“…Why not rest a bit and think it over?”

“Right. I’m about to get neural overheat too.”

“Let everyone sleep well tonight and meet again tomorrow.”

Fortunately the meeting did not drag on long.

Irritation at losing the Fly King again.

The Royal Family’s incomprehensible interference.

The main House’s incomprehensible orders.

My status as a successor rather than a sovereign.

All weighed on our minds like burdens that even drink could not wash away.

For me, that was fortunate.

Because one more weight had been added.

The Hero’s Journey.

The Sub-patriarch.

Andromeda and I left the luxury inn where the twins were staying and returned to our camp.

“See you tomorrow, sis.”

“Yeah. See you tomorrow.”

Andromeda went into her tent.

I returned to mine.

When her face disappeared I felt relief and yet pain.

“Thunderbolt Constellation.”

I immediately unfolded Whispered Transmission and Six-Directions Transmission perks.

【Using Base Perk ‘Six-Directions Transmission’ to check Hero’s Journey Stage 4.】

【Hero’s Journey — 12 Stages】

【Stage 4: Sub-patriarch {(Kronprinz/Crown Prince) Locked}】

【Become the Sub-patriarch (Kronprinz/Crown Prince) of the great House.】

【Penalty on failure: Death】

【Reward on success: Heart Domain】

I had not misread it.

It was truly Sub-patriarch.

Seeing the phrase that explicitly said “of a great House,” it was clear no flimsy trick would work.

“Is ‘Heart Domain’ the Heart Domain I know?”

In despair and anxiety I asked a question to make at least one thing clear.

【“If the ‘Heart Domain’ you know is the Authority that connects to the body, detects brainwaves and nerve responses to verify the truth of a story, then yes.”】

【The Dreaming Thunderbolt Constellation is satisfied with the contractor’s erudition.】

Insanely, the answer came immediately.

“Why Sub-patriarch of all things?”

I tried hard not to cultivate negative feelings toward the Constellation.

You become unhappy if you get angry at every unavoidable thing.

Today my self-control wavered.

“Are you telling me to fight Andromeda? She raised me, turning a red-light-district orphan into a Blue Knight. I’m still human. No— even if I betrayed her it would be a problem. Can that be done?”

She was direct-line blood.

I remembered Divine Lightning Descent.

That was a topmost lightning technique only a handful of elders could use.

Not merely an Authority solvable by mana or talent, but a skill honed over time.

Andromeda had achieved it in her mid-twenties.

She already wielded heavenly thunder and other absurd Authorities.

From long training I knew.

I could not beat her.

My breath caught.

【“You know there is no other Journey you can take, do you not?”】

“…….”

But what truly shook me was—

“The Hero’s Journey has always raised your social status.”

I could not refute the Constellation’s words.

I knew.

I had risen from Blue Knight to adoptive heir, from adoptive heir to warlord, from warlord to hero.

I held the title Imperator of a million-population city, toppled the Senior Adopted Heir and seized his place, and now I engaged in diplomacy with other great Houses.

“There are few positions left above me inside Astreos.”

Becoming a Stellar Constellation meant nothing—the great House system treated it as a post, not a rank.

【“Yes. You knew. From the moment you were adopted, only siblings, the Sub-patriarch, and the Patriarch sat above you.”】

【Hero’s Journey — 12 Stages】

【Stage 4: Sub-patriarch (Kronprinz/Crown Prince)】

【Become the Sub-patriarch (Kronprinz/Crown Prince) of the great House.】

【Penalty on failure: Death】

【Reward on success: Heart Domain】

The sigil flared and Stage 4 formally unlocked.

【“Check the next Journey.”】

Following the star’s instruction I used Six-Directions Transmission again.

【Hero’s Journey — 12 Stages】

【Stage 5: Attend the Prince-Feudal Council】

【Obtain more than an observer’s right at the Prince-Feudal Council.】

【Penalty on failure: Death】

【Reward on success: Telephonic Transmission】

There was no time to be surprised by the mysterious Authority ‘Telephonic Transmission’ that enabled long-distance communication among Blue Knights.

【“Next is Stage 5. You’re already almost halfway there. It’s about time you step beyond the House and operate on an imperial scale, isn’t it?”】

The Constellation was right.

Attend the Prince-Feudal Council, become a figure of the entire Empire, expand your influence through the following Journeys and ultimately become Emperor.

To do that you must be the second in command within the House.

An imperial-scale goal made my head spin.

“The Constellation is correct.”

【“Of course.”】

“I actually expected a day like this would come.”

【“That too. I expected the one I chose would think that far.”】

But I did not give in.

“So I planned ahead for when such a day came.”

Realists always tried their best.

【“Oh?”】

“So listen—no, hear me out…”

Plan: do not fight Andromeda.

Raise my political rank significantly.

And protect my soul.

“…That is the plan. How is it? Isn’t being Sub-patriarch of Astreos much worse?”

I detailed the plan over hours.

I waited for the Constellation’s reply, my blood feeling dry.

【“You—”】

“Yes.”

The Constellation answered.

【“You do resemble that child in some ways.”】

That child?

I did not know what it meant.

The Constellation’s mystery and majesty remained unfathomable.

But the voice sounded oddly sad at that moment.

The next day.

We resumed meetings from the morning.

