Chapter 1690: Chapter 1688: Is This Even Possible? (Can a Writer’s Hiatus Be Called a Hiatus?)

If it were someone else, Reinhard might not say much, but with Fang Zheng, he truly has no choice — after all, Fang Zheng could easily defeat him, and Felt clearly trusts Fang Zheng more. So, reluctantly, Reinhard took Fang Zheng and Felt to a secluded spot and revealed everything.

"What? You’re saying Felt is a royal heir?"

Regarding the Royal Selection, Fang Zheng had already heard about it from Crusch, but even so, he still found it incredible.

"How did you determine that?"

"It’s simple, because of this insignia."

As he spoke, Reinhard extended his hand and took out an insignia identical to the one Fang Zheng had seen with Crusch.

"When this young lady received the insignia just now, it emitted a radiance, which is enough to prove she is one of the maidens chosen by the Dragon, and thus a royal heir."

"Hmm... Wait a minute, are you saying you lost the insignia and Felt found it? You lost something? That’s not likely."

Upon hearing this, Fang Zheng quickly identified a blind spot. By logic, Reinhard shouldn’t make such a mistake due to his Divine Protection.

After battling with Reinhard, Fang Zheng had investigated him out of curiosity and discovered that in this country, many strong individuals possess a characteristic called "Divine Protection." For instance, Crusch has the "Wind Blessing," and Felis has the "Blessing of Water," but generally, one person has only one Protection.

However, Reinhard is different; he’s like the world’s favored child, stacking all sorts of Protection buffs, and they switch automatically based on the situation.

If you attack him from a distance, he’ll have ranged Protection.

If you engage in close combat, he’ll have melee Protection.

If you try to steal from him, he’ll have anti-theft Protection.

Simply put, for everything unfavorable to Reinhard, the world grants him a buff to avoid or nullify it, so losing belongings is generally impossible. If he were to lose something, the world would give him "anti-loss" Protection.

However, the favored child isn’t the true heir, so when Fang Zheng challenges Reinhard, the world can’t stop him and wouldn’t dare risk mutual destruction, thus Fang Zheng penetrated Reinhard’s Protection.

Felt, however, clearly doesn’t have that ability.

"I thought so too, but now it seems this might be destiny’s calling."

"Destiny’s calling?"

"Yes."

Reinhard nodded, once again looking at Felt.

"I’ve been searching for the remaining Dragon Maidens, but never expected one to appear before me in this manner; isn’t that destiny?"

"Oh......."

Others might find Reinhard’s words perplexing, but as a Prophet Mage, Fang Zheng understood his meaning. Clearly, Reinhard’s current goal is to find the maidens chosen by the Dragon to participate in the Royal Selection, and the world probably provided him a "find the Dragon Maiden" buff, leading to him losing the insignia only for Felt to pick it up.

"I think I understand, but it’s also about personal will, right?"

Saying this, Fang Zheng looked at Felt.

"Felt, do you want to be King?"

"No way!"

Felt responded almost immediately.

"See, that’s how it is. Even knights should respect others’ wishes."

"But as a knight, I’ve sworn loyalty to the country."

While speaking, Reinhard walked to Felt and knelt on one knee.

"Master Felt, the Kingdom cannot go a day without a ruler; Lugnica’s current state must change, and you, as a maiden chosen by the Dragon, participating in Royal Selection is destiny’s calling!"

"I don’t want to, I won’t go, I’m not interested!"

Faced with Reinhard’s request, which would make most girls blush and nod, Felt mercilessly gave a triple rejection.

"Exactly, Reinhard, why are you fixated on her?"

This time Fang Zheng also spoke.

"The little girl is still so young, and she grew up in the slums. Expecting such a person to be King is a joke! Even if she became King, who would listen to her?"

"Exactly, exactly!"

"I would serve at the King’s side as a knight."

"Then aren’t you afraid she’ll make a mess of the Kingdom?"

Fang Zheng became more puzzled, and Felt’s eyes sparked with interest.

"Yeah, I have no clue about these things. If you want me to be King, then I’ll just mess around... Right, little bro, we get along well, so after I become King, I’ll gift the whole country to you! How about that? Isn’t it great!"

"That’s also a good suggestion."

Unexpectedly, Reinhard nodded.

"If Master Felt became King, she could marry Your Excellency Fang Zheng, and if they regenerate a few children, the Royal Family’s stability would be even more assured..."

