My Dungeon Life: Rise of the Slave Harem

Chapter 1545

“So, that’s what’s been going on.”

I had met with Prince Edward, and naturally, there was a lot to discuss. The last time I had spoken to him, I had left in a rush on the battlefield between the Ost Republic and Aberis to return to Chalm. They had been moments from starting a war that likely would have ended with one of the country’s destruction, but I had upended that ending, only to disappear without a word of explanation.

Not only did Prince Edward not know where I had been the previous two months and how I had seemingly escaped death, but Chalm had also become a mystery spot. Quite a bit of time had passed since then. Chalm had reopened as if nothing had happened. The Osterians had seemingly managed to cross Aberis and ended up on the eastern side, abandoning the country of the Ost Republic that they had helped form.

Then, there was the rumbling of some kind of major issue in Dioshin, which ultimately ended with them waging an attack on the west. Then, just as those rumors had reached the capital, I had over-ended the result, taken over the west finally bring Alerith under the heel, created an unprecedented trade agreement with Dioshin, and solidified my control. Even for the normally casual Prince Edward, each rumor sounded as unbelievable as the last, and when I finally was there to explain how everything had happened and the result, he still found it hard to believe.

“Well, that’s about everything.” I had finished talking for what felt like an hour and took a drink of water.

“I knew before I took the throne, I’d need to plant many seeds which would grow into a stable foundation, but I never expected such a seed would grow so much that I would end up in its shadow.” He spoke with a small smile on his face.

“That’s not my intention!” I waved my hands. “I’m not trying to overthrow you or anything.”

He let out a chuckle. “It’s fine. I’m not someone so prideful or childish to get jealous over the accomplishments of another man, especially a friend. What you’ve managed to build in only half a year is incredible. You’ve gained the loyalty of several unique races, and you’ve done things that will stabilize Chalm for years to come. I must warn you though, everything isn’t necessarily set.”

“What do you mean?”

“Many of the lords to the east are less than thrilled about your meteoric rise. First off, while Chalm is a diverse city, most of the country is majority human. Many lords aren’t happy with your affiliation and use of other races. The Osterians, the Dioshin, and the Deep Dwarves are all people we considered our enemies at one point. Some feel that you’re just an outsider who is taken away from our country. They consider you an enemy.”

“Seriously?”

He nodded. “I wouldn’t be surprised if someone sent assassins after you, or tried to make things difficult for you in other means.”

“You’re not the first to say that,” I responded bitterly.

The lionkin who was standing nearby, I had eventually asked to her name was Chance, shifted slightly as if she was ready to take on such assassins on her own. Perhaps I was being a bit ridiculous running away from the lionkin who only wanted to protect me. This conversation was starting to make me feel a bit paranoid, like an assassin might be around every corner.

“Well, if that makes you uncomfortable, then this next part will be even more difficult.”

“What is it?”

“Deek, I want you to be my opponent!”

Chapter 1546

“An opponent?” I asked, furrowing my brow.

“You may have heard rumors that under the castle in the capital is a dungeon.” Prince Edward spoke slowly. “This is a partial truth. What we have is an artifact in our treasury under the castle. This object opens up periodically. Anyone who touches it during this period is brought to another world. I believe you have a familiarity with something like this?”

“A soul dungeon,” I responded, leaning forward.

He nodded. “Yes, I believe I heard father call it that once. Your soul is separated from your body, and you’re put into a series of challenges. We’ve traditionally used these challenges to help train knights. However, it has another purpose as well. This artifact has existed for a long time, since before the demon lord back when the country was known as Osteria. It is because the Ost Republic does not have this artifact that the humans formed a council rather than selected a king. This is because this soul dungeon has traditionally been a means of selecting the king. Every five years, the artifact begins the period known as the king selection.”

“You need the king selection to be king?”

“Not exactly…” He scratched his head. “My father had naturally completed the selection several times during his reign. In theory, had he not abdicated the throne, the idea was as he got old and his soul weakened, there would be a time that he would eventually be outperformed by someone else. Since he left, he put me in charge, and so I was the king-elect. I could have taken the throne then, but for various reasons, I put it off. First, I wanted to wait until my dad was found again, and then there was the ongoing issue with Alerith, and then the wedding and the mess with the Ost Republic. I had been putting off the ceremony so long, that the lords have decided that my ability to take the throne is now dependent on succeeding with the dungeon.”

