Chapter 88: Alexander Apple (2)

A little while later, Damian and Oliver Apple moved to the audience chamber.

The king was already seated, and the noble officials had already taken their places.

Damian and Oliver Apple stood right below the throne.

Oliver Apple, being the crown prince, had the right to stand there, and Damian, as the crown prince's mentor, stood beside him.

"Oliver, you're here."

The king, who was already seated on the throne, spoke to Oliver Apple.

"I thought you would be absent again... but today is different."

At the king's praise, Oliver Apple's lips curled into a smile. It seemed that even if he disliked the place, he was happy to hear the praise.

"It's a gathering to discuss Uncle's achievements, so I couldn't be absent, could I!"

Despite being brought there reluctantly by Damian, his words were smooth and confident.

In any case, the king was greatly pleased with Oliver Apple's words.

"Lord Alexander is entering."

At that moment, an official raised his voice. The king, who had been talking to Oliver Apple, straightened his posture.

The other noble officials did the same, stopping their conversations.

The door opened wide, and Alexander Apple and his knights entered.

Unlike when they were seen at the city gate, they were not in armor but were dressed in neat formal attire.

Alexander Apple knelt on one knee before the king, and the other knights did the same.

"I have returned after suppressing the bandits in the south, as per Your Majesty's command."

Alexander Apple said in a solemn voice. The noble officials murmured in low voices at his words.

"The people of the Goddrake barony killed their lord and became bandits, right?"

"Other villagers and mercenaries joined them, making their power grow even more."

"Although they were large in number, they operated mainly in the forest, making it difficult to suppress them."

"To have dealt with them so thoroughly... Truly, it is Lord Alexander."

The noble officials were busy praising Alexander Apple's achievements.

However, the more the officials praised, the darker Oliver Apple's expression became.

"Alexander, rise."

At the king's words, Alexander Apple stood up.

"The merit of quelling the nation's turmoil is immeasurable."

"Your praise is too much. I merely did what I had to do."

Alexander Apple said in a calm voice. Exclamations of admiration erupted from all around.

"Indeed, Lord Alexander. No one is as dedicated to the kingdom and as humble as you."

"How else would His Majesty continue to rely on you?"

The officials' praise grew even more.

Then, someone said:

"Truly, it's a stark contrast to His Highness the Crown Prince."

"If only His Highness Oliver could follow even half of your example..."

Oliver Apple's name began to be mentioned.

"All he does is drink and chase women."

"At his age, he should be helping His Majesty and gaining experience, but it's worrying."

The more the whispers grew, the more Oliver Apple's shoulders hunched.

"Your Majesty, I have another achievement to report."

Just as the murmurs were dying down, Alexander Apple spoke. The king, with a curious expression, asked:

"What is it?"

"During the process of suppressing the bandits, I discovered a ruin in the forest."

At the mention of a ruin, the officials began to murmur again.

In the distant past, a civilization far more advanced than the present existed.

Although that civilization had long since fallen, it occasionally revealed its presence through ruins.

Rare items were sometimes found in these ruins, and among them, some were so extraordinary that they could shake the entire continent.

"During the exploration of the ruin, I obtained a relic sword."

A relic sword.

An ancient weapon found extremely rarely in ruins.

Characterized by its powerful abilities, it was made with a level of technology that could not be replicated today.

So far, countless mages had tried to recreate a relic sword, but not one had succeeded.

"Is that true?"

The king asked in surprise. A relic sword was so powerful that it could be classified as a strategic weapon.

If Alexander Apple's words were true, the Apple Kingdom would have acquired an incredible weapon.

"That is correct. Furthermore, through the relic sword, I was able to advance my level."

"Your level... has advanced? That means... you are now a High Class?"

Alexander Apple nodded. The king's mouth slowly opened.

"Can you show it to us?"

"My abilities are humble, and I can only display the power of a High Class when I draw the relic sword."

It was a principle that all weapons be surrendered before the king. Alexander Apple was currently unarmed.

"Of course, I will allow it. Bring Lord Alexander's sword quickly."

At the king's command, a servant brought a sword.

It was a longsword, from the scabbard to the hilt, that looked very old. The weight of time was evident.

Alexander Apple drew the sword. Unlike the old, worn scabbard, the blade was as clean and sharp as if it had just been polished.

As soon as he drew the sword, Alexander Apple's aura changed dramatically. The people in the room felt as if they were thrown into the middle of a storm.

Alexander Apple struck the floor with the relic sword. Light branches began to sprout throughout the room.

Everyone's mouths dropped open at the mysterious sight.

