This Bastard is Too Competent Chapter 250 - New Adventure

 

  

“M-Me?”

 

The man flustered by Ian’s words was none other than Nathan. He stared at Ian in disbelief as the prince suddenly held out a crown toward him.

 

‘Has he lost his mind? Why me?’

 

Nathan broke into a cold sweat under the intense, scrutinizing gazes of the crowd. Even someone as brash as Nathan couldn’t help but be shaken by the moment. But Ian frowned, clearly annoyed.

 

“Not you, sir. Step aside.”

 

“Huh?”

 

“I said, step aside. You’re blocking the person behind you.”

 

“Ah! M-My apologies!”

 

Under the weight of the increasingly intense gazes directed at him, Nathan quickly stepped aside. Standing behind him was the First Imperial Princess, Yoran.

 

“I appreciate your words, but I am not qualified to receive the crown,” she quietly declined, bowing her head.

 

At that moment, chaos erupted. The citizens who had gathered for the coronation of Leonic and the abdication ceremony all fell to their knees and cried out:

 

“If not the Princess, then who is fit to inherit the throne?!”

 

“Please become our Empress, Princess Yoran!”

 

“Only you fought for us! Please… please take the throne!”

 

It wasn’t just the commoners. The civil and military officials present also bowed before her.

 

“Please be our empress.”

 

“Grant us your grace, Your Majesty the First Imperial Princess.”

 

Everyone was bowing. Even Nathan, along with other knights and soldiers, couldn’t help but kneel due to the overwhelming atmosphere. Yet once more, Princess Yoran declined.

 

“I’m sorry. I am unworthy of the throne.”

 

“That’s not true. Please, become our Empress!”

 

Despite the second refusal, Ian stepped forward again.

 

“If not you, then no one in Cantum is worthy of this crown.”

 

“But I cannot accept it. I am not yet married. By Cantum law, I cannot ascend the throne.”

 

A third refusal. But Ian had anticipated this.

 

‘What a ridiculous law—requiring three refusals before one can become Emperor.’

 

Without missing a beat, Ian called for the High Justice, the official who presides over the laws of Cantum.

 

“Is what the Princess says true?”

 

“Yes. According to Cantum’s law, an unmarried person cannot become Emperor.”

 

“Then an engagement is enough to qualify?”

 

“That is correct.”

 

“Then let’s arrange it.”

 

“Pardon?”

 

Ian once again pointed at Nathan. But this time, Nathan, determined not to fall for it, smiled confidently.

 

“Yes, yes. I’ll move out of the way again.”

 

But there was no one behind him—only Princess Irene, the First Royal Princess.

 

‘Wait… Is he trying to marry her to another woman?’

 

That couldn’t be. Even in a liberal kingdom, same-sex marriage wasn’t accepted. But something felt off. As Nathan stepped aside, Ian’s finger continued to follow him.

 

“S-Seriously? Me?!”

 

Ian nodded.

 

Nathan, truly panicking now, cried out.

 

“W-Why me?! There’s nothing between us!”

 

“Then you can start something now.”

 

“!”

 

Startled, Nathan looked around in desperation. But no one objected. Even Galon gave a solemn nod.

 

“Nathan, you are qualified.”

 

“What do you mean, ‘qualified’?! Stop spouting nonsense, Galon!”

 

At that moment, the Chief Eunuch stepped forward and loudly addressed the crowd.

 

“Sir Nathan Adelas, second son of the prestigious Marquis Adelas of Kaistein, is a loyal retainer of Prince Ian Kaistein—the hero who saved Cantum. He, too, is a hero who risked his life to defeat the monster and protect this land!”

 

“T-That may be true, but… I have a fiancée…”

 

Nathan frantically searched for Princess Irene. And to his shock—

 

“Are you truly okay with this, Ran?”

 

“Of course. As long as I’m with you, I fear nothing, Rene.”

 

T/N: Sorry for the sudden change—I’ve decided to change the name Lyn to Rene. The pronunciation is quite similar, and it just hit me! There’s only about one chapter left anyway, haha.

 

Irene spoke as if it were completely natural, as if she were already quite familiar with Princess Yoran. A chill ran down Nathan’s spine as cold sweat formed.

 

‘Together…? Why is Princess Irene involved in this?!’

 

Just then, the Chief Eunuch raised his voice again and proclaimed:

 

“Though Sir Nathan Adelas was previously betrothed to Princess Irene of Kaistein, Her Highness the First Imperial Princess Yoran has taken Prince Ian’s request to heart. That engagement shall still be honored—thus, we shall proceed with a joint wedding ceremony, uniting Sir Nathan with both Princess Yoran and the First Royal Princess of Kaistein, Princess Irene!”

 

“!”

 

Nathan’s eyes nearly popped out of his head in shock. He immediately tried to activate his Oath ability to escape, but Ian grabbed him.

 

Grab.

 

“Where do you think you’re going?”

 

“Wh-What are you doing!? I haven’t agreed to anything—!”

