The Obsessive Male Lead Is Obsessed With Me! - Chapter 83

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Episode 83

 

Whoosh!

 

The arrow that flew cutting through the wind struck precisely into the monster’s forehead with a thunk!

 

Lionel checked the monster and made a separate request to the mage.

 

“Give me that one’s claws.”

 

“Yes, understood. Is this also a gift for the mage you’re sponsoring separately?”

 

Lionel nodded silently, and the mages whispered among themselves.

 

“Wow, who could it be…?”

 

“I’m so jealous. It must be a mage from our tower, right?”

 

While the mages whispered about who the lucky person receiving sponsorship from the Second Prince could be, Beric looked at Lionel with an utterly exasperated expression.

 

“You’re kicking away an honor that might go down in history for just that reason?”

 

Lionel, who had spotted the next target through Ruda’s wing signals from his pocket, immediately shot an arrow and answered indifferently.

 

“Is that a problem?”

 

“That damn problem!”

 

The soldiers stared blankly at Beric, who was beating his chest in complete frustration.

 

Feeling their gazes, Beric snapped at the soldiers for no reason.

 

“What! Why! Haven’t you seen me being disrespectful to His Highness once or twice before!”

 

“Ah, of course we’ve seen it many times…”

 

“Then why are you staring!”

 

“Well, behind you…”

 

“Behind what!”

 

Beric irritably turned around and discovered the giant horse drooling and smacking its lips, then screamed.

 

“Why, why are you smacking your lips while looking at me!”

 

“Growl!”

 

“Aaaah! Your Highness, please do something about this thing!”

 

Beric ran for his life to escape the giant horse that was snapping its teeth so hard the sound rang out with a sharp click!

 

Watching this scene, the soldiers giggled.

 

“Captain, hang in there!”

 

“At least Growly doesn’t actually eat people!”

 

“You disloyal bastards! Your Highness, Your Highnessss!”

 

The giant horse chased after the fleeing Beric, the soldiers giggled and cheered on the giant horse, and regardless of all this, the mages urged Lionel to catch that monster over there too.

 

The atmosphere was so cheerful that three years ago, when they didn’t know if they’d die today or tomorrow and were scared out of their wits, felt like ancient history.

 

The reason not only these people but the entire northern region—no, the entire Empire—had regained their composure in just three years was clear.

 

Just one month ago.

 

The Monster King, who had crossed the North Mountain Range leading countless monsters, was finally defeated by Lionel’s hand after fierce struggle.

 

* * *

 

Several factors effectively contributed to the Monster Wave crisis, which everyone had predicted would last at least 5 years or as long as 10 years, reaching its conclusion stage in just 3 years.

 

First of all. For the past three years, material and human resources sent from the capital never ceased for even a moment.

 

The person who made this possible was none other than Duke Roheim.

 

“Are you serious? You’ll truly pay that entire amount?”

 

“Isn’t money something that comes and goes? Human lives cannot be revived by anything, but if money can solve it, any amount would be cheap.”

 

It was such generosity that even the Emperor, who had tried to somehow tap into Duke Roheim’s wallet because he was reluctant to empty the Imperial treasury, was left speechless.

 

Duke Roheim even sent all support funds to the north through the Imperial Family, saying he didn’t want to turn the north’s troubles into his family’s gain.

 

The delighted Emperor made a big show of appointing Lionel as the chief administrator of this enormous support fund.

 

The few lords who had remained in the north to protect their estates prostrated themselves before Lionel, hoping for his mercy. Lionel fairly decided their treatment.

 

“His Imperial Majesty has not yet revoked your lordship rights. If you wish to continue exercising those rights, fulfill your duties beforehand.”

 

Since those willing to fulfill their responsibilities took positions of authority, reconstruction work proceeded smoothly.

 

Of course, even though reconstruction was underway, not all refugees had returned.

 

There were still people reluctant to return to the north.

 

For the following reasons:

 

“What if monsters appear again after we return? The defense line doesn’t physically block all monster approaches, so who can guarantee there won’t be monsters sneaking down to attack villages?”

 

At least a year ago, that would have been correct. But now they could guarantee it.

 

“Don’t you know? The Magic Tower created special monster incense burners this time.”

 

“What’s that?”

