The Strongest Dull Prince’s Secret Battle for the Throne - Chapter 717

"I have… waited for this moment, for so long."

"Erik-aniiue…"

"Carlos… I had no choice but to eliminate you… so forgive me. Because you are my real brother… I couldn’t leave you alone until this crucial moment… As you would have only brought chaos."

"I suppose so… It was just because I couldn’t suppress my desire… the desire to be a hero."

"That’s not inherently bad. Everyone wants to be someone’s hero, but a desire beyond one’s capacity leads themselves and others to ruin."

That’s why Erik eliminated him.

As he explained his reasoning, Erik drew two daggers.

He handed one to Carlos.

"If you still hold a grudge against me, you can stab me now."

With those words, Carlos cut his own wrist.

A torrent of blood spilled onto the floor.

At the same time, the magic circle responded to the blood by glowing brightly.

"So, Erik-aniiue… how do you plan to outmaneuver that demon?"

While speaking lightly, Conrad also took out a dagger and slit his wrist.

More blood flowed and the magic circle’s brilliance intensified.

"He’s naturally wary of the strongest guardian spirit eagle, Gold Adler, that the Adlers can summon. That must have been why he tampered with the capital’s barrier as it nullifies all forms of summoning when they enter the capital. No matter how powerful the summoned beast is, it’s still just a summoned beast—a helper. If Gold Adler were to attack the capital from outside the barrier, its summoning would be canceled. A summoning that costs lives… would simply end there. While the barrier would likely be destroyed, it would still be a meaningless sacrifice."

"Sacrificing the barrier to force the Gold Adler’s return… So that's his strategy. It seems that he’s fine with even losing the barrier around the Capital." 𝙧𝔞Ɲo͍𝐁ΕS̈

"That’s where he’s mistaken… I never intended to defeat him. That’s not my role… as I don’t even know what the inside of the demon world is like. Sending our forces there is too dangerous, so instead I’ll send in something other than humans."

With those words, Erik cut his wrist as well.

The magic circle glowed even brighter.

Then, one by one, the magic circles around them were activated in a chain reaction.

They spread throughout the imperial capital and across the entire empire.

"While traveling around as the Minister of Foreign Affairs… I secretly created a massive composite magic circle that spans around the entire Empire. It was a painstaking effort as since that demon has Wilhelm’s memories, he wouldn’t fall for the usual me. So… I had to try my hardest. I even made it possible to summon the golden eagle that couldn’t be summoned before… and then… I went beyond his expectations."

Carlos pointed his dagger at himself again.

Following suit, Conrad also aimed his dagger at himself.

Erik had once investigated whether Wilhelm had an aptitude for summoning during his lifetime.

And at that time, it was found out that he had none.

So Erik investigated further and found that it was due to insufficient blood concentration.

The First Emperor’s essence was weak inside him.

So, increasing the blood concentration would thus solve that issue.

However, this also meant they would have to offer up more sacrifices.

"Dantalion has the luxury of thinking that if push comes to shove, he can drag it out into a war of attrition. As long as Wepar exists, he believes that his victory is assured, so he’s handling everything with confidence… I’ll shatter that confidence. That’s why I developed this… a grand magic circle by using the entire empire… it allows for the teleportation of summoned entities… making it a large-scale teleportation magic…"

Summoning magic that brings the target to the location.

Erik’s trump card was to teleport the summoned target into the Demon Realm.

It was the culmination of his years of thoughts and planning.

A new magic that was created after Wilhelm’s death.

It had to be done.

To outwit Dantalion, who underestimated human growth, Erik had to grow himself.

For a demon, who can be said to be a completed entity, human growth was an unexpected thing for them.

Even Dantalion, who knew the fear of humans, was no exception to that.

"It’s almost time… the magic circle should be ready."

"Then we’ll go ahead…"

"Yeah… let’s go see Leah-aneue…"

With those last words, Carlos and Conrad stabbed themselves in the abdomen.

To spare them any more suffering, Erik swiftly slit their throats.

And then.

"Dantalion… Though I wanted to see your smug face crumble… Know that your arrogance before the Adlers will be your downfall…"

Muttering this, Erik stabbed himself in the abdomen.

As he coughed up blood, he spoke.

"My name… is…. Adler."

The incantation that followed was a summoning chant that was permitted only to the Adler family.

The first emperor had made a pact with the golden eagle, who in turn promised to aid his descendants.

However,

It required immense magical power.

And the life force of the user.

Many had attempted to summon the golden eagle after the first emperor.

But only a few succeeded in the summoning.

And even those few who managed to do so did it at the cost of their lives.

A guardian spirit bird that can be summoned in exchange for the life of an Adler.

A paradoxical being that takes an Adler’s life to protect the Adlers.

"Wings of light that cover the seven heavens, claws that do not tolerate falsehood."

"Proud divine bird, heed the call of the present world."

"Though my ambitions are grand, my power falls short, hope is but an illusion."

"The bloodline of the eagle remains unbroken, the pact with your friend still stands."

"With the power of my ancestors, I tilt the scales in my favor."

"I declare again."

"My true name is… Adler."

"According to the ancient pact, respond to this summoning—"

"Gold Adler."

In the sky above the empire, high in the heavens, a massive golden bird appeared.

Its sheer size made it easily visible to the human eye.

At seeing the summoning from his window, Erik smiled faintly.

He felt reassured that he was still an Adler.

How much disaster had he spread?

In the name of securing the distant future, he had brought harm to both the empire and the continent.

People who didn’t need to die had died because of him.

He couldn’t say that his way was right.

And there might have been a better way.

But this was all he could do.

He had already apologized countless times in his heart.

He apologized for being so inadequate.

He had only come this far by constantly apologizing.

It was all for the sake of securing the future.

And

"To meet someone you love… and to live a life where you’re loved…"

He had been happy with Leah.

With his family, the people of the empire and the people of the continent.

That happiness.

The daily joys and sorrows, the variety of everyday life.

The mundane days.

It could have been boring. It could have been tough.

But still.

It’s better than not seeing the coming days at all. Even if life is hard and someone wants to end it, that’s their choice. There are also those who might not think that it’s fine to let it end.

But even they have the freedom to end it. So let them do as they please.

The people should have the right to see a better tomorrow.

The right to choose their future belongs to humanity. They can’t choose if they get ruled over or destroyed.

So, let’s carve out a future for that right.

"I have answered the call. Speak your wish, child of Alphonse."

At hearing the voice of Gold Adler in his mind, Erik closed his eyes.

It was a calming voice.

His heart was at peace.

He had worked so hard to hear this voice.

"…Eliminate the source of the virus… that comes from Wepar in the demon world… you should be able to follow the traces of the virus in my blood…"

"Understood."

"And please… give my family… and humanity… a future…"

"Your wish is received. Rest easy and sleep, child of Alphonse. According to the ancient pact, I will defeat your enemies."

With those words, Gold Adler swiftly vanished into the teleportation spell.

After watching it disappear, Erik quietly waited for his end.

Perhaps realizing the situation, Erik’s subordinates had set fire to the mansion as planned.

Since he didn’t want his body to be used by the demons.

Blood slowly flowed away from him and his consciousness soon faded.

At that moment, a hand was placed on his shoulder.

When he turned around.

"…It’s been a while…"

Upon seeing those familiar faces, Erik smiled faintly and slowly collapsed.

TL's Notes:

o7 Erik, Conrad and Carlos, thank you for being the goats you guys are. o7 Fudge man, this chapter gave me goosebumps while translating.