EPISODE 1 THE INSIPID PRINCE
There you are.
Now, shall we begin?
Please return to the castle.
I told you not to sneak up on me, Sebas.
It's habit. Forgive me.
What happened now?
General Dominik has perished.
Was he assassinated?
Details are scarce.
But I doubt efforts will be made to find the killer.
All right.
I'll complete my request and return to the castle.
There's no one else around.
Why take that form?
I can't allow anyone to find out that a prince is pretending to be an adventurer.
I ask you to refrain from such behavior if you're aware of the risks,
seventh prince of the Adrasia Empire, Arnold Reks Adler.
They call me the insipid prince,
since my kid brother sucked all the talent out of me.
I'll do as I please.
Besides...
I'm not Arnold.
Right now, I'm the SS-class adventurer, Silver.
What's the matter? Are you lost?
Sorry I don't have time to play.
CENTRAL VOGEL CONTINENT ADRASIA IMPERIAL CAPITAL, WIRTH
WIRTH ADVENTURER'S GUILD
A king minotaur horn?!
Seriously? By himself?
Good work, Silver.
Here's the bounty.
Thanks. I appreciate it.
Thank you too.
It's an honor to have one
of the five SS-class adventurers of the continent at the capital branch.
What's this?
A gift for you and the people here.
Have some booze.
That's our Silver!
Hell yeah we will!
Give me priority next time there's a high-difficulty request.
Okay, understood.
Thank you!
And now, it's time for the insipid prince's furtive activities.
CASTLE OF THE IMPERIAL SWORD
EIGHT IMPERIAL PRINCE, LEONARD REKS ADLER
SEVENTH IMPERIAL PRINCE, ARNOLD REKS ADLER
ARNOLD'S BUTLER, SEBASTIAN LEONARD'S MAID, MARIE WILCKE
I hear that old fogy's dead.
All because he was on my side.
You have a way of making allies.
Who was it?
Erik? Zandra?
Gordon?
I don't know.
What are you going to do?
I don't want to fight within the family.
I'm sure you don't.
But if you don't join the fight for the throne, all that awaits you is death.
The same goes for me and for Mother.
Yeah, I know. Sorry.
Stop apologizing and state your position.
I'll have to fight for the throne.
Indeed.
I'll cooperate with you.
You'll take the throne.
First, build a force so that the enemy can't threaten you.
Okay.
What are you going to do, Brother?
I'll look for allies.
Just don't expect too much.
Effectively all of the powerful nobles
and ministers are part of the factions of the first three.
I know. Thanks.
I think you're more cut out to become the emperor.
Do I really seem like the type?
I'm going to live a life of leisure with a beautiful wife.
I've got it all planned out.
To that end, I need you to become the emperor.
Right.
Why not reveal that you're SS-class adventurer Silver?
Pass.
My great-grandfather lost his mind obsessing over ancient magic.
Ancient magic has been a taboo among royalty ever since.
And I use that ancient magic.
It would be problematic for Leo, who is trying to become emperor,
if people were to find out that his twin brother is involved in such things.
Silver is said to be the most powerful adventurer in the empire's history.
Might that not be advantageous for Prince Leonard?
That's a last resort.
It's convenient for people to think I'm an inept prince for the time being.
Sebas, are there any duke families
that aren't involved in the fight for the throne?
Just one.
The Kleinert household.
Now that's a big name you've brought up.
There has to be a reason they're staying silent in times like these.
It seems their territory is being invaded by some troublesome monsters.
They're nowhere near a solution.
How about we say Leo asked Silver to deal with them to get them in our debt?
They would become wary of Prince Leonard
if he were to have the means to deploy an SS-class adventurer.
That could cause the relationship between Prince Arnold and Silver to be exposed.
So let them be wary.
The enemy will have to think twice, once they know Silver is involved.
Silver's identity won't be an issue either.
I just need to be careful.
But please bear in mind that there's a world of difference
between announcing your identity and it being exposed.
I know that.
All right, I'll go see the duke.
Time for some furtive work on my brother's behalf.
Please be careful.
Duke Kleinert's daughter is the Blau Mowe.
Ah, the one who was given a blue gull hairpiece by her father.
She is a young woman of unparalleled beauty.
Please do not allow yourself to be hindered by her charm.
Sebas! It's been bothering me for a while...
Do you have to lecture me all the time?
That is my duty.
I'll leave the rest to you.
Understood.
KLEINERT MANSION
I'm Silver.
I wish to meet the duke.
You're Silver?
Don't make me laugh.
I'd have heard about it from the adventurer's guild
if someone of his stature was going to show up.
Quit your pranks and go home.
Oh, you don't need to show me your adventurer card.
