through the library for direct descendants of royalty until they reached the deepest section where the Body Technique was sought.

“Welcome, Your Highness.”

“It’s been a while.”

In greeting, the aged librarian cautiously brought out the old book and placed it on the desk.

“The manual is prepared.”

The old librarian delicately placed the Manual of the First Grand Duke on the desk.

Glen’s eyes were glued to the old book on the desk as if he couldn’t look away.

“Read it comfortably.”

As Glen, eager to see the book, was told to read comfortably, he hurriedly bowed his head and sat at the desk.

The manual of the First Grand Duke was a considerably thick book, detailing methods of mana manipulation and physical movement along with illustrations.

While Glen began to focus intensely enough not to be disturbed by the surrounding noise, Kariel browsed nearby books, and the old librarian approached him.

“It’s massive.”

“That means it’s described in detail.”

The old librarian smiled while looking at the manual of the First Grand Duke.

“What do you think of the manual from the librarian’s perspective?”

“Well, I manage the books, but I don’t know the details.”

At the librarian’s words, Kariel narrowed his eyes.

He felt something unusual about the old librarian’s presence as he had when he came searching for the Body Technique.

“Would you explain anyway?”

In response to Kariel’s inquiry, the old librarian spoke reluctantly.

“There won’t be much value since there is no essence of the swordsmanship created by the First Grand Duke.”

“Is that so?”

“Furthermore, even the warriors at high levels will not find much significance. Although some realizations are contained, the content is solely expressed for the direct descendants of the Grand Duke Family.”

Kariel asked with a serious expression, “What about for the direct descendants of the Grand Duke Family?”

“It would be an exceptionally excellent manual.”

At his words, Kariel smiled broadly.

Then the old librarian, while keenly observing Glen, smiled and said, “He is to become the new sword of the empire.”

At the old librarian’s words, Kariel nodded.

“Indeed. He will become a new pillar of the empire.”

As Kariel said this, he quietly observed the old librarian and asked, “Does His Majesty know about your existence?”

At Kariel’s question, the old librarian’s eyes widened.

With a look of surprise at an unexpected question, he smiled and said, “He is aware.”

“Not everything, then.”

In response to Kariel’s words, the old librarian only smiled without an answer.

Seeing that, Kariel tilted his head.

‘Why didn’t I know about this in my previous life?’

The more he looked, the more extraordinary the being seemed.

Glen, who was quietly reading, also seemed to sense this and glanced at the old librarian.

– An extraordinary being.

The translucent Surth spoke while looking at the old librarian.

Suddenly, the old librarian precisely stared at Surth, who had appeared out of nowhere.

“I don’t think it’s a spirit…”

“It’s Surth.”

Although Kariel was surprised by recognizing Surth, the old librarian’s following words astonished him even more.

“Did you contract with Surth’s fragment?”

At the librarian’s words, Kariel widened his eyes and nodded slightly.

Then the librarian showed an expression of admiration.

– The author is at least on par with four attendants.

Surth’s words made Kariel look at the old librarian with a shocked expression.

“What did he just say?”

At the librarian’s words, Kariel asked with a serious expression.

“How many more like you are there in the palace?”

“There’s one like me, and about ten who are inferior to me.”

“That can’t be all.”

In response to Kariel’s question, the old librarian only smiled and did not answer.

As he looked at him, Kariel asked, “How much does His Majesty know about you?”

“Up to the fact that I come from the shadows.”

At his answer, Kariel’s expression turned serious.

‘In my previous life, why weren’t there such beings?’

Even the Emperor could not accurately know of their existence.

Even if someone were to rise to the highest position in the empire, if they lacked qualifications, they would remain unaware of these beings for life.

Then suddenly, something came to mind.

“Are you perhaps guarding the secret of the First Emperor here?”

At Kariel’s inquiry, the librarian silently lowered his head with a grave expression.

A book believed to contain the secret of the First Emperor, which was presumed to be somewhere in the library.

Throughout history, previous emperors had rummaged through this place countless times trying to find it but had failed, and it seemed this one was aware of it.

Realizing this, Kariel could see their true identity.

‘Are they the Secret Guardians of the imperial family?’

The Secret Guardians of the imperial family, which he had heard had vanished long ago, were secretly passed down.

A group formed solely to protect the most important secrets of the imperial family.

A collective he had seen during his previous life while reading numerous old books to heal his own body.

‘Was the Attendant Hall also a Secret Guardian?’

The old attendant who had watched over his last moments.

He was the one who appeared like a ghost, saving his life every time it seemed he would cough up blood and die.

After Talion’s death, when he could trust no one, the old attendant emerged, proving his existence through diligent service from the lowest position, claiming to be from the emperor’s attendants.

He had provided Kariel with food and tea tailored to his body, to the extent that even physicians were astonished, and had protected him until the end.

At that time, he thought it was due to the old attendant’s vast knowledge of medicine, as he had been a servant of the late emperor who had been ill, but now he wondered whether he may have actually hailed from this side.

“Phew, what’s the point of digging further?”

Kariel said that and turned his gaze back to the old librarian.

In light of his impending retirement, it wouldn’t make sense to try and pry into the secrets of the Secret Guardians.

Better not to know and avoid complicating matters.

