Volume 4 - CH 54

Act 4-54: That Question Is Off The Mark(Side: Edward)

――Throne room of Amelia kingdom.

The gorgeous throne room normally bustling with cabinet ministers of each ministry was currently deserted with only two inside.

「Johannes, why did you free Canute from his imprisonment? And allow him to participate in crown contest of top of that!?」

The prime minister just smiled gently upon hearing Edward asked with such rude tone,

「I’m just followign the rule of the crown contest, since the request from those people from Blood Oath Alliance didn’t contradict the rules.」

And replied with composed voice.

「Spare me the beating around the bush! What I wanted to know is why you, who was persistently against the release of Canute all this time actually became first one to agree to his release!?」

Up until now, Prime Minister Johannes never complied with any request to release Canute, Edward’s younger brother from Cold Prison Island. And yet, now he actually permitted Canute’s participation in the crown contest after Gilbert’s fall, and even released the barrier used on Canute. As a result, Cold Prison Island was decimated, all jailers and prisoners killed.

「Your Majesty, from the very beginning, it’s been impossible for someone like me to imprison him. The only reason why he never left that prison until now is simply because there’s no conflict of interest between our side and him.」

「Does that mean the destruction of Cold Prison Island isn’t conflict of interest too?」

Edward almost couldn’t suppress the boiling rage in his chest. He had somehow anticipated this result. He also knew that Johannes was aware of the consequence of releasing Canute under that situation. In short, from the very beginning, Johannes had planned to sacrifice the jailers and prisoners in the Cold Prison Island.

「You’ve been reading into it too much, Your Majesty.」

And just as expected, seeing Johannes replied with the same smile as usual,

「Even though they’re criminals, all of them are citizens of the Amelia kingdom! You even sacrificed the innocent jailers, give me a proper explanation for this!?」

Johannes’ smile deepend upon hearing Edward’s complaints and,

「It seems Your Majesty still has a little misunderstanding in this matter.」

He calmly pointed out the mistakes in Edward’s complaint.

「Misunderstanding!?」

「Your Majesty, there’s no innocent people on that island. That place is the den for beasts who are only faithful to their own desire, greedy beasts with insatiable desire, beasts who will never turn over to a new leaf or regret their mistake.」

「What do you mean!?」

「You’ve to investigate this matter on your own for more detailed information in this matter.」

Johannes replied with smile. In that way, the Prime Minister, a monster who single handedly suppressed the wicked nobles in Amelia kingdom didn’t give an answer to what Edward wanted to know the most right now.

Okay, I’ve to calm down first. Trying to argue with this prime minister is fool’s errand. No doubt about it, my own experience had proven that.

Thus, Edward heaved a deep sigh to allow the blood gathering in his head to flow down,

「Then, can you answer another question of mine?」

Asked Edward after he calmed down.

「As long as I know the answer.」

「What is your reason for allowing Canute to participate in crown contest?」

「I should’ve told you before that it simply because the rules allowed it.」

「Splendid official stance indeed. You of all people should be aware about what will happen to this kingdom if he ever becomes a king, right? Why did you take such risky gamble?」

Thus, for the first time since the start of our conversation, a complex emotion could be seen on Johannes’ face. It was an emotion rarely seen from someone as stout-hearted as Johannes, namely―― Dejection and disappointment.

「Your Majesty, that question is off the mark.」

And jsut as expected, Johannes admonished Edward again for who know how many times since his childhood.

「Off mark?」

「Yes. At this point, the goal of this crown contest has long since changed. The moment you’re talking about risky gambling, I’m aware that you’ve failed to see the true essence of this game.」

「What change are you talking about?」

Edward asked as he struck the left armrest of his throne with irritating voice but,

「…」

Johannes just stared at Edward in silence with a smile on his face.

「Don’t feel like telling me eh…」

At least, Johannes wouldn’t give the answer to Edward before the latter reached the conclusion closest to the truth.

