“Well then, everyone, see ya!”
Having returned to the city, we said our goodbyes to Tao.
Incidentally, the rest of the Bearwolves didn’t follow me; it seemed they were going to stay in the forest.
Grimo mentioned that they likely had pups who weren't fully grown yet.
I told Shiro not to let them go around attacking people, though I wasn't entirely sure how much of that it actually understood.
Well, it seemed to get the gist of what I was saying, so it should be fine. Probably.
“On!”
Shiro barked confidently, as if to say I had nothing to worry about.
...Well, no matter how you looked at it, it just looked like an ordinary dog now.
The villagers wouldn't be pointlessly terrified of it.
That said, I had a feeling the amount of mana these creatures contained was significantly higher than before... but I decided not to think too deeply about it.
■■■
A few days passed, and I was summoned to the Throne Room.
Albert was with me.
Normally, he would have sent a wink my way the moment our eyes met, but today his expression was uncharacteristically solemn.
I wondered if something had happened.
“Ah, Albert. And Lloyd. Well met.”
Setting aside my concerns, Charles welcomed us.
“First, Albert. You have successfully completed the mission of Magical Beast Subjugation. ...However, it seems there were various complications. You were beset by multiple Magical Beasts and a Majin; one can only say it was stroke of fortune that there were no casualties. You are the Second Prince. I am well aware that you are an accomplished Mage in your own right. Even so, I must say it was somewhat reckless to set out with only the Royal Guard in tow.”
“I have no excuse, Father.”
Albert kept his head bowed low as he accepted Charles’s stern words.
It was true that, in hindsight, it had been a bit reckless.
Even if the appearance of a Majin was an outlier, Magical Beast Subjugation was always a dangerous undertaking.
Albert seemed to be reflecting on it quite seriously.
“Hmm. See that you are more prudent in the future. ...And now, Lloyd.”
“Y-Yes!”
Ugh, here comes the lecture.
I waited for Charles to speak, my heart racing with nerves.
“—You did well.”
But contrary to my expectations, the words he directed at me were those of praise.
I reflexively looked up to see Charles nodding at me, a smile visible beneath his well-groomed beard.
“I heard the account from Albert. You bolstered the Royal Guards and stood your ground bravely even when surrounded by Magical Beasts. Quite impressive for one of your tender years.”
“Oh...”
I had fully expected to be scolded as well, so this was a bit of an anticlimax.
Charles leaned forward slightly, his eyes shining.
“I have often heard reports of your talent from Sylpha as well. It seems your skill in swordsmanship is improving by leaps and bounds. Rising to meet a challenge and producing results is one of the most vital qualities for a king. ...What do you say? It is somewhat irregular, but I am considering granting you the next Right of Succession to the throne.”
“Wha...!?”
I let out a cry of genuine shock.
If things went that way, I’d be forced to study statecraft alongside Albert and the others, and I’d have to fight the other princes for the crown.
I just wanted to research magic at my own pace.
I wanted absolutely nothing to do with the Right of Succession.
“King!”
Albert stood up abruptly.
Yes, he was going to oppose it! I was saved.
Granting succession rights to a ten-year-old like me was madness, no matter how you sliced it.
I breathed a sigh of relief.
“It is a magnificent idea. Lloyd will undoubtedly become a pillar of this nation. Learning the ways of a king will surely serve him well in the future. While having Lloyd as a rival for the throne is a daunting prospect even for me, if my opponent is Lloyd, I would not mind conceding. In fact, I would consider it an honor to compete with him.”
...Or so I thought, but Albert was actually all for it.
Hey, hey, wait a minute!
I hurriedly stood up.
“P-Please, wait! ...I am grateful for such an undeserved honor. However, I am not at all the sort of person suited to be the king of this country. I must humbly decline.”
“Mmu—”
At my words, Charles fell into thought for a moment before nodding.
“...I see. That is a pity.”
Phew, thank goodness. I managed to talk my way out of it.
Giving me succession rights out of nowhere was just too much.
Still, he backed down surprisingly easily.
Well, whatever. As long as I was off the hook.
I let out a long breath of relief.
“I see. In other words, Lloyd... you mean to say that your capacity is too great to be contained by this kingdom alone? It is true that this continent cannot yet be called peaceful. You intend to become the Sovereign of the World who unifies it all. ...Fufu, you talk big for my son. If that is your ambition, I have no choice but to respect it.”
“A capacity that cannot be contained by this country... Yes, that certainly sounds like him. Perhaps he is destined to grow into a figure like Mr. William Bordeaux, the Great Mage who traveled the entire world. For such a goal, there may be far more important things for him to do than receive the education of a king.”
Charles and Albert were muttering something between themselves.
Both of them were smirking—I wondered if they were actually okay.
“Lloyd! Then continue to apply yourself diligently from this day forward!”
“I’m expecting great things from you, Lloyd.”
“Y-Yes!”
For some reason, the two of them were looking at me with eyes full of intense expectation... but regardless, I had managed to avoid the succession.
That was a weight off my shoulders.
■■■
A week had passed since then.
Fundamentally, my daily life hadn't changed much; I spent my time doing exactly what I liked.
If there were any changes, it was that Albert frequently invited me to the Magic Training Grounds, and the frequency and intensity of Sylpha’s 'swordsmanship play' had ramped up.
“Master Albert, Master Lloyd is scheduled for swordsmanship training now.”
“We did that the other day, didn't we? Today, he will be practicing magic with me.”
“What are you saying? It is time for the sword.”
“No, it is time for magic.”
The two of them glared at each other, sparks practically flying between them.
...Honestly, it was a bit draining to watch them fight over me like this.
On top of that, Charles had been calling for me frequently of late to ask after my progress, and rumors suggested that Tao was wandering around asking everyone she met about 'Roberto.'
“You’re quite the popular one, Master Lloyd... hehehe. If your reputation keeps rising at this rate, I’ll be in for a real treat when I finally take over your body...!”
“On!”
Grimo smirked wickedly, and Shiro barked energetically beside him.
It was a noisy environment, to say the least.
All I really wanted was to reach the pinnacle of magic.
—In this world, there was still magic I had never seen.
I wanted to see it all. Memorize it. Deconstruct it.
I looked up at the clear blue sky, peering into the endless abyss of magic I had yet to discover.
—The most important thing for a mage is lineage. Next is talent. And finally, effort.
The last one is true for those who perceive effort as a burden; for those who can enjoy the process of accumulating it, it is not the last, but the greatest power of all.
...Eh? What if there was someone who possessed all three?
Ahaha, that’s a terrifying thought.
At the very least, I wouldn't want to be their enemy.
“...Or so that guy used to say,” Grimo muttered under his breath.
“Did you say something, Grimo?”
“No, nothing at all-sir. Oh, it looks like Big Sis Sylpha won the rock-paper-scissors match.”
Looking over, it seemed the two of them had settled their dispute with a game of rock-paper-scissors without me noticing. A victorious Sylpha was already running my way.
“Master Lloyd!”
Sylpha waved her hand, a wooden sword held firmly in her grip and a joyful look on her face.
With a small sigh, I turned and headed toward the courtyard.