The Strongest Dull Prince’s Secret Battle for the Throne

Normally, summoning the Holy Sword outside the Empire usually requires the Emperor's permission or that of someone equivalent.

The fact that Raphael could summon the Holy Sword within the kingdom meant that he was granted permission to do so.

Since it couldn't have been the Emperor, it must have been Wilhelm instead. This indicates that currently, Wilhelm has completely seized imperial power and is effectively reigning as Emperor.

The initial restrictions that were placed by the first Emperor on the summoning of the Holy Sword have been easily bypassed, allowing someone like Raphael to wield it here.

This was a grave situation, but Elna didn't have the luxury of worrying about it. The Holy Sword, while being a celestial weapon that was meant to vanquish evil, doesn't discern between good and evil.

While normally when a demon summoning it can render it unusable, as he is fundamentally a human, Raphael could wield it without issue.

If Elna couldn't accept this, there was only one solution: she had to take the Holy Sword from Raphael herself. There was no need to debate on who was more deserving… But Elna lacked the resolve to compete against him now, to assert that she was more worthy as a hero than Raphael.

The fervor that was required to motivate herself was missing.

Thus,

Elna fought Raphael merely on autopilot. While even in her diminished state, Elna was still not inferior to Raphael as she managed to demonstrate a combat prowess that was on par with the SS-class adventurers.

But facing Raphael who was wielding the Holy Sword had put her at a disadvantage.

"What's the matter? Is that all you've got!?"

Raphael taunted as he knocked Elna back. He was confident that he could win now that he had the Holy Sword.

This weapon gave him a power that no one could threaten him with.

This power made him feel invincible.

Abandoned as an infant, Raphael had always craved family and affection. The Emperor, who had treated him like a son, fulfilled this need to some extent, but Raphael was aware that the Emperor's affection wasn't truly genuine.

The way the Emperor looked at his own children compared to Raphael was subtly different. The same was true when comparing his gaze toward Elna and Raphael.

Elna had always surpassed Raphael in every aspect despite his efforts. He couldn't surpass her in swordsmanship and humiliation was always accompanied by fear.

Raphael was never satisfied as his demon mother's love for him wasn't enough for him.

The Emperor's fatherly love wasn't enough.

The respect he garnered as an imperial knight wasn't enough.

He constantly sought out for more love and recognition.

Raphael wanted to be loved by everyone, not by just his mother.

He wanted to be loved more than the Emperor's biological children.

He wanted to be respected more than Elna or anyone else.

He believed that if he managed to achieve this, he would never lose anything, and even if he did, it wouldn't hurt that much for him.

This internal distortion that was rooted since his childhood, grew as he learned about the secrets of his birth. Raphael only wanted to be loved and recognized by others, but he feared losing it.

So while being afraid of being discarded by others, he discarded them first.

To Raphael, love was something that one receives, not gives.

This was his distortion — a monster that craved too much. His hatred for the hero's bloodline was just one reason among many. Ultimately, his jealousy and insatiable need for validation were at his core.

Elna realized this, and her pitying gaze that was noticed by Raphael only agitated him further.

"What's with that look!?"

Infuriated, Raphael swung the Holy Sword with all his might. Elna tried to block it, but it was beyond her strength.

She aimed to deflect it to avoid damaging the provisional capital behind her, but before she could, someone else intervened.

"No-Name…"

"Get.. behind… me!"

No-Name shielded Elna and intercepted Raphael's strike with her magic sword. The light-infused attack clashed with the dark power, neutralizing each other.

Yet No-Name was not unscathed as she was breathing heavily with small wounds all over her body.

"Please hold them back properly."

"If you interrupt again, I'll deal with the both of you together."

Ignoring Raphael's words, the former No-Name raised her flame sword. Raphael simply shrugged and raised the Holy Sword in turn.

Sensing a powerful attack coming, No-Name gave instructions to Elna.

"Get inside the barrier with Chloe."

"You can't do this alone."

"It's the same even with two. You're both not in any condition to fight."

"I can fight."

"No, you're not fighting. You're just throwing your life away. People fight to live, to pass on their will to the next generation.You lack that will,so stand back. I don't want to lose a friend."

With that, No-Name unleashed the full power of her magic sword.

Seeing Elna hesitate, No-Name spoke up.

"I thought I'd tell you when we settled things, but now is as good a time as any. My name is… Ingrid. Ingrid Knox. That's my name."

After revealing her name, No-Name pushed Elna back and attacked before Raphael and the former No-Name could.

Her full-power dark strike was met by the strikes from the Flame Sword and the Holy Sword. The intense clash of light and darkness was almost even, but in the end the dark power gradually began to falter.

"Damn…!"

The balance broke, causing an explosion.

As the dust settled, Ingrid was on her knees in Elna's view.

"Facing the Holy Sword and the Flame Sword is quite a challenge…"

Ingrid tried to stand but couldn't due to the pain. Elna quietly approached her and stood by her side.

"Elna…"

"I'm not used to being protected."

Elna offered her hand to Ingrid and at the same time, another hand reached out from the other side.

"I may not have much strength, but… let's fight together!"

"Chloe…"

With their help, Ingrid stood.

Seeing this, the former No-Name spoke disdainfully.

"You've grown weak. You've lost your strength to such weak camaraderie."

"I've grown stronger. People are always meant to support each other."

With that, Ingrid removed her mask and revealed her red eyes to the former No-Name.

"As a descendant of Irvine Knox… I stand with humanity. We are originally, and have always been,humanity's protectors."TL: Ingrid is my new fav waifu of this series don't quote me

"If that's your wish, then die in that place you foolishly desire."

The former No-Name raised her flame sword again and Raphael followed suit with the Holy Sword.

Preparing for the attack, Elna, Ingrid, and Chloe readied themselves.

Elna started assuming the Star Engraving stance, a secret technique of the Brave Family, Ingrid drew upon the dark power once more, and Chloe forcefully infused her dual swords with ancient dark magic.

While their preparations were completed rather quickly, it was Raphael and the former No-Name who moved first, unleashing a torrent of light and flame in their direction.

Elna and the others tried to counter them with all their might but could only hold back the attack, being unable to repel it.

Elna watched quietly as the torrent grew stronger, inching closer to engulfing them.

If they were engulfed, she would die.

Would death finally bring her peace and forgetfulness? If she died…

"Will we meet again…?"

At her murmur, a figure appeared before her. They wore a shady black robe and silver mask.

The figure landed and immediately created a silver shield that easily stopped the torrents of light and flame.

"—Are you safe, Elna?"

The figure looked at Elna and spoke gently.

TL's Notes:

Sorry for the delay guys!