The Strongest Dull Prince’s Secret Battle for the Throne

Chapter 124: The Older Brother’s Encouragement

Appearing in the sky above Wumme in the appearance of Grau, Al tilts his head at the situation he sees below.

Nn? What is going on here?

Al, who thought that Finne was in danger, immediately searched for her.

Soon after, he spotted her.

With the flute in hand, she climbed up the city wall alone.

Im surprised. I rushed here because I thought you were in danger.

Al-sama

Finne calls Al without any hesitation even though he is still under the disguise of Grau.

For some reason, she looked like she was about to cry.

What happened?

Please..! Leo-sama will die!

.Sebas.

Sir.

Looking at Finne, Al gave up asking about the situation from her.

So, he called his butler who could briefly explain the situation for him.

Explain.

Yes. Duke Kruger was developing a drug that is the product of combining the blood of Demon and Vampire together and half of the Southern Nobles who have been taken hostage were turned into monsters called Maneater. This Maneater has the ability to turn anyone they bite into another Maneater and a thousand knights in the castle were already turned. Currently, we have sealed off the castle and the evacuation of the citizens is in place.

I see. So what did Leo choose to do?

..he is planning to use a large scale holy magic to purify the demon blood and save everyone who got turned into the Maneaterbut since a short while ago the progress of his magic has stopped..

Finne jumped in and explained.

Looking at Sebas, he gives me a nod to confirm it.

That was a Leo-like decision, Al thought.

In a situation where he should be satisfied getting a 6/10 score, Leo is still aiming for the 10 out of 10. It is an obvious thing for him to do where the situation involved human lives.

He will never give up the lives of the people and try to reduce the damage to zero. That is exactly what Leo would choose to do. That was Als impression of him.

However.

That idiot.if he just seals off the city and takes command of the Southern border army he would be able to save all the lives that could be saved.

That is certainly a splendid plan! But..that wont be enough for Leo-sama! Please, Al-sama, you must.

I refuse.

With one word.

Hearing that from Al, Finnes eyes opened wide in surprise.

A strong wind blows on the walls.

After the wind stopped, Al muttered.

Its a family rule..

A family rule.?

Do whatever you want but you will be the one responsible for it. That is our family rule. Leo decided that this is the better choice. It may not be the best but it was a decision that could save a lot of lives. A grudge might be born if you kill the Southern Nobles. If you sacrifice the city, a grudge might be born from the citizens. Even so, he needs to stop the war and protect the people. But Leo threw all of that awayhe tries to save everything. That is the responsibility he chooses to bear. This is Leos problem, he will have to do something about it himself.

B, But! Up until now!

Until now the opponent that Silver helped Leo with were those that were out of his reach. Vampires, Dragon, Demons, each and every one of them were too much for a human to handle and needed to be dealt with through raw power. But this time is different. This is a situation where Leo could manage if he prepared to make sacrifices. If those Maneaters are overwhelmingly strong then I can blast them all away with my magic but Leo should be able to lock them in this city with this level of opponent. In that case..many Narbe Ritters might be lost. Still, Leo turned away from that and decided to aim for a better outcome. He threw it away and decided on the best result where both his enemy and ally can be saved. All with his own power.

That is.you might be wrong, right..? Right now, Leo-sama is trying to save a large number of lives..! Like what Al-sama has been doing!

Thats a matter of course..Finne. I know that there are lives that can be saved by reaching out to them from a safety zone but if you want to save more lives you will have to take a step further into the danger. Not just the lives of the people who follow him, Leo is now setting out to save everyone here. That is why it is only natural for him to put his life on the line.

The act of helping someone is not easy.

If you want to save a thousand lives, the risk of it would increase accordingly.

As long as he is also risking the lives of his own followers, it is only natural that he would also risk his own. That is what Al thinks. After all, if he couldnt do that much, he would never be able to lead the people.

..even if it is soLeo-sama is in a desperate situation right now! He needs Al-samas help! Please, I beg you!

Finne begs and lowers her head.

It was because there is nothing else she can do.

However, in return to that, Als words were cruel.

Finne..I cant save them. There is no ancient magic that can purify a demon. After all, holy magic was created 500 years ago when the Demon King appeared. Naturally, the ancient magic which existed before that didnt have such magics. The only thing I can do isdestroy. It is something that both I and you cant do. Do you want me to tell Leo to stop and destroy the lives he bet his life to save?

No..Al-sama must have some way to

I am not omnipotent. I have no shred of talent for modern magic after all. The result Leo wants can only be brought out by Leo. Well, even if there is something I can do, I wont interfere. Still, it would be unreasonable for Leo to risk the lives of his followers for his ideal so I will lend a hand when the time comes but as long as Leo is desperately trying, I will not get involved. After all, this is Leos problem, it is his responsibility to bear.

But..even so..

Al looks at Finne and smiles.

Large teardrop spilled from Finnes eyes.

Al smiles at her while wiping it away with his right hand.

Dont worry. There is nothing sad about this.

Im notcrying.because I am sad..I am just so worthless

All the more reason that you dont need to cry. You did what you could. I did what I could. And Leo is doing what he can. Hes a little overstretched right now though..well, just looks. He is my younger brother. No matter how high the wall is, he will overcome it.

Saying so, Al looks at Leo who is focusing on his magic.

Perhaps he doesnt have enough magic power to cast it, he doesnt even start the aria yet. Its a classic case of insufficient magic power where you would normally stop casting. If he doesnt stop it will surely endanger his life.