But, for the victory condition and the meaning of the crown contest itself to change… was it? What did he mean? The original victory condition was by calculating the achievement and the condition of the area under the management of each candidate.

So if we exclude Canute from the huge change in the crown contest, we only had one last thing.

Namely, the existence of Kai Heineman. That fella was definitely a beast beyond common sense. One of the two absolute rulers of Babel, vice headmaster Krab had literally vanished from this world just because he provoked the wrath of Kai Heineman, and even the headmaster, Inea who only used Kai to get rid of Krab started to become tumour for Babel was forced to retire from her position and life a retirement live.

In that regard, even Gilbert, whose vicious act toward Rose knew no bounds as of late was forced to retire from the crown contest by Kai Heineman.

Gilbert had been taught since his childhood to become a good king for his own people. Unfortunately, the one who taught him was one of the top brass of the blood oath alliance. Thus, he wasn’t taught the most important things to become a good king. As a result, he committed numerous atrocities toward his subordinates and his own people, and he went as far as selling his own sister, Rose to the empire. By the point he hatched the plan to sell Rose and Felis to a pig of shi*t called Ketzer, Edward knew that he had to prevent Gilbert from going too far.

But, he met a problem namely Gilbert being one of the rightful contestants for the crown contest. That including his backing, the blood oath alliance, and dealing with them wasn’t a simple matter. When Edward and co were racking their brain trying to make Gilbert and co to show an opening, the latter ended up baring his fangs toward Kai Heineman over a stupid quarrel in Babel and was forced to retire from the crown contest, solving one of Edward and co’s problem immediately.

At first, Edward had also regarded Kai Heineman as nothing more than one of Rose’s royal guard temporary advisors but he revised his evaluation upon hearing the last condition he imposed in order for Gilbert to regain all of his memories.

He was convinced that Kai Heineman was the vessel of a king. And unlike a fake king like Edward, Kai Heineman was a true king. He was the personification of a perfect king for the monster-like prime minister beside him. Thus, the Prime Minister regarded Kai Heineman as the eye of the typhoon. Thus, he concluded that the matter of the release of his monster-like little brother was related to Kai Heineman. At this point, Edward had no choice but convinced of that. Canute was akin to tumour for Amelia kingdom. That was even more reason for the Prime Minister to remove the said tumour once and for all, and that chance was right before him.

But, Edward couldn’t help but to think that Johannes might be too hasty this time. He was very much aware of how much of a monster Canute was. An overwhelming charisma that seemingly didn’t belong to humans. And then, a gift that grew by consuming the malice of others. At this point, a normal person like Edward had no idea just how powerful his little brother had become.

Because he knew that if not for Canute’s extremely depraved nature, the one who would sit in the throne right now was Canute.

「I know that you have a high evaluation for Kai Heineman. Nevertheless, I really can’t picture him defeating the current Canute.」

It was a natural conclusion he came with as someone who witnessed Canute’s past deed. Canute’s power was beyond human comprehension, he was a walking natural disaster. And a human could never fight the natural disasters.

Kai Heineman was an important talent for the future of Amelia kingdom. More than the hero party who were blinded by their job to annihilate the demon race. That’s why I absolutely wouldn’t let him be crushed by Canute.

「You can’t imagine him win against His Highness Canute, is it?」

Johannes said so toward Edward with an amused look on his face but,

「That sound good. This will be my last homework for you, Your Majesty. Make sure you submit the report about the true meaning of this crown contest after you see the conclusion of this game of thrones.」

After saying so, Johannes bowed once, turned around and left Edward behind.

「Last homework eh…」

Up till now Johannes never said anything for no reason to Edward. The way Johannes expressed that in a roundabout way means that there really was a deep meaning behind the crown contest. Meaning that the crown contest wasn’t a mere competition of governing skill and power.

「Sure. Just as you wish, let see through the end of this contest.」

Edward soliloquy echoed inside the throne room with no one inside.