I Became the Youngest Prince in the Novel

TL/Editor: raei

Status: ongoing

Illustrations: none

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Deep in the demon realm, in a space of pure darkness.

"So you disobeyed me and caused trouble."

A voice so powerful and deep that merely hearing it could shatter one's spirit echoed through the space.

"I may have caused trouble, but I didn't disobey you."

Acrimosia, the Archdemon of Madness, replied while carefully watching the other's reaction.

"I know you tried to blow up the floating city at the end."

"That... I did that knowing Zion Agnes would stop it. Which he did."

The deep voice glared at Acrimosia as she grew brazenly defensive again.

The situation was giving them a headache, especially with Future Sight's prophecy about the "Coming of Eternity" already weighing on their mind.

"This incident may put the entire empire on high alert."

"From what I saw, they would've gone on high alert soon anyway."

"What do you mean?"

The deep voice asked Acrimosia with questioning eyes.

"I mean Zion Agnes. He's already perfected a method to identify us."

"...Is this true?"

"Yes, I saw it with my own eyes. He'll start hunting our people hiding in the empire using it. Probably after he takes the throne."

The Archdemon of Madness suspected that time wasn't far off.

The Zion Agnes she had seen was someone who could take the throne at any moment without seeming strange.

"..."

The owner of the deep voice's face hardened at these words.

This was truly a serious matter.

"That's why we need to move up the war timeline. Before the empire starts moving in earnest."

Though Acrimosia personally preferred waiting until Zion Agnes fully ripened, she had no intention of ruining their grand plan.

"...That's not something we can decide on our own. To start the great war, we must first get permission from the King."

"Hmm, that is a problem."

Acrimosia replied with folded arms to the deep voice's words.

The problem she referred to wasn't that their King would refuse war.

It was something more fundamental - meeting with the King at all.

After the First Great War ended, their King had retreated to the deepest part of the demon realm and never shown themselves again.

-I must prepare.

Those were the King's final words before disappearing.

Of course, none of the Four Great Demons who heard those words knew what kind of preparation the King meant.

"Still, given how serious this is, we should try to seek an audience with the King this time."

Just as the deep voice spoke after brief consideration-

"We have an emergency!"

A completely different voice rang out from the abyss.

Though it was the same voice as before, the gravity and urgency it carried was incomparably greater.

"What happened?"

Acrimosia looked at the voice's owner, prompting them to speak.

"Zeloth, the Archdemon of Jealousy, has started a rebellion!"

These shocking words burst from the new voice's mouth.

* * *

The World Conference.

It was the empire's largest conference, where not just imperial family members but also kings of the Three External Worlds and all other rulers gathered to compare their hegemonies and determine the empire's future direction - truly the most important event. ꞦαNO͍ВËȿ

This World Conference was drawing even more attention than previous ones.

The imperial throne remained vacant, and each imperial family member challenging for it was formidable.

Everyone expected fierce competition for the next emperor to unfold at this World Conference.

As the conference drew closer amid such expectations and concerns, numerous rulers and heirs gathered in the capital.

On the eve of the World Conference's official start-

"It's an honor to meet the one who will lead the next generation of the Fairy Forest."

"I'm equally delighted to meet Count Langrit, heir to such a great family."

A large banquet was being held at the Star of Music Palace, which handled the empire's major social events.

But this banquet had one special feature.

All attendees were heirs to major powers.

Though this scene would normally be impossible, it made sense given the banquet's purpose.

Before the World Conference, the heirs who would lead the next generation of the empire gathered to interact and build relationships.

This was the banquet's purpose, hence its name - "Night of the Heirs."

Among the many heirs present, two in particular drew crowds around them.

These were Kaptan, next successor of the Giant Colony, and Ilifa, heir to the Fairy Forest.

This was natural in a way.

They held the highest positions and greatest power among those gathered.

'Except for one person.'

Groud Ozlima, who effectively led the Ozlima family though nominally still heir, thought this while looking at that "one person."

A man sitting in the corner of the banquet hall, languidly lifting a teacup with utterly bored eyes.

Prince Zion Agnes.

'Something's different.'

Groud had thought this from the moment Zion entered the hall.

Unlike usual, when he seized control by overwhelming everything with his ominous charisma from the moment he appeared, today's Prince Zion was incredibly quiet.

Like looking at a perfectly still lake surface.

Yet due to his unique presence, most people in the hall naturally remained conscious of Prince Zion.

'Why did he even attend the banquet?'

Though Groud kept watching while staying at a distance, still confused after their previous conversation, he wondered about this.

Of course, Prince Zion could attend since he was the previous emperor's designated heir.

But he had no real reason to attend.

'The only possible reason would be interacting with other heirs...'

But that didn't seem to be the case.

As these questions grew in Groud's mind-

"Is this... supposed to be coffee?"

Zion furrowed his brows deeply as he set down his cup.

The reason Zion attended the "Night of the Heirs" was singular - the green coffee in the cup before him.

Premium coffee made from plants grown in extremely limited quantities only in the Fairy Forest.

Nicknamed "mint coffee," Zion had received information that this coffee would be served through the Fairy Forest heir and attended to taste it.

