After the Emperor left, the courtroom was silent. Zarok ignored everyone and left as well, as he would only receive hateful glares.
It has been decades since the demonic invasion, and the Empire has been constantly suffering losses. On top of that, even the Vermilion Empire is feuding with the Starless Empire, finding opportunities to attack. This is why Emperor Tharion sees it as an opportunity to test the successor who will be able to solve these issues. Even if he fails, he won't have any regrets, as he has fulfilled his promise.
"Well, it is a good thing for me since it is a remote area with fewer people barely aware of what happens in the palace. It seems like I have to start from scratch again," Zarok contemplated while walking. Suddenly, someone appeared behind him. Bang! He was attacked from behind and slammed to the ground, not even given the chance to react.
He saw the attacker and wasn't surprised—it was none other than one of the princesses, Kael von Starless. "You are as weak as always. How dare you think you can compete for succession against our elder sister! Quickly go and tell them you will step down from the succession!" She was as hot-tempered as ever.
Zarok stared emotionlessly at Kael, but his stare was like that of a wild beast ready to kill. This sensation sent a chill down Kael's spine. 'What was that illusion?'
Never in her wildest dreams could Kael think that the Zarok before her had been fighting for his survival since childhood in his previous life. He had fought in the harsh world of the 21st century, evolving from an orphan into a business predator.
Kael was scared. "Who are you glaring at?" Slap! She hit Zarok hard without holding back. Whether it was out of fear or anger, she didn't know.
Blood trickled from the corner of Zarok's mouth, but he just grinned. "Ha-ha."
"What's so funny?" Kael asked.
"You came all the way to threaten me, a classless person, to step down from the succession? Do you think your sister would lose to me? Aren't you looking down on your sister too much?"
"You—" she didn't know how to retort. "Shut up!" She used her aura. Yes, she is a magic swordsman, also known as an aura user. Using aura against a normal person would harm Zarok, but he smiled, tilted his head to the side, and said, "Look! Sister Lyanna, Sister Kael doubts your ability, so she came here to force me to give up."
Hearing this, Kael immediately panicked as if she had done something wrong. She quickly let go of Zarok and turned back to explain, "Sister, it's not like that. I-I…"
Midway through her sentence, she realized that there was no one there. She looked back and saw that Zarok had disappeared. She understood she had been tricked. "Damn!" she cursed, punching the wall in anger.
In his room, Zarok was making plans for future developments. "What shall be my next step? Rale was planted by Isola, so I should get rid of her first." As for what happened with Kael, he knew her personality from the game—she liked to bully weak men in the name of training.
The protagonist, Alen, was also bullied at the beginning, but when she realized Alen was becoming stronger, she felt pressured. She gave the excuse, 'You have no talent. Training you is a waste of time.' She was shameless.
Getting rid of Rale was easy; she was a small character, not as smart as Isola. When a person commits a crime and escapes, their confidence increases. They commit a crime again, but this time they make mistakes. She will come with me, along with some twenty young knights.
And what if she is framed as an enemy spy? Isola won't be in that town to save her, and Isola might even give her up, as she is meant to be cannon fodder.
At that time, Rale didn't know she had become a puppet tied to strings, being manipulated. Her fate had already been determined.