 

“Did you know? Being the emperor’s consort actually ranks higher than being a king.”

 

“Wh-What kind of nonsense is that at a time like this—”

 

“If you marry the First Imperial Princess, you’ll technically outrank me.”

 

“!”

 

Nathan froze. Technically, Ian wasn’t wrong. The emperor’s consort would be considered a Grand Duke, a noble title that outranked even the king of a mere kingdom. If the wedding proceeded, Nathan would hold a higher title than Ian, who was next in line to inherit Kaistein’s throne.

 

‘Me, outrank Prince Ian…?’

 

A flood of memories came rushing back—times when Ian had teased and bullied him. Then, Ian leaned in and whispered softly:

 

“Honestly, wouldn’t it be better for a free spirit like you, Sir Nathan, to live alongside Princess Yoran instead of being tied down by my sister? If all goes well, you’d be free to travel across Cantum as a Grand Duke—married to not one, but two noble ladies. Isn’t that every man’s dream?”

 

“…”

 

Nathan’s pupils shook. He was almost completely swayed. Ian smiled faintly.

 

‘Consider it payback, Sir Nathan. From a past life.’

 

It was part revenge for past grievances—and part repayment for everything Nathan had done. Of course, Nathan had no idea what he was really getting into. Being the emperor’s consort was anything but easy, and Ian knew that well. Still, there was another reason behind this decision.

 

‘Cantum needs a hero.’

 

The empire needed someone who could restore its damaged reputation. And Nathan—who had fought more monsters than anyone—was the perfect choice. Ian was just as qualified, but he had other duties. His rightful place was in Kaistein.

 

“Make your choice. Will you do it or not?”

 

“I-I…”

 

Nathan furrowed his brows. Just then, Princess Irene walked up and whispered:

 

“Surely you haven’t forgotten our childhood promise, have you?”

 

“W-Why would I forget that?”

 

“Then you’re not refusing to marry me because you don’t want to… are you?”

 

“…”

 

Nathan’s eyes wavered. Not only was he shocked that she remembered such an old promise—he was even more stunned that she was agreeing to this absurd marriage. But Irene calmly said:

 

“The Kaistein throne will go to Ian, no matter what. So I’ve decided—it’s time I aim for a larger stage.”

 

Thankfully, she and Yoran got along well. They shared the pain of betrayal—and the ambition to rebuild the empire together. Then, in a chilling, almost threatening voice, she whispered:

 

“Don’t even think about running, Sir Nathan. No matter where you go, I’ll find you. I swear.”

 

“…”

 

Even so, Nathan made one last desperate attempt to escape. But it was already too late.

 

Grab.

 

“G-Galon!? Not you too?!”

 

“Stay still. This is for your own good.”

 

“Come on, isn’t it about time you grew up a little?” Ian said with a teasing smile.

 

“No! I don’t want to!”

 

And so, Nathan was dragged away. It was as if they had all prepared for this moment—his groom’s outfit was already waiting for him.

 

Then—

 

“We shall now commence the wedding ceremony of Princess Yoran Cant, Princess Irene of Kaistein, and Sir Nathan Adelas.”

 

A grand celebration broke out. Nathan was pulled forward as the two brides walked down the red carpet in their wedding dresses. Ian joined in the applause with the rest of the crowd.

 

“Nooooooooooo!”

 

Only Nathan’s anguished scream echoed through the hall.

  

***

 

While the wedding ceremony was in full swing, Ian slipped away from the crowd and quietly made his way to the Great Hall—where people were waiting for him.

 

“All right then. Shall we discuss the unfinished business now?” Ian asked.

 

He was speaking to Kanhelna, a red-haired woman who had taken human form after transforming from a dragon. She tilted her head, clearly curious.

 

“But are you sure this is okay? He looked like he really didn’t want to go through with the engagement.”

 

“No worries. They’ve known each other since childhood and care for each other deeply.”

 

“Really? It didn’t seem like that at all to me.”

 

In truth, Nathan had thrown a complete tantrum. He resisted so violently that Princess Irene had to punch him in the stomach to knock him out. Ian recalled memories from his previous life.

 

Why had Nathan left the royal guard and joined Duke Garcia? Why had he later abandoned that and sided with the Third Prince?

 

Every one of those positions had been advantageous. But Nathan had given them up. For only one reason:

 

‘Because he couldn’t protect her as a mere royal guard—and Duke Garcia had already set his sights on the First Princess.’

 

Everything Nathan had done was for her. Though his impulsive behavior often masked his true intentions, Ian let out a quiet chuckle.

 

“It’s just a matter of perspective. Sir Nathan isn’t great at expressing himself.”

 

Truthfully, he could have escaped even now using his Oath ability. The fact that he hadn’t… said everything.

 

‘Or maybe he just didn’t think of it?’

 

Either way, it didn’t matter now. Ian had done his part—uniting two people who, in his past life, could never be together. And granting the First Princess her dream of ruling a vast empire, with the knight she loved by her side.

 

Sure, Ian had gained a few things in return. But Nathan would never know that. And that was fine.

