The Insipid Prince's Furtive Grab for the Throne

EPISODE 3 ELNA ATTACKS

31ST EMPEROR OF THE ADRASIA EMPIRE JOHANNES REKS ADLER

We now begin the senior ministers meeting.

CHANCELLOR FRANZ SEEBECK

SECOND IMPERIAL PRINCE ERIK REKS ADLER

Minister of Foreign Affairs, Second Imperial Prince Erik Reks Adler.

Good day, Your Highness.

Second Imperial Princess, Zandra Reks Adler.

SECOND IMPERIAL PRINCESS, ZANDRA REKS ADLER

At your service, Your Highness.

Third Imperial Prince, Gordon Reks Adler.

THIRD IMPERIAL PRINCE, GORDON REKS ADLER.

Fourth Imperial Prince, Traugott Reks Adler.

FOURTH IMPERIAL PRINCE, TRAUGOTT REKS ADLER

Fifth Imperial Prince, Karlos Reks Adler.

FIFTH IMPERIAL PRINCE, KARLOS REKS ADLER

Sixth Imperial Prince, Conrad Reks Adler.

SIXTH IMPERIAL PRINCE, CONRAD REKS ADLER

Seventh Imperial Prince, Arnold Reks Adler.

SEVENTH IMPERIAL PRINCE, ARNOLD REKS ADLER

Hi.

Eighth Imperial Prince, Leonard Reks Adler.

EIGHTH IMPERIAL PRINCE, LEONARD REKS ADLER

Your Highness.

Ninth Imperial Prince, Henrik Reks Adler.

NINTH IMPERIAL PRINCE, HENRIK REKS ADLER

Third Imperial Princess, Krista Reks Adler.

THIRD IMPERIAL PRINCESS, KRISTA REKS ADLER

Tenth Imperial Prince, Rupert Reks Adler.

TENTH IMPERIAL PRINCE, RUPERT REKS ADLER

Present are the princes and princesses

excluding First Imperial Princess Marshal Liselotte Reks Adler,

who is on duty protecting the border.

Thank you for assembling on such short notice.

Now, Your Highness, what do you ask of us?

I'd be glad to go to war.

I shall charge into enemy territory with the full might of the empire.

You haven't changed, Gordon.

Every word out of your mouth is "war, war, war."

What a meathead you are.

It may be difficult for a feeble mage to understand,

but it's the honor of a warrior to fight and die in battle.

Keep running your mouth, and I'll crush you.

Why don't I offer you some "honor" right now

if you're so desperate for some?

Forgive my siblings for their insolence, Your Highness.

A little rivalry is a good thing.

That's how I became the emperor myself, after all.

Now, with that said,

I'm going to have you all compete with one another.

Compete?

What for?

I'd gladly take on a test of might!

Don't be so quick to rush to conclusions.

How would you propose to compare your strength

against your ten-year-old youngest brother?

You have no need to fear.

What, then?

I plan to bring back a festival that we held decades ago.

A festival, you say?

The Knight's Festival of the Hunt.

KNIGHT'S FESTIVAL OF THE HUNT

The Knight's...

...Festival of the Hunt?

I believe you're referring to the festival where imperial guards

compete to hunt the largest, rarest monsters.

Correct.

It was held frequently when monsters were more abundant,

but with so many capable adventurers, the event has fallen out of fashion.

And I'll be bringing it back.

But would the Adventurer's Guild approve?

We would be taking their work.

That won't be an issue.

We've already gotten permission from Guild headquarters.

Well, that was quick.

The Adventurer's Guild in many parts of the empire

is having trouble keeping up.

I'm told that they would be more than happy to have us.

Your Highness, given that we're competing,

I'm assuming that an award awaits me for when I win.

What would you want, Gordon?

Of course, the position of Crown Prince, which would place me closest

to inheriting the throne.

You sure are blunt, aren't you?

More dull than blunt, I would say.

How dare you?!

Such a festival wouldn't be an appropriate way

to select the next crown prince.

Of course.

We'd be the laughing stock of other nations.

However, it wouldn't do to not offer a prize either.

Which is why the winner will receive...

the title of Ambassador Extraordinary.

What?!

Really?

Ambassador Extraordinary...

I will choose fairly which regiment will be assigned to whom.

Whether you fight alongside them

or await their victorious return in your own territory, it's up to you.

Make it a memorable festival!

Ambassador Extraordinary...

I think you should take that role, Brother.

Do you really think I can maintain a positive relationship with other nations?

I do.

Well, I appreciate that.

But I can't win in the Hunt.

You're going to have to do it.

You're right.

I hate this, though.

The thought of fighting against my own family is depressing.

Are you giving up, then?

No.

I need to look after Mother, you, and everyone who supports me.

I have to win, or our future will be grim.

I'm glad you understand.

I can't do this by myself.

I need your help. Finne's help.

Please lend me a hand.

This has become quite the pain in the neck.

No kidding.

We're in trouble here.

I think it's an opportunity.

You're more aware than anyone how capable Prince Leo is, Master Arn.

It's an opportunity, but we're also in a pinch.

The opportunity is that Leo could become the Ambassador Extraordinary.

Right.

The pinch is that if either of our rivals, Erik, Zandra or Gordon

become the Ambassador Extraordinary,

we'll be forced out of the competition for the throne.

Oh, no! We have to do something quick!

So...

The knights have also been caught entirely off-guard.

The Emperor and his aides must have made this decision themselves.

The victor will be determined by the candidates' own capabilities as well as luck,

in that one may or may not encounter a rare monster.

One more thing.

The event is expected to be held in the east side of the empire.

The east side...

WEST

NORTH KLEINERT DOMAIN / CAPITAL / KEEL

EAST

PORT / SOUTH

That is the area where monsters are causing the most damage

and where the adventurers are unable to keep up with their hunt.

Furthermore, the knights are not being deployed there.

So he let the monsters roam free on purpose

so that they can use it as the venue for the festival.

I wouldn't put it past my father to do that.

Master Arn,

I have a plan!

I'll hear you out.

You just need to take first place!

I was a fool for getting my hopes up even just a little.

Why would you say that?!

Prince Arnold must pretend to be incapable.

It would be suspicious if he were to reveal his true abilities now.

But is there any other sure path?

That would be the most certain for sure.

But I would lose my trump card.

It would be difficult for me to keep operating in the shadows

and to make Leo the emperor.

We need another plan.

However, there is little else we can do.

The others may be able to draw rare monsters into the area

or scout them out ahead of time, but we lack the manpower.

We can do something like that.

I can drive some monsters to the east as Silver.

You mustn't do that!

Of course.

That would just cause havoc for the people living in the east.

Exactly.

I'm sorry, you would never do such a thing.

It's fine.

Just keep saying what's on your mind.

You always try to do the right thing.

What do you mean by that?

He means that he loves you the way you are.

I don't remember saying I loved her.

Then do you hate her?

No.

So you love her.

Good for you, Lady Finne.

Yes!

Is it more tea that you want?

I'll bring some right away.

Sebas, that was out of line.

Oh? What could I have said?

Come on!

No, never mind.

I'll put some thought into how we'll win the Hunt.

Yes.

Oh, right, I've been told that the Adventurer's Guild

has been trying to get in touch with Silver.

What?

A mutant cerberus?

Yes.

It's an AAA-class bounty.

Several parties have already been defeated.

You're the only SS-class adventurer, Silver.

We're counting on you.