The previous night’s promise to sleep and reconvene felt hollow—no one appeared to have slept.

“…Heh.”

“…Huh.”

“Headache.”

The twins’ eyes were dark as leather masks and Andromeda’s face was lined with pale, strained veins from neural overheat.

I too had not slept a wink.

“All right, who has a good idea?”

Andromeda opened the meeting in a tone that betrayed no expectation.

“Sis.”

I raised my hand.

“Hmm?”

“Huh?”

“Young Master?”

All three reacted with surprise.

I inhaled.

I did not know how they would take this.

If I sounded insane they might curse me and wreck everything before we even began.

“Release Erica.”

But if doing nothing meant death, trying anything was better.

“Only on paper at first. And the released Erica will ostensibly hire a mercenary troupe from the Free City to return to her House.”

I unfolded the scenario I had prepared.

“But that Free City troupe has a brotherhood bond with our own mercenary band.”

Everything made sense.

It was not unnatural that local mercenaries would assist reconnaissance duties on these frontiers; drunkenly establishing a brotherhood bond with them was plausible.

“Then our side fights the Fly King.”

When the Fly King fled into Royal territory, Erica would by coincidence return to Rikenta via that same route.

Her escort mercenaries would see the Whitebone Lord and, terrified, ask their brother mercenaries for help—the plea would climb the chain and reach me.

I would legally cross the border and capture the Fly King.

“Then I can enter Royal territory.”

I had checked this logic at dawn with Gaveng and the math held.

Legally sound.

But in this Empire law meant the whim of direct-line great Houses.

“…….”

“…….”

“…….”

I gauged their reactions.

They might think I was mad.

They probably did.

“Young Master Kyrie.”

Vichera looked at me with trembling eyes.

“Do you think the Royal Family will swallow such nonsense?”

Her breath came harsh behind a leather mask.

“It’s not the old paper curled with dust centuries ago that matters. The land is under the Royal Family’s de facto control. Even if the Royals don’t seize on the technicality, there’s Princess Rikenta’s vow to respect the result of an honest battle or duel—what will happen the moment you explicitly free Erica? A risky plan like that—”

She seemed furious.

“—Begin immediately!”

“We’ve thought of safety measures… huh?”

For a moment I was sure my hearing had failed.

Vichera spread her arms like a mischievous cat and smiled.

“It’s not often we get a chance to knock the Fly King down and give those Royal bastards a real taste. If you want to roast marshmallows you must be prepared to burn your hand.”

She waved her hand in the air and shouted.

“Tribute to your courage, Young Master. I never expected you’d craft such a plan that suits our tastes in a single night.”

Vicher nodded with satisfaction.

“Honestly I’m worried. Something might happen to you or Erica being together.”

Andromeda bit her lower lip.

“But you’re of Astreos. It would be wrong for me to stop you on the basis of danger—especially since I took Father’s orders upon myself.”

Yet her eyes showed a hint of apology and more admiration.

“Yes. You’re truly my brother.”

“She was raised well!”

Vichera stood, stepped behind me, and hugged me tightly.

The thick leather and metal studs stabbed into me.

“What do I do, girl?”

“My lord. The ‘mercenary band’ is ready, sir.”

Joi pointed to a line of hundreds of soldiers with a lazy smile.

“The paperwork is ready too.”

Gaveng handed me a stack of documents with a very displeased look.

Brotherhood papers between the Free City troupe and our unit, permissions to request help up the chain—everything.

“Thanks.”

Outside, Andromeda and the twins prepared for a final sortie.

“May I come in?”

I drew a breath and called to Erica’s tent.

Yes.

In truth I had not spoken a single word to Erica yet.

“Come in.”

Swoosh.

“First, I apologize for informing you this way.”

“It’s fine. I’m a lord too. In war there are situations where action must precede report.”

She wore a plain coarse dress and hid her abundant blonde hair under a white headscarf.

Yet her oasis-green eyes still held that distant depth and the dignity of one who survives any contest.

“I hear your release is an indispensable part of the plan.”

“On paper. I won’t actually let you go.”

“But then you may attack me. While fighting the Fly King and Royal knights you might also have to face me, yes?”

“…….”

“Or we might fail the subjugation altogether. Without Andromeda constantly dropping lightning, it will be hard to control the Mental Shockwave. In this arid land you won’t be able to use your brainwave as freely as in Astreos or borderlands. If we overreach, both of us could die—have you considered that?”

“Fair point.”

Everything she said was realistic.

“I give you a reason not to betray me. I promise. In three years I’ll make you Head of Rikenta.”

But in reality there was no next step after betraying Erica.

So I tossed out a promise she might believe.

Like facing Gluttony—appeal to what they wanted to believe.

“What did you say?!”

“And yes, it’s a dangerous plan.”

“No. Wait. Don’t change the subject. This is not something that can be brushed off!”

“We could both die.”

“The Head of Rikenta? That’s out of the blue—like a bolt from a clear sky. Rikenta Head suddenly—”

“But you won’t die alone. I’ll be by your side.”

She widened her eyes as if my manner had reached her.

“What could I say against Astreos? Against people who live like they risk their lives every day.”

She sighed softly.

“All right. Freedom always has a price. Let’s try it.”

She turned away with a graceful smile.

“Then untie me now.”

She showed me the knot of her headscarf.

Chapter 151

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