Chapter 1151
"Y-you bunch of continental nobodies..."
Raon pressed his lips together, observing Alice as she shook her fist in indignation.
'I can't even deny it.'
He found it impossible to challenge Alice's description of him and the other potential heirs as insignificant.
'We truly are a shambles, aren't we?'
He had grown arrogant, taking it for granted that he would clinch one of the two final spots for the succession, never imagining he would be penalized so heavily for failing to visit the coastal hubs and seaside towns under his influence.
'I allowed myself to become far too certain.'
The Robert territory, the metropolis concealing the Black Tower, the harbor he had rescued from the clutches of the White Blood Religion. He had liberated a significant number of maritime cities and villages.
If he had simply made the effort to tour them all, there was a high probability he would be standing in first place today instead of Alice. (Editor’s Note: To be fair, you were preoccupied recruiting actually influential powers to prevent the apocalypse. One man can only do so much.)
However, using the shortage of time as a shield, he had directed his focus elsewhere and sidelined them. Looking past this evaluation, he felt he had genuinely let those people down. Snap!
Karoon managed to secure a spot among the finalists, but he squeezed his hand so violently it produced a sharp crack, clearly livid that the top rank had been snatched away by the wildcard, Alice.
"So, it isn't the brother and nephew moving forward, but the brother and sister?"
Balder shouted in shock, marveling at the turn of events. Since he seemed completely indifferent to his own failure, he appeared to be finding the chaos genuinely entertaining.
"Woooaaaaah!"
"I had no clue Lady Alice possessed any interest in the position of the patriarch."
"Exactly. I assumed she was coerced into participating in the initial trial."
"Honestly, who wouldn't want to lead House Zieghart?"
"With a backing that massive, she hasn't just proven her capability; she’s proven her integrity as well."
The onlookers within the training grounds murmured in consensus, agreeing that Alice had earned her place.
"Grrrrrr..."
Glenn appeared to have been completely blindsided by these findings, as white froth began to seep from the corners of his mouth.
"How on earth did this happen..."
His fingers twitched uncontrollably, his mind refusing to process the data even as his eyes scanned the results.
"Hnnnngh..."
Chad also looked devastated, clutching his skull and emitting a muted wail.
"It’s over. My entire future..."
He squeezed his eyes shut, mourning the memory of the massive wager he had placed on Raon.
-Puhehehehe!
Wrath erupted into fits of giggles, finding the entire ordeal absolutely side-splitting.
-It has been an eternity since I watched your expression collapse like that! This is such a relief after all that irritation!
The entity patted his round belly with a pudgy hand, declaring how rejuvenated he felt.
-This is exactly why this king commanded you to apply yourself properly.
"Hmm..."
Raon knit his brows, keeping his mouth tightly shut.
'Tsk.'
He wanted to snap back at Wrath, but since he genuinely lacked an excuse this time, he merely clicked his tongue in his mind.
"Well? I performed quite well, didn't I?"
Alice gave a nonchalant shrug, suggesting her actions were purely for the family's benefit.
"I truly traveled without rest."
"Why must it be now, of all times."
Glenn clamped his lips into a hard line.
"You decided to work hard now? Why couldn't you have shown this level of competence before..."
He gripped the armrest of his seat with such force it looked like he might crush it, as if blaming Alice for her sudden success.
"Father. You're letting your true emotions slip, aren't you?"
Alice gave Glenn a knowing smirk, silently asking if he was struggling to cope.
"Hmm, my apologies."
Glenn gave a stiff nod, fighting to push down his mounting frustration.
"Seeing you in this state makes me feel even better."
Alice beamed when she saw Glenn’s strained face, remarking that the sight made her heart race with joy. She seemed to share a very similar temperament with Wrath.
"Ahem!"
Glenn cleared his throat as if he were at a loss for words and arched an eyebrow.
"S-so then, do you intend to accept these rankings exactly as they stand?"
He cast a hopeful glance toward Alice, as if praying for one last pivot.
"Hmm..."
Raon felt his throat go dry as he listened to Glenn’s inquiry.
'Aunt might step down or cede her position to me.'
There was a chance Alice would forfeit because of the deep affection she held for him. Glenn was clearly posing the question with that exact hope in mind.
'Though, this is rather pitiful.'
Regardless of the situation, he should have succeeded on his own merit; having to rely on Alice’s charity because he stumbled was incredibly humiliating.
-Pathetic is the word.
Wrath let out a long, mocking click of his tongue.
-That ocean woman’s devotion to you is the real deal, though.
He scowled, noting that it was blatantly obvious Alice intended to assist him.
'Sigh. Perhaps it wouldn't be so bad if Aunt were the one to move on.'
Raon was rubbing his cheek and grimacing when...
"No. I will not step aside."
Alice made a sharp, dismissive gesture with her hand.
"Oh!"
For the first time, Glenn actually hovered an inch off his throne. His gaze sparkled with anticipation.
"I might have agreed to that in the past. After all, becoming a candidate for the succession was merely a fluke I happened upon."
