Chapter 44

### Night, in the living room of the inner garden.

In the room designed for relaxation, a large window that lets in plenty of daylight during the day now framed a crescent moon high in the sky.

In this living room, with Audrey and Zoe standing by, I was conducting a mock battle.

The Water Magic Sword Leviathan.

The famous painting Fuwawa.

The Golden Bull Behemoth.

And—Awakened Flame Dragon Bahamut.

I linked these four one after another to the armor ring and made them fight one-on-one. Since the day I made Leviathan and Bahamut, who was then still called Lutiera, fight and their levels increased, I have been making them battle each other from time to time.

At first, Leviathan was overwhelmingly dominant, but after Bahamut's awakening, Bahamut has almost always won.

Even now, Bahamut's flames burned Leviathan's water knight to ashes, and the battle was decided.

"Hmm."

"What is it, Lord Noah?"

"My level has increased."

"Oh, congratulations!"

"Congratulations!"

Audrey and Zoe offered their congratulations one after another.

---

**Name: Noah Ararat**

**Lord of the Law**

**Gender: Male**

**Level: 10/∞**

**HP** D+SSS Fire E+SSS

**MP** E+SSS Water D+SSS

**Strength** D+SSS Wind E+SSS

**Stamina** E+SSS Earth E+SSS

**Intelligence** E+SSS Light E+SSS

**Spirit** E+SSS Darkness E+SSS

**Speed** F+SSS

**Dexterity** E+SSS

**Luck** E+SSS

---

The status in the corner of my vision had increased by one level, now reaching 10.

From the experiments I've done over the past three years, I've learned that even if I only use the same four opponents, the pace may slow down, but the levels will still increase.

I don't need to grind levels the usual way; just making Bahamut and the others fight is enough.

"But, Lord Noah, that's amazing."

"Hmm?"

I looked at Audrey, who was standing there with a puzzled expression.

"I've never heard of such a method."

"How many methods of leveling up do you know?"

"Probably all of them. As a noble wife, I learned all the necessary knowledge to support my husband in battle."

"I see."

If Audrey, the granddaughter of the Lord of Thunder, has learned all the usual methods, then she must know them all.

She, being a pure noble, would be ashamed of ignorance and must have received considerable education and knowledge.

If Audrey says she has never heard of this method, then it must be true. I, too, as a noble and prince, have learned various knowledge, and I confirmed it with her.

"What does the '+' sign mean in the abilities?"

"I've never heard of it. I think it's unique to Lord Noah. It's a sign that you are the only chosen one in the world."

"That's amazing, Lord Noah!"

Zoe chimed in with Audrey's words. Both of them looked at me with complete admiration, and I didn't mind being looked at that way.

Well, it's getting late. One more battle, and then I'll go to bed.

Knock, knock.

The door was knocked on, and when I responded, the maid Cecily entered.

"Sorry to disturb you so late, but you have a visitor, my lord."

"At this hour? It's too late, let's do it tomorrow—"

"No, it's fine."

I interrupted Audrey, who was about to speak.

"Let's meet."

I stood up and left the living room. I went from the inner garden to the outer garden and was led to the entrance hall instead of the reception room.

There was a man there, dressed in tattered clothes. His hair was unkempt, and his eyes were sunken. As I approached, I could smell his sweat.

"Who are you?"

"I was ordered by Lady Cindy to deliver this."

The man handed me a box. A box containing something extremely confidential.

Cindy Aran.

The stepdaughter of Byron Aran, it has been nearly ten years since we met at that party. Now, she is almost twenty and helps Byron with his work.

She is capable and loyal, so I entrusted her with the box.

"Is it something important?"

I asked, looking at his disheveled appearance.

"I rode three horses in succession."

"I see. Zoe, give him a reward. Bring him a hundred Reen."

"As you wish."

The head maid Zoe, who had followed me, bowed and led the man away.

I stood there and opened the box.