Go away.
I'm busy over here.
I'm here on Prince Leonard's orders.
Tell the duke that he's insulted me and the prince.
Why would I tell him that?
Now, get lost.
Man...
So that's Blau Mowe.
She's definitely beautiful, but I don't have time to be ogling her.
You've returned rather soon.
We're heading to the Kleinert domain immediately.
Weren't you just there?
Silver was.
This time, it'll be Prince Arnold who's going to be there.
Now the duke will have no choice but to beg Leo.
That's quite the sinister smile you've got.
Hurry up and get ready!
It'll take five days by horse, even if we're quick.
FIVE DAYS LATER
It's been a long time.
I haven't seen you in a while, Duke Kleinert.
When was the last time?
Not since your tenth birthday, Your Highness.
Now, Your Highness, what brings you to my domain?
I'm here to talk about
- compensation, of course. - Compensation?
This isn't what Leo wished for, but the circumstances are what they are.
If you feel any gratitude, I ask you to assist Leo.
Gratitude, you say?
Don't try to play dumb.
You have the trust of many, Duke.
That's why Leo offered you a favor.
And this is how you repay it? What is the meaning of this?
Your Highness, it seems that the duke is truly unaware.
That isn't good enough!
Leo deployed an SS-class adventurer for you!
At a time when he's embroiled in the fight for the throne, no less.
That's, in fact, why Silver agreed to take it on!
By Silver, do you mean the Silver?
That's right.
Leo heard that you had monster trouble and asked for Silver's assistance.
I hear he even uses the lost magic of teleportation.
There's no way he wasn't here.
Are you certain of this?
Do you dare to accuse me of lying?!
Your Highness, it's clear from the duke's behavior that he isn't lying.
Perhaps we should grant him some time to investigate.
I'll humor Sebas and give you some time.
Understood.
I'll gather information immediately.
That worked out.
That was practically a farce.
It was someone from this household that shooed Silver away.
I merely deepened that wound.
I never caused it.
Still...
Not that many fish can live in perfectly pristine waters.
You need someone to muck up the water just a little.
And you deem that to be your duty?
You will be the one to suffer.
It's fine.
It's Leo's reputation that needs boosting.
No matter how much mine suffers, it doesn't bother me.
It bothers me.
As well as your mother and Prince Leonard.
The three of you is plenty.
You moron of a son!
- Are you trying to destroy our family?! - Ooh.
I'm truly sorry!
Let's hear it.
It seems that Silver had been here five days ago,
but my idiot son sent him home.
You did?
But Father, who expects an SS-class adventurer to show up out of the blue?
- Wouldn't you think him an impostor? - Quiet!
Can I not even count on you to watch the gate while I'm absent?
B-But you told me my duty was to send away anyone who was here to see Finne!
I don't remember ever telling you to send away an SS-class adventurer!
You could have just checked his adventurer card!
- Well... - Duke...
Your children's failings are your own.
I understand.
I don't know how to apologize.
Apologize?
How would you apologize?
I doubt Silver would work with us anymore.
How do you propose to make up for that fact?
Well...
Please accept this elderly man's head.
I don't need your head.
Nor your worthless son's.
They'll have to offer something else instead, then.
Wh-What would you...
Let's see...
Something valuable to the duke's household as well as to me and Leo.
That would be...
Please take me.
So please forgive my father and brother, Your Highness.
Finne!
Please forgive her.
My daughter is still a child.
Your Highness, I saw Master Silver when he was here.
If he is guilty, then I, too, am guilty.
M-My sister's innocent!
This was my fault!
Please forgive her!
Your Highness, given the lengths to which the duke and his family are going,
I suggest that you quell your anger.
But if we allow this to pass,
we'll be unable to assert our lordliness going forward.
We need only to deal with this incident discreetly.
What about Silver?
He's a loyal man.
He would never abandon a request he's accepted.
That won't change the fact that we were insulted by the Kleinert family.
Perhaps we can discuss that later with Prince Leonard.
Leo forgives everything.
That is the reason he attracts so many people.
And it's to Prince Leonard that they gather.
Even as his older brother, fouling his relationship with a duke
without his knowledge may harm your standing.
Very well.
Duke, employ someone to find Silver.
I'll speak with him.
I'm surprised to see you in Duke Kleinert's domain still.
I thought someone might be sent here.
It's a surprise to me to see you here too, insipid prince.
It's a pleasure to meet you.
Finne Von Kleinert.
This isn't my first time seeing you.
Five days ago, our gaze met.
I apologize deeply for our family's insolence.
No apologies needed.
I'd heard that you're an earnest family that looks after its subjects.
It seems reputations are merely that.
