I Became the Youngest Prince in the Novel

TL/Editor: raei

Status: ongoing

Illustrations: none

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'If this world were a novel, Second Princess would have been the protagonist.'

These words came from Mileion Jeffrey, Evelyn's sword instructor and Agnes Knights commander, when someone once asked about her.

'While her high Heaven Opposition achievement is one of her strengths, her greatest advantage would be her sword sense. Princess Evelyn's sword sense exists in a realm so distant even I can't reach it. It's as if... yes, as if the world bestowed upon her the fate of being the "peak of swordsmanship."'

When asked if anyone could potentially defeat Princess Evelyn with a sword in the future, the empire's sword replied:

'No. At least not in this world.'

Seven stars in Heaven Opposition Power.

An incredible realm reached by only one previous Agnes emperor, its power was truly unimaginable. But seven stars held additional special meaning.

Transcendence of mortal limits.

Though not reaching semi-divinity, seven stars in Heaven Opposition Power allowed one to recognize and slightly influence the cycles of reincarnation and fate.

Thus, the difference between six and seven stars was like that between heaven and earth - practically a world apart.

However, Evelyn's current advantage wasn't solely due to this difference.

Even with higher achievement, Heaven Opposition Power was essentially an inferior version of the Black Star Force.

What closed this gap was her monstrous sword sense.

Though disadvantaged in compatibility, her output naturally exceeded the achievement difference, and her sword utilization allowed this output advantage to shine.

'Until now, that is.'

With this thought, Zion smiled slightly and coldly watched the Lion Princess's approaching sword.

If his opponent wagered on pure swordsmanship rather than star power, he would match that approach.

With this thought, Zion's sword tip extended in a completely different way than before, lightly touching the approaching blade's surface.

At that moment,

BOOM!

A massive shockwave completely incongruous with that light contact erupted, sending the Second Princess's sword flying in an odd direction.

"...!"

Evelyn's eyes wavered.

'What was that?'

He had perceived and precisely countered with his sword tip the minute point of reversal in her light-speed slash.

'A coincidence?'

But in the immediately following clash, Evelyn realized it wasn't coincidence.

WHOOSH!

Zion's sword moved in a strange curve, perfectly twisting her sword's path once again.

'How is this possible?'

CLANG!

Evelyn barely blocked Zion's sword as it shot toward the opening, her eyes filling with even greater surprise.

Something incomprehensible even to her, who had absolute confidence in swordsmanship, was happening before her eyes.

And her shock continued.

CRASH!

From those two clashes onward, all her sword strikes began to be blocked.

Like swimming through deep water.

Zion's sword moved slowly, splitting the air.

His sword preempted all her attack paths, completely preventing her absolute sword sense from shining.

An unbelievable sight even as they watched.

The advantage that had been tilting toward Evelyn gradually began reversing.

'It's as if he knows every technique I'm going to use...'

Her thought was somewhat accurate.

'Here, she'll most likely slash diagonally right.'

CLANG!

Zion's now-darkened eyes saw how Evelyn would move next.

His absolute advantage over her was knowledge of his opponent.

In the past, Zion had used "Chronos's Five Questions" to borrow Evelyn's time.

Though that time was brief and he could no longer use that power, all her sword techniques, patterns, and combat vision he had perceived then remained perfectly preserved in his mind. ꭆ

SWISH!

His frantically accelerated thoughts used this to calculate the optimal paths to block her sword, making it seem to Evelyn like he could see the future.

Moreover, unlike Zion, Evelyn knew nothing about her opponent.

"Insane..."

Some knights watching the battle's evolving nature muttered in disbelief.

They shared one trait - all were skilled enough to properly grasp the royals' combat.

Thus they could see.

"Princess Evelyn is... being pushed back?"

Lion Princess Evelyn Agnes.

The person who best embodied the words "peak" and "perfection" in the world.

While politics and strategy might be different, in martial matters, the Second Princess losing to anyone was unimaginable.

Yet before their eyes, she was losing the advantage.

"How is this possible..."

To Zion - not even another 'Seven Heaven', but someone who had only had rumors of strength without ever properly demonstrating martial power.

Beyond unbelievable, it defied common sense.

Simultaneously, they had to acknowledge.

Prince Zion had clearly become one of the empire's representative strongest.

Unlike these knights,

'To think he'd grow this much.'

Evelyn felt complex emotions watching Zion gradually push her back.

While amazed and glad her youngest sibling, who once couldn't protect his own life, had grown so strong, she felt sorrow that she might not be able to stop him from taking the throne.

'I really wanted to stop him from bearing that burden...'

