The Insipid Prince's Furtive Grab for the Throne (最強出涸らし皇子の暗躍帝位争い)

This is the Hamelin.

It's an ancient magic tool for controlling monsters.

We'll cooperate, as promised, for our mutual benefit.

You protect the emperor from danger,

win the Knights' Festival of the Hunt and become a hero.

In return, we...

THE KNIGHTS' FESTIVAL OF THE HUNT PART 1

KNIGHTS' FESTIVAL OF THE HUNT DAY 1

That magic tool will serve both to make your whereabouts known

as well as to prevent fraud.

What kind of fraud, Chancellor?

So long as you will be deploying together,

each regiment will be one with each of you.

Therefore, the knights may not go out on their own to hunt monsters.

Once you are roughly one kilometer apart from the commander of your regiment,

your bracelet will break and you will be disqualified.

Which means I can't just leave Elna to deal with the hunt

and stay at my lodging to take a nap.

Arn!

But I thought Krista and Rupert would be staying out of the Hunt.

Correct.

The two of them will not be restrained in distance.

They'll be giving their orders from this lodging.

Now, it's time.

Everyone, please prepare.

What's the matter?

Your waiting room isn't this way.

Is something bothering you?

No, I'm okay.

The people here are going to be in trouble.

Did you see the future again?

Lots of monsters are coming to this town.

Thanks for telling me.

That makes my work quite a bit easier.

Pleased to meet you, Princess Krista.

My name is Finne Von Kleinert.

Blau Mowe.

The most beautiful person in the nation.

No, I'm certainly not.

Finne, if you wouldn't mind, could you keep Krista company until I'm back?

Finne's my friend.

You can trust her.

Way more than you should me.

I want you to stay, Brother!

Finne's snacks are fantastic.

You like snacks, don't you?

Snacks?

If you'd like.

Thanks.

Understood.

I'll gladly do anything for you, Master Arn.

Pleased to make your acquaintance, Princess Krista.

Our empire is one of a handful of nations made suffering monster attacks.

My inadequacies have caused the people of the east hardships in particular.

I'm truly regretful.

I ask for this foolish emperor to be forgiven.

The knights pledge allegiance to my children for the duration of the festival.

My children will respect the knights and the knights will honor my children.

They will each act as one as they confront the powerful monsters.

We are royalty.

It is our duty to defeat all enemies of our empire.

Go, my children, my knights!

Are you ready, Arn?

Of course.

Let's go!

I declare this moment to be the beginning of the Knights' Festival of the Hunt!

KNIGHTS' FESTIVAL OF THE HUNT HEADQUARTERS

Gordon's unit has defeated two sand scorpions.

Zandra's unit is moving to the northeast.

Krista's unit has encountered slimes.

What do you make of this?

Each unit is making perhaps modest progress.

Except one.

Except one?

That unit is currently in the overwhelming lead.

Oh?

Whose unit is that?

Well...

Seriously?

Anything goes with her, huh?

She's taking on 30 blood hounds.

They're AAA-class level monsters.

And she's going at them all on her own.

She instructed us not to involve ourselves.

I really could just take a nap at this pace.

Arnold Unit reporting in.

Thirty-two blood hounds exterminated.

Arn, I see monsters over there.

We're going after them.

No, let's call it a day.

Don't be such a slob.

Aren't we going to win?

I don't remember ever making such a declaration.

It's the first day.

We don't need to be in such a hurry.

The festival's on for three days.

Let's pace ourselves.

Are you serious?

Hang, on, I'm supposed to be your boss for the next few days, aren't I?

Are you going against my orders?

Fine, then. I'll follow your orders.

Very good.

Well, let's head to the nearby town.

You could at least knock.

Oh, you need me to knock?

What would you do if I went into your room without knocking?

I'd cut you down.

You're insane.

What are you looking at, Arn?

Your breasts.

At least try being sneakier. Sheesh.

I was just thinking about how they haven't grown.

Don't say it with so much disappointment!

Arn, I've been hoping to get some post-dinner exercise.

Good grief. You haven't changed, have you, Arn?

People don't change that much in a few years.

What did you imagine me to be?

A normal prince.

I was hoping you'd at least stopped making yourself the subject of mockery.

I have no talent, I don't apply myself, and I waste all my time.

I'm the insipid prince whose twin brother took everything from me.

It's a fitting nickname, don't you think?

I didn't like it. I was sad about it, you know.

Why, thank you.

You don't get it, do you?

So, what, are you going to bring me the win and clear my reputation?

What do you want to happen for me?

So long as Leo is aiming for the throne, you should be taking this seriously.

I believe in you.

I know you just aren't trying at all.

Because the lower your reputation, the higher Leo's becomes.

So you never engaged in anything in earnest.

Wow.

I'm fine the way I am.

And stay away from me once the festival's over.

I...

I was nearly assassinated.

You know why, don't you?

It's my fault?

Just having you with me makes me a strong contender.

I'm a threat to my siblings' chances of becoming Ambassador Extraordinary.

As far as they're concerned, I ought to be taken out,

even if I'm their brother.

You could be in danger too.

So stay away.

I'm sorry.

No, don't worry about it.

I'll actually try for once during this festival.

Relax.

Okay.

KNIGHTS' FESTIVAL OF THE HUNT DAY 3

Second place?!

How?

Prince Karlos is in first place?

He climbed from last place all the way to the top.

I suspect he took down two AAA-class monsters.

That isn't possible!

It's the Seventh Regiment that's with him.

They aren't exactly weak, but there's no way.

I see.

So Karlos is the one with the Hamelin.

He's a simpleton. Someone must be taking advantage of him.

Judging from Krista's premonition, things are about to get pretty bad.

Please do the smart thing, Karlos...

It's a stampede of monsters.

The monsters in the east are all fleeing because we've been hunting them down.

Elna, where are the monsters headed?

I suspect...

So it is Keel.

The monsters will destroy everything in their path.

Can the Keel's garrison force hold them off?

I doubt it.

The emperor is only going to have a minimal security force.

There's no way they can hold them back.

Could you protect Keel if I asked you to?

Of course.

It's our duty to protect the emperor and the people.

We don't know how many monsters there are coming.

It could be a suicide mission.

I'm not afraid of death.

And the rest of you?

Of course.

We'll protect the town with our life.

We shall protect Keel!

Sir!

Promise me one thing, Elna.

What?

Swear that you'll survive.

All of you.

Swear by your sword that you won't die.

I'm not sending any of you there unless you can do that.

I, Elna Von Amsberg, swear by my sword that I will not die.

Likewise.

Likewise!

Good.

Now, let's go.

Given all the monsters there, we have a chance to turn the festival around.

Nope. I'm only going to slow you down.

You'll go without me.

Oops, I broke it by accident.