54 First Part: Extermination (1/2)
Following the assessment, it was time for the contestants to bid farewell to their supporters.
”Take care of this spatial pouch for me.”
Konrad said while putting his space treasure into Iliana's hand.
”As for you Daphne, don't cause trouble while I'm gone.”
Both looked at him with worried eyes.
”You must be careful. We don't know what kind of creatures you will encounter within that space world. Also, you may have to worry about the other teams' plotting too. Please remain prudent.”
Iliana urged with a trembling voice. As for Daphne, she grabbed Konrad's arm and leaned onto his shoulder.
”I can't bear to leave you…”
”It's only for a few days. Just wait for my good news.”
”Mhm.”
The supporters were led to their assigned quarters, and the contestants brought back to the prism holding room.
The ninth ”prince's” gaze locked onto Konrad for an instant, a hint of interest flashing within. Judging by the numbers, they were both the youngest and most outstanding contestants. Therefore, paying attention to him was natural.
”Nils are you interested in that boy?”
Asked the fifth prince in a mental message.
”Just a bit curious. Why have we never heard of a martial and spiritual dual talent emerging from house Kracht in the last decade?”
”Who knows? Maybe the Kracht fox wished to train him in secret for this very competition? In any case, it matters not.”
A light chuckle escaped the fifth prince's lips as his gaze passed by Konrad.
”Do you want to befriend him? He's only one year younger than you, and his talent isn't far behind. Maybe you could finally make a friend.”
”Fifth brother, please don't tease me. My sword is the only friend I need. That said, shouldn't you show more concerns? He seems awfully close to the woman you're supposed to woo.”
Unlike what Wolfgang believed, it was the fifth and not the ninth prince that had been selected to get Iliana's hand. However, hearing Nils' words, Holger merely curled his lips into a smile.
”Let them be. We want her house, not her heart. All pretenses of courtship and courtesy are unnecessary.
Regardless of who she may yearn for, the day I present myself with father's marriage decree, what can she do besides giving herself to me?”
To this, Nils had nothing to say.
”Why did father allow you to take on this task? Wouldn't it be appropriate to choose among our seventh and eighth brothers?”
The fifth prince, Holger, the ninth prince, Nils, and the crown prince Elmar were all born of the same mother. Their relationship was also the closest among all the imperial princes. Elmar and Holger, in particular, were bound by unequaled brotherly love. For the sake of helping his elder brother achieve his dreams, there was nothing Holger couldn't do.
Thus, allowing him to take Iliana was no different than giving the crown prince a new pair of wings.
”Father is not afraid of Elmar having too much power. He's afraid of him not having enough.”
...
The contestant groups now stood in front of the blue prism waiting for bishop Alto's instructions.
”There are twenty-seven groups and one-hundred-eight contestants in total. After the first trial, only thirty will remain.”
”We will transport you to the lowest level of the prism world. You have three days to collect the skulls of as many demonic beasts as possible. The top thirty point earners will go on to the second round.