Prince of Wives

by Jason Hale

  Bishop Alto cut Koloman in his attempt to justify himself. He was relatively short, standing only at a modest 1.65 meters. However, his aura refined through a thousand years of cultivation caused most to be unable to look down on him.

  "Your reasons are irrelevant, and I will warn you all only once. Regardless of your background, when you reach the temple's staircase, the only things in you should be humility and reverence. Otherwise, no matter how mighty, your elders cannot save you. Now, follow me!"

  Bishop Alto spat, flung his sleeves and led the way toward the temple's inside. Without hesitation, the contestants followed him, crossed the stairs and walked into the Holy Flame Temple.

  Marble white walls painted with humanoid flame winged creatures awaited them within. Some couldn't help but let their gaze drift onto the paintings, representations of the elemental beings serving the Divine Flame Lord's will, while others cared very little and remained focused on the road ahead.

  "The spiritual energy here is hundreds of times purer than in the outside."

  Konnor appraised, and soon, they reached an altar surrounded by four fifteen feet tall pedestals each lighted by bright white flames. Above the altar floated a white orb alike the one hovering above the temple's roof.

  "This is where the chosen of the winning team will receive the Holy Flame Baptism."

  Bishop Alto flatly said before leading the way toward another location. This time, he brought the troop across a corridor through which they reached a spacious room where another bishop awaited by the side of a human-sized blue prism.

  "And this is where the first part of the competition will be conducted."

  Alto's index aimed at the human-sized prism floating by his fellow bishop's side. Incomprehension flashed within some of the contestant's eyes, but soon, it was replaced by enlightenment.

  "It should be a space treasure."

  Konnor explained toward Daphne and Ilaina.

  Even among the nobility, space treasures were few and far between. The main reason was that they were not produced within the Holy Flame Empire, but mostly came from the Space Temple within the Great Void Empire. Therefore, many of the gathered individuals had never been exposed to one beforehand.

  "First, we will register your names, assess your age, number of teammates and cultivation levels to make sure you fit the requirements before officially starting the competition. By the way, in case you possess one, you're not allowed to bring in space treasures or anything besides what we provide you with.

  Another team is already waiting at the testing location. Follow me."

  The bishop standing by the floating prism's side never said a word, and his gaze also never seemed to fall onto the contestants as if none of this had anything to do with him.

  Clearly, he'd rather be someplace else.

  Alto brought his troop through another corridor and reached the testing hall where the team he mentioned was standing in front of a sky-blue tower. Alto stepped toward a nearby desk and sat while pulling out a paper list and ink.

  Meanwhile, all the contestants he brought with him stared at the present team with dread.

  There were nine of them in total, and all were contestants. Such a quota was reserved solely for the imperial family!

  Each possessed the textbook translucent skin, silky silver hairs, and eyes of the paragon spirit race.

  Each brimmed with power and confidence.

  At their helm were two people dressed in the golden robes reserved for the imperial princes. Seeing them, Konnor's eyes shone with confusion.

  "Who are those two?"

  "The fifth prince, Holgren von Juras and the ninth prince Nier von Juras."

  Ilaina replied to Konnor's inquiry.

  Konnor's eyes ignored the fifth prince to focus on the ninth. A slender youth with a piercing, sword-like gaze, he held himself with a military discipline that seemed out of place on one so young.

  In fact, was it not for the long silver hairs that fell below his waist and the enchanting face whose beauty rivaled that of Ilaina's, he would have given the impression of a young military general.

  But the more Konnor looked at him, the more he felt something amiss, so he used his Origin Sight to clarify the ninth prince's characteristics.

  "Are you sure he's a prince?"

  "Of course, he is well known as the most outstanding imperial prince with talent rivaling the current Crown Prince. Why such a question?"

  Konnor turned a confused glare toward Ilaina, a glare that made her wonder if there was something wrong with her face.

  "What's wrong with you? Why are you looking at me like that?"

  "Why? What's wrong with me? What's wrong with you! This is obviously a princess. How does such beauty pass off as a prince?! Are you all blind or retarded?!"

  "Huh?"

  Ilaina stared blankly for an instant, then switched her gaze toward the "ninth prince" to observe him more closely.

  "Hum, I know his face is deceiving, but you shouldn't get swindled by it. Why would the imperial family pass off a princess as a prince when they are already eight before him? Regardless of his looks, he has to be a prince."

  At times, the confidence within her tone wavered as the ninth prince's fairy like face seemed to say otherwise.

  "…yes. It wouldn't be the first time an androgynous man with beauty eclipsing women's appears within the world. Why make such a fuss?"

