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

EPISODE 1 THE INSIPID PRINCE

There you are.

Now, shall we begin?

Please return to the castle.

I told you not to sneak up on me, Sebas.

It's habit. Forgive me.

What happened now?

General Dominik has perished.

Was he assassinated?

Details are scarce.

But I doubt efforts will be made to find the killer.

All right.

I'll complete my request and return to the castle.

There's no one else around.

Why take that form?

I can't allow anyone to find out that a prince is pretending to be an adventurer.

I ask you to refrain from such behavior if you're aware of the risks,

seventh prince of the Adrasia Empire, Arnold Reks Adler.

They call me the insipid prince,

since my kid brother sucked all the talent out of me.

I'll do as I please.

Besides...

I'm not Arnold.

Right now, I'm the SS-class adventurer, Silver.

What's the matter? Are you lost?

Sorry I don't have time to play.

CENTRAL VOGEL CONTINENT ADRASIA IMPERIAL CAPITAL, WIRTH

WIRTH ADVENTURER'S GUILD

A king minotaur horn?!

Seriously? By himself?

Good work, Silver.

Here's the bounty.

Thanks. I appreciate it.

Thank you too.

It's an honor to have one

of the five SS-class adventurers of the continent at the capital branch.

What's this?

A gift for you and the people here.

Have some booze.

That's our Silver!

Hell yeah we will!

Give me priority next time there's a high-difficulty request.

Okay, understood.

Thank you!

And now, it's time for the insipid prince's furtive activities.

CASTLE OF THE IMPERIAL SWORD

EIGHT IMPERIAL PRINCE, LEONARD REKS ADLER

SEVENTH IMPERIAL PRINCE, ARNOLD REKS ADLER

ARNOLD'S BUTLER, SEBASTIAN LEONARD'S MAID, MARIE WILCKE

I hear that old fogy's dead.

All because he was on my side.

You have a way of making allies.

Who was it?

Erik? Zandra?

Gordon?

I don't know.

What are you going to do?

I don't want to fight within the family.

I'm sure you don't.

But if you don't join the fight for the throne, all that awaits you is death.

The same goes for me and for Mother.

Yeah, I know. Sorry.

Stop apologizing and state your position.

I'll have to fight for the throne.

Indeed.

I'll cooperate with you.

You'll take the throne.

First, build a force so that the enemy can't threaten you.

Okay.

What are you going to do, Brother?

I'll look for allies.

Just don't expect too much.

Effectively all of the powerful nobles

and ministers are part of the factions of the first three.

I know. Thanks.

I think you're more cut out to become the emperor.

Do I really seem like the type?

I'm going to live a life of leisure with a beautiful wife.

I've got it all planned out.

To that end, I need you to become the emperor.

Right.

Why not reveal that you're SS-class adventurer Silver?

Pass.

My great-grandfather lost his mind obsessing over ancient magic.

Ancient magic has been a taboo among royalty ever since.

And I use that ancient magic.

It would be problematic for Leo, who is trying to become emperor,

if people were to find out that his twin brother is involved in such things.

Silver is said to be the most powerful adventurer in the empire's history.

Might that not be advantageous for Prince Leonard?

That's a last resort.

It's convenient for people to think I'm an inept prince for the time being.

Sebas, are there any duke families

that aren't involved in the fight for the throne?

Just one.

The Kleinert household.

Now that's a big name you've brought up.

There has to be a reason they're staying silent in times like these.

It seems their territory is being invaded by some troublesome monsters.

They're nowhere near a solution.

How about we say Leo asked Silver to deal with them to get them in our debt?

They would become wary of Prince Leonard

if he were to have the means to deploy an SS-class adventurer.

That could cause the relationship between Prince Arnold and Silver to be exposed.

So let them be wary.

The enemy will have to think twice, once they know Silver is involved.

Silver's identity won't be an issue either.

I just need to be careful.

But please bear in mind that there's a world of difference

between announcing your identity and it being exposed.

I know that.

All right, I'll go see the duke.

Time for some furtive work on my brother's behalf.

Please be careful.

Duke Kleinert's daughter is the Blau Mowe.

Ah, the one who was given a blue gull hairpiece by her father.

She is a young woman of unparalleled beauty.

Please do not allow yourself to be hindered by her charm.

Sebas! It's been bothering me for a while...

Do you have to lecture me all the time?

That is my duty.

I'll leave the rest to you.

Understood.

KLEINERT MANSION

I'm Silver.

I wish to meet the duke.

You're Silver?

Don't make me laugh.

I'd have heard about it from the adventurer's guild

if someone of his stature was going to show up.

Quit your pranks and go home.

Oh, you don't need to show me your adventurer card.

Go away.

I'm busy over here.

I'm here on Prince Leonard's orders.

Tell the duke that he's insulted me and the prince.

Why would I tell him that?

Now, get lost.

Man...

So that's Blau Mowe.

She's definitely beautiful, but I don't have time to be ogling her.

You've returned rather soon.

We're heading to the Kleinert domain immediately.

Weren't you just there?

Silver was.

This time, it'll be Prince Arnold who's going to be there.

Now the duke will have no choice but to beg Leo.

That's quite the sinister smile you've got.

Hurry up and get ready!

It'll take five days by horse, even if we're quick.

FIVE DAYS LATER

It's been a long time.

I haven't seen you in a while, Duke Kleinert.

When was the last time?

Not since your tenth birthday, Your Highness.

Now, Your Highness, what brings you to my domain?

I'm here to talk about

- compensation, of course. - Compensation?

This isn't what Leo wished for, but the circumstances are what they are.

If you feel any gratitude, I ask you to assist Leo.

Gratitude, you say?

Don't try to play dumb.

You have the trust of many, Duke.

That's why Leo offered you a favor.

And this is how you repay it? What is the meaning of this?

Your Highness, it seems that the duke is truly unaware.

That isn't good enough!

Leo deployed an SS-class adventurer for you!

At a time when he's embroiled in the fight for the throne, no less.

That's, in fact, why Silver agreed to take it on!

By Silver, do you mean the Silver?

That's right.

Leo heard that you had monster trouble and asked for Silver's assistance.

I hear he even uses the lost magic of teleportation.

There's no way he wasn't here.

Are you certain of this?

Do you dare to accuse me of lying?!

Your Highness, it's clear from the duke's behavior that he isn't lying.

Perhaps we should grant him some time to investigate.

I'll humor Sebas and give you some time.

Understood.

I'll gather information immediately.

That worked out.

That was practically a farce.

It was someone from this household that shooed Silver away.

I merely deepened that wound.

I never caused it.

Still...

Not that many fish can live in perfectly pristine waters.

You need someone to muck up the water just a little.

And you deem that to be your duty?

You will be the one to suffer.

It's fine.

It's Leo's reputation that needs boosting.

No matter how much mine suffers, it doesn't bother me.

It bothers me.

As well as your mother and Prince Leonard.

The three of you is plenty.

You moron of a son!

- Are you trying to destroy our family?! - Ooh.