Chapter 40
The Grand Duke of Albatro finally asked me to mediate with Rondine the following day.
It was a relief to have that time, but the country's response was slow.
That shows how much bad blood there is between Albatro and Rondine, I suppose, but if a country falls, it's all over.
"Then I entrust this to you, Prince Leonart."
"Yes, Your Highness. Leave it to me."
"B-but are you really going by sea...?"
The Grand Duke looked out at the sea, fear showing on his face.
We were now at the port. After receiving the request, I ordered the ship to prepare for departure.
The people of the Duchy of Albatro had expected us to travel by land, so they seemed stunned. Even now, they looked at me as though I were something unbelievable.
"The sea route is faster. Rondine's capital is also a port city, so we can arrive in two days. I don't want to waste any more time."
"But... Leviathan is in the sea."
"We also have the magic cannons we've borrowed from your country. Above all, if we don't do anything, Leviathan probably won't attack us either. If I were in its position, the thing I would be most wary of would be having it sealed again. In other words, Leviathan's attention is focused here. Please be careful."
"I-I see... I apologize for burdening you with all this. Please, take care of this."
"I may not be particularly capable, but you can leave it to me."
With that, I parted ways with the Grand Duke, but someone stopped me.
"P-Prince Leonart! Please wait!"
"Ah, Lord Julio. Are you well enough to be out of bed already?"
Julio appeared, accompanied by several attendants.
He really ought to have been resting a while longer.
Even so, Julio came to my side on his own and bowed deeply.
"I wanted to thank you before you set out. I am deeply grateful that you saved so many people."
He didn't mention that I'd saved him and his sister. Instead, he first thanked me for saving so many survivors.
That way of thinking—or rather, that perspective—was something he shared with Leo.
Julio must be kind too.
"There were so many people asking for help right in front of me, so I simply helped them. I didn't do anything special."
"Even so, that doesn't change the fact that we were saved. I will never forget this debt of gratitude."
"You're making too much of it. Still, I can't say I dislike hearing that. Then I'll have you repay me someday."
With that, I smiled like Leo and turned on my heel.
Julio stopped me again.
"Prince Leonart! I... I want to become like you! How can I become as admirable as you are!?"
It was difficult to answer that question.
I thought Leo was an incredible person, but I'd never considered him particularly admirable.
He had shortcomings alongside his strengths. That was Leo.
I might as well answer honestly.
"Lord Julio. Leonart Lakes Adler isn't as admirable as you think. Some people praise me for my kindness, but many others call me soft. Some people describe me as brave, while others call me reckless and thoughtless. I myself believe my idealistic way of thinking is a flaw for someone in the position of emperor or prince, where realistic judgments are required. You may see me as a hero, but I'm not as much of a hero as you think."
"B-but...!"
"Yes, I understand. Even so, if you're still okay with that, I'll give you one piece of advice. I never hesitate over what I believe is right. I think that's something to be proud of. My retainers can make up for many of my other shortcomings, but a king is alone when it comes to making decisions. That's why, when I believe something is right, I don't waver. It was the same when I saved the survivors. I helped them because I thought I should. Whatever the outcome, when I believe something is right, I make a snap decision and act. If you want to carry yourself with pride as a duke's son, don't hesitate over what you believe is right."
"Y-yes! I'll engrave your words in my heart!!"
Julio bowed his head as he said that.
What I'd just said was my honest impression of Leo.
Honestly, Leo isn't suited to be emperor. My eldest brother, who had been the crown prince, was kind, but he could make decisions without being swayed by emotion. Leo was soft in that respect. He would definitely let his emotions sway him.
Even so, Leo never hesitated. His softness and idealism could be dealt with by his retainers. The ability to make decisions was what an emperor needed most.
He didn't need to have everything.
He didn't need to be strong, and he didn't need to be good at scheming. If he became emperor with the Empire's interests at heart and could make important decisions, he would be a good emperor.
That's why I back Leo for emperor.
