The Strongest Dull Prince’s Secret Battle for the Throne

Chapter 659: A Successful Assassination

This was around the time a resolution was reached in the royal capital...

"With such lax security, we alone would have sufficed."

"Indeed. There was no need to bring along that dangerous fellow."

Perhaps this was divine punishment.

While thinking such thoughts, Henrick, who was disguised as Arnold, was quietly restrained.

four assassins had infiltrated into the command center of the allied forces, the Louiville Fortress.

Despite there being ten thousand soldiers, only the elite were deployed to the front lines. Ordinary soldiers couldn't stop the entry of assassins. Moreover, these assassins were skilled, possibly rivaling even Sebas. There were three such assassins and even though Henrick had prepared various traps for them, they were almost all neutralized.

However, there were four intruders. Who was the last one?

"...Ghido..."

Leading the three assassins was Arnold's childhood friend, Ghido von Holzwirt. After the battle in the north, Ghido had gone missing. Henrick thought that he had died but it seemed that Ghido had survived and reappeared as an assassin. However...

"What happened...?"

"Many things... Your brother... cut off this arm..."

Ghido gestured to his left shoulder with his remaining right arm. His body was covered in countless wounds, his behavior was erratic and most notably...

"What's that mark...?"

Ghido's face bore an inscription which was visible throughout his body, marking his transformation.

"It's all because of you! Because of your brother!"

Shouting, Ghido suddenly began shaking his head, Henrick noted that he was clearly out of his mind. The assassins restraining Henrick frowned at the sight.

"It's the older brother's responsibility... if their brother is at fault, right... Arnold?"

Ghido signaled the assassin with his eyes. While drawing his sword with one hand, the assassin pinned Henrick to the desk, exposing his left arm. Having no choice, Henrick accepted this as the guards around the command center were definitely eliminated and no one would come even if he shouted.

More importantly, Henrick felt that he didn't deserve to resist.

"This is... payback!"

As Ghido cut off Henrick's left arm, Henrick pretended to groan in pain. Henrick's body, which was already corrupted by frost poison, was no longer that of a normal human. He had long lost any normal sensations and would immediately die without his medication. Naturally, he felt almost no pain.

Still, Henrick pretended to struggle and suffer in order to avoid suspicion. The assassins exchanged looks at his act.

"Ghido-sama, are you going to deliver the final blow?"

"Of course! This alone isn't enough... The pain that I felt isn't enough!"

"Then, we will keep watch outside."

Saying this, the assassins hastily left the room. Henrick vaguely understood why they did this. Ghido was their insurance as their target was the commander of the allied forces. Even with elite forces at the front, there was a chance that they couldn't breach their defenses. Ghido was brought along for this reason but since the mission was easier than expected, they left Ghido in order to avoid provoking him further.

Henrick reached out to Ghido's remaining arm and exposed his chest. Having been exposed to various magical devices when he was studying under his great-grandfather, who was among the continent's leading magical device users. Henrick noticed a magical device embedded in Ghido's chest.

A red orb was embedded and it was controlled by the inscriptions on his body.

A magic bomb.

The same type of magical bomb that Gordon tried to use with those heterochromatic children through the Magus Corps. Those bombs were made by gathering several children with high magic potential, causing them to resonate and go berserk before exploding. However, Ghido's magical talent was limited, making him hardly suitable for a magic bomb. Yet, their enemies had turned Ghido into a magic bomb by embedding that device into him.

"A magic device that sucks one’s blood..."

The Holzwirt Dukedom, the second oldest noble family in the empire, although it did not have blood as potent as the Adlers, it was still incomparable to the other nobles. That device was absorbing his blood and is likely converting it into magical power. However, if blood is converted into magic without being released, the magic gathered will accumulate. As Ghido had no way to release such vast magical power, he will be fated to self-destruct.

It was a self-destructive attack only made possible with noble blood and a special magical device. It seems the enemy is desperate to assassinate Arnold, even being forced to resort to using such a precious hand. The rarity of the magical device was evident and it was probably a relic from the ancient magical civilization that they somehow used to turn Ghido into a magic bomb after struggling to find a use for it. Both the device and Ghido as the catalyst were rare since it was unusual for someone so heavily modified to still be alive.

Such a weapon was sent to ensure Arnold's assassination, if the assassins had ever failed. While thinking that his guess was right, Henrick looked into Ghido's eyes that were filled with hatred.

"What's wrong with you..? You're nothing! Why…. Why do you look down on me!? You, a useless prince!!"

Saying so, Ghido struck Henrick in the face.

Being hit didn't actually hurt Henrick. But he felt sorry for driving Ghido to this state and for having to hear this outburst as Arnold.

"You too...! You're just like me! A failure! And yet!! Why do you look down on me!? Mock me!? Why!? You, you, you, always you! Why does everyone like you!?"

"Ghido..."

"Since we were kids! You were always like that! Pretending to be smart! Looking down on me… me! Acting like you're different!! If it was just looking down, that'd be one thing, but you pitied me...!! Being pitied by a washed-up prince... That makes me feel even more miserable!!"

Ghido struck Henrick repeatedly.

With each blow, the magic device in his chest shone brighter.

