The Beginning After the End (最強の王様、二度目の人生は何をする？)

Hey, I brought some pajamas.

Hey! Hold on! I'm naked in here!

Settle down, princess. There's too much steam to see anything.

You'd better be telling the truth.

I'm not.

Aw, come on!

A whole lot has happened over these two years, huh, Sylvie?

Yep. You and I have both gotten bigger.

That's true.

Are you going to take a shower, too?

I think I will.

You were gone for a long time, what were you doing?

Had some things I needed Uncle Vincent's help with.

Plus, I asked him about providing financial assistance

for your Xyrus Academy tuition.

Really? What'd he say?!

"Of course!"

You're gonna leave me with just that?!

#10 The King Negotiates.

You think we're gonna learn all kinds of stuff once we're in the academy?

It's supposed to be the uncontested, number one magic academy, right?

We should still have more technical knowledge than most first-years.

They're bound to have a bunch of famous families attending.

The idea that exchanging advice with them

might help me get my power under control is really exciting!

I'd like to learn more about my lightning and ice elemental magic.

Lightning burns through mana quickly and is hard to control.

And ice is hard to control even when tapping into my Beast Will.

I'm curious... Have you thought about what you're gonna do about Lucas?

Even if I got revenge on him,

I don't think I'd be able to withstand the reprisals from his family.

So, for now, I just intend to get stronger.

I'm shocked you can resist going after that piece of trash.

Well, yeah.

But I was more surprised when you made a wall between us with pillows.

Of course I did! Sleeping in the same bed is just weird!

Would you have preferred if I was a girl?

Shut up, stupid!

Do you think I'll be able to get a girlfriend at the academy?

For someone who acts so serious, your worries are pretty normal.

I know you're thinking about it, too, Arthur.

Don't worry. I'm sure you'll run into a nice girl with black hair and glasses.

You'll end up marrying her,

and the two of you will have an adorable baby with black hair, and glasses.

No baby is born wearing glasses.

I bet with those irritating princely looks,

you'll manage to get a girl with no trouble at all.

Are you a little jealous?

You really think "little" covers it?

It'll be okay, glasses. I'm not really interested in girls.

Anyway, let's hurry up and sleep.

Yeah. Goodnight.

Oh, what a relief.

You're up.

Good morning.

I recalled how you mentioned wanting to talk to an inventor.

Well, I contacted a friend of mine this morning.

Really?

He's a fellow named Gideon.

Remember how I hired you for that quest about capturing an aquatic mana beast?

Yeah.

He was the one who actually needed it.

He's an eminent researcher and probably the most talented

inventor and engineer in Sapin.

I'm curious, were you hoping to procure something from him?

Well, basically.

A birthday present for Elanor.

Arthur?

There you are! And with Vincent.

Huh? Should you really be standing around here?

I thought you had a meeting with someone this morning.

That's right!

Well, I need to go!

Watch where you're going so you don't fall, old man!

Speaking of old men, how's your training going?

Well, your old man happens to have officially hit the orange stage!

Which reminded me of something.

For some reason, this beast core didn't crumble after I absorbed mana from it.

Which is why, once you're ready, we're heading out.

Something strange is going on.

Why didn't it crumble?

There's a Beast Will inside of the core?!

Obtaining a Beast Will means the beast surrendering it willingly,

or a human seizing it from the beast core.

What would happen if I tried to combine two beasts?

Perhaps the question should be, is that even possible?

There's only one way to find out.

Any longer and my dragon's will would have crushed

the Elder Wood guardian spirit's will.

I wonder why Dad couldn't absorb the Beast Will?

The elemental alignment of the beast and that of the mage must be compatible!

Make sure to remember that!

Oh, that's right.

I know the perfect person to give this to.

I wonder how she's doing.

Good morning, Arthur. Mom says breakfast is ready.

I want that fancy dimension ring.

There's a big announcement today, so Mom says to hurry up and get ready.

What big announcement?

Did you forget?

The royalty of Sapin, Elenoir, and Darv are getting together

to make some announcement,

and it's going to be broadcast in the square, downtown. Remember?

Oh, right.

So, how about it, my sweet big brother?

E-Eleanor... you're too big to still be doing that.

Get ready and head downstairs already.

Mom and I are going out with Aunt Tabitha.

Where did she get that violent side from?

I think I know.

I'm still hungry.

I bet.

Considering how much Sylvie has been stealing from your plate.

Tell me about it.

Well, while you're meeting with the inventor,

I'm going to wander around the shops.

You actually have enough money to go shopping?

Unlike someone, I actually save the money I earn in dungeons.

Well, good for you.

Sylvie, help Elijah with his shopping.

Can't have Gideon getting curious about her.

Is this the place?

It is.

Master Gideon is out at the moment...

Mr. Vincent!

Good to see you again, Himes.

Please, come in.

Right this way.

Sir!

Himes! I told you to not let anyone in here!

Oh, it's you. Come to interrupt me again?

I let you know I was coming.

I've been getting more and more frustrated with seeing people, lately.

Which is probably due to

the royals sending 10 or 20 messengers my way over the last year,

pestering me about finding a way to enable long-distance trips over the sea.

Long-distance sea trips? What for?

None of your business, that's what.

Hang on. Who is this boy, anyway?

It's an honor to meet you, Gideon.

Uncle Vincent has told me all about how incredible you are.

My name is Arthur Leywin, and I'm Reynold's son.

You know I'm not in the market for a student or apprentice, Vincent.

So, why is this child here?

I was hoping to find out myself, actually.

I was going to show you an interesting idea for an invention I had, but...

You mentioned needing a way to make long-distance trips by sea?

I guess I can use that.

I get the feeling it'd be faster to show you than explain.

I have no idea what you intend on doodling,

but no child could come up with a solution to the problem that I'm—

What?! Where did you get this from?! And... could it really...

Give me that!

Instead of using mana as fuel,

an engine that moves from steam that is created with other resources.

How did it not occur to me?!

Hang on. This part doesn't make sense. It's missing something.

I left out some crucial details, which I'll be happy to tell you about.

Assuming our negotiations go well.

Boy...