The Extra Wants To Live

'As expected, you have chosen Aric as the crown prince.'

Such thoughts passed through the minds of some nobles. It was interpreted as an attempt to prevent other princes from taking the place of Aric, who was unable to participate in the hunt.

Carl tried to ignore it because the same thing happened in the original work.

"… … ."

"… … ."

However, the moment he made eye contact with Azgoth, who was quietly looking at him, he realized that even though Azgoth's actions were the same as in the original, the intention was different.

'… … This is too much... .'

Azgoth did not participate in the hunt.

Below Azgoth, the three princes were located side by side. On a small scale, it appeared as if Aric was protecting his position, but on a larger scale...

'He pushed Aric out and placed myself, Nero, and Adrian in the same position.'

In other words, all four adult princes were placed on the same line.

Although Aric protruded slightly, this did not mean that it was firmly in place. This was crazy.

Azgoth acted the same way as in the original, but his intentions were clearly different.

The moment Carl looked at Azgoth, he felt several nobles watching him at the same time.

Azgoth didn't know all of Carl's plans.

There was no way to know what plan he made with the knowledge of the original work. However, he knew for sure that Carl had a clear vision.

Azgoth was not stupid.

He nevertheless did something that could have foiled Carl's plan.

From the perspective of Emperor Azgoth of the Empire, what Carl was doing seemed quite strange.

He didn't even try to have nobles as his foundation, and was doing his best to tarnish his own reputation.

If Carl wanted to become emperor, he must create even the boundaries and threats around him with his own strength.

He must act boldly and win over the nobles.

Carl, who had no foundation, must make his excellence known to everyone.

That is why Azgoth was speaking to Carl now. Stop doing things that don't work and set a clear attitude.

And above all, Carl's life and plans were not that important to Azgoth. What was important was Azgoth's own plan.

Carl realized that he was in trouble.

Until Azgoth got a satisfactory answer, he would never be satisfied with Carl's answer.

The answer Azgoth wanted was determined, and the answer Carl could give was ultimately determined as well.

Carl smiled, his eyes sparkling with a flushed face as if he was very excited.

Because he had grown up so quickly, his skinny cheeks were still full of life.

"That's a really cool bear. I'll have to catch something bigger than that one."

Carl smiled brightly with a nonchalant face at everyone who expressed shock in silence.

"Is the meal ready yet?"

"Preparations are complete, Your Majesty."

Azgoth clearly ignored Carl's words, showing everyone that Carl was not on his mind.

Among the many answers before him, Carl discussed martial arts and at the same time pushed politics hard.

Azgoth was satisfied with the answer.

'I took one hit, but indeed.'

Carl secretly trembled.

Azgoth's actions made Carl realize that he had been too passive.

In the end, to become emperor, one must firmly control the nobles. To do so, he must attract attention in some way and appear attractive.

Azgoth would now create an opportunity for Carl to show off his skills.

Nero in the original strongly rejected this, but Carl would greedily desire it like a monkfish.

The position that Azgoth was trying to give to Nero in the original work now belonged to Carl.

There was now a reason to learn more about martial arts and military science.

***

Carl and Azgoth knew everything about each other, so they could talk, but to other people, it just felt like Carl didn't understand the topic and was being mean.

'What is your intention? Or is it just a passing thing?'

Even Nero, who knew that Carl was much smarter than he looked, was nervous.

However, even in the midst of the commotion, Adrian was secretly and quietly observing Carl's back with an unchanged complexion.

Adrian smiled when he saw that people's eyes were focused on Carl, and then walked leisurely to eat with the relaxed appearance of the second prince, uninterested in people around him and gossip.

***

The meal time went by quickly in a slightly hectic atmosphere.

Carl ate next to Nero, who was trying to protect and monitor him, and unlike before, he was able to exchange greetings with several nobles.

The nobles around Nero were mainly knights or officers, and there were also quite a few high-ranking military figures.

