The Hidden Extra: The Lazy Prince Refuses to Ascend The Throne

About six hundred years ago, a catastrophe-class monster attacked the Eastern Empire of Izanagi.

It was a massive, bird-shaped creature—hundreds of meters long and dozens of meters tall.

The attack resulted in the deaths of hundreds of thousands, and the empire was nearly brought to ruin.

Then, from the shadows, a mysterious man appeared and slew the monster with a white dagger etched in gold.

After defeating it, the man vanished without a trace, as if he had never existed.

However, the dagger remained—still embedded in the corpse of the monster. The emperor of that era ordered his soldiers to retrieve it and named it Shinketsu, meaning ”True Blood.”

The name was not without meaning. The dagger was said to possess the power to absorb anything it pierced—including the blood of the slain catastrophe-class monster.

The dagger was carefully kept in the treasure vault of the Eastern Empire of Izanagi for two hundred years.

But strangely, just fifty years later, it vanished without a trace and has never been found since.

As a collector of legendary weapons, Ragan had long been fascinated by the dagger, particularly because of its ability to absorb the blood of any target it struck.

Still, he knew that searching the entire world for it was a hopeless endeavor. In the end, he gave up on his dream.

And now, the very dagger he once only dreamed of stood before him—offered by his own daughter!

Had he not been certain of his sobriety, he would have believed it was nothing more than a dream.

Just like Emperor Ragan, the noble family heads, young nobles, and even Aldric, Cedric, Adalen, Zarak, and Cassian were struck speechless by the sight of the dagger.

Their hearts raced, and their breath hitched in disbelief.

”Is that really the Shinketsu Dagger? It can’t be a fake... right?”

”I want to deny it, but the shape, the color, the aura it gives off... there’s no doubt. That’s the real Shinketsu Dagger!”

”Hiss! Unbelievable! Who would’ve imagined Princess Elina would present that weapon to His Majesty? That dagger is the long-lost national treasure of the Eastern Empire of Izanagi!”

One discussion after another broke out among the guests, while many were so stunned they couldn’t find the words to speak.

Even so, their reactions were only natural. The Shinketsu Dagger was renowned across the world, with countless rumors and legends surrounding it for generations.

But ever since the dagger vanished, no one knew whether the rumors were true or just exaggerated tales.

And now, that legendary dagger had reappeared before their eyes—its presence alone enough to make hearts skip a beat.

The Shinketsu Dagger? How did that girl get her hands on it? Aldric stood frozen, overwhelmed by disbelief.

He had been so certain his gift would outshine all the others—but now, that confidence had shattered completely.

Compared to Elina’s gift, his offering felt completely insignificant.

Cedric, Adalen, Zarak, and Cassian felt the same. None of them had imagined that Elina would present such an extraordinary gift to their father.

In this contest, they had been utterly outclassed—reduced to nothing more than stepping stones for her rise.

Immediately, their expressions darkened, twisted with resentment and dissatisfaction that gnawed at their hearts.

This is insane! How could Princess Elina possibly have that dagger? Was it a gift from the Singularity of Chaos?

Orlan exclaimed inwardly, his heart pounding as if he had just sprinted ten kilometers.There was no way a sheltered princess like Elina—who had never even stepped outside the palace—could obtain such a legendary weapon.

Even if it was pure luck, surely luck alone couldn’t reach that far... right?

Instinctively, his eyes flicked to Nolan, standing quietly beside her.

And sure enough, there was a playful glint in the young man’s gaze—clear proof that the dagger had come from the Singularity of Chaos.

”Father, why are you silent? Don’t you want to accept my gift?” Elina asked, puzzled by his silence.

Ragan remained motionless, staring at the weapon as if unsure it was real.

For a moment, Elina wondered if something was wrong with it.

At last, Ragan snapped out of his daze and looked at her intently.

”Elina, do you even understand what you just handed me?”

”Eh?” Elina blinked, looking genuinely confused. ”Isn’t it just a normal dagger?”

Ragan: ”...”

Everyone: ”...”

”Hah... You foolish girl...” Ragan sighed deeply, shaking his head in resignation.

He held the dagger, slowly tracing its blade with his fingers, and said, ”This is the Shinketsu Dagger—’Fresh Blood’ in the language of the Eastern Empire of Izanagi. About six hundred years ago, a catastrophe-level monster attacked the empire, and this very dagger was the weapon that defeated it. Since then, the Eastern Empire of Izanagi has considered it a national treasure.”

”So...” His voice trailed off as he turned to Elina, whose face had already turned pale. ”Now you understand just how precious this item really is, don’t you?”

Elina said nothing, but her heart was pounding.

So this is... the legendary Shinketsu Dagger? Damn... How could I not know?

She screamed inwardly in horror.To be honest, the dagger didn’t even belong to her—it was her brother’s.

Just yesterday, when she had no idea what gift to prepare for their father, her brother had casually handed her the dagger and said their father would love it.

Trusting him completely, Elina accepted it without question, unaware of what the dagger truly was.

Now that she knew it was a national treasure of the Eastern Empire of Izanagi, she wanted nothing more than to grab her brother and shout, You idiot! Are you trying to get me killed?!

Unfortunately, she couldn’t do that—not here, not now. It would only humiliate them both.

”By the way, I really like the gift,” Ragan said, smiling warmly with unmistakable joy in his eyes. ”Thank you, Elina. But I can’t just accept such a valuable gift without giving something in return, can I? So, as thanks, I’ll grant you one request—anything within reason and within my power.”

As soon as those words were spoken, everyone’s eyes widened—including Aldric, Cedric, Adalen, Zarak, and Cassian.

A promise from their father was more valuable than anything else. After all, it was the Emperor’s promise—made in public, with everyone as a witness.

No one had expected Elina to receive it. It was a massive advantage that couldn’t be overlooked.

At the same time, the heads of the noble families exchanged subtle, meaningful glances.

Elina herself was surprised, but she quickly composed herself. With a calm smile, she offered a small bow.

”Thank you for your generosity, Father.”

Ragan returned her smile and gently patted her head with affection.

The sight drew envious glares from her siblings, especially Novaria.

”Alright, everyone!” Ragan turned to the guests. ”Thank you all for coming. I truly appreciate your presence and will always remember your kindness. Now, let the celebration begin!”

Moments later, the sounds of violins and pianos filled the grand hall.

The heads of noble families began approaching Ragan to offer birthday wishes and present their gifts.

Meanwhile, the princes—Aldric, Cedric, Adalen, Zarak, and Cassian—and the sole princess, Elina, were soon surrounded by the other noble families.

Among them, Aldric, Cedric, Adalen, and especially Elina drew the most attention.

The nobles flocked to them with enthusiasm, offering praise and flattery—especially toward Elina, who had unexpectedly become the dark horse in the competition for the throne.

Suddenly, a loud voice echoed from the entrance.

”The representative of the Kingdom of Serothia, Prime Minister Martis, has arrived to offer His Majesty birthday greetings!”