Her mind recalled their father Urdios's final moments, dying miserably while gasping for breath, and her siblings' cold eyes showing no sorrow or affection as they watched their emperor.

"Zion... must you truly take the throne?"

Perhaps knowing she would lose at this rate?

CLASH!

Her sword strikes grew sharper with these words.

But,

"I think I made my intention clear enough at the succession ceremony."

Since this didn't address the fundamental issue, the battle showed no major change.

Her movements grew increasingly erratic and her Heaven Opposition Power's flow became irregular.

Finally,

CRASH!

Even her fortress-like defense shattered.

As the word "defeat" arose in Evelyn's mind-

"Let's stop here."

SWISH-

Zion stopped right before her and spoke while sheathing Eclaxia.

A sudden action no one expected.

"Why suddenly..."

Zion smiled slightly at Evelyn, who looked at him with bewildered eyes at this incomprehensible action, and continued:

"The preparations for proof are complete."

The fundamental reason Zion had accepted this duel.

At these words, Evelyn and others felt something strange and looked around, their eyes trembling.

"Why are they..."

When had they appeared?

Babel, Ozlima's representative force and strongest magic corps.

The floating city's Light Watchers and Blue Claws tribe.

The Twilight Sword and... even the Agnes Knights.

The empire's highest martial forces surrounded the training ground like a siege.

Question filled people's faces at this situation with completely unfathomable intent.

"Begin."

WHOOSH!

Ignoring this, at Archmage Ahmad's command, a translucent barrier created jointly by Babel and the Light Watchers began perfectly covering the entire training ground.

What was happening?

Amid the confusion at this strange sight, several magicians noticed something odd about the barrier, filling their eyes with bewilderment.

'Why...'

Unlike normal formations, impact defense spells densely carved on the barrier's inside.

It seemed designed not to defend against outside attacks but to prevent escape from within.

Then,

"For the past hundred years."

A low voice echoed through the training ground.

Though very soft, it reached the ears of everyone attending the competition clearly.

People's heads naturally turned toward this ominous yet mesmerizing voice.

There stood Zion.

"The empire has enjoyed peace."

Zion continued slowly while naturally accepting their gazes.

"The demon realm was quiet, and nothing else could break Agnes and the empire's fortress."

Perfect peace maintained through absolute power logic.

At least on the surface.

"However, that peace was a lie from the start."

Even the armistice with the demon realm, the foundation of peace, was false.

"The demon realm never stopped their invasion of the empire for even a moment. They merely changed methods. So secretively that no one could notice..."

Zion's gaze scanning the people in the training ground stopped precisely on the demons hidden among them.

"And meticulously."

His eyes curved simultaneously.

"Prince Zion! What are you saying..."

"The empire."

One of the demons wearing human disguise cried out urgently, seemingly sensing danger, but Zion's chilling voice cleanly cut off their words.

"Failed to notice this new invasion method. Thus demons infiltrated everywhere, and because of this, it crumbled. Slowly, during the hundred years you thought were peaceful."

A truth they didn't want to face yet had to face.

"So I will cut out these rotting wounds."

Every single one, without exception.

To prevent the empire he established from rotting and collapsing further.

Was this the signal?

WHOOSH!

Together with a large-scale joint spell cast by the newly appearing Blood Tower mages, an enormous magic circle glowing blood-red began inscribing itself across the entire training ground sky.

As people's eyes wavered at this soul-shaking light - Step, step.

As if this wasn't the end, one more person appeared.

A woman walking to the training ground's center and chanting spells with firm resolve gleaming in her crimson eyes.

It was Priscilla.

WHOOSH!

As her spell completed, something crimson burst from her entire body, instantly shot upward, and merged into the entire magic circle.

The magic circle began glowing even brighter.

"From today, the empire."

Zion spoke while keeping his gaze fixed not on the completing magic circle but on the still-hidden demons, reaching toward empty air on his right.

SWISH-

What appeared in his hand wasn't Eclaxia.

A long spear with pitch-black body covered in strange engraved characters.

The Dragon Rage Spear Agdravar.

RUMBLE!

The dark spear emitted a low resonance as if pleased to be called after so long.

Zion slowly drew back Agdravar.

"Will eliminate all demons present here."

The spear tip aimed at the enormous magic circle inscribed in the sky.

"And begin preparing for war with the demon realm."

Previous Emperor Urdios's final words brushed past Zion's ears and-

CRACK!

As the launched Agdravar struck the magic circle's exact center - BOOM!

Finally, hell opened in the world and hidden truths began to emerge.

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