"!"

The contents of the box were a simple note.

The king has fallen ill.

That was all it said.

☆

The next morning, after having breakfast in the large dining room as usual, served by Audrey, Cecily came again.

"My lord, a eunuch from the palace has arrived."

"He's here..."

I frowned slightly and stood up.

"Is it about yesterday's matter?"

Audrey asked.

"Probably."

"That's impressive, to receive the official news so quickly."

"That's why I entrusted the box to Cindy."

Moreover, this is something I learned from the king. From being repeatedly caught off guard, I learned the importance of the freshness of information.

I may still be far from the king in this regard, but someday...

With that thought, I headed to the reception room in the outer garden of the estate.

There, a surprising figure was waiting.

"Cruise!? You're here?"

"Yes, by imperial command."

In such a situation, as a prince, I should be greeted with a knee and a bow by the eunuch Cruise, but he said "imperial command."

This means he is the king's representative—during the time he is issuing the imperial command, he is the king himself.

So, I, in turn, knelt on one knee and bowed my head.

"The king commands that Noah be appointed as the Lord of the Prime Minister for one month. All matters except military affairs are to be entrusted to him."

"Your will be done."

I responded and stood up. Then, Cruise, in turn, knelt on both knees and bowed his head.

"It has been a long time, Wise Prince."

"Stand up. More importantly, why did the king appoint me? Has something happened?"

I played dumb, as the news from Cindy yesterday was unofficial.

"The king is not well."

"What?"

"It's what you might call summer fatigue."

"Summer fatigue?"

"However, he has fallen ill once, and considering his age, the palace physician, Good, advised a one-month retreat."

"I see..."

I was somewhat relieved. It seems to be a precautionary retreat.

This is evident from the fact that he has handed over most of the political affairs but retained military control.

"The king also said, 'I trust you, who have seen me well.'"

"..."

The subtext stung like thorns. "Seen me well"—not literally, I'm sure. Probably, Cindy's box has been discovered.

"Indeed, you are the only one the king trusts so much, Wise Prince."

"Don't flatter me. Anyway, I understand. What about the political affairs?"

"The king wants you to stay in Almeria, and the documents will be sent here."

"Understood. Zoe, bring Cruise five thousand Reen."

After sending Cruise off, I sighed.

Then, I calmed down and realized something.

I had been so preoccupied with the news of the king's illness and my appointment as the Lord of the Prime Minister that I hadn't noticed it.

---

**Name: Noah Ararat**

**Lord of the Prime Minister**

**Gender: Male**

**Level: 10/∞**

**HP** D+SSS Fire E+SSS

**MP** E+SSS Water D+SSS

**Strength** D+SSS Wind E+SSS

**Stamina** E+SSS Earth E+SSS

**Intelligence** E+SSS Light E+SSS

**Spirit** E+SSS Darkness E+SSS

**Speed** F+SSS

**Dexterity** E+SSS

**Luck** E+SSS

---

To my surprise, my status had become something unprecedented.

The '+' sign after each of my abilities, which increases based on the number of people I command, had all become 'SSS.'

Shocked, I asked Zoe to cast a spell to make the actual status visible to others.

---

**Name: Noah Ararat**

**Lord of the Prime Minister**

**Gender: Male**

**Level: 10/∞**

**HP** SSS Fire SSS

**MP** SSS Water SSS

**Strength** SSS Wind SSS

**Stamina** SSS Earth SSS

**Intelligence** SSS Light SSS

**Spirit** SSS Darkness SSS

**Speed** SSS

**Dexterity** SSS

**Luck** SSS

---

"Lord, this is... amazing..."

Zoe was utterly shocked and speechless.

The '+' sign had increased dramatically, just like when I received my fiefdom and my water attribute became S at birth.

It was clear that this happened because the king entrusted the entire empire to me for one month.

"A whole country is a treasure..."

I felt my heart leap at the possibility of an impossible future.