"I'm not Ash, but someone else. You knew that from the beginning, didn't you, Lucas?"
"..."
Lucas, who had been silent with a stern face for a while, slowly responded.
"I don't understand what you mean, my lord. Aren't you Ash 'Born Hater' Everblack, the third prince of the Everblack Empire?"
"Quit playing dumb."
I sighed and folded my arms.
"You know very well. I am a completely different person from the Ash you've served all your life."
Lucas had been Ash's exclusive bodyguard since he was very young.
And suddenly, I had taken possession of Ash's body.
Even though he might not know, everything from my behavior, way of speaking, and even trivial gestures would have changed completely.
But Lucas did not question me and continued to be by my side.
I too had let it pass without saying anything since Lucas showed me absolute loyalty.
We had an unspoken agreement that there was no need to break our current relationship.
But now, I was leaving for the capital.
I had to go without even knowing what kind of person the original Ash was, let alone understanding his family relationships.
This couldn't go on.
People in the capital would surely catch on.
So I just came out and honestly told Lucas. To ask about the original Ash's personality, and the human relationships in the capital.
Yet, despite that,
"No, my lord. You are undoubtedly the Prince Ash that I have served all my life."
Lucas kept saying this to the very end.
My eyes widened. Why is this guy playing dumb to the end? I thought we knew everything about each other?
And Lucas had a reason to say this.
"You told me in advance that day."
"What? When did I tell you in advance? What did I say?"
"On the night of the second day when we were surrounded by black spiders at the outpost. You called me and said this."
I had possessed this body on the third day of being surrounded by the black spider legion.
The night before that, one day before I took possession...
Ash had said to Lucas,
"'Hey, guard. Starting tomorrow, I will act like a different person.'"
"...!"
"'But no matter how I appear, or what I do, I am me. I am the Ash you have served all your life.'"
Repeating Ash's words verbatim, Lucas looked at me with unwavering eyes.
"'Don't doubt me and continue to assist me as you have. I'm asking you.' ...That's what you said."
"..."
"Though I didn't understand what you meant at the time, your behavior changed noticeably from the next day. As if you had become a different person."
Lucas faintly smiled, bowing his head slightly to me.
"But since you had told me in advance, my loyalty to you never wavered."
I was stunned, frozen by the unexpected truth.
So Ash... knew that I would possess his body?
'How did he know that? And why did he willingly give his body to me?'
Perhaps Ash was not simply a deranged prince, as I thought?
Lost in thought, Lucas cautiously called me.
"My lord?"
"Ah, yes, yes."
I swallowed dryly.
There's no point in telling him now that I'm a gamer from another world.
I'll just take the toss that Ash had thrown me.
"That's right, as I said back then. From that day on, I lost all my memories. I've only been pretending to be the prince since then."
Thankfully, Lucas immediately accepted this.
"Indeed, there were times when you didn't seem to know common knowledge. I had suspected as much..."
"Haha. Thanks to you subtly explaining things, I've managed to get by."
"So how did you suddenly know so much about monsters and dungeons?"
"Um. That."
I vaguely dodged the question.
"I instinctively knew how to defeat the monsters after losing all my other memories. Perhaps the me before losing my memories used some special technique...?"
"..."
Though I thought it was nonsense as I spoke, Lucas seriously nodded, accepting it.
It seemed that, in this way, I managed to steer our relationship back on track, leaving behind the mystery of Ash's foreknowledge. But it was clear that Lucas's unwavering loyalty was going to be a valuable asset in the dangerous game of Protect the Empire.
This damn kid, just how much does he trust me?
"Ahem! Anyway, Lucas. I would like to ask for your help."
I need to know about my relationships in the Imperial Court and understand my original habits.
Upon my request, Lucas promptly nodded.
"Understood. I'll tell you right away. There's not much time left before departure, so we must be quick."
Thus began Lucas's "Special Lecture on Ash's Original Personality & Human Relationships."
***
Fortunately or unfortunately, Ash's personality was rather eccentric... His emotional fluctuations were so extreme that he could be considered a different person depending on the mood of the day.
Some days he was as kind and gentle as a saint, and on others, he acted as crazed and frenzied as a mad dog.
Thanks to this, it seemed that no one would doubt me, regardless of how my personality appeared now.
"Just maintain, um... a haughty? Attitude, and nobody will be too suspicious."
"Okay. But what does being haughty mean?"
"Well, my lord. Could you tilt your chin back for a moment?"
Lucas cautiously took hold of my chin and raised the angle slightly.
My head tilted back, making me look down at Lucas.
"Yes! That's the exact angle! The old lord always maintained this facial angle. No matter who the person was, if you keep this view, looking down on them, it'll be perfect!"
"..."
Hey, this puts a lot of strain on the back of my neck. Did Ash always walk around with this facial angle?
I looked at the mirror nearby.
Just a slight twist of the facial angle, and there was Ash, sending a condescending glance. Did he really look at everyone this way? Isn't he a crazy bastard?
"He must not have worried about getting a turtle neck..."
I put my neck back in place and rubbed the back of it. Being in that posture all the time was rather harsh on me.
"Next, I'll tell you about the people you'll encounter in the Imperial Court, especially those who may be... difficult."
Lucas hesitated.
"It might be too complicated to explain your intricate family history in the time we have."