Well...
It isn't unusual for an adventurer to wind up in lands troubled by monsters.
If you truly care about your people,
you ought to be ready to accept any adventurer.
Your brother sent me away because the duke
was ill-prepared for such a visit.
You're absolutely right.
We, the Kleinert family, are at fault.
Silver, do you have any intention of taking up the request again?
I wouldn't be here otherwise.
However, there's something I need to confirm first.
Were you successful in bringing the duke's family to your side?
I haven't received a promise.
An insipid prince indeed.
You're a far cry from your brother.
I'll have his support, I assure you.
You'd best have his full, unqualified support.
With that, I'll fulfill the request.
You may need him to write an oath to keep him from betraying you.
My father would never do such a thing!
Silver, do you intend not to help if he doesn't promise that?
Of course.
I ask you to take on the monster extermination regardless.
I promise to get the duke on our side.
You want me to trust an insipid prince?
Are you aware that you're making a difficult ask?
Of course. Nonetheless, I beg you.
Please.
Judging from how quick you are to bow your head,
you must truly be lacking in any pride as a royal.
I know I'm not worthy of your trust.
But please exterminate the monsters.
Very well.
As an adventurer, I can't allow the monsters to roam free any longer.
I'll take the request.
However, Lady Finne, we are counting on the duke's family.
Remember that I would not be helping otherwise.
Thank you!
I promise we will live up to your expectations!
Producing a false image of Silver using illusion magic...
That was truly a make-believe farce.
It worked out, though.
She's convinced that was the real thing.
Thank you for what you did.
What am I being thanked for?
You lowered your head for the sake of our subjects.
Of course I'm grateful.
I'd misunderstood you, Your Highness.
I thought you might be a terrifying person, but it seems you aren't.
No, that's a misunderstanding.
I lowered my head for my own sake.
Yes, that's a misunderstanding.
But to the extent that I'm allowing myself to be mistaken...
You'll forgive me, won't you?
What were you thinking back to earlier?
What are you talking about?
Perhaps it's the meteor shower you saw with your mother and brother as a child?
Perhaps Lady Finne's smile rekindled the same joy and awe as that moment.
Quit talking out of your ass.
Well, well. My apologies.
Now, this is quite the mess. Good grief.
A party comprised of two A-class and
four B-class adventurers was deployed here,
but that hasn't resulted in a resolution.
Each slime on its own is hardly a threat, but the mother slime keeps birthing more.
They'll just keep coming until I eliminate the source.
How do you plan to explain this
to the adventurers who have already accepted the request?
I'll figure it out.
Godspeed.
Good. Well done, everyone.
Let's take a quick break and move on.
Yes, sir.
Well, well.
We're in the presence of an SS-class adventurer.
I'm Abel. I'm the leader of this party.
I'm an A-class. Not that I'm any more than a child from your perspective.
Silver.
The duke told me about you.
But we wouldn't make for very good adventurers
if we just nodded and backed down.
You get it, don't you?
I understand.
Then why?
An adventurer like you would never have a shortage of requests.
I know what you're trying to say.
And I sympathize.
But are you able to deal with this situation?
The mother slime has grown quite large.
We've been unable to deliver a fatal blow and have retreated.
We simply don't have the firepower.
If you insist on keeping me away from the request, that's fine.
But I'll have to report to the Guild and ask for an emergency quest to be issued.
I'll accept that quest and return here.
If you think you can exterminate it in the meantime, I won't stop you.
I ask you to let me deal with the mother slime.
As an adventurer, I can't allow there to be any more damage done.
This is beyond what we can handle.
Do as you wish.
I'm sorry, everyone.
Leader...
Your offensive efforts are what kept the damage from spreading any further.
Well done.
The Guild ought to be grateful as well.
I never thought the day would come when an SS-class adventurer would praise us.
I hope you don't take that as sarcasm.
I'm truly grateful. I owe you.
Come to the capital branch if you need anything.
I'll do what I can.
Right.
What is he up to?
I thought he was going to take out the mother slime.
I am an agent of the heavens' will.
I am in communion with the laws of heaven and earth.
Come, moment of judgment.
May the evil tremble and the innocent rejoice.
My words are the words of God.
My blow is a blow of God.
At my fingertips are the flames that scorch the heavens.
This is ancient magic...
Execution Prominence!
All of the slimes, including the mother slime, are exterminated.
Can I ask you to make the report?
You ought to go.
You saved the duke's domain. You're a hero.
Sorry, but I'm not interested in heroes.
I'll leave it to you.
IN USE BY THE PRINCE. KEEP OUT.
That's that.
Sir Silver...
P-Prince Arnold?
Finne!