"This is the relic sword I obtained, Thornwood."

Everyone, including Damian, stared at Thornwood in a daze.

'Not an ordinary item. At least a Class 3.'

Relic swords were divided into levels based on their abilities, from Class 10 to Class 1.

Among them, a Class 3 relic sword had the power to sweep away an army of over a thousand when its abilities were activated.

'But something feels off...'

During his time as a Death Knight, Damian had seen many relic swords and even fought against them. This gave him a sense of unease.

'A relic sword that raises one's level?'

Relic swords were weapons, and while they could enhance a user's physical abilities or magic power, he had never heard of one that could raise one's level.

'What's more, it feels alien.'

The aura emanating from the sword was strange. Damian watched the relic sword with a sense of doubt.

Meanwhile, Alexander Apple drew the sword he had sheathed. The glowing branches disappeared.

"Amazing! Not only obtaining a relic sword, but also advancing to the High Class level!"

The king was greatly impressed. The other noble officials were equally amazed.

"Truly remarkable! The fourth High Class! A blessing for the Apple Kingdom!"

"I knew Lord Alexander was great, but I didn't expect him to receive such good fortune."

"Indeed, he is the pillar of the Apple Kingdom. There is no one else like Lord Alexander."

The nobles were busy praising Alexander Apple.

"But what about His Highness Oliver..."

"Even with such an excellent uncle..."

"It's worrying to have such a person as the crown prince..."

The more Alexander Apple was praised, the more Oliver Apple was criticized.

His expression grew darker, and the anger in his eyes was evident.

'Not good.'

Having been a troublemaker himself, Damian could guess how Oliver Apple was feeling.

His already twisted nature would only become more twisted from not being recognized.

He had just started to change recently, but this would only make him worse.

"Alexander, I would like to let you rest, but the world won't allow it."

The king gestured, and an official began to read from a paper.

"Recently, unusual behavior by orcs has been observed in the eastern region. It is believed that a leader has been born among them."

At the mention of a leader, the officials began to murmur again.

"An orc leader? If it's true, it's not a trivial matter."

"The danger varies depending on the type of leader, but..."

Orcs were a unique monster whose danger varied depending on their leader.

Usually, a group of a few dozen orcs wasn't a significant threat.

However, occasionally, a particularly unique individual would be born as a leader, greatly increasing the danger.

In the past, when an Orc Lord was born, the entire nation had to mobilize all its forces.

"Alexander, will you take on this task?"

Everyone's eyes turned to Alexander Apple. They seemed to expect him to step forward again.

However, someone spoke before Alexander Apple.

"I would like to entrust this task to His Highness."

Everyone, including Oliver Apple, looked at Damian Hassen in surprise.

"Sir Damian?"

Oliver Apple asked in a trembling voice. Damian, ignoring Oliver Apple, continued.

"His Highness has been looking for ways to contribute to the kingdom as the crown prince. Therefore, he expressed a strong desire to take on this task."

The officials showed a mix of admiration and surprise.

"I didn't know His Highness had such admirable thoughts."

"Recently, he has shown a change in behavior. It seems this is genuine."

"True, although his conduct is a bit poor, he is a wise person."

The officials looked at Oliver Apple with renewed respect.

As the approving glances flew, Oliver Apple's mood visibly improved.

Of course, not all officials showed a positive reaction.

"His Highness, who has no experience, cannot possibly suppress a group of orcs!"

"This will only increase the damage. I oppose it."

Their objections were valid; this matter was too important to be dismissed with mere praise.

As Oliver Apple's spirits sank again, Damian spoke.

"I will vouch for His Highness's abilities. Moreover, I will accompany him on this orc suppression mission."

The nobles' reactions changed at Damian's words.

"Sir Damian... isn't he the knight who recently advanced to the Middle Class?"

"If even half of the rumors about Sir Damian are true, suppressing orcs will be easy."

With Damian's participation, the mood quickly turned positive.

Eventually, everyone's eyes turned to the king, as he was the one who would ultimately approve the matter.

"Oliver."

At the king's call, Oliver Apple, startled, lifted his head.

"Yes, Your Majesty!"

"This suppression mission will be very arduous and dangerous. Will you accept it?"

At the king's question, hesitation appeared on Oliver Apple's face.

"Your Highness, if you say you can't do it here, you'll be seen as a coward."

Damian whispered in a low voice. Oliver Apple looked at Damian with a resentful expression.

"What will you do?"

Damian, feigning indifference, asked Oliver Apple. Oliver Apple clenched his fist and shouted:

"I will take on this task!"

Thus, the crown prince's journey to the south was decided.