How complicated could it be? He said something similar before.
"I'll tell you about the major figures in the Imperial Court and what relationship you had with each one."
Whether it was fortunate or unfortunate, Ash's position was essentially the royal troublemaker.
He was the thunderbolt put forth by the royal family.
So, even the high-ranking people didn't care much about him. Or rather, they didn't want to care.
"His Majesty the Emperor had private audiences with you occasionally."
After explaining my relationships with the main figures in the Imperial Court, it was time to describe my relationship with the Emperor.
Lucas chose his words carefully.
"I couldn't follow you then, so I'm not exactly sure what your relationship was like. However."
"However?"
"You were always afraid. Whether you were summoned by His Majesty or after you returned..."
"Hmm."
Even the damn my-way-or-the-highway eccentric Ash was afraid of the Emperor? How scary must he be?
"I think this roughly sums it up... Oh!"
Lucas clapped his hands as if he suddenly remembered something.
"There is one more very important person."
"Huh? Who?"
"Um... I won't tell you about this person. Knowing in advance won't help; you'll just have to face it."
"...?"
A bitter smile crept onto Lucas's face, who had been serious all day.
"You'll know when you meet them. Why I've told you this."
"What the hell, who is it?"
"Sometimes there are unavoidable natural disasters. This person is such a case."
"What, a natural disaster? That's freaking scary! Tell me, or at least give me a hint!"
"Ahem! Then just know this. In the Imperial Court..."
Lucas turned his eyes to the side with a seemingly defeated face and murmured softly.
"...you have a fiancée."
I opened my mouth wide. What?
Hey, hey, hey, fian...
"A fiancéééééé?!"
Oh...
Oh yeeeeeessss?!
***
And so, having taken lessons on attributes throughout the night, the day had dawned bright, and noon was fast approaching.
Finally wrapping up the special lecture, I packed my things, knowing it was time to leave.
After all, the prince was returning to the imperial court, so there was no need to pack much. I'd only brought along what I needed for the business in the capital.
Upon stepping out to the entrance of the Lord's mansion, all my party members were waiting for me. I chuckled.
"What's with this send-off..."
But as they all followed with serious faces, I let it be. Being seen off was a good feeling, after all.
Heading towards the southern wall with my party members behind me, I spotted my soldiers lined up seamlessly on the wall.
"Wow."
Those rascals, doing things I didn't even order, trying to gain favor.
With a quiet smile, I passed through the gate and outside, and the soldiers on the wall saluted me in unison.
"Safe travels, Your Highness!"
Leaving behind the loud greeting of a thousand soldiers, I went to the airship.
All three airships had their engines running, and Reina Windwell was waiting for me in front of the Royal Special Ship Alcatraz.
Behind Reina stood four officers and fifty soldiers. They were the support troops that would remain in Crossroad.
Approaching, Reina flashed a big smile.
"Are you all ready, Your Highness?"
"Well, more or less."
I gestured to Lucas standing beside me.
"While I'm away, Acting Commander of the Southern Front will be Lucas McGregor."
Reina and Lucas's eyes met. A spark flew between the knight and the mage.
I spoke sternly.
"I expect full cooperation as support troops, Captain Reina."
"Of course, Your Highness. I will cooperate faithfully."
"I appreciate it. Oh, and..."
I whispered to Reina.
"Don't mess around or I'll kill you. Just stay focused on hunting the monsters."
"..."
"Captain Reina, you need to respond?"
Reina bowed her head deeply.
"Would I dare, Your Highness?"
Reina pointed to the open hatch of the Alcatraz.
"Please board. We'll get you to the capital safely."
I looked back.
"See you soon."
To my party members, who looked at me with a mix of trust and concern, I grinned broadly.
"I'll bring back something tasty!"
Waving my hand, I boarded the Alcatraz.
Slowly the hatch closed, and an officer who looked like a knight guided me with a crisp attitude.
"Please, this way, Your Highness."
Fitting for a royal-exclusive airship, the ornately decorated interior had seats reserved for royalty.
I had never even ridden in a business class seat on Earth's planes, yet here I was, enjoying luxury.
As I took my seat, the officer personally fastened my seatbelt.
Soon, a floating sensation filled me, and the airship ascended into the sky with the roar of its mighty engine.
Through the window next to my seat, I saw the faces of my party members and soldiers. They were saluting me to the very end.
'I'll be back soon.'
Thinking this, the airship sped up, and their faces quickly receded into the distance.
For the first time, I was leaving the city of Crossroad, where I had always stayed since falling into this world. I clenched my fists.
To be honest, I was a bit nervous.
Going to the capital, meeting the Emperor, clashing with my brother, convincing key figures.
And...
'My fiancée?!'
...
The airship cut through the sky, heading north at a terrifying speed.
***
[STAGE 6 - CLEAR!]
[STAGE MVP - Reina Windwell(SSR) ]
[Level-up Characters]
- None
[Deceased or Injured Characters]
- None
[Acquired Items]
- Wyvern Legion Magic Stones: 274
- Trishula Magic Core(SR): 3
[Stage clear rewards have been distributed. Please check your inventory.]
- N-Grade Reward Box: 3
- R-Grade Reward Box: 3
>> Get Ready For The Next STAGE
>> [STAGE 7: The Return of Tang Ah]