I Became the Youngest Prince in the Novel

TL/Editor: raei

Status: ongoing

Illustrations: none

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Screams and explosions filled the air.

At the southwestern outskirts of the demon realm...

"Now."

Several figures using stealth magic and presence-concealing formations swiftly passed by the demons locked in fierce combat between two camps.

It was Claire Frosimar and her hero party.

Elysis the Saintess nervously asked Claire, concerned about heading deeper into demon territory while the war between Archdemons intensified rather than escaping.

"Weren't we looking for some temple? Seems like we're almost there."

Before Claire could answer, Rain pointed her chin toward what lay ahead.

True to her words, a gray building that appeared to be a temple was gradually coming into view on the horizon.

"That's right, we need to get inside."

Claire nodded and increased her pace.

"What are we seeking there?"

"A divine artifact."

Claire immediately answered Turzan's question with those two words.

Though brief, they carried immense weight. One of the divine artifacts - items that held the highest rank even among mythical-grade weapons - lay within.

Moreover, this divine artifact was the most important key Claire needed to obtain from the demon realm.

'Before regression, I only knew its location but never managed to get it.'

Things might have been different if she had obtained it then.

In truth, even Claire didn't know the artifact's exact nature.

Only that it was a sword once wielded by one of the five kings who served the Eternal Emperor Aurelion, known as the Divine Blade.

'Though I don't understand why such an item exists this deep in demon territory.'

As far as Claire knew, the demon realm appeared after the Eternal Emperor's death.

Perhaps there was some untold history?

Claire pushed the question from her mind.

Speculation was pointless, and right now she needed to focus solely on obtaining the divine artifact.

"Moving in immediately. Prepare for combat."

Claire spoke calmly while gazing at the massive temple now directly before them.

Following her words, her companions' forms vanished into the temple as if being pulled inside, their eyes hardened with determination.

---

The crack from Agdravar striking the magic circle's center instantly spread to its edges.

Then-

SCREECH!

A massive eye emerged from within the split magic circle.

As its blood-red pupil moved to illuminate everyone gathered in the training ground-

CRACK! CRACK! CRACK!

The world turned red as demons who had hidden their true forms for years or decades finally began shedding their human disguises.

SHRIEK!

Grotesque screams filled the training ground along with nauseating demonic energy.

Then-

"Eliminate them all."

At this cold command, the forces surrounding the training ground began moving as one.

BOOM!

The arena transformed into chaos as sword strikes and magic spells rained down.

Though some demons revealed themselves among the surrounding martial groups, nearby members swiftly eliminated them before continuing their advance.

"These devils killed our families and comrades and stole their lives. Show no mercy!"

SLASH!

Meanwhile-

"W-what's happening..."

Those who hadn't known about this beforehand remained frozen, staring blankly at the battlefield.

This included most of those seated in the seats of honor.

"P-Princess Diana..."

Diana didn't respond to Halegrion's trembling voice.

No, she couldn't respond.

The shocking scene before her had completely seized her consciousness.

"What is this..."

Hell.

This was hell.

People who had been comrades moments ago transformed into demons, only to be cut down by other comrades.

Blood and flesh flew as human and demon screams mixed together.

Was this how the First Great War began?

The Fifth Princess thought it must have started similarly.

"I never imagined it would be this extensive..."

True, Diana hadn't believed Zion's words were entirely false.

He had always been meticulous and thorough.

But she had expected perhaps dozens of hidden demons at most...

The scene before her far exceeded such expectations.

'Could it really be...!'

CRUNCH!

As she clenched her fist tightly, recalling Zion's words from the Rulers' Conference-

"RAAAAH!"

Several people seated in the seats of honor began transforming into demons with bestial roars.

Given their vast influence over the empire, only powerful demons could have disguised themselves as such important figures, which was why they had resisted revealing themselves until now.

Of course, that made no difference to their fate.

"Light, grant me the power to strike down this evil."

"Like rats, hiding everywhere truly."

CRACKLE!

The First Prince and Ackendelt moved immediately, beginning to eliminate them all.

Meanwhile-

'Was it originally like this?'

Zion stood in the training ground's center, looking up at the massive eye spreading red light from the sky.

He remembered the detection circle being described differently in the chronicle.

It seemed the refinements had altered its form.

'Seems like the Blood Tower's style.'

Given how effective it was, he supposed their aesthetic preferences deserved some respect.

With that thought, Zion turned his attention to the rapidly diminishing number of demons.

Though this incident had revealed far more demons than ever before, and of higher caliber, they were being slaughtered without managing any real resistance.