There was no stopping the rampage now.

It seemed that Ghido’s heightened emotions would only accelerate the countdown.

That's why the assassins tried not to provoke Ghido.

"React to something! You don't even flinch when I hit you! I hate you! I hate you! I hate you!! Why!? Why!? Why are you of royal blood!? Why is your lineage superior to mine!? Why!? Why!? Someone like you!! All you do is get beaten up by me! Yet everyone still evaluates you so highly!! No matter what I do, I'm never evaluated! Even when you do nothing!! There are always people around you!? I have no friends, but you do!? Someone is always by your side!! I hate you! I hate you! I hate you! Despite being a failure! Just like me!! Yet you're loved by your family!! Blessed with friends!! I hate you!!" (TL: damn, so many exclamation marks)

He had an outstanding younger brother.

And an outstanding father.

Yet he was called a failure behind his back.

Him and Arnold were supposed to be in the same situation.

But there was a decisive difference.

Ghido was spoiled by his mother. However, he was only indulged by her and his whims were catered to.

But he was never scolded, so it can't be said that he was ever truly loved.

Ghido was given up on by his father. Every time he saw the poorly performing Ghido, his eyes showed his disappointment in him.

Ghido was always mocked by his younger brother. His brother, who was more capable than him, ridiculed him.

It was to be expected. After all, he was a failure.

Ghido was not blessed with friends. The people around him were just his followers. No one was there to do something for Ghido's sake.

Yet…

Al had a mother who showed him the way. A father who never abandoned him. A brother who was always by his side. And friends who would not hesitate to give their lives for Al.

Everything between them was different.

The one who was twisted was Ghido. But to say it was all Ghido's fault would be wrong.

While listening to his sobbing, Henrick gently touched Ghido's cheek.

"Forgive me... my friend."

Those words were not from Arnold.

But from Henrick.

The paths of Arnold and Ghido will never cross.

However, the paths between Henrick and Ghido might have intersected.

They could have been good friends.

If only he had been a bit more steadfast.

He could have prevented such an end.

With that regret, Henrick sought forgiveness.

"Forgive me... That I can't even die with you."

"Who are you...?"

No matter what, they were childhood friends. Even if it was a twisted relationship, it was still a bond that was fostered from spending a long time together and so, Ghido finally realized that the person before him wasn't Arnold. At that moment, the magic device in Ghido's chest began to emit a red light.

"Farewell, my friend. I promise to follow you soon."

"Haha, a body double, huh... Arnold, till the very end..."

There was no longer any need to pretend to be Arnold.

Henrick dropped his disguise.

Seeing this, Ghido’s eyes widened.

Then...

"Henrick... I... I!? Where did I go wrong...?"

"You didn't go wrong. Your sacrifice will not be in vain... You will save the empire."

"Is that so... Then I am..."

"Is there anything you want to tell my brother?"

Before he could finish, the magic device began to activate. Henrick quickly stood up, being surprisingly agile for someone who had just lost an arm and quickly stopped the bleeding while moving away from Ghido, he then opened a hidden door and took out a teleportation magical device, activating it. He then paused so that he could wait for Ghido's last words.

Ghido just laughed at him.

"I just... wanted friends... tell him that..."

"Don't worry. You were definitely considered a friend to my brother. The reason he never excluded you was because... you were an important childhood friend."

"If that's the case... then that's fine..."

His words stopped there.

Henrick looked at his arm which was rolling on the desk.

This is going to be the center of the explosion.

Probably, no trace would be left behind.

Leaving any traces would only make things unnatural.

Though it was a loss to leave behind that cut arm, if it served as a farewell gift to a friend, it was a small price to pay.

Thinking so, Henrick teleported away.

And then, the Louiville Fortress was engulfed in a massive explosion.

_________

“We have succeeded in the assassination of Prince Arnold.”

Hearing this report, Erik closed his eyes in silence.

However, he wasn't the only one in the room.

There was another person who was lurking at the corner of the room while shrouded in darkness.

"Many will wonder why it was Arnold and not Leonard. But only those with discerning eyes will understand. The true threat was Arnold. He had to be eliminated now, and at any cost. Even if it meant using our precious card."

"However, we can't use the same strategy again since Leonard is still alive. From now on, it's a head-on battle with the few cards that we have remaining."

"That’s no problem. After having miraculously won against the demons, humanity can no longer reject miracles. People believe what they want to believe, especially after witnessing a miracle. While the entire continent has been wounded by the battle with the demons. Only the empire, while the strongest nation of mankind, has suffered the most.

The Emperor and the Brave Duke are currently missing in action.

The Imperial Guard has been decimated.

It's an unprecedented blow.

How will things turn out? The people who are currently engulfed in anxiety will not reject a savior that has miraculously appeared before them."

Then that figure emerged from the darkness.

"So shall I reclaim my throne? Erik?"

"As you command, 'Your Highness, Crown Prince Wilhelm'."

Erik bowed to Crown Prince Wilhelm

TL's Notes:

Wow, what a ride this has been! We finally got to finish the really, really long war arc and now this plot twist just happened! Thank you to all the paid members who have been sticking thin and through, I will be back soon to finish off the series after a "short break".

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