Faust immediately understood what his father meant. He nodded and said,
"Just like you."
When the Qingxi Kingdom managed to gain independence back then, was it through some incredibly meticulous planning?
No, there was no other reason. A group of companions from Qingxi had formed a hot-blooded band and, taking advantage of the empire's internal chaos, rose in rebellion, carving their path out with blades and spears.
Pure violence. Absolute martial might.
Power was the reason for being king.
At the mention of his former glory, a trace of color returned to the old king's pale face. He smiled and said,
"I should be ashamed; I can probably only be considered a heroic king of the lowest tier. However, it was enough to liberate the people of Qingxi and build a small, independent kingdom. My caliber is limited to this much."
'Alright, please stop smiling. I know you're proud, but you don't have to say it every single time.'
The reason the old king was so indifferent to governance was likely because he truly believed those things were useless.
Mere clever tricks; they were nothing compared to the path of the hero!
Indeed, nothing was more suitable for a king than having supreme power reside within oneself.
Faust understood this logic perfectly. One wouldn't need to rack their brains over how to balance their ministers, or carefully mediate conflicts, or engage in superficial diplomacy with hostile forces.
Those who follow me shall prosper, those who oppose me shall perish! Everything would be decided by the invincible edge of a blade.
This world truly possessed powerhouses capable of taking on an entire nation single-handedly, leaving a profound mark on legends and epics.
Faust had once yearned for that kind of freedom, but his talent in the occult was... barely satisfactory.
As Yusewood had sharply critiqued:
"Aside from being exceptionally handsome, you have no outstanding talent."
In the field of occultism, a fine appearance was indeed part of one's aptitude, but beyond that, Faust had been dismissed as worthless by his royal sister, the high warlock.
Precisely because he understood this, Faust worked doubly hard in other areas. The 【sovereign monarch】 path did not depend on talent; as long as one could become a qualified and competent monarch and achieve enough merits, their power would rise accordingly.
He could forget about becoming a peerless powerhouse, but by working hard, he could still hope to squeeze into the top ranks.
Moreover, this fairy tale world was in an era akin to the Zhou Rites. Although the various nations fought and killed each other ruthlessly, they followed strict rules in certain aspects.
An officially recognized occult noble did not have to worry about being assassinated or decapitated by a powerhouse. Currently, the Qingxi Kingdom had only two true "occult noble" lineages: the royal family and the Roselin family.
Almost no one dared to violate the rules certified by the fairies.
"To become... a heroic king?"
The prince's eyes lit up. A path he had previously given up on suddenly became clear.
In truth, Faust didn't enjoy playing strategy simulation games that much. Though he was indeed a Paradox player, reality lacked a God's eye view. When he actually tried his hand at governing, he found difficulties everywhere.
The entire territory of the Qingxi Kingdom was only the size of a former imperial border province, yet it was already taxing him. He could hardly imagine how much effort future expansion would require.
If he could follow the path of the "heroic king," he wouldn't have to worry about being unable to manage it.
Faust simply wanted to be an overlord. He didn't care which path he took to get there!
"The fairy's choice to form a contract with you was likely intended to cultivate a heroic king. Fairies always give as many trials as possible to the mortals they favor."
The old king had almost reached a conclusion. He picked up a quill, signed a sealed decree, and handed it to his foster son:
"Whenever you wish to go out and train, just go. The position of prince regent will always be reserved for you. The future of Qingxi rests in your hands after all. However, you will have to convince Yusewood yourself."
At the mention of his daughter, the old king grumbled, "That girl stopped listening to me long ago. Her sense of belonging to Qingxi is also... Sigh, ever since she brought you back, she’s been filled with joy, caring only about doting on her younger brother."
'Doting? Father, what are you talking about? Why can't I see it?'
Faust nearly laughed out loud. Given the way his royal sister looked at him with constant disapproval, even if she showed him attention, it was mostly just to find faults.
'Sigh, Father truly has gone senile. It's only because Yusewood has no interest in power; otherwise, he wouldn't even realize a war of succession was happening under his nose.'
The prince shook his head and took the king's sealed decree. He discovered it was an appointment handing over full royal authority to the prince regent. Even the diplomatic authority, which he was supposed to receive only after the coronation ceremony, had been granted to him.
"The kingdom is in your hands. From now on, I will no longer interfere in whatever you do. Cough... I have done everything I was supposed to do. In the future, under the protection and guidance of the fairies, whatever end the Qingxi Kingdom meets will surely be its destiny."
The aging warrior king seemed to have unloaded a heavy boulder from his shoulders. He let out a long sigh of relief, then waved his hand and adjusted his position to lie down on the soft bed.
Seeing his father rest, Faust bowed and slowly retreated from the bedchamber.
For some reason, why did everyone seem to have no interest in the throne? They passed it off like a hot potato. This feeling of being the only one who didn't fit in... could there be some curse about how the one who wears the crown must bear its weight?
【Is it possible that they all care more about the kingdom's future, and you are simply the only one consumed by a lust for power?】
"That’s actually true."
【But if it weren't so, you wouldn't be bold enough to defy fate. I love the way the son of man remains loyal to his desires, pursuing them through suffering. And you, Faust, are a standout among them.】
"Stop talking about that for now. Is there any substance to the 【heroic king】 path Father mentioned?"
Faust had mostly grown accustomed to Mephistopheles' style of conversation. The other party didn't act like a sublime fairy at all. Whether it was joking or sarcasm, it came naturally to the fairy, lacking any of the sacred image from legends.
What little awe Faust had once felt had been almost entirely eroded.
【Are you interested in it? It makes sense. The son of man is far too fragile; without enough power in your hands, you can do nothing. I intended to follow this path as well when I decided to help you become an 'overlord'.】
Faust took a deep breath. "So, when do I go for the trials?"
The path of the 【hero】 wasn't something one could walk behind closed doors. One had to follow a process, undergoing adventures and training across the vast lands.
Royal bloodlines from various duchies and kingdoms would mostly go out on wandering trials. Princes were as common as stray dogs on the roadside.
'I didn't expect I'd have to become a loitering prince too. Fine, I suppose this is a necessary part of a fairy tale.'
【There is no need for that. At least, not yet. If you require a blessing, I can give you the opportunity to grow stronger right now.】
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