 

“Incense burners that emit scents monsters hate. If you just install them around village fences, monsters can’t invade the village.”

 

That’s right. These special monster incense burners greatly shortened the time needed to end the Monster Wave.

 

Moreover, these incense burners brought additional benefits—namely, the massive participation of mages.

 

“Making magical tools from monster materials? Why? …What, what did you say? Magic efficiency is three to eight times better?”

 

“Monsters! Where are the monsters!”

 

That burning enthusiasm was quite welcome. However, mages were inherently willful beings, so if left alone, they might stir up monsters among themselves and cause bigger trouble.

 

Concerned about this, Lionel made a public declaration as soon as it was revealed that the special monster incense burners were made from monster materials.

 

“I will entrust all rights to monster corpses entirely to the Frost Tower.”

 

Thanks to this, the Frost Tower’s influence soared among the Five Towers, which had been maintaining a balanced rivalry.

 

In return, the Frost Tower developed sleep incense burners that only affected monsters, following the monster-luring incense burners, and even tools for tracking monsters.

 

Even the terrifying Monster King ultimately lost its life under Lionel’s sword, so all that remained was to use tracking tools to hunt down the monsters scattered after losing their king.

 

It was truly just a matter of time.

 

With perfect completion right around the corner, how could this not be called a success?

 

Not only the northern people but the capital—no, all the Empire’s citizens—expected as much.

 

They believed Lionel, who had successfully ended the Monster Wave, would be crowned Crown Prince and become the next Emperor.

 

* * *

 

Crash!

 

The teacup the Empress was holding fell to the floor and shattered into pieces.

 

The maids looked at the Empress in surprise, but even as the spilled tea thoroughly soaked her dress hem, the Empress stared at the Emperor with trembling eyes.

 

“…What did you just say?”

 

Despite the loud noise, the Emperor didn’t spare the Empress a single glance and said briefly.

 

“I said to prepare the Crown Prince investiture ceremony.”

 

“Your Majesty!”

 

Though he didn’t specify whose Crown Prince investiture ceremony, everyone present understood. Even the Empress.

 

“Isn’t this too hasty a decision? Lionel hasn’t even returned from the north yet!”

 

“His return is also just a matter of time.”

 

Just yesterday, the Emperor had received a report from Lionel that the defense line had been dismantled. This was because there weren’t enough monsters remaining in the north to justify maintaining the defense line.

 

“He’ll return in a month at the shortest, two or three months at most. You probably know too. How high Lionel’s status has risen throughout the north—no, the entire Empire.”

 

That was indeed the case.

 

He had achieved the feat of ending the Monster Wave, which was expected to last at least 5 years or over 10 years, in just 3 years and a few months. It would be strange if public sentiment toward Lionel didn’t rise.

 

Furthermore, Lionel wasn’t the only one who had gained public support.

 

Duke Roheim’s popularity also skyrocketed after pouring hundreds of billions in gold coins into the north without considering any profit. Enough to make the Emperor feel threatened.

 

To suppress public sentiment toward Roheim, he had to redirect people’s attention to Lionel, and there was no event more effective for this than a Crown Prince investiture ceremony.

 

“Do you understand what I mean? We need to shift the people’s hearts, especially the northern people’s hearts, from Lionel as an individual to the Imperial Family.”

 

Actually, the Emperor wasn’t entirely pleased with Lionel’s personal fame rising either.

 

But wouldn’t it be better for my child’s popularity to be higher than that annoying Duke Roheim?

 

“I understand that intention. But does it necessarily have to be a Crown Prince investiture ceremony!”

 

“Then? Is there a better method than a Crown Prince investiture ceremony? If there is, tell me. If it’s convincing, I’ll do that instead.”

 

“…”

 

The Empress couldn’t say anything, and the Emperor waved his hand as if he had no intention of arguing further about this topic.

 

“I personally promised with my own mouth that I would crown him Crown Prince after successfully ending the Monster Wave. So I must keep it.”

 

“I’m not saying don’t keep it. But isn’t this too sudden? You clearly said you’d give Kai a chance too…”

 

“I did give him one. For the past three years. Continuously.”

 

The Emperor’s eyes turned coldly.

 

“So what exactly did the First Prince accomplish during those three years?”

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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