– Still, that’s impressive.

Kariel slightly nodded at Surth’s remark.

Those who solely protect the peace and secrets of the empire.

Therefore, they do not owe loyalty to the emperor.

‘I wonder if things would have been different had they existed in my previous life?’

He thought about it, yet it was also possible they had died in the line of duty while safeguarding secrets.

With the consecutive incidents involving Dark Mages, Monsters, Demons, and Rebellions, it wouldn’t be strange to presume that they had been exterminated in the process.

‘But I’m still curious.’

As part of Kariel’s mind urged him to let curiosity rise up, he looked over at Glen.

Seeing him absorbed in reading the old book, it was as if he had gained something.

“Now that I’ve accomplished my purpose for being here, that’s great, but…”

“If you’re bored, how about reading a book you previously read?”

“Body Technique, you mean?”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

At the librarian’s words, Kariel nodded as if that was alright.

After a while, the librarian presented an old book containing the Ancient Werewolf’s Body Technique.

But it wasn’t just one volume.

“What’s this?”

“I’ve brought books that I thought might help.”

At the old librarian’s words, Kariel beamed.

“Thank you.”

“It’s my duty.”

The old librarian shook his head while smiling and quietly withdrew.

Soon, the only sounds in the library were Kariel and Glen turning the pages.

As Kariel, engrossed in reading with the aid of mana, rubbed his sleepy eyes and stood up, the librarian quietly approached.

“How much time has passed?”

“It’s been about half a day.”

“Um…”

“If you wish, you may stay longer.”

The old librarian said this while explaining that there were places to wash and rest inside, and bringing food was allowed.

As Kariel briefly looked at Glen, he made a request to the librarian and then immersed himself in the Body Technique.

With Iris laying the groundwork for the Body Technique, and Arshuna refining the method to control fire energy, differences began to emerge compared to before. The materials the librarian had brought also significantly raised his understanding of the Body Technique.

As results began to show from the once sluggish Body Technique, Kariel dove deeper without taking a break.

Eventually, the old librarian even urged him to take a little break, and finally, Kariel took a moment to rest and delved back into the old book.

After spending multiple days and nights exploring the Body Technique in the library, he finally achieved satisfactory results.

– The framework is established.

“Right.”

Kariel smiled satisfyingly at Surth’s words.

While he hadn’t completely overhauled the Body Technique, he felt he had built a framework that fit his body.

Now it was just a matter of leaving the muscle and flesh aspect to the Imperial Guard.

“Is it done?”

“… Yes, Your Highness.”

In response to Kariel’s question, Glen bowed his head and replied.

Although Glen glanced at the Manual of the First Grand Duke with lingering regret, every detail was already vividly engraved in his mind.

Watching the genius who, unlike himself, understood everything alone, Kariel couldn’t help but smile wryly.

‘A genius…’

Glen had demonstrated extraordinarily deceptive abilities that he begrudgingly admired even in his previous life, so he couldn’t find reason to successfully comprehend the current situation.

Now that he had finished what he needed to do, it was time to leave.

As he moved to exit the library, the old librarian stood at the door, seeing him off.

“Please rest well while you’re here.”

At Kariel’s praise, the old librarian silently bowed his head.

“I received so much help.”

Glen, too, genuinely expressed his gratitude, having received warm tea and food from the old librarian at times.

“I hope both of you have achieved what you aimed for here.”

As the old librarian spoke, Kariel and Glen smiled and nodded before quietly leaving the library.

Upon reaching a vast door made of numerous books, the door opened automatically.

“Your Highness!”

As soon as they stepped out, Talion, waiting anxiously outside, hurriedly approached.

Kariel raised a hand to stop him.

“Your Highness, I shall never forget this grace.”

“That’s enough. You must be in a hurry, so go quickly.”

Knowing that he needed to verify and correct the contents engraved in his mind through direct practice, Kariel urged Glen to go ahead.

Then Glen bowed once more in gratitude before hurriedly moving toward the waiting wagon of the Grand Duke Family.

“I didn’t realize time flew by so much.”

“I thought something happened inside.”

“It wouldn’t be the case.”

Kariel laughed at Talion’s worried gaze and boarded the wagon.

“Did everything I ordered get done?”

“Yes, indeed.”

At Talion’s answer, Kariel smiled broadly.

“Now it’s all finished.”

The retirement plan he had drafted after his return was now approaching its final destination.

“As soon as we arrive at the palace, I must present my abdication letter to His Majesty.”

*

Just as he said, as soon as Kariel arrived at the palace, he immediately entered his room to write the abdication letter.

“Your Highness, there’s no need to rush….”

“Things like this should be done promptly. Who knows what might happen if you drag your feet?”

Kariel said, quickly putting pen to paper for the abdication letter.

Just then, an attendant came to visit.

“Your Highness, the inner court attendant wishes to see you in the Grand Council Meeting.”

“The inner court attendant?”

As Kariel tilted his head in confusion and granted permission, the inner court attendant rushed in to relay the Emperor’s orders.

“His Majesty commands you to come to the Grand Council Meeting immediately.”

“Now?”

“Yes. It’s an urgent matter, he said.”

At the inner court attendant’s words, Kariel’s expression soured.

His instincts were telling him that something unusual occurred.