  Konnor was astonished. Was he truly the only one seeing through this farce?

  "Daphne, what do you think about the ninth prince?"

  "Hum, he's prettier than most women I've met in my life."

  "So? Doesn't that tell you he's probably a she?"

  "How could that be possible? He's probably just one of those rare men born with female faces. Don't tell me you got trapped."

  "Aaaargh!"

  Konnor would have flipped a table if one stood in front of him. Unfortunately, none did.

  It was then that Bishop Alto's voice echoed within the hall.

  "I will now call the registered houses. When I do, the concerned contestants should line up in front of the tower, give their names and press their hands onto it."

  "As for the spectators, they can stand on the side. Later, they will be sent to the lodgings assigned for them."

  "House Spitzer!"

  "Here!"

  The concerned group stepped forward. There were only three people, showing that house Spitzer was of the viscount level. Viscount level houses had three quotas, count level houses had four, the margrave level had five, and the duke level had six.

  As for sovereign prince level houses, they had eight, but none was present.

  One after the other, they gave their names and had their age and cultivation level tested by the tower.

  "House…"

  ...

  Repeatedly, the groups went forward to register names and go through the assessment. First, it was the viscount level houses. Then it was the count level houses. This went on until finally…

  "House Kracht!"

  Alongside house Kracht's three fillers, Konnor stepped toward the sky-blue tower. Having witnessed the thrashing Koloman received at his hands, the three fillers stood behind him with politeness and deference.

  "Name?"

  "Anselm Kracht."

  Konnor called the name he'd settled on with Wolfgang and stepped toward the tower.

  As soon as he pressed his hands onto it, the tower shone with sky-blue light that condensed data on top of Konnor's head.

  "Age: 17."

  "Cultivation level: Sixth Step Grand Knight, Sixth Step Grand Priest."

  Without delay, the Semi-Saint recorded the information. However, the gathered individuals who still recalled the previous battle were terror-stricken.

  "Se-seventeen…just…at the Grand level? Five…five levels below me? Impossible…impossible!"

  Koloman struggled to say through his teeth while staring incredulously at the data above Konnor's head.

  The e
yes of his peers then turned toward him, and all looked at him with a gaze that seemed to be saying.

  "Dude, you have lived in vain."

  Even his wife by his side had lost all respect for him. And seeing all those unbearable stares, Koloman staggered. His cheeks burned, and his mouth was filled with the iron taste of blood he almost spurted.

  ...

  The testing carried on until only one group remained. Naturally, it was the von Juras. And after they registered, Konnor realized the competition was fierce. The ninth prince aside, even the weakest among them were second step Arch Knights. As for the strongest, it was the fifth prince.

  "Forty-five years old, fourth step Arch Knight."

  Without further breakthroughs or the use of his lineage weapon, Konnor couldn't defeat him.

  As for the ninth "prince," he was both at the ninth step Grand Knight and Grand Priest Ranks. However, the pressure he gave Konnor surpassed that of many of the present Arch Knights.

  Chapter 54 - First Part: Extermination

  Following the assessment, it was time for the contestants to bid farewell to their supporters.

  "Take care of this spatial pouch for me."

  Konnor said while putting his space treasure into Ilaina's hand.

  "As for you Daphne, don't cause trouble while I'm gone."

  Both looked at him with worried eyes.

  "You must be careful. We don't know what kind of creatures you will encounter within that space world. Also, you may have to worry about the other teams' plotting too. Please remain prudent."

  Ilaina urged with a trembling voice. As for Daphne, she grabbed Konnor's arm and leaned onto his shoulder.

  "I can't bear to leave you…"

  "It's only for a few days. Just wait for my good news."

  "Mhm."

  The supporters were led to their assigned quarters, and the contestants brought back to the prism holding room.

  The ninth "prince's" gaze locked onto Konnor for an instant, a hint of interest flashing within. Judging by the numbers, they were both the youngest and most outstanding contestants. Therefore, paying attention to him was natural.

  "Nier are you interested in that boy?"

  Asked the fifth prince in a mental message.

  "Just a bit curious. Why have we never heard of a martial and spiritual dual talent emerging from house Kracht in the last decade?"

  "Who knows? Maybe the Kracht fox wished to train him in secret for this very competition? In any case, it matters not."

  A light chuckle escaped the fifth prince's lips as his gaze passed by Konnor.

  "Do you want to befriend him? He's only one year younger than you, and his talent isn't far behind. Maybe you could finally make a friend."