Your trust is fine but it doesnt change that this is still dangerous, sir.

If he dies then thats it. Butmy little brother wont die.

Leonard-sama also has it hard, his closest relative placed so much expectation on him after all.

Obviously. I know best how amazing he is.

Isnt the same goes for his weaknesses though?

Hmph..I guess. Well, I should give him a cheer like a good elder brother would huh.

Saying so, Al took a quick breath.

He then started slowly speaking.

Leo.can you hear me?

Guh, Ugh!!

Leo felt the power being drained out of his body.

The bleeding-like sensation makes it hard for him to stay conscious.

Leo looks down with a rough breath as he sweats.

Just a little more, he really felt that it needed only a little more before it completed.

It may not be possible, it might be better for him to stop.

Such weak thoughts pass through his mind and his heart shaken.

At that time, a voice reached Leo.

[[Leo.can you hear me?]]

N,ii..san..?

Leo thought that it was a hallucination.

A hallucination that occurs because of his weakened mind.

Leo laments that he was pushed to that point already. Even though he made a decision to save everyone, he failed at the first step and now he is starting to hallucinate.

However, that hallucination shook him back to reality.

[[Whats wrong? Looking down like that, is there something funny on the ground?]]

Haa Haa.you are so strict

[[Im your big brother after all. That was why you pushed yourself so much even though people around you tried to stop you right? No matter how many cautions they threw at you the only word you came up with was [Even so] right? You didnt want to sacrifice anyone. Am I wrong?]]

I really cant compete with youNii-san

The hallucination came in the form of his brothers voice.

Leo smiles at such a situation. However, now he has recovered to the point that he could smile. How?

It was because he could hear Als voice.

[[Your decision really was idiotic. Choosing the easier way makes living life easier. You cant get the perfect score every time. Its important to know when to give up.]]

May, be.

[[Still, that was the choice you made right? Then dont give up. Whether how hard or difficult it is, just clench your teeth and endure it. You involved a lot of people in this. You dont have the right to give up now.]]

thats true.but..my magic power is

His feeling got a little better.

However, none of his problems have been solved yet.

He doesnt have enough magic power and he cant cast the magic.

However, the hallucination doesnt tolerate that.

[[No But. this is not the question of whether you can do it or not. You are doing it. Not enough magic power? Did you squeeze every bit of it out of your body? You can still talk right. Your mind might think that this is the limit but it is not. If you are the man who decided to save everyone then overcome that limit!]]

The voice that will not forgive any half baked resolve corners Leo.

However, every time he heard that voice, the power returned to Leos body.

As if agreeing with that voice, a fire lit inside him again.

He hasnt vomited blood yet. He can still stand. He can still do more.

Leo realizes that he was being too naive and begins to release his magic power, intending to exhaust every bit of it from his body.

[[Someone will deny your decision, saying that you are too much of an idealist. Some will laugh and gloss over it. Certainly, it might be a decision where if you gathered a hundred people, none of them would choose to make. But you are that 101st person. Only someone like that can create a miracle. It doesnt matter how they deny you or laugh at you, shut them all up with the result!]]

Un..thats right..I will save everyone.I already decided to do that.!!

[[Good! Now, look forward. The people who you wish to save and those who are waiting for your salvation arent at your feet.]]

Leo slowly looks to the front.

A little ahead, the Narbe Ritters and the knights are fighting against the Failures. And beyond that are the Maneaters looking in their direction from the castle.

Their white eyes and shaky movement were abnormal and it makes you think that they couldnt be saved anymore.

Still, Leo thought. You cant save anyone if you give up on them. No one can be saved unless you make an effort.

Because I am powerless? Because I am weak? Those are not the reasons to give up.

He has to overcome it. That is the root of the reason he came here.

He will save them because he wants to. Even if everyone says that they cant be saved, he will save them.

He wanted to become a person who can say that. He aspired to be one.

Now, the real worth of Leo is being questioned.

I..came here to save themto stop the war.I came here to save everyone!

The figure of the Maneaters gives him strength.

It pushed himself to save them.

Pushing himself, blood rose up to his throat. But Leo swallowed it down.

He cant show a pathetic appearance here. He has to look bold, and proper.

This is what its like for someone who aspires to be an emperor.

If he cant do it now then, theres no way he would be able to do it in the future.

II will become an emperor who can save people.!! I will help up anyone who fell on the road! Even if someone says that it is impossible those who do not pursue their own ideals can not become an emperor!

[[Yeahyou will become one. You are my proud younger brother. Dont worry about the rest. Focus on whats in front of you. If you exhaust everything you can then I will do something about it myselfI am your older brother after all.]]

Un..!!

At that moment, Leo felt like his back was pushed.

With the power he received, Leo puts his hands together.

He clenches his teeth and squeezes out all his magic power into his magic.

Then, the golden light begins to shine around Leo.

[[The light of salvation poured down from heaven]]

He started chanting the aria.

Seeing that, Al smiles satisfactorily.

See, theres no need to worry right?

The only one who doesnt worry here is Arnold-sama though.

Relieved Finne covers her face with both her hands.

While patting the head of such Finne, Al slowly looks around.

It seems some rats are lurking around huh.

Perhaps they are from the organization.

They probably plan to disturb Leo huh.

Al said and grins.

I told him not to worry about anything else.

That he only has to focus on what in front of him.

To protect those words, Al moves out.

I leave Finne to you, Sebas.

Yes, sir.

Al-sama!

Wait there. I will finish this right away.

Al said so and transferred away.

To protect his younger brother.