 

“All right,” Ian said, his tone turning serious. “Let’s talk about the restrictions placed by the First King.”

 

Kanhelna quietly parted her lips as he looked grim.

 

“The First King was concerned about his descendants. He didn’t want the Seven Sins to corrupt the continent again. So he transformed Pride into Faith and entrusted it to his most loyal knight.”

 

“And you were chosen as the guardian of that restriction?” 

 

“Exactly. Who else could have taken on the role? I was chosen by him to guard the restriction.”

 

“And now… why have you come to me?”

 

“Because you’ve been chosen as the successor.”

 

“…What?”

 

Instead of answering, Kanhelna simply pointed to Ian’s head. Then, the helmet responded.

 

[I apologize for not telling you sooner. But what she says is true—you have been chosen.]

 

“Chosen for what, exactly?”

 

[To become the First King’s successor. The one who will protect this continent. That decision was entrusted to me and to Faith—and we chose you.]

 

Ian was silent for a moment. Buried memories from his past life—the pain of forcing someone into a choice—began to surface.

 

“So, it was a test all along.”

 

[Yes. And you passed completely. You now carry the First King’s will.]

 

“If I was truly chosen, why did the other relics reject me?”

 

[They no longer wish to return to the world. They are the shield and the armor. They refuse to witness the death of another person they once protected.]

 

This was especially true for great figures like the First King. And because Ian was so exceptional, they couldn’t bear the thought of repeating that pain. Still, Ian gave a faint smile.

 

“Let’s put that aside for now. Why are you telling me all this now?”

 

[Because the arrogance of the Magic Continent has gone too far. Until now, I endured it, seeing it as part of the First King’s test. But I can no longer stand by.]

 

Kanhelna was prepared to unleash her flames and judgment. Now that Ian had inherited the First King’s will and learned the truth, the dragons would no longer hold back. Ian smiled.

 

“Then I’ll join you.”

 

“What? Why? You could just return to Kaistein and become king,” she replied in surprise.

 

“I can do that anytime. But I’m not going there to die.”

 

He meant it. To uncover the truth behind his so-called past life, he had to follow Kanhelna. Then Ian asked a curious question.

 

“By the way, for someone who claims not to care for worldly matters, you seem very well-informed.”

 

“Well, don’t you… possess the Dragon Heart of Rio Banzaim?”

 

“What does that have to do with anything?”

 

Ian tilted his head in confusion, and Kanhelna cautiously explained.

 

“The Dragon Heart in your possession was once mine. I passed it on to Rio Banzaim. In a way, you’re carrying half of my heart.”

 

“!”

 

What Ian had received from Rio Banzaim was something Kanhelna had once entrusted to him. And because she had given it away of her own volition, she was fully aware of Ian’s actions as the owner of the Dragon’s Heart. Ian was left speechless.

 

“No wonder… I kept feeling like someone was watching me.”

 

Because the power was so overwhelming, even Jealousy couldn’t help Ian trace its source. But that no longer mattered.

 

“Anyway, mind if I come along?”

 

“Why do you want to?”

 

“I want answers. Why is all this happening to me? What is this so-called Great Master after… and why did he do all this?”

 

Ian instinctively knew that the Great Master was tied to the Holy Empire. It was likely through his power, and what had happened to Ian’s twin, the saintess, that he had been given a second chance at life.

 

‘By now, he must have left the Holy Empire. Most likely… he’s gone to the Magic Continent.’

 

If it were him, he would’ve done the same. His plans on the Swordsmanship Continent had failed. The Magic Continent would be his next move. And he wouldn’t return until Ian was dead. Ian would find him—if he stayed here. Kanhelna seemed to agree.

 

“Very well. Let’s go together.”

 

Kanhelna’s body suddenly began to expand. As she transformed back into her original form, the Great Hall shattered around her, unable to withstand the size of the dragon she had become. She looked down at Ian and spoke.

 

[Climb on.]

 

Without hesitation, Ian mounted her back, and they ascended into the sky.

 

Below them, shouts rang out faintly.

 

“D-Dragon!”

 

“A dragon came to bless the wedding!”

 

“It must be here to celebrate the birth of the new empress!”

 

Ian chuckled as he looked down at the scene—Nathan’s tear-streaked face, the two princesses beaming with joy. But then, someone grabbed his waist from behind.

 

“I’m coming too.”

 

“Sir Galon? When did you get on?!”

 

“I can’t let Your Highness go alone.”

 

And he wasn’t the only one.

 

“M-M-Me too! I’m coming too!”

 

Sang was clinging to the dragon’s leg. His face was pale with fear, but the determination in his eyes was unmistakable. Ian smiled at the sight.

 

“Well, I guess I don’t have a choice. Shall we go then? To the Magic Continent?”

 

“Yes, sir!”

 

“Y-Yes!”

 

And so, the three of them soared through the skies on the back of the dragon, leaving Kaistein behind and heading toward the Magic Continent. It was the beginning of a new adventure.