Alice grinned as she watched Glenn’s face fall once more.
"Huh...? T-then what?"
Glenn slumped back into his seat and swallowed hard.
"Before the second trial commenced, my plan was to collect supporters halfheartedly and then transfer them to Raon. I figured I could simply withdraw."
Alice nodded, confirming she had initially intended to hand the victory to Raon just as Glenn desired.
"However, my perspective shifted as I actually spoke with the people."
She ran a hand through her deep red hair, which radiated the crisp aroma of the ocean.
"Despite how many years have passed since I walked away from the sea, those simpletons still held onto my memory and gave me their allegiance without asking for a single thing in return."
Alice’s lips curved into a tender smile, calling them truly foolish souls.
"All I ever did was drive off a few pirates and slaughter some beasts—inconsequential tasks—and yet they still honored me and greeted me with such warmth."
She closed her eyes briefly, as if envisioning the faces of those who had cheered for the arrival of the ship Azure Wind.
"Every single person."
Alice gave a soft nod, stating that everyone in the ports and townships where Azure Wind had docked had waited for her with unwavering loyalty.
"Regardless of the fact that I value Raon more than my own life, I realized it would be a betrayal to discard their feelings based on my own personal whims."
She shook her head, explaining that this was the reason she abandoned the idea of forfeiting for Raon's sake.
"I understand."
Glenn’s tense expression finally softened as he leaned back into the depths of his throne.
"You are evolving as well, Alice."
His demeanor, which only moments ago suggested he wanted to clip the back of Alice’s head, shifted into a subtle smile.
"Well, I am growing older, after all."
Alice nodded simply, acknowledging that change was inevitable.
"Indeed. Then it cannot be helped."
While he felt a sting of disappointment that Raon hadn't secured the spot, Glenn seemed genuinely pleased by Alice’s newfound maturity.
"Hmm."
Raon slowly blinked as he watched Alice’s heartfelt smile.
'That's the truth.'
Just as Alice pointed out, it wasn't him the people of the coastal regions were backing. Even if she stepped down to boost him, he couldn't rightfully claim he had won the challenge.
'Failing the test stings, but...'
It was heartening to see his Aunt looking so vibrant. Alice carried the heavy scar of being betrayed and eventually losing her son. Ever since that tragedy, a shadow always lingered behind her smile. But now, she was glowing with a radiance that matched the sea, just like the day they first met. She seemed to have finally found her peace.
-Huh? Wait, this means!
Wrath whipped his head around, his mouth stretching into a massive, jagged grin.
-You’ve been tossed out, haven't you!
The spirit cackled, questioning why Raon was smiling when he had just been disqualified.
-You were strutting around with such arrogance before we arrived! Look at how pathetic you are now!
Wrath exploded in derision, noting that this was the first time he’d witnessed Raon fail since their pact began. Seeing how the entity twisted his body in glee, he was clearly savoring the moment.
'Ngh...'
Raon suppressed a mental groan.
'This is mortifying.'
Just as Wrath pointed out, he remembered his cocky exchange with Karoon before entering the grounds. They had behaved as if today’s test was a mere formality, and reflecting on that bravado now was deeply embarrassing. If there were any loophole, he wanted to move forward, but the path seemed blocked.
Honestly, though his letdown was immense, he resolved to offer his best wishes to Alice, as seeing her reclaim her joy was a victory in itself.
"I offer my congratulations."
Raon gave Alice a respectful bow, his voice thick with sincerity.
"Ah! I nearly forgot one detail."
Alice walked toward Raon with a twinkle in her eye, as if a thought had just resurfaced.
"I considered skipping this part, but there were actually locations that backed you until the very end."
She noted that he had clearly fostered some strong ties as she fished two medallions from her clothing.
"Even though I visited personally, Sikot and Luren insisted their support remained with you."
Alice presented the emblems to him with a radiant grin.
"Sikot, Luren..."
Raon recognized the symbols and felt a lump in his throat.
-Those are...
'Yes. Those are the harbors I protected from the White Blood Religion's siege.'
Those two maritime hubs were the places where he had personally fought off the blood spirit vessels. Since they had watched him bleed and fight for their survival, it seemed they had maintained their faith in the Light Wind Palace even without his presence.
"My thanks."
Raon accepted the medallions from the two ports and held them close.
"Wait? This changes things..."
Chad gulped as he re-examined the tallies on his parchments.
"The gap between the Central Martial Palace Master and the Light Wind Palace Master is virtually non-existent!"
His jaw quivered as he explained that the figures had drawn so close they were nearly indistinguishable.
"Who is in the lead?"
Balder paced impatiently, demanding Chad give an answer.
"The Central Martial Palace Master appears to have a microscopic lead. However, since census data isn't perfect..."
Chad shook his head, explaining that while they could try to be precise, the difference was negligible.
"Hmm!"
Karoon also felt the pressure return, his eyes darting nervously as beads of sweat formed on his brow.
"W-what is the exact margin?"
He scowled, wanting a definitive count.
"T-to be sure, I would need to do the math all over again..."
