“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?”@@@@


    “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.”