  "Fifth brother, please don't tease me. My sword is the only friend I need. That said, shouldn't you show more concerns? He seems awfully close to the woman you're supposed to woo."

  Unlike what Wolfgang believed, it was the fifth and not the ninth prince that had been selected to get Ilaina's hand. However, hearing Nier' words, Holgren merely curled his lips into a smile.

  "Let them be. We want her house, not her heart. All pretenses of courtship and courtesy are unnecessary.

  Regardless of who she may yearn for, the day I present myself with father's marriage decree, what can she do besides giving herself to me?"

  To this, Nier had nothing to say.

  "Why did father allow you to take on this task? Wouldn't it be appropriate to choose among our seventh and eighth brothers?"

  The fifth prince, Holgren, the ninth prince, Nier, and the crown prince Elmar were all born of the same mother. Their relationship was also the closest among all the imperial princes. Elmar and Holgren, in particular, were bound by unequaled brotherly love. For the sake of helping his elder brother achieve his dreams, there was nothing Holgren couldn't do.

  Thus, allowing him to take Ilaina was no different than giving the crown prince a new pair of wings.

  "Father is not afraid of Elmar having too much power. He's afraid of him not having enough."

  ...

  The contestant groups now stood in front of the blue prism waiting for bishop Alto's instructions.

  "There are twenty-seven groups and one-hundred-eight contestants in total. After the first trial, only thirty will remain."

  "We will transport you to the lowest level of the prism world. You have three days to collect the skulls of as many demonic beasts as possible. The top thirty point earners will go on to the second round.

  "However, there is an additional requirement. By the end of the third day, there must be no living demonic beast left within the first and second levels of the prism world. If there are any, you all fail!"

  At first, the contestants were only mildly surprised, but by the time Alto's final words settled within their minds, unease took over. They exchanged glances, seeing the same apprehension within each other's eyes.

  "Are you asking us to both compete and cooperate? How is that viable?"

  One contestant couldn't help but ask the question trotting within everyone's mind.

  "How you do it is up to you; we only care about the end result. If by the end of the third day there are still demonic beasts left within the first and second level, regardless of accumulated points, you all fail. It's that simple."

  "All things connected to demonkind deserve slaughter. It is your right and duty to bring them the righteous sword of our Divine Lord and pass judgment onto their damned souls.

  Today it is those demonic beasts, tomorrow it will be the barbarian heathens!"

  Konnor was impressed. He had not expected the church to make use of the competition to further indoctrinate the nobility's youth.

  Bishop Alto then motioned toward the table by the prism's side. On top of it was a collection of brown rings.

  "We will now check for any unnecessary item you might have before loaning you a space ring. They each possess ten cubic meters of space, and you can use them to store the skulls. Right now, they contain nothing besides a map, and the number of points you receive depending on the beast's rank."

  "Any question?"

  "What about the third and fourth levels? And how do we know when we go from a level to another?"

  "The limits of each level are drawn on the maps. You can try the third level if you feel confident in your strength. As for the fourth, go if you seek death."

  "If there is nothing else, step forward!"

  One after the other, the groups were checked for items, then received their allocated space rings. It was time for the competition to start.

  The gaze with which the contestants looked at one another was now full of complex thoughts.

  They were no longer merely competitors. It was now imperative to consider when to compete and when to join hands. Some alliances were most likely already being formed through mental messages.

  In the span of a few seconds, Konnor received several offers of alliance from the viscount and count level houses and even a few from the margrave level, but he rejected them all.

  His main goal within this competition was to temper himself through battle with fierce beasts. He didn't wish to get burdened by unnecessary help.

  "We will now send you to the prism world. Best of luck and may the Divine Flame Lord guide your blades during this journey."

  Alto and his fellow bishop pressed their hands onto the blue prism, causing dazzling rays to spread within the room and blind all the contestants. By the time they recovered their sight, they stood at the entrance of a dark-green forest from which they could feel vast, beastly energy signatures emanating.

  The weaker among them still looked for support and alliances, the strongest groups, however, didn't hesitate to dive in.

  Led by Holgren and Nier, the von Juras were the first to step inside. Following them were the Slesinger, with Koloman not forgetting to glower at Konnor for good measure.

  "Before we start tracking down the beasts, we should first assess the pe
rimeter. I say we take a few hours to do this so that the next days are easier to handle."

  One of the three Kracht fillers began, seeking Konnor's approval. He, however, had other plans.

  "Fair enough, but there is no 'we.'"

  "Good luck."

  Konnor turned into a purple beam and vanished within the forest, leaving the three dumbstruck.