The other three had abilities as well. But they were strong-willed. They put themselves first and the Empire second. If one of them became emperor, that was the kind of emperor they would be.
I had to prevent that.
"If I told Leo, he'd probably say, 'Then why not Big Brother?'"
I muttered so no one would hear me and boarded the ship.
I wasn't suited to be emperor.
My great-grandfather, who was both my mentor and a former emperor, agreed with me.
According to my great-grandfather, what an emperor needed was drive. Since I lacked it, I wasn't suited to be emperor even if I possessed every other necessary quality.
In this context, drive didn't mean ambition for the throne. It meant the motivation to take an interest in all sorts of things. In other words, someone who couldn't be bothered wasn't suited to be emperor.
I thought he was absolutely right.
Just imitating Leo for a few days had left my mental state in shambles. I couldn't wait to go back to loafing around.
"Set sail! Destination: the Duchy of Rondine!"
I gave the order with those thoughts in mind.
Joining up with Leo would make me feel a little more at ease.
Suppressing my impatience, I ventured into waters inhabited by the Sea Dragon.
■■■
The day we set sail passed without incident.
Then came the second day.
Just as we left the waters of the Duchy of Albatro and entered those of the Duchy of Rondine,
it happened.
A growl suddenly echoed from beneath the sea.
"W-what!?"
"Is the sea... growling!?"
"Damn! All hands, battle stations!"
The deck descended into chaos.
Meanwhile, I calmly left my room and went up onto the deck.
I'd already erected a barrier around the ship—a barrier that concealed our presence. That's why I'd chosen the sea route. But I never expected to encounter it here.
"Everyone, be quiet! It's too late now. All we can do is wait for it to pass."
"Y-Your Highness..."
"It's already beneath us."
We couldn't see it.
It was probably moving through the deep sea.
Even so, if I hadn't put up the presence-concealing barrier, it might have sunk us for fun.
According to legends still told in Albatro, it had a body well over fifty meters long and, like a dragon, wings and four legs, but I couldn't confirm any of that now.
However, it was definitely down there.
Apparently, everyone here—not just me—sensed its presence through some primal human instinct. The fact that everyone was holding their breath was proof enough.
Everyone sensed that their lives were in danger.
A dragon is a predator, and humans are prey. That's almost an absolute law.
After a while, I confirmed that Leviathan had passed by. I didn't announce it, though.
In the end, more than an hour passed without anyone moving. Finally, Marc ventured to say that it might be safe now, and the ship continued toward Rondine.
"I really thought we were done for..."
"Yeah. I never thought we'd encounter it here, so I let my guard down."
"That's true. But why was it here?"
"...To it, every human is an enemy. It probably doesn't even recognize the concept of nations, so I don't know whether it was trying to do something to Rondine or was returning after doing something. Either way, we should assume that Rondine is in serious trouble."
As if to confirm my ominous words, a loud voice delivered a report.
"Prince! Rondine is under attack by monsters!"
"Just as I thought..."
"Your Highness, next time, could you refrain from saying such things aloud, even if you think them?"
"Wouldn't it be better to be prepared?"
"Some might interpret that as things coming true because you said them."
"I don't possess any godlike ability like that."
As I said that, I went up onto the deck and looked at Rondine's capital in the distance.
Sure enough, it was under attack by monsters of all shapes and sizes.
Amid the chaos, one ship had gone out to sea and was holding the monsters at bay.
It flew the Imperial flag.
As expected, he was quick to act.
"Full speed ahead. We have to support Big Brother!"
"Understood! All hands, battle stations! Make sure the magic cannons we borrowed from the Duchy of Albatro are ready for use as well!"
The captain issued his orders with great enthusiasm.
He must have been thrilled to use the weapons we'd borrowed specifically to fight the Sea Dragon.
I strapped Leo's sword to my waist just in case, but it was heavy. There was no way I could wield it properly.
"Now then, I wonder if this is our chance to switch back?"
With that thought in mind, we headed straight for Rondine.