Conversely, nobility engaged in politics, diplomacy, etc. could not be found near Nero. This was what happened when military figures, who felt threatened by the fact that the relatively mild-mannered first prince Aric received great support from the political world and treated them preferentially, tried to enthrone Nero as the crown prince.

Of course, Nero just wanted to go out and see the world, so he maintained a reasonable distance from them.

"There were so many gnolls that when we participated in the battle on the first day, we couldn't even get close to the wooden fence, so we had to form a formation using wagons a little distance away. Lady Catherine taught me well. It was then that I was able to learn the importance of ranks and formations. He says that even cavalry charges don't work against well-lined heavy infantry?"

"Yes, there are commanders who overestimate the strength of their cavalry and make that mistake, but it is a very foolish action."

"It makes sense. I also charged into the rear flank of the gnolls on horseback, and I really thought I was a knight. At that time, Bilford was so good at the front that I, who was behind him, couldn't even swing the spear."

"Oh my god, did you charge in yourself?"

"Yeah, well… After being stopped by the gnoll, I killed the gnoll…"

Through this process, the nobles were able to realize that Carl was not just stupid and barbaric.

He was still young and had not learned properly, so he was hidden in the darkness of ignorance, but there was definitely a shining light of intelligence in him.

It had only been a little over a month since Carl recovered, but he was already skilled at riding a horse and even knew how to shoot a bow.

Judging by his thin body, it appeared that his health had not recovered yet, but he seemed to have talent. If it weren't for his illness, he might have become as great a warrior as Nero by now.

It was a shame.

Carl, who had decided on a firm direction, revealed himself a little, unlike before when he had only hidden himself, and was able to create a new impression on the military as 'the fourth prince who is still inexperienced, but has military knowledge and knows how to treat subordinates.'

"Even if it's not a bear, I still want to catch a big one." Then the topic shifted to hunting, and Carl mentioned it again.

"Hmm…"

"Just being successful at your first hunt is great."

"Yes, if you practice regularly, you too will be able to catch big game next year."

"Is that so?"

However, since Carl couldn't easily answer that question, Nero joined in and ignored him.

Carl sighed as if he was a little upset and looked at the nobles who were starting to talk about other topics.

He heard something happened in a family somewhere.

He actually didn't like the clothes that were trending recently. Kids these days were cocky, rude, and thought they were the best in the world.

Looking at people talking about such topics that were useless and not bad for socializing, Carl thought that even if they were nobles, people were still people.

"Wait a moment…" Carl said.

'Kids these days…' As attention was focused on the elderly nobleman who spoke enthusiastically, he quietly left his seat.

Nero asked Carl where he was going with a glance, but Carl pretended not to see him and just walked away. Carl wasn't really a child, and Nero couldn't interfere in everything. He didn't deserve it.

Nero was able to see Carl approaching Catherine and Bilford, who were waiting a little distance away, saying something, and quietly walking into the forest, taking only Bilford with them.

Catherine noticed Nero's gaze and lowered her head at him.

Nero thought that Carl had gone into the forest to do some business.

Since he went in with only the man Bilford as an escort and without even riding a horse,

he thought he would quickly get to a nearby place and then return.

However, Carl did not return until the long tea time after the meal for the nobles' social gathering was over. Nero belatedly noticed that Carl had repeatedly said, 'I want to catch the big guy.'

The fact that Carl was missing became known too late, and everyone was embarrassed by the fact that the sickly fourth prince went into the forest without a horse and only one servant to hunt the 'big guy.'

'You arrogant and conniving little brother!'

Nero had just recently said, 'Kids these days…'

He laughed awkwardly at the words, and as if it was a lie that he was denying in his heart, he ended up thinking,

"Anyway, kids these days!"

More than an hour had already passed since Carl left. No one knew how far he went or what big thing happened.

"Why are you so silent even though your master is not coming back?"

Nero hurriedly mounted his horse and questioned Catherine in anger.

"My lord has ordered me to wait, so it is my job to follow his orders and wait here."

"This…!"

Nero was speechless. The way each knight serves his lord is different. Catherine's method may seem foolish, but it is by no means wrong.