The wide, circular arena was filled with the thunderous cheers of the people. However, the main characters of that cheer seemed to have little interest.

Amidst the cheers pouring in from all directions...

The Black Prince, with the crown on his head, stood up from his seat with an expressionless face. The King took a few steps back and looked the crowned third son up and down.

"Hmm. It suits you quite well."

"Is that so."

The Black Prince replied nonchalantly. It was a crown that only one person in the kingdom could wear, but he seemed to have no particular emotion about it. In reality, the Black Prince did not find any special meaning in the crown itself. To him, the crown was just an overly extravagant and flashy symbol of a king, nothing more, nothing less. His mind was focused on what he had to do after wearing the crown.

The King did not find the Black Prince's indifferent appearance strange. Because he knew his disposition better than anyone. Instead, he looked him over and offered his thoughts.

"The look of a typical monarch, worn down by work. It suits you very well."

"...."

The Black Prince glared at the King with sunken eyes. For someone who had dispatched three Royal Knights to the First Prince's side, he was being far too shameless. The Black Prince was not one to beat around the bush, so he asked directly.

"Father. Weren't you trying to place my eldest brother on the throne?"

As he said, if the devil hadn't crushed the Royal Knights, it would have led to his certain defeat.

The King, upon being asked, answered as if it were no big deal.

"My eldest?"

The King glanced at the First Prince, who was sitting there in a daze, and said.

"That one is too narrow-minded to sit on the throne. He doesn't know how to see the world broadly. He would lead the kingdom according to the framework he sees. A new era needs a new king. Don't you think?"

The Black Prince glared at the King, who was smiling inscrutably, with cold eyes.

"...Are you saying you intended to pass the throne to me?"

The King scratched his chin and replied.

"Hmm... I am worried about your cruel nature... but you will certainly bring a wind of change. Not bad."

The King nodded as if he had convinced himself.

"It would be more accurate to say it's the best choice rather than the perfect choice."

The Black Prince snorted.

"What nonsense."

The King grinned.

"Look at the way you talk."

The father and son stared at each other, each with their own smile. The Black Prince, with a sneer full of ridicule, glared at the King with blazing eyes.

It was absurd. No one had predicted he would win. Not even the Black Prince himself. It was a miracle brought about by the Red-Eyed Devil. Moreover, these were not words that should come from the mouth of someone who had dispatched three Royal Knights.

"Then why did you dispatch the Royal Knights to my eldest brother?"

The King asked back with a shameless face.

"Royal Knights?"

The Black Prince's expression hardened.

"Stop playing dumb. It's all over, isn't it?"

"What are you talking about..."

"The last three knights who came out. Weren't they all Royal Knights? Rutie of the Swift Sword, the taciturn Victor, Van Dyke of the Iron Spear. Am I wrong?"

"Why are you asking me about my eldest son's knights?"

"...."

The Black Prince glared at the King, who was feigning ignorance, then asked another question.

"Then did you expect me to win anyway?"

A question asking if he had expected the Red-Eyed Devil to perform a miracle. Of course, it was an absurd question.

The King answered with a bewildered expression.

"What do you mean? Who can predict what will happen in the future? I'm not a god."

"...."

"Of course, I didn't know. Is that even a question?"

"Then how..."

The King cut him off and changed the subject.

"By the way, you kept staring at that guy whether I came or not. Did you fall in love or something?"

The Black Prince gritted his teeth as he watched the King chuckle and lightly brush off his questioning.

"What nonsense..."

The King, unconcerned, looked at the red-eyed swordsman who was staring at the sky and said.

"He is a coveted talent. Considering the performance he showed in the decisive battle, there's nothing more to say."

"...."

"Furthermore, he is still young. I can't predict how much stronger he will become."

The King looked at the Black Prince.

"So, what do you plan to do with him?"

The Black Prince answered immediately.

"I plan to make him my knight."

The King snorted.

"He is not a vessel you can contain."

The Black Prince stared at the King with wide eyes, then glanced at the Red-Eyed Devil, who was still looking up at the sky, and asked.

"Do you know him?"

"No. I don't know him well."

"...."

The King grinned and answered.

"How can a mere human understand the will of the gods?"

"What does that..."

"Third son."

"Yes."

The King smiled meaningfully and patted the Black Prince's shoulder.

"Lead the kingdom well. I hope you do not become a worthless king like me."

He said that and then turned and left.

"Hahahaha..."

The King's laughter echoed. The Black Prince watched his retreating back with a displeased face.

As far as he knew, the King was a man who did not believe in any religion. He was of the opinion that one should do what one can in the time it takes to fathom the will of the gods. Due to the King's such disposition, the Blake Kingdom had various religions spread evenly without any particular one gaining dominance. The Black Prince also agreed with that.

But suddenly, gods? Did his thoughts change as he neared death? It wasn't that strange. It was only natural for humans to rely on gods as death approached. But... as far as he knew, his father was not such a weak human.

"...."

The Black Prince watched the King's retreating back with deepened eyes. What on earth was he thinking? What did he know, and what did he not know?

But soon, the Black Prince shook his head and brushed off the thoughts about him. That was that. He had to do what he had to do.

The Black Prince approached Aron and snatched the voice-amplifying magic tool he was holding. Then he spoke into it.

Listen well!

The Black Prince's voice boomed throughout the circular arena. He waited until the overheated arena gradually quieted down before continuing.