I frowned. “Didn’t you have to succeed anyway?”

“Originally, once I was on the throne, winning the king’s selection would have been more of a technicality. The dungeon rates people. Only one of them is the victor and they are given the right to rule. Usually, the opponent would be a friend of the king, someone who could hold their own, but would make the king look good.”

“That’s what you want from me?”

He shook his head. “Things are different now. As I said, many of the lords are not happy with how Aberis is going these days. The fact the country almost went to war because of your actions has made my support of you slightly stressful.”

“That…” I didn’t know how to respond, but I did realize I had caused a lot of issues then.

“Relax…” He lifted his hand. “You’ve done more than your share of good for this country. Whether it was stopping the battle, stopping the demon lord in the capital, destroying dungeons in the west, claiming territory, or fixing the issues with Alerith, I don’t regret being on your side in the least. That said, some lords are stirring up trouble, stating that perhaps a new family should become the royal family. They want me to verse a true challenger in the dungeon.”

“Where do I come in then?” I asked hesitantly.

“Just before the king’s selection, the lords will present their most promising family member. It’ll be a preliminary to decide who will fight against me in the king’s selection. I want you to compete.”

“So, what you’re saying is you want me to beat all of the others, join you in the competition, and then lose to you on purpose.”

“No…” He shook his head. “I want you to beat the others, join me in the competition, and then I want you as my true opponent. Whether I win or you win… the victor will be king of Aberis.”

Chapter 1547

I opened my mouth, finding his declaration to be difficult to swallow. He wanted me to become king of Aberis? Well, I mean, it wasn’t guaranteed. However, given my experience with dungeons, it was pretty likely I would win. Perhaps I was being a bit full of myself. I didn’t even know how strong Edward truly was. He was defeated by Shao in her demon lord form once, but those had been strange circumstances. If he had power equal to his father, I couldn’t just merge with Lydia before jumping in. I was pretty sure that would be cheating.

“King…” That was the only word I could manage to get out.

“You’ve already done enough for Chalm to make you a Duke. Even if you lose, I will promote you to Duke anyway. The other families are hoping to use this to snake their way into a leadership position, but I want to use their greed against them by bringing you into it. Since this entire competition was their idea, they won’t be able to refuse your right to compete if you win it under their conditions.”

“I can follow that part, but what are you saying about me becoming king?”

He chuckled. “You’re so confident you’ll win, huh?”

“I don’t mean it like that!”

“It’s fine. I’m a man who believes in fate. If you win, then it was simply not my fate to be king. What you’ve done in the west has already been the equivalent of forming a country. You’ve all but brought Dioshin and the Ost Republic to their knees as well. If you become the king of Chalm, I don’t believe it will be a bad thing.”

“I’d hardly say brought them to their knees…” I tried to pull back my accomplishments.

He crossed his arms and sat back. “Well, whatever you say, I still believe you’re the best person to be my opponent. I must say that the king selection isn’t purely one of bronze, but intelligence and willpower. My father has always taught me that I was destined to be king. He has prepared me well for that day, but I have always wondered deep inside if I truly deserved the position. That was part of the reason I had hesitated and pushed things back to this point. Now, I’ve realized that if I want to feel like I’ve earned it, I’m going to need an opponent that makes me feel like I’ve earned it. I know no one more of a man’s man than you, Deek Deekson. That’s why I wish for you to become my opponent.”

“Alright.”

“You don’t have to decide now. There is still time before the king’s selection is underway. I would like you to seriously consider it though. It is not easy, and not something for someone weak in will.”

“I understand. I’ll think about it first and let you know.”

I still wasn’t sure how I felt about it, but since I didn’t need to decide that moment, then I’d at least have a chance to talk to everyone about it.

He let out a sigh and sat back. “Good, in that case, there was one other thing I wanted to talk to you about.”

“What’s that?”

“I believe Eliana is in grave danger. I need you to go the Ost Republic immediately.”