Third Person POV
"What do you think?" asked a man with pale hair. His middle-aged, unassuming appearance might easily be overlooked by most, but the royal robes and the crown on his head ensured no one in the Re-Estize Kingdom would ever dare ignore him.
He was Ramposa III, their king.
"There's improvement," the man beside him replied. "And not a small one, either."
This second man was much younger and far more muscular, with a sword at his waist and partial armour strapped across his body unmistakable symbols of a fighter. He was Gazef Stronoff, the strongest warrior of the Kingdom.
Born a commoner, Gazef had spent his early years as a mercenary before meeting Vesture Kloff Di Laufen, a former adamantite-ranked adventurer who honed his swordsmanship to the extreme. Later, Gazef entered a grand tournament open to warriors from every background and emerged victorious, surpassing even noble-born fighters. That feat earned him his current position as the king's personal warrior and the commander of the Warrior Troops.
A man admired by commoners and feared by nobles, Gazef stood as one of the kingdom's living legends.
"I think so as well," the king murmured, stroking his beard thoughtfully. "His stance is cleaner, and his strikes are far more accurate."
Ramposa III wasn't an active fighter anymore, but in his prime, he had been one of the kingdom's strongest warriors. In this world, a king without strength was a king without authority especially among powerful men who respected only those stronger than themselves. This wasn't a peaceful shinobi village with blind loyalty to a daimyo who aren't even fighter. Here, survival and respect were earned through power.
Gazef didn't speak further, simply nodding in agreement. His eyes remained fixed on the same person the king was observing.
Prince Zanac.
The second prince was training alone in the courtyard, having dismissed all attendants. Sweat dripped down his forehead as he moved, trying to refine each strike with determination.
He didn't care much about other people's opinions, but he was still self-conscious about his chubby new body. So he trained relentlessly, pushing himself every day, hoping to slim down sooner rather than later.
"What are his chances against Barbro?" the king asked quietly, eyes narrowing as he watched his son swing a wooden sword.
Gazef didn't answer immediately. His words, especially about royal matters, were not taken lightly even he had to choose them carefully, despite his status. After a moment of thought, he replied, "Well… Prince Barbro is older and already a mature, capable fighter. Many in the Kingdom acknowledge his skill, and he's close to reaching his peak." He paused, then continued, "Prince Zanac, on the other hand, is still young. He has time to grow, to improve, to learn especially if he keeps his current momentum."
It sounded neutral on the surface, but the meaning was clear, Barbro was strong, trained, and backed by some noble factions. Zanac on the other hand is young, inexperienced, and lacked both support and notable qualities at least in the eyes of others.
The king easily read between the lines. But he wasn't angry. Gazef was simply stating the truth. In fact, Gazef was one of the few people whose honesty Ramposa appreciated.
After all, appointing Gazef as his personal warrior had been a gamble from the start.
Gazef had won the tournament fair and square, even crushing nobles who had been groomed since childhood. But despite his ability, he wasn't allowed to become a Royal Knight, knighthood was a privilege reserved for noble families. Appointing a commoner to such a prestigious position was unheard of.
Yet the king did it anyway.
Partly to suppress the increasingly arrogant noble faction… and partly because he desperately needed someone loyal only to the throne, not to some powerful family.
Of course, the backlash was immediate. Nobles were furious that one of "their" positions had gone to a commoner, and even more furious that a commoner had defeated their sons in open competition.
And there had been the question of trust.
Ramposa didn't fully trust Gazef at first, how could he? Giving a commoner such authority held the risk that someone might buy him out. A man that strong, positioned that close to the king, could become a threat if swayed.
But over time, Gazef proved himself loyal not to the nobles, not to any faction, but to the kingdom itself. To the people. To the crown.
And so the king valued him, valued him enough not to ruin their relationship over a simple truth spoken in good faith.
"Well, there are still many years before someone else sits on the throne. For now, I'll be the one keeping it safe." With that said, the king turned around and continued walking forward.
"I will make sure no harm comes to you, my lord," Gazef replied instantly, falling into step behind him. Several other knights under his command followed as well, all present to guard the king.
"I will make sure no harm comes to you, my lord," Gazef replied instantly, falling into step behind him. Several knights under his command followed as well, all present to guard the king.
"I'm sure you will," the king smiled faintly, before his expression shifted. "Any news about the Empire?"
Gazef's mood darkened. "They've already begun moving their battalions." He hated the Empire for their yearly attacks. He knew exactly how many men would die in those pointless border skirmishes.
"Will I be participating in the war this time, my lord?" Gazef asked with a trace of hope, hope that vanished immediately with the king's next words.
"No. The Empire isn't planning to send their strongest forces, so I have no reason to send you. If I do, it sends the message that I'm ready for full-scale war. That's something I want to avoid."
Gazef nodded, though frustration simmered beneath the surface. "I still don't understand why they keep doing this."
The king sighed. "To weaken us, of course. Year after year, our soldiers die. New recruits join, yes but they need time to train, time we don't have. Our strength always lay in numbers, and those numbers are dropping drastically every year."
He paused, then continued with heavy voice.
"Meanwhile, the Empire focuses on quality. Their elites are preserved. They may lose men too, but their overall strength hasn't declined."
Gazef's eyes widened slightly. "Then… as time passes, we become weaker."
"Exactly." The king's expression hardened. "I still curse my brother for falling for the Emperor's provocation all those years ago. He started this ridiculous yearly war. And after he was assassinated, without leaving an heir, I had to take the throne and inherit this mess."
He clenched his jaw. "I saw through the Empire's strategy, but by then it was too late. Now all we can do is fight with everything we have to protect the kingdom."
A small, tired smile appeared on his face.
"Still, we're not completely out of options. We aren't the only nation the Empire is fighting. Their resources aren't infinite either. They can't sustain losses forever."
Saying this he looked up at the sky "I just hope my children can recognise their enemies properly and not look at the world with narrowed vision," the king murmured. "Being a king doesn't just give you power, it gives you responsibilities you cannot turn away from. All I can do is bless them for a better future and work hard to secure it. The rest… is up to fate."
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Naruto (Non OP) characters rank in overlord