And the result was disappointing beyond measure, as his reaction showed.

No, beyond disappointing - it was shocking.

'The coffee Liushina made before was better than this.'

It was hard to believe people actually liked this.

After pushing the cup far out of reach with this thought, Zion's eyes finally began scanning the other heirs in the hall.

'The Beast Sea didn't attend this time either?'

Not a single beast-kin among the many heirs present.

The Beast Sea would likely miss the World Conference starting tomorrow too.

There was a reason for this.

The Beast Sea was currently embroiled in a long civil war between the current Beast King's forces and opposition forces.

Zion knew one of the Five Great Demon Generals was at the center of this civil war.

'I'll need to resolve that situation soon too.'

There were several reasons Zion hadn't handled the Beast Sea situation yet.

Not only were there mountains of more urgent matters, but the Great Demon Generals secretly operating in the Beast Sea and Fairy Forest were on a completely different level from other demon generals.

'At least Six Claws level.'

In fact, one of them actually belonged to the Six Claws.

That's why he had planned to face them after raising the Black Star Force to a certain level, and those preparations were finally complete.

'Though there's actually an even bigger problem.'

Zion recalled the Archdemon of Madness he had seen recently.

The Acrimosia he met in person was far more insane and unrestrained than in the chronicle.

She had tried to instantly destroy the city without considering the restrictions or aftermath.

Now that she had taken an interest in him, she would likely visit anytime regardless of restrictions.

'I need to reach seven stars somehow to face her.'

Anything less wouldn't be enough to win.

As Zion organized these thoughts and reached for a different cup beside the mint coffee-

"Well, now that the mood has settled, shall we move on to the main event?"

Ilifa, heir to the Fairy Forest and called the Fifth Leaf, drew everyone's attention as she pulled out a long branch that emanated a refreshing energy just from looking at it.

The "main event" she referred to was the "Qualification Measurement."

A traditional ceremony of the "Night of the Heirs" that had continued alongside the World Conference for countless years.

"Who would like to go first? We'll only measure those who volunteer."

The "qualification" in "Qualification Measurement" referred to the qualifications of a ruler.

Everyone here would become rulers of powers large and small, making such qualifications crucially important.

The "Branch of Emperors," part of the World Tree that Ilifa had produced, could accurately assess one's ruler qualifications and imperial fate. They had long used this "Emperor's Branch" for measurements.

It was both entertainment and competition between heirs.

Those who scored highly in the qualification measurement gained recognition and admiration, rising to a higher level, while those who scored poorly faced subtle disdain.

"May I be measured first?"

"I'd like to go next."

The heirs eagerly requested measurement despite this double-edged nature.

This was natural since they were all successors to great families or equivalent major powers, and thus firmly believed they were born with imperial fate.

As people underwent measurement-

FLASH!

Green light flowing from the "Emperor's Branch" began forming specific numbers above their heads.

These numbers combined ruler qualifications and imperial fate.

48, 64, 72...

Various scores appeared.

Naturally, Kaptan and Ilifa recorded the highest scores.

As future rulers of entire races, they naturally carried greater "imperial fate" than others.

Their scores were an impressive 87 and 89.

Considering the maximum score was 100, these were incredible numbers.

"As expected of the Three External Worlds' heirs..."

Just as words of admiration flowed from others seeing these scores-

"Prince Zion Agnes."

Ilifa called out to Zion, who had been watching the measurements with an indifferent expression.

"Would you like to try being measured as well?"

As Zion looked at her questioningly, she continued with a slight smile.

"Though it may not look like much, it's quite accurate. Aren't you curious about your own qualifications? Though of course, you'll score incomparably higher than us."

As Ilifa spoke to Zion, various calculations ran through her mind.

'I heard he has monstrous power and charisma, but seeing him in person, those rumors seem exaggerated. Besides, even if they're true, power alone doesn't determine qualifications or fate.'

Imperial fate in particular was determined at birth, so even those with high qualifications could score low.

In truth, Ilifa wasn't aiming for this moment but for the World Conference starting tomorrow.

More specifically, the initiative of Fifth Princess Diana, whom the Fairy Forest supported.

'If Prince Zion's score is lower than Princess Diana's previous measurement, his position will surely weaken during the conference.'

And correspondingly shift in Princess Diana's favor.

'Princess Diana's score was 96. Almost the highest among both the Fairy Forest and historical Agnes royalty. This is worth trying.'

No, beyond worth trying - she was convinced Prince Zion would score lower.

'The question is whether Prince Zion will accept this proposal...'

Then-

"Sure."

Zion answered lightly as he stood and approached Ilifa, extending one hand.

'Perfect!'

While internally rejoicing-

"Just hold this branch lightly, Your Highness."

She respectfully handed the branch to Zion.

The moment Zion grasped the "Emperor's Branch" as instructed-

The usual green light didn't appear.

RUMBLE!

The branch just began vibrating wildly.

"Huh...?"

Just as Ilifa's eyes began trembling at this strange reaction- CRACK!

The "Emperor's Branch" that had never even cracked despite measuring countless heirs' qualifications over hundreds of years.

This branch simply broke.

As silence fell over the banquet hall-

"Defective product."

Zion's quiet voice rang out.

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