The reason was simple.

"You worthless human scum... ARGH!"

CRUNCH!

Zion's preparations had been equally overwhelming.

Six of the highest-ranking martial forces and three Heaven-class experts.

It was no exaggeration to say the empire's core military strength had gathered here.

'This should eliminate about half the demons in the imperial palace and capital.'

Zion thought this while glancing at Celphia steadily gaining experience fighting demons in one corner of the training ground.

Having decided to properly prepare for war, he intended to cut out all demons in the capital as quickly as possible.

He had already planned exactly how to hunt down the remaining half.

Then-

"ZION AGNES! CURSED AGNES BLOODLINE!!"

With this enraged cry, several nearby demons charged at him.

Each was around or just below Hanosral's level - extraordinarily powerful.

But they never reached Zion.

SLASH!

Countless lines appeared across the charging demons' bodies.

As brilliant starlight exploded from those lines-

SCREECH!

The demons' bodies, split into dozens of pieces, fell to the ground.

"Zion."

Then-

"Is this truly... the empire's hidden truth that we never knew?"

Evelyn, who had created that scene, asked Zion in a dazed voice.

Her eyes still trembled widely, deeply shocked.

"No, more precisely..."

Meeting the Second Princess's gaze with steady eyes, Zion reached to his side.

CRACK!

A breaking sound came from what appeared to be empty air.

"Gu-guh!"

Belatedly, a demon appeared there, caught by the throat in Zion's grip.

It had tried approaching stealthily from a blind spot while attention was diverted, only to be caught.

CRACKLE!

"It's the truth you've been averting your eyes from."

Zion crushed the demon's head without hesitation, then smiled at Evelyn as he continued.

"I truly never..."

As the Second Princess hung her head with a self-loathing expression-

WHOOSH!

One of the rapidly diminishing demons broke away and charged toward the seats of honor.

"Damn it, damn it all!"

Rom the demon cursed while pouring all his power into speed.

What was happening in the training ground had been completely unexpected.

Or more precisely, he hadn't expected it to happen so soon.

'It's only been three days since we received word from above that Zion Agnes had found a way to identify us!'

When had he prepared all this?

They had tried fighting at first but were completely outmatched.

The surprise attack was devastating enough, but the difference in power was simply overwhelming.

White Flame Emperor Ahmad Ozlima and Sword King Ludwig Ascalon.

Agnes Knights Commander Mileion Jeffrey and now Evelyn Agnes joining the fray.

'The World Conference itself was a trap!'

Moreover, their side had lost all coordination with the elimination of the Five Great Demon Generals who had served as their leadership in the capital.

Though Rom and some others had tried taking their place, it wasn't enough.

Facing this crisis in such circumstances, proper resistance was impossible.

They had desperately tried taking nearby humans hostage to buy time, but it was useless.

Reflecting Zion Agnes's nature, the imperial forces simply swept through without concern.

'I need to escape quickly.'

With this thought, Rom looked toward the area behind the seats of honor.

Whether by mistake or an unavoidable weak point, the barrier surrounding the training ground had two weak spots, one of them behind the seats of honor.

'There are monsters in human form in the seats too... but if I'm prepared for grave injury, I should be able to break through.'

In truth, Rom thought this was his best option even if it meant nearly fatal wounds.

Reaching the other weak point would require passing by Zion Agnes.

The architect of all this - a monster among monsters who inspired terror at mere thought.

His instincts whispered that going that way meant certain death.

After nervously glancing toward Zion, Rom turned back to the now-close seats of honor.

'First, quickly get past the Fifth Princess.'

SCREECH!

Overwhelming demonic energy gathered in the demon's right hand.

"Ah...!"

Diana's eyes filled with panic as she noticed Rom.

Normally she could handle a demon of this level alone, but she was still stunned by the shock of what Zion had revealed.

She couldn't react in time, despite belatedly activating Heaven Opposition Power and spirit arts.

The demon's hand, dripping with dark red demonic energy, was already reaching for her.

'Too late...!'

As despair and urgency filled Diana's face-

SLASH!

A sword burst through the demon's mouth from behind.

"Gu-guh!"

A blade black as if it could devour all light in existence.

SPLAT!

Blood from the demon splattered across Diana's face.

Behind the falling demon stood a man holding that pitch-black sword.

Wearing a black uniform matching his sword, with snow-white skin, he smiled coldly at her stunned expression.

Then from his lips came-

"Is this proof enough?"

That ice-cold voice that seemed almost like laughter.

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