"Re-re-regenerate children?!"

Upon hearing this, Felt blushed instantly, while Fang Zheng shook his head in disbelief. He really didn’t expect Reinhard to be so stubborn........

Thinking of this, Fang Zheng pulled Felt aside.

"So? Have you thought it over?"

"I refuse. I absolutely won’t be some damn king even if it kills me!"

Felt remained unwavering in her stance for a hundred years.

"I still want to earn some money and buy a shop with Old Man Rom to live a peaceful life!"

"But if you become king, isn’t it possible to live in a big house? And everything there is free."

"That’s gross. I prefer to do things myself, and you saw it, didn’t you? As king, they even have a say in marriage! Isn’t that annoying? I don’t want to live like that!"

"So you don’t want to?"

"Absolutely not!"

"But if you don’t agree, Reinhard might come to bother you every day, is that okay?"

"Ugh......"

Upon hearing this, Felt immediately put on a bitter expression. Being a local, she knew Reinhard would patrol daily, which kept the Royal Capital’s security quite good. If Reinhard came before her during his patrols every day, asking her to become king...... how could she run her business?

Seeing Reinhard around would make others not dare to come over!

"Please, help me think of a way, I really don’t want it."

At this point, Felt could only turn to Fang Zheng for help.

"You want me to come up with a plan... I’m not exactly able to kill Reinhard off for you..."

Fang Zheng stroked his chin, and then his eyes lit up.

"Right! You have no interest in being king. Are you interested in being an adventurer?"

"An adventurer?"

"Exactly. There’s an adventurer team I know that still needs a scout. If you’re interested, you can join them as an adventurer. It’s mostly girls around your age, should be fine. If you become an adventurer, Reinhard definitely won’t be able to tag along everywhere with you."

Fang Zheng remembered when he caught Felt before, when she tried to escape, Felt also released some kind of protection, seemingly related to speed. An excellent thief is also an excellent scout and scout soldier, and the Priestess of the Goddess and the others are currently missing such a role. If Felt is willing, Fang Zheng thinks it would be a nice combination.

"I thought about it, but Old Man Rom didn’t want it—he said it’s too dangerous."

"Well... being an adventurer is indeed dangerous. One might die outside, or even suffer worse than death, so... it’s your choice?"

Fang Zheng glanced in Reinhard’s direction, then waited for Felt’s decision.

"Mm... ugh..."

Felt glanced at Reinhard, then at Fang Zheng, and finally gritted her teeth.

"I’d rather be an adventurer! Being an adventurer is better than being king!"

"To each their own, nothing unusual about that."

Faced with Felt’s decision, Fang Zheng was slightly surprised but not overly so. After all, people’s ideas differ between eras. It’s an unknown how many modern people would want to be ancient kings; Felt shows even ancient people aren’t all willing to be kings.

"Okay, I’ll talk to Reinhard about it, and you go discuss it with your family. Anyway, you need their permission first."

"Got it!"

After hearing Fang Zheng’s suggestion, Felt promptly turned and dashed away, while Fang Zheng found Reinhard and informed him of Felt’s decision.

Unsurprisingly, just as Fang Zheng anticipated, Reinhard showed a troubled expression upon hearing Felt planned to become an adventurer; indeed, he couldn’t easily leave the city. If Felt ran around everywhere... Reinhard wouldn’t have much option.

Moreover...

"Think about it, as a knight you’ve pushed a young girl to choose adventurous uncertainty over stable life. Aren’t you ashamed?"

"That’s not the knightly way, but for the sake of this country, I won’t easily give up."

"Alright, alright."

Faced with such a stubborn Reinhard, Fang Zheng was out of ideas.

"Anyway, the Royal Selection’s candidates aren’t all here yet, right? I heard from Crusch there are supposed to be five candidates; there are only three now... counting Felt, that’s just four. So even if you bring Felt back, you can’t start the Royal Selection until everyone’s here, right?"

"But we can have Lady Felt learn literature and etiquette..."

"If one is unwilling to do it, how likely do you think you can make her learn?"

"........."

Reinhard fell silent; Felt clearly wasn’t willing... but he wouldn’t give up either. After all... Reinhard had his own thoughts.

"Then I’ll temporarily give up."

Finally, Reinhard made his decision.

"When all five candidates are gathered, I’ll find Lady Felt again and vow allegiance to her."

"...Whatever you like."