I, Roanoke Vittorio Blake, the third prince of the Blake Kingdom, the one called the Black Prince. As of today, I have become the king of this rotten kingdom.

At the words "rotten kingdom," the people began to murmur.

Yes, that's right. You heard correctly. I said a rotten kingdom. Doesn't everyone know? That there are corrupt places scattered all over. That the deep-seated roots have all rotted away.

The murmuring grew louder. The Black Prince, unconcerned, spoke.

I plan to cut out all those rotten parts. Even if it means tearing them out whole.

The Black Prince pointed to the Red-Eyed Devil, who was standing on the side of the arena, being supported. He was still looking at the sky.

Your guess is correct. That man is the Red-Eyed Devil, known as the heinous criminal who murdered Baron Barankia.

The audience stirred. They had suspected it, but it was just a guess. But the Black Prince had revealed his identity with his own mouth. It was quite a shocking event.

The murder of a noble was a grave crime among grave crimes. Therefore, the Red-Eyed Devil was currently the worst criminal in the kingdom... For the newly crowned king to say such a thing with his own mouth.

It was an expected reaction. The Black Prince, unconcerned, continued his speech.

Baron Barankia was a man who deserved to die.

Another wave of murmuring spread. A man who deserved to die? No one had ever described a noble as deserving to die before. Even if it was the king of a country.

He forcibly mobilized the people of his domain to build a temple. They were citizens of the Blake Kingdom before they were his subjects. My people! When one of them was injured and couldn't come out, he dragged him to the square and beat him to death in front of everyone. The people had no choice but to drag their injured bodies and force themselves to come out so as not to be beaten to death like that. How can you say he did not deserve to die?

The Black Prince pointed to the Red-Eyed Devil. The man who had been looking only at the sky had now lowered his gaze and was looking at him.

The Red-Eyed Devil over there witnessed such a sight and could not just pass by. That is why he killed the baron. And I agree with his will.

Murmur, murmur.

When I say rotten!

The Black Prince's rough voice thundered through the arena. The spirit in his voice instantly silenced the noisy venue and focused their attention.

I am referring to those trash-like nobles. Vermin who do not deserve to be called nobles. Trash that aren't even human. Scum that deserve to die. Just breathing the same air as them makes me sick.

The Black Prince's murderous gaze was directed to one place. It was where the nobles of the First Prince's faction were, still pale and in a daze. Their complexions turned pale as they still couldn't accept the reality before them.

The Black Prince, glaring at their pathetic attempts to hastily exit the arena, continued.

Those who acted as their underlings and sucked the blood of the people are no exception. I will personally cut out these trash one by one. To do that, I need your strength.

The murmuring stopped for a moment.

Us?

The people stared at the Black Prince with wide eyes.

Yes, everyone. The people of the Blake Kingdom. I need your help. The kingdom is vast. There must be many pieces of trash that I have not yet identified. I am only one person. You must reveal the true nature of the trash I do not know so that I can deal with them.

Murmur, murmur.

The murmuring was louder than ever before. The Black Prince nodded with satisfaction as he watched the scene.

The method will be announced later, so I look forward to many reports.

The Black Prince's speech did not end there.

A new era is coming. A new era needs new talent.

The people looked at the Black Prince, wondering what he meant.

I do not look at a person's bloodline. Even I am of illegitimate birth, so what is there to hide? I will look at a person's ability instead of their status. Just as I willingly joined hands with the Red-Eyed Devil, whose origin is even unclear. And so, just as he became my knight.

The Red-Eyed Devil looked at the Black Prince with an unreadable expression.

The Black Prince, having proven that his words were not empty, appealed loudly.

People who will build a new kingdom together, I need your help. I need your abilities. Is there anyone who will build a new kingdom with me? If so.

The Black Prince paused for a moment.

Now, let me know with your cheers.

—Wooooaaaaah!!!

As soon as he finished speaking, a tremendous cheer covered the arena. It was louder than any cheer that had come before. To the point where the circular arena rumbled and shook.

The Black Prince, with a dark smile, looked around the arena, which was filled with a hotter passion than ever before, and concluded his speech.

This too will be announced later. I look forward to much participation.

And so, having successfully finished his speech, the Black Prince threw the magic tool he was holding to the dumbfounded Aron and strode back to where his party was.

Watching him cross the arena with dignity, the people chanted his nickname.

"Black Prince! Black Prince! Black Prince!"

At first, it was a derogatory nickname, as he was a mutant, the only black one in the all-white royal family. But now, it had become a name that was called like his own.

I quite like it, the Black Prince thought.

The Black Prince passed by his waiting party and said.

"Let's go."

Watching him, Ashuban, who had been thoroughly used from the decisive battle to the Black Prince's speech, muttered.

"...Damn. He really knows how to use people."

Then, supported by Sir Fluffy, he limped and followed him.

Ashuban followed the Black Prince and cursed at his back.

"The knights do all the hard work, and he takes all the credit. Anyone would think he fought himself. Good grief, what a worthless guy. So annoying."

"...."

"Hey, you bastard. But why am I your knight?"

"...."

"Slipping it in so sneakily. You want to die?"

"...."

"Huh? Look at that bastard. He's ignoring me. Pretending he can't hear me. Pretending he's deaf. You want me to pierce your ears for you?"

"...."

"Your Highness. No, you're not a prince anymore. Your Majesty over there. Do you want to die?"

The Black Prince exited the arena, being cursed out by Ashuban.

(End of Chapter)