Chad’s eyes darted around, noting that a recount would take time.
"Huh, well..."
Glenn rubbed his forehead, paralyzed by the indecision.
"Hehe."
Alice simply crossed her arms and smirked, clearly enjoying the spectacle.
"Um, if I may..."
Raon raised his hand slightly, testing the waters.
"The Blade Queen and the Warlord also pledged their loyalty to me, but I don't see them in these totals. Also, there are six fully grown dragons. Actually, there are younger dragons following them too. That should add about 20 more..."
He winced inwardly as he listed the names Chad had omitted. If they were all counted, he might actually overtake Karoon, so he made one last desperate plea, throwing his pride to the wind.
-Huh...?
Wrath’s jaw hit the floor in shock.
-Wow, you are one miserable fellow!
Wrath snorted, declaring that Raon’s level of desperation had reached a new low.
[How truly pitiful...]
It wasn't just Wrath; that exact thought echoed in the minds of everyone present.
"Ah, my mistake!"
Chad’s eyes widened, admitting he hadn't accounted for those figures.
"In that case..."
Just as he prepared to start the recalculation.
"Ahem!"
Karoon cleared his throat loudly, much like Glenn had, drawing the room's focus.
"I-isn't it a bit questionable to tally dragons as political supporters? Perhaps the five elders are acceptable, but the status of the dragons following them hasn't been verified. Actually, since they aren't even of the human race, is it even appropriate to include those five?"
He raised his voice, arguing that dragons should be removed from the equation entirely.
"Hey, you were the one who insisted they count! You said it yourself!"
Balder bellowed at Karoon in total disbelief.
"Th-that was before. Upon further reflection, there seem to be some logical inconsistencies..."
Karoon shook his head, claiming that a change of heart was only natural.
"Wait, that's not right. Dragons can assume human form. They possess high intelligence. Furthermore, it's only right to give credit to those internal defectors—no, those defector dragons."
Raon countered Karoon’s argument vehemently, refusing to back down. In that instant, a single thought united everyone from Wrath to Glenn.
[Both of them are pathetic...]
"Uh, hmm..."
Chad’s eyes bounced back and forth as he studied the final tallies.
"B-based on the final results, the support for the Central Martial Palace Master and the Light Wind Palace Master is effectively identical. The margin is roughly 10 individuals, but since that number fluctuates depending on the timing of the poll, it is i-impossible to declare a clear victor."
He handed the reports to Glenn, stating that the final call wasn't his to make.
"Hmm..."
Glenn took the papers with shaking hands and scanned them slowly.
"Just as the Leader of the Shadow Agents says. These numbers are subject to change based on the specifics of the survey, making a definitive result elusive."
Despite his words about the ambiguity, his mouth began to twitch into a small smile.
"Under normal circumstances, we would repeat the trial, but since Zieghart is currently shifting into a state of war, we don't have that luxury. Therefore..."
Glenn folded the reports and stood up from his throne.
"Revising my previous statement, I will allow all three—Alice Zieghart, Karoon Zieghart, and Raon Zieghart—to proceed as the final candidates for the succession."
He gave a firm nod to the crowd, presenting this as the only logical conclusion.
"Woooaaaah!"
"This is an even better outcome, isn't it?"
"Exactly. This is a fair compromise!"
"Honestly, I think this is the only right way to handle it!"
"Right! The competition is far more interesting this way."
"They were a bit desperate at the end, though..."
"Just a bit?"
The onlookers erupted in cheers, agreeing that moving all three forward was the correct move. Of course, many couldn't help but whisper about how Raon and Karoon had acted.
"Hehe."
Alice nodded calmly, looking as if she had expected this all along.
"..."
"..."
Karoon and Raon each took three measured steps toward one another. They locked eyes for a long moment, shared a quick, light high-five, and then stepped back to their spots.
-This is also pathetic...
Wrath shook his head, deciding that even their celebration was cringeworthy.
"Haah..."
Raon hung his head and let out a massive sigh of relief.
'I don't care if it looked bad.'
The important thing was that he moved on. If he had acted that way and still lost, it would have been a disaster, but since he succeeded, it was worth it. This embarrassment would eventually fade.
"Phew."
Glenn also let out a heavy breath, the tension leaving his face as his wrinkles smoothed out.
"As I mentioned previously, the third stage of the trial focuses on intelligence gathering. The title of successor will go to the individual who secures the most critical data that can be utilized to strike at Derus and Eden."
He nodded, emphasizing that gathering information required as much dedication as training.
"Lastly..."
Glenn drew a deep breath and looked down at the warriors assembled in the square.
"I gave orders to the Light Wind Palace Master to identify those who will receive direct instruction from me before the conflict begins. Today, I am ready to name those individuals."
He signaled toward Raon, non-verbally calling him to center stage.
"Yes."
Raon walked onto the dais with a steady, confident gait. Gone was the desperate man from moments ago; he now looked over the swordsmen with a piercing gaze as he spoke.
"Now, I will announce the names of those selected to receive the Patriarch's guidance."
